Investigation of insecticidal properties of scorpion venom through its effect on detoxification enzymes of stem sugarcane borers

The sugarcane stem borer, Sesamia nonagrioides is the most important pest of sugarcane in Khuzestan province. This study aimed to evaluate the scorpion Hottentotta Saulcyi venom for its effects on the detoxification enzyme activity of the Sesamia nonagrioides. Venoms were injected into the larvae at different doses (0.5μg, 0.75μg and 1μg; fifteen larvae per each dose) and the midguts with contents of treated larval groups and the control group treated with 1μl PBS were removed for enzymatic activity assays at 24h after treatment. This study demonstrated that Hottentotta Saulcyi venom strongly inhibited glutathione S-transferases (GST) activity when compared with control group while, the ACHE enzyme activity tended to increase in treated larvae. Our data highlighted that the GST activity in S. nonagrioides could be considered as a biomarker for larval envenomation.

Keywords:

Hottentotta Saulcyi , Sesamia nonagrioides , Glutathione S-transferases