›› 1996, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (1): 53-57.

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

STUDIES ON ELEVATING THE SUPERCOOLING POINTOF INDIAN MEAL MOTH LARVAE WITH BACTERIAL ICE NUCLEATORS

Feng Yuxiang He Weixun   

  • Online:1996-02-20 Published:1996-02-20

Abstract: Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella larvae are freeze-susceptible.In winter, they avoid freezing by lowering supercooling point. It is wellknownthat ice nucleating active bacteria can significantly elevate the supercooling point ofplants, resulting in promoting frost injury. Our study also proved that bacterialice nucleators can significantly elevate the supercooling point of Indian meal mothlarvae. In the control group, the mean supercooling point is -17.6℃. After treatment with 0.Lg and lg of bacterial ice nucleators mixed to lkg of flour, the meansupercooling point elevate 12.8℃ and 13.6℃ above the control respectively. Results of this study support the idea that bacterial ice nucleators may be used for the control of freeze- susceptible insect pests in the winter.

Key words: bacterial ice nucleators, supercooling point