Further observations on Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner and other sporeforming bacteria

Steinhaus, E; Jerrel, E

Further observations on Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner and other sporeforming bacteria

Authors

Edward A. Steinhaus
Elizabeth A. Jerrel

Authors Affiliations

Edward A. Steinhaus was Associate Professor of Insect Pathology and Associate Insect Pathologist in the Experiment Station; Elizabeth A. Jerrel was Senior Laboratory Technician.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 23(1):1-23. DOI:10.3733/hilg.v23n01p001. May 1954.

PDF of full article, Cite this article

Abstract

Abstract does not appear. First page follows.

Introduction

In 1951 our laboratory reported (Steinhaus, 1951) on some aspects of the biological control potentialities of certain sporeforming bacteria, together with some general considerations of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner as an insect pathogen and as a possible agent to use in the control of the alfalfa caterpillar. This was followed with similar studies by the senior author’s students (Tanada, 1953); (Hall, 1954); (Clark, 1954) and an associate (Thompson, 1954). In the meantime, we have been making incidental observations on B. thuringiensis and its pathogenicity for several species of insects being reared in the laboratory.

Although in their studies on B. thuringiensis, (Berliner (1915)) and (Mattes (1927)) noticed that the vegetative remains of the sporulating cells assumed a rhomboid shape, the description by Hannay, in 1953, of “crystalline inclusions” in the sporangium of the organism made room for further interpretations of the data being accumulated on this bacillus. Neither Berliner nor Mattes attributed to these bodies any role in the disease process caused by the ingestion of sporulating B. thuringiensis. Hannay, on the other hand, speculated that the inclusions were connected with the pathogenicity of the bacillus. Heretofore our own investigations had never included cytological studies of the bacillus at the stage the inclusions are formed. In retrospect, however, it would appear that these bodies were present in some of our preparations, as evidenced by figures 2 and 3 in our 1951 paper (Steinhaus, 1951). With the staining methods used, however, the free inclusions were not recognized as anything other than part of the “remains of the vegetative cells.”

Literature Cited

Angus T. A. Studies of Bacillus spp. pathogenic for silkworm. Bi-monthly Progress Report. Canada Dept. Agr., Sci. Service, Forest Bio. Div. 1953. 9: Nov.-Dec., 1-2

Berliner E. Über die Schlaffsucht der Mehlmottenraupe (Ephestia kühniella, Zell.) und ihren Erreger Bacillus thuringiensis, n. sp. Ztschr. f. Angew. Ent. 1915. 2:29-56. DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0418.1915.tb00334.x [CrossRef]

Chorine V. New bacteria pathogenic to the larvae of Pyrausta nubilalis Hbn. Internatl. Corn Borer Invest. Sci. Rpts. 1929. 2:39-53.

Clark E. C. Unpublished observations 1954.

Dutky S. R. Method for the preparation of spore-dust mixtures of Type A milky disease of Japanese beetle larvae for field inoculation. U.S. Dept. Agr., Entomol. &; Plant Quarantine. 1942. ET-192:10

Ellinger T., Chorine V. Note on the bacteria isolated from Ephestia kühniella Zell. Internatl. Corn Borer Invest. Sci. Rpts. 1930. 3:37-38.

Faldini J. D., Pastrana J. A. Bacillus thuringiensis como agente entomofago de “Colias lesbia”. Rev. Argentina de Agron. 1952. 19:154-65.

Hall I. M. Studies of microorganisms pathogenic to the sod webworm. Hilgardia. 1954. 22(15):535-65. DOI: 10.3733/hilg.v22n15p535 [CrossRef]

Hannay C. L. Crystalline inclusions in aerobic sporeforming bacteria. Nature. 1953. 172:1004 DOI: 10.1038/1721004a0 [CrossRef]

Husz B. Bacillus thuringiensis Berl., a bacterium pathogenic to corn borer larvae. Internatl. Corn Borer Invest. Sci. Rpts. 1928. 1:191-93.

Mattes O. Parasitäre Krankheiten der Mehlmottenlarven und Versuche über ihre Verwendbarkeit als biologische Bekämpfungsmittel. (Zugleich ein Beitrag zur Zytologie der Bakterien.). Gesell. f. Beförd. Gesam. Naturw. Sitzber. [Marburg]. 1927. 62:381-417.

Metalnikov S., Chorine V. On the infection of the gypsy moth and certain other insects with Bacterium thuringiensis. A preliminary report. Internatl. Corn Borer Invest. Sci. Rpts. 1929a. 2:60-61.

Metalnikov S., Chorine V. l’utilisation des microbes dans la lutte contre la pyrale du maïs. Inst. Pasteur Ann. [Paris]. 1929b. 43:1391-95.

Shepherd D. Life history and biology of Echocerus cornutus (Fab.). Jour. Econ. Ent. 1924. 17:572-77.

Smith N. R., Gordon R. E., Clark F. E. Aerobic sporeforming bacteria. U. S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Monograph No. 1952. 16:148

Sokoloff V. P., Klotz L. J. Mortality of red scale on citrus through infection with a sporeforming bacterium. Phytopathology. 1942. 32:187-98.

Steinhaus E. A. Insect microbiology. 1946. Ithaca, N. Y.: Comstock Pub. Co., Inc. 763p.

Steinhaus E. A. Principles of insect pathology. 1949. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc. 757p.

Steinhaus E. A. Possible use of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner as an aid in the biological control of the alfalfa caterpillar. Hilgardia. 1951. 20(18):359-81. DOI: 10.3733/hilg.v20n18p359 [CrossRef]

Steinhaus E. A. Microbial infections in European corn borer larvae held in the laboratory. Jour. Econ. Ent. 1952. 45:48-51.

Steinhaus E. A. Diseases of insects reared in the laboratory or insectary. California Univ. Pubs. Agr. Sci. Leaflet No. 1953. 9:26

Steinhaus E. A., Bell C. R. The effect of certain microorganisms and antibiotics on stored-grain insects. Jour. Econ. Ent. 1953. 46:582-98.

Stephens June M. Disease in codling moth larvae produced by several strains of Bacillus cereus. Canadian Jour. Zool. 1952. 30:30-40. DOI: 10.1139/z52-002 [CrossRef]

Tanada Y. Susceptibility of the imported cabbage worm to Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner. Hawaiian Ent. Soc. Proc. 1953. 15:159-66.

Thompson C. G. The use of certain entomogenous microörganisms to control the alfalfa caterpillar. Jour. Econ. Entomol. 1954. (In press.)

Toumanoff C. Description de quelques souches entomophytes de Bacillus cereus Frank. et Frank., avec remarques sur leur action et celle d’autres bacilles sur le jaune d’oeuf. Inst. Pasteur Ann. [Paris]. 1953. 85:90-98.

Toumanoff C., Vago C. l’agent pathogène de la flacherie des vers à soie endémique dans la région des Cévennes: Bacillus cereus var. alesti var. nov. Compt. Rendus Acad. Sci. 1951. 233:1504-06.

Toumanoff C., Vago C. La nature de l’affection des vers à soie due a Bacillus cereus var. alesti Toum. et Vago et les modalités d’action de ce bacille. Inst. Pasteur Ann. [Paris]. 1952a. 83:421-22.

Toumanoff C., Vago C. Essais comparatifs sur la virulence pour Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera) de divers bacilles entomophytes du groupe cereus. Inst. Pasteur Ann. [Paris]. 1952b. 83:634-39.

Toumanoff C., Vago C. l’effet de l’alcalinité du milieu de culture sur la virulence de Bacillus cereus var. alesti Toum. et Vago, pour les vers à soie. Compt. Rendus Acad. Sci. 1952c. 235:1715-17.

Toumanoff C., Vago C. Etude histopathologique des vers à soie atteints de Bacillus cereus var. alesti. Inst. Pasteur Ann. [Paris]. 1953. 84:376-85.

Also in this issue:

Research is people

Oxford tract University of California, Berkeley

Predacious spiders in California cotton

Chemical thinning for shipping peaches, nectarines and plums

Hydrologic mini-cycle for soil moisture and salt control in irrigated agriculture

Crossbred beef cattle are more profitable

A progress report… bee pollination in cucumbers for pickling

Fungicidal control of Botrytis fruit rot of strawberry

Granular formulations of systemic insecticides for control of aphids on easter lilies

Evaluation of computer-formulated least-cost concentrate mixes for dairy cows