ABSTRACT
Effects of quercetin [3,5,7,3;4 Pentahyd-roxyflavone] on the hatchability of egg masses of a susceptible strain of Spodonteta littoralis ware studied. There was linear correlation between quercetin concentration and hatchability of eggs s to a concentration of 250 ppm which reduces hatchability to 15%. Isolation and assay for the activity of the mitochondrial ATPase from the treated eggs showed a decrease in the enzyme activity that was associated with the observed effects of quercetin on the egg hatchability. Study of the effects of quercetin on the purified enzyme from untreated eggs showed an inhibition of the enzyme activity with quercetin an I[50] value was determined as of 25 uM for the purified enzyme from 2-days old egg masses. These sresults suggest a possible involvement of egg mitochondrial F1-ATPase in the mode of quercetin effect on egg hatchability