ACETYLESTERASE PATTERN IN THE EARTHWORM GENUS-EISENIA (OLIGOCHAETA, LUMBRICIDAE) - IMPLICATIONS FOR LABORATORY USE AND TAXONOMIC STATUS

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis has been used to describe acetylesterases (EC 3.1.1.6) in the species Eisenia andrei, E. fetida and E. veneta. Four bands were common in E. andrei and E. fetida, whereas the three bands found in E. veneta were unique for this species. Two of the electromorphs described are gut enzymes, of which one is unique to E. fetida. Analysis for this enzyme proved to be a reliable method to distinguish the two species E. andrei and E. fetida. The frequencies of the acetylesterase electromorph were very different in two populations of E. veneta, which reflects great variability of acetylesterase alleles. Indications of E. fetida and E. veneta hybridization were found. Short-term starvation had little influence on the reliability of the method.