Identification of male-produced aggregation pheromone of the curculionid beetle Acrotomopus atropunctellus

2016 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 494-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.A. Rodríguez ◽  
M.L.P. Pérez ◽  
M.A. Nazareno

AbstractThe sugarcane stem weevil, Acrotomopus atropunctellus (Boheman) (Curculionidae: Molytinae: Cholini) is an important economic pest from the Northwestern region of Argentina. Analyses of the headspace volatiles produced by separated males and females revealed one male-specific compound. Its structural identification is reported here in using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy analysis and chemical micro-reactions. Besides, two laboratory olfactometry assays allowed us to propose 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (sulcatone) as an aggregation pheromone for this insect, being attractive to both conspecific males and females. This compound is reported for the first time as involved in the Curculionidae family communication.

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1448
Author(s):  
Hersa Milawati ◽  
Winda Sukmawati ◽  
Desi Harneti ◽  
Rani Maharani ◽  
Nurlelasari Nurlelasari ◽  
...  

Three aromadendrane-type sesquiterpenoids, spathulenol (1), 4β,10α-dihydroxyaromadendrane (2), and 4α,10α-dihydroxyaromadendrane (3) were isolated from the stem bark of Aglaia harmsiana (Meliaceae). Compound 3 was isolated for the first time from Aglaia genus. The chemical structures of isolated compounds were elucidated by various spectroscopic methods, including one and two-dimensional NMR, as well as mass spectroscopy analysis. These sesquiterpenoids 1-3 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. The IC50 value of compound 1-3 were 31.65 ± 0.1, 8.41 ± 0.04 and 2.80 ± 0.02 µM, respectively. Among the aromadendrane-type sesquiterpenoids, compounds 2 and 3, which do not have a double bond, showed higher activity than compound 1. Whereas, compound 3 showed the strongest activity indicate that α configuration of hydroxyl group increases the cytotoxic activity.


Chemoecology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lina Viklund ◽  
Joakim Bång ◽  
Martin Schroeder ◽  
Erik Hedenström

AbstractBark beetles of the genus Polygraphus have recently been involved in large bark beetle outbreaks in central Sweden, together with the European spruce bark beetle Ips typographus. Three species of Polygraphus can be found in this region; Polygraphus poligraphus, Polygraphus punctifrons and Polygraphus subopacus. Efficient pheromone traps would facilitate further investigations of these species and their role in bark beetle outbreaks. Pheromone compounds have previously been identified in P. poligraphus and P. punctifrons, but not in P. subopacus. Thus, we allowed males and females of P. subopacus to bore in the bark of stem sections of Norway spruce (Picea abies) in the laboratory. Volatile organic compounds from boring insects were sampled with SPME and analysed with GC–MS and several male-specific compounds were observed. The male specific compounds were 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol, 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol, 3-methyl-2-butenal, grandisol, fragranol, (Z)-2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)-ethanol, (E)-2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)-ethanol, (Z)-2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)-acetaldehyde, (E)-2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)-acetaldehyde, geranial and γ-isogeraniol. (Z)-2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)-ethanol, [(Z)-DMCHE], was identified from GC–MS analysis to be the major male-specific compound while the (E)-isomer, [(E)-DMCHE], was found as a minor compound. These two compounds gave positive responses in EAG analyses with antennae from males and females of P. subopacus. Thus, (Z)- and (E)-DMCHE were used in a field experiment in central Sweden but only (Z)-DMCHE was found to be attractive to males and females of P. subopacus. Consequently, (Z)-DMCHE was established to be a component of P. subopacus aggregation pheromone.


Author(s):  
Palmira dos Santos Neta ◽  
Carla Fávaro ◽  
Sarah Macedo ◽  
José Inácio Moura ◽  
Jan Bello ◽  
...  

The beetle Amerrhinus ynca Sahlberg, 1823 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) causes damage to several species of the Arecaceae family. The larvae of this palm weevil damage palm trees by causing perforations in the leaf rachis, obstructing the flow of nutrients to the plant. To date, are no registered insecticides for the control of A. ynca. An efficient control strategy would be the use of synthetic pheromones of this beetle for integrated pest management tactics. In this work, the aggregation pheromone of A. ynca was identified from adults collected as larvae and pupae from the rachis of coconut palm. The volatile compounds produced by A. ynca were collected via headspace aeration of adult beetles, and the identification of the pheromone was performed with gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS), GC-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (GC-FTIR) and GC-electroantenographic detector (GC-EAD). Dual-choice olfactometry experiments were performed to evaluate the bioactivity of the synthetic pheromone. GC analyses showed the presence of a male-specific compound that was identified as octadecanal. In GC-EAD analyses, synthetic octadecanal elicited responses of A. ynca female antennae. Behavioral bioassays showed attractiveness of synthetic compound for males and females, indicating octadecanal as the aggregation pheromone of A. ynca.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joy I. Odimegwu ◽  
Olukemi Odukoya ◽  
Ritesh K. Yadav ◽  
C. S. Chanotiya ◽  
Steve Ogbonnia ◽  
...  

Dioscoreaspecies is a very important food and drug plant. The tubers of the plant are extensively used in food and drug purposes owing to the presence of steroidal constituent’s diosgenin in the tubers. In the present study, we report for the first time that the leaves ofDioscorea compositaandDioscorea floribundagrown under the field conditions exhibited the presence of multicellular oil glands on the epidermal layers of the plants using stereomicroscopy (SM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Essential oil was also isolated from the otherwise not useful herbage of the plant, and gas chromatographic-mass spectroscopy analysis revealed confirmation of the essential oil constituents. Out of the 76 compounds detected inD. floribundaand 37 fromD. compositaessential oil, major terpenoids which are detected and reported forDioscorealeaf essential oil areα-terpinene, nerolidol, citronellyl acetate, farnesol, elemol,α-farnesene, valerenyl acetate, and so forth. Elemol was detected as the major constituent of both theDioscoreaspecies occupying 41% and 22% ofD. FloribundaandD. compositaessential oils, respectively. In this paper, we report for the first timeDioscoreaas a possible novel bioresource for the essential oil besides its well-known importance for yielding diosgenin.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sujatha Thankeswaran Parvathy ◽  
Amala Joseph Prabakaran ◽  
Thadakamalla Jayakrishna

AbstractCastor (Ricinus communis L) is an ideal model species for sex mechanism studies in monoecious angiosperms, due to wide variations in sex expression. Sex reversion to monoecy in pistillate lines, along with labile sex expression, negatively influences hybrid seed purity. The study focuses on understanding the mechanisms of unisexual flower development, sex reversions and sex variations in castor, using various genotypes with distinct sex expression pattern. Male and female flowers had 8 and 12 developmental stages respectively, were morphologically similar till stage 4, with an intermediate bisexual state and were intermediate between type 1 and type 2 flowers. Pistil abortion was earlier than stamen inhibition. Sex alterations occurred at floral and inflorescence level. While sex-reversion was unidirectional towards maleness via bisexual stage, at high day temperatures (Tmax > 38 °C), femaleness was restored with subsequent drop in temperatures. Temperature existing for 2–3 weeks during floral meristem development, influences sexuality of the flower. We report for first time that unisexuality is preceded by bisexuality in castor flowers which alters with genotype and temperature, and sex reversions as well as high sexual polymorphisms in castor are due to alterations in floral developmental pathways. Differentially expressed (male-abundant or male-specific) genes Short chain dehydrogenase reductase 2a (SDR) and WUSCHEL are possibly involved in sex determination of castor.


Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1094
Author(s):  
Allan Radaic ◽  
Nam E. Joo ◽  
Soo-Hwan Jeong ◽  
Seong-II Yoo ◽  
Nicholas Kotov ◽  
...  

Prostate and breast cancer are the current leading causes of new cancer cases in males and females, respectively. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is an essential lipid that mediates macrophage efferocytosis and is dysregulated in tumors. Therefore, developing therapies that selectively restore PS may be a potential therapeutic approach for carcinogenesis. Among the nanomedicine strategies for delivering PS, biocompatible gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have an extensive track record in biomedical applications. In this study, we synthesized biomimetic phosphatidylserine-caped gold nanoparticles (PS-AuNPs) and tested their anticancer potential in breast and prostate cancer cells in vitro. We found that both cell lines exhibited changes in cell morphology indicative of apoptosis. After evaluating for histone-associated DNA fragments, a hallmark of apoptosis, we found significant increases in DNA fragmentation upon PS-AuNP treatment compared to the control treatment. These findings demonstrate the use of phosphatidylserine coupled with gold nanoparticles as a potential treatment for prostate and breast cancer. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a phosphatidylserine-capped AuNP has been examined for its therapeutic potential in cancer therapy.


Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2318 (1) ◽  
pp. 566-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANIEL WHITMORE

An account is given of the species of Sarcophaga Meigen, 1826 subgenus Heteronychia Brauer & Bergenstamm, 1889 known from the island of Sardinia (Italy). Most of the nearly 1,400 specimens examined were collected in the SW part of the island during 2003–2006 as part of a project investigating the arthropod diversity of the Monti Marganai and Montimannu areas (respectively Carbonia-Iglesias and Medio Campidano provinces). The study resulted in the finding of eight species of Heteronychia, six of which are recorded from Sardinia for the first time. Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) penicillata Villeneuve, 1907, previously mentioned in the literature, is excluded from the fauna of the island. Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) thirionae (Lehrer, 1976) is recorded for the first time from Europe and North Africa (Algeria). One species, Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) gabrielei sp. nov., from various sites in the limestone massif of Marganai, is described as new. Previously unpublished records from other Italian regions and from other countries (Algeria, Canary Islands, Greece) are also given for several species. Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) schnabli Villeneuve, 1911 is recognized as a junior synonym of S. (H.) consanguinea Rondani, 1860 syn. nov. The possible synanthropy of Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) pandellei (Rohdendorf, 1937) is briefly discussed. A key to males and females of all known Sardinian and Corsican species of Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) is provided.


1953 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
FHS Roberts

A study has been made of the Australian species of Aponomma and Amblyomma (Ixodoidea). Nine species of Aponomma were determined, namely A. trachysauri, A. hydrosauri, A. auruginans, A. decorosum, A. simplex, A. trimuculatum, A. tachyglossi, A, tropicum, and A. pulchrum, the last three species being new. Two previously described species, namely A. quadratum and A. ecinctum, were recognized among the material available for study. A detailed description given of each species together with essential figures. Keys to the males, females, and nymphs are included. Twelve species of Amblyomma were seen. Species previously described included A. moreliae, A. limbatum, A. albolimbatum, A. triguttatum, A. australiense, and A. papuanu. A. postoculatum and A. helvolum were not recognized among the material available for study. A. papuana is recorded from Australia for the first time. Four new species, namely A. sternne, A. echidnae, A. macropi, and A. moyi, are described. Keys to the males and females are given.


Development ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 128 (19) ◽  
pp. 3809-3817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Bongiorni ◽  
Milena Mazzuoli ◽  
Stefania Masci ◽  
Giorgio Prantera

The behavior of chromosomes during development of the mealybug Planococcus citri provides one of the most dramatic examples of facultative heterochromatization. In male embryos, the entire haploid paternal chromosome set becomes heterochromatic at mid-cleavage. Male mealybugs are thus functionally haploid, owing to heterochromatization (parahaploidy). To understand the mechanisms underlying facultative heterochromatization in male mealybugs, we have investigated the possible involvement of an HP-1-like protein in this process. HP-1 is a conserved, nonhistone chromosomal protein with a proposed role in heterochromatinization in other species. It was first identified in Drosophila melanogaster as a protein enriched in the constitutive heterochromatin of polytene chromosome. Using a monoclonal antibody raised against the Drosophila HP-1 in immunoblot and immunocytological experiments, we provide evidence for the presence of an HP-1-like in Planococcus citri males and females. In males, the HP-1-like protein is preferentially associated with the male-specific heterochromatin. In the developing male embryos, its appearance precedes the onset of heterochromatization. In females, the HP-1-like protein displays a scattered but reproducible localization pattern along chromosomes. The results indicate a role for an HP-1-like protein in the facultative heterochromatization process.


Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4254 (5) ◽  
pp. 551
Author(s):  
VALERY M. LOKTIONOV ◽  
ARKADY S. LELEJ ◽  
ZAI-FU XU

Eight species in the Priocnemis hyalinata species-group are reviewed. The species-group is recorded from Oriental Region for the first time, and one new species, Priocnemis (Priocnemis) yunnanensis Loktionov, Lelej & Xu, sp. nov. (China: Yunnan) is described and illustrated. The lectotype of Salius (Priocnemis) unicolor Gussakovskij is designated. The distribution of P. (P.) hyalinata (Fabricius), P. (P.) fennica Haupt and P. (P.) unicolor (Gussakovskij) is clarified and enlarged within Russia. Keys to species for males and females are given.  


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