Circadian variation in midgut digestive enzyme activity in cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

•Cotton Bollworm were reared on artificial diet•The last larval stages were used for enzymatic assays•Alpha amylase, lipase and total protease activity of midgut extract in different photoperiod regimes during 24 hours were detected using enzyme related substrates•Results revealed that photoperiod could change the enzyme activity and trend of enzyme activity during day and night

In this study, total protease, α-amylase and lipase activity of cotton bollworm were studied under four different photoperiod regimes. Insects were reared from first larval stages on artificial diet under controlled conditions (26 ± 2 °C temperature, 60 ± 5 % RH) in incubators under four photoperiod regimes, including light (24: 0), dark (0: 24), 12:12 h (L:D) and 16:8 h (L:D). Sixth larval stage was used for enzyme assays and after dissection, alimentary canal of larva was separated from body and transferred to 1.5 ml micro tubes containing 1 ml cold glycine–NaOH, pH 10 buffer. Contents of tubes were homogenized and centrifuged, and the supernatants were used as enzyme source. Sampling was carried out for 24 h at 3 h intervals. The enzyme activity (α-amylase and lipase) was measured using diagnostic kit and azocaseinolytic assay carried out for total protease assays. Results indicated that photoperiod regimes changed enzyme activity profile, and digestive enzyme activity was significantly changed during the diel period. Alpha-amylase activity increased from 9:00 h to 15:00 h in all the studied photoperiods. Alpha-amylase and lipase activity in light photoperiod was more than the dark one, but total protease activity increased in dark photoperiod especially from 12:00 to 18:00 h, compared with the other photoperiods. A slight increase in digestive enzyme activity was observed at 3:00 h in light and dark photoperiods.

Graphical abstractIn this study, effects of different photoperiods on digestive enzyme activity of cotton bollworm during day and night were studied.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide