Physiological Response of Tribolium castaneum to CO2 Controlled Atmosphere Stress Under Trehalose Feeding

This study investigated the physiological regulatory mechanisms by which exogenous trehalose intake enhances the adaptation of the global stored-grain pest <i>T. castaneum</i> to high-concentration carbon dioxide (CO₂) stress. By supplementing exogenous trehalose under high-CO₂ controlled atmosphere stress, we measured the activities of key detoxification enzymes (e.g., carboxylesterase and cytochrome P450) and the levels of carbohydrate substances (e.g., glycogen, glucose, and trehalose). The results demonstrated that trehalose feeding significantly alleviated CO₂ induced mortality in <i>T. castaneum</i> and prolonged their survival time. In terms of detoxification metabolism, a trehalose-rich diet significantly reduced the activities of cytochrome P450 and carboxylesterase, while the glucose content in the beetles decreased markedly. These findings indicate that trehalose accumulation mitigates physiological damage caused by high-CO₂ stress in <i>T. castaneum</i>. Furthermore, exogenous trehalose intake did not disrupt carbohydrate metabolic homeostasis in the beetles, as trehalase activity and the levels of various carbohydrates remained relatively stable. This study elucidates the role of trehalose metabolism in <i>T. castaneum</i>'s adaptation to high-CO₂ environments, providing a theoretical foundation for optimizing controlled atmosphere grain storage technology and developing novel pest control strategies.