Efficacy of Bacillus Thuringiensis Berliner Against Metisa Plana Walker and its Application using Thermal Fogger and Mistblower

The effectiveness of Bacillus thringiensis Berliner (Bt) against the bagworm, Metzsa plana Walker and its application using thermal fogger and mistblower was studied in threeyear old oil palms. Initially, a standardized rearing protocol of the bagworm was established to produce healthy test insects. Met& plana was reared on oil palm seedlings fiom eggs surfacesterilized for one hour in 8% formaldehyde. This sterilization regime did not affect the egg hatchability and it significantly (P<0.05)in creased the survivorship of the first to second instar larvae when compared to larvae hatched from unsterilized eggs. Following a laboratory bioassay conducted against the third and fifth instar larvae at temperatures of 2529°C and 50-80% relative humudity, formulations from both Bt subsp. kurstaki: ~ i ~ eElS@, D ipel@D F, Dipel@W P and ABG-6429 FC; and Bt subsp. aizawai: FlorbacB SC and ~entar i@W G were shown to be effective on the bagworm. Evaluation on the suitability and effectiveness of portable thermal fogging (PulsFogQK10 and AgroFoga AF 35) and mistblower (solo@ Master 412) application of Bt (Dipel ES@) against M. plana in three-year old oil palm revealed that when water was used as the diluent in spray mixtures, efficacious activity was achieved which was attributed from the formation of an adequately stable emulsion. For both types of applicators, the kill of M. plana was shown to be positively dependent on droplet densities and concentrations of Bt. In the field trial on three-year old oil palm, Agro~og@AF 35 with AFX Fogging Solution and solo@ Master 412 Knapsack Mistblower were shown to give effective horizontal throw of 6 m whereas P ~ ~ S FO~@w-KasI oOn ly 2 m. Under the condition of these experiments, cost effectiveness analysis showed that the use of portable fogger to apply Bt formulation to control M. plana was not as cost-effective, practical or suitable as knapsack mistblower. The predicted kill of the bagworm obtained by mistblower was satisfactory and higher (50-92%) compared to thermal fogger (38-46%) at the middle and top strata of the oil palm. The poor deposition rates from fogging application in the palm increased the usage of ~ i ~ e ElS@ an d AFX Fogging Solution thus incurred higher cost. Furthermore, the fogging application was limited to early morning or late evening, and that also incurred higher labour cost, notwithstanding the possibility of labour shortage. Comparatively, the use of mistblower gave higher deposition rates that reduced the rates of ~ i ~ eElS@ per hectare thus saved cost. Mistblower is also easily available, versatile and can be used during the daytime

Efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner subspecies kurstaki and aizawai against the bagworm, Metisa plana walker on oil palm

The efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki (Btk) and aizawai (Bta) against the third and fifth instar larvae of Metisa plana on oil palm was studied. The objective of the study was to determine the level of kill achievable with six selected Bt products on M. plana. Laboratory bioassays were performed on formulations containing Btk: Dipel® ES, Dipel® DF, Dipel® WP and ABG-6429 FC® (research formulation), and Bta: Florbac® SC and Xentari® WG at temperatures of 24°C–29°C and 55%–80% relative humidity (RH) by using leaf dipping method. Both subspecies were shown to be effective on the bagworms. In most cases, the third instar larvae required lesser amount of Bt and shorter time for a satisfactory kill compared to the fifth instar larvae

A Sectorial Performance Analysis of Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE, Bursa Malaysia)

This paper extended the examination on the sectoral stock performances in Malaysia using different approaches. In particular, we seek to compare the performance of stock returns across sectors by focusing on the risk adjusted performance measures (Jensen’s Alpha, Sharpe Ratio, Treynor Ratio and MM Measure), Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) hypothesis and stock diversification analysis. For this purpose, the single equation of Threshold Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (TGARCH) is applied. The results of TGARCH and the risk-adjusted measures are consistent which suggest the consumer product as the best performed sector while technology as the lowest ranked sector. The results of TGARCH verified the validity of the CAPM theory in our study. The results also show that oil price, gold price, exchange rate and policy rate are influential to affect the stock return. However, they have limited influence to affect the volatility of stock return. The volatility of stock return exhibits a random walk behavior, with GARCH effect as the dominant factor that contributing to the volatility of stock return

Insecticidal Activity of \u3ci\u3eBacillus thuringiensis\u3c/i\u3e Cry1Bh1 against \u3ci\u3eOstrinia nubilalis\u3c/i\u3e (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and Other Lepidopteran Pests

Bacillus thuringiensis is an important source of insect resistance traits in commercial crops. In an effort to prolong B. thuringiensis trait durability, insect resistance management programs often include combinations of insecticidal proteins that are not cross resistant or have demonstrable differences in their site of action as a means to mitigate the development of resistant insect populations. In this report, we describe the activity spectrum of a novel B. thuringiensis Cry protein, Cry1Bh1, against several lepidopteran pests, including laboratory-selected B. thuringiensis-resistant strains of Ostrinia nubilalis and Heliothis virescens and progeny of field-evolved B. thuringiensis-resistant strains of Plutella xylostella and Spodoptera frugiperda. Cry1Bh1 is active against susceptible and B. thuringiensis-resistant colonies of O. nubilalis, P. xylostella, and H. virescens in laboratory diet-based assays, implying a lack of cross-resistance in these insects. However, Cry1Bh1 is not active against susceptible or Cry1F-resistant S. frugiperda. Further, Cry1Bh1 does not compete with Cry1Fa or Cry1Ab for O. nubilalis midgut brush border membrane binding sites. Cry1Bh1-expressing corn, while not completely resistant to insect damage, provided significantly better leaf protection against Cry1Fa-resistant O. nubilalis than did Cry1Fa-expressing hybrid corn. The lack of cross-resistance with Cry1Ab and Cry1Fa along with independent membrane binding sites in O. nubilalis makes Cry1Bh1 a candidate to further optimize for in-plant resistance to this pest

Patterns of Gene Expression in Western Corn Rootworm (\u3ci\u3eDiabrotica virgifera virgifera\u3c/i\u3e) Neonates, Challenged with Cry34Ab1, Cry35Ab1 and Cry34/35Ab1, Based on Next-Generation Sequencing

With Next Generation Sequencing technologies, high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNAseq) was conducted to examine gene expression in neonates of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (LeConte) (Western Corn Rootworm, WCR) challenged with individual proteins of the binary Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal proteins, Cry34Ab1 and Cry35Ab1, and the combination of Cry34/Cry35Ab1, which together are active against rootworm larvae. Integrated results of three different statistical comparisons identified 114 and 1300 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) in the Cry34Ab1 and Cry34/35Ab1 treatment, respectively, as compared to the control. No DETs were identified in the Cry35Ab1 treatment. Putative Bt binding receptors previously identified in other insect species were not identified in DETs in this study. The majority of DETs (75% with Cry34Ab1 and 68.3% with Cry34/35Ab1 treatments) had no significant hits in the NCBI nr database. In addition, 92 DETs were shared between Cry34Ab1 and Cry34/35Ab1 treatments. Further analysis revealed that the most abundant DETs in both Cry34Ab1 and Cry34/35Ab1 treatments were associated with binding and catalytic activity. Results from this study confirmed the nature of these binary toxins against WCR larvae and provide a fundamental profile of expression pattern of genes in response to challenge of the Cry34/35Ab1 toxin, which may provide insight into potential resistance mechanisms

RNAi induced knockdown of a cadherin-like protein (EF531715) does not affect toxicity of Cry34/35Ab1 or Cry3Aa to \u3ci\u3eDiabrotica virgifera virgifera\u3c/i\u3e larvae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, is an important maize pest throughout most of the U.S. Corn Belt. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal proteins including modified Cry3Aa and Cry34/35Ab1 have been expressed in transgenic maize to protect against WCR feeding damage. To date, there is limited information regarding the WCR midgut target sites for these proteins. In this study, we examined whether a cadherin-like gene from Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (DvvCad; Gen-Bank accession # EF531715) associated with WCR larval midgut tissue is necessary for Cry3Aa or Cry34/ 35Ab1 toxicity. Experiments were designed to examine the sensitivity of WCR to trypsin activated Cry3Aa and Cry34/35Ab1 after oral feeding of the DvvCad dsRNA to knockdown gene expression. Quantitative real-time PCR confirmed that DvvCad mRNA transcript levels were reduced in larvae treated with cadherin dsRNA. Relative cadherin expression by immunoblot analysis and nano-liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS) of WCR neonate brush border membrane vesicle (BBMV) preparations exposed to DvvCad dsRNA confirmed reduced cadherin expression when compared to BBMV from untreated larvae. However, the larval mortality and growth inhibition of WCR neonates exposed to cadherin dsRNA for two days followed by feeding exposure to either Cry3Aa or Cry34/35Ab1 for four days was not significantly different to that observed in insects exposed to either Cry3Aa or Cry34/35Ab1 alone. In combination, these results suggest that cadherin is unlikely to be involved in the toxicity of Cry3Aa or Cry34/35Ab1 to WCR

Evaluation of Five Methods for Total DNA Extraction from Western Corn Rootworm Beetles

Background: DNA extraction is a routine step in many insect molecular studies. A variety of methods have been used to isolate DNA molecules from insects, and many commercial kits are available. Extraction methods need to be evaluated for their efficiency, cost, and side effects such as DNA degradation during extraction. Methodology/Principal Findings: From individual western corn rootworm beetles, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, DNA extractions by the SDS method, CTAB method, DNAzol reagent, Puregene solutions and DNeasy column were compared in terms of DNA quantity and quality, cost of materials, and time consumed. Although all five methods resulted in acceptable DNA concentrations and absorbance ratios, the SDS and CTAB methods resulted in higher DNA yield (ng DNA vs. mg tissue) at much lower cost and less degradation as revealed on agarose gels. The DNeasy kit was most time-efficient but was the costliest among the methods tested. The effects of ethanol volume, temperature and incubation time on precipitation of DNA were also investigated. The DNA samples obtained by the five methods were tested in PCR for six microsatellites located in various positions of the beetle’s genome, and all samples showed successful amplifications. Conclusion/Significance: These evaluations provide a guide for choosing methods of DNA extraction from western corn rootworm beetles based on expected DNA yield and quality, extraction time, cost, and waste control. The extraction conditions for this mid-size insect were optimized. The DNA extracted by the five methods was suitable for further molecular applications such as PCR and sequencing by synthesis

Comparative susceptibility and binding of Cry1 Bacillus thuringiensis toxins to the Asian (Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée) and European (Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner) corn borers (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Maize genetically engineered to express Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) was introduced into the Philippines for the control of Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée) in 2002. Ostrinia furnacalis is closely related to the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner). An enormous amount of information has been generated on Bt corn as it relates to O. nubilalis and the current research was undertaken to determine whether such knowledge could be leveraged for O. furnacalis. Both corn borer species exhibited similar pattern and high sensitivity to Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1Ba and Cry1F, suggesting that they share toxin receptors and similar mechanisms of toxicity. Both corn borer species were less susceptible to Cry1Ba compared to an outgroup species, the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis Fabricius, although significantly more susceptible to Cry1F. Ligand and immuno –blots allowed comparisons of Cry1Ab and Cry1F binding patterns, as well as expression of putative toxin receptors in brush border membrane vesicles prepared from these three insect species. Both Ostrinia spp. shared a common receptor that binds to Cry1Ab toxin and it is most likely a putative cadherin-like receptor. Both species exhibited comparable expression of putative cadherin and aminopeptidase-N-like receptors, with high homology of cDNA sequences. Interestingly, both Ostrinia spp. exhibited slightly different binding patterns to Cry1F toxin. Diatraea saccharalis showed different binding patterns compared to both Ostrinia spp. Although both Ostrinia spp. are genetically closely related, generalizations regarding binding characteristics across Bt toxins as shown in the differences in binding patterns between the Cry1Ab and Cry1F should be avoided. Ostrinia furnacalis clustered into two sister clades with a low bootstrap support (19%), and both clades show high similarity with respect to the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase II gene. These results show that the sensitivity and binding of Bt toxins obtained by using specimens from Malaysia and Philippines, respectively are representative of O. furnacalis from surrounding Southeast Asia, as well as China and Japan. As such, we have a high chance of leveraging existing knowledge generated on O. nubilalis, particularly on the use of Cry1Ab-expressing Bt corn against O. furnacalis in Southeast Asia. The results of this research have important practical implications on the commercialization, regulatory decisions, stewardship and resistance management of Bt corn in Asia, and more importantly, provide the first comparative study between both Ostrinia spp. with regard to the sensitivity and mechanism of toxicity to Bt toxins

Comparative binding of Cry1Ab and Cry1F \u3ci\u3eBacillus thuringiensis\u3c/i\u3e toxins to brush border membrane proteins from \u3ci\u3eOstrinia nubilalis, Ostrinia furnacalis\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eDiatraea saccharalis\u3c/i\u3e (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) midgut tissue

The European (Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner) and Asian corn borers (Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée) are closely related and display similar sensitivity to Cry1 toxins. In this study, we compared the binding patterns of Cry1Ab and Cry1F toxins between both Ostrinia spp., as well as the expression of putative cad­herin and aminopeptidase-N (APN)-like protein receptors. Additionally, cDNA sequences of these putative toxin receptors from both Ostrinia species were compared. Ligand blots for both species indicated a similar binding pattern for Cry1Ab with the strongest immunoreactive band at 260 kDa in both species. In addition, similar expression of the putative cadherin- and APN-like protein re­ceptors were observed at 260 and 135 kDa, respectively. A high degree of sim­ilarity (98% amino acid sequence identity) of cDNA sequences for both puta­tive receptor sequences was observed. The Cry1F ligand blot revealed that O. furnacalis and O. nubilalis BBMV exhibited slightly different binding patterns, with strong binding to putative proteins at 150 and 140 kDa, respectively. Both proteins appeared to also bind Cry1Ab, although the signal intensity was much reduced with Cry1Ab. O. furnacalis showed an additional but weaker band at 210 kDa relative to the 150 kDa band. Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius), which was used as an outgroup species, exhibited different binding patterns than ei­ther Ostrinia species, with both Cry1Ab and Cry1F toxins binding to a 210 kDa protein. These results support the previous experiments indicating that O. nu­bilalis and O. furnacalis share similar patterns of susceptibility to Cry toxins

A framework for cloud computing use to enhance job productivity

Increasing effectiveness and efficiency in job productivity is one of the most critical goals for businesses because a productive labor force is crucial in reducing the budget impact in business costs and in boosting job creation. While Cloud computing is an important technological development in this generation, its effect on job productivity is unclear. Cloud computing may promise lower cost and the capability to quickly scale resources up or down as workloads demanded, thus leading organizations in both the public and private sectors to consider shifting their applications and data to the Cloud. Although Cloud computing provides many advantages but barriers of Cloud usage such as security breaches, incompatibility with existing applications and unreliability of Cloud service reduce job productivity. This research hence aims to propose a framework on demography, Cloud characteristics and learning styles for Cloud computing usage, documentation and productivity. This research uses a systematic and methodological plan to coordinate research for optimum resource allocation. The intended population where data will be collected under this study will be 500 Cloud service users in a local region in Malaysia