Temperature, as a critical abiotic factor, might influence the effectiveness of biological control by parasitoids in host-parasitoid systems. In this study, Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood), a larval endoparasitoid, is used to investigate the efficacy of biological control on a vegetable agriculture pest, Liriomyza sativae Blanchard, reared on kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), at four constant temperatures (26, 29, 32, and 35°C) under laboratory conditions. Our results show that high temperatures (29, 32, and 35°C) do not significantly affect lifetime host-killing events of female adults by increased daily host-killing events compared to temperature 26°C, although their lifespans decrease with an increase in temperatures. Each life-history trait of female adults (lifespan, parasitism, stinging, or nonreproductive host-killing events) present a linear relation with temperatures and host-feeding events, respectively. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of biocontrol efficacy of parasitoid N. formosa against agromyzid leafminers at high-temperature seasons or environments.

Plant hormones play important roles in cotton fiber growth and development. However, the interaction of phytohormonesis largely unknown in fiber cells up to now. DELLA proteins are critical component in GA (gibberellic acid) signaltransduction, which are also regulated by other phytohormones, such as auxin and ethylene. To understand the regulationof DELLA genes in cotton fiber growth and development, we cloned four DELLA genes from upland cotton fibers(Gossypium hirsutum L.), named GhGAI1, GhGAI2, GhGAI3, and GhGAI4. Alignment of the four predicted proteins withother reported DELLA proteins in various species displayed that they shared conserved domains and high homology.Expression profiles of the four GhGAIs in various tissues and organs as well as cotton fibers in different stages displayedthat GhGAI1 has higher transcriptional levels than other GhGAIs in all detected samples. Furthermore, the expressionlevel of GhGAI1 was significantly reduced in 0 dpa (day post anthesis) ovules by addition of IAA and epi-BL, andexogenous epi-BL decreased GhGAI1 level in 7 dpa fiber. Similarly, the levels of the other three GhGAIs in 0 dpa ovulesand 7 dpa fibers were also regulated by applied phytohormones. In addition, the levels of GhGAI1 were higher inXuzhou142 fl mutant (fuzzless-lintless) than in FL (Gossypium hirsutum vs. Xuzhou 142) from -1 to 3 dpa ovules, suggestingthat GhGAI1 engaged in cotton fiber cell initiation. These results indicated that DELLA genes are involved in the processof fiber cell initiation and elongation regulated by different phytohormones.