The circadian clock gene (Clock) regulates photoperiodic time measurement and its downstream process determining maternal induction of embryonic diapause in a cricket

In response to short days in autumn, most temperate multivoltine insects enter diapause, a state which development or reproduction is suppressed arrested, serves coordinate their and physiology (or that of offspring) with annual changes the environment (i.e. photoperiodism). This mediated by measurement time based on photoperiod (photoperiodic measurement), thought be regulated circadian clock. However, some studies also demonstrate involvement clock an output process generates phenotypes associated diapause. To gain further insight into this, we silenced Clock (Clk) gene, main regulator clock, band-legged ground cricket Dianemobius nigrofasciatus (Orthoptera: Trigonidiidae). Silencing Clk gene using RNA interference (Clk RNAi) female crickets resulted abnormal rhythms under constant darkness light-dark conditions, thereby indicating central role this mechanism. RNAi females exhibited long-day oviposition behaviour, even when reared short-day photoperiodic measurement. addition, immediately laid non-diapause-type eggs, was not recorded control either conditions cannot explained terms dysfunction Accordingly, speculate could involved downstream results laying diapause-type eggs.