ABSTRACT
Imidacloprid, a widely used neonicotinoid insecticide, is toxic to silkworm (Bombyx mori). To explore whether N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) has an effect on preventing silkworm (B. mori) from toxification caused by imidacloprid, we fed the fifth-instar larvae with mulberry leaves dipped in 200 mg/L NAC solution before exposing in imidacloprid, and investigated the silkworm growth, survival rate, feed efficiency, cocoon quality, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in midgut. The results showed that addition of NAC could significantly increase body weight, survival rate, and feed efficiency of imidacloprid poisoned silkworm larvae (P < 0.05), as well as cocoon mass, cocoon shell mass, and the ratio of cocoon shell (P < 0.05). Furthermore, it could significantly promote the activities of the antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxide in the midgut of fifth-instar larvae under imidacloprid exposure at the late stage of treatment. In addition, it also could downregulate the malondialdehyde content. The results of our findings proved that the added NAC may have some beneficial effects on protection or restoration of antioxidant balance in imidacloprid exposed larvae.
Subject(s)
Acetylcysteine/metabolism , Antioxidants/metabolism , Bombyx/drug effects , Insecticides/toxicity , Neonicotinoids/toxicity , Nitro Compounds/toxicity , Acetylcysteine/administration & dosage , Animals , Antioxidants/administration & dosage , Bombyx/growth & development , Bombyx/metabolism , Energy Metabolism/drug effects , Larva/drug effects , Larva/growth & development , Larva/metabolism , Longevity/drug effects , Malondialdehyde/metabolism , Plant Leaves , Pupa/drug effects , Pupa/growth & developmentABSTRACT
A laboratory test was conducted to study the control effect and bacteriostasis of antagonistic bacterium Burkholderia cepacia Lu10-1 isolated from mulberry on silkworm septicemia, aimed to develop a new microbial pesticide to control silkworm diseases. The supernatant of Lu10-1 zymotic fluid achieved 41.2% control efficiency and 24.0% prophylactic effect on silkworm septicemia. The antibacterial crude extract of Lu10-1 had stronger antagonistic activity against Bacillus bombyseptieus. The diameter of inhibition zone reached 18.20 mm, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the antibacterial crude extract were 1.56 and 3.13 mg x mL(-1), respectively. After treated with the antibacterial crude extract, B. bombyseptieus never appeared logarithmic growth phase, its cell membrane permeability changed, intracellular protein leaked out, intracellular macromolecular protein degraded, and at last, the thalli cracked, inner substances out-flowed, cavity formed, and cell ablated. It was considered that the antagonistic substances of Lu10-1 strain could be used for controlling silkworm septicemia, with preferable development foreground.
