21 Kas 2024 Perşembe
Identification and characterization of alpha-amylase in Citrus Swallowtail, Papilio demoleus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)
Abstract :Papilio demoleus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), commonly known as the lime or citrus swallowtail, has a successful dispersal and becoming a major pest of citrus plants in wide area of the world including the Middle East. The insect has been reported to feed on every citrus cultivars and varieties thus it has potential to become a major pest in area where it has been reported. Host plant resistance and natural plant products offer a potentially rational method for the insect pest control since they are safe to the environment as well as human being and non target organisms. Therefore, new control methods such as digestive enzyme inhibitors which interfere with function of the insect digestive enzymes are needed because these compounds affect insect growth and development but not non-target organisms. The aim of the current study was to investigate and characterize ¥á-amylase activity of the larval stage of the lime swallowtail. To do this, the insect larvae were collected and transferred to the lab where their enzymes have been extracted. For enzyme assay soluble starch (1%) has been used. The study showed that ¥á-amylase is present in the insect gut and is used for carbohydrate digestion. The optimum temperature and pH for the activity of ¥á-amylase was 50¨¬C and 8.0, respectively. Native page electrophoresis showed that only one amylase band is present in the insect gut. Understanding of the digestive physiology and ¥á-amylase activity of Citrus Swallowtail is important when new management strategies for this economically important pest are devised
¥á-amylase, lime swallowtail, characterization, optimum temperature and pH