Effects of cereal seed protinaceous extracts on α-amylase and proteinase activity of salivary glands of Carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Lepidoptera: pyralidae)

The carob moth is one of the most devastating pests of pomegranate and some other products. Various pest control measures have been undertaken in order to control this pest but none of them has been successful so far. In the current study the effects of cereal seed proteinaceous extracts including triticale and three wheat cultivars (MV۱۷, Aflak, and Zare) have been studied on α-amylase and protease activity of salivary glands of this insect.Initial screening showed ۳۸, ۴۴, ۲۸ and ۷۶% inhibitory effect for triticlae, MV-۱۷, Aflak, and Zare cereal seed extracts respectively on α-amylase activity. Further studies were performed with Zare wheat cultivar using various concentrations including ۱۳, ۶.۵, ۳.۲۵, ۱.۶۲۵ and ۰.۸۱۲۵ µg protein on the enzyme activity and results showed that they inhibited the enzyme activity by ۷۶, ۷۵, ۶۸, ۶۰, and ۴۲%, respectively. Gel assays confirmed the spectrophotometric data i.e the effect of the seed extract on the enzyme was dose dependant. The same trend was observed when seed extracts were tested against proteinase activity. These data suggest that plants produce different proteins with different specificity toward herbivores digestive enzymes some of which could be used for insect control in IPM program.

Keywords:

&alpha , -amylase , Carob moth , proteinase , cereal seed extract