Recycling of urea associated with the host plant urease in the silkworm larvae,Bombyx mori

Urea concentration and urease activity in the midgut content were compared between larvae of the silkworm, Bombyx mori fed an artificial diet and those fed fresh mulberry leaves. A considerable amount of urea was found in the midgut content of the both larvae, however it was significantly lower in the larvae fed fresh mulberry leaves than in the larvae fed the artificial diet; average urea concentrations in the midgut content of the larvae fed fresh mulberry leaves and the artificial diet were 2.9 and 4.6 &mgr;mol/g, respectively. Urea in the midgut content seems to be secreted from the insect itself since the amount of urea in both diets were negligibly small. Urease activity was detected only in the midgut content of the larvae fed fresh mulberry leaves but not in other tissues of the larvae. On the other hand, no urease activity was detected in the midgut content of the larvae fed the artificial diet. Subsequently, to elucidate the role of mulberry leaf urease in the midgut lumen, larvae that had been reared on the artificial diet were switched to fresh mulberry leaves. The diet switch caused a rapid decrease in urea concentration in the midgut content and an increase in ammonia concentration in the midgut content, suggesting that secreted urea could be hydrolyzed to ammonia by mulberry leaf urease in the midgut lumen. Furthermore, to investigate the physiological significance of mulberry leaf urease on urea metabolism of the silkworm, (15)N-urea was injected into the hemocoel, and after 12 h the larvae were dissected for (15)N analysis. A considerable amount of (15)N was found to be incorporated into the silk-protein of the larvae fed fresh mulberry leaves, but there was little incorporation of (15)N into the silk-protein of the larvae fed the artificial diet. These data indicate that urea is converted into ammonia by the action of mulberry leaf urease in the midgut lumen and used as a nitrogen source in larvae fed mulberry leaves.     

Consumption of Bt Rice Pollen Containing Cry1C or Cry2A Protein Poses a Low to Negligible Risk to the Silkworm Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombyxidae)

By consuming mulberry leaves covered with pollen from nearby genetically engineered, insect-resistant rice lines producing Cry proteins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), larvae of the domestic silkworm, Bombyx mori (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Bombyxidae), could be exposed to insecticidal proteins. Laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the potential effects of Cry1C- or Cry2A-producing transgenic rice (T1C-19, T2A-1) pollen on B. mori fitness. In a short-term assay, B. mori larvae were fed mulberry leaves covered with different densities of pollen from Bt rice lines or their corresponding near isoline (control) for the first 3 d and then were fed mulberry leaves without pollen. No effect was detected on any life table parameter, even at 1800 pollen grains/cm² leaf, which is much higher than the mean natural density of rice pollen on leaves of mulberry trees near paddy fields. In a long-term assay, the larvae were fed Bt and control pollen in the same way but for their entire larval stage (approximately 27 d). Bt pollen densities ≥150 grains/cm² leaf reduced 14-d larval weight, increased larval development time, and reduced adult eclosion rate. ELISA analyses showed that 72.6% of the Cry protein was still detected in the pollen grains excreted with the feces. The low exposure of silkworm larvae to Cry proteins when feeding Bt rice pollen may be the explanation for the relatively low toxicity detected in the current study. Although the results demonstrate that B. mori larvae are sensitive to Cry1C and Cry2A proteins, the exposure levels that harmed the larvae in the current study are far greater than natural exposure levels. We therefore conclude that consumption of Bt rice pollen will pose a low to negligible risk to B. mori.     

Larval photoresponses of the polyclad flatworm Maritigrella crozieri (Platyhelminthes,Polycladida) (Hyman)

Phototaxis by larvae of the flatworm Maritigrella crozieri was used to determine spectral sensitivity, the ontogeny of the phototactic pattern, and the lowest light intensity to induce a directional response (intensity threshold). Adult M. crozieri live in shallow water with the tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata and have a planktonic larval phase lasting longer than 3 weeks. The primary spectral sensitivity maximum was at 500 nm, which is probably an adaptation to the spectrum available underwater at twilight. The phototactic threshold changed with age, as dark-adapted, 1-week-old larvae had a threshold (1.84×10¹⁷ photons m⁻² s⁻¹) an order of magnitude higher than that of 3-week-old larvae. Flatworm larvae are relatively insensitive to light as compared to other invertebrate larvae. Young larvae were positively phototactic at high light intensities and negative at low, a pattern typical of a predator avoidance shadow response. In contrast, older larvae were only positively phototactic, which would be useful for transport to shallow-water adult habitats.     

Comparisons of accumulation and excretion of iminosugars among mulberry-feeding specialist Bombyx larvae and non-specialist larvae

Silkworms (Bombyx mori L.) accumulate 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), a mulberry iminosugar, by feeding on mulberry leaves. DNJ is a potent α-glucosidase inhibitor that helps prevent diabetes. However, iminosugars are toxic to many insects. In this study, we analyzed the concentrations of three major mulberry iminosugars—DNJ, 2-O-α-d-galactopyranosyl-DNJ (GAL-DNJ), and fagomine—in the larvae of mulberry-feeding insect species (two mulberry specialists and six non-specialists), to clarify the differences in accumulation, metabolism, and excretion of iminosugars between specialists and non-specialists. DNJ and fagomine concentrations in the two Bombyx larvae were much higher than those in the other larvae. GAL-DNJ concentrations were low in all species. DNJ and fagomine concentrations in the excrements of Agrotis segetum (Denis and Schiffermüller) and Sarcopolia illoba (Butler) larvae were lower than in those of the other larvae. Further, iminosugar concentrations in the hemolymph of B. mori, B. mandarina Moore, and S. illoba larvae were analyzed. DNJ and fagomine concentrations in the hemolymph of the two Bombyx larvae were much higher than in that of S. illoba. DNJ concentrations in the whole bodies of the two Bombyx larvae decreased as they developed. Similarly, DNJ, and fagomine concentrations in the hemolymph of B. mori larvae decreased with growth.     

Effect of different artificial diets on diapause induction under controlled temperature and photoperiod in the silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

ABSTRACT. Embryonic diapause of the silkworm, Bombyx mori , is generally induced by temperature and photoperiod during the egg stage of the previous generation and not in the larval stage. However, when silkworm larvae are reared on an artificial diet instead of mulberry leaves, their diapause is strongly affected by temperature and photoperiod experienced in the larval stage, with a distinct long-day response for diapause induction. Moreover when larvae which have been reared on artificial diet under long-day condition are fed mulberry leaves even for a short period of time, most of the resultant female adults lay diapause eggs. These results suggest that the photoperiodic response of larvae for diapause induction may be strongly suppressed by some components in mulberry leaves.     

Deletion of the Bombyx mori odorant receptor co-receptor (BmOrco) impairs olfactory sensitivity in silkworms

Olfaction plays an essential role in many important insect behaviors such as feeding and reproduction. To detect olfactory stimuli, an odorant receptor co-receptor (Orco) is required. In this study, we deleted the Orco gene in the Lepidopteran model insect, Bombyx mori, using a binary transgene-based clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 system. We initially generated somatic mutations in two targeted sites, from which we obtained homozygous mutants with deletion of a 866 base pair sequence. Because of the flight inability of B. mori, we developed a novel method to examine the adult mating behavior. Considering the specialization in larval feeding, we examined food selection behavior in Orco somatic mutants by the walking trail analysis of silkworm position over time. Single sensillum recordings indicated that the antenna of the homozygous mutant was unable to respond to either of the two sex pheromones, bombykol or bombykal. An adult mating behavior assay revealed that the Orco mutant displayed a significantly impaired mating selection behavior in response to natural pheromone released by a wild-type female moth as well as an 11:1 mixture of bombykol/bombykal. The mutants also exhibited a decreased response to bombykol and, similar to wild-type moths, they displayed no response to bombykal. A larval feeding behavior assay revealed that the Orco mutant displayed defective selection for mulberry leaves and different concentrations of the volatile compound cis-jasmone found in mulberry leaves. Deletion of BmOrco severely disrupts the olfactory system, suggesting that BmOrco is indispensable in the olfactory pathway. The approach used for generating somatic and homozygous mutations also highlights a novel method for mutagenesis. This study on BmOrco function provides insights into the insect olfactory system and also provides a paradigm for agroforestry pest control.     

不同饲料饲养家蚕其肠道微生态优势菌群类型的组成及差异性

为探讨鳞翅目昆虫的生长发育及抗病性与肠道微生态状况的关系,以不同的桑科植物柘叶与桑叶分别饲养家蚕,采用纯培养分离检测技术、16S rDNA序列测定和系统发育分析方法,对4、5龄家蚕肠道优势菌群的类型进行了鉴定和差异性分析。结果表明:柘叶与桑叶饲养家蚕共有的优势菌群有短波单胞杆菌属(Brevundimonas)、寡养单胞菌属(Stenotrophomonas)、肠杆菌属(Enterobacter)和葡萄球菌属(Staphylococcus)4个类群。从桑叶饲养家蚕肠道中检索到的优势菌群还有气单胞菌属(Aeromonas)、短杆菌属(Brevibacterium)、柠檬酸杆菌属(Citrobacter)、埃希氏菌属(Escherichia)和克雷伯氏菌属(Klebsiella)5个类群,而从柘叶饲养家蚕肠道中检索到的优势菌群仅有假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)和土壤杆菌属(Agrobacterium)2个类群。饲料的改变导致家蚕肠道微生态细菌种群组成的变化,从柘叶饲养家蚕肠道中分离出的优势菌群与桑叶饲养的家蚕相比,出现较大差异且不如桑叶饲养家蚕的菌群丰富。推测这种改变可能与柘叶饲养家蚕生长发育不良、容易患病具有相关性。     

Host plant urease in the hemolymph of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Urease activity was detected in the hemolymph of the silkworm, Bombyx mori from the beginning of spinning to the pharate adult stage if the larvae were reared on mulberry leaves throughout the 5th-instar (the last larval instar). In contrast, no urease activity was detected in the hemolymph of insects fed artificial diets, resulting in accumulation of urea during the spinning stage. To identify the hemolymph urease, the enzyme was highly purified from the hemolymph of the spinning larvae that had been reared on mulberry leaves and the properties of the purified enzyme were compared with those of the mulberry leaf urease. Four out of six monoclonal antibodies raised against jack bean seed urease cross-reacted equally with the silkworm hemolymph urease and the mulberry leaf urease. Under reducing conditions, the hemolymph urease and the mulberry leaf urease migrated at 90.5 kDa on SDS-PAGE gels. The first 20 N-terminal sequence of the hemolymph urease revealed complete identity with that of the leaf urease. The optimum pH for activity and Km value for urea were almost the same for the two enzymes. In conclusion, these two ureases are very likely identical, strongly suggesting that the mulberry leaf urease passes through the larval gut wall into the hemolymph without being digested. In addition, oral administration of mulberry leaf urease just before spinning induced considerable urease activity in the hemolymph of the larvae, but the same treatment did not induce enzyme activity in the hemolymph of the larvae three days before the onset of spinning. These results suggest that the silkworm larvae acquire the host plant urease specifically at the end of the feeding stage in order to degrade urea accumulated in the hemolymph.     

Developmental changes in urea concentrations in the haemolymph of Daizo (T), an original strain of the silkworm,Bombyx mori reared on an artificial diet and on fresh mulberry leaves

Urea concentrations in the haemolymph of Daizo (T), an original strain of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, reared on an artificial diet and on fresh mulberry leaves were determined by a urease-indophenol method during the larval-pupal-adult development. Urea concentrations in the fourth and fifth instar larvae reared on an artificial diet (diet I) were between 0.10 and 0.15 mg urea N/ml haemolymph, and increased during the larval-pupal transformation to reach 0.33 mg/ml at the larval-pupal ecdysis. A further increase was observed during pupal-adult development and finally reached 0.48 mg/ml at day 7 pharate adult. In the fourth and fifth instar larvae reared on fresh mulberry leaves, the concentrations were low (0.05 mg/ml). From the larval-pupal ecdysis until day 8 pharate adult, further low urea concentrations (0.04 mg/ml) were observed. By starvation from 72 hr of the fifth instar larvae reared on another artificial diet (diet II), the elevation of urea concentrations (between 1.4- and 3.0-fold against the controls) was observed from just after starvation until day 1 spinning. From day 5 pupae, both the starved and the control insects showed a marked elevation of urea concentrations in the haemolymph, which was never observed on animals reared on diet I.     

A role of mulberry leaves in improving resistance to virus‐mediated disease in Allomyrina dichotoma

The purpose of this study was to develop a safe and effective method for preventing Allomyrina dichotoma nudivirus (AdNV) infection in the Korean horned beetle, Allomyrina dichotoma, found on the farms in the Republic of Korea. Mulberry leaf powder was added to fermented oak sawdust to minimize mortality in AdNV‐infected A. dichotoma. Mulberry leaves were found to contain 1‐deoxynojirimycin, which has anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, and anti‐tumor effects. Based on the proposed antiviral effects of mulberry leaves, a feed of fermented sawdust combined with 1% or 5% mulberry leaf powder was fed to AdNV‐infected second or third stage A. dichotoma larvae. The larval mortality rate was recorded over 10 weeks. The second and third instar larvae that were fed with the sawdust mixture with 5% mulberry leaf powder had mortality rates of 60% and 30%, respectively. In contrast, the control group that was fed with the sawdust without mulberry leaf powder had a mortality rate of 100%. Also, we confirmed that AdNV was not detected in the experimental group that was subjected to an outdoor application test for 8 months with mulberry leaf powder treatment. A reduced mortality rate after treatment with 1% mulberry leaf powder was observed in the field application. In addition, a comparison of the control colony and mulberry leaf treated group showed a statistical difference in growth of larvae at various states, and demonstrated the efficiency of mulberry leaf powder combined with fermented sawdust for treatment of AdNV‐ infected A. dichotoma.     

新桑树品种——川826的育成

经多年观察比较,新桑品种“川826”表现出遗传性状稳定、优质、高产、抗性较好等优点,2000年正式列为“十五”省农作物育种攻关项目“优质、高产桑、蚕新品种选育”中桑主攻品种,并进一步进行区域性比较试验。经过2002年至2005年在四川省乐山、三台、蚕研所等三点的比较试验和在四川篷安生产示范点的示范繁殖,“川826”与对照品种“湖32”相比,其产叶量高13.95%,万头产茧量高8.88%,万头产茧层量高8.8%,五龄担桑产茧量高13.51%,667 m2(亩)桑产茧量高28.2%,桑产茧层量高27.6%。特别是用“川826”桑叶养蚕后产卵制种成绩尤为突出,单蛾产卵量比对照高6.87%以上,单蛾正常卵粒数比对照高5.63%以上。2006年4月被四川省农作物品种审定委员会审定为合格品种。     

Effects of mulberry leaves to replace rapeseed meal on performance of sheep feeding on ammoniated rice straw diet

This study was conducted to investigate effects of leaves of mulberry tree (Morus alba) as a protein supplement to isonitrogenously replace rapeseed meal (RSM) on performance of growing lambs offered ammoniated rice straw (ABRS) (Trial 1), and to evaluate the digestive characteristics of the ABRS supplemented with different ratios of RSM and mulberry leaves in terms of in vitro gas production (Trial 2). In Trial 1, 45 Huzhou lambs were divided into five equal groups according to their body weight and gender. Lambs in each group were kept in three pens (male, female and mixed (one male and two females)), and received one of the following dietary treatments: 100 g RSM (A), 75 g RSM plus 60 g mulberry leaves (B), 50 g RSM plus 120 g mulberry leaves (C), 25 g RSM plus 180 g mulberry leaves (D), and 240 g mulberry leaves (E). All animals were given ABRS ad libitum along with 100 g ground corn per head per day. The intake of ABRS was slightly increased with the supplementary level of mulberry leaves, and hence total intake increased with the increasing level of mulberry leaves. The growth rates were higher in diets A and E than those in other treatments (P<0.05), with little difference between diets A and E, and the slowest in C. Animals of all genders showed a similar trend, though male lambs was higher in weight gain than the female. While feed efficiency was higher in diet A, concentrate consumption per kilogram of weight gain was lower when higher level of mulberry leaves was supplemented (diets D and E). Feed cost per kilogram gain was lower in diets E and A compared to other treatments. Degradation of dry matter in the rumen of sheep were higher for mulberry leaves than for RSM, but crude protein was less degraded for mulberry leaves than for RSM. The potential GP was significantly higher in diet A than those in B, C and D (P<0.05), and higher in E than in C (P<0.05) (Trial 2), indicating a negative associate effect of mulberry leaves and RSM on digestion. It is inferred that mulberry leaves may be used as a protein supplement to ammoniated straw diets to fully substitute for RSM, but these two supplements should unlikely be supplemented together to avoid the negative associate effect.     

Selective transport of the mulberry leaf urease from the midgut into the larval hemolymph of the silkworm,Bombyx mori

Just before spinning, larvae of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, absorb intact urease of the host plant (mulberry leaf) from the midgut lumen into the hemolymph. In order to investigate whether the transport of the mulberry leaf urease is selective, crude proteins extracted from the mulberry leaves were labeled with biotin and orally administered to the fifth instar larvae. The biotinylated proteins transported into the hemolymph were detected by ligand blotting using streptavidin. When the biotinylated proteins were administered to 5-day-old fifth instar larvae, a strong signal of a biotinylated protein was detected in the hemolymph 2 days after the administration. In contrast, when the biotinylated mulberry leaf proteins were administered to 3-day-old fifth instar larvae, no signal derived from the biotinylated proteins was detected in the hemolymph. The signal weakened when the biotinylated proteins had been immunoprecipitated before administering to the larvae, indicating that the signal came from the mulberry leaf urease. These results show that the transport of the mulberry leaf urease from the midgut into the hemolymph is selective and larval-stage specific. Subsequently, binding assays were carried out to test the binding ability of the mulberry leaf urease to the brush border membrane in the epithelial cells of larval midgut. The urease was not bound to the brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) from the midgut of 3-day-old fifth instar larvae, while more than 60% of the total amount of incubated urease was bound to the BBMV from the midgut of 6-day-old fifth instar larvae. The urease binding ability of BBMV correlated with the uptake of the mulberry leaf urease. This suggests that a urease binding molecule(s) exists in the BBM of the midgut epithelium, which is involved in the uptake of the mulberry leaf urease. In addition, the uptake of the mulberry leaf urease into the hemolymph was induced by 20-hydroxyecdysone.     

核受体因子FTZ-F1在斜纹夜蛾响应虫螨腈及辛硫磷胁迫中的作用机制

【目的】本研究旨在揭示昆虫蜕皮激素信号通路上的关键核受体因子FTZ-F1在斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura响应虫螨腈和辛硫磷胁迫中的作用机制。【方法】使用生物信息学方法鉴定斜纹夜蛾FTZ-F1基因,并进行序列比对及系统发育树构建;将LC₃₀浓度辛硫磷和虫螨腈浸叶处理的桑叶分别喂食斜纹夜蛾3龄幼虫,并分别收集取食药叶后1, 12, 24, 36和48 h时存活的幼虫,使用qRT-PCR技术检测幼虫体内SlFTZ-F1的表达水平;使用RNAi技术沉默SlFTZ-F1基因,并使用qRT-PCR技术检测注射dsRNA后SlFTZ-F1的表达水平;将LC₃₀浓度虫螨腈和辛硫磷浸叶处理的桑叶分别喂食沉默了SlFTZ-F1的斜纹夜蛾3龄幼虫,喂食后24和48 h统计斜纹夜蛾幼虫死亡率;选取8个斜纹夜蛾谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(SlGST)基因,使用qRT-PCR技术检测沉默了SlFTZ-F1基因的斜纹夜蛾幼虫这些SlGST基因的表达水平。【结果】斜纹夜蛾SlFTZ-F1开放阅读框长1 665 bp,编码555个氨基酸,等电点为6.39,理论分子量61.77 kD,SlFTZ-F1具有DNA结合域、FTZ-F1 box及配体结合域;系统发育分析表明,SlFTZ-F1与草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda的SfFTZ-F1聚为一个亚分支。与ddH₂O处理的对照相比,LC₃₀浓度虫螨腈处理后1, 24和36 h以及LC₃₀浓度辛硫磷处理后24和36 h,斜纹夜蛾3龄幼虫SlFTZ-F1的表达量均显著上调。与注射dsGFP的对照组相比,斜纹夜蛾幼虫在注射dsSlFTZ-F1后48 h SlFTZ-F1基因的表达量显著下降;分别将LC₃₀浓度虫螨腈和辛硫磷处理的桑叶喂食沉默了SlFTZ-F1的斜纹夜蛾3龄幼虫,48 h时与对照组相比斜纹夜蛾幼虫死亡率分别显著升高22%和28%;沉默SlFTZ-F1的斜纹夜蛾幼虫8个SlGST基因的表达量均显著下降。【结论】虫螨腈及辛硫磷显著诱导斜纹夜蛾幼虫SlFTZ-F1基因表达,沉默SlFTZ-F1后斜纹夜蛾幼虫对虫螨腈和辛硫磷的敏感性显著升高,解毒酶SlGST基因的表达受到显著抑制,说明发育相关的转录因子FTZ-F1在斜纹夜蛾响应常用杀虫剂胁迫中发挥了重要作用。     

Insect food for astronauts: gas exchange in silkworms fed on mulberry and lettuce and the nutritional value of these insects for human consumption during deep space flights

In this study, silkworm moth (Bombyx mori L.) larvae were regarded as an animal protein source for astronauts in the bioregenerative life support system during long-term deep space exploration in the future. They were fed with mulberry and stem lettuce leaves during the first three instars and the last two instars, respectively. In addition, this kind of environmental approach, which utilised inedible biomass of plants to produce animal protein of high quality, can likewise be applied terrestrially to provide food for people living in extreme environments and/or impoverished agro-ecosystems, such as in polar regions, isolated military bases, ships, submarines, etc. Respiration characteristics of the larvae during development under two main physiological conditions, namely eating and not-eating of leaves, were studied. Nutrient compositions of silkworm powder (SP), ground and freeze-dried silkworms on the 3rd day of the 5th instar larvae, including protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids, were measured using international standard methods. Silkworms' respiration rates, measured when larvae were eating mulberry leaves, were higher than those of similar larvae that hadn't eaten such leaves. There was a significant difference between silkworms fed on mulberry leaves and those fed on stem lettuce in the 4th and 5th instars (P<0.01). Amounts of CO2 exhaled by the silkworms under the two physiological regimes differed from each other (P<0.01). There was also a significant difference between the amount of O2 inhaled when the insects were under the two physiological statuses (P<0.01). Moreover, silkworms' respiration quotient under the eating regime was larger than when under the not-eating regime. The SP was found to be rich in protein and amino acids in total; 12 essential vitamins, nine minerals and twelve fatty acids were detected. Moreover, 359?kcal could be generated per 100?gram of SP (dry weight).     

Bt水稻"克螟稻”花粉对家蚕生长发育的影响

本试验以家蚕为供试对象研究Bt水稻"克螟稻”花粉对家蚕生长发育的影响.结果发现,与正常无花粉处理相比,无论是非Bt水稻花粉处理,还是Bt水稻花粉处理,对初孵家蚕幼虫的致死率无多大影响,而对家蚕的体重有较大影响,其中三龄期家蚕体重存在极显著差异.还发现Bt水稻花粉处理组家蚕在3龄时期大小很不一致,最轻体重为18.1mg,而最重体重为183.8mg.这是由于采用人工抖粉桑叶上花粉浓度不均匀造成的.鉴于实际生态条件下桑叶上的花粉浓度可能远远低于试验条件,因此,在实际稻桑共作环境下,Bt水稻"克螟稻”花粉对家蚕生长发育可能不会造成太大的影响。 Abstract:The effect on the development of silkworm larvae of Bt transgenic rice pollen containing cry1 Ab gene from Bacillus thuringiensis were investigated.Compared with normal treatment,mortality of newly hatched silkworm lar vae in either Bt rice pollen or susceptible rice pollen treatment were not significantly different,while the variances of silkworm larvae weight at third instar were significant at 0.01level.In addition,the weight of each silkworm larva at third instar in Bt rice pollen treatment showed a big difference,the biggest and smallest silkworm larvae were 183.8rug and 18.lmg respectively,which was probably caused by the difference of Bt rice pollen concentration on the mulberry leaves.As pollen concentration on the mulberry leaves in actual field was lower than in lab,the influence on the development of newly hatched silkworm larvae of Bt rice pollen is not likely significant in actual ecological cnvi ronment.     

Effects of optimum doses of nitrogen,phosphorus, potassium and calcium on silkworm,Bombyx mori L., growth and yield

Silkworm rearing has been an income source for small-holding farmers in Pakistan. Over the years efforts have been made to improve silkworm quality and quantity and thus develop better prospects for increasing yield and income. Mulberry leaves Morus alba L. in a series of experiments have been supplemented with various nutrients in different doses and combinations. Relative success has been achieved in this context. In our present experiments on silkworm Bombyx mori L., we fed the larvae on mulberry leaves supplemented with different doses of N (0.2%), P (0.1%), K (0.3%) and Ca (0.1%) at 26 ± 3°C with 65 ± 5% relative humidity. The results showed better outputs in terms of food consumption (72.55 g/10 larvae), coefficient of utilization (76.45%), body weight (70.07 g/10 larvae) and body length (8.56 cm/larvae) than where simple mulberry leaves were offered. Our net gains with these production parameters have been in terms of heavier cocoons with and without pupa (2.25 and 0.69 g/cocoon), respectively.     

桑蓟马在桑树中空间分布的研究

桑蓟马Pseudodendrothrips mori是桑树的一种主要害虫。它的寄生直接影响供桑叶的质量和产量。我们通过泰勒幂法则和Morisita的散度指标对桑树蓟马在植株和桑园内的空间分布进行检验,结果显示:P.mori种群在植株内和桑园里的分布都存在局部化。桑树中蓟马的分布在树内显示出幼虫蓟马位于低层(从上面叶子起5-10层),但成虫更喜欢上层(从上面叶子起1-5层)。同一植株叶子的不同方向上蓟马密度没有出现明显变化。桑园内蓟马主要分布在桑园东部、南部和北部的植株上,中部,西部植株上的蓟马密度较低。P.mori的成虫和幼虫在叶子上的分布呈现明显聚集化。     

Phototactic responses of larvae from the marine sponges Neopetrosia proxima and Xestospongia bocatorensis (Haplosclerida: Petrosiidae)

Abstract. Previous studies suggest that phototaxis in sponge larvae is generated by the bending of a tuft of long posterior cilia (LPC). The photoresponsiveness of these cilia is often assayed by examining their reaction to sudden changes in light intensity. Here, we document and describe the larvae of the tropical marine sponges Neopetrosia proxima and Xestospongia bocatorensis and examine the phototactic behavior of their larvae. Both species brood ovoid, tufted parenchymella larvae, clearly countering an earlier hypothesis that all petrosid sponges are oviparous. Larvae of N. proxima were positively phototactic and settled after 2 d, while larvae of X. bocatorensis were negatively phototactic and settled in as little as 4 h. In both species, LPC quickly responded to changes in the light intensity. When the light intensity is reduced, the larvae of N. proxima fold the cilia inwards immediately without beating, then flare them outwards, beating for a few seconds, and then gradually return to the neutral position while continuing to beat. In contrast, the larvae of X. bocatorensis flare the cilia outwards when the light intensity is reduced and fold them inwards when the light intensity is increased. Comparisons with reported ciliary responses to light for other species demonstrate that these responses do not show the hypothesized one-to-one correspondence with phototactic behaviors and are, therefore, of limited use in explaining the mechanisms that coordinate larval swimming.