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32195

The Differences in the Digestive System and Enzymes between Soldiers and Workers of the Subterranean Termite, Psammotermes hypostoma Desneux (Rhinotermitidae: Isoptera)

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Last updated: 22 Jan 2023

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Abstract

Of eight termite species found in Egypt, the subterranean termite Psammotermes hypostoma Desneux is considered as the most important serious pest, which destroy the wooden structures in buildings and other wood products or any material containing cellulose. Therefore, cellulases enzymes are considered the main enzymes in the digestive system of termite. The termite digestive system is considered a target for best control.
      This report discusses the descriptive variations of alimentary canals for the worker and the soldier, also, the detection of three digestive enzymes; two of them belonging to cellulases enzymes (endo-β-1,4-glucanase, and cellobiase (β -glucosidase) and the third is amylase in guts extracts from the termite workers and soldiers. The workers had higher endo-β-1,4-glucanase and amylase activities, while soldiers had higher cellobiase (β-gl`ucosidase) activity. It is clear that the presence of α-amylase in the digestive system of P. hypostoma workers and soldiers means that this species of termite is able to decompose starch, which explains why termites attack grain silos.
       Effect of temperature and PH on enzyme activity showed that the optimum temperature /PH for workers were 70 °C/ PH6 for endo-β-1,4-glucanase, 50 °C/PH6 for cellobiase (β -glucosidase) and 70 °C/pH 7 for amylase, while, in case of soldiers, optimum temperature/pH were 70 °C/PH6 for endo-β-1,4-glucanase, 40 °C/PH6 for cellobiase (β-glucosidase) and 60 °C/PH 7 for amylase.
      This work is the first in Egypt concerning the study of the enzymes activities of the digestive system of termite and may be considered an initial step to contribute to control this species of termite by the development of new termiticides.   

DOI

10.21608/eajbsa.2019.32195

Keywords

Subterranean termite, Psammotermes hypostoma, DIGESTIVE SYSTEM, Endo-β-1, 4-glucanase, Cellobiase (β -glucosidase), Amylases. Alimentary canal

Authors

First Name

Huda

Last Name

Ali

MiddleName

R. K.

Affiliation

Plant Protection Research Institute, A. R. C., Ministry of Agriculture

Email

huda.r.k.ali@gmail.com

City

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Orcid

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First Name

Alaa

Last Name

Ropy

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Fayoum University, Fayoum 63514, Egypt

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City

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Orcid

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First Name

Batt

Last Name

A.

MiddleName

M.

Affiliation

Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

Email

d.mohammed_batt@yahoo.com

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Orcid

-

Volume

12

Article Issue

3

Related Issue

5287

Issue Date

2019-06-01

Receive Date

2019-04-28

Publish Date

2019-06-01

Page Start

49

Page End

61

Print ISSN

1687-8809

Online ISSN

2090-0813

Link

https://eajbsa.journals.ekb.eg/article_32195.html

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https://eajbsa.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=32195

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4

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Original Article

Type Code

667

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences. A, Entomology

Publication Link

https://eajbsa.journals.ekb.eg/

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Article

Created At

22 Jan 2023