Divergent Heat Stress Responses in Bactrocera tryoni and Ceratitis capitata.

Simple Summary: Fruit flies are major pests that cause extensive damage to fruits and vegetables worldwide. Understanding how these insects respond to heat treatment is crucial for developing effective methods to control them. In this study, we investigated how the Queensland fruit fly and the Mediterranean fruit fly react at a molecular level when exposed to heat. We found that each species responds differently, activating different genes to cope with the stress. By identifying the specific genes involved, we can design targeted heat treatments that are more effective for each species. This tailored approach can improve the efficiency of pest control, reduce the need for harmful chemicals, and minimise damage to the environment. Our findings offer valuable insights for developing better strategies to manage fruit fly populations, ensuring healthier crops and reducing economic losses for farmers. This research highlights the importance of understanding species-specific responses to stress and provides a foundation for future studies aimed at optimising pest management techniques. Invasive Tephritid fruit flies rank among the most destructive agricultural and horticultural pests worldwide. Heat treatment is commonly employed as a post-harvest method to exterminate fruit flies in fruits or vegetables. These pest species exhibit distinct tolerance to heat treatments, suggesting that the molecular pathways affected by heat may differ among species. In this study, the Queensland fruit fly (Qfly), Bactrocera tryoni, was utilised as a model investigate its molecular response to heat stress through heat bioassays. RNA samples from flies before and after heat treatment were extracted and sequenced to identify genes with significant changes in expression. These findings were compared to another serious Tephritid fruit fly species, the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly), Ceratitis capitata, under similar heat treatment conditions. The analysis reveals only three common genes: heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), HSP68, and 14-3-3 zeta protein. However, despite these shared genes, their expression patterns differ between Qfly and Medfly. This suggests that these genes might play different roles in the heat responses of each species and could be regulated differently. This study presents the first evidence of differing molecular responses to heat between Qfly and Medfly, potentially linked to their varied origins, habitats, and genetic backgrounds. These findings offer new insights into Tephritid fruit fly responses to heat at the molecular level, which may help refine post-harvest strategies to control these pests in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]