The effects of cold storage on the eclosion rate, survivorship, longevity, and sex ratio of Aphidius colemani
Author of the article:SUN Hai-Xia1** MA Tao2 ZHANG Guang-Liang3 ZHAO Yang-Yang1 HAO Wan-Liang2 HE Jia1***
Author's Workplace:1. Institute of Plant Protection, Ningxia Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Yinchuan 750002, China; 2. Bairuiyuan Goji Co., Ltd., Yinchuan 750200, China; 3. Ningxia Lilan Winery Co., Ltd., Yinchuan 750021, China
Key Words: Aphidius colemani; refrigeration; eclosion rate; survivorship; longevity; sex ratio
Abstract:
[Aim] The purpose of this study was to
examine the effects of different cold storage temperatures and duration on the
eclosion rate, survivorship, longevity, and sex ratio of Aphidius
colemani, and determine the optimal storage conditions for large-scale
breeding of A. colemani. [Methods] The eclosion rate, survivorship,
longevity, and sex ratio of A. colemani were measured under different temperatures (2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 ℃) using aphid
mummies. Subsequently, each temperature treatment group was stored for 5, 10,
15, 20, and 25 d. [Results] The findings indicated that there were no
significant effects of cold storage temperature, cold storage duration, or the
interaction between cold temperature and storage duration on the eclosion rate
of aphid mummies (P>0.05). However, there was a significant effect of
cold storage temperature and cold storage duration on aphid survivorship, but
there was significant effect of the interaction between cold storage
temperature and cold storage duration (P<0.001). Adult longevity was
not significantly affected by either storage temperature or the interaction
between cold storage temperature and cold storage duration (P>0.05).
The adult sex ratio was significantly affected by both the storage temperature
and the interaction between storage temperature and storage duration (P<0.001).
Cold storage duration significantly affected the longevity of emerged adults (P<0.05),
but not the sex ratio (P>0.05). There was no significant difference
in the eclosion rate of A. colemani between
the treatment group and the control group, with the eclosion rate ranging from
63.81% to 89.52 % for both groups. The highest eclosion rate was 89.52 % after
15 d of cold storage at 3 ℃. All eclosion rates were above 80.00% after 10 d of
cold storage at 4, 5 and 6 ℃. The eclosion rate remained over 82.86% after 25 d
of cold storage at 3 and 4 ℃. All A.
colemani temperature treatment groups survived low temperature storage.
Survivorship gradually decreased as the storage temperature increased from 2 to
6 ℃. Additionally, survivorship initially increased then decreased as the cold
storage duration increased from 5 to 25 d. The survivorship ranged from 43.83%
to 72.07% after 10 d of cold storage, representing the highest values observed
across all the storage duration treatment groups (P<0.05). There was
no significant difference in A. colemani longevity between the treatment and control groups (P>0.05). The
longevity of the emerged wasps was highest after 10 d of cold storage and
significantly higher than 5 d of cold storage (P<0.05). A. colemani stored at 5 ℃ for 10 d had
the longest lifespan, reaching 4.37 d. When subjected to a 10 d refrigeration
period, the longevity of the wasps exceeded 4.02 d for all temperature
treatment groups. After 15 d of cold storage at 5 ℃, the wasps survived up to
4.29 d. Following cold storage durations of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 d at 2, 4, 5,
and 6 ℃, there was a significant difference between the sex ratio of the wasps
from the 3 ℃ treatment group and the control group compared to the other groups
(P<0.05). The sex ratios collected from the 2 and 4 ℃ treatment
groups were significantly higher compared to the 3 and 5 ℃ treatment groups (P<0.05). [Conclusion] The findings of this research indicate A. colemani is still able to emerge
during low temperature storage. A.
colemani aphid mummies can be effectively stored between 4-5 ℃ for 10 d
with minimal effect on the eclosion rate, survivorship, longevity, or sex
ratio.