• Media type: E-Article
  • Title: Vitamin Synthesis by the Symbionts in the Fat Body of the Cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.)
  • Contributor: Ludwig, Daniel; Gallagher, Margaret R.
  • Published: Allen Press, 1966
  • Published in: Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 74 (1966) 3, Seite 134-139
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 0028-7199; 1937-2361
  • Origination:
  • Footnote:
  • Description: Determinations were made on the vitamin content of the fat bodies of normal and aposymbiotic cockroaches. Of the 10 vitamins studied (ascorbic, folic, nicotinic and pantathenic acids, biotin, cyanocabalamin, inositol, pyridoxine, riboflavin and thiamine), only 3 (ascorbic, folic and pantathenic acids) were present in considerably larger amounts in the normal fat body. Cultured symbionts were able to synthesize them. The lighter cuticular color, sluggishness and reduced reproductive ability of the aposymbiotic insect may be explained by the absence of these vitamins.