The elm leaf beetle α-amylase and its activity relationship with insect feeding |
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Authors: | Iman Tatli Ali Moslemi |
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Institution: | Plant Protection Department , College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran , Karaj , Iran |
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Abstract: | The elm leaf beetle, Xanthogalerucella luteola (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is the most serious pest of elm trees. This pest causes severe damage to elm trees during its growth stages and as a result, in the middle of summer, leaves become skeletised and start to fall down. In this work, biochemical characterisation of digestive α-amylase of this insect and its relationship with insect feeding was investigated. The insect gut was isolated and its α-amylase was extracted and starch (1%) was used as a substrate for the enzyme. Results showed that the enzyme’s optimum temperature and pH was 35?°C and 5.5, respectively. Some ions such as NaCl decreased the enzyme activity whilst MgCl2 and CaCl2 increased the enzyme activity. Gut content electrophoresis showed that only one α-amylase is active in this insect species. There was a correlation between the amount of leaf eaten by the insect and the amount of the enzyme activity. |
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Keywords: | Xanthogalerucella luteola digestive amylase biochemical characterisation midgut |
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