Effect of light and incubation temperature on production by species of Fusarium of metabolites toxic to larvae of Tenebrio molitor L.
Larvae of Tenebrio molitor L., Gembloux strain, race F, having an initial weight of 10 mg were reared for 4 weeks at 27 +/- 0.25 degrees C 65 +/- 5% relative humidity on rye seed incubated with single isolates of four strains of Fusarium. The fungi had been cultured in total darkness or in constant light at a temperature of 8, 14, 20 or 24 degrees C. Two isolates of Fusarium poae (Peck). Wollenw. (7450 and 7452) retarded growth more than the third isolate of this species or than the isolate of Fusarium accuminatum Ell. & Ev. Nutritional value of rye seed decreased with increasing temperature, but declined to a larger extent when Fusarium species were present than when they were absent. The results suggest that changes in weight and mortality of larvae are good criteria for determining toxicity of fungal metabolites in Insects.
D000818:Animals; D005670:Fusarium / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008027:Light; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013696:Temperature; D013712:Tenebrio / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D009183:Mycotoxins