小悍蟋若虫发育的光周期反应模式

对小悍蟋若虫发育的光周期反应模式进行了探讨.结果表明:25℃条件下,小悍蟋若虫发育明显受光周期的影响,长日条件下的若虫发育明显快于短日条件下的若虫发育.当若虫先于LD 12∶12 h条件下发育后转移至LD 14∶10 h、LD 16∶8 h,能够显著促进若虫发育,反方向的转移则会抑制若虫发育.但LD 14∶10 h与LD 16∶8 h之间的光周期变化对小悍蟋若虫发育几乎不起影响.变化光周期对小悍蟋若虫发育的影响与光周期变化的时间、变化方向及低龄若虫感受的光周期类型有关.     

光周期对歧阜异针蟋若虫发育的影响

研究了光周期对歧阜异针蟋若虫生长发育的影响.结果表明:25C条件下,歧阜异针蟋若虫发育明显受光周期的影响,长日条件下的若虫发育明显快于短日条件下的若虫发育.当若虫由短日条件转移至长日条件时,能够显著促进若虫的发育,并且转移越早促进效果越明显,而反方向的转移则对若虫发育无明显影响.这表明歧阜异针蟋若虫存在滞育现象,短日条件诱导滞育,长日条件解除滞育,并且低龄若虫对长日条件比较敏感.     

光周期和温度对美凤蝶滞育诱导的影响

对光周期和温度对美凤蝶峨眉种群滞育诱导的影响进行了研究,结果表明:光周期对美凤蝶滞育的诱导作用与温度有关,在20℃的恒温条件下,光照在12～13 h范围内,随着光照时间的缩短,滞育个体增加,在光照时间短于12.5 h后达到100%;在25℃时,光照时间在11～13.5 h范围内,随光照时间的缩短,滞育率增加,但没有出现全部个体滞育的情况,最高滞育率为94.5%;在30℃时,在实验光周期范围内没有出现滞育个体.温度对滞育的影响受光周期的影响,在相同光照条件下,在一定温度范围内,随着温度的上升,滞育率下降,当温度上升幅度达到30℃,无论长短光照条件下均不出现滞育个体.只有在短光照条件下,低温才有利于滞育,而长光照和高温则有利于个体的发育而抑制滞育产生.短光照对滞育的诱导作用具有累积效应.在20℃恒温条件下,美凤蝶的临界光周期为LD 13 h 11 min:10 h 49 min;而在25℃恒温条件下,美凤蝶的临界光周期为LD 12 h 49 min:11 h 11 min.随着温度的升高,临界光照长度缩短.美凤蝶对光周期的敏感期为5龄幼虫.     

光周期和温度诱导美国白蛾滞育

【目的】探究光周期和温度对美国白蛾滞育的影响,明确诱导美国白蛾滞育的主控因子和幼虫敏感龄期,为深入研究光周期诱导美国白蛾滞育的分子机制和开发新型防治技术奠定基础。【方法】设置4个温度(21、23、25和27℃)和7个光周期(L8∶D16、L10∶D14、L12∶D12、L13∶D11、L14∶D10、L15∶D9和L16∶D8),统计和比较28种不同处理条件下美国白蛾的滞育结果,阐明光周期和温度对美国白蛾滞育和临界光周期的影响; 23℃条件下,在美国白蛾幼虫不同发育阶段分别给予长光照(L16∶D8)和短光照(L10∶D14)交替饲养处理,统计和比较32种不同处理下美国白蛾的滞育结果,明确光周期诱导美国白蛾滞育的敏感龄期。【结果】在21、23、25和27℃条件下,光照时间小于13 h,可导致美国白蛾滞育发生,光照时间达到16 h,美国白蛾个体继续发育而无滞育发生,光照时间在13～16 h之间时,滞育同时受光周期和温度调控,且滞育率随光周期增长或温度升高均呈下降趋势。21、23、25和27℃条件下的临界光周期分别为14 h 58 min∶9 h 02 min(L∶D)、14 h 45 min∶9 h 15 min(L∶D)、14 h35 min∶9 h 25 min(L∶D)和14 h 24 min∶9 h 36 min(L∶D),临界光周期随温度升高逐渐缩短。短光照对美国白蛾滞育诱导具有累积效应,美国白蛾幼虫3龄、4龄和5龄对光周期诱导滞育最为敏感。【结论】美国白蛾属典型的长日照发育-短日照滞育型昆虫,光周期在美国白蛾滞育诱导中发挥主导作用,温度伴随光周期发挥作用,低温和短光照利于滞育发生;临界光周期受温度调控,随温度升高逐渐缩短;美国白蛾对光周期诱导滞育具有累积效应,感受光周期最敏感的阶段为幼虫3～5龄。     

丝带凤蝶长沙种群的形态特征及生物学特性

通过野外观察和实验室饲养相结合,研究了丝带凤蝶长沙种群的成虫、卵、幼虫以及蛹的形态特征、生活习性及生活史.结果表明;丝带凤蝶长沙种群一年发生6代,自10月中旬至翌年3月以滞育蛹于枯枝落叶中越冬,4月上、中旬越冬代成虫开始羽化,随后产卵.在25℃的条件下,卵、幼虫及蛹的发育历期分别为5.3 d、15.8～16.8 d和9.6～10.4 d;30℃的温度条件下,卵、幼虫及蛹的发育历期分别为4.0 d、12.9～14.6 d和6.5～7.1 d.在短日照条件下部分蛹进入滞育.此外,根据雌雄成虫的翅面特征认为丝带凤蝶长沙种群应属于南方型.     

杜鹃三节叶蜂羽化与生殖行为节律观察

野外采集杜鹃三节叶蜂Arge similis 3龄及以上老熟幼虫或茧在室温(25±1)℃、光周期L∶D=14∶10(光期6∶00—20∶00,暗期20∶00—6∶00)、空气相对湿度RH=75%±10%的实验室饲养,观察成虫羽化、求偶、交尾等生殖节律。结果表明:杜鹃三节叶蜂结茧后10 d即可羽化,主要集中在蛹期12~16 d的光期,13 d为羽化高峰,光期3~7 h(9∶00—13∶00)为羽化高峰期;求偶行为主要发生在光期7. 5~9 h(13∶30—15∶00),高峰期出现在光期8. 5 h(14∶30),雌虫求偶率和求偶次数随着日龄增大而降低;成虫交尾主要集中在前3日龄,交尾持续时间随日龄增加而下降,交尾后雌虫的平均产卵量为25粒。     

枣园绿盲蝽生物学特性研究

为有效控制绿盲蝽Apolygus lucorum Meyer-Dür的危害,在沧州金丝小枣产区对其生物学特性进行了研究。结果表明:绿盲蝽羽化后1～2 d即可交尾产卵,平均每雌产卵286粒;若虫孵出1～2 min即可爬行,3龄若虫在空气相对湿度60%的条件下可耐饥饿35～47 h;成虫于果实膨大期开始转移到其它寄主如豆类、蔬菜、杂草和棉花等植物上继续危害,7月初进入转移高峰期,9月上旬开始出现裂果时又迁回枣树,危害裂果和嫩叶,并产卵越冬;绿盲蝽成虫受扰时1次飞行距离为3～9 m,主动迁飞时为2～5 m;绿盲蝽成虫对黄绿色趋性最强,其次为黄色、红色。     

温度和光照对美国白蛾越夏蛹发育的影响

在实验室内,采用人工饲养的方法测定了美国白蛾越夏蛹的发育与温度和光照之间的关系,结果表明:在相对湿度80％、光周期LD12∶12条件下,25,28,30℃饲喂化蛹的美国白蛾,蛹滞育率分别为35.48％,42.71％,0,蛹的死亡率分别为25.81％,14.58％,8.91％.30℃的饲养条件下不能解除已经进入滞育状态的蛹,在全暗条件下滞育蛹可解除滞育,但蛹期明显加长.     

黄野螟的羽化和生殖行为节律

黄野螟Heortia vitessoides Moore是近年来大面积爆发的严重危害土沉香Aquilaria sinensis(Lour.)Gilg的食叶害虫,为寻找其羽化和生殖行为发生规律,为生态防控提供技术参考,在温度(25±1)℃,光周期L:D=14:10,相对湿度RH=75%~80%的条件下,观察了黄野螟成虫的羽化和生殖行为。结果表明:黄野螟的羽化率为83.20%,羽化期为10 d左右,日羽化高峰在20∶00~22∶00,雌雄性比为1.12∶1,且雄蛾先于雌蛾羽化。成虫在羽化后2 d达到性成熟,2日龄雌蛾开始求偶,3~4日龄雌蛾求偶最为强烈,雌蛾的求偶行为多发生在20∶00~21∶00,成虫光期未见交尾行为,成虫日龄影响交尾行为,4日龄成虫交尾率最高。卵多产于叶片背面,孵化率超过90%。交尾雌虫和雄虫的平均寿命为6.32 d和5.75 d,未交尾雌虫和雄虫的平均寿命为8.83 d和8.24 d,说明交尾缩短雌雄成虫寿命。     

小果垂枝柏大痣小蜂的生物学特性观察

对小果垂枝柏大痣小蜂的主要生物学特性进行观察研究,结果表明:小果垂枝柏大痣小蜂在云南省曲靖地区1 a发生1代,以幼虫越冬,翌年4月中旬开始化蛹;6月中旬开始羽化,6月下旬为羽化盛期;成虫产卵于当年生幼嫩小球果种子内,卵于6月中旬开始孵化;幼虫在种子内取食约10个月并随种子同步发育,一生仅取食1粒种子,无转移危害习性。成虫在上午6∶00—9∶00和下午12∶00—15∶00羽化最多,雌雄性比为0.9∶1,雌虫平均寿命为7.1 d,雄虫平均寿命为5.2 d。     

Decomposition and nutrient loss from prunings of different contour hedgerow species in tea plantations in the sloping highlands of Sri Lanka

Contour hedgerows of multipurpose tree species in the sloping tea lands of Sri Lanka are expected to reduce soil erosion and also add significant amounts of plant nutrients to the soil via periodic prunings. The objective of this experiment was to characterize the biomass decomposition pattern and quantify the amount of nutrients added through prunings of six tree species (Calliandra calothyrsus, Senna spectabilis, Euphatorium innulifolium, Flemingia congesta, Gliricidia sepium and Tithonia diversifolia) currently being used in hedgerows associated with tea. Withered leaf and stem prunings (50 g) were enclosed in 2-mm litter bags, placed at 5-cm depth and retrieved after one, three, six, nine and 12 weeks. Loss of initial dry weight, N, P and K was measured. Single exponential decay function adequately described both dry weight and nutrient loss. Tree species differed significantly in their rate of breakdown with decomposition constants (k) varying from 0.0299 to 0.2006 week⁻¹ for leaves and from 0.0225 to 0.0633 week⁻¹ for stems. Gliricidia showed the highest k for leaves with the rest in the following descending order: Senna > Tithonia ≥ Euphatorium > Calliandra > Flemingia. A similar pattern was observed for loss of all nutrients with Calliandra and Flemingia always having lower k values than the rest. Although N immobilization was not observed, immobilization of P and K was observed during the first week of incubation in some species, particularly in stem prunings. Annual biomass of prunings differed significantly between tree species in the following descending order: Calliandra > Senna > Flemingia > Tithonia > Gliricidia > Euphatorium. Calliandra added the greatest amount of nutrients annually to the soil with Euphatorium adding the least. Calliandra prunings provided the annual total K requirement and 49% of the N requirement of mature tea. However, none of the species provided more than 5% of the P requirement. It is concluded that among the tree species tested, Calliandra and Flemingia are the most suitable for contour hedgerows in tea plantations of this agroclimatic region because of their higher soil nutrient enrichment capacity and slower decomposition rates which would minimize leaching losses. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of Seed Weight and Seed Type on Early Seedling Growth of Pinus sylvestris under Harsh and Optimal Conditions

The effects of seed weight and seed type on seedling growth of Pinus sylvestris (L.) were studied by seeding individually weighed orchard and stand seed in different mixtures under harsh (direct seeding in field) and optimal (seeding in nursery) conditions. In the nursery experiment an increase in the seed weight from 3 to 7 mg increased the seedling height by 10-27% and total weight by 27-113%, and decreased the height/diameter ratio by 5-6% after 2 yrs. With elimination of seed weight effects, orchard seedlings were 2% taller than stand seedlings in year 2. Without elimination of seed weight effects, orchard seedlings were 7-13% taller. In the field experiment an increase in the seed weight from 3 to 7 mg increased seedling height by 18-65%, stem volume by 81-274% and the number of top-buds by 23-34% in year 5. After elimination of seed weight effects, orchard seedlings were 7-13% taller than stand seedlings and without elimination of seed weight effects 20-21% taller after 5 yrs. Even after elimination of both seed weight and genetic effects orchard seedlings were 3-9% larger than stand seedlings in the field experiment. In conclusion, the influence of seed weight and seed type on growth traits and slenderness is highly significant and the influence seems to be greater in harsh conditions.     

Modelling of adequate pretwist for obtaining straight timber

Abstract

Wood in general and wooden studs in particular are often distorted owing to uneven shrinkage during the drying process in the sawmill. Twist is often the most detrimental of all types of distortion, and it is caused by spiral grain in combination with variations in moisture content. For sawmills, the objective is to produce dried, straight boards, and one method of dealing with boards with excessive spiral grain is to sort them out and then dry them in a pretwisted position to obtain straight boards after drying. A model using the finite element (FE) method for the simulation of drying twist distortions was first calibrated against laboratory experiments in which boards were dried with and without restraints and pretwists. After the calibration, the FE results were compared with industrial test results for boards that were dried without restraints or with restraints with zero pretwist, i.e. straight restraints. The FE model used an elastic–ideally plastic material model to obtain permanent deformations. The calibration was to set the yield stresses so that there was a good match between FE results and results from the laboratory experiments. The comparison between the industrial test results and the FE results showed that the FE model is capable of realistic simulations of drying boards with and without restraints and presumably also pretwists.     

Potential to harness superior nutritional qualities of exotic baobabs if local adaptation can be conferred through grafting

Baobab leaves form an important part of the local diet in Sahel countries and elsewhere in Africa. Existing leaf nutritional data and agroforestry performance information are based solely on Adansonia digitata L., the baobab of continental Africa. The introduction potential of Adansonia species from the center of diversity in Madagascar and from Australia remains untapped. To assess this potential, the mineral contents and B₁ and B₂ vitamin levels of dried baobab leaves were determined for five-year old trees of A. digitata, A. gibbosa (A. Cunn.) Guymer ex D. Baum, A. rubrostipa Jum. & H. Perrier (syn. A. fony Baill.), A. perrieri Capuron and A. za Baill. grown in an introduction trial in Mali. Nutritional data were evaluated against survival and vigor to identify promising germplasm. Leaf vitamin and crude protein contents were highest in the Madagascar species, especially A. rubrostipa (B₁ 88 mg 100 g⁻¹, B₂ 187 mg 100 g⁻¹, protein 20.7% dry weight). However, the local species far outperformed the introductions in survival, tree height, basal diameter and resistance to termites. We suggest grafting as a way of harnessing the vigor of well-adapted local baobab varieties to the superior nutritional profiles of A. rubrostipa and others. Cross-species grafting tests in Adansonia were successful, thus creating new agroforestry possibilities with different scion/rootstock combinations.     

Biogeochemical impacts of clearfelling and reforestation on blanket-peatland streams: II. major ions and dissolved organic carbon

Streams and drains in blanket-peatland forest in western Ireland were sampled weekly over 5 years, 1996–2000, using continuous, depth-proportional passive sampling. Analysis was for pH, alkalinity by Gran titration, anions by IC, metals by ICP, aluminium speciation by loaded-resin exchange, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by absorbance at 320 nm.

Effects of felling are identified graphically from two forest drains whose catchments (both about 1 ha) were clearfelled, and partial clearfelling of one larger catchment (somewhat over 1 km²), in summer 1999. Calcium concentrations and alkalinity were increased in the drain- and streamwater from the felled areas. The pH was increased in drains, while in the larger stream, pH range decreased while the mean increased. Phosphorus increased markedly with clearfell, in the absence of recent fertilising, and also increased with fertilising; these results are reported in an accompanying paper. Ammonium-nitrogen concentrations were increased in the two drains with felling, and temporarily decreased in the larger stream. Nitrate increased in some cases. Potassium and manganese concentrations also increased. Concentrations of DOC and organic monomeric aluminium increased gradually, subject to a continuing strong annual cycle. There were no clearfelling effects on concentrations of solphate, suspended solids or inorganic monomeric aluminium. In the two drains (fully clearfelled), concentrations of sodium, chloride and magnesium, and conductivity, were all reduced after felling. Fertilising effects other than for phosphorus were indistinct.

Effects of the combined clearfell–reforestation treatment were testable statistically, using randomised intervention analysis, between two larger streams (1 km²) as a treatment–control comparison. There were statistically significant positive responses in streamwater concentrations of nitrate, potassium, calcium, DOC and aluminium fractions. The implications for management practice depend on whether the loss of nutrients is sustainable for future crop productivity, and whether critical limits and loads of receiving ecosystems are exceeded.     

Effect of Drought on Growth and Mortality of Actively Growing Norway Spruce Container Seedlings Planted in Summer

Survival, root egress and height growth of 13-month-old actively growing Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.) container seedlings exposed to preplanting drying treatments (0, 4, and 8 days) and postplanting drought periods (1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks) were studied in the field between 5 July and 18 August 1999. The mortality of seedlings increased and the height growth and root egress decreased throughout the postplanting drought period. Postplanting performance was also affected by preplanting drying treatments. The results indicate that no risk of excessive mortality and growth restrictions occurs when actively growing seedlings are planted in summer, provided that seedlings are well watered before planting and the drought period does not exceed 3 weeks.     

Rehabilitation of diseased cacao fields in Peru through shade regulation and timing of biocontrol measures

The objective of this case study was to test the effectiveness of biocontrol for the rehabilitation of abandoned, diseased (moniliasis, witches' broom and black pod) cocoa and to develop testable hypotheses regarding the effect of shade and biocontrol timing. Three trial fields differed in their shade regimes. Biocontrol was administered starting either at flowering or pod filling. Disease incidence and yield were compared with cultural control alone. Biocontrol reduced moniliasis from 49% to 25%, independent of the shading regime and application time. Witches' broom was most severe without shade and unaffected by biocontrol. No significant effects on black pod were observed. Although biocontrol increased percentage healthy fruit independent of shading and timing, only the shaded plot with biocontrol from flowering onwards responded with increased yield. Our hypothesis is: 'In the rehabilitation of abandoned cacao, only fields under sustainable shade management and early onset of biocontrol can realise their production potential.' This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

qPCR quantification of Ophiognomonia clavigignenti‐juglandacearum from infected butternut trees under different release treatments

The use of a molecular assay for quantifying conidia of Ophiognomonia clavigignenti‐juglandacearum, the fungal pathogen responsible of butternut canker, was investigated. Purified DNA from conidia collected on glass fibre filters of a passive rain collectors was quantified using a TaqMan real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay. The qPCR assay could specifically discriminate the target species from all other North American known species of Ophiognomonia, and it was sensitive enough to repeatedly detect one conidium. A linear relationship between numbers of conidia and qPCR C_t values was determined, and used to assess the sporulation of the pathogen under trees that were released to promote their vigour. In total, 977 samples of field‐captured conidia from 49 trees, at two locations, and from two successive growing seasons were analysed. No significant difference of sporulation was observed under control and release treatments. However, our results demonstrated that qPCR assay was reliable for detecting and quantifying O. clavigignenti‐juglandacearum from environmental samples, which will be useful to assess further control methods for this disease.     

The potential of alley cropping in improvement of cultivation systems in the high rainfall areas of Zambia I. Chitemene and Fundikila

Three trials investigating the potential of alley cropping to improve the traditional systems of cultivation, chitemene and fundikila, in the Northern Province of Zambia are described. Flemingia congesta, Tephrosia vogelii, and Sesbania sesban, were grown in association with finger millet, groundnut, cowpea, and maize in various traditional cropping sequences. The indigenous species Tephrosia vogelii and Sesbania sesban were not able to withstand repeated pruning and the long following dry season, and were replaced with Calliandra calothyrsus, and Cassia spectabilis.Over a four year period, there was no benefit by alley cropping with any of the tree species on crop yields, and yields in alley crop treatments even dropped significantly below the control treatments in the fourth year, casting doubt on the potential of alley cropping for sustainable production. There was also no consistent effect on soil chemical characteristics in any of the trials. It was suggested that this lack of beneficial response to alley cropping was due to low tree biomass production low quality of prunings, and an inappropriate cropping sequence. There was no evidence that alley cropping contributed to enhanced nutrient recycling, despite substantial localised pools of soil nutrients, particularly in the chitemene, with which recycling could potentially occur.     

Toxicity of biocide GCSC-BtA on arthropod pests under different temperature conditions

The present research dealt with the toxicity of GCSC-BtA (Germany–China Scientific Cooperation-Bacillus thuringiensis-Abamectin), a new type biocide developed by conjugating a toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) with Abamectin from Streptomyces avermitilis, on arthropod pests under different temperature conditions. The results showed that GCSC-BtA possessed higher toxicity than B.t. crystal, Abamectin or Cypermethrin, with pest mortalities of 97.9, 93.7, 96.4, 82.3 and 96.7% for Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisd.) (Acari, Tetranychidae), Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thys., Thripidae), Aphis fabae Scopoli (Hom., Aphididae), Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lep., Plutellidae) and Cameraria ohridella Deschka et Dimić (Lep., Gracillariidae), respectively. Toxicities of GCSC-BtA to T. cinnabarinus and P. xylostella decreased significantly at the older developmental stage with an exception that egg stage had the highest tolerance, in which LC₅₀s of GCSC-BtA were 0.0001, 0.0019 and 0.0708 mg/ml for nymph, adult and egg of T. cinnabarinus, and that 0.0399, 0.2035 and 0.9033 mg/ml for the 2nd instar larvae, 4th instar larvae and egg of P. xylostella, respectively. Also, the biocide was more effective to the lower stage of A. fabae than the higher one with LC₅₀s of 0.0023, 0.0086 and 0.0171 mg/ml against 1st instar nymph, 3rd instar nymph and adult, respectively. In general, toxicity of the new type of biocide was positively related to temperature against all the tested pests, except against T. cinnabarinus, where it was almost similar at the three temperature conditions. GCSC-BtA displayed significantly lower toxicities at 15/20°C than 20/25°C or 25/30°C against F. occidentalis, A. fabae, P. xylostella and C. ohridella. However, no significant difference was found in the toxicities against F. occidentalis, A. fabae and C. ohridella above 20°C, whereas toxicity against P. xylostella increased as temperature raised. Therefore, to achieve higher efficacy in the field, application rate and time should be devised according to these factors.