Combinatorial effect of Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki and Photorhabdus luminescens against Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). (30th July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Benfarhat‐Touzri, Dalel; Amira, Amal Ben; khedher, Saoussen Ben; Givaudan, Alain; Jaoua, Samir; Tounsi, Slim
• Is Part Of: Journal of basic microbiology. Volume 54:issue 11(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1160
• Page End: 1165
• Publication Date: 2013-07-30
• Subjects: Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579
• DOI: 10.1002/jobm.201300142
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0233-111X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jobm201300142-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p> <italic>Spodoptera littoralis</italic>, one of the major pests of many important crop plants, is more susceptible to <italic>Bacillus thuringiensis aizawai</italic> delta‐endotoxins than to those of <italic>Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki</italic>. Within the framework of the development of efficient bioinsecticides and the prevention against insect resistance, we tested the effect of mixing <italic>B. thuringiensis kurstaki</italic> delta‐endotoxins and <italic>Photorhabdus luminescens</italic> cells on <italic>S. littoralis</italic> growth. The obtained results showed that the growth inhibition of this insect was more effective when <italic>B. thuringiensis kurstaki</italic> spore‐crystal mixture and <italic>Photorhabdus luminescens</italic> cells were used in combination. Furthermore, this synergism is mainly due to the presence of Cry1Ac, which is one of the three delta‐endotoxins that form the crystal of <italic>B. thuringiensis kurstaki</italic> strain BNS3 in addition to Cry1Aa and Cry2Aa. This work shows a possibility to use <italic>B. thuringiensis</italic> as a delivery means for <italic>Photorhabdus</italic> bacteria in order to infect the insect hemocoel and to reduce the risk of developing resistance in the target organism.</p> </sec> </abstract>