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Title: Effects of cysteine proteinase inhibitors scN and E-64 on southern corn rootworm larval development

Author
item Armstrong, John
item CAMELO, LEONARDO - Monsanto Corporation
item ZHU-SALZMAN, KEYAN - Texas A&M University
item MITCHELL, FOREST - Texas Agrilife Research

Submitted to: Southwestern Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/6/2016
Publication Date: 6/6/2016
Citation: Armstrong, J.S., Camelo, L.A., Zhu-Salzman, K., Mitchell, F.L. 2016. Effects of cysteine proteinase inhibitors scN and E-64 on southern corn rootworm larval development. Southwestern Entomologist. 41(2):337-346.

Interpretive Summary: There are certain protein inhibitors that are found in the tissue of peanut plants, and these will bind with other constituents and affect the digestibility of consumed parts by insect pests of peanut. We discovered and evaluated two different proteinase inhibitors that we are certain would provide host plant protection against the Southern Corn Rootworm, a very common pest of peanut. Our findings are that two different cystein inhibitors would work very well for the protection of peanut to southern corn rootworm.

Technical Abstract: The southern corn rootworm (SCRW) can be a serious pest of peanut pods. A laboratory bioassay was developed to test feeding cysteine proteinase inhibitors soyacystatin N (scN) and E-64 against southern corn rootworm reared on artificial diet to determine the effects on larvae development and mortality. scN increased mortality of larvae and affected larval development as measured by live weights. The proteinase inhibitor proved to be a good candidate as a means of host plant resistance for reducing larval development. E-64 also demonstrated significant larval mortality and decreased weight gain when fed through artificial diet. These assays will provide the necessary data to screen for these inhibitors from cultivars from the world collection for the development of SCRW resistant lines.