Transcriptomic and Physio-Biochemical Responses of the Fifth-Instar Larvae of Chilo sacchariphagus to High-Temperature Stress
TL;DR
Findings indicate that extreme heat appears to exceed the insect’s normal protective capacity, triggering alternative defense responses that may influence its adaptation under future climate warming scenarios.
Abstract
Simple Summary Chilo sacchariphagus is a globally important sugarcane borer. Characterizing its responses to extreme heat aids projections of pest dynamics amid climate warming. Integrated transcriptomic and physio-biochemical assays at 41 °C showed selective down-regulation of HSP70/40 while HSP80 transcription remained stable. Despite a significant increase in catalase (CAT) enzyme activity, none of the annotated catalase genes showed transcriptional changes, suggesting that this increase may involve post-translational regulation or other mechanisms. These findings indicate that extreme heat appears to exceed the insect’s normal protective capacity, triggering alternative defense responses that may influence its adaptation under future climate warming scenarios.