Data from: Sexual selection in true fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae): transcriptome and experimental evidences for phytochemicals increasing male competitive ability

In male tephritid fruit flies of the genus Bactrocera, feeding on secondary plant compounds (sensu lato male lures = methyl eugenol, raspberry ketone and zingerone) increases male mating success. Ingested male lures alter the male pheromonal blend, normally making it more attractive to females and this is considered the primary mechanism for the enhanced mating success. However, the male lures raspberry ketone and zingerone are known, across a diverse range of other organisms, to be involved in increasing energy metabolism. If this also occurs in Bactrocera, then this may represent an additional benefit to males as courtship is metabolically expensive and lure feeding may increase a fly's short-term energy. We tested this hypothesis by performing comparative RNA-seq analysis between zingerone-fed and unfed males of Bactrocera tryoni. We also carried out behavioural assays with zingerone and cuelure-fed males to test if they became more active. RNA-seq analysis revealed, in zingerone-fed flies, up regulation of 3183 genes with homologues transcripts to those known to regulate inter-male aggression, pheromone synthesis, mating and accessory gland proteins, along with significant enrichment of several energy metabolic pathways and GO terms. Behavioural assays show significant increases in locomotor activity, weight reduction and successful mating after mounting; all direct/indirect measures of increased activity. These results suggest that feeding on lures leads to complex physiological changes, which result in more competitive males. These results do not negate the pheromone effect, but do strongly suggest that the phytochemical-induced sexual selection is governed by both female preference and male competitive mechanisms.Full list of differentially expressed genes Kumaran.xlsThe data file contains complete list of transcripts that are differentially expressed in Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni male flies fed on a phytochemical, zingerone.Full list of diff exp genes Kumaran.xls.xlsxRT-PCR fold change expressionFold change expression of candidate genes in zingerone-fed males when compared to unfed males of Bactrocera tryoniEnriched GO termsEnriched GO terms and their classes in Bactrocera tryoni transcriptomeEnriched metabolic pathwaysKEGG Metabolic pathways in Bactrocera tryoni transcriptomeWing beat frequencyRaw data on wing beat frequency, total time rested, mid-point crosses and number of calling boutsDistance crawledRaw data of total distance walked, resting time and mid-point crossesWeight lossRaw data on weight of the flies, weight loss. water content and metabolismsProportion of success to failure attemptsRaw data on proportionate successful mating attemptsRT-PCRRaw data on delta ct values for candidate gene