Effects of GNA and other mannose binding lectins on development and fecundity of the peach‐potato aphid Myzus persicae

Abstract

Three mannose‐binding lectins were assayed in artificial diets for their toxic and growth‐inhibitory effects on nymphal development of the peach‐potato aphid Myzus persicae. The snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) lectin GNA was the most toxic, with an induced nymphal mortality of 42% at 1500 μg ml−1 (30 μM) and an IC50 (50% growth inhibition) of 630 μg ml−1 (13 μM). The daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) lectin NPA and a garlic (Allium sativum) lectin ASA induced no significant mortality in the range 10–1500 μg ml−1, but did result in growth inhibition of 59% (NPA) and 26% (ASA) at 1500 μg ml−1 (40 μM for NPA, 63 μM for ASA). All three lectins were responsible for a slight but significant growth stimulation when ingested at 10 μg ml−1, reaching + 26%, + 18% and + 11% over the control values for the garlic lectin, the daffodil lectin and the snowdrop lectin, respectively. GNA, as well as the glucose/mannose binding lectin Concanavalin A, were also provided at sublethal doses throughout the life cycle of the aphids, and effects on adult performance were monitored. Adult survival was not significantly altered, but both lectins adversely affected total fecundity and the dynamics of reproduction, resulting in significant reduction in calculated rm's (population intrinsic rate of natural increase) on lectin‐containing diets. These effects are discussed in relation to the use of transgenic plants expressing these toxic lectins for potential control of aphid populations.

Plant‐insect interactions: what can we learn from plant lectins?

“…After feeding GNA to the insects at doses between 0.01 and 0.1% (w/v), the presence of the lectin in the honeydew of GNA-fed insects was demonstrated. This agrees with Sauvion et al (1996) who indicated that neonates of the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) fed with an artificial diet containing GNA, Narcissus pseudonarcissus lectin (NPA), Allium sativum agglutinin (ASA, garlic), or Concanavalin A (ConA, jack-bean Canavalia ensiformis), showed increased mortality and a negative effect on weight gain. Interestingly, at a low concentration (0.001%), GNA enhanced the growth of nymphs, which might be attributed to a probiotic effect of lectins at low concentrations, as seen in mammals (Banwell et al, 1993).…”

“…Increased mortality and negative effects on growth and development were also noted in other species, both lepidopteran and hemipteran (Fitches et al, 2001;Gatehouse et al, 1999;Sauvion et al, 1996). The N-acetylglucosamine-specific GSII lectin from Griffonia simplicifolia showed insecticidal properties against the cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus) (Zhu et al, 2006).…”

“…In case the lectin is able to pass through the gut epithelium barrier, a whole new set of candidate receptors may come into focus. Sauvion et al (1996) showed that ConA altered the amino acid metabolism of the pea aphid A. pisum. Later, the same group demonstrated that ConA also caused changes in feeding behavior (Sauvion et al, 2004a).…”

Functional Characterization of HFR1, a High-MannoseN-Glycan-Specific Wheat Lectin Induced by Hessian Fly Larvae

“…The snowdrop lectin, GNA, is toxic to brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens; Powell et al, 1998;Tang et al, 2001) and tomato moth (Lacanobia oleracea) larvae (Fitches et al, 1997;Gatehouse et al, 1997Gatehouse et al, , 1999 as well as to several aphid species (Hilder et al, 1995;Rahbé et al, 1995;Gatehouse et al, 1996;Sauvion et al, 1996). Concanavalin A (lectin from Canavalia ensiformis) shows significant antimetabolic activity toward third-instar nymphs of taro planthopper (Tarophagous proserpina; Powell, 2001).…”

Computational and Real-Time RT-PCR Expression Analyses of Garlic Lectin Gene

“…Studies such as pyramided rice lines (Foissac et al, 2000;Nagadhara et al, 2003); marker genefree transgenic tobacco (Bharathi et al, 2011); chickpea (Chakraborti et al, 2009); rice (Yarasi et al, 2008) show effectiveness of lectins against sucking insect population. The efficacy of snowdrop (G. nivalis) and garlic lectins have been studied against phloem feeding Aphis craccivora, cotton aphids A. gossypii (Sauvion et al, 1996), red spider mite of tea (Roy et al, 2008), cotton leafworm and sapsucking planthoppers (Powell, 2001). Lectin genes, as compared to the Bt genes are produced in storage parts of the plant as bulbs and in very minute amounts in roots and leaves.…”