Behavioural and Electroantennogram Responses of Male Cigarette Beetle (Lasioderma serricorne F.) to Optically Active Serricornins

Pievious work with MAPI, a serine protease inhibitor, has shown that inactivation of membrane bound protease by MAPI resulted in inhibition of normal sporulation of Bacillus subtilis IFO 3027 [Shimizu et al, Agric. Biol. Chem., 48, 365 (1984)]. In the cells cultured with MAPI, the cellular amount of IP-I, a cytoplasmic serine protease which is sensitive to EDTA was lower than the control cells. An endogenous proteinaceous inhibitor having specific inhibitory activity against IP-I was produced during the sporulation and its amount in the MAPI-treated cells was higher than that of control cells. The proteinaceous inhibitor was inactivated only by membrane bound protease. Consequently, IP-I was activated through degradation of proteinaceous inhibitor by membrane bound protease. It seems probable that the proteinaceous inhibitor and membrane bound protease are involved in the regulation of a protease system in sporulating cells of B. subtilis.     

Activity of Stereoisomers of Serricornin,Sex Pheromone of the Cigarette Beetle ( Lasioderma serricorne F.)

Formation of quinoprotein methanol dehydrogrnase (MDH) in Methylobacillus glycogenes, an obligate methylotroph, was strictly controlled by calcium (Ca) in the culture medium. Both the growth of the organism and the total enzyme activity of MDH were also repressed at less than 1 ppm of Ca, although specific activity of MDH showed a similar level. Ca in MDH was replaced with other metals during cultivation of M. glycogenes. When strontium (Sr) chloride was fed instead of CaCl₂, Ca in MDH was completely replaced by Sr and showed a specific activity over ten times higher than Ca-containing MDH, although there was no appreciable increase in the MDH content in cells cultured in Sr medium. Methanol oxidase activity was also elevated in the cells that were cultured in the medium with Sr.     

Susceptibility to insecticides of Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoptera anobiidae) grown on vitamin-deficient diets.

Variations in the susceptibility to pyrethrum and chlordane (two contact insecticides) of Lasioderma serricorne grown on different vitamin-deficient diets were studied and reasons for such variation were proposed.     

Assessment of the efficacy of Japanese Bacillus thuringiensis isolates against the cigarette beetle,Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae)

A total of 2,652 Japanese isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis, belonging to at least 54 H serogroups, were examined for assessment of the toxicity against the cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae). When tested with spore/parasporal inclusion mixtures, strong larvicidal activities were associated with 28 isolates (1.1%). Serologically, these toxic isolates fell into 4 known H serovars: thuringiensis (9 isolates), kurstaki (2), kenyae (2), and darmstadiensis (15). Purified parasporal inclusions of the 10 selected isolates exhibited no larvicidal activity, while the supernatants of liquid cultures showed larvicidal and/or growth inhibitory effects. The activities were fully retained after heat treatment at 100 degrees C for 10 min. Overall results suggest that beta-exotoxin (or thuringiensin)-related substances are responsible for the toxicity of the present B. thuringiensis isolates against the cigarette beetle.     

Toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis and protoplast fusant against Spodoptera litura (F.)

U.S. PUNTAMBEKAR, S.N. MUKHERJEE AND P.K. RANJEKAR. 1995. The octopine-positive tumorogenic intergeneric hybrid (AB0242) derived by protoplast fusion between Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Bacillus thuringiensis was found to be toxic towards the lepidopteran larvae of Spodoptera litura . Twenty-four-hour-grown cells of AB0242 showed 80% mortality, whereas a spore suspension of the parent B. thuringiensis , grown for 72 h, exhibited 93% mortality when tested against the neonate larvae of the test insect.     

Digestive proteinases in Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae)

The cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius), is a common pest of stored foods. A study of digestive proteinases in L. serricorne was performed to identify potential targets for proteinaceous biopesticides, such as proteinase inhibitors. Optimal casein hydrolysis by luminal proteinases of L. serricorne was in pH 8.5-9.0 buffers, although the pH of luminal contents was slightly acidic. Results from substrate and inhibitor analyses indicated that the primary digestive proteinases were serine proteinases. The most effective inhibitors of caseinolytic hydrolysis were from soybean (both Bowman Birk and Kunitz), with some inhibition by chymostatin, N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone, and leupeptin. Casein zymogram analysis identified at least eight proteolytic activities. Activity blot analyses indicated one major proteinase activity that hydrolysed the trypsin substrate N-alpha-benzoyl-L-arginine rho-nitroanilide, and three major proteinase activities that hydrolysed the chymotrypsin substrate N-succinyl ala-ala-pro-phe rho-nitroanilide. The absence of cysteine, aspartic, and metallo proteinases in L. serricorne digestion was evidenced by the lack of activation by thiol reagents, alkaline pH optima, and the results from class-specific proteinase inhibitors. The data suggest that protein digestion in L. serricorne is primarily dependent on trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like proteinases.     

烟草甲的生物学特性研究

烟草甲在安徽每年发生2～3代,以3龄以上幼虫越冬,幼虫期5～6龄,极少4或7龄。贮存期2年左右的烟叶受其为害最重（虫口密度最大）。米象金小蜂为其天敌优势种。     

烟草甲体内共生菌的初步研究

烟草甲Lasioderma serricorne（Fabricius）体内有类似酵母的胞内共生物YLS,其对烟草甲有重要的营养和解毒作用。该文对YLS的细胞和菌落形态进行了观察,并通过菌落测定、液体培养和细胞质量测定等方法,以探明YLS的最适生长温度。结果表明：28～35C比较适宜YLS的生长,35C为最佳生长温度,而36～48h是研究YLS的最佳时间。     

云南烟叶中苏云金杆菌的分布及杀虫特性

采用4%NaCl培养基选择分离法,从云南7个生产烟区采集的450个复烤烟样中,分离出苏云金芽孢杆菌475株。分离出的Bt菌进行PCR毒素蛋白基因鉴定,其中含cryI毒素蛋白基因的Bt菌有7株,出菌率为1.47%;含cryV毒素蛋白基因的Bt菌11株,出菌率为2.32%;没有含cryⅢ毒素蛋白基因的Bt菌。对含毒蛋白基因cryⅠ及cryⅤ的18个Bt菌株用二龄烟草甲虫进行生物毒力测定,试验后9d有9个Bt菌件生物毒力测定校正死亡率均超过80%;试验后12d有5个Bt菌株生物毒力测定校正死亡率均超过95%。可见,用苏云金芽孢杆菌防治烟叶仓贮害虫是有潜力的。     

Die Rolle der hefeartigen Symbionten von Lasioderma serricorne F. (Coleoptera,Anobiidae) im Proteinmetabolismus ihrer Wirte

Zusammenfassung 1. Aufzuchtversuche an Lasioderma serricorne in Diäten mit 17 Protein- und 2 Hefepräparaten als Proteinquellen zeigten die Überlegenheit normaler Larven über aposymbiontische. 2. Entsprechende Befunde erzielten wir mit Peptonpräparaten und Caseinhydrolysaten; zum Teil vermochten sich aposymbiontisohe Larven nicht zu entwickeln. 3. In Diäten mit Gelatine wuchsen normale Larven langsam, aposymbiontische überhaupt nicht. Tryptophan verbesserte das Wachstum der ersteren und ermöglichte letzteren eine langsame Entwicklung; Histidin und Methionin blieben praktisch wirkungslos. 4. In einer Diät mit Caseinhydrolysat als Proteinquelle und Zusatz von Tryptophan in verschiedenen Konzentrationen lag das Optimum für normale Larven bei 0,4%, das für aposymbiontische bei 0,8%; 0,2 und 0,1% wurden von letzteren nicht vertragen, während normale Tiere auch in tryptophanfreien Diäten eine langsame Entwicklung zeigten. 5. Die Möglichkeit, ein künstlich hergestelltes Aminosäuregemisch als Proteinquelle zu bieten, wurde geprüft. 6. Ein Mangel nicht essentieller Aminosäuren blieb bei normalen und aposymbiontisohen Larven ohne Wirkung. Das Fehlen der essentiellen war für letztere letal, die Entwicklung normaler Tiere war mehr oder weniger stark verzögert. 7. Der Zusatz eines mit Methanol und Wasser erschöpfend extrahierten Hefepräparates hatte in Diäten mit Aminosäuregemischen als Proteinquellen Wuchsstoffwirkung; eine Zufütterung durch Hitze abgetöteter Symbionten war — in geringerem Maße — ebenfalls wirksam. 8. Die Symbionten sind in der Lage, Sulfate und Cystin als S-Quellen zur Methioninsynthese heranzuziehen, der Bedarf der Wirte wird jedoch nur teilweise gedeckt. 9. Die Befunde werden im Hinblick auf die Funktion der Symbionten diskutiert.

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The role of yeastlike symbiotes of Lasioderma serricorne F. (Coleoptera, Anobiidae) in the protein metabolism of their hostsI. Growth of normal and aposymbiotic larvae in diets with proteins, protein derivates and amino acid mixtures as nitrogen sources

Summary 1. Rearing experiments with Lasioderma serricorne in diets containing 17 proteins and 2 yeast preparations as protein sources proved the superiority of normal larvae to aposymbiotic ones. 2. Similar results were obtained with peptones and casein hydrolysates; in some of these diets aposymbiotic larvae were unable to develop. 3. In diets with gelatine as protein source the development of normal larvae was greatly retarded, that of aposymbiotic ceased completely. An addition of tryptophane enabled the latter to develop slowly and improved growth of the former; histidine and methionine were ineffective. 4. In a diet containing a casein hydrolysate as protein source the optimum concentration of added tryptophane was found to be 0,4% for normal, 0,8% for aposymbiotic larvae. Concentrations of 0.2% and less were insufficient for the latter, while normal ones were able to grow slowly also in tryptophane-free diets. 5. Growth conditions in a diet containing an artificial mixture of 19 amino acids were studied. 6. A lack of single not essential amino acids did not influence both normal and aposymbiotic larvae. That of essential ones was letal for the latter and delayed growth of the former to different degrees. The symbiotic fungi must therefore be able to furnish amino acids to their hosts. 7. A yeast preparation thoroughly extracted with methanol and water showed a growth promoting effect in diets containing complete amino acid mixtures as protein sources; an addition of artificially cultivated symbiotic fungi killed by heat showed the same effect to a lower degree. 8. The symbiotes are able to use anorganic and cystine sulphur for methionine synthesis. This amino acid is furnished to the hosts in a degree not fully covering their requirement. 9. The results are discussed with regard to the function of symbiotic organisms in phytophagous insects.

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Herrn Prof. Dr. H. Kühlwein, Botanisches Institut der Universität Karlsruhe, und Herrn Prof. Dr. K. Steffen, Pharmakognostisches Institut der Technischen Universität Braunschweig, sei für stetes Interesse und großzügige Förderung unserer Untersuchungen bestens gedankt. Der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft danke ich für finanzielle Unterstützung.     

Isolation and toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis from potato-growing areas in Bolivia

Bacillus thuringiensis was isolated from 116 samples collected in high altitude potato-growing areas in Bolivia. In these regions, main potato pests are the potato tuberworm Phthorimaea operculella, and the Andean weevils Premnotrypes latithorax and Rhigopsidius tucumanus. B. thuringiensis was found in 60% of the samples. The main percentage of samples with B. thuringiensis was found in larvae of R. tucumanus (78%). Bioassays were performed with 112 isolates. None resulted toxic to either larvae or adults of the two Andean weevils. However, 18 isolates from this study showed more toxicity against the beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua than the standard strain var. kurstaki isolated from DELFIN. Among these isolates, three were also effective against P. operculella, conferring better or equal protection to the tubers than the reference strain HD-1 isolated from DIPEL. The most toxic strains against S. exigua and P. operculella were characterized in terms of serotyping, crystal morphology, protein profile, and cry gene content. PCR was performed with primers amplifying genes from the cry1, cry2, cry3, cry4, cry7, 8, and cry9Aa families. The toxic strains presented bipyramidal crystals, at least a band of 130kDa in SDS-PAGE, and showed an amplification product with cry1 family primers. One of the isolates did not amplify with any specific primer belonging to known cry1 genes. Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) confirmed the presence of a novel gene and sequence comparison showed that this gene had homology to cry1G.     

Isolation of Bacillus thuringiensis from Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica

Sixty-two samples of Antarctic soils, mosses, penguin guano, algae and lichens were examined for the presence of aerobic endospore-forming bacteria; 36 samples (58%) yielded such organisms, and two samples from Edmonson Point (74 degrees 21'S 165 degrees 08'E) and one sample from Apostrophe Island (73 degrees 32'S 167 degrees 24'E), northern Victoria Land, yielded strains of Bacillus thuringiensis. Further isolations from two of the samples, appreciable variation in biotypes among the strains, failure of the strains to grow on routine B. thuringiensis media, and the fact that one of the sampling sites is very rarely visited by humans, suggest that the organisms were living in these soils rather than being chance contaminants. A representative strain, from Apostrophe Island, was identified as serovar pirenaica (H57).     

Isolation of Bacillus thuringiensis from intertidal brackish sediments in mangroves

Intertidal brackish sediments in mangroves were examined for isolation of Bacillus thuringiensis strains with novel toxicity spectra. A total of 18 B. thuringiensis isolates were recovered from eight sediment samples (36.4%) out of 22 samples tested. The frequency of B. thuringiensis was 1.3% among the colonies of Bacillus cereus/B. thuringiensis group. While five isolates were allocated to the four H serogroups, the majority of the isolates were serologically untypable or untestable. Two isolates belonging to the serovar israelensis/tochigiensis (H14/19) exhibited strong toxicities against larvae of the mosquito, Culex pipiens molestus, and mammalian cells (sheep erythrocyte and two human cancer cell lines) in vitro. The other 16 isolates showed no toxicity against the mosquito and mammalian cells. None of the isolates showed larvicidal activity against the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. Strong lectin activities against sheep erythrocytes were associated with two serologically untestable isolates and an H3 isolate.     

烟草甲触角感器的扫描电镜观察

利用扫描电镜观察烟草甲Lasioderma serricorne(Fabricius)成虫触角感器的形态和分布。结果表明,烟草甲成虫触角由柄节、梗节和鞭节组成,其中鞭节由9个亚节组成;在触角上共观察到毛形感器、刺形感器、锥形感器Ⅰ、锥形感器Ⅱ、锥形感器Ⅲ、锥形感器Ⅳ、钟形感器、B hm氏鬃毛和球状感器9种感器类型,其中锥形感器Ⅳ、钟形感器、B hm氏鬃毛和球状感器为新发现的烟草甲触角感器。此外,还讨论感器结构与功能的关系。     

Susceptibility of the cigarette beetle Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) to hypoxia

The susceptibility of the cigarette beetle Lasioderma serricorne (F.) to hypoxia was examined at three different oxygen concentrations (0.5?C0.8, 1.0?C1.3, and 2.0?C2.3?%) and four different temperature/humidity (RH) conditions: 30?°C/75?% RH, 25?°C/75?% RH, 20?°C/43?% RH, and 15?°C/43?% RH. The influence of humidity on mortality was also examined at three humidity levels (21, 43, and 75?% RH) at 1.0?C1.3?% oxygen (O₂) and 25?°C. Our results revealed that adult beetles were the most tolerant at 2.0?C2.3?% O₂ and that the larvae were the most tolerant at O₂ levels <1.0?C1.3?%. Mortality increased with increasing temperatures and decreasing O₂ concentrations. At 30?°C, 75?% RH, and 0.5?C0.8?% O₂, the 99?% lethality (LT₉₉) of larvae was 6.9?days; however, it increased to 20?days when the temperature was decreased to 25?°C or when O₂ levels were increased to 1.0?C1.3?%. Humidity also influenced mortality of both larval and adult beetles. LT₉₉ values for larvae at 25?°C and 1.0?C1.3?% O₂ were 24.0, 44.6, and 50.2?days at 21, 43, and 75?% RH, respectively. Results of this study indicate that a controlled atmosphere (CA) with reduced oxygen levels (<0.5?C0.8?% O₂) represents an effective measure for disinfesting stored tobacco as an alternative to conventional phosphine fumigation at temperatures >30?°C.     

Occurrence of Bacillus thuringiensis on Cured Tobacco Leaves

A worldwide survey was conducted to evaluate the frequency and distribution of Bacillus thuringiensis populations on cured tobacco leaves during post-harvest storage. In total, 133 tobacco samples of different types and origins were analyzed. Nine percent of the samples showed the presence of B. thuringiensis, and 24 B. thuringiensis strains were isolated and characterized. The majority of the isolates produced bipyramidal crystals, and three fourths of them showed a second type of crystal protein (cuboidal or heterogeneous crystals). Only three isolates showed the rhomboidal crystal morphology characteristic of the anti-coleopteran B. thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis. PCR analysis with primers specific for cry1 and cry3 genes revealed eight distinct cry gene profiles. The results of this study indicate that B. thuringiensis is naturally present at low frequency on the phylloplane of cured tobacco leaves and that its distribution is worldwide. Received: 26 August 1999 / Accepted: 5 October 1999     

土壤中对甲虫有活性苏云金芽胞杆菌的筛选

近几年来,甲虫已成为十字花科蔬菜的头号害虫。本文采集了湖北省各地区192份土壤样品,分离到苏云金芽胞杆菌(简称Bt)菌株74株,以甲虫代表——黄粉虫为靶标昆虫筛选了15株典型Bt,得到一株对甲虫有活性的Bt L1;生物测定该菌的半致死浓度(LC50)为221.20μg·g-1;聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)显示L1至少具有3个杀虫晶体蛋白;PCR扩增杀虫晶体蛋白基因,测序发现Bt L1中含有cry1Ac,cry1Aa,cry1Ia基因,推测Bt L1中对甲虫活性的杀虫晶体蛋白基因为cry1Ia。     

Isolation and characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis strains from olive-related habitats in Turkey

Aims: To isolate Bacillus thuringiensis strains from different olive‐related habitats (olive groves and olive oil factories) in Turkey and to characterize these strains by molecular methods. Methods and Results: A total of 150 samples, consisting of olive grove soil, green olive leaves, olive leaf residues, animal faeces, olive pomace and dust, were examined for the presence of B. thuringiensis. One hundred B. thuringiensis strains were isolated from 54 environmental samples (36%) and characterized in terms of crystal morphology, cry and cyt gene content by polymerase chain reaction, plasmid profiles and 16S‐internal transcribed spacer ribosomal DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (16S‐ITS rDNA RFLP). The highest percentage of samples containing B. thuringiensis was found in 38 out of 54 total soil samples (70%). Of the 100 B. thuringiensis isolates, the most frequent crystal shapes were irregularly shaped (24%), spherical‐irregular pointed (19%), cuboidal (17%) and spherical (16%). The cry1 plus cry4 genotype was the most abundant genotype in our collection (21%). RFLP analysis of the amplified 16S‐ITS rDNA revealed 11 distinct patterns for the isolates and 10 reference strains. Conclusions: Bacillus thuringiensis isolates showed a great genetic diversity and crystal shape heterogeneity. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first study on the isolation and characterization of B. thuringiensis from olive‐related habitats in Turkey. No correlation was observed between the cry genotypes and insecticidal crystal shapes of the isolates. Restriction profiles of 23% of the isolates were found to be different from those of the 10 reference strains used.     

Isolation and Characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis Strains from Aquatic Environments in Spain

Samples collected from aquatic environments from Spain were analyzed for the occurrence and dipteran toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis. From a total of 41 samples, 122 isolates were obtained, yielding a B. thuringiensis index of 0.22. Isolates were assigned to 13 different serovars, with serovar thuringiensis (serotype H1) the most frequently found. Toxicity tests carried out revealed that eight isolates (6.6% out of the total) were active against Tipula oleracea larvae. Serological tests assigned these toxic isolates to serovar thuringiensis. The toxicity found in these isolates against the tipulid was approximately seven times lower than that shown by the standard strain B. thuringiensis ser. israelensis IPS-82. Implication of Cry2A protein in toxic activity is hypothesized. Received: 3 December 1999 / Accepted: 5 January 2000