Modifying oviposition behaviour in phytophagous insects and physiological bases thereof

对于许多以植物为食的昆虫来说，未成熟阶段的成功发育在一定程度上取决于成年雌性昆虫对产卵寄主植物的适当选择。一些昆虫似乎更喜欢它们自己发育的寄主植物物种；这被正式地称为霍普金斯的寄主选择原则。但之前旨在支持这一理论的调查经常提供模棱两可、模棱两可或相互矛盾的结果。我实验室最近的调查提供了有趣的证据，证明幼虫接触特定植物化学物质会影响随后的成虫行为。在我们使用甘蓝弯铃虫(Trichostorsia ni，Noctuidae)的模型系统中，我们的数据表明，幼虫通过变态保持的学习和记忆是这种现象的一种机制。拟议研究的目的是：(1)确定从幼虫到蛹再到成虫的这种记忆的神经基础，以及成虫味觉化学感受器(味觉器官)对寄主植物选择的贡献；(2)试图证明昆虫的行为可以被操纵，以至于成虫在边缘或不适合的植物上产卵；以及(3)探索产卵偏好和幼虫表现之间的关系。*拟议的研究将扩大我们对神经生理学作为昆虫-植物相互作用的中介的知识，并强调在以植物为食的昆虫中学习和记忆的重要性。进一步了解昆虫寄主选择可以为未来旨在操纵行为的策略提供基础，作为一种无害环境的害虫管理手段。

For many plant-feeding insects, successful development of the immature stages depends in part on the adult female making an appropriate choice of host plant on which to lay her eggs. Some insects appear to prefer hostplant species on which they themselves developed;  this is formally known as the Hopkins' host selection principle.  Previous investigations aimed at supporting this theory have often provided ambiguous, equivocal or conflicting results.  Recent investigations in my laboratory provide intriguing evidence that larval experience with specific plant chemicals can influence subsequent adult behaviour.  In our model system using the cabbage looper moth (Trichoplusia ni, Noctuidae), our data point to larval learning and memory retained through metamorphosis as a mechanism for this phenomenon. The objectives of the proposed research are:  (1) to determine the neural basis of this memory retained from larva to pupa to adult moth and the contribution of adult gustatory chemosensilla (taste organs) to hostplant choice;  (2) to attempt to demonstrate that insect behaviour can be manipulated such that adult insects lay eggs on marginal or unsuitable plants;  and (3) to explore the relationship between oviposition preference and larval performance.  The proposed research will expand our knowledge of neurophysiology as a mediator of insect-plant interactions and underscore the importance of learning and memory in plant-feeding insects.  Understanding insect host choice can provide a foundation for future strategies aimed at manipulating behaviour as a means of environmentally sound pest management.