Seong-Hyun Kim

Identification of plant compounds that disrupt the insect juvenile hormone receptor complex

Significance Juvenile hormone (JH) plays key roles in insect development, reproduction, and many other physiological functions. Because JH is specific to insects, it has been investigated for use as pest control. Although compounds that mimic the action of JH (JH analogues/agonists) are efficient, they have a limited scope of application. Development of potent compounds counteracting JH action (JH antagonists) would find a wider range of control applications. However, thus far, such JH antagonists have not been developed. Here, we report on the discovery of potent JH antagonists in plants, which represents an innate resistance mechanism of plants against insect herbivores. These newly discovered plant JH antagonist compounds could be used as the starting material for developing novel insecticides. Insects impact human health through vector-borne diseases and cause major economic losses by damaging crops and stored agricultural products. Insect-specific growth regulators represent attractive control agents because of their safety to the environment and humans. We identified plant compounds that serve as juvenile hormone antagonists (PJHANs). Using the yeast two-hybrid system transformed with the mosquito JH receptor as a reporter system, we demonstrate that PJHANs affect the JH receptor, methoprene-tolerant (Met), by disrupting its complex with CYCLE or FISC, formation of which is required for mediating JH action. We isolated five diterpene secondary metabolites with JH antagonist activity from two plants: Lindera erythrocarpa and Solidago serotina. They are effective in causing mortality of mosquito larvae at relatively low LD50 values. Topical application of two diterpenes caused reduction in the expression of Met target genes and retardation of follicle development in mosquito ovaries. Hence, the newly discovered PJHANs may lead to development of a new class of safe and effective pesticides.

Recycling Agricultural Wastes as Feed for Mealworm ( Tenebrio molitor )

In order to investigate the impact of recycling agricultural wastes as feed for mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), we evaluated the replacing effect by the different level of tangerine shell, Chinese cabbage, king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) and Enoki mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) substrates on wheat bran feed. Larval survival rate, larval weight, developmental period of larva, pupation rate and pupal weight were evaluated. In tangerine shell and Chinese cabbage replacement group, no replacing effects found. In all groups replacing by spent King oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) substrate, survival rate of larva was similar to that of control group but larvae weighed less than control group significantly. Developmental period of larva increases in the group of King oyster mushroom substrate replacement. Larval and pupal weight in Enoki mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) substrate by the level of 40 and 50%, replacement effect showed best results in successive breeding considering pupation rate. It is concluded that replacing 40 and 50% of Enoki mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) substrate is appropriate to substituted diet of Tenebrio molitor larvae.

A molecular phylogenetic study on South Korean Tettigonia species (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) using five genetic loci: The possibility of multiple allopatric speciation

In Korea, members of the genus Tettigonia have been known as two species, T. ussuriana and T. dolichoptera dolichoptera. However, the taxonomic status of the Jeju Island population of T. ussuriana (JJ-TU) is in question, relative to the mainland population (ML-TU), because of their different body sizes and ratios of wing length. To clarify the relatedness of JJ-TU and ML-TU, we examined the genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships within and between T. ussuriana and related species collected in South Korea, using five genetic loci: three mitochondrial genes (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 [CO1], cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 [CO2], NADH dehydrogenase 1 [ND1]) and two nuclear loci (second internal transcribed spacer [ITS2], and tubulin alpha-1 [TA1]). Unexpectedly, the JJ-TU population is explicitly sister to T. d. dolichoptera, with low genetic distance (0.76-1.22% in CO1), indicating no direct connection with the ML-TU population; this finding suggests a recent divergence involving rapid morphological change without gene flow between JJ-TU and mainland T. d. dolichoptera. The separation of these populations from their common ancestor was caused by geographical isolation during last glacial age. This finding indicates that the JJ-TU population should be elevated to the rank of subspecies, at the very least. Furthermore, the ML-TU population was also revealed to have four genetically divided groups (group A-D) from four localized populations, but no significant morphological differences exist among them. The genetic difference (range 3.19-4.10% in CO1) between group A + B and C + D was especially large, suggesting that cryptic speciation has widely occurred within the mainland areas, caused by allopatric isolations resulting from mountain barriers.

Molecular phylogeny of the genus Dicronocephalus (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae) based on mtCOI and 16S rRNA genes

Abstract The seven species belonging to the genus Dicronocephalus are a very interesting group with a unique appearance and distinct sexual dimorphism. Only one species among them, Dicronocephalus adamsi, has been known in the Korean fauna. This species is recognized as having a wide distribution from Tibet to Korean Peninsula and is currently represented by two subspecies that have separated geographical ranges. The phylogenetic relationships of Dicronocephalus adamsi were still unclear. The phylogeny of Dicronocephalus is reconstructed with a phylogenetic study of five species including four subspecies based on a molecular approach using mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA genes. Our results are compared with the results obtained by previous authors based on morphological characters. They show that the tested taxa are divided into two major clades. Clade A consists of two species (Dicronocephalus adamsi + Dicranocephalus yui) and Clade B includes the others (Dicronocephalus dabryi + Dicranocephalus uenoi + Dicranocephalus wallichii). This result generally supports Kurosawa’s proposal except that Dicronocephalus dabryi and Dicranocephalus uenoi are newly recognized as members of a monophyletic group. We propose that Dicronocephalus adamsi drumonti is a junior subjective synonym of Dicronocephalus adamsi adamsi. These results show that three members of the Dicranocephalus wallichii group should be treated as species rather than subspecies. However, further research including analyses of different genetic markers is needed to reconfirm our results.

A ecological survey of Taraka hamada (Druce) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) in Korea

Taraka hamada is known as the sole aphidophagous lycaenid butterfly in Korea. The species specifically preys upon Ceratovacuna japonica which lives in bamboo forests. During several years, the species has been received attention from the field of industrial insects in order to commercialize as a pet. However, an ecological character of the species have been unclear in Korea. We carried out a survey for basic ecology and distribution of the two species for 2010 to 2012. As the results, both species only cohabit at Pseudosasa japonica in our investigation. C. japonica is widely distributed from the host plant. Population density of T. hamada is synchronized with the density changes of C. japonica. Their densities are gradually decreased from the point to the investigation and significantly declined in mid-june. The maximum population density of both species shows at the basal part of a leaf. The last-larval instar of T. hamada may seem to be reaching at stage. The adults of T. hamada are killed within two minutes when they were exposed to the sun.