Role of juvenile hormone (JH) in vitellogenin and storage protein synthesis in the boll weevil fat body
| Problem: | The boll weevil dormancy is considered to be controlled by JH titers as in the diapause of some other insect species. This conceptual model is likely too simple as our initial studies of hemolymph storage protein and vitellogenin titers in response to exogeneous JH applications yielded mixed results. |
| Objective: | To provide additional insight into the role of JH in regulating the boll weevil dormancy and allow more accurate interpretation of ecological observations regarding the seasonality of dormancy in relation to the cotton host |
| Approach: | In collaboration with L. Keeley, storage protein and vitellogenin responses to JH in selected fat body types will be studied in vitro at the transcription level. |
|
Significant Impact: |
In recent cooperative studies with Texas A&M scientists (L. Keeley, D. Lewis) we identified, characterized, and sequenced a unique storage protein associated with dormancy in the boll weevil. |
Dale W. Spurgeon