Publication Date
1997
Description
Hatchling grasshoppers (Melanoplus sanguinipes Fab.) fed one accession of field grown big trefoil (Lotus uliginosis Schkuhr) containing a tannin content of 56 mg. g-1 FW, had a significantly lower mean weight than hatchlings fed field grown Lotus species and accessions with lower tannin content. Adult female grasshoppers fed L. uliginosis foliage with 32.3 mg.g-1 FW tannin also ate more feed and had a 2-fold higher gut trypsin and chymotrypsin activity than adults fed low tannin L. corniculatus foliage (0.13 mg.g-1 FW tannin). In more controlled experiments, growth at 20o C or 30o C was used to increase tannin in rooted cuttings of L. uliginosis to concentrations ranging from 7 to 195 mg.g-1 FW. Hatchling weight decreased as a function of dietary tannin concentration when fed these clones. Both hatchling weight and survival were affected when hatchlings were fed pelleted wheat seedlings supplemented with purified L. uliginosis tannin preparations.
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The Effect of Condensed Tannins in Lotus spp. on the Lesser Migratory Grasshopper
Hatchling grasshoppers (Melanoplus sanguinipes Fab.) fed one accession of field grown big trefoil (Lotus uliginosis Schkuhr) containing a tannin content of 56 mg. g-1 FW, had a significantly lower mean weight than hatchlings fed field grown Lotus species and accessions with lower tannin content. Adult female grasshoppers fed L. uliginosis foliage with 32.3 mg.g-1 FW tannin also ate more feed and had a 2-fold higher gut trypsin and chymotrypsin activity than adults fed low tannin L. corniculatus foliage (0.13 mg.g-1 FW tannin). In more controlled experiments, growth at 20o C or 30o C was used to increase tannin in rooted cuttings of L. uliginosis to concentrations ranging from 7 to 195 mg.g-1 FW. Hatchling weight decreased as a function of dietary tannin concentration when fed these clones. Both hatchling weight and survival were affected when hatchlings were fed pelleted wheat seedlings supplemented with purified L. uliginosis tannin preparations.
