About lipid metabolism in Hermetia illucens (L. 1758): on the origin of fatty acids in prepupae.

Although increasingly targeted in animal nutrition, black soldier fly larvae or prepupae (BSF, Hermetia illucens L. 1758) require the characterization and modulation of their fatty acid profile to become fully integrated within the feed sector. This improvement will only be possible by the understanding of underlaying biochemical pathways of fatty acid synthesis in BSF. In this study, we hypothesized a labelling of de novo synthesized fatty acids in BSF by the incorporation of deuterated water (D2O) in their feed. Three batches of fifty larvae were reared on two diets with different polyunsaturated fatty acid profiles moistened with 40% of H2O or D2O: chicken feed or 40% of chicken feed and 60% of flax cake. Although the occurrence of D2O in insect feed increased the larval development time and decreased prepupal weight, it was possible to track the biosynthesis of fatty acids through deuterium labelling. Some fatty acids (decanoic, lauric or myristic acid) were exclusively present in their deuterated form while others (palmitic, palmitoleic or oleic acid) were found in two forms (deuterated or not) indicating that BSF can partially produce these fatty acids via biosynthesis pathways and not only by bioaccumulation from the diet. These results suggest the importance of carbohydrates as a source of acetyl-CoA in the constitution of the BSF fatty acid profile but also the potential importance of specific enzymes (e.g. thioesterase II or Δ12 fat2 desaturase) in BSF fatty acid metabolism. Finally, nearly no deuterated polyunsaturated fatty acids were found in BSF fed with deuterium confirming that BSF is not able to produce these types of fatty acids. Despite the high levels of linolenic acid in flax-enriched diets, BSF will simply bioaccumulate around 13% of this fatty acid and will metabolize approximately two-thirds of it into saturated fatty acids as lauric or myristic acid.

Phytotoxic activity and chemical composition of Cassia absus seeds and aerial parts.

The present study was conducted to assess the phytotoxic potential and the phytochemical composition of Cassia absus. Aqueous extracts caused significant reduction in root growth of Lactuca sativa. Seed extract was more effective than aerial part extract. Successive extractions of this plant were performed using solvents with increasing polarities. The methanolic seed extract exerted strong phytotoxic effect on seedling growth, followed by petroleum ether extract of the aerial part. The phytochemical investigation showed that among the organic extracts, methanol extracts of seeds and aerial parts contained the highest amounts of total phenolics and proanthocyanidins. Seeds were rich in linoleic acid followed by palmitic acids. Palmitic, stearic and arachidic acids were the major fatty acids in aerial parts. HPLC-DAD analysis of the methanolic extracts revealed the presence of luteolin in C. absus aerial parts.

ASSESSING THE FORAGING BEHAVIOR OF AGRIOTES SORDIDUS WIREWORMS IN DUAL-CHOICE OLFACTOMETERS.

The different steps of the foraging process of wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) would be better understood if accurate and holistic information regarding the role of plant-produced chemicals constituting their environment were available. Volatile organic compounds (VOC) play important roles in the interactions between plants and insects in many ecosystems, whether they take place aboveground or below-ground. The roles of VOC are still relatively unknown for wireworms, and deserve attention. Here, we performed three experimentations with barley roots as baits. In the two first, we assessed the effect of chopped roots and fungus infected roots on the orientation of wireworms. In the third experiment, the larvae were confronted to both healthy and fungus infected roots. We discuss the results in terms of suitability of the olfactometers we designed for the investigation of olfaction in wireworms, and we provide suggestions to improve their use.

Effect of a fungal infection on the profile of volatile organic compounds emitted by plant roots.

It is known since few years that the aerial and underground parts of the plants emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can interact with other organisms of the environment. They are involved in the attraction of seed dispersers and pollinators, the repellence of enemies via direct or indirect mechanisms and the induction of defence systems in other parts of the same plant or in other plants in the vicinity (Dudareva et al., 2006). It has been shown previously that the VOCs spectrum emitted by plants hardly depends on their physiological state (Kant et al., 2009). However those phenomenons were poorly studied at the edaphic level. Thus, the Rhizovol project, a multidisciplinary project in Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech was set up to study the emissions of VOCs by plant roots and their interactions with other organisms of the rhizosphere. As a partner of this project, the Plant Pathology Unit of Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech chose to study the effect of a fungal infection on the profile of VOCs emitted by plant roots, based on three model organisms, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), since it is a major crop in Belgium that can suffer a large range of aggressions, and two pathogenic fungi, Cochliobolus sativus and Fusarium culmorum, responsible for root and foot rots and seedling blight on cereals (Wiese, 1977). Later in the development, C. sativus produces elongate brown-black lesions (spot blotch) and F. culmorum induces head blight and produces mycotoxins that make the grain unsuitable for consumption (Nielsen et al., 2011). The objective of this work was to identify the VOCs emitted during the dual interactions between barley roots and a pathogenic fungus. The study was performed in two steps; first, the independent analyses of the VOCs emitted by each of the partners (C. sativus, F. culmorum and healthy barley roots), then the analyses of the VOCs spectrum emitted during dual interactions.

Modelling migration from high-density polyethylene containers into concentrated solutions used as food flavourings.

Migration from high-density polyethylene into different liquids (hexane, ethanol, lemon terpenes and their emulsions) was modelled using the response surfaces method. Polynomial equations (z = A + Bx + Cy + Dx2 + Ey2 + Fxy) were established and parameters determined for each compound. Correlation coefficients were generally > 90%. Analysis indicated that 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenol, probably due to the degradation of the antioxidant additive tris(2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenyl)phosphite, migrated into each liquid tested, whatever the temperature. Oligomers (10-30 carbons) terminated by a vinyl group were also detected.

The homolytic and heterolytic fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase-like activities of hematin.

Pentenols and pentene dimers are biosynthetized in plants by homolytic fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) or HPL-like enzymes. It has been found that these compounds can modify the flavor of olive oil. Reactions between hematin and 13-hydroperoxyoctadecatrienoic acid resulted in the formation of the same compounds via a free radical reaction in which an alkoxyl radical derived from linolenic acid hydroperoxide undergoes a beta-scission. (Z)-3-Hexenal has also been detected as a minor product of the reaction. It is bioconversed from the same substrate in plants by heterolytic HPL. Thanks to the redox cycle of its central iron, hematin has both homolytic and heterolytic HPL-like activities.

Characterization of two Acacia gums and their fractions using a langmuir film balance.

The mechanical properties of monolayers from two Acacia gums [Acacia senegal (L.) Willd. and Acacia seyal Del.] and their three fractions isolated by hydrophobic interaction chromatography were studied with a Langmuir film balance to obtain a more complete understanding of their action mode. The analysis of compression isotherms revealed that A. senegal gums globally exhibit better interfacial properties than A. seyal ones. The behavior of the whole gums appeared to be strongly influenced by their arabinogalactan-protein complex.

Potato tubers exhibit both homolytic and heterolytic hydroperoxide fatty acid-cleaving activities.

The action of a crude potato-tuber extract on 9- and 13-hydroperoxides of linoleic and linolenic acids was investigated. HPLC analysis revealed that 50% of the 9-hydroperoxide isomers and almost all the 13-hydroperoxide isomers were rapidly enzymically metabolized. No degradation of fatty acid hydroperoxides was observed with a thermally denatured enzymic extract. GC-MS identification of the volatiles formed by the reaction revealed that no volatiles were detected from the 9-hydroperoxide isomers, whereas 13-hydroperoxide of linolenic acid was cleaved into (Z)-3-hexenal, pentenols or dimers of pentene.