Arthropod-Plant Interactions (2011) 5, 359-368

Purushottam R. Lomate and Vandana K. Hivrale (2011)
Differential responses of midgut soluble aminopeptidases of Helicoverpa armigera to feeding on various host and non-host plant diets
Arthropod-Plant Interactions 5 (4), 359-368
Abstract: Differential responses of midgut soluble aminopeptidases were studied in Helicoverpa armigera larvae fed on various host (chickpea and pigeon pea) and non-host (bitter gourd and chili) plant diets. Larval growth was significantly reduced by non-host plant diets. Although the serine proteinase activities were inhibited, aminopeptidase activities were significantly increased in the larvae fed on non-host plant diets. Results were qualitatively and quantitatively confirmed with in vivo and in vitro analyses. It was noted that aminopeptidases had given more preference to ApNA than LpNA on non-host plant diets and vice versa on host plant diets. However, optimum pH for aminopeptidase activity (around pH 7.0-8.0) and susceptibility to inhibitors was similar in the larvae fed on host as well as non-host plant diets. These results suggest that H. armigera regulates digestive enzyme levels to obtain better nourishment from the diet and avoid toxicity due to nutritional imbalance. A detailed biochemical and molecular analysis of gut aminopeptidases upon exposure of the insect to a particular diet will highlight their specific roles.
(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:
general biology - morphology - evolution
molecular biology - genes

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Helicoverpa armigera	Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan)
	Helicoverpa armigera	Chickpea (Cicer arietinum)