title: Do differences in life-history traits and the timing of peak mating activity between host-associated populations of Chilo suppressalis have a genetic basis?
abstract: The development of host races, genetically distinct populations of the same species with different hosts, is considered to be the initial stage of ecological speciation. Ecological and biological differences consistent with host race formation have been reported between water-oat and rice-associated populations of Chilo suppressalis. In order to confirm whether these differences have a genetic basis, we conducted experiments to determine the extent to which various life-history traits and the time of peak mating activity of these populations were influenced by the species of host plant larvae were raised on. Individuals from each population were reared for three consecutive generations on either water-oat fruit pulp or rice seedlings. Descendants of both populations had higher larval survival rates, shorter larval developmental periods, higher pupal weight, and longer adult forewings, when reared on water-oats than when reared on rice. The time of peak of mating activity differed between the descendants of each population, irrespective of whether they were raised on water-oats or rice. These results indicate that although some life-history traits of host-associated populations of C. suppressalis are influenced by the host plant larvae are raised on, time of peak mating activity is not. Because it is a stable, objective, phenotypic trait, further research on difference in the time of peak mating activity between host-associated populations of C. suppressalis should be conducted to clarify the mechanism responsible for host race formation in this species.
authors.affiliation: Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory College of Plant Science and Technology Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan 430070 China.
authors.forename: Wei-Li
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.affiliation: Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory College of Plant Science and Technology Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan 430070 China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory College of Plant Science and Technology Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan 430070 China.
authors.forename: Rui-Qi
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory College of Plant Science and Technology Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan 430070 China.
authors.forename: Sundas Rana
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.affiliation: Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory College of Plant Science and Technology Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan 430070 China.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory College of Plant Science and Technology Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan 430070 China.
authors.forename: Wei-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory College of Plant Science and Technology Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan 430070 China.
authors.forename: Chao-Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory College of Plant Science and Technology Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan 430070 China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: Chilo suppressalis; host plant; host race; life‐history trait; mating rhythm; phenotypic plasticity