African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 3 (11), pp. 622-226, November 2004         
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2004 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis strains from Jordan and their toxicity to the Lepidoptera, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller

Maher Obeidat ^1*, Dhia Hassawi ¹, Ihab Ghabeish ²

¹Al-Balqa’ Applied University, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Biotechnology Department, Al-Salt 19117, Jordan

²Al-Balqa’ Applied University, Faculty of Al Salt, Al-Salt 19117, Jordan.

*Corresponding author. E-Mail: obeidat@bau.edu, obeidatth@yahoo.com. 

Accepted 10 August, 2004

Bacillus thuringiensis was investigated in four different habitats (grain dust, olive-cultivated soils, waste and industrial-byproducts contaminated soils, and animal byproducts-contaminated soils). The bacterium was highly abundant in soils contaminated with animal byproducts. Eight serotypes with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis being the most common. Out of the twenty-six isolated strains, five strains (serotype: kenyae, kurstaki, kurstaki HD1 and thuringiensis) that produced bipyramid crystal proteins were toxic to the lepidoptera larvae of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller.  The SDS-PAGE protein profile analysis showed a relationship between the crystal protein shape and the toxicity to the larvae of the tested insect.

Key words: Bacillus thuringiensis serotypes, Ephestia kuehniella, parasporal crystal proteins.