High ‐voltage electrostatic field‐induced oxidative stress: Characterization of the physiological effects in Sitobion avenae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) across multiple generations

In recent decades, man ‐made electric fields have greatly increased the intensity of electrostatic fields that are pervasively present in the environment. To better understand the physiological alterations exhibited by herbivorous insects in response to changing electric environments, we determined the activities of ant i‐oxidative enzymes and the metabolic rate ofSitobion avenae Fabricius (Hemiptera: Aphididae) over multiple generations in response to direct and host ‐seed exposure to a high‐voltage electrostatic field (HVEF) of varying strength for different durations. Under controlled greenhouse conditions, 20‐min direct exposure ofS. avenae and wheat seeds to a 2 ‐ or 4‐kV/cm HVEF resulted in significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the sixth, 11th, 16th, and 21st generations relative to the control activities, whereas significantly decreased SOD activity was detected in the second generation. In addition, the activities of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) inS. avenae showed significant decreases over multiple generations. We also examined the suppressive effects of the duration of 4 ‐kV/cm treatment on aphid physiology. The results showed that exposure to the 4‐kV/cm HVEF for 20 min exerted adverse effects on CAT and POD activities and significantly decreased the metabolic rates ofS. avenae, as demonstrated through evaluations of CO2 production rate, and these parameters were not significantly affected by higher HVEF durations...
Source: Bioelectromagnetics - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Research Article Source Type: research