Atividade da acetilcolinesterase em populações sazonais experimentais de Zaprionus indianus Gupta 1970 (Diptera: Drosophilidae) expostas ao organofosforado Malathion

Abstract

Zaprionus indianus is a species originally from Africa but is found on many continents of the planet, including the American continent. This species has the potential to become a pest in fruit crops that are widely distributed in Brazil, and its control as well as other insect groups, including disease vectors such as Aedes aegypti, is accomplished through the use of organophosphate insecticides, in rural and urban areas. The present work aimed to evaluate the potential bioindicator of Malathion contamination of the enzyme Acetylcholinesterase, target of the insecticide, in F1 generations of Uberaba and Peirópolis populations of Zaprionus Indianus. In addition to verifying if there is significant difference related to sex, as well as seasonal behavior, related to the catalytic activity of this enzyme in dry and humid seasons. Light spectrophotometry and polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis were performed to evaluate the enzymatic action and inhibition using the heads of the experimental subjects. The data found significant values in comparisons of activities found in populations of different seasons, as well as a correspondence between the end of one season and a half of another. Inhibition tests showed lower values of enzyme activity when exposed to the Malathion insecticide in populations of the March and June seasons. Non-significant values were found for comparisons between males and females. According to the results of the analyzes, the enzyme AChE showed a high potential as a bioindicator of Malathion contamination.