Effect of ionizing (gamma) and non-ionizing (UV) radiation on the development of Trichogramma euproctidis (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

The potential of using gamma and ultraviolet radiation as an alternative treatment to increase the efficiency of Trichogramma euproctidis (Girault 1911) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) was investigated in the laboratory. The developmental and adult stages of T. euproctidis were exposed to gamma radiation of different doses (0-30 Gy) and ultraviolet radiation of 254 nm wavelengths (UV-C) for different durations (0-10 min) to assess their effect on each of the instars and their potential in breaking the developmental cycle of the egg parasitoid. The LD50 values for eggs, prepupae, pupae and adults were 8.1, 10.0, 22.7 and 9.5 Gy for gamma radiation and 9.5, 0.12, 2.0 and 11.9 min for UV radiation, respectively. The pupa and adult stages were more radioresistant to both gamma and UV radiation. The most interesting and unexpected result obtained for the prepupal stage was that UV radiation has a greater effect on prepupal stages than gamma radiation

In silico detection of Cucurbitacin-E on antioxidant enzymes of model organism Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and variation of antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation in treated larvae

Background: In silico studies further provided predictive binding properties of selected ligands for inhibition of target protein. In the study, molecular binding poses of Cucurbitacin-E and antioxidant enzymes (glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) of Galleria mellonella were determined in silico. Cucurbitacins are the most important components of Ecballium elaterium. The first cucurbitacin isolated from the plant was Cucurbitacin-E. In this study, the toxic effect of E. elaterium (L.) A. Rich. (Cucurbitaceae) fruit juice on G. mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae, which is known as a good model insect, was also detected, and its effect on antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation was revealed. Results: The plant fruit juice was tested on the target larvae of G. mellonella with different doses for 24 h. After the application, mortality rate, LC50, LC90 and LC99 values, the malondialdehyde (MDA) level and the activity changes of antioxidant enzymes were determined. Mortality increased with the increasing concentration of fruit juice. Also, increasing doses of essential oil caused decreasing in SOD, CAT, GST GPx, GR and AChE activities and increasing in MDA levels. As a result of in silico studies, maximum binding energy was obtained from G. mellonella CAT enzyme with Cucurbitacin E as a ligand. Conclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate the in silico binding potential of Cucurbitacin E on G. mellonella enzymes. The results indicate that E. elaterium can be used against G. mellonella in a pest control program

Use of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) to detect DNA damage induced by Prangos ferulacea (Umbelliferae) essential oil against the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

DNA damage detection in Ephestia kuehniella by RAPD-PCR Abstract - The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay is a useful method for detecting genotoxin-induced DNA damage. In the present study, this assay was evaluated to measure the essential oil of Prangos ferulacea-induced DNA changes in Ephestia kuehniella Zeller larvae. The third instar larvae of E. kuehniella were exposed to 500 μl L-1 essential oil for 24 h. Forty random primers were used for RAPD-PCR of which eleven produced unique polymorphic band patterns. In comparison with control larvae, the essential oil-treated larvae showed greater changes in RAPD profiles. This is the first report of an analysis of the genotoxic effect of P. ferulacea essential oil against E. kuehniella larvae using RAPD-PCR

Effect of heavy metal stress on antioxidant enzymes and DNA damage in Nasturtium officinale R.Br. (watercress)

WOS: 000490400700008The aim of the study was to investigate responses of Nasturtium officinale R.Br. (watercress) under heavy metal stress. RAPD-PCR was used to determine the banding pattern variation in the samples influenced by different doses of heavy metals (HMs). After treatment with HMs, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) of samples have been determined. The maximum enzyme activities were observed at different exposure conditions. The level of MDA increased with increasing heavy metal concentration. Changes in RAPD profiles of heavy metal treated samples compared with control. Our results showed that exposed samples with Cr gave the minimum number of new fragments compared with control. These results suggest that increase in anti-oxidative enzyme activity may play important roles in alleviating the toxicity of Cr, Cu, and Cd in N. officinale

Mitochondrial and ribosomal DNA sequence analysis for discrimination of Trichogramma euproctidis Girault and Trichogramma brassicae Bezdenko (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

Sequence variation of ribosomal regions, namely the second internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal gene cluster (ITS2), the D2 domain of 28S ribosomal subunit (28SD2), and the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) were examined for differentiation of Trichogramma euproctidis Girault and Trichogramma brassicae Bezdenko (Hymenoptera: Trichogrannmatidae) populations. The length of ITS2 region ranged from 378 bp to 406 bp. The sequences of 28SD2 and COI were 522 bp and 669 bp for T. euproctidis and 530 bp and 672 bp for T. brassicae, respectively. A phylogenetic relationship was constructed by using the maximum likelihood method for each marker. The ITS2 gene region more clearly differentiated between T. euproctidis and T. brassicae than the 28SD2 and COI genes

Detection of genetic polymorphism by RAPD-PCR in two Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) species in Turkey

In biological control, identification of species is the first step. It is especially difficult for the genus Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) because of their minute size and lack of reliable morphological characters. In the study, random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) banding patterns were used for characterization of three laboratory cultures that represented two Trichogramma species [Trichogramma brassicae (Bezdenko) ve Trichogramma euproctidis (Girault)]. Thirteen of the fifteen primers were used individually to discriminate the species. Genetic variation and distance within and between species with respect to proportion of shared bands were clarified. Genetic distances within species were much lower (0.8%) than between species (68%). Our results suggest that the RAPD technique could be used to improve identification and to better understand the genetic polymorphism of Trichogramma spp. Potential uses of RAPD-PCR in genetic analyses on parasitic Hymenoptera are discussed in the study

Sequence analysis of the ribosomal DNA ITS2 region in two Trichogramma species (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

Two egg parasitoid wasps, Trichogramma euproctidis (Girault) and Trichogramma brassicae (Bezdenko) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) were identified in the study. The taxonomy of these wasps is problematic because of their small size and lack of distinguishable morphological characters. The DNA sequence variation from the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) was analyzed from these two Trichogramma species. This technique provides quick, simple and reliable molecular identification of Trichogramma species

SEQUENCE ANALYSIS OF THE RIBOSOMAL DNA ITS2 REGION IN TWO TRICHOGRAMMA SPECIES (HYMENOPTERA: TRICHOGRAMMATIDAE)

Two egg parasitoid wasps, Trichogramma euproctidis (Girault) and Trichogramma brassicae (Bezdenko) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) were identified in the study. The taxonomy of these wasps is problematic because of their small size and lack of distinguishable morphological characters. The DNA sequence variation from the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) was analyzed from these two Trichogramma species. This technique provides quick, simple and reliable molecular identification of Trichogramma species