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Photoperiodic induction of diapause in an insect is vitamin A dependent

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Summary

A photoperiodic response was found to be absent in larvae of the parasitoid waspApanteles glomeratus when its host (caterpillars ofPieris brassicae) was reared on a low-carotenoid artificial diet. Addition of vitamin A to the host's diet restored the response to short-day photoperiods in the wasp larvae, thus showing that vitamin A is essential for photoperiodic induction of diapause. Possibly vitamin A or a derivative of vitamin A functions as the photoreceptor pigment for the photoperiodic reaction in this species of insect.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Experimental Entomology, University of Amsterdam, Kruislaan 302, 1098 SM, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    A. Veerman, M. E. Slagt, M. F. J. Alderlieste & R. L. Veenendaal

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  1. A. Veerman
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  2. M. E. Slagt
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  3. M. F. J. Alderlieste
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  4. R. L. Veenendaal
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Veerman, A., Slagt, M.E., Alderlieste, M.F.J. et al. Photoperiodic induction of diapause in an insect is vitamin A dependent. Experientia 41, 1194–1195 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01951725

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01951725

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