Boring Insects Research Articles

Biodecolorization of Azo Dye by Bacteria Alcaligenes faecalis Sub Sp. Phenolicus Isolated from a Bark-Beetle Tunnel Developed in Peltophorum Pterocarpum Plant

This study assessed the decolorization of reactive red 120 (RR120) by Alcaligenes faecalis subsp. phenolicus strain isolated from the bark borer insect (Indarbela tetraonis) tunnel developed in Peltophorum pterocarpum. The optimal parameters for the dye of decolorization 0.1 mg/L of dye were pH 7, temperature 35°C, fructose (0.4% w/v) as the carbon supply (0.4% w/v), peptone (0.2% w/v) as the nitrogen source (0.4% w/v), 12 hours of static conditions, and 0.3 ml of inoculums. Cell suspension, sodium alginate (3%, w/v), and PVA (5%, w/v) immobilized cell beads (10 beads 0.5 mm in size) were used in the batch continuous reactor for complete bio-decolorization of RR120. The batch reactor was subjected to 5 cycles of batches for 3 days of constant use. Under optimal conditions, the batch mode achieved more than 99% dye decolorization and fabric color removal in less than 48 hours of contact. When the control and dye-decolorized media were analyzed using UV spectroscopy, the absorbance of the control medium was higher than that of the decolorized media. GC-MS and FTIR analysis revealed the basic compounds and functional groups of the parent RR120 dye. This strain decolored 76.51% of AB 113, 96.8% of orange II, 98.47% of congo red, 98.3% of RR120, 97.92% of phenol red individual dyes, and 94.72% of the dye mixture at 12 hours. A. faecalis subsp. Phenolicus strains produced positive results in the qualitative analytical test of exopolysaccharides (EPS) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) production. The RR120 was decolorized in the presence of heavy metal ions by A. faecalis sub-sp. Phenolicus bacteria.

PdPLR1 effectively enhances resistance of Populus deltoides ‘shalinyang’ to Anoplophora glabripennis by positive regulation of lignan synthesis

Anoplophora glabripennis (ALB) is one of the most devastating wood boring insects of poplars. Populus deltoides ‘Shalinyang (PdS), a new poplar variety, shows strong resistance to ALB infestation. However, the molecular mechanism of insect resistance in PdS is unclear. Here, we found that lignan content was much higher in PdS phloem after ALB infestation than in healthy trees, and that adding lignan to artificial diet significantly reduced: larval weight; digestive enzyme activity (cellulase [CL], polygalacturonase [PG]); detoxification enzyme activity (carboxylesterase [CarE], glutathione S-transferase [GSH-ST]); and defense enzyme activity (Catalase [CAT]). We further identified the lignan biosynthesis-related PdPLR1 gene (Pinoresinol-lariciresinol reductase, PLR) based on transcriptome analysis, and it was significantly up-regulated in the PdS phloem attacked by ALB. Overexpression of PdPLR1 in Arabidopsis increased th lignan content. In contrast, silencing PdPLR1 in PdS significantly decreased expression levels of PdPLR1 and lignan content by 82.45% and 56.85%. However, silencing PdPLR1 increased the number of adults ovipositions and eggs hatching. The activity of CL, PG, CarE, GSH-ST and CAT and the biomass of larvae fed on phloem of PdS with silenced PdPLR1 were significantly higher than in the control. Taken together, up regulation of PdPLR1 enhanced PdS resistance to ALB by regulating lignan synthesis. Our findings provide in-depth insights into the molecular mechanisms of PdS-ALB interactions, which lay the foundation for understanding of defense in poplars to pest infection.

First records of Microstroma album (Desmazières) Saccardo, 1878 (Basidiomycota: Microstromataceae) and Phylloxera glabra (von Heyden, 1837) (Hemiptera: Phylloxeridae) in oak stands in Bulgaria

The current study reports the first records of an aphid-like pest and leaf pathogen on oak species in Bulgaria. In 2020-2023, leaf samples presenting characteristic yellow spots and lesions were collected from mature trees of Quercus petraea, Q. cerris, Q. frainetto and Q. robur in different localities of the country. Damage caused by oak obligate leaf pathogen Microstroma album, the leaf phylloxera, Phylloxera glabra, and the oak lace bug, Corythucha arcuata were identified on the lower surface of oak leaves. M. album was identified on all studied Quercus species. Angular white patches, the fruiting stage of the fungus, appeared on the lower surfaces of the leaves. P. glabra caused yellowish mosaic discoloration on the leaf surface of Quercus cerris, Q. frainetto and Q. pertaea. Sucking damage displayed a stippled pattern of yellow, brown, or whitish dots. In places where M. album develops, the invasive oak lace bug was often found as the only sucking species on oak leaves, which is most likely also a vector of the disease. Severe damage caused by established both obligate pathogen (M. album) and sucking insect pests (P. glabra, C. arcuata) could result in a weakening of the oak trees. On sufficiently weakened trees, secondary fungal pathogens or boring insects, commonly infested oak trees, can cause their death.

Population Dynamics of Helicoverpa armigera in Chickpea, (Cicer arietinum L.)

The present studies on population dynamics of gram pod borer insect pest were carried out at Students’ Instructional Farm (SIF) of Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (UP), India during Rabi 2022-23 and 2023-24. The present study revealed that gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera was commenced from the first fortnight of November and touched the highest at 8th SMW (2.98 pod borer larvae per plant) and 7th SMW (3.54 pod borer larvae per plant) in both the year, respectively. The population of H. armigera had a non-significant positive correlation with rainfall (r= 0.101) in Rabi 2022-23. The population of H. armigera had a significant positive correlation with wind speed (r= 0.495*) in Rabi 2023-24.

Exploring risk factors for insect borer attack in Georgia's (USA) urban landscapes.

Urban trees are at risk of stress due to heat island effects and the increased proportion of impervious areas surrounding them. Among pests of trees, insect borers such as bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and flatheaded borers (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) are some of the most devastating, frequently colonizing stressed trees. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of biotic and abiotic risk factors on borer attacks on trees in urban areas. In the summer of 2021 and 2022, this study was conducted in 50 urban sites in Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia (USA). Specific factors explored include overall tree health, differentially warmer maximum and minimum temperatures of sites compared to surrounding areas, tree species, and the percentage of impervious surface surrounding trees. Generalized linear models and zero-inflated models explored how these factors were related to damage from these borers. The number of borer attacks on trees increased with higher percentage impervious area. As the two most commonly encountered trees, Acer rubrum was found to be significantly more susceptible to attack from borers than Ulmus parvifolia. Unhealthy trees were more likely to experience more frequent and more severe borer attack. Trees with increased impervious cover around them as well as those with differentially warmer daily maximum and minimum temperatures relative to surrounding were more likely to be attacked.

Field infestation of the invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on maize in Southern Ethiopia

The biggest obstacle to Ethiopia's maize production is the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda. Since its recent introduction, the pest has assumed a key pest status displacing most other stalk borer insects known to attack maize in the country. This study was carried out to assess the infestation of FAW on maize, identify associated natural enemies, and determined the geographic distribution of the pest in southern Ethiopia. Infestation by FAW was encountered in most surveyed areas. The earwig, Doru luteipes (Scudder) was frequently found preying on larvae of FAW while the larvae of Chrysoperla rufilabris (Burmeister) were observed feeding on FAW egg masses. Megaselia scalaris (Loew) and Palexorista zonata (Curran), two parasitoids of FAW, were recovered from FAW larvae. The entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, was isolated from the cadaver of FAW larvae. Modeling the distribution of FAW revealed that there are many suitable places in southern Ethiopia, with low-lying plain lands having the greatest potential for pest invasion. With AUC values above 0.9, the MaxEnt models demonstrated great prediction accuracy. Precipitation in the driest month (27.3%) and precipitation in the coldest quarter (25.4%), accounted for more than half of the variance in the pest's potential distribution. The findings of this study have contributed to a greater understanding of field infestation of FAW and associated natural enemies. The species distribution model result constituted a crucial point in providing the rationale for devising management strategy by taking into account a specified area susceptible to enhance invasion risk by FAW.

Unraveling Biotic and Abiotic Factors Shaping Sugarcane Straw Polyphenolic Richness: A Gateway to Artificial Intelligence-Driven Crop Management.

Sugarcane straw (Saccharum officinarum) is a valuable coproduct renowned for its abundant polyphenolic content. However, extracting these polyphenols for natural ingredients faces challenges due to their inherent variability, influenced by biotic stress factors and plant characteristics. We explored the impact of five crucial factors on sugarcane straw polyphenolic diversity: (i) production area (Guariba, Valparaíso), (ii) borer insect (Diatraea saccharalis) infestation, (iii) plant age (first to seventh harvest), (iv) harvest season, and (v) plant variety. Response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural networks (ANN) were used to optimize polyphenol extraction conditions. A second-order polynomial model guided us to predict ideal sugarcane straw harvesting conditions for polyphenol-rich extracts. The analysis identified CU0618-variety straw, harvested in Guariba during the dry season (October 2020), at the seventh harvest stage, with 13.81% borer insect infection, as the prime source for high hydroxybenzoic acid (1010 µg/g), hydroxycinnamic acid (3119 µg/g), and flavone (573 µg/g) content and consequently high antioxidant capacity. The ANN model surpasses the RSM model, demonstrating superior predictive capabilities with higher coefficients of determination and reduced mean absolute deviations for each polyphenol class. This underscores the potential of artificial neural networks in forecasting and enhancing polyphenol extraction conditions, setting the stage for AI-driven advancements in crop management.

Management of the Yellow Corn Stem Borer, Sesamia cretica Led. Using Some Pesticides and Their Alternatives and Their Effect on Production Constituents of Yellow Corn Crop Zea mays in Kirkuk Governorate

Our study, the spring cultivar of the yellow corn crop was adopted in the experimental land, the aim of which was to know the best materials used in managing the corn stalk borer insect. Environmentally friendly materials were used (ash - remnants of burnt materials, in addition to table salt). In addition to our use of effective and approved pesticides in the control of stem borer in a field experiment to see the effect of the materials used on insect infestation rates It also had an effect on the killing rate of corn stalk borer larvae achieved by spraying with the experimental materials, in addition to its effect on the height of infected plants compared to the control treatmen Field surveys were conducted to find out the extent of infection with this insect in the center of Kirkuk Governorate. The experiment was repeated for the fall season 2022, with field surveys conducted for the purpose of confirming the economic importance of the insect.t. The results indicated the spread of the corn stalk borer insect in all corn-growing areas, for which tables were prepared regarding the infection rate. In the autumn season 2021 in Kirkuk Governorate. The results indicated that there was a clear effect of the materials used in the treatments, with a relative superiority of the ash and table salt treatments over the pesticide treatments (Diazinon 10% granular and Aktara EC 25).

Pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin Isolate (TNAU ENT BB1) Against Rice Leaf Folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee) in In-vitro (Laboratory) Conditions

Rice productivity is impaired by sucking, leaf feeding and borer insect pests. Among the leaf feeders, rice leaf folder Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee) cause significant yield loss. The non-chemical insect pest management is gaining momentum among farmers, and biocontrol management is one of the essential components. The efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin isolate against C. medinalis was studied using the laboratory culture maintained in rice leaves. Different concentrations of B. bassiana were applied topically on the second instar C. medinalis larvae. The mortality observations were recorded at 48 hrs intervals from the third day and continued up to 11 days. The highest mortality of 78.33% was observed at concentration 1×108 conidia/ml, and the lowest mortality of 36.67% was observed at concentration 1×103 conidia/ml. The determined median lethal concentration (LC50) of B. bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin isolate against C. medinalis is 5.44 x 105 conidia/ml.

GWAS on the Attack by Aspen Borer Saperda calcarata on Black Cottonwood Trees Reveals a Response Mechanism Involving Secondary Metabolism and Independence of Tree Architecture

Black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) is a species of economic interest and an outstanding study model. The aspen borer (Saperda calcarata) causes irreversible damage to poplars and other riparian species in North America. The insect can produce multiple effects ranging from the presence of some galleries in the stem to tree death. Despite the ecological and commercial importance of this tree–insect interaction, the genetic mechanisms underlying the response of P. trichocarpa to S. calcarata are scarcely understood. In this study, a common garden trial of P. trichocarpa provenances, established in Davis, California, was assessed at the second year of growth, regarding the infestation of S. calcarata from a natural outbreak. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted using 629k of exonic SNPs to assess the relationship between genomic variation and insect attack. Tree architecture, in terms of stem number per plant, and the wood metabolome were also included. Insect attack was independent of the number of stems per tree. The performed GWAS identified three significantly associated SNP markers (q-value < 0.2) belonging to the same number of gene models, encoding proteins involved in signal transduction mechanisms and secondary metabolite production, including that of R-mandelonitrile lyase, Chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding family protein, and Leucine-rich repeat protein. These results are aligned with the current knowledge of defensive pathways in plants and trees, helping to expand the understanding of the defensive response mechanisms of black cottonwood against wood borer insects.

IDENTIFIKASI SERANGGA (INSEKTA) YANG MERUGIKAN PADA TANAMAN CABAI RAWIT DI DESA SISARAHILI EKHOLO KECAMATAN LOLOWAU KABUPATEN NIAS SEALATAN

Agriculture is an activity of utilizing biological resources by humans to produce food, industrial raw materials with the aim of fulfilling their needs. Chili (Capsicum annuum L.) is a horticultural commodity that has important economic value in Indonesia, so chili cultivation is very attractive to farmers. This study aims to determine the types of insects that are detrimental to chili plants. This type of research is descriptive qualitative research. This research was conducted from 16 December to 12 January 2023. This research was also carried out in the village of Sisarahili Ekholo, Lolowa'u District, Nias Selatan Regency. Identification is one of the ways or actions taken to find out the description of something being studied as a determinant or determination of identity, one example is insects (Insecta). Insects as a component of biodiversity have an important role in agricultural ecosystems, namely as herbivores, parasitoids, predators and environmental bioindicators. Based on the results of the research and discussion, it was found that the research obtained several types of insects, namely green grasshoppers (Atractomorpha), stinging bugs, stem and shoot borer insects (Scirpophaga innotata), green ladybugs (Hemiptera), and caterpillars. Suggestions from researchers are that people should be able to use appropriate techniques in exterminating insects on rice plants, because not all types of insects found on rice plants are harmful but some are beneficial such as: bees, butterflies and dragonflies and several other types of insects .

Acoustic Comparisons of Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) Mortality in Naturally Infested Date Palms after Injection with Entomopathogenic Fungi or Nematodes, Aluminum Phosphide Fumigation, or Insecticidal Spray Treatments.

Red palm weevil (RPW) management is important to the economic success of date palm agriculture. Monitoring with acoustic sensors was conducted in naturally infested trees in date palm orchards for six months after treatments with entomopathogenic fungi (Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae), entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema carpocapsae), aluminum phosphide, emamectin benzoate, or fipronil to evaluate their efficacy in an integrated pest management treatment vs. a distilled water injection. Reductions in the mean rates of RPW sound impulse bursts over time after treatment were used as indicators of RPW mortality. Entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes, aluminum phosphide, and emamectin benzoate were the most effective treatments, reducing RPW impulse burst rates within 2-3-months to levels indicating absence of infestation. However, when applied as a spray, fipronil had only a minor effect. The results indicate that treatments utilizing entomopathogenic fungi or nematodes can beneficially manage RPW in palm orchards and can help to limit treatments that may induce insecticide resistance or cause human and environmental harm. Furthermore, the use of an acoustic sensor can be beneficial in monitoring the activities of insect borers inside the tree trunk.

Cork harvest planning and climate: High air humidity favors availability of airborne inoculum of Diplodia corticola

The canker disease caused by Diplodia corticola is one of the most important emerging pathologies of cork oak (Quercus suber) in western Europe. The fungus is dispersed by borer insects, although it is also thought that the spores can be dispersed by wind and rain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of airborne inoculum of D. corticola in managed cork oak stands during cork harvesting season. Semi-passive spore traps were set in eight sampling plots in Catalonia (north-eastern Spain) in summer of 2020. Traps were replaced every week and the number of D. corticolas spores per sampling event was estimated based on a specific nested-qPCR protocol. Spatial-temporal distribution of airborne inoculum accumulation along sampling areas was analyzed using generalized additive models (GAMs). The availability of airborne inoculum resulted rather low with noticeable accumulation peaks in some of the sampled areas. The fitted GAM revealed a positive effect of high air humidity during the sampling period on the availability of spores. This study represents the first attempt to model the spore release of this emerging pathogen, and it provides insights for developing D. corticola canker control strategies based on the precise timing of cork harvesting operations.

Farmers perception on pest management practices and profitability analysis for five winter vegetable production

The purpose of the study was to determine the farmers' perceptions of management measures against insect and disease pests and the profitability of five winter vegetables grown in Bangladesh's Sirajganj area. The highest incidences of fungal infections, including curd rot of cauliflower and early blight of tomato, were discovered. One of the most destructive diseases of brinjal and tomato was wilt, which was caused by both fungi and bacteria. Farmers took the necessary steps to control aphids (40-150 insects m–2 or 20-50 infected shoots m–2), brinjal shoot and fruit borer (10-50 insects 10m–2 or 20-60 infected shoots or fruits 10m–2), and other insects at the threshold level. They employed physical, chemical, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques to manage the disease and insect pests. The greatest amount of insecticide spraying (35-45 times) was performed to control brinjal shoot and fruit borer insects. The entire manufacturing cost followed the pattern tomato > brinjal > bean > cauliflower > bottle gourd. The cultivation of brinjal yielded the highest return, gross margin, and net return (Tk. 987,000.00, Tk. 800,572.00, and Tk. 763,117.00 ha–1, respectively; US$ 1 = Bangladesh currency Tk. In contrast, bottle gourd farming yielded the lowest return (Tk 700,000.00 ha–1), and tomato cultivation yielded the lowest gross margin and net return (Tk 539,152.00 and 507,325.00, respectively). The brinjal cultivation had the highest profitability index, benefit-cost ratio (both variable and total cost basis), and rate of return on investment, whereas tomato cultivation had the lowest. Rot, blight disease, shoot and fruit borer, or fruit borer, and aphid were the most common pests of winter vegetables in the region surveyed. Finally, we discovered that brinjal is the most profitable vegetable in our area of study.

Primary Biological Characteristics of an Emerging Major Boring Pest, Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), on Juglans regia (Juglandales: Juglandaceae) in Taihang Mountains

Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée) (yellow peach moth, YPM) and Atrijuglans hetaohei (Yang) (walnut lift moth, WLM), both boring insects of walnut (Juglans regia), exhibit a competitive relationship due to occupying the same ecological niche. However, the effects of climate change, agricultural management, and irrational pesticide use on the damage caused by these insects remains unknown. Long-term field monitoring in this study revealed that populations of YPM have surpassed those of WLM on walnut since 2018, indicating that YPM, previously considered a minor pest, is now becoming a major pest. Furthermore, field survey results showed that the primary pest can complete its life history in the walnut orchard and overwinter inside fallen fruit, allowing four generations every year. Our results provide a theoretical basis for controlling YPM, currently a major pest of walnut fruit in North China.

A new strategy using entomopathogenic fungi for the control of tree borer insects

AbstractIn order to establish a strategy for controlling pests living in trees and causing damage, injected entomopathogenic fungal conidia suspension of Beauveria bassiana into a four‐year‐old Canary Island date palm, Phoenix canariensis. As a result, B. bassiana Bb‐egfp#3 expressing green fluorescent protein was dispersed from the injection site to the top and bottom of the tree. To evaluate the insecticidal activity of the Bb‐egfp#3 injected into the tree, we released mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) on the ground palm tree sample that was injected with the conidia suspension. As a result, mycosis caused by the injected Bb‐egfp#3 in the trees was generated in all cadavers. This study suggests the possibility of establishing a new control strategy against tree pests by injecting an entomopathogenic fungal conidia suspension into trees.

New qPCR protocol to detect Diplodia corticola shows phoretic association with the oak pinhole borer Platypus cylindrus

BACKGROUNDBotryosphaeria canker (causal agent: Diplodia corticola) is considered one of the most important diseases of cork oak (Quercus suber) stands since it necrotizes the subero‐phellodermic layer preventing cork regeneration after harvesting. One of the most intriguing etiological issues of this disease is its plausible spreading through trunk borer insects. In this study, we highlight the phoretic relationship between D. corticola and the oak pinhole borer Platypus cylindrus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) which massively colonizes debarked cork oaks in southern Europe. We extracted DNA from 154 adults of P. cylindrus collected in six cork oak stands in north‐eastern Spain during the summer of 2021. We developed a new nested quantitative PCR‐based protocol for quick detection of D. corticola carried by insects.RESULTSThe use of real time amplification of a highly specific mitochondrial marker allowed us to detect spore loads down to a single conidium within the first 29 cycles of qPCR. The 29.62% of insect pools (corresponding to 31.16% of studied insects) resulted in an estimated spore load higher than one conidium/insect, with a moderate value of mean spore load for the whole dataset (~33 conidia/insect). Estimated spore load was significantly higher in May and August, regardless of insect abundance in the field.CONCLUSIONThis study provides new tools for diagnosis of this emergent pathogen that would be useful for developing monitoring strategies and epidemiological studies. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Three-Dimensional Reconstruction and Predictive Simulation Algorithm of Forest and Fruit Wood Borer Galleries Based on Two-Dimensional Images and Different Influencing Factors

Since forest and fruit wood borer insects are very harmful, and the formed galleries are complex and not easy to observe, the 3D reconstruction and visual prediction simulation of their galleries are of great importance in agricultural and forestry research. A single image-based 3D reconstruction and visualization method is proposed. The method is divided into two steps: (1) photographing the complete insect galleries on different sample wood segments, correcting the images to obtain the complete insect tract outline, and then redefining the height of model expansion based on the distance from the outline to the midline of the outline via the sketch-based reconstruction method to reconstruct the 3D geometric model of insect tracts; (2) setting the influencing factors, such as forest and fruit wood borer pest species, host plants and insect population density, and simultaneously judging the newly added sample points and updating the original skeleton points according to the category of sample points and the comprehensive consideration of influencing factors, so as to obtain the changes of insect gallery structure under different conditions and achieve the predictive simulation of insect tract structure. We found that modeling 3D wood borer galleries by different pests on different host plants can be achieved. Compared to the hand drawing method, our method can obtain 3D models in a very short time, and the experimental models are all reconstructed within 1.5 s. The predicted variation in the range of insect tracts indicate that it was inversely proportional to the population density and positively proportional to the moth-eating ability of the pests, indicating that the method reflects the relationship between the range of insect tracts and the influencing factors. The proposed method provides a new approach to the study and control of wood borer galleries in the forest and fruit industry. In conclusion, we provide a method to reconstruct and predict the wood borer galleries in three dimensions.

Effect of cyanide ions (CN-) extracted from cassava (Manihotesculenta Crantz) on Alveolar Epithelial Cells (A549 cells)

Cassava (Manihotesculenta Crantz) is one of the most important root crops in tropical countries. It is a major source of cyanogenic glycosides viz. linamarin and lotaustralin, and these on breakdown liberate HCN and ketone. Cassava cyanide extract (CCE) from cassava leaves and tuber rinds were formulated as a biopesticide against certain borer insect pests of horticultural crops. Adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549) were treated with three different concentrations (100, 200, 400 ppm) of CCE. The MTT and NRU assays showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity. The DCFH-DA assay does not show any free radical scavenging activity, whereas the NRR assay showed a reduction in the nitrile radicals with an increase in the concentration of the bioactive compound. A negative correlation was found between the concentration of the bioactive principles and mitochondrial and lysosomal functions. Various cellular assays demonstrated the cellular response of the CCE, and it was found that at higher concentration (400 ppm), the CCE exert a significant necrotic cell death rather than apoptosis. The results of the study indicated that the CCE have a remarkable tendency of anti-proliferative ability.

Development of Transgenic Sugarcane Resistant to Stem Borer by Transforming cry1Ab-cry1Ac Fusion Gene through Agrobacterium tumefaciens Transformation Method

<p>Bulu Lawang (BL) is a sugarcane variety preferred by farmers in Indonesia due to its high yield, but this cultivar is susceptible to shoot and stem borer insect pests. Genetic engineering using cry1Ab and cry1Ac fusion gene is an effort to generate BL varieties resistant to the insect pests. This study aimed to 1) transform T-DNA containing cry1Ab-cry1Ac fusion gene into sugarcane genome by using Agrobacterium tumefaciens method, 2) obtain selection media composition of callus transformants, and 3) obtain transformation efficiency comparison of A. tumefaciens strains EHA105 and GV3101. The research was conducted at the Laboratory of Cell and Tissue Biology, the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, and the greenhouse of the Indonesian Center for Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Resources Research and Development, Bogor from March to August 2019. Research activities consisted of four parts namely 1) callus induction and Agrobacterium culture preparation containing pCambia5300-cry1Ab-cry1Ac ///// pCambia-5300_OaRbcS-prom-cTP-cry1Ab-cry1Ac plasmid, 2) callus incubation in cocultivation and resting media, 3) selection and differentiation of shoots on regeneration media, and 4) molecular analysis using PCR method. Results showed that the composition of media, both for selection and regeneration processes of putative plant transformants, was the key to the success of this experiment. A. tumefaciens strain EHA105 resulted in higher transformation efficiency (11.1%) compared to that of strain GV3101 (9.0%). Molecular analysis showed that cryIAb-cryIAc fusion gene was successfully inserted into the sugarcane genome suggesting that the transgenic plant containing cry1Ab-cry1Ac fusion gene was obtained. The putative transgenic plants need further assay through bioassay tests to verify its resistance phenotype to the insect pests.</p>