Effects of hen's egg white proteins on reproductive performance of red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera : Tenebrionidae)

Geetu Choudhary; Megha Kansal

Volume : III, Issue : XII, December - 2013

Effects of hen's egg white proteins on reproductive performance of red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera : Tenebrionidae)

Geetu Choudhary, Megha Kansal

Abstract :

Tribolium castaneum is a destructive pest of stored grains and is renowned for adapting to various insecticides. The hen’s egg white proteins have been shown to possess unique insecticidal properties. Therefore, the present study was carried out to determine the effect of egg proteins on the reproductive parameters of T. castaneum with protein samples obtained through salt fractionation (PPT–I and PPT–II) and whole egg white (WEW) were used after lyophilization. Different concentrations (2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%) of each of the protein samples were tested by adding them to wheat flour and milk powder (75:25 w/w). Marked abnormalities were observed in appearance and dimensions of ovarioles and eggs which indicated that the egg protein samples caused considerable effect on the process of oogenesis. SEM studies revealed changes in the structure of epithelial sheath cells of ovarioles probably caused due to resorption of ova in the beetles fed on PPT–II proteins. Higher resolution of the egg surface showed the presence of wrinkles or shriveled appearance of the chorionic layer in PPT–I and PPT–II treated eggs and these deep folds and wrinkles were more conspicuous in the beetles fed on PPT–II proteins. Therefore, PPT–II proteins appeared to be most effective in causing reduction of fecundity in T.castaneum. Normal 0 false false false EN–US X–NONE X–NONE