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Digestion of Alpha-Cellulose by Larvæ of Anobium punctatum De Geer

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Abstract

PARKIN1 demonstrated that the larval gut of the common house borer Anobium punctatum De Geer contained an enzyme or enzymes which produced reducing sugars from isolated oak α-cellulose in vitro. Falck2 and Müller3 concluded from chemical analyses of sound and digested wood that some α-cellulose was digested by the larvæ. The present investigation was undertaken to determine the amount of α-cellulose digested and its significance in the total diet of Anobium punctatum.

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References

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  2. Falck, Cellulosechem., 11, 89 (1930).

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  3. Müller, Arch. Microbiol., 5, 84 (1934).

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  4. Spiller and Denne, N.Z. J. Sci. and Tech., 30, B, 129 (1948).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Plant Diseases Division, Auckland, New Zealand

    D. SPILLER

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  1. D. SPILLER
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SPILLER, D. Digestion of Alpha-Cellulose by Larvæ of Anobium punctatum De Geer. Nature 168, 209–210 (1951). https://doi.org/10.1038/168209a0

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