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Host plant-related responses on the thermal fitness of Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

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Abstract

Diet quality influences arthropod performance under changing environments. However, little is known about how host plant species may influence the responses of polyphagous insects to climate stressors despite their exploitation of different plant species within and across seasons. Against this background, we examined the effects of host plant species (Zea mays L. and Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) on the thermal tolerance of Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) measured as lower and upper thermal activity limits, chill coma recovery time and heat knockdown time. Experiments were conducted on field-collected larvae and laboratory-reared F1 larval offspring from each of the two host species. Our results showed significant host plant effects on both cold and heat tolerance. Insects from sweet sorghum showed higher thermal resilience (cold and heat) relative to those from maize as indicated by their low lower thermal activity limits (0.73 and 0.02 °C magnitude, respectively) and high upper thermal activity limits (0.5 and 0.28 °C magnitude, respectively). Both field and F1 larval populations from sweet sorghum recovered faster from chill coma and also took longer to be knocked down by acute heat stress, further affirming their superior thermal tolerance to those that fed on maize. These results therefore indicate that host plant species may potentially mediate thermal fitness of C. partellus. Despite wide adoption of sweet sorghum as a climate resilient crop owing to its drought tolerance and perennial nature, our findings suggest this may come at a cost of enhanced C. partellus performance and pest pressure under changing temperature environments.

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Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate valuable support from University of the Free State to RM and FC, Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) to RM, HM and CN. Our gratitude also goes to several anonymous referees for the critical and constructive comments on an earlier version of this manuscript.

Funding

The study was funded through the University of the Free State (UFS) Research Office Grant and postdoctoral fellowship to RM. Funding was provided by Universiteit van die Vrystaat (Grant No. 1-119-B53568).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

    Reyard Mutamiswa & Frank Chidawanyika

  2. Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), Private Bag 16, Palapye, Botswana

    Honest Machekano & Casper Nyamukondiwa

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  1. Reyard Mutamiswa
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  2. Honest Machekano
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Correspondence to Frank Chidawanyika.

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Mutamiswa, R., Machekano, H., Nyamukondiwa, C. et al. Host plant-related responses on the thermal fitness of Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Arthropod-Plant Interactions 14, 463–471 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-020-09762-9

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