Vitellogenin in pupal hemolymph of Diatraea grandiosella (Lepidoptera : Pyralidae)

Vitellogenin (Vg) concentration was determined in pupal hemolymph of female southwestern corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella (Dyar). Vitellogenin concen tration increased significantly with pupal age. Vitellogenin level reached 7 mg/ml on day 7 after pupation. The vitellogenin was separable into 2 apop roteins on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-P AGE), with molecular weights of 145,000 for apo Vg-I and 38,000 for apoVg-I I. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that vitellogenin polypetides in female pupal hemolymph appeared to le identical to those from eggs, but were absent in male and early female pupal hemolymph. A method to quantify vitellogenin by indirect ELISA is described. Results from this study and those of a previo us study suggest that juvenile hormone does not have a role in vitellogenes is but does so in choriogenesis.