Anzeiger für Schädlingskunde, Pflanzenschutz, Umweltschutz (1998) 71, 100-103
M. Hafez, H.S. Salama, A. El-Moursy and A.A. Rahman (1998)
A biochemical approach to potentiate the activity of Bacillus thuringiensis against corn borers
Anzeiger für Schädlingskunde, Pflanzenschutz, Umweltschutz 71 (5), 100-103
Abstract: Due to the fact that the persistence of Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) is very short in the field as affected by exposure to ultraviolet radiation, some biochemical approaches have been adopted in an attempt to increase potentiation of the pathogen against the two lepidopterous corn borers, Chilo agamemnon and Ostrinia nubilalis. These approaches were based on the incorporation of some selected non-toxic chemical compounds with different modes of action with the endotoxin of B.t. fed to the larvae and thus resulting in its potentiation.
Among the compounds, tested, some representatives of inorganic salts, organic acids, protein and lipid solubilizing agents, amino acids and amides showed an obvious potentiation to the endotoxin activity against the target insects. Inorganic salts, such as, calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, zinc sulphate and potassium carbonate at 0.1% potentiated the activity of the product Dipel 2X (B.t. var.kurstaki) against the two tested species in varying degrees. With regard to protein solubilizing agents, urea, sodium thioglycollate and EDTA enhanced the potency of B.t. against O. nubilalis with a fold increase of 1.4-2.3. The lipid emulsifying agent Tween 80 (0.5%), caused 1.3 fold increase in the potency of B.t. With respect to C. agamemnon, sodium thioglycollate and EDTA (0.1%) were effective in potentiating the activity of B.t. with fold increase of 3.1 and 1.2, respectively, while urea caused a decrease in the potency of B.t. as compared with the control. The lipid emulsifying agent Tween 80 (0.5%) caused 1.3 fold increase in the potency of B.t. The potentiating effect of aromatic compounds is not obvious with respect to the tested insect species. With amino acids and amides, it appears that some of the tested compounds enhanced the potency of B.t. against the tested insect species but in varying degrees. The mode of action of the tested compounds has been discussed in the light of the results obtained.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
Pest and/or beneficial records:
| Beneficial | Pest/Disease/Weed | Crop/Product | Country | Quarant.
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ostrinia nubilalis | Maize/corn (Zea mays) | Egypt | ||
| Chilo agamemnon | Maize/corn (Zea mays) | Egypt | ||
| Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (entomopathogen) | Ostrinia nubilalis | Maize/corn (Zea mays) | Egypt | |
| Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (entomopathogen) | Chilo agamemnon | Maize/corn (Zea mays) | Egypt |
