Correlation of the insecticidal activity of the Bacillus thuringiensis A4 strain against Bactrocera oleae (Diptera) with the 140-kDa crystal polypeptide.

The crystals of the soil-isolated Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strain A4 consist of two polypeptides with molecular mass of 140 kDa and 32 kDa that exhibit insecticidal activity against adult flies of Bactrocera oleae (Diptera). Plasmid curing applied to this strain resulted in the isolation of several subclones exhibiting alterations in their crystal polypeptides as well as two acrystalliferous subclones. The crystals of subclone 1.

Insecticidal activity of strains of Bacillus thuringiensis on larvae and adults of Bactrocera oleae Gmelin (Dipt. Tephritidae).

The olive fly, Bactrocera oleae, is the key pest on olives in the Mediterranean area. The pest can destroy, in some cases, up to 70% of the olive production. Its control relies mainly on chemical treatments, sometimes applied by aircraft over vast areas, with their subsequent ecological and toxicological side effects.

Plasmid patterns of Bacillus thuringiensis strains and isolates.

Bacillus thuringiensis produces crystal proteins which are toxic to several orders of economically important insects and other invertebrates. The genes encoding these toxins reside mainly on plasmids. This report consists of a comparative analysis of the plasmid content of a number of B.

Distribution and characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis in the environment of the olive in Greece.

The distribution of Bacillus thuringiensis in Greece, was studied and the presence of this organism was found in 11.2% of the samples collected. The characterization of the different isolates was based on their whole-cell protein profiles.