ISSN:
1420-9071
Keywords:
Water balance
;
diuresis
;
neurohormone
;
Manduca
;
Heliothis
;
insect control
;
peptide biotechnology
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Neuroendocrine disruption of water balance in insect larvae was evaluated as the basis for a new approach to pest insect control. Effects on water balance and food consumption were measured for larvae ofHeliothis virescens (cotton budworm) treated with syntheticManduca sexta diuretic neurohormone (MasDH). Synthetic MasDH (50–250 nM) caused dose-dependent increases in fluid secretion by larval Malpighian tubules in vitro; higher concentrations resulted in lower fluid secretion. Last instar larvae injected with 20–100 pmol MasDH exhibited increasing weight loss. Larvae injected with 500 pmol MasDH dramatically reduced both water excretion and food consumption by 70%. These latter results indicate that high titers of diuretic hormone can suppress feeding damage by larval insects by depressing water excretion and food consumption.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01948010
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