Effects of proteinase inhibitors on western corn rootworm life parameters

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Abstract
Abstract:  Plants have developed defensive mechanisms to minimize predation by insect pests. Proteinase inhibitors are an example of plant compounds synthesized as a mechanism for defence. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of trans‐epoxysuccinyl‐l‐leucylamido (4‐guanidino) butane (E‐64), phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF‐serine protenase inhibitor) and Kunitz trypsin inhibitors on the pre‐ovipositional and ovipositional periods, the mean number of eggs laid per female, and the longevity of western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, adults. This study provides information on the effectiveness of proteinase inhibitors as a host‐plant resistance tool for managing WCR beetles. The study was conducted in 1997, 1998, and 2000. In 1997, E‐64 was added to an artificial diet at the concentrations of 0.05, 0.025 and 0.0125% (w/w), corresponding to 500, 250, and 125 ppm respectively. In 1998, PMSF was added to the artificial diet at the same concentrations. In 2000, Kunitz trypsin inhibitor was added to the artificial diet at concentrations of 0.2, 0.1 and 0.05% (w/w), corresponding to 2000, 1000, and 500 ppm respectively. The mean fecundity of beetles fed the untreated diet was between 67 and 111 eggs per female. The fecundity of beetles fed E‐64 and PMSF at different concentrations, ranged between 162 and 246 eggs per female for E‐64 and 61 and 80.5 eggs per female for PMSF. The fecundity of the beetles fed Kunitz trypsin inhibitor was between 155 and 225 eggs per female. When beetles fed on the diet which consisted of the lowest dosage of Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (500 ppm), fecundity was higher than that on untreated control. The proteinase inhibitors investigated did not show a negative impact on WCR adults. Beetle fecundity, the length of the pre‐ovipositional and ovipositional periods and the longevity of the beetles fed with proteinase inhibitors were not lower than that of the beetles fed only the artificial diet. This study does not support the use of investigated proteinase inhibitors at applied concentrations as effective host‐plant resistance tools for managing WCR beetles.

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