RESUMO

The cotton boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis, is a major pest of cotton crops in South America. In this work, partial biochemical characterizations of (hemi) cellulases and pectinases activities in the digestive system (head- and gut- extracts) of A. grandis were evaluated. Gut extract section from third instar larvae exhibited endoglucanase, xylanase, ß-glucosidase, and pectinase activities. The endoglucanase and xylanase activities were localized in the foregut, whereas ß-glucosidase activity was mainly detected in the hindgut. In addition, no difference in pectinase activity was observed across the gut sections. Thus, A. grandis digestive system is a potentially interesting reservoir for further lignocellulolytic enzymes research.

Assuntos

Sistema Digestório/enzimologia , Gorgulhos/enzimologia , Animais , Líquidos Corporais/enzimologia , Celulases/química , Celulose/metabolismo , Sistema Digestório/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Cabeça , Larva/enzimologia , Larva/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Poligalacturonase/química , Gorgulhos/crescimento & desenvolvimento