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CUTWORM PERIDROMA SAUCIA (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) SUPPORTS GROWTH AND TRANSPORT OF PBR322-BEARING BACTERIA
Citation:
Armstrong, J., L. Porteous, AND N. Wood. CUTWORM PERIDROMA SAUCIA (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) SUPPORTS GROWTH AND TRANSPORT OF PBR322-BEARING BACTERIA. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-89/244 (NTIS PB90137035), 1989.
Description:
Variegated cutworms were exposed to bean plants in microcosms sprayed with pBR322-carrying strains of Enterobacter cloecae. lebsiella planticola. and Erwinia herbicola. he three bacterial species exhibited differential survival on leaves in soil, and in guts and fecal pellets (frass) of the insects. igh numbers of Enterobacter cloacae (pBR322) were detected in all samples, while the other species were unable to establish residence in the insect. o assess the impact of this colonization on site-to-site transport of microorganisms, larvae were fed plants that had been sprayed with the bacteria and then were transferred to uninoculated plants. Cutworms were efficient carriers of Enterobacter cloacae (pBR322), as indicated by its rapid appearance on uninoculated leaves and continued persistence in the insects for 3 days after transfer. ew Erwinia herbicola (pBR322) and K. planticola (pBR322) were obtained from larvae after transfer, although up to 10-3 CFU/g were detected in soil and on plants. ifferences in bacterial survival and growth were confirmed by incubating frass overnight and observing the change in population numbers. he proportion of total samples showing at least a 25-fold increase during incubation was 68% for Enterobacter cloacae (pBR322), 39% for K. planticola (pBR322), and 0% for Erwinia herbicola (pBR322). ur results emphasize the role that cutworms and possibly other insects have in persistence and growth of microorganisms in the environment.