Dose effects in light-controlled pupal melanization in Pieris brassicae: Specificities to spectral ranges

Kayser, H.; Angersbach, Dieter

doi:10.1016/0022-1910(75)90162-6

Cited by 11 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…In the present study, we employed blue light (<500 nm) of sufficient intensity (cf. Kayser and Angersbach 1975) to check the responsiveness of larvae from diets with different compositions on the basis of pupal melanization. As, unexpectedly, initial experiments indicated a sexual difference in the response to blue light, males and female pupae were separately scored.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The experimental conditions of light exposure were the same as in former studies (Kayser and Angersbach 1974, 1975). In short, a slide projector equipped with a 250‐W halogen lamp in combination with Schott broad‐band glass filters of type BG12, BG23 and KG1 was used to produce blue light with a transmission maximum at 414 nm and a cut‐off at 500 nm.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Scoring of pupal melanization was performed 8 or 9 days after pupation, when the pattern of black wing spots became visible through the now‐translucent cuticle, thus allowing easy sexing of the pupae. The scoring system comprised 10 classes with class 1.0 for the least melanized (‘light’) and class 5.5 for the most melanized (‘dark’) pupae (Kayser and Angersbach 1975).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Deficiency of visual pigments is expected to also affect larval vision. Therefore, we studied the response of late last instar larvae to wavelength and intensity of light by adapting pupal pigmentation to the local light environment (Kayser and Angersbach 1974, 1975). Light quality as well as brightness contrast, which are mediated by the larval ocelli (Angersbach 1975), become effective during a short period between spinning of the girdle and pupation (Kayser‐Wegmann 1975).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Light quality as well as brightness contrast, which are mediated by the larval ocelli (Angersbach 1975), become effective during a short period between spinning of the girdle and pupation (Kayser‐Wegmann 1975). Here, the extent of melanization of the pupal cuticle was used as a measure of the response to light as it can be easily quantified by an established scoring system (Kayser and Angersbach 1975). In the present study, we examined β‐carotene, a hydrocarbon carotenoid and known precursor to visual pigments, and a mixture of hydroxylated carotenoids, which are typical plant xanthophylls (Kayser 1985), for their potency to prevent the presumed visual deficiency in larvae and adults of P. brassicae , when included in the cabbage‐free semi‐synthetic larval diet.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Xanthophylls are key constituents of semi‐synthetic diets for continuous breeding of Pieris brassicae without food plant

Kayser¹

2011

J Applied Entomology

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Semi‐synthetic or fully artificial diets are well established in culturing laboratory insects on a large scale. In Pieris brassicae L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), a published semi‐synthetic diet supplemented with sinigrin, a chemical label of cruciferous plants, is well accepted by the larvae but the adults fail to produce offspring; continuous breeding, therefore, requires the addition of cabbage powder to the diet. We set out to identify essential substances to eliminate the need for cabbage in our long‐term mass culture. The studies revealed that the dietary difference, which becomes most evident at the adult stage only, is because of a severe lack of carotenoids in the cabbage‐free version. This was uncovered in larvae, fed cabbage‐supplemented diet, that respond to blue light of sufficient intensity by high cuticle melanization on pupation; larvae fed the carotenoid‐deficient sinigrin‐supplemented diet fail to respond in this way. Males were found to be more sensitive than females to blue light in this respect. The essential substance mediating this photo response was found to be lutein and/or zeaxanthin, two abundant xanthophylls of green leaves. β‐Carotene was only marginally active. These xanthophylls are known to serve as precursors to the synthesis of 3‐hydroxyretinal, the exclusive visual chromophore of lepidopteran insects; retinal, derived from β‐carotene, is not (substantially) used by these insects. In conclusion, the absence of flying and mating activity in the adults from the sinigrin diet may indicate visual deficiency owing to a lack of a specific structural class of carotenoids in the larval food. Our results enabled us to formulate a semi‐synthetic diet that allows continuous mass rearing of P. brassicae without cabbage at any stage including oviposition. In addition to the key constituents sinigrin and xanthophylls, this superior diet includes tryptophan, as methyl ester, and α‐tocopherol.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%