Different patterns of acid and alkaline phosphatases activities during embryogenesis and in emerged adults of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase activities were studied in the developing eggs and in aging ovary and testis of pot-emerged adult of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera at different time intervals from 0-72 hours. Acid phosphatase activity was higher than alkaline phosphatase and acts as cyclic during embryonic development. Alkaline phosphatase activity was slightly increased in the freshly laid eggs but decreased more sharply than acid phosphatase during embryonic development. In all groups of post-emerged adults, acid phosphatase activities were much greater than alkaline phosphatase at any given stage of progressively increasing age. Both enzymes were noticed to be cyclic in the post-emerged mated and non-mated adults. A conspicuous difference was noted between the activities of these enzymes in ovaries and testes of mated and non-mated adults. This phenomenon could be due to the periods of spermatozoa production in the testes and yolk accumulation in oocytes and ovulation. Mating could be also a factor that affected the phosphatases in both males and females.