HYDROGEN-ION CONCENTRATION AND THE DIGESTIVE ENZYMES IN THE DIGESTIVE TRACT OF ODOIPORUS LONGICOLLIS (OILV.) (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE)

The present study on the pH and digestive enzymes of the banana pseudostem weevil Odoiporus longicollis (011v.) is one of the scientific approach because this insect is a serious insect pest of banana plantation in the state and North East India .The digestive tract is div6sible into foregut (stomodaeum), midgut (mesenteron) and hindgut (protodaeum). The different parts of digestive tract of fully grown larvae showed p’’ ranging from 6.0-6.4 in the stomodaeum, 6.8-6.9 in the mesenteron and 6.1-6.4 in the proctodaeurn, respectively. Whereas the different parts of digestive tract of adult revealed p’ ranging from 6.1-6.4 in the stomodaeum, 6.8-7.0 in the mesenteron and 6.3-6.6 in the proctodaeurn. The haernolymph of the larvae had H ranging from’6.6-6.8. The H of the healthy pseudostem was recorded ranging from 5.4-5.8 and that of infected pseudostem weevil was recorded from 6.5-7.5. The different parts of the alimentary canal of fully grown larvae showed the presence of 7 H digestive enzymes in the mesenteron, pF in the proctodaeum and nil in the stomodaeum. The presence of 7 p’1 digestive enzymes in the digestive tracts of both the larval and adult stages except the enzyme lipase which is absent in the digestive tract of adult weevil have been observed.