title: Effects of Food Quality on Biology and Physiological Traits of Sitotroga cerealella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).
abstract: Biology and physiological traits of Sitotroga cerealella Olivier, a world-wide insect pest of cereals, were investigated on different grains (barley, maize, rye, sorghum, triticale, and wheat). Larval and pupal duration was the shortest on wheat and triticale, and the longest on sorghum. There were significant differences in survival rate of immature stages on grains with different seed hardness. The highest realized fecundity and egg fertility was observed on triticale and the lowest was seen on sorghum. Larvae fed on triticale and wheat showed higher amount of α-amylase activity than larvae fed on other grains. Maximum Vmax/KM ratio was determined for the midgut α-amylase of S. cerealella larvae fed on wheat. Whole-body protein, lipid, and glycogen contents of pupae reared on sorghum and rye were significantly lower than those reared on other grains. The statistical analysis showed that the clear correlation could be drawn between the biological characteristics and energy contents of S. cerealella on one side and seed hardness, amylolytic activity, and food consumed on the other. According to the findings of this study, the variable responses of S. cerealella to feeding on different host grains could be attributed to the quality of diets tested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Borzoui
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.|Corresponding author.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Naseri
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nouri-Ganbalani
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D000071421:Life History Traits; D009036:Moths / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry
keywords: energy content; grain; life span; nutritional physiology; the Angoumois grain moth