The Effect of Plant Quality on Survival of Lymantria Dispar (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) Larvae Infected By Bacillus Thuringiensis Berliner Subsp Kurstaki

Abstract

In this study the influence of plant secondary compounds on the survival rate of Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus, 1758) which was infected with Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner 1915 subsp. kurstaki was investigated using four different plant species, Elaeagnus rhamnoides (L.) A. Nelson, Quercus cerris L. 1753, Corylus maxima Mill. and Crataegus monogyna Jacq. The highest survival rate was seen on the larvae which fed on the E. rhammoides that had the highest protein rate. The highest mortality rate was seen on the larvae which fed on the C. monogyna that had the lowest protein rate. Maximum deaths of the larvae infected by each food set occurred on the second day. These deaths were observed in larvae that fed on the lowest protein amount plant. We have discovered that survival rate correlated with gallotanen amounts. The survival rate of the larvae infected fed on E. rhammoides that have the highest gallotanen amount were higher than other diets. Our results showed that in the larvae which were treated with Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki the survival rate positively correlated with proantosiyanidin (condensed tannin) and total phenolic content.