除水災外,蝗禍亦會對糧食供應做成極大的傷害。568Please respect copyright.PENANAzAtPJHGuy8
568Please respect copyright.PENANAbxvppeweoJ
(圖1)蝗蟲可以分成為兩個形態,獨居形態(Solitary)和群居形態(Gregarious)。當獨居蝗蟲聚集在一起後,牠們身體便會由綠色轉變成黑色,成為群居蝗蟲,同時間亦會在體內產生Phenylacetonitrile (PAN)化學物。568Please respect copyright.PENANAg5DDqfVT4w
568Please respect copyright.PENANAddoDRceq2D
568Please respect copyright.PENANANJuCFnVeoR
568Please respect copyright.PENANA6pbJ8mG1sY
群居蝗蟲受到捕食者攻擊的話,身體裡的PAN化學物便會迅速代謝成為山埃。目的就是如果自己受傷甚至是不幸戰敗的話,對手亦會因為進食自己含有山埃的部份而中毒身亡,玉石俱焚。568Please respect copyright.PENANAAfBN4TYYdN
568Please respect copyright.PENANAu03v5VzfH8
568Please respect copyright.PENANARiB6J96fKu
2020年8月12日,有科學家在《Science》期刊發表學術文章,講述一道關於蝗蟲的研究。568Please respect copyright.PENANAZiu5h8gh8X
568Please respect copyright.PENANAOpD45evRYC
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2610-4568Please respect copyright.PENANAZpyEYTO0B5
568Please respect copyright.PENANAnf2OgthpYq
(圖2)他們發現,若果群居蝗蟲聚集數量多於4隻的話,牠們的身體及糞便會散發出一隻名為4VA(4-Vinylanisole)的化學物。568Please respect copyright.PENANAqJDqnty7ZS
568Please respect copyright.PENANAxPdhP88lpZ
568Please respect copyright.PENANAKCQhnpnq3r
不論是獨居蝗蟲還是群居蝗蟲,亦不論性別,牠們均會被4VA化學物深深吸引,從而聚集成群,並繼續不斷散發4VA化學物,無止境地召集同伴,建組蝗蟲大軍。568Please respect copyright.PENANAPs2hEXvRjE
568Please respect copyright.PENANArCZ9G09DU3
科學家亦發現,蝗蟲觸鬚裡頭名為OR35的嗅覺細胞主力負責感測4VA的存在。當利用基因CRISPR技術移除蝗蟲OR35嗅覺細胞的話,牠們便會失去聚集的能力,進一步確立4VA的重要性;568Please respect copyright.PENANA5sH1TtDQMk
目前為止,他們並沒有發現或研發化學物可以抑制蝗蟲的OR35嗅覺細胞。568Please respect copyright.PENANAPXjCWak4ym
568Please respect copyright.PENANAiHHZdd4s71
他們亦嘗試進行實地研究,在野外設立8個含有4VA化學物的捕蝗網。統計過後,捕獲的蝗蟲數量的確有所上升,但並非超級顯著。(圖3)568Please respect copyright.PENANAoJRuGX4cJQ
568Please respect copyright.PENANAxsblwsFjba
568Please respect copyright.PENANAaAIlHxYe8p
568Please respect copyright.PENANA4gDs72SFgC
雖然如此,如果設立的數量足夠的話,不排除可以能夠誘導蝗蟲群組遠離農地,保護農作物。568Please respect copyright.PENANAMUlNfglTWo
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科普專欄–薯不揀單
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科普專欄–薯不揀單
Author:
薯仔聞茱莉
ISSUE #18
<<深入淺出–抵擋蝗蟲的最新研究>>
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