Purification and characterization of yolk protein-2 from the fall webworm,Hyphantria cunea drury

Yolk proteins (YP1, YP2, and YP3) of the fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea, are of relatively low molecular weight. Yolk protein-2 (YP2) was purified from gel slices and by KBr density gradient ultracentrifugation followed by ion exchange chromatography. YP2 is composed of one subunit with a molecular weight of 35.5 kDa. YP2 contains neutral lipids (diacylglycerol and triacylglycerol) and phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine). The neutral lipids are largely composed of lauric acid and palmitoleic acid. YP2 contains relatively large amounts of glutamic acid and aspartic acid but small amounts of tyrosine, phenylalanine, and methionine. YP2 is a vitellin (Vn) synthesized by the fat body. Vitellogenin-2 (Vg2), the precursor of YP2, is present in very small amounts in the hemolymph. Lipophorin and storage protein also are found in the ovary of H. cunea, and these proteins do not immunologically cross-react with YP2. YP2 is detected in first instar larvae but completely disappears during the second instar, indicating that YP2 is intensively utilized during postembryonic development. Anti-YP2 antibodies cross-react with ovarial extracts of Bombyx mori but not with those of insects from other orders such as Cletus schmidti (Hemiptera), Lucilia illustris (Diptera), Anechura japonica (Dermaptera), Periplaneta americana (Dictyoptera), and Ducetia japonica (Orthoptera). © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Research and application of Chouioia cunea Yang (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in China

Chouioia cunea Yang (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is an effective parasitoid of many lepidopteran pests in China. Specifically, C. cunea has successfully suppressed populations of the fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), an invasive and quarantined pest in China. Fall webworm biological control programmes in China have been aided by the development of artificial rearing technology for C. cunea. While researchers have determined some aspects of this parasitoid’s biology, such as fecundity and ratio of female offspring, as well as rearing methods, there was less information on the behavioural and ecological mechanisms by which C. cunea regulates host populations. Here, we review the research and application of C. cunea since it was first discovered in China.     

美国白蛾丝素蛋白基因的鉴定、时空表达及取食不同寄主植物后的表达响应

美国白蛾Hyphantria cunea Drury被列为我国林业检疫性害虫,其l～4龄幼虫具有吐丝结网幕的习性.为探究丝素蛋白基因的表达特性,本研究利用PCR技术克隆了美国白蛾的HcP25(Genbank登录号:OL625670)、HcFib-H(Genbank登录号:OL625672)、HcFib-L(Genbank登录号:OL625671)3条丝素蛋白基因,并进行生物信息学分析;利用RT-qPCR技术检测美国白蛾3条丝素蛋白基因的表达特性.结果表明:3条丝素蛋白基因序列比对均与车前灯蛾Arctia plantaginis丝素蛋白一致性最高,系统进化分析显示丝素蛋白HcP25、HcFib-H、HcFib-L在鳞翅目不同科之间在出现较大的分化.RT-qPCR试验结果显示HcP25、HcFib-H、HcFib-L 3基因相对表达量与网幕产生高峰期(1龄、2龄)相一致.3种丝素蛋白均在丝腺中特异性高水平表达,在头部及脂肪体中有少量表达.美国白蛾幼虫取食不同寄主植物后,3种丝素蛋白基因呈现不同的表达规律;取食杨树Populus L.处理组中HcP25与HcFib-H基因相对表达量极显著高于取食其它寄主处理,而取食山樱花Cerasus serrulata var.lannesiana和日本晚樱Cerasus serrulata处理组中HcFib-L基因表达量最高.研究结果为进一步探究丝素蛋白介导的美国白蛾对不同寄主的适应机制及其扩散机制奠定基础,也为开发美国白蛾防治新方法提供了潜在的基因靶标.     

没食子酸对美国白蛾幼虫营养效应及解毒酶活性的影响

美国白蛾是我国重大外来入侵害虫,寄主范围十分广泛。酚类物质是最广泛的植物次生代谢物之一,在植物抵御昆虫取食的化学防御中具有重要作用。本研究通过人工饲料添加没食子酸的方法,探究不同浓度的没食子酸对美国白蛾幼虫的营养效应及解毒酶和乙酰胆碱酯酶活性的影响。结果表明,各浓度(1.0%、1.5%、2.0%、2.5%、3.0%)没食子酸对美国白蛾4龄幼虫的近似消化率、食物利用率、相对取食量和相对生长率均具有显著影响(P<0.05),近似消化率和相对取食量不同程度下降,食物利用率和相对生长率则不同程度上升。不同浓度的没食子酸处理对美国白蛾幼虫的乙酰胆碱酯酶、羧酸酯酶、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶和细胞色素P450的活性均具有显著影响(P<0.05)。1.0%没食子酸作用时间不同,美国白蛾4龄幼虫的乙酰胆碱酯酶、羧酸酯酶、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶和细胞色素P450的活性差异显著(P<0.05)。没食子酸能够始终诱导细胞色素P450的活性,而羧酸酯酶的活性却受到抑制。不同浓度的没食子酸对乙酰胆碱酯酶作用总体上不明显,但较低浓度时(1.0%)对乙酰胆碱酯酶活性却随处理时间延长而抑制作用加强。较低浓度(1.0%~1.5%)的没食子酸对谷胱甘肽S-转移酶的活性有一定诱导作用,但随着没食子酸浓度提高谷胱甘肽S-转移酶的活性却受到一定程度的抑制。没食子酸能抑制美国白蛾幼虫的取食,并且对解毒酶和乙酰胆碱酯酶的活性表现出一定的时间效应和剂量效应,表明美国白蛾幼虫可能通过调节食物利用和解毒代谢等多种途径降低没食子酸的毒害作用,从而对含没食子酸的寄主植物产生适应。     

周氏啮小蜂(海南种群)对椰子织蛾的寄生功能反应

【目的】周氏啮小蜂(海南种群)是寄生椰子织蛾蛹期的本土天敌。研究周氏啮小蜂(海南种群)对椰子织蛾的功能反应,能为该蜂室内扩繁和室外控害利用提供基础。【方法】在室内观察周氏啮小蜂(海南种群)寄生行为基础上,研究了营养(10%蜂蜜)、寄主蛹(初、中、晚)期对周氏啮小蜂(海南种群)寄生功能反应的影响。【结果】镜下观察1头周氏啮小蜂(海南种群)可寄生多头椰子织蛾蛹,寄生量随寄主密度的增大而增加,但当寄主密度达到一定程度后,其增长率随寄主密度的增大逐渐减缓,属于HollingⅡ功能反应。在无营养条件下,周氏啮小蜂(海南种群)对椰子织蛾初、中、晚期蛹的理论最大寄生量分别为1.5、1.4、1.2头·d~(-1);在10%蜂蜜饲喂条件下,周氏啮小蜂(海南种群)对椰子织蛾初、中、晚期蛹的理论最大寄生量分别为1.8、1.7、1.3头·d~(-1)。【结论】HollingⅡ型拟合结果表明,椰子织蛾初期蛹是周氏啮小蜂(海南种群)寄生的最佳时期,补充营养能够提高椰子织蛾的寄生力。     

不同食料植物对美国白蛾生长发育和繁殖的影响

2010年6月至7月,在室内研究了美国白蛾Hyphantria cunea(Drury)第1代幼虫对洋白蜡、欧美107号杨、法桐和白榆的取食量及不同的食料种类对美国白蛾生长发育和繁殖的影响。结果表明,美国白蛾对受试的各树种的取食量以洋白蜡为最多,完成一代平均每头可以取食2.21 g,其次为欧美107号杨1.95 g,再次为法桐和白榆,分别为1.85 g/头和1.68 g/头。3龄后幼虫对不同的寄主呈现出一定的偏好性,特别是5龄和6龄幼虫对不同的寄主的取食量表现出显著差异。不同的食料植物对美国白蛾幼虫和蛹的发育历期、存活率、蛹重、成虫寿命、产卵量等有显著影响。取食法桐对其生长发育和繁殖表现出明显的不利性,主要表现为幼虫期延长、蛹重减轻、单雌产卵量降低。     

Interactions between a fungal pathogen, foliar properties, and generalist herbivores

American [Castanea dentata (Marsh) Borkh.] × Chinese [Castanea mollissima Blume] chestnut (Fagac, ae) hybrids are a novel system in which to study influences of phytopathogenic fungi and woody plant hybridization on herbivore susceptibility, as the hybrids are well characterized with regard to resistance to the chestnut blight fungus [Cryphonectria parasita (Murr) Barr (Endothia) Diaporthales: Valsaceae] and variability is present. We chose two groups of resistance‐rated backcross chestnut that shared an F1 parent and had different American parents. Foliage from both backcross groups and the parent trees was sampled on three dates for use in feeding assays with gypsy moth larvae [Lymantria dispar (L.) [Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae], adult Japanese beetles [Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)], and fall webworm larvae [Hyphantria cunea Drury (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)], respectively. Foliar analyses were performed concurrently and included carbohydrate, tannin, and nitrogen content, toughness, and density. Blight resistance had almost no effect on herbivore performance or foliar chemistry. When the parent trees and backcross groups were compared, however, significant differences in gypsy moth performance and Japanese beetle consumption were evident. There were no differences in fall webworm consumption. Most foliar characteristics measured differed among chestnut genotypes at some point in the season, and all varied seasonally. No clear pattern emerges with respect to the relationship among blight resistance, herbivore susceptibility, foliar properties, and plant genotype, and more research is needed to separate these effects.     

Two Clip Domain Family of Serine Proteases and a Serine Protease Homolog from the Fall Webworm, Hyphantria cunea; cDNA Cloning and Characterization

Two types of serine proteases and a serine protease homologue cDNAs were isolated from Hyphantria cunea larvae induced immune response due to an injection of a microorganism through RT‐PCR and cDNA library screening, and their characteristics were examined. The isolated cDNAs are composed 2.1 kb, 2.2 kb, and 2.5 kb nucleotide each, which encoded 388, 390, 580 amino acid residues, and were designated as HcPE‐1, HcPE‐2 and HcPE‐3, respectively. They were revealed as serine proteases or a serine protease homologue with the clip domain through a database search. The deduced amino acid sequence comparison showed high homology of 72‐78% among them. Six Cys residues of the N‐terminal clip domain forming the disulfide bond, Cys residues of the catalytic domain, and Cys residues forming inter‐bridge between clip domain and catalytic domain were also well preserved. Three amino acid residues, His, Asp, and Ser, within the active site were perfectly conserved in HcPE‐2 and HcPE‐3, however, His was replaced with Gln¹⁷⁸ in HcPE‐1. The Arg residues (HcPE‐1, Arg¹³²; HcPE‐2, Arg¹³⁴; HcPE‐3, Arg³²⁵) known as the activation sites by proteolytic cleavage were preserved well in all three types of protein. In case of HcPE‐3, three continuous clip‐like domains existed in the N terminal. As the result of phylogenetic analysis, three clip domain family of protein from H. cunea make groups with arthropod proclotting enzyme precursor. Northern blot analysis showed all three genes were induced through an injection of Escherichia coli, but expression patterns were varied.