Aims: To clarify the diversity of Bacillus subtilis strains in Thua nao that produce high concentrations of products useful in food manufacturing and in health‐promoting compounds.
Method and Results: Production of amylase, protease, subtilisin NAT (nattokinase), and gamma‐polyglutamic acid (PGA) by the Bacillus subtilis strains in Thua nao was measured. Productivity of protease NAT by these strains tended to be higher than by Japanese commercial natto‐producing strains. Molecular diversity of isolated strains was analysed via randomly amplified polymorphic DNA‐PCR fingerprinting. The strains were divided into 19 types, including a type with the same pattern as a Japanese natto‐producing strain.
Conclusion: B. subtilis strains that could be a resource for effective production of protease, amylase, subtilisin NAT, or PGA were evident in Thua nao produced in various regions in northern Thailand.
Significance and Impact of the Study: This study clearly demonstrated the value of Thua nao as a potential resource of food‐processing enzymes and health‐promoting compounds.
The coconut hispine beetle Brontispa longissima has been causing serious damage to the coconut palm Cocos nucifera in the Pacific, and Southeast and East Asia. This beetle also attacks Satakentia liukiuensis, an endemic palm on Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands, Japan. To assess the potential impact of B. longissima on S. liukiuensis, we examined the development period, survival rate, egg production and body size of B. longissima on S. liukiuensis at 22–31°C and consumption of S. liukiuensis leaf at 28°C. We also examined these life history traits on C. nucifera at 28°C to compare with those on S. liukiuensis. Brontispa longissima completed their development and reproduced on S. liukiuensis at 22–30°C. Linear regression analysis was used to estimate the effective cumulative temperature (k) as 891.2 degree‐days, and the lower developmental threshold as 13.3°C. On the basis of these values and monthly average temperatures on Ishigaki Island, it was estimated that B. longissima has four generations per year on the island. Satakentia liukiuensis was less suitable for B. longissima than C. nucifera in terms of immature survival, development time, resultant adult size and reproduction. The low quality of S. liukiuensis as a host‐plant may prevent the outbreak of B. longissima, which has not occurred yet on Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands.
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