Biochemical and histological hepatic changes of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus exposed to carbaryl

The purpose of this study was to evaluate biochemical and morphological responses induced by carbaryl in the liver of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed during 21 days to sublethal concentrations (0.25 and 0.5 mg L⁻¹), testing also recover for 14 days in clean water, after 14 days exposure. The activities of the following enzymes were measured: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), and reduced (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Globally, our data showed that exposure to carbaryl decreased the SOD, CAT, GR, and GST activities, except for the SOD and GST activities after 14 days exposure to 0.25 mg L⁻¹. In contrast, after 14 days exposure the GR activity of the hepatic tissue from carbaryl-treated fish showed significant elevation in relation to the control. When fish were left to recover, a positive response was seen in the GSH and GSSG contents. The results of the recovery group suggest that the toxicity produced by carbaryl is reversible to some extent within 15 days. The liver histological analysis showed differences between fish concerning the cellular vacuolization degree (VD) of the hepatocytes. In fish exposed to carbaryl it was observed an increasing hepatocellular basophilia. No other histological alterations were observed when fish was exposed to carbaryl, except a few necrotic foci at day 7. The sections stained with PAS reaction showed that the vacuolization was always not due to glycogen deposits, thus suggesting lipid accumulation. The combined increased basophilia and glycogen depletion is a common, although non-specific, liver response to many toxicants. In short, this work shows a relation between histological and biochemical changes in liver and carbaryl exposure. The effects of carbaryl were observed at different concentrations.     

小菜蛾感染玫烟色棒束孢后的病征及组织病理变化

为了明确玫烟色棒束孢对小菜蛾的致病作用,分别以1×10⁵孢子/mL和1×10⁸孢子/mL浓度的玫烟色棒束孢菌株EBCL03011孢子悬浮液感染小菜蛾幼虫,观察了感病幼虫体表和体内器官组织的病变情况。结果显示,感病虫体颜色由局部浅褐色逐渐变为大面积深褐色,病虫出现缩短、强直等外部形态的变化。组织切片观察显示,接种后4 h,附着于体壁的分生孢子开始萌发入侵;16 h后,小菜蛾内表皮被分解,菌丝段进入血腔。与此同时,被幼虫取食进入消化道的分生孢子也增殖产生菌丝段,以菌丝段突破肠壁细胞,向附近的脂肪体入侵;随着玫烟色棒束孢继续在虫体内增殖,24 h后各组织器官遭到不同程度破坏;48 h后,感病幼虫死亡,虫尸体内的菌丝突破体表,在虫体外形成菌丝层。表明玫烟色棒束孢入侵小菜蛾有两条途径,第1条为体表途径,第2条为消化道途径。     

狭卵链格孢菌毒素细交链孢菌酮酸对稗草细胞膜脂质过氧化作用的影响

为明确狭卵链格孢菌Alternaria augustiovoide菌株AAEC05-3产生的毒素细交链孢菌酮酸(tenuazonic acid,TeA)的作用机制,利用离体试验,研究了TeA对稗草叶片细胞膜脂质过氧化的影响。结果显示,低浓度TeA处理对稗草叶片的细胞膜透性和脂质过氧化影响不大;用高浓度TeA处理稗草叶片24 h后,稗草叶片细胞膜透性和脂质过氧化作用显著增强。TeA浓度为100 μmol/L时,稗草叶片相对电导率和丙二醛(MDA)含量分别增加28.21%和63.58%;脂氧合酶(Lox)活性增高61.59%,且不饱和脂肪酸含量显著降低,亚油酸(18∶2)和亚麻酸(18∶3)分别降低19.56%和17.20%,脂肪酸氢过氧化物在叶片中大量积累。表明TeA可以诱导稗草叶片细胞膜的脂质过氧化作用。     

Biochemical and histological alterations of cellular metabolism from jerboa (Jaculus orientalis) by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid: Effects on d-3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4D) is one of the widely used herbicide of the phenoxy family with possible startling number of adverse effects on species other than the weeds which is designed to kill. The effects of 2,4D were investigated in jerboa (Jaculus orientalis), a wild animal of subdesert highlands. The jerboas have been daily treated intraperitonally with 2,4D 3 mg/kg body weight for 4 weeks. Plasmatic markers, and antioxidants defences systems were assessed and histological alterations were evaluated. The in vivo and in vitro effects of 2,4D on the mitochondrial d-3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (BDH) were also determined. Our results showed a strong decrease of triglycerides level and HDL cholesterol and an increase in GOT level and LDL cholesterol. The microscopic evaluation showed that 2,4D induced necrosis of seminiferous tubules cells in testis, hyperplasia of hepatocytes in liver and presence of multinucleated giant cells in brain. The results show also an inhibitory effect on BDH in terms of activity and kinetic parameters. All of these results show that 2,4D induces toxicity which affects energy metabolism, morphological perturbation and oxidative stress.     

长枝木霉对禾谷胞囊线虫卵的寄生和毒杀作用及其机制

为了明确长枝木霉Trichoderma longibrachiatum对小麦禾谷胞囊线虫Heterodera avenae卵的防治潜力和作用机制,在室内测定了长枝木霉分生孢子悬浮液对小麦禾谷胞囊线虫卵的寄生和毒杀作用,并通过温室盆栽试验测定了长枝木霉分生孢子悬浮液对小麦禾谷胞囊线虫卵的防治效果.室内试验中1.5×107 CFU/mL的长枝木霉分生孢子悬浮液处理12 d对小麦禾谷胞囊线虫卵的寄生率和卵孵化的相对抑制率分别为91.33％和88.35％.温室盆栽试验中1.5×107 CFU/mL处理对土壤中胞囊、线虫和根系中线虫的相对防治效果分别为89.84％、92.67％和88.30％;接种卵悬浮液和长枝木霉分生孢子悬浮液后,小麦幼苗株高、根系长度、地上部鲜重和根系鲜重的增长率分别为66.72％、159.31％、169.09％和170.19％;叶绿素总量和根系活力显著高于对照,分别为17.52 mg/g和356.25 μg·g-1·h-1.研究表明长枝木霉可作为小麦禾谷胞囊线虫的生防制剂.     

嗜线虫致病杆菌对小菜蛾的致死和亚致死效应室内评价

嗜线虫致病杆菌是与昆虫病原线虫共生的细菌,对小菜蛾等多种害虫具有广谱的杀虫活性。为了深入了解该菌的杀虫活性,在室内测定了嗜线虫致病杆菌HB310 ( 简称 Xn HB310)菌株对小菜蛾幼虫的致死和亚致死效应以及持效期。结果表明, Xn HB310菌液对小菜蛾2龄和3龄幼虫72 h的LC50值分别是3.32×104 和8.56×104 CFU/mL,其活性组分主要存在于菌株细胞和经50 kDa超滤膜超滤后的上清液中。此外, Xn HB310菌液对小菜蛾幼虫还表现出明显的拒食活性,其2龄和3龄幼虫的拒食中浓度(AFC50)分别为4.03×105和8.48×105 CFU/mL。将2.24×106 CFU/mL菌液喷施到甘蓝苗上,其在室内的持效期为3~4 d。用亚致死剂量(LC30和LC50)的菌液饲喂小菜蛾2龄幼虫,存活幼虫的生长发育指标、蛹重、雌虫寿命以及成虫产卵量均明显下降,推测这可能导致小菜蛾下一代种群数量减少。研究结果表明,嗜线虫致病杆菌HB310菌株具有开发成为杀虫剂的潜力。     

Cytogenetic effects of commercially formulated atrazine on the somatic cells of Allium cepa and Vicia faba

In the present study cytogenetic effects of atrazine herbicide, were examined on the root meristem cells of Allium cepa and Vicia faba. Test concentrations were chosen by calculating EC₅₀ values of formulated atrazine against both the test systems which determined to be 30 mg l⁻¹ for A. cepa and 35 mg l⁻¹ for V. faba, respectively. For cytogenetic effects root meristem cells of A. cepa were exposed to 15, 30 or 60 mg l⁻¹ whereas V. faba to 17.5, 35 or 70 mg l⁻¹ for 4 or 24 h. Roots exposed for 4 or 24 h, after sampling, were left in water for 24 h recovery and sampled at 24 h post-exposure. A set of onion bulbs or seedlings of V. faba exposed to DMSO (0.3%) was run parallel for negative control. Treatment of atrazine significantly and dose-dependently inhibited the mitotic index (MI) and induced micronucleus formation (MN) chromosome aberrations (CA) and mitotic aberrations (MA) in both the test systems at 4 or 24 h. Root meristem cells examined at 24 h post-exposure also revealed significant (p < 0.001) frequencies of MN, CA or MA despite considerable decline. Chromosome breaks and fragments were found to be major CA whereas C-metaphase, chromosome bridges and laggards were prevalent MA. Results of our study, indicate that atrazine may produce genotoxic effects in plants. Further, both the plant bioassays found to be sensitive indicators for the genotoxicity assessment as the outcome of majority of in vivo/in vitro mammalian tests are comparable.     

Increased activity and reduced sensitivity of acetylcholinesterase associated with malathion resistance in a field population of the oriental migratory locust, Locusta migratoria manilensis (Meyen)

The susceptibility to malathion, and the activity and sensitivity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 1.1.1.7) were compared between two populations of the oriental migratory locust, Locusta migratoria manilensis (Meyen) collected from Wudi County of Shandong Province in East China and Huangliu County of Hainan Province in South China. Huangliu population showed 8.5-fold resistance to malathion compared with Wudi population. AChE from Huangliu population showed 4.8-fold higher activity than that from Wudi population toward the model substrate acetylthiocholine (ATC). Kinetic studies indicated that AChE from Huangliu population had 2.6-fold lower affinity, but 5.0-fold higher catalytic activity toward ATC than AChE from Wudi population. Significantly increased activity of AChE in Huangliu population was also confirmed by non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Inhibition kinetics revealed that AChE from Huangliu population was 9.8-, 2.4-, 8.0- and 7.7-fold less sensitive to inhibition by paraoxon, malaoxon, chlopyrifos oxon, demeton-S-methyl, respectively, than that from Wudi population. Our studies revealed that a mild resistance to malathion in Huangliu population was associated with reduced sensitivity and increased catalytic activity of AChE. Our results suggest that alterations of AChE may play an important role conferring or contribute to malathion resistance in Huangliu population of the locust.     

Tetranychus urticae Koch induced accumulation of salicylic acid in frijole leaves

The contents of free salicylic acid and conjugated salicylic acid were determined by using TLC and HPLC at different time after attack by Tetranychus urticae Koch in the first true leaf of frijole (Phaseolus vulgaris. L) plant. A maximal nine fold increase in the free salicylic acid content in the attacked leaves was observed. The increase of conjugated salicylic acid was also significant. The content of free salicylic acid in the systemic leaves increased about 500%, while the content of conjugated salicylic acid in the systemic leaves increased by two to three times.     

Comparative studies of acetylcholinesterases purified from two field populations of the oriental migratory locust (Locusta migratoria manilensis): implications of insecticide resistance

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was purified by affinity chromatography from two populations of the oriental migratory locust, Locusta migratoria manilensis (Meyen), collected from Huanghua and Pingshan Counties, Hebei Province of China. The purification factors and yields were 1661-fold and 19.3%, respectively, for the Huanghua population, and 3897-fold and 39.6% for the Pingshan population. Both the purification factor and yield were significantly lower in the Huanghua population than in the Pingshan population. AChE activity was almost completely inhibited by 10⁻⁶ M eserine and BW284C51, but ?5.8% of AChE activity was inhibited by ethopropazine at the same concentration, suggesting that purified AChE from either population was a typical insect AChE. However, AChE purified from the Huanghua population was 62-, 2.0-, and 1.6-fold less sensitive to inhibition by the three organophosphate compounds, chlorpyrifos oxon, demeton-S-methyl, and paraoxon, respectively, than that from the Pingshan population. Significantly lower purification factor and low yield associated with reduced sensitivity of AChE to inhibition by the organophosphates indicated that AChE purified from the Huanghua population was biochemically and pharmacologically different from that of the Pingshan population. Reduced sensitivity of AChE appeared to contribute to organophosphate resistance in the locust from Huanghua County, where insecticides have commonly been used to manage outbreaks of the locust.     

Immunocytochemical localization of the Bacillus sphaericus binary toxin components in Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae midgut

This study describes the immunocytochemical localization of the Bacillus sphaericus 2362 binary toxin components, BinA and BinB, in Culex quinquefasciatus larvae that had been intoxicated with this entomopathogen. Ultrathin sections of C. quinquefasciatus larvae midgut embedded in the hydrophilic resin L.R. White were incubated with the antibodies anti-BinA or anti-BinB and then revealed with goat anti-rabbit IgG coupled to gold particles. Immunocytochemical detection demonstrated the presence of specific labeling in ultra-thin sections that had been incubated with the BinA antiserum. Gold particles were detected on the apical areas of cell membranes and inside the epithelial cell cytoplasm, particularly the mitochondria, of cells from the gastric caeca and posterior stomach in larvae exposed during 2 or 24 h to the entomopathogen. A similar labeling pattern was observed in ultrathin sections from both midgut regions when incubated with BinB antiserum.     

四种无机盐对南方根结线虫卵囊、卵孵化及其幼虫存活的影响

为了明确NH4HCO3、CuSO4.5H2O、CsCl、NH4NO34种无机盐对南方根结线虫卵囊、卵孵化及其幼虫存活的影响。在室内条件下,采用浸渍法测试了4种无机盐在不同浓度和时间处理的作用效果。结果显示：各种无机盐均对线虫卵、卵囊孵化有抑制作用,对2龄幼虫有致死作用。随着无机盐浓度的增加和处理时间的延长,线虫卵、卵囊孵化的抑制率和2龄幼虫的死亡率显著提高。其中0.05 mol/L NH4HCO3对线虫卵囊孵化的抑制效果最好,处理16 h达81.17%,24 h后达100%;对线虫卵孵化也有很强的抑制作用,处理16 h达93.33%,24 h后达100%。各种无机盐在不同浓度和处理时间内均对2龄幼虫有致死效果,且半致死中浓度LC50不同,其中CuSO4.5H2O的LC50最小,NH4HCO3和CsCl次之。表明CuSO4.5H2O对南方根结线虫2龄幼虫有较强的致死活性,南方根结线虫2龄幼虫对CsCl的敏感性较高。     

加州新小绥螨对土耳其斯坦叶螨的捕食作用

为明确加州新小绥螨Neoseiulus californicus （McGregor）对土耳其斯坦叶螨Tetranychus turkestani （Ugarov et Nikolski）的捕食潜力,采用捕食功能反应方法,研究了加州新小绥螨对土耳其斯坦叶螨各螨态的捕食作用。加州新小绥螨对雌成螨、若螨、卵的选择性捕食系数分别为0.44、1.25和1.35。在不同温度条件下,加州新小绥螨对土耳其斯坦叶螨的功能反应均属于Holling-Ⅱ型;28 ℃时捕食能力最强,对土耳其斯坦叶螨雌成螨、若螨和卵的攻击系数分别是0.6279、0.7203和0.7554,最大日捕食量分别为10.81头、28.49头和 40.82粒。在相同温度下,加州新小绥螨雌成螨寻找效应随着猎物密度的增加而降低;在相同密度下,寻找效应随温度的升高先增加后减小,在28 ℃时寻找效应最高,为0.535。加州新小绥螨的捕食作用存在较强的种内干扰作用（m=0.520）,随着捕食者密度的增大,平均捕食量逐渐减少,捕食作用率也相应降低。研究表明加州新小绥螨对土耳其斯坦叶螨具有很好的控制潜力。     

两株棒束孢菌的鉴定及其对茶卷叶蛾和茶小卷叶蛾的致病力

为明确分离自茶卷叶蛾和中华大刀螳僵虫的2株虫生真菌的归属及生防潜力,采用形态学特征和rDNA-ITS序列分析其分类地位,测定了其对茶卷叶蛾和茶小卷叶蛾幼虫的致病力,并初步筛选了其最适培养条件.结果表明:2株真菌均为环链棒束孢Isaria cateniannulata,分别命名为ICBS918和ICTL911.在1.0×10⁸孢子/mL浓度下,ICBS918和ICTL911对茶卷叶蛾幼虫的累计校正死亡率均达100%,LT₅₀分别为3.13 d和3.15 d;对茶小卷叶蛾幼虫的累计校正死亡率分别为100%和95%,LT₅₀分别为3.25 d和3.31 d.接菌后8 d,2菌株对茶卷叶蛾幼虫的LC₅₀分别为0.47×10⁵孢子/mL和1.01×10⁵孢子/mL;对茶小卷叶蛾幼虫的LC₅₀分别为2.20×10⁵孢子/mL和1.34×10⁵孢子/mL.2菌株23 ℃下最适生长培养基均为综合马铃薯培养基,最适产孢培养基均为蛋白胨马铃薯葡萄糖琼脂培养基;在萨氏培养基上,菌株ICBS918和ICTL911分别在24~30 ℃及24 ℃时生长速度最快,在27 ℃和21 ℃时产孢量最大.表明2株环链棒束孢对茶卷叶蛾和茶小卷叶蛾幼虫均具有较好的生防潜力,可作为生防菌进行开发和应用.     

The toxic effects of pyrethroid deltamethrin on the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) embryos and larvae

Deltamethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid pesticide contaminating aquatic ecosystems as a pollutant, was investigated in the present study for toxic effects on embryos and larvae of common carp, Cyprinus carpio as a model. The control and five test experiments were repeated five times. The water temperature in the experimental units was kept at 24 ± 1 °C. The number of dead embryos significantly increased in response to deltamethrin concentrations 0.005, 0.05, 0.5, 5, 25, and 50 μg L⁻¹ (p<0.05 for each cases). Dose-response decreases in hatching success were recorded as 75.2, 64.6, 47.4, 26.0, 14.4, and 9.0%, respectively. The lowest concentration of deltamethrin (0.005 μg L⁻¹) produced a significantly decrease in number of dead larvae compared to control group (p<0.05). With increasing deltamethrin concentrations, the larvae exposed duration 1-48 h significantly increased the number of dead larvae (p<0.05 for each cases). The 48 h LC₅₀ values (with 95% confidence limits) of deltamethrin for common carp embryos and larvae were estimated as 0.213 (0.103-0.404) and 0.074 (0.011-0.260) μg L⁻¹, respectively. The results provide evidence that deltamethrin pollution may have an adverse effect on the reproduction and development of carp, which should be considered when this chemical is used in agricultural areas near aquatic ecosystems.     

苏云金杆菌亚致死浓度对美国白蛾及其寄生蜂生长发育的影响

为阐明苏云金杆菌Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)与白蛾周氏啮小蜂Chouioia cunea Yang的协同作用,分别用103~108孢子/m L的6个Bt浓度处理美国白蛾Hyphantria cunea 2龄幼虫后,通过室内试验测定了Bt对其致死、亚致死效应,及亚致死浓度Bt对寄生蜂子代出蜂的影响。结果表明,浓度106孢子/m L处理组美国白蛾均未能化蛹;而106孢子/m L处理组均能化蛹并羽化,且幼虫发育历期随Bt浓度的增加而延长,平均蛹重在74.92~92.18 mg之间,均高于对照的68.66 mg,但蛹重不呈线性规律变化。当Bt对美国白蛾平均校正死亡率低于17.17%时,幼虫发育历期延迟不明显,但平均蛹重为101.11~124.34 mg,均高于对照;接蜂后能够正常出蜂,出蜂率为33.13%~51.25%,每蛹出蜂量为117.43~143.42头,均显著高于对照。表明用平均校正死亡率低于20%的Bt处理对白蛾周氏啮小蜂的寄生有利,2种生防措施协同作用存在增效潜力。     

Food consumption, utilization, and detoxification enzyme activity of the rice leaffolder larvae after treatment with Dysoxylum triterpenes

The toxicity and physiological (enzyme and nutritional indices) effect of Dysoxylum triterpenes 3β,24,25-trihydroxycycloartane and beddomei lactone were evaluated on the rice leaffolder Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenée). The LC₅₀ [6.66 ppm (SD = 0.31), 5.79 ppm (SD = 0.33) for 3β,24,25-DHCL and BL, respectively] and LC ₉₀ [14.63 ppm (SD = 0.36), 13.49 ppm (SD = 0.27) for 3β,24,25-DHCL and BL, respectively] were identified by probit analysis. Fourth instars were exposed to various concentrations (1.5, 3, 6, and 12 ppm) of Dysoxylum triterpenes. Results showed that treated larvae exhibited reduced food consumption and enzyme activity. Food consumption, digestion, relative consumption rate, efficiency of conversion of ingested food, efficiency of conversion of digested food, and relative growth rate values declined significantly but the approximate digestibility of treated larvae was significantly higher as a result of treatment (in particular 6 and 12 ppm). Likewise, the gut enzymes acid phosphatases, alkaline phosphatases, and adenosine triphosphatases were significantly inhibited by the Dysoxylum triterpenes. The high biological activity of these triterpenes from Dysoxylum sp. could be used as an active principle during the preparation of botanical insecticides for insect pest like rice leaffolder.     

The effects of Artemisia annua L. and Achillea millefolium L. crude leaf extracts on the toxicity, development, feeding efficiency and chemical activities of small cabbage Pieris rapae L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

The biological effects of two important medicinal plants, Artemisia annua L. and Achillea millefolium (L.) (viz, mortality, growth, and feeding indices as well as enzyme and non-enzymatic activities) were studied on small white Pieris rapae L a deleterious pest of cruciferous plants under controlled conditions (16:8 h L:D at 25 ± 1 °C and 65 ± 5% RH). The LC₅₀ and LC₂₅ values were 9.387% and 3.645% for A. annua L. and 4.19% and 1.69% for A. millefolium (L.), respectively. At the lowest concentration (0.625%), the deterrency was 29.826% and 44.185% for A. annua L. and A. millefolium (L.), respectively. Feeding indices were variously affected with changes in a number of parameters and an increase in larval and pupal duration. The activity level of alkaline phosphatase increased sharply while alanin and aspartate aminotransferases showed a sharp decrease. For non-enzymatic compounds, the amount of glucose and uric acid increased, but total protein and cholesterol decreased. These results indicate that these two medicinal plants might possess potential secondary metabolites that may be useful for controlling potential insect pests.     

渐狭蜡蚧菌Lecanicillium attenuatum产几丁质酶的活性及对南方根结线虫卵孵化的抑制作用

为探究卵寄生真菌产生的几丁质酶对南方根结线虫卵孵化的抑制作用,采用分离自黑龙江大豆孢囊线虫孢囊上的菌株CGMCC5328,利用NAG和pNP法测定其几丁质降解酶系和外切酶的活性,分析几丁质酶粗酶液对南方根结线虫卵的孵化抑制效果.结果表明,菌株CGMCC5328经形态学和ITS序列分析鉴定为渐狭蜡蚧菌Lecanicillium attenuatum;在几丁质酶诱导培养基中培养第4天时其分泌的几丁质降解酶系达酶活高峰,为16.90 U/mL;第6天外切酶达酶活高峰,为0.59 U/mL,之后酶活趋于稳定持续至第14天;几丁质酶分子量分别为79.6、65.6、54.1、42.1和32.9 kDa;其中培养第7天的几丁质酶粗酶原液对南方根结线虫卵孵化的抑制率为83.17%;第6天菌株CGMCC5328对卵的寄生率为85.10%.表明高效产几丁质酶的卵寄生真菌渐狭蜡蚧菌菌株CGMCC5328对南方根结线虫卵孵化具有明显的抑制效果.     

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.