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Effect of proteinase inhibitors on Indian alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica Gyll.) growth and development

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Abstract

Three families of proteinase inhibitors, namely, serine, cysteine (thiol) and aspartic (carboxyl) were examined for their inhibitory effects on growth and development of Indian alfalfa weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Proteinase inhibitors are considered as a part of alternate strategy to control the herbivorous insect as they inhibit the digestive enzymes of the insects. Larval leaf feeding, survival, pupation and adult emergence were significantly decreased by pHMB, (p-hydroxy-mercuribenzoic acid), cystatin and E-64 (trans-epoxysuccinyl-l-leucylamido-(4guanidino)-butane) belonging to cysteine class of proteinases, at a concentration of 0.1 and 0.5%. Serine and aspartic classes of inhibitors have low detrimental effects on larvae. The results demonstrate the inhibitory response of specific proteinase inhibitors on alfalfa weevil larval leaf feeding, survival, pupation and adult emergence. Weevil resistant species, namely, Medicago scutellata showed high level of leaf consumption under forced feeding in vivo bioassay indicated the presence of resistance factors other than proteinase inhibitors.

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Abbreviations

CpTI:

Cowpea trypsin inhibitor

E-64:

trans-Epoxysuccinyl-l-leucylamido-(4 guanidino)-butane

pHMB:

p-Hydroxy-mercuribenzoic acid

PMSF:

Phenyl methyl sulfonyl fluoride

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Acknowledgments

Authors are thankful to the Director and Head of division for providing necessary facilities to carry out the present work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Crop Improvement Division, Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, 284003, India

    Amaresh Chandra & Krishna Chandra Pandey

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  1. Amaresh Chandra
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  2. Krishna Chandra Pandey
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Correspondence to Amaresh Chandra.

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Communicated by H. Janska.

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Chandra, A., Pandey, K.C. Effect of proteinase inhibitors on Indian alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica Gyll.) growth and development. Acta Physiol Plant 30, 501–505 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-008-0147-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-008-0147-5

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