Natural stands diversity and population structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lophira lanceolata</Emphasis> Tiegh. ex Keay,a local oil tree species in Burkina Faso,West Africa

Non Timber Forest Products play an important role as source of food and income generation in developing countries. In Burkina Faso, many wild tree species provide various useful products, among them the local oil tree, Lophira lanceolata which occurs in the western part of the country. This study aimed at assessing the habitat diversity and population structure of L. lanceolata’s natural stands according to land cover types. Two sites were considered: Banfora, where the use value of fruits is unknown and Orodara, where fruits are exploited for oil production. A stratified and oriented sampling scheme based on the occurrence of L. lanceolata and land cover was applied using rectangular plots of 50 m × 20 m. Phytosociological and quantitative inventories were carried out to assess the woody species diversity of stands and L. lanceolata population structure, respectively. Species diversity indices, structural parameters were computed and analyses of variance, Chi square test were performed to compare sites according to land cover types. The results showed high woody species diversity associated with L. lanceolata stands (H = 3.2–3.6). The densities of L. lanceolata ranged between 94 and 280 trees per hectare, with significant differences between land cover types and sites. The population pattern showed a good regeneration potential and high resource availability. L. lanceolata was fairly resilient to human pressure and tended to recolonize disturbed lands. With a high potential for sustainable management, L. lanceolata is a promising NTFP species which can contribute to improve the local and national economy.     

A generalized algebraic difference approach allows an improved estimation of aboveground biomass dynamics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cunninghamia lanceolata</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Castanopsis sclerophylla</Emphasis> forests

Key message

A generalized algebraic difference approach (GADA) developed in this study improved the estimation of aboveground biomass dynamics of Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook and Castanopsis sclerophylla (Lindl.) Schott forests. This could significantly improve the fieldwork efficiency for dynamic biomass estimation without repeated measurements.

Context

The estimation of biomass growth dynamics and stocks is a fundamental requirement for evaluating both the capability and potential of forest carbon sequestration. However, the biomass dynamics of Cunninghamia lanceolata and Castanopsis sclerophylla using the generalized algebraic difference approach (GADA) model has not been made to date.

Aims

This study aimed to quantify aboveground biomass (AGB, including stem, branch and leaf biomass) dynamics and AGB increment in C. lanceolata and C. sclerophylla forests by combining a GADA for diameter prediction with allometric biomass models.

Methods

A total of 12 plots for a C. lanceolata plantation and 11 plots for a C. sclerophylla forest were selected randomly from a 100 m × 100 m systematic grid placed over the study area. GADA model was developed based on tree ring data for each stand.

Results

GADA models performed well for diameter prediction and successfully predicted AGB dynamics for both stands. The mean AGB of the C. lanceolata stand ranged from 69.4 ± 7.7 Mg ha^?1 in 2010 to 102.5 ± 11.4 Mg ha^?1 in 2013, compared to 136.9 ± 7.0 Mg ha^?1 in 2010 to 154.8 ± 8.0 Mg ha^?1 in 2013 for C. sclerophylla. The stem was the main component of AGB stocks and production. Significantly higher production efficiency (stem production/leaf area index) and AGB increment was observed for C. lancolata compared to C. sclerophylla.

Conclusion

Dynamic GADA models could overcome the limitations posed by within-stand competition and limited biometric data, can be applied to study AGB dynamics and AGB increment, and contribute to improving our understanding of net primary production and carbon sequestration dynamics in forest ecosystems.

     

Direct and admixture toxicity of diatomaceous earth and monoterpenoids against the storage pests <Emphasis Type="Italic">Callosobruchus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">maculatus</Emphasis> (F.) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sitophilus oryzae</Emphasis> (L.)

We investigated the effects of two commercial diatomaceous earth based insecticides (DE), Protect-It^® and SilicoSec^®, the nano-structured silica product AL06, developed by the section for Urban Plant Ecophysiology at Humboldt University Berlin, and the monoterpenoids, eugenol, and cinnamaldehyde on two stored product pests, Callosobruchus maculatus and Sitophilus oryzae. Protect-It^® was more effective than SilicoSec^® against C. maculatus while the reverse was true for S. oryzae. Generally C. maculatus was more sensitive towards DE and silica treatment than S. oryzae. Mortality rate of both pest species increased when DE’s were applied to food commodities previously treated with a monoterpenoid. In admixture experiments, the toxicity of SilicoSec^® + cinnamaldehyde (LD₅₀ = 42.73 ppm), SilicoSec^® + eugenol (LD₅₀ = 24.30 ppm), and Protect-It^® + eugenol (LD₅₀ = 2.60 ppm) was increased over DE alone against S. oryzae. Both substances showed a synergistic effect considering their co-toxicity coefficient relative to the LD₅₀-value. In contrast, we could not find any synergistic effects in experiments with C. maculatus. Here only Protect-It^® + cinnamaldehyde (LD₅₀ = 20.84 ppm) showed an additive effect while all other combinations of monoterpenoid and DE indicated antagonistic effects. In addition to contact insecticidal effects both monoterpenoids showed a strong fumigant action. The presented results indicate that the natural product DE has great potential to replace synthetic pesticides commonly used in stored product pest management. Efficacy of DE can be improved by adding certain monoterpenoids against certain insect pests.     

Different population performances of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Frankliniella occidentalis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thrips hawaiiensis</Emphasis> on flowers of two horticultural plants

Gardenia jasminoides and Rosa chinensis are economically important horticultural plants in China. Frankliniella occidentalis and Thrips hawaiiensis are serious coexisting pests that previously demonstrated opposite population trends on G. jasminoides and R. chinensis flowers. To further study the different performances between F. occidentalis and T. hawaiiensis, we investigated their population dynamics in the field (for 5 years) and their life history characteristics on the two flowers in the laboratory. In the field, the density of F. occidentalis was lower than that of T. hawaiiensis on G. jasminoides but was higher than that of T. hawaiiensis on R. chinensis. Under laboratory conditions, F. occidentalis showed significantly slower development, and lower survival and fecundity levels than T. hawaiiensis on G. jasminoides, but the opposite was true on R. chinensis. Significant differences in the net reproductive rate (R ₀) between F. occidentalis and T. hawaiiensis were observed, with respective values of 38.66 ± 2.85 and 47.91 ± 2.70 on G. jasminoides, and 55.64 ± 2.15 and 32.45 ± 2.16 on R. chinensis. The intrinsic rates of increase (r _m ) of F. occidentalis and T. hawaiiensis were 0.156 ± 0.008 and 0.198 ± 0.007, respectively, on G. jasminoides, and 0.172 ± 0.003 and 0.165 ± 0.002, respectively, on R. chinensis. Thus, the performances of both thrips with respect to population size in the laboratory were in accordance with those in the field, suggesting that the innate capacity for insect population increases may directly impact their population dynamics in fields. Thus, the population performance of different thrips species on flowers is species-dependent, which could be exploited in thrips control programs by breeding pest-resistant cultivars.     

Fumigant activity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Illicium verum</Emphasis> fruit extracts and their effects on the acetylcholinesterase and glutathione<Emphasis Type="Italic"> S</Emphasis>-transferase activities in adult <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sitophilus zeamais</Emphasis>

The insecticidal activity of Illicium verum Hook. f. against Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky adults were identified, and the underlying mechanisms were studied. Extracts from I. verum fruits in methyl alcohol (MA), ethyl acetate (EA), and petroleum ether (PE) were tested by fumigation in a hermetic container to determine their toxicity. The effects of the three extracts on the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) of S. zeamais were determined in vivo. All extracts showed strong fumigant activity. The fumigant effects were enhanced with increased dosage and prolonged exposure time. 1.25, 2.50, 5.00, 10.00, and 20.0 mg/l doses of the MA, EA, and PE extracts caused the mortalities from 8.37 to 90.26 %, 21.81 to 95.89 %, and 15.84 to 92.57 %, respectively, at 72 h after treatment. Consequently, the most effective dose of the MA, EA, and PE extracts is the 20.0 mg/l. The LD₅₀ of the MA, EA, and PE extracts at 72 h after treatment were 7.10, 3.93, and 4.55 mg/l, respectively. The activities of AChE and GSTs were notably inhibited by the three extracts, as compared with the control, with strong dose- and time-dependent effects. The inhibition strength of the three extracts on AChE and GSTs activities were in the following order: EA extract > PE extract ≥ MA extract. Therefore, I. verum extracts could be explored as novel natural fumigants for the future control of stored-product insect pests.     

Effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Verticillium nonalfalfae</Emphasis> on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ailanthus altissima</Emphasis> and associated indigenous and invasive tree species in eastern Austria

The naturally occurring Verticillium nonalfalfae shows promise for biocontrol of the highly invasive Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), but might also bear a risk for non-target tree species. In this study, we conducted inoculations on potted seedlings of A. altissima as well as on eight indigenous and two invasive tree species associated with Tree of Heaven in Austria. Although vascular discolourations developed in all inoculated tree species, V. nonalfalfae was reisolated from Ailanthus and eight of the ten non-target-species, whereas typical disease symptoms and mortality only occurred on A. altissima. Results confirmed high susceptibility (S) of A. altissima to V. nonalfalfae but indicated tolerance (T) of Acer campestre, Acer pseudoplatanus and Quercus robur, possible resistance (PR) of Fraxinus excelsior, Populus nigra, Tilia cordata, Ulmus laevis and Ulmus minor and resistance (R) of Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Robinia pseudoacacia to this potential biocontrol agent. Results from seedling inoculations were confirmed by cursory field observations in Ailanthus-inoculated forest stands, where admixed A. campestre, A. pseudoplatanus, F. excelsior, Populus alba, R. pseudoacacia and U. laevis canopy trees remained asymptomatic, while mortality was induced in Ailanthus.     

Genetic diversity in two threatened species in Vietnam: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Taxus chinensis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Taxus wallichiana</Emphasis>

Taxus chinensis and T. wallichiana in have been threatened in their distribution areas in recent decades because of their over-exploitation and reduction and destruction of native habitats. Determining the genetic diversity in populations of the two species will provide guidelines for their protection and preservation. Two hundred and fifteen trees from six populations of T. chinensis and 150 sampled trees of T. wallichiana were sampled. Six microsatellite primer pairs selected from 16 primer pairs were used to investigate genetic variation at the population and species levels. Five yielded polymorphic alleles, and among the 13 putative alleles amplified, 11 were polymorphic (accounting for 76.33 %).Shannon’s information index (I) and percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB) (I = 0.202 and PPB = 67.22 % for T. chinensis; I = 0.217 and PPB = 65.03 % for T. wallichiana). Both species had low levels of genetic diversity (mean H _o = 0.107, H _e = 0.121 for T. chinensis; H _o = 0.095, H _e = 0.109 for T. wallichiana). Genetic differentiation among populations was higher (F _ST = 0.189) for T. chinensis and lower (0.156) for T. wallichiana, indicating limited gene flow (Nm) among populations for T. chinensis (0.68) and T. wallichiana (0.65). Variation among individuals of T. chinensis was 63.59 and 73.12 % for T. wallichiana. Thus, the threatened status of the two conifers is related to a lack of genetic diversity. All populations are isolated in small forest remnants. An ex situ conservation site should be established with a new population for these species that comprises all the genetic groups for the best chance to improve their fitness under environmental stresses.     

Factors affecting field performance of pheromone traps for tobacco beetle, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lasioderma serricorne</Emphasis>, and tobacco moth, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ephestia elutella</Emphasis>

Tobacco beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae), is one of the most serious insect pests of stored tobacco, and traps baited with the female-produced sex pheromone, serricornin, are used for monitoring the pest. In two trapping experiments carried out in tobacco warehouses in Greece, two commercially available trap and lure systems for L. serricorne were found to be equally effective in terms of the numbers of beetles trapped. In contrast to previous reports, anhydroserricornin was unattractive and lures containing serricornin and anhydroserricornin were less attractive than lures containing serricornin only. The sex pheromone of the other main insect pest of tobacco, Ephestia elutella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), could be added to the lures without affecting the attractiveness of either pheromone to their respective species. Lures remained attractive for at least 4 weeks under field conditions, and, in laboratory tests, release of pheromone could still be detected after 30 days at 27 °C. The stereoisomeric composition of the serricornin in the two commercial lures was similar with high proportions of the attractive (4S,6S,7S)-isomer. The proportion of the (4S,6S,7R)-isomer was low, and this is known to reduce the attractiveness.     

Efficacy of low temperatures for the control of all life stages of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plodia interpunctella</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Liposcelis bostrychophila</Emphasis>

The insecticidal effect of low temperatures for the control of all life stages of two stored-product insects, Plodia interpunctella and Liposcelis bostrychophila, was evaluated under laboratory conditions. The temperatures tested were 0, ??5, ??10 and ??15 °C, and, at these temperatures, the insects were exposed for 2, 4 and 8 h and also for 1, 2, 3 and 7 days. Regarding P. interpunctella, the most cold-tolerant life stage was larvae, given that 2 days of exposure were needed for complete (100%) mortality at ??10 °C. Moreover, all larvae were dead at ??15 °C even after 2 h of exposure. Eggs of P. interpunctella were susceptible to cold, as mortality was complete after 7, 1 day, 2 and 2 h at 0, ??5, ??10 and ??15 °C, respectively. L. bostrychophila was by far less susceptible than P. interpunctella. For this species, adults were still alive even after 7 days at ??10 °C, while complete mortality was achieved only after 1 day at ??15 °C. Eggs of L. bostrychophila were the most cold-tolerant life stage, as survival was observed even after 3 days at ??15 °C. The results of the present study provide the first data set on which all life stages of P. interpunctella and L. bostrychophila are evaluated for their susceptibility to cold treatments in a standardized series of exposures and temperatures. These results are expected to further encourage the “real world” application of cold treatments for the disinfestation of durable stored-products.     

A novel cold-inducible promoter,P<Emphasis Type="Italic">ThCAP</Emphasis> from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tamarix hispida</Emphasis>, confers cold tolerance in transgenic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis>

Our previous studies have revealed that the ThCAP gene plays a vital role in transgenic Populus (P. davidiana × P. bolleana) in response to cold stress. However, the regulatory mechanism of ThCAP gene expression has been unclear. In this study, the 5′ flanking region of the ThCAP promoter (PThCAP) was cloned using a genome-walking method. By analyzing cis-acting regulatory elements of PThCAP, a DRE motif and MYC and MYB elements were found to be located in the promoter. To identify the regulatory elements that control the expression of the ThCAP gene promoter, a series of deletion derivatives of PThCAP, P1–P5, from the translation start code (?1538, ?1190, ?900, ?718 and ?375 bp), were fused to the GUS reporter gene, and then each deletion was stably introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana plants. Deletion analysis of the promoter suggested that only the P2 fragment had strong GUS expression in leaves and roots of A. thaliana exposed to low temperature stress. These results suggest that this 290-bp region (?1190 to ?900 bp), as an important part in PThCAP, was associated with cold tolerance of A. thaliana. Our results provide evidence for the regulatory mechanism of ThCAP gene involved in the response to cold stress, and that the gene is promising candidate gene for genetic improvement of crops.     

Litterfall,decomposition and nutrient release of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Shorea robusta</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tectona grandis</Emphasis> in a sub-tropical forest of West Bengal,Eastern India

We studied leaf litter fall, decomposition and nutrient release patterns of Shorea robusta and Tectona grandis by using a litter bag technique to better understand the release pattern of nutrients to soil from leaf litter. Annual litterfall varied from 13.40 ± 2.56 t ha^?1 a^?1 for S. robusta to 11.03 ± 3.72 t ha^?1 a^?1 for T. grandis and the decay constant (k) of decomposed leaf litter was distinctly higher for T. grandis (2.70 ± 0.50 a^?1) compared to S. robusta (2.41 ± 0.30 a^?1). Biomass loss was positively correlated with the initial litter C, WSC, C/N and ash content in S. robusta and N, P and K concentration for T. grandis. Biomass was negatively correlated with lignin and L/N ratio for S. robusta and L, WSC, L/N and C/N ratio for T. grandis (P < 0.01). Nutrient use efficiency (NUE) and nutrient accumulation index (NAI) of S. robusta was higher than for T. grandis. The retranslocation of bioelements from senescent leaves ranked as P > N > K. Annual N, P and K input to soil through litterfall differed significantly between the two species in the following order: N>K>P. S. robusta was superior in terms of K and P return and T. grandis was superior in terms of N return. The two tree species showed a similar patterns of nutrient release (K > P > N) during decomposition of their leaf litter. Nutrients of N, K and P were the primary limiting nutrients returned to soil through litterfall with important roles in soil fertility and forest productivity.     

In vitro regeneration of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Populus tomentosa</Emphasis> from petioles

A reliable in vitro regeneration procedure for Populus tomentosa is a prerequisite for its trait improvement through genetic transformation. We established a systematic protocol for indirect regeneration of P. tomentosa using in vitro petioles of Chinese poplar cultivar ‘fasta-3’. A high frequency of callus induction (>97 %) was obtained from isolated petioles cultured on the modified 1/2MS basal medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L ZT and 1.0 mg/L NAA, and the tested calli were subsequently plated on 1/2MS basal medium supplemented with 0.25 mg/L BA, 0.25 mg/L ZT, 0.25 mg/L NAA, 0.01 mg/L TDZ, and 0.5 mg/L KT for efficient regeneration of shoots after being cultured for 6 weeks. The regenerated shoots were vigorously rooted on the tested media supplemented with 1.0 mg/L IBA and 0.5 mg/L NAA. These results can facilitate genetic transformation of P. tomentosa for trait improvements in future.     

Challenges of pheromone-based mating disruption of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cydia strobilella</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dioryctria abietella</Emphasis> in spruce seed orchards

Seed orchards function as the primary source of high-quality seeds for reforestation in many European countries, but their seed yields can be severely reduced due to seed- and cone-feeding insects. We evaluated various parameters of pheromone-based mating disruption for control of the moths Cydia strobilella and Dioryctria abietella, which are major pests in European Picea abies seed orchards. We applied different types of pheromone dispensers (rubber septa or wax droplets) at different densities and heights, and with different amounts of active components, covering whole orchards or part of an orchard. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated by analysing male captures in pheromone-baited assessment traps, and presence of larvae in cones. A dramatic decrease (94–100%) in capture of males in traps occurred in all pheromone-treated plots compared to control plots for both moth species. In contrast, a subsequent reduction in larval numbers in cones was only achieved when wax droplets were used as the dispensing formulation at high density and at the highest pheromone dose tested, and only in half of the trials for each pest species. Electrophysiological recordings using antennae of male C. strobilella indicated elevated pheromone concentrations in a treated plot versus a control plot. Our results show that mating disruption has potential to reduce cone damage in spruce seed orchards caused by C. strobilella and D. abietella, but optimisation of the technique is required to achieve consistent and efficient population suppression of these pests.     

Expression of a scorpion toxin gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">BmKit</Emphasis> enhances the virulence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lecanicillium lecanii</Emphasis> against aphids

Lecanicillium lecanii has been developed as biopesticides and widely used in the biological control of several insects in agricultural practice. However, the poor efficacy has blocked its application. The genetic manipulation has been proved as a useful tool to improve the virulence of entomopathogenic fungus. In this study, a scorpion toxin gene (BmKit) from Buthus martensi was cloned and transferred into L. lecanii and then its resulting activity against cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii) was assessed. The results showed that the engineered strain BmKit-12 grew significantly quicker than WT in host insects. The median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) for BmKit-12 was 7.1-fold lower than that for WT, and the median survival time (LT₅₀) for BmKit-12 was reduced by 26.5 % compared with that for WT. Although the conidial yield was reduced by 31.4 % on insect cadavers, the mycelia growth, sporulation, and conidia germination of BmKit-12 on plates were not significantly different from WT. Considering the lower amount of mycelia for BmKit-12 in host insects in late growth stage (fungal sporulation stage), we think the expression of BmKit may not affect the capability of sporulation. In conclusion, the expression of BmKit gene can significantly enhance the pathogenicity of L. lecanii against cotton aphids in a relatively cost-effective way.     

Antibacterial activity of Nepalese wild mushrooms against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Propionibacterium acnes</Emphasis>

The present study aims to reveal the antibacterial potential of the wild mushrooms of Nepal. Despite the recognition of the medicinal potential of the natural resources in this country, a systematic study on the bioactivities of the wild mushrooms is still lacking. Therefore, in an attempt to fill this gap, ethanol extracts of 90 Nepalese wild mushroom samples were tested for antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Propionibacterium acnes. Staphylococcus aureus was comparatively more susceptible with Inonotus clemensiae exhibiting the least minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 100 μg/mL. The major compound in I. clemensiae was identified to be hispidin using high resolution liquid chromatography–electron spray ionization mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses. Furthermore, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and MBC values of hispidin were determined to be 25 and 100 µg/mL for S. aureus and P. acnes, respectively. These findings show that the Nepalese wild mushrooms have the potential to be a novel addition to the functional ingredients industry due to their strong antibacterial potential.     

Osmoregulators in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hymenaea courbaril</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hymenaea stigonocarpa</Emphasis> under water stress and rehydration

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different water deficiency and rehydration levels on the concentrations of osmoregulators in two plant species (Hymenaea courbaril and H. Stigonocarpa) in the Amazon. We adopted a 2 × 5 × 5 factorial system, referring to 2 species (H. courbaril and H. stigonocarpa) and 5 stages of hydration and rehydration. The five hydration and rehydration stages were established in: (1) Control treatment E0; (2) Plants with 13 days of stress after incubation—E13; (3) Plants with 26 days of stress E26; (4) The plants that were established after 26 days after incubation and rehydrated for two days (RD2); (5) rehydrated for two days (RD4). The plants that were established after 26 days after incubation and rehydrated for four days. The experiment totaled fifty young plants with five replicates. Biochemical measurements were performed at the beginning of the experiment (E0) at 13 (E13) and 26 (E26) days after the water stress, in which the plants were rehydrated, repeating the analyses after two (RD2) and four (RD4) days. Both species increased the sucrose concentration by 18%, with a decrease of 52% in starch content. The RD4 time presented the highest mean starch concentration (0.19 mmol g^?1 of the residue for H. courbaril and 0.27 mmol g^?1 of residue for H. stigonocarpa). Increased proline concentrations were recorded for controls until RD2 for both species. For glycine betaine, the highest increases in treatments E26 and RD2 were observed for the H. courbaril species. Our rehydration period was not sufficient for total recovery of pre-stress concentrations of all studied solutes.     

The colonisation of Scots pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> L.) by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tomicus minor</Emphasis> Hartig in southern Poland: modelling and monitoring

Tomicus minor Hartig (Col., Curculionidae, Scolytinae), occurring on Pinus sylvestris L., is a species which demonstrates high reproductive capability on weakened stands, accelerating the process of forest death. In protected areas, T. minor is regarded as a sensitive bioindicator that reacts to decline in the health and vitality of forests. Although there have been many publications concerning T. minor, no precise method has yet been given for estimating its population so as to enable the monitoring of forest vitality and assessment of the role played by T. minor in the forest ecosystem. The aim of the present work is to develop a statistical method for estimating populations of T. minor, requiring minimum work and interference with the forest ecosystem and permitting the computation of estimation errors. Research was carried out in the years 1992–2011 in pine stands aged over 80 years, growing in a variety of habitats and situated at varying distances from sawmill timber yards. Attack density of T. minor was measured on trap logs made from uninfested living trees. The population of T. minor on the trap logs was described using a multiple linear regression model with two explanatory variables. Among the features investigated, the T. minor population was found to depend significantly on the number of egg galleries on the fifth metre of the trap log counted from the thinner end (p < 0.001) and on the diameter of the trap log in bark at the thinner end (p < 0.05). The model explains approximately 85% (R ² = 0.8564) of the variation in the total number of T. minor egg galleries on the trap logs. The numbering of units beginning from the thinner end of the log enabled increased precision in determining the model parameter resulting from the concentration of egg galleries on certain units of the log. In all validated plots, the mean real and model values for the number of T. minor egg galleries on the trap logs are similar (p > 0.5), confirming the high accuracy of the developed model.     

Pathogenic effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xenorhabdus nematophilus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Photorhabdus luminescens</Emphasis> (Enterobacteriaceae) against pupae of the Diamondback Moth, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plutella xylostella</Emphasis> (L.)

The relationship between Xenorhabdus nematophilus and Photorhabdus luminescens, the bacterial symbionts of the entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, against the diamondback moth, P. xylostella (L.), pupae showed the pathogenic capability of P. luminescens to be over that of X. nematophilus. They gave 60 and 40?% mortality with LC₅₀ values of 5?×?10⁴ and 5.5?×?10⁵ cells/ml, respectively.The number of bacterial cells influences the rate of killing the pupae of P. xylostella and a direct correlation between mortality of the pupae, percentage of deformed adults and the spraying dose with significant differences were observed. An inverse correlation found between the no. of eggs laid/female, percentage of hatching, adult survival and the spraying dose. These bacterial effects have been attributed to different toxic bacterial enzymes which damage the haemocytes and inhibit activation of the humoral immune system of the insect.     

Greenhouse biofumigation with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melia azedarach</Emphasis> controls <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meloidogyne</Emphasis> spp. and enhances soil biological activity

The need for environmentally friendly agricultural practices has led to the development of plant-based nematicides for root-knot nematode control. The efficacy of these botanicals has been tested primarily under laboratory and rarely under actual field conditions. Moreover, any side effects on non-target soil organisms that support soil biological activity are usually ignored. Herein, we evaluate the efficacy of Melia azedarach preparations against Meloidogyne spp. in a tomato greenhouse, by root gall examination and soil J2 enumeration. We also assessed side effects on soil microbes through PLFA analysis and microbivorous nematodes, and we quantified several plant growth parameters (e.g., fruit number and weight, root weight). Different treatments within the greenhouse included M. azedarach ripe fruit powder (MFP), ripe fruit water extract (MWE) and furfural, one of the principal active ingredients of M. azedarach and previously known to exhibit fumigant nematicidal activity. Results were compared to those obtained with the commercial nematicide oxamyl (Vydate^® 10 SL) and an untreated control. All treatments were repeated every 20 days throughout the cultivation period. MFP and MWE suppressed Meloidogyne spp. often at the same levels obtained by furfural and oxamyl treatments and enhanced soil biological activity, as indicated by the proliferation of soil microbes and microbial feeding nematodes. Furfural and oxamyl adversely affected the soil community, especially the free-living nematodes. Moreover, furfural was phytotoxic to tomato plants in spite of its natural origin.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila suzukii</Emphasis> flight performance reduced by starvation but not affected by humidity

Drosophila suzukii is widely studied because of its status as a global pest of berries and soft fruits. Environmental conditions and access to food resources impact the physiology and fitness of D. suzukii; these factors could also affect dispersal. Flight mills are a convenient tool for measuring and comparing the flight performance of insects. In this study, two experiments examined the effects of diet and humidity on D. suzukii flight performance using custom-built flight mills, and a third experiment compared the energy reserves of D. suzukii flown or not flown on flight mills. Over all flight assays, the median flight distance and duration were 27.16 m and 2.37 min, respectively, and the mean flight velocity was 0.18 m/s. The maximum flight distance and duration by an individual were 1.75 km and 2.35 h, respectively. Drosophila suzukii provisioned with blossoms, fruits, or standard laboratory diets flew farther distances and longer durations than starved flies. While starvation was associated with reduced flight performance, there were no observed differences between diet types. It remains unclear whether D. suzukii consistently use lipids, glycogen, sugar, or another energy source for flight because tethered individuals may not have flown enough to deplete energy reserves. Humidity did not affect flight performance of D. suzukii within a?~?2 h test period. These data indicate that most D. suzukii are likely to remain within limited area (e.g., within a field) but that some individuals can disperse long distances (field to field spread).