Xenobiotic metabolism of plant secondary compounds in the English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (F.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Plant secondary compounds have been documented to be deleterious to insects and other herbivores in diverse ways. In this study, the effect of catechol (phenolics), gramine (alkaloid) and L-ornithine-HCI (non-protein amino acid) on the activities of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes in English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae, was evaluated. Phase I enzymes investigated in this study included carboxylesterase (CarE), and oxidoreductase, whereas Phase II enzymes were represented by glutathione S-transferase (GST). In general, CarE and GST activities in S. avenae were positively correlated with the concentration of plant secondary compounds in artificial diets. Oxidoreductase activity, however, displayed a different profile. Specifically, peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities in S. avenae were positively correlated with concentrations of dietary catechol and gramine, respectively, whereas catalase (CAT) activity was significantly suppressed by the higher concentration of catechol, gramine and L-ornithine-HCl. These combined results suggest that CarE and GST in S. avenae are key enzymes to breakdown a broad spectrum of plant secondary compounds, whereas oxidoreductase, including PPO and POD, degrades specific groups of plant secondary compounds.     

Induction of defense response of Oryza sativa L. against Pyricularia grisea (Cooke) Sacc. by treating seeds with chitosan and hydrolyzed chitosan

Seeds of rice (Oryza sativa L.) were treated with chitosan and hydrolyzed chitosan at 100, 500 and 1000 mg L⁻¹. After 18 days of germination, spore suspension of Pyricularia grisea was applied. The enzyme activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, β-1-3-glucanase, chitinase and chitosanase in leaves of rice seedlings was evaluated after 24, 72, 120 and 168 h of inoculation. Blast affected area (%) was evaluated 7 and 14 days after spraying spore suspension. Chitosan performance to elicit defense response induction was associated with the concentration and type of chitosan. The activity of most of the enzymes tested was induced in leaves of treated seeds with chitosan and hydrolyzed chitosan at 1000 and 500 mg L⁻¹, respectively. The highest enzyme activities were observed with hydrolyzed chitosan after 72 h however, compared to chitosan, the activity was not maintained during the entire post-inoculation period. The highest control (0 = no lesions) of P. grisea in rice seedlings was observed at 1000 mg L⁻¹ in both chitosan and hydrolyzed chitosan treated leaves. Symptoms of infection by P. grisea were evident after 14 days evaluation date, but according to the standard scale proposed by the International Rice Research Institute, these symptoms fell into the resistance category of blast diseases.     

Bt-maize effects on biological parameters of the non-target aphid Sitobion avenae (Homoptera: Aphididae) and Cry1Ab toxin detection

Bt-maize crop is increasingly used worldwide and the study of ecological side effects is a major subject in this domain. Under laboratory conditions, we determined Bt-maize effects on the non-target aphid Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) (Homoptera: Aphididae). We found no significant differences between S. avenae on MON810 and the near-isogenic line when alate offspring production, apterous survivorship, longevity, intrinsic rates of natural increase (r_m), finite rates of increase and doubling times were compared. No significant differences were found between treatments for apterous pre-reproductive and reproductive periods. Additionally, we used immunological tests (ELISA) to detect Cry1Ab protein in maize leaves and S. avenae nymphs. Results showed that Bt-maize leaves expressed 0.203 (±0.05) μg Cry1Ab/g leaf tissue (Mean ± SEM). No Cry1Ab protein was present in S. avenae nymphs developing on Bt or conventional maize. We conclude that Bt-maize does not affect the development of the non-target aphid S. avenae and that Cry1Ab toxin quantities in these aphids are nil, suggesting an inconsequential risk for natural enemies of this aphid species.     

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.     

小麦叶片营养物质与抗麦长管蚜的相关性分析

为了阐明小麦叶片营养物质与小麦抗蚜性之间的关系,观察了麦长管蚜Sitobion avenae(F.)在不同小麦品种上的选择趋性,测定其相对日均体重增长率,并采用Branford法和高效液相色谱技术分别测定了不同品种小麦叶片总蛋白、韧皮部中游离氨基酸以及可溶性糖的含量。结果表明,麦长管蚜显著趋向于铭贤169、西农889与西农1376;在铭贤169、西农889和西农1376上的成蚜相对日均体重增长率显著大于中四-有芒、小偃22;西农889叶片的总蛋白含量最高,为2 822.04μg/mL,小偃22叶片韧皮部的可溶性糖含量最高,铭贤169和西农889叶片韧皮部的游离氨基酸总含量相对较高,分别为1 424.3、1 301.1 nmol·L~(-1)·g~(-1)DW;各游离氨基酸在相对抗蚜品种中四-有芒和小偃22中的绝对含量与其抗蚜性无相关性。研究表明,中四-有芒、小偃22对麦长管蚜具有较强的抗性,植物营养在小麦抗蚜性中起到一定作用。     

Mite-borne virus isolates from cultivated Allium species,and their classification into two new rymoviruses in the family Potyviridae

While testing several samples of onion and of vegetatively propagated garlic, sand leek and shallot from a number of countries, virus isolates with unusually flexuous particles were obtained by mite (Aceria tulipae) or sap transmissions. No aphid-borne poty-or carlavirus was transmitted by mites, and mite-borne virus isolates could not be transmitted by aphids. The mite-borne isolates did not react with antisera to aphid-borne potyviruses ofAllium spp. or with the Agdia potyvirus group monoclonal. In contrast to the mite-borne onion and garlic mosaic viruses reported in the literature, our mite-borne isolates induced no visible or only very mild symptoms inAllium spp., except isolates from shallot ‘Santé’ which caused diffuse striping. Heavily mite-infested test plants or plant samples showed streaking and malformation due to mite feeding (tangle-top). The mite-borne virus isolates could be classified with test plants and a discriminating antiserum into three groups, representing two viruses and a strain of one of them. They are tentatively named onion mite-borne latent virus (OMbLV), garlic strain of this virus (OMbLV-G), and shallot mite-borne latent virus (SMbLV). Mite transmission, length of virus particles (ca. 700 to 800 nm), and the presence of granular inclusion bodies in infected tissue indicate that the viruses belong to the mite-borne genusRymovirus of the familyPotyviridae. OMbLV from shallot and onion, and OMbLV-G from garlic and sand leek, can be assayed onChenopodium murale but differ in their natural hosts. They are very common. SMbLV, to whichC. murale does not react, was isolated from shallot originating from Asia and Russia.