Characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis strains from Jordan and their toxicity to the Lepidoptera, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller

Abstract

Bacillus thuringiensis was investigated in four different habitats (grain dust, olive-cultivated soils, waste and industrial-byproducts contaminated soils, and animal byproducts-contaminated soils). The bacterium was highly abundant in soils contaminated with animal byproducts. Eight serotypes with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis being the most common. Out of the twenty-six isolated strains, five strains (serotype: kenyae, kurstaki, kurstaki HD1 and thuringiensis) that produced bipyramid crystal proteins were toxic to the lepidoptera larvae of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller. The SDS-PAGE protein profile analysis showed a relationship between the crystal protein shape and the toxicity to the larvae of the tested insect.

Key Words: Bacillus thuringiensis serotypes, Ephestia kuehniella, parasporal crystal proteins.

African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.3(11) 2004: 622-626