Deterrent activity of plant lectins on cowpea weevil Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) oviposition.
A set of 14 plant lectins was screened in a binary choice bioassay for inhibitory activity on cowpea weevil Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) oviposition. Coating of chickpea seeds (Cicer arietinum L.) with a 0.05% (w/v) solution of plant lectins caused a significant reduction in egg laying. Control experiments with heat inactivated lectin and BSA indicated that the observed deterrent effects are specific and require carbohydrate-binding activity. However, no clear correlation could be established between deterrent activity and sugar-binding specificity/molecular structure of the lectins. Increasing the insect density reduced the inhibitory effect of the lectins confirming that female insects are capable of adjusting their oviposition rates as a function of host availability.
Sadeghi
Amin
A
Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Van Damme
Els J M
EJ
Peumans
Willy J
WJ
Smagghe
Guy
G
D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D007300:Insect Control / Q000379:methods*; D010058:Oviposition / Q000187:drug effects*; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology*
D037121:Plant Lectins