The protein profile of saliva of three Rhynocoris species viz., R. fuscipes (F.), R. kumarii Ambr... more The protein profile of saliva of three Rhynocoris species viz., R. fuscipes (F.), R. kumarii Ambrose and Livingstone and R. marginatus (F.) and the paralytic potential of these species to three prey species viz., tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura F., blister beetle, Mylabris pustulata Thunberg and red cotton bug, Dysdercus cingulatus F. were studied. The volume of saliva was uniformly higher in the posterior lobe than in the anterior lobe of Rhynocoris spp. The highest and equal volume of saliva was found in the posterior lobe of R. fuscipes and R. kumarii followed by R. marginatus. The volume of saliva in the anterior lobe was higher in R. kumarii followed by R. marginatus and R. fuscipes. Prey deprivation caused accumulation of saliva, uniformly well pronounced in both the lobes. The total volume of the saliva was the highest in the posterior lobe of 8 day prey deprived R. marginatus followed by R. kumarii. The protein content was uniformly higher in the anterior lobe of all the three species irrespective of the volume of the saliva. R. kumarii had the highest protein content both in the anterior and posterior lobes. Though prey deprivation increased protein content in both the lobes in all the three species it was well pronounced in R. kumarii. The densitometric electropherogram revealed 9, 8 and 9 protein fractions in R. fuscipes, R. kumarii and R. marginatus and none of them share a common protein thus suggesting that the proteins are species specific. Though the paralytic potential of toxin in terms of dosage and duration varied among the three species and also in relation to the target pest species, prey deprivation uniformly enhanced paralytic potential in all of them. The chemical and functional diversity and mode of action of neurotoxin of these three species are related to morphological and structural adaptations and the mode of predation. The role of saliva in extraoral digestion and the multidimensional utility of neurotoxin as a neuropharmacological tool, a basis for synthesizing venom based bioinsecticides and as a molecular marker are discussed.
The protein profile of saliva of three Rhynocoris species viz., R. fuscipes (F.), R. kumarii Ambr... more The protein profile of saliva of three Rhynocoris species viz., R. fuscipes (F.), R. kumarii Ambrose and Livingstone and R. marginatus (F.) and the paralytic potential of these species to three prey species viz., tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura F., blister beetle, Mylabris pustulata Thunberg and red cotton bug, Dysdercus cingulatus F. were studied. The volume of saliva was uniformly higher in the posterior lobe than in the anterior lobe of Rhynocoris spp. The highest and equal volume of saliva was found in the posterior lobe of R. fuscipes and R. kumarii followed by R. marginatus. The volume of saliva in the anterior lobe was higher in R. kumarii followed by R. marginatus and R. fuscipes. Prey deprivation caused accumulation of saliva, uniformly well pronounced in both the lobes. The total volume of the saliva was the highest in the posterior lobe of 8 day prey deprived R. marginatus followed by R. kumarii. The protein content was uniformly higher in the anterior lobe of all the three species irrespective of the volume of the saliva. R. kumarii had the highest protein content both in the anterior and posterior lobes. Though prey deprivation increased protein content in both the lobes in all the three species it was well pronounced in R. kumarii. The densitometric electropherogram revealed 9, 8 and 9 protein fractions in R. fuscipes, R. kumarii and R. marginatus and none of them share a common protein thus suggesting that the proteins are species specific. Though the paralytic potential of toxin in terms of dosage and duration varied among the three species and also in relation to the target pest species, prey deprivation uniformly enhanced paralytic potential in all of them. The chemical and functional diversity and mode of action of neurotoxin of these three species are related to morphological and structural adaptations and the mode of predation. The role of saliva in extraoral digestion and the multidimensional utility of neurotoxin as a neuropharmacological tool, a basis for synthesizing venom based bioinsecticides and as a molecular marker are discussed.
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