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Sublethal effects of the insecticidal fusion protein ω-ACTX-Hv1a/GNA on the parasitoid Eulophus pennicornis via its host Lacanobia oleracea

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Filitsa Karamaouna, Georgios Partsinevelos, Professor Angharad MR GatehouseORCiD, Dr Martin EdwardsORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).


Abstract

BACKGROUND: The neurotoxin peptide ω-ACTX-Hv1a, fused to the carrier molecule GNA presents potential for insect control as a biopesticide, being orally toxic to insect pests from different orders. However, thorough evaluation is required to assure its safety towards non-target invertebrates. Effects of this novel biopesticide on the parasitoid Eulophus pennicornis via its host Lacanobia oleracea are presented. RESULTS: Hv1a/GNA did not cause mortality when injected or fed to 5th stage L. oleracea, but caused up to 39% reduction in mean larval weight (p<0.05) and increased developmental time when injected. When fed, GNA, but not Hv1a/GNA, caused ~35% reduction in larval weight, indicating that host quality was not affected by the fusion protein. Although GNA and Hv1a/GNA were internalized by the hosts following ingestion, and thus available to higher trophic levels, no significant changes on rate of E. pennicornis parasitism occurred. The number of parasitoid pupae/host, adult emergence and sex ratio were unaffected by GNA- or Hv1a/GNA-treated hosts (p>0.05). The fusion protein was degraded by parasitoid larvae, rendering it non-toxic. CONCLUSION: Hv1a/GNA has negligible effects on the parasitoid, even under worst-case scenarios. This low toxicity to these insects is of interest in terms of biopesticide specificity and safety to non-target organisms.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Nakasu EY, Karamaouna F, Partsinevelos GK, Abd-El-Halim HM, Fitches EC, Pyati P, Gatehouse JA, Gatehouse AMR, Edwards MG

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Pest Management Science

Year: 2016

Volume: 72

Issue: 3

Pages: 585-590

Print publication date: 01/03/2016

Online publication date: 23/05/2015

Acceptance date: 23/04/2015

Date deposited: 27/05/2015

ISSN (print): 1526-498X

ISSN (electronic): 1526-4998

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Ltd

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ps.4030

DOI: 10.1002/ps.4030


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
0437-10-7Capes Foundation
100865Technology Strategy Board

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