Pest Management Science (2016) 72, 585-590

Erich Y.T. Nakasu, Filitsa Karamaouna, Georgios K. Partsinevelos, Hesham M. Abd El Halim, Elaine C. Fitches, Prashant Pyati, John A. Gatehouse, Angharad M.R. Gatehouse and Martin G. Edwards (2016)
Sublethal effects of the insecticidal fusion protein omega-ACTX-Hv1a/GNA on the parasitoid Eulophus pennicornis via its host Lacanobia oleracea
Pest Management Science 72 (3), 585-590
Abstract:
BACKGROUND
The neurotoxin peptide omega-ACTX-Hv1a, fused to the carrier molecule GNA, presents potential for insect control as a biopesticide, being orally toxic to insect pests from different orders. However, thorough evaluation is required to assure its safety towards non-target invertebrates. Effects of this novel biopesticide on the parasitoid Eulophus pennicornis via its host Lacanobia oleracea are presented.
RESULTS
Hv1a/GNA did not cause mortality when injected or fed to fifth-stage L. oleracea, but caused up to 39% reduction in mean larval weight (P < 0.05) and increased developmental time when injected. When fed, GNA, but not Hv1a/GNA, caused ~35% reduction in larval weight, indicating that host quality was not affected by the fusion protein. Although GNA and Hv1a/GNA were internalised by the hosts following ingestion, and thus were available to higher trophic levels, no significant changes in the rate of E. pennicornis parasitism occurred. Number of parasitoid pupae per host, adult emergence and sex ratio were unaffected by GNA- or Hv1a/GNA-treated hosts (P > 0.05). The fusion protein was degraded by parasitoid larvae, rendering it non-toxic.
CONCLUSION
Hv1a/GNA has negligible effects on the parasitoid, even under worst-case scenarios. This low toxicity to these insects is of interest in terms of biopesticide specificity and safety to non-target organisms.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Angharad M.R. Gatehouse, Filitsa Karamaouna

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
resistance to pesticides

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Lacanobia oleracea
Eulophus pennicornis (parasitoid)	Lacanobia oleracea