Bamboo Metabolism by Borers Provides a Clue to Eco-friendly Approach for their Control

Abstract

While the analyses of Bamboo, Dendrocalamus strictus revealed 55 ± 2% cellulose, 11 ± l% hemicelluloses and 24 ± 1% lignin, that of Bamboo dust generated as a result of borer infestation revealed no loss of cellulose, about 66% loss of hemicelluloses and 75% loss of lignin. HPLC profiles of an aqueous extract of Bamboo dust revealed the presence of glucose, fructose and glucose 6-phosphate (G 6-P) and total absence of xylose and arabinose, indicating that the borers selectively utilized lignin and hemicellulose for their survival and progeny propagation. The absence of highly potent and thermostable xylanase and ligninase in the borer extract confirmed this. Thus, a specific inhibitor to these enzymes should enable biological control of borers in an eco-friendly manner.