Removal or component reversal of local geomagnetic field affects foraging orientation preference in migratory insect brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens

Abstract

Background Migratory brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (N. lugens) annually migrates to Northeast Asia in spring and returns to Southeast Asia in autumn. However, mechanisms for orientation and navigation during their flight remain largely unknown. The geomagnetic field (GMF) is an important source of directional information for animals (including N. lugens), yet the magnetic compass involved has not been fully identified. Methods Here we assessed the influences of GMF on the foraging orientation preference of N. lugens by removing or component reversal of local GMF. At the same time, we examined the role of iron-sulfur cluster assembly1 (IscA1), a putative component of magnetoreceptor, in the foraging orientation preference of N. lugens under the controlled magnetic fields by RNA silencing (RNAi). Results We found that the near-zero magnetic field (NZMF) or vertical reversal of GMF could lead to N. lugens losing the foraging orientation preference, suggesting that a normal level of GMF, in the way of either intensity or inclination, was essential for the foraging orientation of N. lugens. Moreover, the gene knockdown of IscA1, also affected the foraging orientation preference of N. lugens, pointing out a potential role of IscA1 in the insects’ sensing of variation in the GMF. Discussion These results suggested a foraging orientation preference is associated with the GMF and revealed new insights into the relationship between the IscA1 and magnetosensitivity mechanism in N. lugens.

Characterization of light‐dependent rhythm of courtship vibrational signals in Nilaparvata lugens: essential involvement of cryptochrome genes

“…21 Subsequent investigations disclosed that CRYs interact with IscA1 (an analog of bacterial iron-sulfur cluster assembly) and exhibit coordinated responses to external magnetic fields, influencing foraging orientation preferences in migratory macropterous BPH. 22,23 This phenomenon bears resemblance to the light-dependent magnetic sensing function of CRYs in D. melanogaster and D. plexippus. 24,25 Even so, however, remarkably little is known about other physiological processes in BPH that might be regulated by crys and/or by the circadian clock.…”

“…Furthermore, a putative relationship between NlCRYs' functionality and migration dynamics has been documented in the wing‐dimorphic BPH 21 . Subsequent investigations disclosed that CRYs interact with IscA1 (an analog of bacterial iron–sulfur cluster assembly) and exhibit coordinated responses to external magnetic fields, influencing foraging orientation preferences in migratory macropterous BPH 22,23 . This phenomenon bears resemblance to the light‐dependent magnetic sensing function of CRYs in D. melanogaster and D. plexippus 24,25 .…”

Pheromone Trap Catch of Fruit Pest Moths Influenced by the Geomagnetic Disturbance Storm Time (Dst)

“…The geomagnetic field has been found [15] to be an important source of directional information for animals (including Nilaparvata lugens Stål, 1854), but the relevant magnetic compass has not yet been fully identified. They found that the near-zero magnetic field or vertical reversal of geomagnetic field could lead to Brown Planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) losing the foraging orientation preference, suggesting that a normal level of GMF, in the way of either intensity or inclination, was essential for the foraging orientation of Brown Planthopper.…”

Probing Transcriptional Crosstalk between Cryptochromes and Iron-sulfur Cluster Assembly 1 (MagR) in the Magnetoresponse of a Migratory Insect

“…As a highly conserved A-type iron-sulfur protein, IscA has been proposed as a magnetoreceptor renamed MagR [ 15 , 33 ], which has also been suggested to influence circadian rhythms in Drosophila [ 34 ]. Research into MagR’s role in magnetoresponse and its potential applications is expanding [ 16 , 25 , 26 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 ]. Although no protein interactions between MagR and Cry were observed in the European robin, Erithacus rubecula [ 50 ], a well-known migrant bird species, such interactions have been identified in other vertebrates and invertebrates.…”