Effect of temperature on toxicity of pyrethroids and endosulfan, activity of mitochondrial Na-K-ATPase and Ca-Mg-ATPase in Chilo suppressalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The toxicity of deltamethrin, bifenthrin, and endosulfan to the fourth-instar larvae of rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis (Walker), was measured at 17, 27, and 37 °C. The three insecticides all displayed a positive temperature coefficient between 17 and 37 °C. The temperature coefficients of deltamethrin, bifenthrin, and endosulfan were 5.59, 1.68, and 2.85, respectively. However, temperature coefficients of deltamethrin and bifenthrin between 17 and 27 °C and between 27 and 37 °C varied. The inhibition of the above three insecticides to mitochondrial Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase and Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase from the fourth-instar larvae of rice stem borer was determined at 17, 27, and 37 °C. The inhibition of deltamethrin to the specific activities of Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase and Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase showed a negative temperature coefficient, but endosulfan exhibited a positive temperature coefficient. Inhibition of bifenthrin exhibited the contrary temperature coefficients between Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase and Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase and a negative temperature coefficient for the former and a positive temperature coefficient for the later.     

Effect of chitosan on growth and plasma membrane properties of Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenb.:Fr.) Vuill

The effect of chitosan (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg ml⁻¹) on mycelium growth, potassium efflux, pH of the incubation medium, and activity of plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase of Rhizopus stolonifer was evaluated. The mycelium growth of R. stolonifer was reduced on media amended with chitosan at 1.0 and 2.0 mg ml⁻¹. The highest antifungal index (65%) was obtained on media containing chitosan at 2.0 mg ml⁻¹. Potassium efflux induced by the addition of the three chitosan concentrations was demonstrated. The highest potassium effluxes were observed with addition of chitosan at 2.0 mg ml⁻¹. R. stolonifer grown 72 h on Potato Dextrose Broth without chitosan generated a decrease in the medium’s pH from 5.4 to 4.8. However, the addition of chitosan at all concentrations caused increases on pH of medium cultures. The highest pH increases were observed on media amended chitosan at 2.0 mg ml⁻¹ resulting in the raising of pH level to 6.9. Additionally, there was an important inhibitory effect of chitosan (1.0 and 2.0 mg ml⁻¹) on H⁺-ATPase activity in the plasma membrane of R. stolonifer (32.70%).     

Evaluation of etoxazole toxicity in the liver of Oreochromis niloticus

The effects of etoxazole were evaluated in freshwater fish Oreochromis niloticus from five different sublethal etoxazole concentrations in order to study the biochemical response, photometrically. No changes were observed in the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx, EC 1.11.1.9). These were measured in liver after 1, 7, and 15 days of exposure to sublethal concentrations of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1% of field application rate (134.75 ppm). This study also investigated the levels of neurotoxic effects by the determination of acetylcholine esterase (AChE EC 3.1.1.7) and sodium-potassium adenosine 5^′-triphosphatase (Na⁺K⁺-ATPase, EC 3.6.3.9) activities. The exposure of fish led to sharp depletion in AChE activity while there is no significant alteration in Na⁺K⁺-ATPase activity. Up to 80% decreases were observed in the AChE activity. Since no difference was found in the activity of glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT, EC 2.6.1.2), etoxazole did not show hepatotoxic effect. The results of the present study show that increase in the malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and decrease in the AChE activity can be used as biomarkers for monitoring toxicity in etoxazole exposure.     

Effect of fenvalerate on oxidative stress biomarkers in the brackish water prawn Penaeus monodon

The toxicity of fenvalerate to the prawn Penaeus monodon was evaluated using biomarkers of stress. In a preliminary bioassay test, P. monodon was exposed to a series of fenvalerate concentrations, which showed 4, 6.5 and 8.5 μg L⁻¹ to be sublethal, median lethal and lethal, respectively. Sublethal effect of fenvalerate was further evaluated in hepatopancreas, muscle and gills of prawns with reference to oxidative stress biomarkers. Significant induction of lipid peroxidation and glutathione-S-transferase activity was found in hepatopancreas, muscle and gills of prawns exposed to fenvalerate when compared to control (P < 0.001, P < 0.05 and P < 0.05). On the contrary, the activities of Superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, vitamin C, vitamin E and glutathione were found to be reduced in the experimental group of prawns when compared to control. The results suggest that the animals were under oxidative stress when exposed to sublethal concentration of fenvalerate.     

Comparison of kinetic properties of a hydrophilic form of acetylcholinesterase purified from strains susceptible and resistant to carbamate and organophosphorus insecticides of green rice leafhopper (Nephotettix cincticeps Uhler)

A hydrophilic form of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was purified from N-methyl carbamate susceptible (SA) and highly N-methyl carbamate-resistant (N3D) strains of the green rice leafhopper (GRLH), Nephotettix cincticeps Uhler. Both of purified AChE from SA and N3D strains displayed the highest activities toward acetylthiocholine (ATCh) at pH 8.5. In the SA strain, the optimum concentrations for ATCh, propionylthiocholine (PTCh), and butyrylthiocholine (BTCh) were about 1 × 10⁻³, 2.5 × 10⁻³, and 1 × 10⁻³ M, respectively. However, in the N3D strain, substrate inhibition was not identified for ATCh, PTCh, and BTCh to 1 × 10⁻² M. The K_m value in the SA strain was 51.1, 39.1, and 41.6 μM and that in the N3D strain was 91.8, 88.1, and 85.2 μM for ATCh, PTCh, and BTCh, respectively. The K_m value in the N3D strain indicated about 1.80-, 2.25-, and 2.05-fold lower affinity than that of the SA strain for ATCh, PTCh, and BTCh, respectively. The V_max value in the SA strain was 70.2, 30.5, and 4.6 U/mg protein and that in the N3D strain was 123.0, 27.0, and 14.5 U/mg protein for ATCh, PTCh, and BTCh, respectively. The V_max value in the N3D strain was 1.75- and 3.15-fold higher for ATCh and BTCh than that in the N3D strain. However, it was 1.13-fold lower for PTCh. The increased activity of AChE in the N3D strain is due to the qualitatively modified enzyme with a higher catalytic efficiency. The bimolecular rate constant (k_i) for propoxur was 27.1 × 10⁴ and 0.51 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ min⁻¹ in the SA and N3D strain and that for monocrotophos was 0.031 × 10⁴ and 2.0 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ min⁻¹ in the SA and N3D strain. AChE from the N3D strain was 53-fold less sensitive than SA strain to inhibition by propoxur. In contrast, AChE from the N3D strain was 65-fold more sensitive to inhibition by monocrotophos than AChE from the SA strain. This indicated negatively correlated cross-insensitivity of AChE to propoxur and monocrotophos.     

Biological activity of the essential oil from the leaves of Piper sarmentosum Roxb. (Piperaceae) and its chemical constituents on Brontispa longissima (Gestro) (Coleoptera: Hispidae)

The results showed that the essential oil from Piper sarmentosum has strong antifeedant and toxicity effects on Brontispa longissima. The best antifeedant and contact toxicity effects were observed in the 1st-2nd instar larvae. The essential oil also displayed a notable fumigation effect on the eggs and pupae of B. longissima. It took the control-treated insects 43.34 d to complete one generation, while the insects treated with 2000 mg/L essential oil needed 73.58 d. The essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and 41 components were identified. Myristicin (65.22%) and trans-caryophyllene (13.89%) were the major components. Myristicin exhibited strong antifeedant and contact toxicity effects on both the 3rd instar larvae and the imagoes of B. longissima, when it showed a significant fumigation effect on the eggs and pupae of B. longissima. Another P. sarmentosum essential oil and myristicin all showed a strong inhibiting effect on the growth and development of B. longissima along with the activity of AChE, CarE, GSTs and Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase in B. longissima larvae.     

Inhibitory effects of Schiff analogs of salicylidene aniline on phenoloxidase from Pieris rapae L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

In order to gain insight into the development of insecticides with novel modes of action, the effects of salicylidene aniline (a), salicylidene-4-chloroaniline (b), salicylidene-4-bromoaniline (c), and salicylidene-4-nitroaniline (d) on partially purified phenoloxidase (PO) from Pieris rapae L. were investigated. The results showed that the 4 compounds could inhibit PO activity, and the inhibitor concentrations leading to a loss of 50% activity (IC₅₀) were estimated to be 0.025 mmol L⁻¹, 0.732 mmol L⁻¹, 0.471 mmol L⁻¹, and 0.675 mmol L⁻¹, respectively. Meanwhile, all the inhibitors showed reversible competitive inhibition, except (d), which showed reversible mixed inhibition. The K_I values were determined as 0.106 mmol L⁻¹, 10.059 mmol L⁻¹, 8.390 mmol L⁻¹, and 20.198 mmol L⁻¹ for the four compounds, respectively. The UV-vis spectra of (a) and (d) in the presence of copper ions and the enzyme showed that (a) could directly chelate the copper ions of PO; however, (d) could neither chelate the additional copper ions nor the copper ions of PO.     

Alterations of offspring heart muscle electrical activity transferred by rat male genitors chronically treated with lindane (γ-hexachlorocyclohexane) trace concentrations

Using intracellular microelectrodes, we studied transmembrane resting and action potentials (AP) of left ventricle papillary muscles isolated from the heart of adult lindane-treated (TMG) and untreated (UMG) male genitor rat offspring, obtained by mating untreated female with males chronically treated and untreated with lindane (2 ppb) trace concentrations through beverage. The AP magnitude and duration (APD) were similar in both groups and their response to low temperature (22 °C) unchanged. Lowering the external Ca²⁺ concentration from 2.5 to 0.625 mM prolonged APD in the TMG group but not in the UMG group. In the TMG group, (i) cumulative addition of Sr²⁺ (1 mM) to the physiological solution prolonged APD; (ii) apamin (4 μM) and charybdotoxin (4 μM) prolonged the APD. In conclusion, our data revealed that an altered sensitivity of the Ca²⁺-induced Ca²⁺ inactivation of L-type Ca²⁺ channels and of Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels to Ca²⁺ has been transferred to TMG offspring.     

Biochemical alteration induced by monocrotophos in the blood plasma of fish, Channa punctatus (Bloch)

Monocrotophos (MCP), commonly known as azodrin, is one of the organophosphate (OP) pesticides extensively used in agricultural practices throughout the world. Channa punctatus were exposed to sublethal concentrations (0.96 and 1.86 mg/L) of monocrotophos for 15 and 60 days to assess the alterations in the level of some biochemical parameters in blood plasma. Significant alterations in all the biochemical parameters were found to be dose dependent. Hypoglycemia and hypocholesteremia were observed in plasma of fish at both exposure periods (15 and 60 days). Increased activities of glutamate-oxalacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT), acid and alkaline phosphatase of blood plasma indicated hepatic tissue damage. Decrease in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) content in plasma further indicated lower metabolic rate after 60 days of exposure. Significant decline in triglycerides content was observed in fish exposed to both sublethal concentrations of monocrotophos. We suggest that analysis of biochemical parameters in the fish blood may be useful in environmental biomonitoring.     

Activity changes of glyoxalase system enzymes and glutathione-S-transferase in the bivalve mollusc Scapharca inaequivalvis exposed to the organophosphate chlorpyrifos

The present report was aimed to study possible changes in the activity of glutathione-dependent enzymes glyoxalase I (G I) and glyoxalase II (G II), forming the glyoxalase system, and glutathione-S-transferase in tissues (gills, foot, and digestive gland) of the mediterranean bivalve mollusc Scapharca inaequivalvis, after a 4- or 15-day exposure to a sublethal concentration (0.1 ppm) of the organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos (CPF). Control experiments were also performed on untreated animals. G I activity decreased in gills and foot, and increased in the digestive gland after 4 days of CPF exposure. Glyoxalase II activity in the gills decreased after a 15 days exposure to CPF, was unchanged in the foot and increased after 15 days in the digestive gland. Glutathione-S-transferase activity, which is involved in the detoxification of xenobiotics, increased significantly in all tissues after CPF exposure. The results suggest that sublethal CPF exposure of S. inaequivalvis does not compromise the cellular redox balance in these tissues.     

双氧木脂素E对东方粘虫幼虫体壁肌超微结构及Na+-K+-ATPase、Ca2+-ATPase的影响

双氧木脂素E（haedoxane E）是从杀虫植物透骨草Phryma leptostachya L.中分离出的一种对多种农林害虫和卫生害虫具有杀虫活性的化合物。本研究以东方粘虫Mythimna separata为供试昆虫,对双氧木脂素E对其幼虫杀虫作用部位进行了初步研究。电镜观察表明,双氧木脂素E对东方粘虫幼虫体壁肌具有致毒作用,能使肌细胞发生明显病变,细胞核皱缩变形,染色质浓缩,线粒体肿胀、大面积空泡化,肌质网扩张,肌原纤维排列紊乱,胞质内出现大量多泡体。酶活力测定结果也显示,双氧木脂素E能不同程度抑制Na+-K+-ATPase和Ca2+-ATPase活力。因此推测双氧木脂素E是一种作用于东方粘虫肌肉组织的肌肉毒剂。     

日光温室钾镁配施对土壤固相和液相钾、钙、镁分配及比例的影响

针对西北地区日光温室作物出现的缺镁问题,通过施用不同水平的硫酸镁肥及减少钾肥施用处理,探究钾、钙、镁离子在土壤固相和液相的分布及比例。得出以下结论:土壤液相镁浓度随着镁肥施用量的增加而显著增加,施用45 kg·hm~(-2)MgSO_4(400 kg·hm~(-2)K_2O)处理和施用90 kg·hm~(-2)MgSO_4(400 kg·hm~(-2)K_2O)处理镁浓度相比不施用MgSO_4处理分别增加26.64%、74.78%;相比不施用MgSO_4处理,施用镁肥后土壤液相Mg~(2+)占K~+、Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)总量的比例显著增加,施用45 kg·hm~(-2)MgSO_4(400 kg·hm~(-2)K_2O)处理、施用90 kg·hm~(-2)MgSO_4(400 kg·hm~(-2)K_2O)处理和施用90 kg·hm~(-2)MgSO_4(200 kg·hm~(-2)K_2O)处理分别增加32.03%、31.62%、32.84%;施用镁肥促进钾由固相向液相转移;相比不施用MgSO_4处理,施用45、90 kg·hm~(-2)MgSO_4处理土壤固相交换性钾含量分别降低15.78%、27.74%,差异达到显著水平;交换性钾饱和度分别降低13.39%、27.21%;液相钾浓度显著增加,分别增加18.84%、73.91%;K+占K+、Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)总量的比例显著增加,增幅分别为23.91%、31.21%;土壤固相K+/Mg~(2+)比例分别降低14.52%、26.61%,;土壤液相Ca~(2+)/Mg~(2+)比例显著降低,降幅分别为31.51%、32.29%;施用MgSO_4肥量相同,钾肥施用量减半,土壤液相钾浓度降低69.88%,K+/Mg~(2+)比例降低20.88%;施用镁肥对番茄具有一定的增产作用,并能促进作物对镁的吸收。     

四种拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂对枸杞蚜虫的毒力及对三磷酸腺苷酶和谷胱甘肽S-转移酶活性的影响

为寻找防治枸杞蚜虫的适用药剂,采用玻璃管药膜法,测定了4种拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂对枸杞蚜虫的毒力及对其三磷酸腺苷酶(ATPase)和谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GSTs)活性的影响。结果表明:枸杞蚜虫对联苯菊酯最敏感,LC50值为4.34 mg/L;氯菊酯、高效氯氰菊酯和甲氰菊酯的LC50值分别为17.08、40.50和184.84 mg/L。4种杀虫剂对枸杞蚜虫两种ATPase活性均有抑制作用,药剂浓度为1×10-4mol/L时,4种药剂对Na+-K+-ATPase活性的抑制率均高于对Ca2+-M g2+-ATPase的抑制率,其中对Na+-K+-ATPase活性的抑制率从高到低依次为:联苯菊酯高效氯氰菊酯氯菊酯甲氰菊酯,而对Ca2+-M g2+-ATPase的抑制率则是联苯菊酯最高(46.41%),高效氯氰菊酯最低(33.04%)。4种药剂对枸杞蚜虫GSTs活性的影响差异较大:联苯菊酯在低浓度时对GSTs具有诱导作用,高浓度时则表现为一定的抑制作用;不同浓度高效氯氰菊酯和氯菊酯对GSTs活性均表现为抑制作用,抑制率最高达85.02%;而甲氰菊酯处理后GSTs的活性则升高了193.07%~249.96%。     

Oxidative stress and locomotor behaviour response as biomarkers for assessing recovery status of mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis after lethal effect of an organophosphate pesticide, monocrotophos

Recovery study was performed at regular intervals to establish the time course of 50% and 100% recovery in neurotransmitter enzyme (acetylcholinesterase, AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) and locomotor behaviour response of mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis exposed to lethal concentration (20.49 mg L⁻¹) of an organophosphorous pesticide, monocrotophos (MCP) for 96 h. In vitro AChE activity studies indicated that MCP could cause 50% inhibition (I₅₀) at 10.2 × 10⁻⁵ M. A positive correlation was observed between brain AChE activity and swimming speed during the recovery study. Also, the recovery response of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6) and glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2) as well as lipid peroxidation (LPO) as biomarkers of oxidative stress were assessed in viscera of G. affinis. The results showed that the MCP besides its inhibitory effect on target enzyme AChE activity and induction in antioxidant enzyme activities as a characteristic of oxidative stress, which can be used as biomarkers in the pesticide contaminated aquatic streams.     

Effects of insecticides on plant-growth-promoting activities of phosphate solubilizing rhizobacterium Klebsiella sp. strain PS19

In this study, four technical grade insecticides, fipronil, pyriproxyfen, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam were applied at the recommended and the higher doses to investigate their effects on plant growth-promoting activities of phosphate-solubilizing Klebsiella sp. strain PS19, isolated from mustard rhizosphere. All tested insecticides displayed a concentration-dependent inhibition in plant growth promoting traits, like, inorganic phosphate solubilization, biosynthesis of phytohormones and siderophores, of rhizobacterial strain PS19. For example, the phosphate-solubilizing activity of Klebsiella sp. PS 19 was reduced maximally by 95%, at 3900 μg l⁻¹ pyriproxyfen over control. At the recommended rate, the magnitude of toxicity of insecticides to plant growth promoting traits was less severe compared to the higher doses. The sequence of insecticide-toxicity expressed as percent decrease, determined at highest dose rate of each insecticide, over control was: pyriproxyfen (95) = imidacloprid (95) > thiamethoxam (94) > fipronil (85), for phosphate-solubilizing activity while for salicylic acid (SA) it was: thiamethoxam > pyriproxyfen = imidacloprid > fipronil. The impact of the highest dose rate of insecticides on 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) was almost equal to those observed for SA. Thiamethoxam decreased the indole acetic acid (IAA) synthesis maximally by 86% whereas fipronil had least toxicity and reduced it by 67% relative to the control. Among the experimental insecticides, pyriproxyfen at 3900 μg l⁻¹ in general, had the greatest toxic effects for plant growth promoting activities of the test strain. The study inferred that insecticides affect the plant beneficial activities of rhizobacteria adversely. These findings are likely to add a new insight into the pest management practices.     

Enzymatic dynamics of catechol oxidase from Gastrolina depressa

Properties of the phenoloxidase (PO) from adult of Gastrolina depressa Baly (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) as well as effects of some metal ions and inhibitors on the activity of PO purified by (NH₄)₂SO₄ were determined. The optimal pH and temperature of the enzyme for the oxidation of catechol were determined to be at pH 7.5 and at 40 °C, respectively. The kinetic parameters for the oxidation of L-DOPA and catechol by the PO were 15.01 and 9.17 mM, respectively. The PO activity was strongly inhibited by Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺, different to Mg²⁺ slightly. Both ascorbic acid and cysteine exhibited competitive inhibition and the inhibitory constants (K_i) were determined to be 2.22 mM and 0.40 mM, respectively.     

In vitro and in vivo effects of some pesticides on carbonic anhydrase enzyme from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) gills

Here we investigated the in vitro and in vivo effects of the pesticides, deltamethrin, diazinon, propoxur and cypermethrin, on the activity of rainbow trout (rt) gill carbonic anhydrase (CA). The enzyme was purified from rainbow trout gills using Sepharose 4B-aniline-sulfanilamide affinity chromatography method. The overall purification was approx. 214-fold. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed a single band corresponding to a molecular weight of approx. 29 kDa. The four pesticides dose-dependently inhibited in vitro CA activity. IC₅₀ values for deltamethrin, diazinon, propoxur and cypermethrin were 0.137, 0.267, 0.420 and 0.460 μM, respectively. In vitro results showed that pesticides inhibit rtCA activity with rank order of deltamethrin > diazinon > propoxur > cypermethrin. Besides, in vivo studies of deltamethrin were performed on CA activity of rainbow trout gill. rtCA was significantly inhibited at three concentrations (0.25, 1.0 and 2.5 μg/L) at 24 and 48 h.     

施氮量对盐角草生长及钠离子累积的影响

为了研究施氮对盐角草生长及其钠离子累积的影响,本研究通过5个氮肥水平大田小区试验分析了不同施氮量对盐角草生长和钠离子累积的影响.结果表明:施氮能够显著增加盐角草茎秆、籽粒和同化枝的产量;在0 ～ 600 kg/hm2范围内,盐角草的生物量及籽粒产量随着施氮量增加而呈现直线增长的趋势.施氮对盐角草茎秆、籽粒和同化枝中的Na+含量无显著影响,但盐角草同化枝中的Na+含量显著高于茎秆和籽粒.施氮能够促进盐角草各部分对Na+的累积,600 kg/hm2的施氮量条件下,盐角草的Na+累积量平均达到了9668 kg/hm2,较不施氮的2045 kg/hm2增加了370％.因此,本研究表明,施氮能够促进盐角草对盐渍土的改良效果.     

Ultra-structural changes in the integument induced by the use of three of six forms of allylisothiocyanate tested against Plutella xylostella and Pieris rapae larvae

The insecticidal activity of four forms of Hong Jing (HJ) allylisothiocyanate (AITC), AITC + cypermethrin (HJ_A, HJ_B, and HJ_C) with ratio of (1:1, 4:1, and 2:1), pure AITC (HJ_D), and two forms of Hong Du (HD) AITC, AITC + chlorpyrifos (HD_A and HD_B) with ratio of (2:1 and 2:1), respectively, were studied on the major cruciferous insect larvae Plutella xylostella (L.) and Pieris rapae (L.) by combining both spraying and dipping methods. The P. rapae was more susceptible than P. xylostella larvae. The LC₅₀ values 72 h after treatment of AITC forms (HJ_B, HJ_A, HJ_C, HJ_D, HD_B, and HD_A) on the P. rapae were; 0.07, 0.08, 0.16, 0.83, 0.26, 1.08 gL⁻¹, and 0.69, 0.26, 5.45, 0.93, 3.01, 5.98 gL⁻¹ on the P. xylostella, respectively. The toxicity of some of the AITC forms was very close to or better than that of the commercial contact insecticides such as chlorpyrifos (LC₅₀ = 0.03 and 0.04 gL⁻¹ on P. rapae and P. xylostella, respectively), and cypermethrin (0.65 and 0.78 gL⁻¹, respectively, against P. rapae and P. xylostella). The ultrastructural studies on the integument of the third larval instar of P. xylostella treated by sub-lethal concentration (LC₂₀) of HJ_B, HJ_D, and HD_B were carried out by using transmission electron microscope. The more pronounced alterations in the hypodermis and mitochondria cells. They exhibited changes in all treated samples. The hypodermis was almost completely destroyed, and the mitochondria exhibited morphological alterations, represented by enlargement, matrix rarefaction and vacuolization of the mitochondria matrix, quantity of cristae reduced, and density electron matrix lessened. These AITC forms have potential as contact insecticides, and the ultra structural observations confirm the insecticidal efficiency of different AITC forms on P. rapae and P. xylostella.