Effect of thermostable exotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis Berlinger on Achaea janata L
Deshpande, AD.; Ramakrishnan, N.
Entomon 81: 53-60
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0377-9335
Accession: 020928641
The thermostable crude .beta.-exotoxin of B. thuringiensis var. thuringiensis has no effect on eggs of A. janata. Oral feeding of exotoxin to 3rd and 4th instar larvae led to larval mortality, reduction in pupal weight and deformity. Feeding of graded doses of exotoxin to 5th instar larvae resulted in delay in developmental period, reduction to pupal weight, and pupal deformity. Deformities in mouthparts and antennae of the adult were also observed. Larval feeding, at the rate of 100 .mu.l/larva, of exotoxin resulted in the malformations of various body appendages like mouthparts, antennae and legs of the moth. Longevity, fecundity and size of the oocytes were also reduced in the exotoxin fed insects.