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Sublethal effects of the insecticidal fusion protein ω ‐ ACTX ‐Hv1a/ GNA on the parasitoid Eulophus pennicornis via its host Lacanobia oleracea
Author(s) -
Nakasu Erich YT,
Karamaouna Filitsa,
Partsinevelos Georgios K,
Abd El Halim Hesham M,
Fitches Elaine C,
Pyati Prashant,
Gatehouse John A,
Gatehouse Angharad MR,
Edwards Martin G
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.4030
Subject(s) - parasitoid , biology , biopesticide , larva , toxicology , parasitism , zoology , host (biology) , botany , pesticide , ecology
BACKGROUND The neurotoxin peptide ω ‐ ACTX ‐Hv1a, fused to the carrier molecule GNA , presents potential for insect control as a biopesticide, being orally toxic to insect pests from different orders. However, thorough evaluation is required to assure its safety towards non‐target invertebrates. Effects of this novel biopesticide on the parasitoid Eulophus pennicornis via its host Lacanobia oleracea are presented. RESULTS Hv1a/ GNA did not cause mortality when injected or fed to fifth‐stage L. oleracea , but caused up to 39% reduction in mean larval weight ( P < 0.05) and increased developmental time when injected. When fed, GNA , but not Hv1a/ GNA , caused ∼35% reduction in larval weight, indicating that host quality was not affected by the fusion protein. Although GNA and Hv1a/ GNA were internalised by the hosts following ingestion, and thus were available to higher trophic levels, no significant changes in the rate of E. pennicornis parasitism occurred. Number of parasitoid pupae per host, adult emergence and sex ratio were unaffected by GNA ‐ or Hv1a/ GNA ‐treated hosts ( P > 0.05). The fusion protein was degraded by parasitoid larvae, rendering it non‐toxic. CONCLUSION Hv1a/ GNA has negligible effects on the parasitoid, even under worst‐case scenarios. This low toxicity to these insects is of interest in terms of biopesticide specificity and safety to non‐target organisms. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry