Phenotypic Plasticity of HSP70s Gene Expression during Diapause: Signs of Evolutionary Responses to Cold Stress among Soybean Pod Borer Populations (Leguminivora glycinivorella) in Northeast of China

Abstract

The soybean pod borer (Leguminivora glycinivorella Matsumura) successfully survives the winter because of its high expression of 70-kDa heat shock proteins (HSP70s) during its overwintering diapause. The amount of HSP70s is different under different environmental stresses. In this study, inducible heat shock protein 70 and its constitutive heat shock cognate 70 were cloned by RT-PCR and RACE. These genes were named Lg-hsp70 and Lg-hsc70, respectively. Gene transcription and protein expression after cold stress treatment (5°C to −5°C) were analyzed by western blotting and by qRT-PCR for four populations that were sampled in the northeast region of China, including Shenyang, Gongzhuling, Harbin and Heihe, when the soybean pod borer was in diapause. As the cold shock temperature decreased, the levels of Lg-HSP70s were significantly up-regulated. The amount of cold-induced Lg-HSP70s was highest in the southernmost population (Shenyang, 41°50′N) and lowest in the northernmost population (Heihe, 50°22′N). These results support the hypothesis that the soybean pod borer in the northeast region of China displays phenotypic plasticity, and the accumulation of Lg-HSP70s is a strategy for overcoming environmental stress. These results also suggest that the induction of HSP70 synthesis, which is a complex physiological adaptation, can evolve quickly and inherit stability.

Genome-wide analysis and expression profiling under heat and drought treatments of HSP70 gene family in soybean (Glycine max L.)

“…However, soybean production is threatened by drought, as well as other environmental stresses. With the sequencing of the soybean genome (Schmutz et al, 2010 ), a few members of the HSP family were characterized in this species (Jinn et al, 1995 ; Fuganti et al, 2010 ; Mohammadi et al, 2012 ; Liu and Whitham, 2013 ; Lopes-Caitar et al, 2013 ; Wang et al, 2014 ). However, most of their functions remain to be determined.…”

Functional Analysis of RNA Interference-Related Soybean Pod Borer (Lepidoptera) Genes Based on Transcriptome Sequences

“…The SPB genome has not been sequenced, and the available sequence information is very limited, despite the fact that this pest is a major threat to soybean production in Asia (Wang et al, 2014 ). In this study, 119,631 transcripts from SPB larvae were generated and assembled into 60,685 unigenes.…”

Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of the mechanisms of overwintering diapause in soybean pod borer (Leguminivora glycinivorella)

“…4 The fourth instar (mature) larvae enter the soil in mid to late September, make a tight cocoon in which they overwinter, 1 and remain in this state for 8-9 months until temperatures are warm enough to allow pupation and adult emergence. 12,13 To survive this period, insects need to endure temperatures encountered at high latitudes (−15 to −50°C). [14][15][16][17] Diapause is a widespread strategy used by most northern hemisphere insects that allows them to survive the harsh winter.…”