Toxicity of the Jaburetox peptide to the multi-host insect-pest Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae

Authors

  • Dielli Aparecida Didoné University of Passo Fundo, Agronomy Department, Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Passo Fundo, 99052-900, Brazil
  • Fernanda Cortez Lopes Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Toxic Proteins Laboratory, Biophysics Department, Porto Alegre, 91501-970, Brazil
  • Anne Hellene Souza Martinelli Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Toxic Proteins Laboratory, Biophysics Department, Porto Alegre, 91501-970, Brazil
  • Cassia Canzi Ceccon University of Passo Fundo, Agronomy Department, Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Passo Fundo, 99052-900, Brazil
  • Marília Rodrigues de Silva University of Passo Fundo, Agronomy Department, Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Passo Fundo, 99052-900, Brazil
  • José Roberto Salvadori University of Passo Fundo, Agronomy Department, Entomology Laboratory, Passo Fundo, 99052-900, Brazil
  • Celia Regina Carlini Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Toxic Proteins Laboratory, Biophysics Department, Porto Alegre, 91501-970, Brazil
  • Robert George Shatters, Jr. Horticultural Research Laboratory, USDA, Fort Pierce, Florida 34945, USA
  • Magali Ferrari Grando University of Passo Fundo, Agronomy Department, Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Passo Fundo, 99052-900, Brazil

Abstract

Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) causes extensive damage to crops. The entomotoxic peptides fragments from Jack bean urease, Jaburetox and its truncated version Jaburetox Δ-β, present potential for controlling some insect species, and could provide an alternative for pest insect control in agricultural crops. This paper evaluated the effectiveness of these 2 peptides on consumption by and survival of the H. armigera larvae in 2 different instars of the larval stage. Neonates were fed leaves for 8 d with 2 peptide topical leaf treatments: (T1) 16 µg of Jaburetox, (T2) 16 µg of Jaburetox Δ-β; and 2 control treatments: (T3) sodium phosphate buffer, and (T4) distilled water. Leaves coated with either of the peptides induced higher mortality than the controls. The Jaburetox Δ-β induced the greatest mortality during the first d of feeding, but after 6 d both peptides were effective equally and caused about 75% mortality. Both peptide versions caused a delay in larval development, but the larger peptide caused a greater reduction in feeding. In a second experiment, third instar larvae were fed 1 of 2 treatments for 9 d: (T1) 80 µg of Jaburetox, and (T2) buffer control. Jaburetox treatment induced a delay in the larval development and a significantly higher mortality than the control. By 9 d, Jaburetox treatment caused 100% mortality. These results support further evaluation of the use of Jaburetox peptide in control strategies for H. armigera, including transgenic expression of this peptide in crops plants.

Resumo

Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) causa danos extensos às culturas. Peptídeos entomotóxicos derivados de ureases de feijão- -de-porco, Jaburetox e sua versão truncada Jaburetox Δ-β, apresentam potencial para controlar algumas espécies de insetos, e podem fornecer uma alternativa para o controle de insetos pragas em culturas agrícolas. Este trabalho avaliou a eficácia desses 2 peptídeos no consumo e sobrevivência das larvas H. armigera em 2 diferentes estádio de desenvolvimento larval. Larvas recém-nascidas foram alimentados por 8 d com 2 tratamentos de peptídeos aplicados topicamente sobre discos foliares: (T1) 16 μg de Jaburetox, (T2) 16 μg de Jaburetox Δ-β; e 2 tratamentos controles: (T3) tampão de fosfato de sódio e (T4) água destilada. Folhas cobertas com qualquer um dos peptídeos induziram maior mortalidade do que os controles. O peptídeo Jaburetox Δ-β induziu a maior mortalidade durante os primeiros d da alimentação, mas após 6 d ambos os peptídeos foram igualmente eficazes e causaram cerca de 75% de mortalidade. Ambas as versões de peptídeos causaram um atraso no desenvolvimento larval, mas o peptídeo com a versão completa causou uma maior redução na alimentação. Em um segundo experimento, larvas de terceiro instar foram alimentadas com 1 dos 2 tratamentos por 9 d: (T1) 80 μg de Jaburetox e (T2) controle tampão. O tratamento de jaburetox induziu um atraso no desenvolvimento larval e uma mortalidade significativamente maior do que o controle. Em 9 d, o tratamento de Jaburetox causou 100% de mortalidade. Esses resultados suportam uma avaliação mais aprofundada do uso do peptídeo jaburetox em estratégias de controle para H. armigera, incluindo expressão transgênica deste peptídeo em plantas cultivadas.

Key Words: urease derived peptide; insect control; entomotoxin; larval stage; transgenic plants

View this article in BioOne

Author Biographies

Dielli Aparecida Didoné, University of Passo Fundo, Agronomy Department, Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Passo Fundo, 99052-900, Brazil

University of Passo Fundo, Agronomy Department, Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Passo Fundo, 99052-900, Brazil

Fernanda Cortez Lopes, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Toxic Proteins Laboratory, Biophysics Department, Porto Alegre, 91501-970, Brazil

Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Toxic Proteins Laboratory, Biophysics Department, Porto  Alegre, 91501-970, Brazil

Anne Hellene Souza Martinelli, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Toxic Proteins Laboratory, Biophysics Department, Porto Alegre, 91501-970, Brazil

Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Toxic Proteins Laboratory, Biophysics Department, Porto  Alegre, 91501-970, Brazil

Cassia Canzi Ceccon, University of Passo Fundo, Agronomy Department, Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Passo Fundo, 99052-900, Brazil

University of Passo Fundo, Agronomy Department, Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Passo Fundo, 99052-900, Brazil

Marília Rodrigues de Silva, University of Passo Fundo, Agronomy Department, Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Passo Fundo, 99052-900, Brazil

University of Passo Fundo, Agronomy Department, Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Passo Fundo, 99052-900, Brazil

José Roberto Salvadori, University of Passo Fundo, Agronomy Department, Entomology Laboratory, Passo Fundo, 99052-900, Brazil

University of Passo Fundo, Agronomy Department, Entomology Laboratory, Passo Fundo, 99052-900, Brazil

Celia Regina Carlini, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Toxic Proteins Laboratory, Biophysics Department, Porto Alegre, 91501-970, Brazil

Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Toxic Proteins Laboratory, Biophysics Department, Porto  Alegre, 91501-970, Brazil

Robert George Shatters, Jr., Horticultural Research Laboratory, USDA, Fort Pierce, Florida 34945, USA

Horticultural Research Laboratory - USDA, Fort Pierce, 34945, USA

 

Downloads

Published

2021-10-06

Issue

Section

Research Papers