Foliar insect pest management on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walpers) in simulated varietal mixtures.: I. The suitability of partial insecticide applications

This research described in this paper examined the impact of varietal mixtures on pest management utilising a model system of partial insecticide applications. In six field experiments conducted in 1995 and 1996 in Igalaland, Kogi State, Nigeria varietal mixtures were simulated through the application of systemic insecticide (carbofuran or furathiocarb) to a pre-determined percentage of a cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) crop. The objective was to examine and compare the pest damage on untreated cowpea plants grown in plots in which varying percentages of the cowpea plants were treated with insecticide. A secondary objective was to determine whether action of the foliage pests influenced flower production. The results showed that the presence of insecticide-treated plants reduced the level of leaf damage by Ootheca mutabilis Sahlberg and the densities of Aphis craccivora Koch populations on untreated plants. The greater the percentage of insecticide-treated plants the greater this reduction on the untreated plants. Meanwhile, the number of flowers found on the untreated plants increased suggesting the foliage pest damage reduced flower production.     

腰果园茶角盲蝽为害分布型及防治策略的研究

通过对腰果园茶角盲蝽(Helopeltis fasciaticollis Popplius)种群消长过程为害分布型的测定及拟合其生长指数曲线,发现一年中其种群建立始于8—9月份,翌年1月份前,虫口增长缓慢,2月初起,虫口急剧增加,4—5月份是为害高峰期,6—7月份虫口自然减少,其空间构型除高峰期外,均属聚集分布,早期为Neyman核心分布。从虫口增长速度及空间构型来看,11—1月份是种群为害扩展的临界期,也是化学防治的最有利时机。为此,我们采取了定期全面调查,及早发现中心虫株(区),局部喷药(挑治)的策略,从而以最低的防治成本获得最佳的经济效益,把整个花、果期的盲蝽为害率控制在5%以下。每年收果后修枝和适当疏伐也是减轻茶角盲蝽为害的重要手段。     

Effect of green-belly stink bug,Dichelops furcatus (F.) on wheat yield and development

The green belly stink bug, Dichelops furcatus (F.) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) is a pest of corn and soybean in southern Brazil. It also occurs on wheat, but information on its damage to this crop is limited. To determine the need for sustainable IPM programs, the impact of this bug on wheat production should be determined. Studies were conducted in the screenhouse with 1, 2 and 4 bugs caged for 16 days on single plants, cv. ‘BRS Parrudo’. During the vegetative period (plants ca. 25 cm tall), all infestation levels significantly reduced plant height and ear head length, but did not reduce grain yield. Feeding damage caused tissue necrosis on leaves. During the booting stage, grain yield was significantly reduced with 2 and 4 bugs per plant; ear heads were small, discolored and abnormally developed. In 2013 and 2014 field trials, plants were infested for 18 days with 2, 4 and 8 bugs per m² at vegetative, booting, and milky grain stage. At these infestation levels, there was no significant reduction in grain yield. There was a significant decrease in the number of normal seedlings resulting from seeds exposed to 8 bugs per m² at the milky grain stage. Results suggest that, in general, there is no need to control D. furcatus on wheat, unless numbers are ≥8 bugs per m² during reproductive period.     

Yield response of okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench to leaf damage by the flea beetle, Podagrica uniforma Jacoby (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Yield-related response of okra plants, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench, to artificial infestation of the flea beetle (Podagrica uniforma Jac.) at different densities (0, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 pairs per cage) was studied in screen house and field experiments. In both experiments, increase in beetle density resulted in a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in fruit production, fruit length, fruit width, fresh fruit weight, number of seeds per fruit, 100 seed weight and fresh fruit yield. In addition, higher densities caused more dry matter accumulation in the seeds than in the husk of okra fruits. Compensation was noticed at the 5- and 10-pair levels of infestation in some of the variables measured. Fresh fruit yield reduction was more than 50% when beetle density was increased beyond 20 pairs per cage in both experiments. The lowest density of P. uniforma at which significant reduction (P < 0.05) occurred in fresh fruit yield per cage, when compared with the control, was the 20-pair level, representing the damage threshold of the beetle at which initiation of control measures would be justified. Regression analysis indicated that flea beetle density was linearly associated with fruit damage and fresh fruit yield. Also, chi-square analysis showed that the models derived from the screen house and field experiments were not significantly different (P < 0.05) from each other, and either could be used for prediction purposes.     

The effect of combined infestation by cereal aphids (Macrosiphum avenae (Fabr.) (Sitobion avenae) and Rhopalosiphum padi (L.)) and cereal leaf beetles (Oulema melanopus (L.)) on their population development and on yield of winter wheat

Previous clarification of the relationships between insect populations and damage by cereal pests has enabled the effect of combined pest infestation on the yield of winter wheat to be analysed more thoroughly. The cereal aphids Macrosiphum avenae (Fabr.) (Sitobion avenae) and Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), each in combination with the cereal leaf beetle Oulema melanopus (L.), were investigated in pot trials which enabled interactions between the combined pest populations to be studied also. Although intraspecific competition was observed for each pest population, there was no interspecific adverse effect of density on population increase. With increasing population densities of the pests in combination, the relative contribution of each species to the combined yield losses decreased. Consequently, there was no summation of individual losses, but a reduction of up to 24·3%. The ability of the cereal plant to compensate for losses may be responsible for this ‘buffering effect’, which apparently is attributable to increased dry-matter production in the presence of large combined pest populations. These results suggest that the existing economic thresholds relating to the effects of cereal aphids and cereal leaf beetle on yields of winter wheat require modification.     

根瘤菌对大豆根际土壤微生物及大豆农艺性状的影响

为研究施用根瘤菌条件下,大豆不同生育期土壤中微生物数量的动态变化及其对大豆农艺性状的影响,于大豆苗期、花期、结荚期、鼓粒期、成熟期分别对大豆根际土壤细菌、真菌、放线菌采用平板计数法进行数量测定;于大豆成熟期对大豆农艺性状及产量进行测定。结果表明:大豆根际土壤微生物数目随大豆生育期不同而发生变化。与对照相比,根瘤菌的施用均增加了除花期外各时期土壤中细菌的数量,在结荚期、鼓粒期和成熟期,增加了土壤真菌数量,在结荚期和成熟期增加了土壤放线菌数量;根瘤菌的施用增加了大豆的株高、主茎节数、单株荚数和单株粒数,且有效增加了大豆产量,与对照相比增产19.44%。     

Could movement of neonates from non-host plants affect the potential of polyculture to reduce crop colonisation by pest insects?

Existing and impending constraints to the use of synthetic pesticides, along with changing legislation in favour of an integrated approach to pest management, are driving uptake of ‘alternative’ approaches to pest control. Polyculture is one such approach, often relying upon the presence of non-host plants within the crop to reduce colonisation by pest insects. The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), is known to oviposit on non-host plants and the present study showed that neonates were able to move relatively large distances, enabling them to relocate from non-host natal plants to nearby hosts. Although fewer larvae were found on host plants when they hatched on non-hosts, it is concluded that even a low level of re-location of neonates could potentially reduce the potential for polyculture to control this pest. It is proposed that non-host oviposition and neonate movement could explain why polyculture sometimes fails in controlling pest insects.     

Mixed Planting with Legumes Modified the Water Source and Water Use of Pearl Millet

Abstract

In semi-arid areas, pearl millet is an important staple food crop that is traditionally intercropped with cowpea. This study evaluated the water competition between pearl millet and cowpea using deuterated water. At vegetative stage, pearl millet biomass production was lower in the pearl millet-cowpea (PM-CP) combination than in the pearl millet-pigeon pea (PM-PP) and pearl millet-bambara nut (PM-BN) combinations. PM-CP used more water than PM-PP and PM-BN under well-watered conditions; however, all combinations used similar amounts of water under dry conditions. The biomass production, photosynthetic rates, transpiration rates, and midday leaf water potential of pearl millet at early flowering stage were not significantly reduced by mixed planting with cowpea sown two weeks later as compared with single planted pearl millet. When pearl millet and cowpea were sown at the same time, mix planting significantly increased the recovery rates of recently irrigated heavy water in pearl millet, but not in cowpea in both vegetative and early flowering stages. Midday leaf water potential and transpiration rates in pearl millet were lowered by mixed planting but those in cowpea were not. These indicate that the water source of pearl millet is shifted to the recently irrigated and easily accessible water. By contrast, when cowpea was sown two weeks later than pearl millet, this trend was not observed. These results provide new evidence on water competition in the PM-CP intercropping system; cowpea has higher ability to acquire existing soil water than pearl millet when both crops are sown at the same time.     

Path analysis: a novel approach to determine the contribution of nematode damage to East African Highland banana (Musa spp., AAA) yield loss under two crop management practices in Uganda

Damage caused by plant-parasitic nematodes on East Africa Highland banana cultivar Mbwazirume was evaluated at Sendusu, Central Uganda. Banana plots were either nematode-infested or non-infested and received either continuous heavy mulch or were finger millet (Eleusine coracana) inter-cropped. An infestation with banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus, occurred naturally. Suckers detached from third crop cycle harvested plants were indexed for root and corm damage. Nematodes were extracted from the indexed roots. Banana weevil damage was observed in a cross-section through the corm of the harvested plant. Relationships between root damage, corm damage and nematode population densities were examined using correlation analyses. Path analysis was used to establish their relative effects on bunch weight. Independent of the type of crop management, percentage root necrosis, percentage dead roots, Radopholus similis and Helicotylenchus multicinctus population densities were each negatively correlated with bunch weight. Banana weevil damage and Pratylenchus goodeyi population densities were not correlated with bunch weight (P≤0.05). Path analysis revealed that root necrosis under heavy mulching and dead roots under finger millet inter-crop were the major factors associated with reduced bunch weight. Independent of the type of crop management, path analysis demonstrated that R. similis and then H. multicinctus contributed most, and to a lesser extent P. goodeyi, to root necrosis and dead roots. C. sordidus damage to the inner or outer corm appeared not to affect bunch weight.     

Mating disruption of the jasmine moth Palpita unionalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) using a two pheromone component blend: A case study over three consecutive olive growing seasons in Egypt

Field studies were carried out from 2002 to 2004 in an olive grove near Cairo, Egypt, to evaluate the efficacy of the mating disruption to control the olive pest Palpita unionalis, during the 1st (May–June) or the 1st and the 2nd (September–November) distinct flight periods. The binary blend of the two pheromone components, E-11-hexadecenyl acetate and E-11-hexadecenal, at the ratio of 70:30 in hexane was dispensed from polyethylene (PE) vials or absorbed into montmorillonite and dispensed from PE bags at a dose of 80 g active ingredients per hectare. Efficacy was measured considering suppression of pheromone trap catches, reduction of the moth population and fruit damage during harvest in the pheromone treated compared to the control (CO) plots. Male captures in treated plots were reduced by 91.3% (2002), 91.8% (2003) and 80.6% (2004) during trapping periods of 8, 21 and 20 weeks, respectively. The number of eggs recorded and fruit damage were lower in the pheromone treated than in CO plot. The fruit infestation accounted to 13.6±2.7% vs. 37.8±3.9% in 2003, a low fruiting year and 9.7±0.75 vs. 34.8±2.8% in 2004, a high fruiting year in treated and CO plots, respectively. Capillary GC analysis indicated that the release rate of E-11-hexadecenyl acetate was effective for the testing period; whereas the release and degradation of E-11-hexadecenyl were high, the inclusion of a photostabilizer into the pheromone-clay complex during 2004 improved substantially the release rate and photooxidation of the aldehyde.     

不同寄主植物对橡副珠蜡蚧发育和繁殖的影响

研究橡副珠蜡蚧(Parasaissetia nigra Nietner)在香蕉、美人蕉、橡胶树、小叶枇杷、芒果、柑橘、蓖麻、木薯、柠檬、扶桑、木瓜、荔枝、番石榴、垂叶榕等寄主植物上的发育、存活和繁殖情况.结果表明,橡副珠蜡蚧的世代发育时间以在香蕉上的最短(为62.81 d),在垂叶榕上的最长(为120.58 d);世代存活率以在橡胶树上的最高(为67.30%),在垂叶榕上的最低(为6.51%);平均产卵量以在橡胶树上的最多(为801.34粒),在垂叶榕上的最少(为121.86粒);内禀增长率以在橡胶树上的最大(为0.068 1),在垂叶榕上的最小(为0.0146).综合比较橡副珠蜡蚧在14种不同寄主植物上的发育历期、存活率、产卵量及种群特征参数,发现橡胶树、香蕉和美人蕉是橡副珠蜡蚧种群生长发育和繁殖特性最适宜的寄主植物,垂叶榕、番石榴、荔枝和番木瓜是橡副珠蜡蚧的最不适宜寄主植物.     

Cereal leaf beetle (Oulema melanopus (L.)) population densities and winter wheat yields

Grain yields of a soft white winter wheat cultivar, cv. Ionia, susceptible to cereal leaf beetle (Oulema melanopus (L.)), were determined when the crop was subjected to four controlled infestation levels of the beetle in caged plots over a 3-year period in Michigan. Although identical infestation procedures and insect numbers were used each year, the intensity of larval infestation and feeding damage varied with the year. Significant (P < 0·01) grain losses occurred in plots that had at least 9·0 larvae per stem. The greatest yield loss was 45% and occurred with 15 larvae per stem and 85% feeding damage. Beetle damage had a greater effect on kernel weight than on the other yield components. Although economic thresholds should be conservative to allow for environmental variations, it appears that soft white winter wheat can often withstand beetle infestation levels greater than the current economic threshold of three or more eggs and largae per stem before the boot stage or one or more large larvae per flag leaf during heading.     

Impact of oilseed rape crop management systems on the spatial distribution of Brassicogethes aeneus (Fabricius 1775): Implications for integrated pest management

The pollen beetle is one of the most important oilseed rape pests wherever the crop is grown. If no control measures are applied, it can cause a greater than 50% reduction in yield. The over-use of insecticides (especially pyrethroids) to control the pollen beetle has led to the development of resistance. Thus, alternative control strategies are required. A field trial with three experimental fields with different contributions of turnip rape as a trap crop was established during the growth season of 2013–2014. A grid of GPS points was established on each field. Pollen beetle abundance was recorded at each GPS point by beating into trays, and damage was assessed by dissection of buds from terminal racemes. Data analysis was performed by two-way analysis of variance and the appearance of pollen beetle adults was processed in a geographic information system (GIS). Statistically significant differences were found in terms of the density of the pollen beetle population between trap crop plants and oilseed rape plants. Control thresholds on each oilseed rape field were not exceeded, whereas the density of the pollen beetle population on trap crop plants was greater by up to 40 fold, regardless of the contribution of trap crop plants. The data indicate that support systems should use sampling strategies that incorporate spatial information to model crop loss more accurately and that there may be the potential for spatially targeted applications of insecticides to optimize the influence of natural enemies in oilseed rape.     

Seed flavonoids and anthocyanins as markers of enhanced plant defence in nodulated cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.)

Insect pests are a major constraint to cowpea production in Africa. Therefore the aim of this study was to identify cowpea material that exhibit greater pest resistance and grain yield for evaluation by farmers. About 45 cowpea genotypes were assayed for flavonoids and anthocyanins with the objective of quantifying the levels of these phenolics in seed extracts as markers for effective plant defence. The results revealed significant differences in the concentration of flavonoids and anthocyanins in seed extract. Farmer varieties such as Sanzie, Bensogla and Omondaw exhibited much higher levels of phenolics compared with improved genotypes like ITH98-46, TVu1509 and IT93K-452-1. When planted in the field in Ghana and Tanzania, the genotypes that had high concentrations of flavonoids and anthocyanins in seed extracts (e.g. Bensogla, Omondaw and IT86D-2075) showed relatively lower infestation by thrips, pod-sucking bugs, aphids and alcidodes. Providing minimum protection with insecticide spray further showed that, genotypes with low infestation by thrips and pod-sucking bugs produced more grain yield without spraying, an indication of their natural resistance to these insect pests. Furthermore, farmer-selected varieties such as Sanzie, Bensogla, and Omondaw produced more grain yield without protection than their improved counterparts. These results showed that the higher the concentration of flavonoids and anthocyanins in cowpea seed extracts, the lower the insect pest incidence on seedlings raised from those seeds. Correlation analysis further confirmed a direct relationship between high flavonoids/anthocyanins in seed extracts and enhanced insect pest.     

Short internode,double podding and early flowering effects on maturity and other agronomic characters in chickpea

Chickpea is an indeterminate species, which continues to flower and set new pods over a long period under wet and cool growing conditions, resulting in excessive canopy development and delayed maturity. We hypothesized that the chickpea's long season requirement could be reduced through introgression of short internode, double podding and early flowering. Four populations E100Ym/CDC Anna, 272-2/CDC Anna, 298T-9/CDC Anna, and 298T-9/CDC Frontier were developed to test this hypothesis with the first parents of each cross being the donor of the short internode, double podding and early flowering traits, respectively. Also, the donor parents E100Ym, 272-2 and 298T-9 were intercrossed. Segregating populations of F₂ to F_3:6 generations were then evaluated under greenhouse and field conditions. When expressed well, double podding significantly reduced time to maturity as compared to the single podding counterparts. The best double podding lines were about 1 week earlier maturing than the early parent and standard checks. Days to flowering (DF) was positively associated with days to maturity (DM) (r = 0.44, P < 0.001), and partial path analysis revealed that DF contributed to DM mainly via days to first pod maturity (DFPM). In the two early flowering populations 298T-9/CDC Anna and 298T-9/CDC Frontier, DF determined about 32% of the variation in DFPM. Conversely, the short internode trait had an undesirable effect, in that all the short internode segregants were too late to mature. In conclusion, the alleles for double podding and early flowering may be used to improve early maturity in chickpea and subsequently minimize the risks associated with the production of this crop in environments where the growing conditions allow excessive crop canopy development, as in the Canadian prairies.     

腰果蛀果斑螟的发生与防治

在海南岛南部,腰果蛀果斑螟(Nephoptefyx sp.)一年发生9代。田间始见期为10—11月,末见期为7月中下旬。4—6月是该虫大发生为害期,田间虫果率为20～60％。 4—7月间完成一代所需时间雄虫为26～31天,雌虫28～36天;10—3月份完成一代雄虫需28～34天,雌虫30～36天。成虫产卵对果实的部位以及果实的发育阶段有明显的选择性。幼虫具转果为害的习性。蛹在树冠下土壤中呈不均匀水平分布。种群虫口的建立与田间结果量的增长同步,产量损失因果实发育阶段而异。田间中果态果实坚果受害最重,是重点保护目标。防治措施,目前以化学防治为主,有效药剂有敌杀死、速灭杀丁、杀虫双和乐果等,第一次喷药防治适期应在田间大量果实即将进入中果态之时,在乐东腰果植区通常为8月中下旬。第一次喷药后,连续用药2～3次,即可保护95％以上的果实免遭虫害。此外,结果早期摘除树上虫蛀果,收集地上落果及利用害虫潜伏场所进行毒杀,对降低害虫种群虫口有重要意义。     

Herb and oil composition of dill (Anethum graveolens L.): Effects of crop maturity and plant density

Steam-distilled dill (Anethum graveolens L.) oil yield and composition varies with the relative amount of vegetative and reproductive tissue and the maturity of the plant material distilled. The characteristics of the dill plant at harvest may be manipulated through production practices. A study was conducted in western Montana to determine the effects of crop maturity and plant density on dill plant growth and on oil production and quality. The crop was harvested at intervals from early fruit formation through fruit pigmentation. Oil yield declined with fruit maturity over the sampling period, particularly after the completion of fruit ripening and “seed” shatter. The carvone content of the oil increased and α-phellandrene decreased as the plant progressed from flowering to fruit ripeness. The highest oil yields with maximum carvone levels were obtained when most of the fruits on primary umbels were pigmented but had not become dry and fully mature. The balance between carvone and phellandrene in the oil was a function of the proportion of mature umbel tissue to vegetative and immature umbel tissue. Seeding rates of 2.2–17.9 kg ha⁻¹ resulted in average plant densities of 100–474 plants m⁻². Total biomass production and oil yield were generally unaffected by plant density, but plant population influenced plant architecture and oil composition. Plants grown at low density had a more extensive development of umbellate fruiting structures and a lower proportion of leaf and stem tissue than did plants at high density. Carvone was higher in oil from widely spaced plants, while phellandrene, α-pinene, and dill ether (3,9-epoxy-1-p-menthene) were lower. Harvest date and plant density affected oil composition in a complementary manner. An early harvest or high plant density is preferable if herbaceous oil characteristics are desired, while a late harvest or low plant density is suitable when growing dill for seed or for a high-carvone oil.     

How to preserve horse chestnut trees from Cameraria ohridella in the urban environment

Control of Cameraria ohridella Deschka and Dimic (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), a pest on the horse chestnut tree (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) was tested using systemic injection in the 4-year period (2002–2005). Imidacloprid and abamectin were used with a single systemic tree injection treatment during May, immediately after blossom. A total of 77,760 leaves were sampled in the field to assess the effect on the number of mines caused by the horse chestnut leaf mining moth by comparing population levels in treated vs untreated trees. The mean number of mines per leaf ranged from 0 to 106.54.Both insecticides contained the pest, and their persistence was indicated by the level of effectives during the second year after treatment. The number of mines on the treated plants decreased significantly, and during the last year not more than three mines per leaf were observed, as against 64 mines on the control plants. Generally the infestation was reduced by up to 82%.Most of the holes in the bark of the treated plants were healed within 6–7 months from the treatment. Only in few trees extravasation of mucilaginous exudates or cracks on the trunk occurred.     

不同氮肥水平下大豆叶片光谱反射率与叶绿素含量的相关性研究

用Unispec光谱分析仪和SPAD-502叶绿素仪测定不同生育时期不同氮肥水平大豆叶片光谱反射率及叶绿素含量,并分析了光谱植被指数与叶绿素含量的相关性。结果表明:不施氮肥处理光谱反射率高于施氮处理,随着施氮量的增加,大豆叶片光谱反射率下降,并初步断定结荚期是大豆氮素光谱营养诊断的敏感时期;随着氮肥水平的提高叶绿素含量增加;整个生育时期,除鼓粒期不施氮处理外其它处理的植被指数mND705与叶绿素含量均呈极显著正相关;在花期和结荚期,各处理的mSR705与叶绿素含量呈极显著正相关,PSSRc与叶绿素含量呈极显著负相关。     

太阳能自控多方式诱虫灯对槟榔害虫的诱捕效果评价

本研究对太阳能自控多方式诱虫灯诱捕槟榔害虫的效果进行了评价。结果表明,经过240 d,诱虫灯共诱捕害虫255 924头,共计8个目、26科、46种昆虫,其中鳞翅目害虫达到64.33%;诱虫灯诱虫数量、重量在8—11月增加,12—2月减少,3月后再增加,其诱虫数量变化与当地虫害发生规律相一致,且益虫仅占总虫量的0.80%;灯控区槟榔受虫害等级比非灯控区少1~3个等级,虫害发生等级控制在++以内。灯控区坐果率在开花结果初期、收获期明显高于非灯控区,明显降低落果率,单株产量达到10.96 kg,比非灯控区提高36.61%。因此,该型诱虫灯在槟榔园使用具有诱虫谱广,诱杀作用强的特点,可大幅减少虫害发生,提高坐果率,增加产量。