Azadirachtin inhibits secretion of trypsin in midgut of Manduca sexta caterpillars: reduced growth due to impaired protein digestion

When given by injection to tobacco hornworm caterpillars, Manduca sexta, the allelochemical azadirachtin inhibits growth without reducing food intake. The growth reducing effect of azadirachtin is therefore in this case independent of the compound's well‐known antifeedant effect. The cause of this reduced rate of growth is an increase in the costs associated with growth. These increased costs are largely a consequence of a decrease in the efficiency of utilisation of dietary nitrogen. This is associated with a drastic reduction in the activity of midgut trypsin. Azadirachtin has no effect on the activity of trypsin in vitro. Thus azadirachtin directly or indirectly inhibits the production of trypsin by the enzyme‐secreting cells of the midgut wall; it is suggested that this is the cause of the increased costs and reduced rate of growth. The interesting parallel between this plant defence strategy and that of direct inhibition of herbivore proteinases by allelochemical proteinase inhibitors is discussed.