Algal phagostimulants for marine herbivorous gastropods

Methanol extracts of the green algaUlva pertusa contain four kinds of glycerolipids that are active as feeding-stimulants for marine herbivorous gastropods. These compounds are digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG), 1,2-diacylglycerly-4-O-(N,N,N-trimethyl)-homoserine (DGTH), 1-monoacylglyceryl-4'-O-(N,N,N-trimethyl)-homoserine (MGTH), and 6-sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG). The various gastropods exhibit marked specificity, however, as young abaloneHaliotis discus respond to DGDG and DGTH at minute dosages of 20–30 g/sample zone, but do not respond to 300 g of SQDG, which is a phagostimulant for two other kinds of gastropods,Turbo comutus andOmphalius pfeifferi.Chemical Studies on Phagostimulants for Marine Gastropods. Part VI. For Part V, see Sakata et al. (1986b).     

Liquid chromatographic determination of caffeine and adrenergic stimulants in food supplements sold in Brazilian e-commerce for weight loss and physical fitness

Methyl-xanthines and adrenergic stimulants, such as caffeine and synephrine, are commonly added to food supplements due to their stimulating and thermogenic effects. In addition, the abusive consumption of food supplements with ergogenic and aesthetic purposes has been observed worldwide. This work describes the study of caffeine, p-synephrine, hordenine, octopamine, tyramine, ephedrine and salicin as stimulants in dietary supplements marketed in Brazil for weight loss and physical fitness claims. A total of 94 different products were acquired from 30 Brazilian websites. Thus, the sampling of marketed supplements was performed in virtual commerce (e-commerce) with claims of weight loss, appetite reduction, fat burning and metabolism acceleration. The developed analytical method involved the separation of the stimulants by HPLC with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) by using a gradient elution of flow rate (0.7–2.5 ml min^?1) and mobile phase composition (0.1% H₃PO₄/methanol). The validated method was applied to the study of 46 dietary supplements. Caffeine, p-synephrine and ephedrine were found to be present as stimulants in 52% of the studied samples marketed as encapsulated or bulk forms. Caffeine was found to be present in concentrations that represent doses from 25.0 to 1476.7 mg day^–1. Synephrine was found in concentrations that represent doses from 59.1 to 127.0 mg day^–1. Ephedrine was found to be associated with caffeine in one formulation at a concentration representing a 26.1 mg day^–1 dosage.     

Natural and synthetic oviposition stimulants forCatolaccus grandis (Burks) females

Oviposition behavior was elicited fromCatolaccus grandis (Burks) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) females, an ectoparasitoid of the boll weevil,Anthonomus grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), by smears of freshly cut cotton bolls or smears of extracts prepared with boll weevil damaged or undamaged cotton boll tissues. Oviposition behavior was also elicited fromC. grandis females by smears made withn-pentane,n-hexane,n-heptane, and isooctane. This is the first report of oviposition behavior elicited for any parasitoid by these short-chain saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes), introducing a new concept on the chemical mediation of parasitoid behavior during host selection. Oviposition behavior was also elicited fromC. grandis females by volatiles emanating from an artificial diet devoid of insect components that was specifically developed for the in vitro rearing of ectoparasitoids. The possible use of a synergistic combination ofn-hexane and diet to optimize the mechanized production of noncontaminated eggs is also discussed.Mention of a commercial or proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement by the USDA.     

Chemical stimulants and deterrents regulating acceptance or rejection of crucifers by cabbage butterflies

GravidPieris rapae butterflies oviposit on many, but not all, crucifers. Rejection ofErysimum cheiranthoides andCapsella bursa-pastoris was initially explained by the presence of chemical deterrents in the plants. Analyses and bioassays of plant extracts indicated the absence of oviposition stimulants inC. bursa-pastoris, but similar chemical separation ofE. cheiranthoides extracts revealed the presence of stimulants as well as deterrents. Choice tests illustrate how acceptance or rejection of a plant by an insect may depend on the balance of positive and negative chemical stimuli within the plant.     

Sex pheromone of the stable fly

The cuticular alkenes of the female stable fly,Stomoxys calcitrans (L), which were responsible for inducing male fly copulatory behavior are (Z)-9-hentriacontene, (Z)-9-tritriacontene, 13-methyl-1-hen-triacontene and 13-methyl-1-tritriacontene. The identifications of the branched alkenes and the synthesis of these four compounds are described. Bioassays indicate that these materials in combination with previously described methyl branched alkanes are more active than the individual components.Diptera=Muscidae.Mention of proprietary or commercial products in this paper does not constitute an endorsement of this product by the U.S.D.A.     

返青箬叶中铜和锌在不同食品模拟物中迁移情况

目的 分析研究返青箬叶中铜和锌在不同食品模拟物中的迁移情况,为食品包装用箬叶的质量安全控制提供理论依据.方法 称取6份25 g返青箬叶,分别置于6种食品模拟物中,在100℃下保温24 h,用微波消解-火焰原子吸收光谱法测定食品模拟物处理前后的返青箬叶中铜或锌的含量,计算其迁移量,分析迁移情况.结果 返青箬叶中的铜和锌在碱性缓冲溶液(pH=10.14)中均未发现迁移,在其他5种食品模拟物中发生不同程度的迁移.铜在大豆油中迁移量最大(4.7 mg/L);锌在4％(体积分数)乙酸溶液中迁移量最大(17.5 mg/L).结论 返青箬叶中铜和锌在碱性食品模拟物中未发现迁移,在其他食品模拟物中发生明显迁移,用返青箬叶包裹的食品存在食品安全风险.基于此研究结果和我国目前没有标准对天然食品包装材料保绿化合物来源和迁移限量作明确规定的情况下,应当禁止返青箬叶用作食品包装材料.     

我国生物刺激剂的产业现状及发展方向

结合我国国情提出关于生物刺激剂的科学定义及技术内涵。综合大量的研究应用实践,肯定生物刺激剂的功能及作用。在此基础上,提出发展生物刺激剂产业是建设我国现代农业的必经之路。最后对我国生物刺激剂产业的发展方向和重点创新项目提出建议,供有关科研单位和企业参考。     

Epicuticular Wax Chemicals in Zea mays Influence Oviposition in Ostrinia nubilalis

The chemical basis of oviposition elicitation in a generalist herbivore was determined by examination of oviposition responses in Ostrinia nubilalis to corn (Zea mays) chemicals in two-choice laboratory bioassays. A pentane extract of corn leaves stimulated oviposition and the activity persisted for three days, indicating that oviposition in O. nubilalis is elicited by low-volatility chemicals. Chemicals in the extract were fractionated by column chromatography on Florisil, using a sequence of solvents of increasing polarity. Bioassays of Florisil fractions indicated that the stimulants were eluted with nonpolar solvents. Positive bioassay results with an extract prepared by dipping corn leaves in pentane for 20 sec for extraction of leaf surface chemicals suggested that some of the active material was present in the leaf epicuticle. Gas chromatographic analyses and comparisons with retention times of standards suggested the presence of several n-alkanes in the dip extract. Five n-alkanes—hexacosane, heptacosane, octacosane, nonacosane, and tritriacontane—known to be present in the epicuticle of corn leaves were bioassayed, and all five elicited oviposition responses. These results suggest that oviposition elicitation in O. nubilalis is influenced by the presence of n-alkanes in the host plant epicuticle.     

A mating stimulant pheromone of the horn fly,Haematobia Irritans (L.): Demonstration of biological activity in separated cuticular components

Preliminary bioassays with the horn fly,Haematobia irritans (L.), suggested that a mating stimulant pheromone was involved in horn fly courtship behavior. Virgin males readily courted live or dead females but rarely courted live males, dead males, or females thoroughly washed with hexane. The bioassay used was the response of virgin males to treated male horn flies. Results indicated that female cuticular hydrocarbons induced male courtship behavior. Specifically, the female paraffin and monoolefin fractions were biologically active when bioassayed alone or in combination. Three synthetic monoolefins previously shown to be the major components in the female monoolefin fraction were active in bioassays. The compoundsZ-5-tricosene,Z-9-pentacosene, andZ-9-heptacosene were each active, but greater male courtship behavior was observed when these three compounds were bioassayed in combination.Diptera: Muscidae.A portion of a dissertation by the first author to the graduate school of the University of Florida in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the PhD degree.Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. 2078.Mention of a proprietary or commercial product does not constitute an endorsement by either the University of Florida or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.     

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids as oviposition stimulants for the cinnabar moth,Tyria jacobaeae

In choice experiments with artificial leaves, we tested related pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) for their stimulatory effects on the oviposition of the cinnabar moth, a specialist on the PA-containing plant Senecio jacobaea. The PAs from S. jacobaea that we tested stimulated oviposition. Monocrotaline also stimulated oviposition although this PA is not found in plants of the genus Senecio. The moths preferred ovipositing on filter paper with a PA mixture extracted from S. jacobaea to ovipositing on filter paper with single PAs. Senkirkine, heliotrine, and retrorsine did not stimulate oviposition. The nonactive retrorsine differs only in one OH group to the active senecionine, indicating that small structural differences alter the stimulatory activity of PAs. However, a PA mixture extracted from a nonhost plant, Senecio inaequidens, that consisted of 81% of the nonactive retrorsine did stimulate oviposition. Oviposition preferences between Senecio species seem to be determined by chemical compounds other than PAs.