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Abiotic factors affecting the larvicidal activity of the Bacillus thuringiensis Vip3Aa16 toxin against the lepidopteran pest Ephestia kuehniella

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Abstract

BUPM95 is a Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki strain producing the Vip3Aa16 protoxin with an interesting insecticidal activity against the lepidopteran pest Ephestia kuehniella. The LC50 of Vip3Aa16 protoxin against first instar larvae of E. kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) was 31.36 ng/cm2 5 days post-treatment at 28 °C. Interestingly, this B. thuringiensis protoxin could relatively withstand environmental stresses such as extreme pH, temperature and UV radiations. Its larvicidal potency was also resistant to proteases action. These properties could be exploited for the formulation of a novel B. thuringiensis insecticide for effective biocontrol of undesirable lepidopteran larvae.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Tunisia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biopesticides Team (LPAP), Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia

    Hanen Boukedi & Slim Tounsi

  2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Arts-Khulais, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Lobna Abdelkefi-Mesrati

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  1. Hanen Boukedi
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  2. Slim Tounsi
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  3. Lobna Abdelkefi-Mesrati
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Correspondence to Lobna Abdelkefi-Mesrati.

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Hanen Boukedi, Slim Tounsi and Lobna Abdelkefi-Mesrati declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Boukedi, H., Tounsi, S. & Abdelkefi-Mesrati, L. Abiotic factors affecting the larvicidal activity of the Bacillus thuringiensis Vip3Aa16 toxin against the lepidopteran pest Ephestia kuehniella . J Plant Dis Prot 123, 59–64 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41348-016-0004-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41348-016-0004-5

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