ESTABLSHMENT OF CELL LINE DERIVED FROM EMBRYONIC TISSUE OF THE DLAMONDBACK MOTH, Plutella Xylostella (L.)

A new cell line designated KMITL-PX-E1 has been established from embryonic tissue of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.). The primary cultures were seeded in TNM-FH medium supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum and incubated at 28 °C. After the 18^th passage, the cultures were adapted and maintained in TNM-FH medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. The cell line consisted of a mixture of two cell types, spindle-shaped cells and epithelial-like cells, both of them grew as attached monolayer. The population doubling time at the 2^nd and the 18^th passages were 110.59 and 61.22 hrs, respectively. The chromosome numbers varied from 6-124. Random amplified polymorphic DNA profile analysis showed that the diamondback moth cell line (KMITL-PX-E1) profile differed from the profiles of the beet armyworm (SE-1) and the American cotton bollworm (KMITL-HA-E1) cell lines maintained in the laboratory. KMITL-PX-E1 cell line supported replication of Autographa californica (AcMNPV) and Exoa scandens cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (EsCPV). However, this cell line was sensitive to Bacillus thuringiensis toxin.

Keywords: Plutella xylostella cell line, diamondback moth, nucleopolyhedrovirus, cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus, Random amplified polymorphic DNA

Corresponding author: E-mail: ksounrua@kmitl.ac.th