Proteins in unroasted coffee beans pave way for new insecticides
May 21st, 2010 - 4:37 pm ICT by ANIWashington, May 21 (ANI): Scientists in Brazil have found that unroasted coffee beans contain proteins that can kill insects, a finding that may lead to new insecticides for protecting food crops.
The study suggests a new use for one of the most important tropical crops in the world.
Peas, beans and some other plant seeds contain proteins, called globulins, which ward off insects. Coffee beans contain large amounts of globulins, and Paulo Mazzafera and colleagues wondered whether those coffee proteins might also have an insecticidal effect.
The high heat of roasting destroys globulins, so that they do not appear in brewed coffee.
Their tests against cowpea weevil larva, insects used as models for studying the insecticidal activity of proteins, showed that tiny amounts of the coffee proteins quickly killed up to half of the insects.
In the future, scientists could insert genes for these insect-killing proteins into important food crops, such as grains, so that plants produce their own insecticides, the researchers suggest. The proteins appear harmless to people.
The study appears in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a bi-weekly publication. (ANI)
- GM corn helps protect non-engineered cousins: Study - Oct 08, 2010
- Coffee beans roasted till dark brown produces valued antioxidants - Feb 03, 2011
- Cassava, staple of millions, contaminated by cyanide - May 03, 2012
- Eating 'handful' of walnuts best bet for healthy heart - Mar 28, 2011
- Ginger root helps conserve stag beetles - Jan 10, 2011
- 'Green' pesticide effective against citrus pests - Jan 18, 2012
- Do plants pay a price for evolving with complex defense mechanisms? - Jan 29, 2011
- Worker ants can kill termites - Dec 15, 2011
- Scorpion venom-injected pesticide could protect plants from bugs! - Apr 28, 2011
- Leaves guide plant's battle for sunlight - Apr 16, 2012
- Study finds temperature-sensing role in eyes' light-sensing receptor - Mar 11, 2011
- Capsule coffee 'contains high levels of carcinogenic substance' - Apr 14, 2011
- Coffee from Kerala, soon to 'Kic OFF' across India - May 05, 2012
- Predators too prefer food with nutritional value - Jan 13, 2012
- Bangkok's insect food: protein-rich cricket cookies, bamboo-worm pizzas (Feature with pics) - Mar 25, 2012
Tags: acs, acs journal, colleagues, food crops, genes, globulins, grains, high heat, insect, insecticidal activity, insecticides, insects, journal of agricultural and food chemistry, plant seeds, proteins, scientists, tiny amounts, tropical crops, unroasted coffee beans, weevil