Alkaline phosphatase activity was histochemically localized in adult whitef
lies (Bemisia tabaci B biotype, syn. B. argentifolii) with a chromogenic su
bstrate (5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolylphosphate) and a fluorogenic substrate (
ELF-97). The greatest amount of staining was in the basal regions of adult
salivary glands with additional activity traced into the connecting salivar
y ducts. Other tissues that had alkaline phosphatase activity were the acce
ssory salivary glands, the midgut, the portion of the ovariole surrounding
the terminal oocyte, and the colleterial gland. Whitefly nymphs had activit
y in salivary ducts, whereas activity was not detected in two aphid species
(Rhodobium porosum and Aphis gossypii). Whitefly diet (15% sucrose) was co
llected from whitefly feeding chambers and found to have alkaline phosphata
se activity, indicating the enzyme was secreted in saliva. Further studies
with salivary alkaline phosphatase collected from diet indicated that the e
nzyme had a pH optimum of 10.4 and was inhibited by 1 mM cysteine and to a
lesser extent 1 mM histidine. Dithiothreitol, inorganic phosphate, and ethy
lenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) also inhibited activity, whereas levamis
ole only partially inhibited salivary alkaline phosphatase. The enzyme was
heat tolerant and retained approximately 50% activity after a l-h treatment
at 65 degreesC. The amount of alkaline phosphatase activity secreted by wh
iteflies increased under conditions that stimulate increased feeding. These
observations indicate alkaline phosphatase may play a role during whitefly
feeding. Published 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.(dagger).