In the current study, the entomotoxic effects of a lectin, extracted from Polygonum persicaria, were determined on Pieris brassicae larvae. The purified molecule significantly decreased larval survival, weight, and mass protein. Different concentrations of P. persicaria agglutinin (PPA) (0.5, 1 and 2 mg/ml) significantly decreased nutritional indices including: the efficiency of conversion of i...

This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant potential of extracts of Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala DC. (kale) and several materials of Pieris brassicae L., a common pest of Brassica cultures using a cellular model with hamster lung fibroblast (V79 cells) under quiescent conditions and subjected to H₂O₂ induced oxidative stress. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5...

Plants have to fine-tune their signals to optimise the trade-off between herbivore deterrence and pollinator attraction. An important mechanism in mediating plant-insect interactions is the regulation of gene expression via DNA methylation. However, the effect of herbivore-induced DNA methylation changes on pollinator-relevant plant signalling has not been systematically investigated. Here, we ...

Use of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.) as a trap crop for management of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), and leafwebber, Crocidolomia binotalis Zeller, was tried on an experimental farm and farmers’ fields. Preliminary studies indicated that planting of 15 cabbage rows followed by paired mustard rows to manage both pests was useful. The first mustard row is sown 15 days ...

Chromatin organization in the holocentric chromosomes of the aphid Brevicoryne brassicae has been investigated at a cytological level after C-banding, NOR, Giemsa, DAPI and CMA3 staining. C-banding technique showed the presence of heterochromatic bands on both telomeres of the two X chromosomes, whereas only the longest pair of autosomes show distinct intercalary C-positive bands. Moreover, sil...

Intracellular punctures by aphid stylets appear as potential drop (pd) waveforms in DC electrical penetration graph (EPG) recordings. We used a dual-EPG device that recorded in one channel the ‘full EPG’ with R-plus emf-components (i.e., the usual DC EPG) and concurrently in a second channel the ‘R-EPG’ with R-components only. The circuit of the latter channel was an optimised amplitude modulat...

Canola (oilseed rape, Brassica napus L.) is susceptible to infection by the biotrophic protist Plasmodiophora brassicae, the causal agent of clubroot. To understand the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) during the post-transcriptional regulation of disease initiation and progression, we have characterized the changes in miRNA expression profiles in canola roots during clubroot disease development and...

A Basidiomycota endomycorrhizal fungus, Piriformospora indica Verma, colonizes and promotes the growth of canola (Brassica napus L.) other Brassica crops can reduce diseases crops. Clubroot is an important disease caused by obligate, soil-borne pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae Woronin. The effect P. on clubroot severity in was assessed replicated room studies. Seed treated with using a proprie...