Comparative Analysis of Diel and Circadian Eclosion Rhythms and Clock Gene Expression Between Sexes in the Migratory Moth <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>
The circadian clock orchestrates behavioral and molecular processes such as eclosion. Understanding eclosion timing may offer insights into circadian mechanisms underlying migratory timing. Here, we characterize the diel and circadian patterns of eclosion and core clock gene expression in the fall a...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Changning Lv Yibo Ren Viacheslav V. Krylov Yumeng Wang Yuanyuan Li Weidong Pan Gao Hu Fajun Chen Guijun Wan |
| author_facet | Changning Lv Yibo Ren Viacheslav V. Krylov Yumeng Wang Yuanyuan Li Weidong Pan Gao Hu Fajun Chen Guijun Wan |
| author_sort | Changning Lv |
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| description | The circadian clock orchestrates behavioral and molecular processes such as eclosion. Understanding eclosion timing may offer insights into circadian mechanisms underlying migratory timing. Here, we characterize the diel and circadian patterns of eclosion and core clock gene expression in the fall armyworm (FAW), <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>, a globally distributed migratory moth. Using a custom-designed eclosion monitoring system under 14 h light: 10 h dark (L14: D10) and constant darkness (DD) conditions, we observed robust diel eclosion rhythms peaking shortly after lights-off under L14: D10, which became delayed and damped over three consecutive days in DD. Males showed a tendency toward more dispersed emergence patterns and exhibited statistically distinguishable eclosion distributions from females under both conditions. Expression of five canonical clock genes (<i>cyc</i>, <i>clk</i>, <i>tim</i>, <i>per</i>, <i>cry2</i>) displayed significant 24 h rhythmicity, with generally higher mesors in males. However, sex-specific differences in amplitude and phase were detected only for <i>clk</i> and <i>cyc</i> under L14: D10, not in DD. These findings suggest that sex-specific differences in circadian regulation are limited. Nonetheless, subtle variations in clock gene output and emergence timing in the FAW population established in China may contribute to sex-specific ecological strategies in the novel migratory arena. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-d3a51969a8dc414c97233c6eeac73cd72025-08-20T03:58:26ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-07-0116770510.3390/insects16070705Comparative Analysis of Diel and Circadian Eclosion Rhythms and Clock Gene Expression Between Sexes in the Migratory Moth <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>Changning Lv0Yibo Ren1Viacheslav V. Krylov2Yumeng Wang3Yuanyuan Li4Weidong Pan5Gao Hu6Fajun Chen7Guijun Wan8Sanya Research Institute, Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya 572025, ChinaSanya Research Institute, Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya 572025, ChinaPapanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Borok 152742, Yaroslavl Oblast, RussiaSanya Research Institute, Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya 572025, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Bioelectromagnetics, Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Bioelectromagnetics, Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, ChinaSanya Research Institute, Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya 572025, ChinaSanya Research Institute, Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya 572025, ChinaSanya Research Institute, Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya 572025, ChinaThe circadian clock orchestrates behavioral and molecular processes such as eclosion. Understanding eclosion timing may offer insights into circadian mechanisms underlying migratory timing. Here, we characterize the diel and circadian patterns of eclosion and core clock gene expression in the fall armyworm (FAW), <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>, a globally distributed migratory moth. Using a custom-designed eclosion monitoring system under 14 h light: 10 h dark (L14: D10) and constant darkness (DD) conditions, we observed robust diel eclosion rhythms peaking shortly after lights-off under L14: D10, which became delayed and damped over three consecutive days in DD. Males showed a tendency toward more dispersed emergence patterns and exhibited statistically distinguishable eclosion distributions from females under both conditions. Expression of five canonical clock genes (<i>cyc</i>, <i>clk</i>, <i>tim</i>, <i>per</i>, <i>cry2</i>) displayed significant 24 h rhythmicity, with generally higher mesors in males. However, sex-specific differences in amplitude and phase were detected only for <i>clk</i> and <i>cyc</i> under L14: D10, not in DD. These findings suggest that sex-specific differences in circadian regulation are limited. Nonetheless, subtle variations in clock gene output and emergence timing in the FAW population established in China may contribute to sex-specific ecological strategies in the novel migratory arena.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/7/705<i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>circadian rhythmeclosion timingclock gene expressionsex differenceslight regime |
| spellingShingle | Changning Lv Yibo Ren Viacheslav V. Krylov Yumeng Wang Yuanyuan Li Weidong Pan Gao Hu Fajun Chen Guijun Wan Comparative Analysis of Diel and Circadian Eclosion Rhythms and Clock Gene Expression Between Sexes in the Migratory Moth <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> Insects <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> circadian rhythm eclosion timing clock gene expression sex differences light regime |
| title | Comparative Analysis of Diel and Circadian Eclosion Rhythms and Clock Gene Expression Between Sexes in the Migratory Moth <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> |
| title_full | Comparative Analysis of Diel and Circadian Eclosion Rhythms and Clock Gene Expression Between Sexes in the Migratory Moth <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> |
| title_fullStr | Comparative Analysis of Diel and Circadian Eclosion Rhythms and Clock Gene Expression Between Sexes in the Migratory Moth <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparative Analysis of Diel and Circadian Eclosion Rhythms and Clock Gene Expression Between Sexes in the Migratory Moth <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> |
| title_short | Comparative Analysis of Diel and Circadian Eclosion Rhythms and Clock Gene Expression Between Sexes in the Migratory Moth <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> |
| title_sort | comparative analysis of diel and circadian eclosion rhythms and clock gene expression between sexes in the migratory moth i spodoptera frugiperda i |
| topic | <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> circadian rhythm eclosion timing clock gene expression sex differences light regime |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/7/705 |
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