Crude and purified extracts of non edible seed.of Pongamia glabra ( Karanja) were tested for their toxicity growth and development against the 2 instar larvae of the American bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) a serious pest of cotton. Larvae reared on synthetic diet at concentrations of 1 and 0.5% of P. glabra exhibited 100% mortality, whereas at sublethal concentrations of 0.05% and 0.01...

In the genome of Helicoverpa armigera single-nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus, open reading frame 39 (Ha39) is the only gene predicted to encode an RNA recognition protein. Computer analysis revealed that Ha39 homologues were found in 15 NPVs, but not in GVs. Its transcripts were detected from 3 through 72 hours post infection (h p.i.) using RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis. The protein was d...

The first-generation transgenic cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), Bollgard, which contains a single toxin protein gene cry1Ac from Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki Berliner, was approved by the National Biosafety Committee (NBC) for commercial growing in Pakistan in 2011 and the yield enhancement is promising, with an increase in cotton bales up to 150 millionthe record productivity of the co...

The use of conventional chemical insecticides and bacterial toxins to control lepidopteran pests of global agriculture has imposed significant selection pressure leading to the rapid evolution of insecticide resistance. Transgenic crops (e.g., cotton) expressing the Bt Cry toxins are now used world wide to control these pests, including the highly polyphagous and invasive cotton bollworm Helico...

Efforts are being made to express toxin genes from the bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in chickpea for minimizing the losses due to the pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera. However, there is an apprehension that acidic exudates in chickpea leaves may influence the protoxin-toxin conversion in the insect midgut, and thus, reduce the efficacy of Bt toxins. Therefore, we studied the influence o...

Genus Ocimum contains a reservoir of diverse secondary metabolites, which are known for their defense and medicinal value. However, the defense-related metabolites from this genus have not been studied in depth. To gain deeper insight into inducible defense metabolites, we examined the overall biochemical and metabolic changes in Ocimum kilimandscharicum that occurred in response to the feeding...

The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a polyphagous and cosmopolitan insect pest that causes damage to various plants. In this study, the lethal and sublethal effects of azadirachtin and Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner sub sp . kurstaki (Bacillales: Bacillaceae) were evaluated on third instar H. armigera under laboratory conditions. The LC50 values of azad...