Many hemipteroids are major pests and vectors of microbial pathogens, infecting crops. Saliva of the hemipteroids is critical in enabling them to be voracious feeders on plants, including the economically important ones. A plethora of hemipteroid salivary enzymes is known to inflict stress in plants, either by degrading the plant tissue or by affecting their normal metabolism. Hemipteroids utilize one of the following three strategies of feeding behaviour: salivary sheath feeding, osmotic-pump feeding and cell-rupture feeding. The last strategy also includes several different tactics such as lacerate-and-flush, lacerate-and-sip and macerate-and-flush. Understanding hemipteroid feeding mechanisms is critical, since feeding behaviour directs salivary composition. Saliva of the Heteroptera that are specialized as fruit and seed feeders, includes cell-degrading enzymes, auchenorrhynchan salivary composition also predominantly consists of cell-degrading enzymes such as amylase and protease, whereas that of the Sternorhyncha includes a variety of allelochemical-detoxifying enzymes. Little is known about the salivary composition of the Thysanoptera. Cell-degrading proteins such as amylase, pectinase, cellulase and pectinesterase enable stylet entry into the plant tissue. In contrast, enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, laccase and trehalase detoxify plant chemicals, enabling the circumvention of plant-defence mechanisms. Salivary enzymes such as M1-zinc metalloprotease and CLIP-domain serine protease as in Acyrthosiphon pisum (Aphididae), and non-enzymatic proteins such as apolipophorin, ficolin-3-like protein and 'lava-lamp' protein as in Diuraphis noxia (Aphididae) have the capacity to alter host-plant-defence mechanisms. A majority of the hemipteroids feed on phloem, hence Ca++-binding proteins such as C002 protein, calreticulin-like isoform 1 and calmodulin (critical for preventing sieve-plate occlusion) are increasingly being recognized in hemipteroid-plant interactions. Determination of a staggering variety of proteins shows the complexity of hemipteroid saliva: effector proteins localized in hemipteran saliva suggest a similarity to the physiology of pathogen-plant interactions.
Blood biochemistry has significant effect on pathophysiology of human body. Recently few studies found the association of biochemical abnormalities in sickle cell patients. Sickle cell disease showed clinical variability where African ancestors have severe phenotype than Indian sicklers. Our aim was to evaluate the biochemicals in sickle cell patients and their effect on severity. Here we present the comparative biochemical levels in sickle cell patients as well as controls. Sickle cell patients diagnosed by HPLC and biochemical analysis done by Beckman-auto analyzer. T test applied for statistical analysis. Result showed the renal abnormality lesser in patients and related biochemical within the normal range and statistically not significant. Electrolytes, hepatic enzymes, alkaline phosphatase and glucose were elevated and statistically significant (P value \0.05). Observation of the study concludes the biochemical abnormality play a significant role in sickle cell patient's physiopathology and can be used to management of the disease.
A checklist comprising information on taxonomy, distribution and host plants is provided for 161 species of jumping plant-lice from the Indian subcontinent (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) based on published records and museum material. In addition there are 15 species recorded in the literature which are identified to genus only. Museum material provides eight new country and two new state (within India) records. The taxonomy is updated and following nomenclatorial acts are proposed: new genus (1), new generic synonymies (2), designation of type species (1), new species synonymies (5), replacement names for primary homonyms at species level (3), new status of subspecies (3), new combinations (23). Toonapsylla Burckhardt, gen. nov. is described for Psylla cedrelae (Kieffer, 1905). The new genus belongs to Mastigimatinae (Calophyidae) and is probably closest related to Bharatiana and Mastigimas, both associated with Cedrela and Toona (Meliaceae). The new genus is diagnosed and a key is provided for the world genera of Mastigimatinae. The Neoptropical genus Allophorina Hodkinson is transferred here from Mastigimatinae (Calophyidae) to Psyllinae (Psyllidae).
Biological control agents and semiochemicals have become essential parts of the integrated pest management of insect pests over recent years, as the incorporation of semiochemicals with natural enemies and entomopathogenic microbials has gained significance. The potential of insect pheromones to attract natural enemies has mainly been established under laboratory conditions, while semiochemicals from plants have been used to attract and retain natural enemies in field conditions using strategies such as trap crops and the push–pull mechanism. The best-known semiochemicals are those used for parasitoids–insect pest–plant host systems. Semiochemicals can also aid in the successful dispersal of entomopathogenic microbials. The use of semiochemicals to disseminate microbial pathogens is still at the initial stage, especially for bacterial and viral entomopathogens. Future studies should focus on the integration of semiochemicals into management strategies for insects, for which several semiochemical compounds have already been studied. More effective formulations of microbial agents, such as granular formulations of entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs), along with bio-degradable trap materials, could improve this strategy. Furthermore, more studies to evaluate species-specific tactics may be needed, especially where more than one key pest is present.
Ctenarytaina eucalypti is considered a key pest of Eucalyptus plantations, especially E. globulus, in different parts of the world. In this study different levels of response of E. globulus to oviposition and feeding by C. eucalypti are reported. The responses in the juvenile E. globulus leaf tissues to oviposition include subcellular damage with the accumulation of callosic material superimposed by lignin-like polymers in cells proximal to the oviposition site, indicating the earliest response of stress signals in E. globulus to wounding. The feeding action of the first-and second-nymphal instars on the mesophyll cells inflicts both mechanical and chemical damage and manifests newly developed apoplastic spaces between cell walls and plasma membranes, poorly differentiated primordial-palisade cells, and autolysed protoplast. The phloem-feeding third-, fourth-, and fifth-nymphal instars induce changes in phloem parenchyma, which occur as actively dividing cells and including autophagic vacuoles. Leaf cells fed by adults also include hypertrophied mitochondria, degenerating cytoplasm and secondary metabolic compounds. The arrangement of antennal sensilla of C. eucalypti varies among nymphs and adults. The adults and nymphs of C. eucalypti appear to prefer specific leaf parts, suggesting that the levels and quality of nutrients vary in the same leaf. Growth in C. eucalypti is allometric, and the total body and antennal lengths show similar patterns in growth rates when compared with other sclerotised parts.
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