บทคัดย่องานวิจัย

หมวดหมู่ : ฐานข้อมูลงานวิจัย

Mould control by the harvester ant Messor structor (Latr.) (Hymenoptera Formicidae) on stored seeds.

Celli, G.; Maccagnani, B.;

Bollettino dell'Istituto di Entomologia 'Guido Grandi' della Universita degli Studi di Bologna Year: 1994 Issue: No. 48 Pages: 195-202 Ref: 10 ref.

1994

บทคัดย่อ

Mould control by the harvester ant Messor structor (Latr.) (Hymenoptera Formicidae) on stored seeds.

ABSTRACT :

 

The ability of Messor structor to conserve sunflower seeds in extreme conditions of humidity saturation (98-100% RH) was tested in an experimental granary at 25 plus or minus 1 deg C and 30 plus or minus 1 deg C. The experimental granary was divided into 10 chambers, arranged in 2 rows, separated by a brass net to prevent the ants passing from one chamber to another. Instruments for measuring temperature and RH were placed in the 2 central chambers. In stage 1 of the experiment, the worker ants had access to seeds in 4 chambers on only one side of the experimental granary for 8 days, while in stage 2, the ants had access to seeds in 4 chambers on the other side of the granary for 8 days while the seeds until that moment in contact with the ants were isolated. At the end of stage 1, all of the seeds in contact with the ants were well-preserved. A certain number of seeds were eaten: 21.6% at 25 deg C and 12.5% at 30 deg C. Analysis of the seed integuments showed a significantly lower number of fun

gal spores on those with ants. Mycelium appeared on seeds in chambers without ants by day 3. In stage 2, the ants entered the chambers with the mouldy seeds and removed the mould layer using their legs and mandibles, thereby preventing further fungal development. The number of seeds eaten was comparable to that in stage 1: 22.9% at 25 deg C and 17.9% at 30 deg C. The seeds which had been in contact with the ants in stage 1 were covered by mould by day 4, one day later than in stage 1. The results indicated that in addition to mechanical removal of the fungal mycelium, an inhibiting chemical substance was involved in seed conservation which was slightly, if at all, volatile and readily degradable.