Effects of alternating temperatures on development and reproduction of the armyworm,Mythimna separata (Walker)

Effects of cycling and constant temperature on development and reproduction of the armyworm, Mythimna separata (Walker) were investigated by rearing the insects on the artificial diet under temperatures covering low(16-24℃ vs. 20 ℃ ), medial(20-28℃ vs. 24℃ ) and high(24-32 ℃ vs. 28 ℃) regions. In the low region, all the immature stages of the insect developed significantly faster under alternating temperatures than at corresponding constant temperatures. For the medial region, their development was little affected by variable temperatures. For the high region, developmental durations tended to be longer under cycling temperatures except egg stage.Mean fecundities of the adult moths markedly increased under cycling temperatures as compared with those at respective constant temperature in all regions.Possible reasons for effect of alternating temperatures on insect development are discussed in some details.

Dynamics of Bt cotton Cry1Ac protein content under an alternating high temperature regime and effects on nitrogen metabolism

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of alternating high temperature on CrylAc protein content on Bt cotton cultivars Sikang 1 （SK-1, a conventional cultivar） and Sikang 3 （SK-3, a hybrid cultivar）. In 2011 and 2012, cotton plants were subjected to high temperature treatments ranging from 32 to 40℃ in climate chambers to investigate the effects of high temperature on boll shell insecticidal protein expression. The experiments showed that significant decline of the boll shell insecticidal protein was detected at temperatures higher than 38℃ after 24 h. Based on the results, the cotton plants were treated with the threshold temperature of 38℃ from 6：00 a.m. to 6：00 p.m. followed by a normal temperature of 27℃ during the remaining night hours （DH/NN） in 2012 and 2013. These treatments were conducted at peak boll growth stage for both cultivars in study periods of 0, 4, 7, and 10 d. Temperature treatment of 32℃ from 6：00 a.m. to 6：00 p.m. and 27℃ in the remaining hours was set as control. The results showed that, compared with the control, after the DH/NN stress treatment applied for 7 d, the boll shell CrylAc protein content level was significantly decreased by 19.1 and 17.5% for SK-1 and by 15.3 and 13.7% for SK-3 in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Further analysis of nitrogen metabolic physiology under DH/NN showed that the soluble protein content and the glutamic pyruvic transaminase （GPT） activities decreased slightly after 4 d, and then decreased sharply after 7 d. The free amino acid content and the protease content increased sharply after 7 d. The changes in SK-1 were greater than those in SK-3. These results suggest that under DH/NN stress, boll shell CrylAc protein content decline was delayed. Reduced protein synthesis and increased protein degradation in the boll shell decreased protein content, including Bt protein, which may reduce resistance to the cotton bollworm.

High temperature and low voltage AC poling for 0.24Pb(In_(1/2)Nb_(1/2))O_(3)- 0.46Pb(Mg_(1/3)Nb_(2/3))O_(3)-0.30PbTiO_(3) piezoelectric single crystals manufactured by continuous-feeding Bridgman method

Alternating current poling(ACP)in air by changing poling temperature(70e130℃)and voltages(2e6 kVrms/cm)on pseudo-ternary 0.24 Pb(In_(1/2)Nb_(1/2))O_(3)-0.46 Pb(Mg1/3Nb_(2/3))O3-0.30PbTiO_(3)(PIMN-0.30PT)single crystals(SCs)manufactured by continuous-feeding Bridgman(CF BM)method was investigated.Free dielectric permittivity(εT 33/ε0)and piezoelectric constant(d33)were improved to be 7000 and 2340 pC/N,which were 29%higher than those of direct current poling(DCP)at 90℃ with 4 kV/cm(εT 33/ε0=5440,d_(33)=1810 pC/N).However,phase change temperature(Tpc)decreased from 94℃ to 78℃ as opposite results reported by other groups.We demonstrated that the high temperature(HT)ACP improved piezoelectric performance of CF BM SCs,however,the Tpc were different from other crystal growth method.The well-designed ACP process was a promising method for mass production not only to enhance the electrical properties for the pseudo-ternary SCs but also reduce the risk of breakdown and realizes organic solvent-free poling process.