Effect of azadirachtin on digestive enzyme activity and gene expression of sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci

Abstract

Pure compound of azadirachtin tested against adult B. tabaci using artificial diet. Digestive enzymes activity was observed after feeding with 5 ppm azadirachtin for 12 hours. The specific activity of the tested 3 protease enzymes- trypsin, chymotrypsin and aminopeptidase were down regulated. The transcript level of eight genes, two stresses, and six cytoskeleton genes were observed feeding with azadirachtin 5 ppm for 12 hours. Among the tested genes, the expression level of all genes, hsp70, hsp90, p8 protein, myosin, profiling, myofilin, paramryosin, tropomyosin were down regulated.