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Chitinolytic activity in Serratia marcescens (strain SEN) and potency against different larval instars of Spodoptera litura with effect of sublethal doses on insect development

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Abstract

Chitinase-producing bacteria were isolated from diseased insect [Pieris brassicae Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) and Spodoptera litura Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)] cadavers. Serratia marcescens strain SEN showed highest enzyme production at temperature 27 °C and pH 9.0 and was selected for further studies. It possessed exochitinase, endochitinase and chitobiosidase activities, of which endochitinase was found to be the predominant chitinase. Serratia marcescens strain SEN showed insecticidal activity against all the developmental stages of S. litura larvae. Ingestion of sublethal doses of S. marcescens strain SEN led to a decrease in the larval and pupal weight, percent normal pupation, adult emergence and a significant increase of the larval period. Effect on fecundity and egg hatchability were studied at LC20 and LC50 doses. Fecundity was significantly reduced at both doses tested, while egg hatchability was significantly affected only at the highest dose. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the potential of an entomopathogenic S. marcescens strain against different developmental stages of S. litura. The tested S. marcescens strain SEN showed promise as a biocontrol agent of S. litura.

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Acknowledgments

The research work was funded by Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. Authors thank Dr. Shyamala S. Rajan, Chicago, USA for critical reading of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Microbiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110 012, India

    Chetana Aggarwal & Sangeeta Paul

  2. School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, 201308, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Vishwas Tripathi

  3. Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110 012, India

    Bishwajeet Paul

  4. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Md. Aslam Khan

Authors
  1. Chetana Aggarwal
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  2. Sangeeta Paul
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  3. Vishwas Tripathi
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  4. Bishwajeet Paul
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  5. Md. Aslam Khan
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Correspondence to Sangeeta Paul.

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Handling Editor: Nicolai Meyling.

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Aggarwal, C., Paul, S., Tripathi, V. et al. Chitinolytic activity in Serratia marcescens (strain SEN) and potency against different larval instars of Spodoptera litura with effect of sublethal doses on insect development. BioControl 60, 631–640 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-015-9674-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-015-9674-3

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