Activity of Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxins against codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.) larvae

Solubilized protoxins of nine Cry1 and one hybrid Cry1 delta-endotoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis were tested for their activity against larvae of the codling moth (Cydia pomonella L). Cry1Da was the most toxic, followed by Cry1Ab, Cry1Ba, and Cry1Ac, while Cry1Aa, Cry1Fa, Cry1Ia, and SN19 were still less active. Cry1Ca and Cry1Cb showed no activity. In vitro trypsin activation increased activity of all eight active delta-endotoxins, and dramatically enhanced toxicity of hybrid SN19, Cry1Aa, Cry1Ac, and Cry1Fa. The differences between toxicity of proteins before and after trypsin digestion suggests that proteolytic activation in the C. pomonella digestive tract plays a critical role for the activity of Cry proteins against this insect.     

槐小卷蛾生物学研究

通过室内饲养和野外调察,明确了槐小卷Cydia trasias(Meyrick)在山东泰安的发生规律,结果表明:该虫在泰安1年3代,以幼虫蛀食国槐(Sophora japonicaL.)等槐属的叶柄及果荚,一头幼虫危害9～12个叶柄,群体爆发时造成大量叶柄脱落、秃枝、果荚变黑,影响国槐的观赏和经济价值。10月份以老熟幼虫在原蛀孔、树皮缝、果荚内越冬。     

Effect of rearing strategy and gamma radiation on fecundity and fertility of codling moth Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

The codling moth Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a serious pest of pome fruit worldwide. In an effort to reduce the use of pesticides to control this pest, the sterile insect technique (SIT) is used or considered for use as a component of area‐wide integrated pest management programmes. Rearing codling moths through diapause has been shown to improve the competitiveness of sterile moths released in orchards, and provides management alternatives that would allow mass‐rearing facilities to increase their yearly production of sterile moths. Because radiosensitivity in insects can be influenced by numerous biological factors, laboratory tests were conducted to examine whether the response to increasing doses of radiation, as expressed in the fecundity and fertility of cohorts of moths, is similar for adult moths mass‐reared through diapause or through standard (non‐diapause) production protocols. Our data revealed that the effect of increasing doses of radiation on fecundity and fertility of codling moths reared through both rearing strategies was similar. In the case of fertility, this is a particularly important finding for the expanded application of codling moth SIT. If mass‐rearing facilities use year‐round diapause rearing, the dose required to treat the insects prior to release will be similar to that used when codling moths are reared through standard production protocols.     

Thermal conditioning of fifth-instar Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) affects HSP70 accumulation and insect mortality

Abstract.  Levels of HSP70 protein of fifth-instar codling moth [ Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)] are determined after conditioning at 35 °C for different times and also after recovery at 22 °C. Protein samples from larvae conditioned for different times are separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis electrophoresis. Sub-lethal thermal conditioning at 35 °C for 40 min, 2, 6 and 18 h induces new protein bands in the extracts from treated codling moth larvae. Immunodetection with an antibody to a heat-inducible HSP70 indicates a stronger reaction after 35 °C for 2, 6 and 18 h than after 35 °C for 40 min or control and, during the recovery period at 22 °C, the level of heat shock protein decreases. Conditioning of fifth-instar codling moths at 35 °C also induces thermotolerance in the insects and necessitates longer times at a lethal temperature to ensure mortality. Thermotolerance is correlated with the accumulation of heat inducible HSP70 protein.     

Effects of carbaryl and cyhexatin on survival and reproductive behaviour of Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

The effects of carbaryl, an insecticide and an abscission agent, and cyhexatin, an acaricide, on the survival, reproductive behaviour and subsequent egg hatch and larval migration of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella L., were investigated under laboratory conditions. Dilution series starting with the concentration recommended for high volume application in the field were evenly sprayed in plastic cups. Depending on the concentration used, both pesticides resulted in high adult mortality, males being more susceptible. Although the total number of the eggs laid by C. pomonella females was significantly reduced in most treatments, the females exposed to different residues of carbaryl laid significantly more eggs during the first 24 h of exposure. This was not the case for cyhexatin. While in all treatments almost 50% of the eggs were laid on the side of the cups, the spatial distribution of the eggs laid under the lid and on the floor was concentration dependent. With one exception, continuous exposure of the moths to carbaryl significantly reduced the number of spermatophores per female. Less than one spermatophore per female was transferred at the highest four concentrations of carbaryl and the highest three concentrations of cyhexatin; whereas, the number of spermatophores per female amounted to about four per female for the other treatments. In contrast to carbaryl, which exhibited a high ovicidal effect at all concentrations, the ovicidal activity of cyhexatin was low. This was manifested in a high rate of egg hatch and the extent of embryonic development in most of the treatments. Furthermore, while carbaryl killed the newly-hatched larvae at all concentrations, cyhexatin acted as a larvicide at the highest two concentrations only.     

Comparative analysis of peach and pear fruit volatiles attractive to the oriental fruit moth,Cydia molesta

Cydia molesta is an important pest of peach and pear fruits late in growing season. We identified and quantified volatiles from immature and mature fruits of peach and pear using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Antennally, active compounds were identified by gas chromatography-electroantennogram detection and were further tested in the field. Consistent electroantennographic activity was obtained for nine compounds from headspace collections of the mature fruits of two peach and two pear varieties. Esters were the major components, but qualitative and quantitative differences were found among four odor profiles. Blends mimicking pear fruit volatiles were more attractive to both sexes than blends mimicking peach fruit volatiles in both orchards. Our finding indicated that mixtures mimicking peach and pear fruit volatiles attracted both females and males of C. molesta, and these host volatiles may also be involved in the host switch behavior from peach to pear in mid-late season.     

Carboxy-terminal extension effects on crystal formation and insecticidal properties of Cry15Aa

Cry15Aa protein, produced by Bacillus thuringiensis serovar thompsoni HD542, in a crystal together with a 40 kDa accompanying protein, is one of a small group of non-typical, less well-studied members of the Cry family of insecticidal proteins, and may provide an alternative for the more commonly used Cry proteins in insect pest management. In this study we examined the role of the C-terminal part of Cry15Aa and of the 40 kDa protein in crystal formation in recombinant B. thuringiensis. The contribution of the 40 kDa protein and of the Cry15Aa carboxy-terminal sequence for crystal formation, crystal solubilization, and insecticidal properties was assessed. No significant differences in toxicity against Cydia pomonella, before or after in vitro solubilization of crystal-spore preparations, were found. Although the 40 kDa protein significantly contributes to in vitro solubility and in vivo crystal formation of Cry15Aa, no direct evidence for involvement of the 40 kDa protein in toxicity of Cry15Aa was found.     

Evaluating mulches together with Heterorhabditis zealandica (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) for the control of diapausing codling moth larvae,Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

The potential of using an entomopathogenic nematode, Heterorhabditis zealandica Poinar, together with different test mulches (pine chips, wheat straw, pine wood shavings, blackwood and apple wood chips) to control diapausing codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) larvae was evaluated. Mesh cages were identified as a suitable larval-containment method. High levels of codling moth mortality were obtained when using pine wood shavings as mulch (88%) compared to pine chips, wheat straw, blackwood and apple wood chips (41–88%). Humidity (>95% RH) has to be maintained for at least 3 days to ensure nematode survival. It was also proven that nematodes had the ability to move out of infected soil into moist mulch, to infect the codling moth larvae residing at heights of up to 10 cm. Field experiments showed the importance of climatic conditions on nematode performance. Low temperatures (<15°C) recorded during the first trial resulted in low levels of control (48%), as opposed to the 67% mortality recorded during the second trial (temperatures ranged between 20 and 25°C). Low levels of persistence (<10%) were recorded in the mulches post-application. The study conclusively illustrated some of the baseline requirements fundamental to the success of entomopathogenic nematodes together with mulches for the control of codling moth.     

甘肃省苹果蠹蛾卵的空间分布格局

为准确掌握苹果蠹蛾Cydia pomonella(L.)的田间发生动态,本文对苹果园中苹果蠹蛾卵的空间分布格局和抽样技术进行了研究。结果表明:在第2代卵发生高峰期,苹果叶片上的苹果蠹蛾卵量显著高于果实上的卵量(叶片上着卵量占总卵量的58.2%,P<0.05),叶片上的卵主要分布于叶片正面(正面着卵量占叶片上总卵量的69.6%,P<0.05);在树冠不同方位上,东、南两面的着卵量最大,但在不同空间层次上分布的卵量没有差异。卵在叶片和果实上均呈聚集分布,且聚集强度随种群密度的升高而增加,其聚集是由环境因素造成的。文中还根据Taylor幂法则参数建立了苹果蠹蛾卵的理论抽样数模型。     

苹果蠹蛾颗粒体病毒CpGV-CJ01的分离和鉴定

苹果蠹蛾颗粒体病毒(Cydia pomonella granulovirus,CpGV)是控制苹果蠹蛾Cydia pomonella(L.)种群的重要生防因子。商业化产品病毒株单一,抗性的快速产生会降低CpGV的防效,高毒力或与之具有遗传差异的新病毒株可用于延缓病毒抗性的产生或发展,对苹果蠹蛾的控制策略具有重要作用。本研究从中国酒泉地区苹果园中的苹果蠹蛾野生种群及其实验室种群发病虫体中分离获得一株致病病毒,通过幼虫发病特征、病毒包涵体的形态学及分子生物学方法共同证实该病毒株为CpGV,且与CpGV-M相似,将其命名为CpGV-CJ01。其幼虫的发病体征具有CpGV感染的典型症状,包涵体的电镜形态学观察结果符合CpGV结构特征,利用分子生物学方法克隆得到Granulin基因和凋亡抑制蛋白基因(inhibitor of apoptosis protein,iap)均与CpGV-M具有99%以上的相似性,但是对于毒力的准确定量需要做进一步研究。我国新病毒株的发现为我国开展苹果蠹蛾颗粒体病毒的生物学防治创造了先决条件,并可作为延缓世界范围内CpGV抗性的候选菌株。