Attract‐and‐kill: a new strategy for the management of the potato tuber moths Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) and Symmetrischema tangolias (Gyen) in potato: laboratory experiments towards optimising pheromone and insecticide concentration

BACKGROUND: Sex pheromones of the potato tuber moths Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) and Symmetrischema tangolias (Gyen) are ideal tools to monitor pest flight activity but are not used as means of control. The aim of the present study was to test the suitability of an attract‐and‐kill strategy consisting of pure pheromones and the contact insecticide cyfluthrin as the active ingredient, formulated with plant oils and ultraviolet absorbers, and applied in droplet sizes of 100 µL. RESULTS: Cyfluthrin at a concentration of 5 g L^?1 resulted in the highest and fastest killing of males after 48 h, with a 100% mortality after 3–4 days. In contrast, control males survived for 13 days. In olfactometer experiments, the pheromone concentration of 0.5 g L^?1 was significantly most attractive against eight virgin females. At controlled conditions (20 °C), no reduction in efficacy of the attract‐and‐kill formulation was observed for a minimum period of 36 days, whereas under natural environmental conditions the efficacy reduced gradually after day 6 of exposure. The longer the droplet was exposed, the longer was the time to reach 100% mortality of males. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with attract‐and‐kill studies for other pest species, the results are promising as a means of achieving highly effective control of potato tuber moths under field conditions. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of potato viruses S and M in potato tubers

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with alkaline phosphatase successfully detected potato virus S (PVS) and potato virus M (PVM) in secondarily infected tubers of some Dutch potato cultivars. Extinction was higher for PVS than for PVM but values for both declined slightly within 8 weeks of lifting and it is suggested that testing be carried out within this period. Values (A405) of ELISA reactions between healthy and infected tubers were statistically significant and storage at 4° or 20°C had no effect on detectability of the viruses.Samenvatting Aardappelvirus S kon zowel in knollen van oogst 1978, die gedurende 49 weken bij 4°C waren bewaard en waarvan de kiemrust reeds was verbroken, als in knollen van oogst 1979, die bij 4° of 20°C waren bewaard en nog in de kiemrust verkeerden, tot 8 weken na rooien betrouwbaar met ELISA worden aangetoond. Aardappelvirus M kon eveneens met ELISA betrouwbaar worden aangetoond in knollen van oogst 1979, bewaard bij 4° of 20°C, tot 8 weken na het rooien.De extinctiewaarden voor aardappelvirus S waren hoger dan die voor aardappelvirus M. De waarden voor beide virussen vertoonden een daling gedurende de onderzoekperiode (tot 8 weken na rooien). Er kon geen effect van de bewaartemperatuur (4° en 20°C) op de aantoonbaarheid van de virussen worden aangetoond. Geen verschillen werden waargenomen tussen de extinctiewaarden van het sap uit navel- en krooneinden van de knollen, die nog in de kiemrust verkeerden.Guest worker from April–September 1979 as a fellow of the International Agricultural Centre, Wageningen, the Netherlands, from the Agricultural Research Centre, Yanco, NSW 2703, Australia.     

Aerial electrostatic‐charged sprays for deposition and efficacy against sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) on cotton

Background: The efficacy of aerial electrostatic‐charged sprays was evaluated for spray deposit characteristics and season‐long control of sweet potato whitefly (SWF), Bemisia tabaci Genn. biotype B (aka B. argentifolii Bellows & Perring), in an irrigated 24 ha cotton field. Treatments included electrostatic‐charged sprays at full and half active ingredient (AI) label rate, uncharged sprays and conventional sprays applied with CP nozzles at full label rate with several different insecticides. Results: Spray droplet size was significantly smaller for electrostatic‐charged sprays than for conventional sprays in top‐ and mid‐canopy locations. The seasonal mean numbers of viable eggs and live large nymphs on cotton treated with electrostatic‐charged sprays were comparable with those on cotton treated with conventional applications. Lethal concentration (LC₅₀) for adults for electrostatic‐charged sprays was comparable with that for conventional sprays. Conclusion: The amenability of electrostatic‐charged sprays to a wide array of pesticides with different chemistries should be a useful tool in combating insect resistance. Results reported here suggest that the potential exists for obtaining increased efficacy against whiteflies using an electrostatic spray charging system, and that additional research will be required to improve charge‐to‐mass (Q/M) ratio in order to increase deposition of pest control materials to the lower surfaces of cotton leaves where the whiteflies reside. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Spatial dispersion and binomial sequential sampling for the potato psyllid (Hemiptera: Triozidae) on potato

BACKGROUND: The potato psyllid is a serious pest of potatoes. Sampling plans on potatoes for the potato psyllid have yet to be developed, thus the authors' objectives were (1) to determine the most efficient within‐plant sampling unit, (2) to determine the spatial dispersion of potato psyllids in potato fields and (3) to develop a binomial sequential sampling plan for this pest. RESULTS: Significantly more potato plants were infested with potato psyllids on the edges of the field, and significantly more plants were infested with psyllids on the ‘top’ and ‘middle’ of the potato plant. Significantly more psyllids were also found on the undersides of leaves. The potato psyllid has an aggregated distribution in potato fields. Binomial sequential sampling plans were developed for three action thresholds representing 0.5, 1 and 5 psyllids per plant. The average sample numbers for these action thresholds were between 12 and 16 samples, depending on the action thresholds. However, based on the shape of the operating characteristic curve, the 0.5 and 1 sampling plans were more reliable than the 5 psyllids per plant plan. CONCLUSION: The binomial sequential sampling plans are useful for detecting potato psyllids at low levels of infestation, which will be useful for pest management purposes. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

我国发现由甘薯褪绿矮化病毒和甘薯羽状斑驳病毒协生共侵染引起的甘薯病毒病害

甘薯病毒病害(Sweet potato virus disease,SPVD)是由毛形病毒属(Crinivirus)的甘薯褪绿矮化病毒(Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus,SPCSV)和马铃薯Y病毒属(Potyvirus)的甘薯羽状斑驳病毒(Sweet potato feathery mottle virus,SPFMV)协生共侵染甘薯引起的病毒病害[1].     

Seed transmission of Sweet potato leaf curl virus in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)

Sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV) infects sweet potato and is a member of the family Geminiviridae (genus Begomovirus). SPLCV transmission occurs from plant to plant mostly via vegetative propagation as well as by the insect vector Bemisia tabaci. When sweet potato seeds were planted and cultivated in a whitefly‐free greenhouse, some sweet potato plants started to show SPLCV‐specific symptoms. SPLCV was detected by PCR from all leaves and floral tissues that showed leaf curl disease symptoms. More than 70% of the seeds harvested from SPLCV‐infected sweet potato plants tested positive for SPLCV. SPLCV was also identified from dissected endosperm and embryos. The transmission level of SPLCV from seeds to seedlings was up to 15%. Southern blot hybridization showed SPLCV‐specific single‐ and double‐stranded DNAs in seedlings germinated from SPLCV‐infected seeds. Taken altogether, the results show that SPLCV in plants of the tested sweet potato cultivars can be transmitted via seeds and SPLCV DNA can replicate in developing seedlings. This is the first seed transmission report of SPLCV in sweet potato plants and also, to the authors' knowledge, the first report of seed transmission for any geminivirus.     

29个马铃薯品种(品系)抗晚疫病基因组成与抗病相关性分析

由致病疫霉引起的马铃薯晚疫病是马铃薯生产中最具危害性的病害,明确现有马铃薯品种(品系)中抗病基因组成情况对于指导抗病品种合理布局及抗病育种具有重要意义。本研究利用农杆菌介导的无毒基因瞬时表达技术分析了致病疫霉8个无毒基因在29个马铃薯品种(品系)中的分布情况。结果表明,品种间抗病基因组成各异,平均每个品种含有4个抗病基因。同时,不同抗病基因在品种中的分布频率也不同,抗病基因R1(76%)、Rpi-blb1(66%)和Rpi-blb2(66%)在品种中分布较普遍;而含抗病基因R3b(45%)、R4(38%)和Rpi-vnt1(34%)的品种较少。此外,品种中所含抗性基因的数量和品种室内抗性程度呈显著正相关(r=0.915 6,P=0.029 1)。     

Characteristics of infestation of sweet potato by sweet potato weevil Cylas formicarius (Coleoptera: Apionidae)

Studies were conducted to examine the characteristics of infestation of vines of sweet potato plants by the sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius (F.). The use of terminal tender vine cuttings, taken even from heavily weevil‐infested sweet potato, to grow a new crop and planting such a crop in plots surrounded by barriers to reduce weevil migration from the outside to the newly planted area, produced a practically weevil‐free crop. On the contrary, crop planted to old vine cuttings in an open field was severely damaged by the weevil. Consequently, crop planted using tender vine cuttings produced significantly more root yield than the one planted to old vine cuttings, irrespective of whether the planting was done in an open field or in an insect‐protected field. Sweet potato weevil infestation of 1‐ to 8‐week‐old plants increased significantly with plant age. The insect preferred sweet potato roots over sweet potato vines when both plant parts were available for infestation. Dipping the vine cuttings for 30 min in carbofuran solution prior to planting protected the newly planted sweet potato crop for up to 6 weeks after planting.     

4个马铃薯品种感染马铃薯纺锤块茎类病毒（PSTVd）的症状

马铃薯纺锤块茎类病毒在中国及世界许多国家都是检疫性病害, 该病害可大幅度降低马铃薯产量和品质。根据植株及块茎的症状, 汰除感病的马铃薯种薯, 是控制PSTVd传播和危害的重要手段。本研究利用分子克隆及测序技术, 分离并鉴定了PSTVd的分离物351-17, 利用PSTVd田间接种技术, 分别接种了4个黑龙江省常用的马铃薯品种‘夏坡地’、‘克新18’、‘荷兰15’和‘尤金’, 对其侵染后第一代的株高、叶片、块茎外观和单株产量进行了调查, 结果表明：4个供试马铃薯品种感染PSTVd后均表现出了一定的症状, 其中‘克新18’在株高、叶片和块茎的症状方面最为明显, 单株产量下降显著, 表明其对PSTVd非常敏感。     

国家种质广州甘薯圃病毒种类鉴定及分析

为明确引起国家种质广州甘薯资源圃中病毒病的病毒种类及优势种,为甘薯种质安全保存提供支持,2017年从甘薯资源圃中未脱毒更新的盆栽苗和大田苗中采集155份具有不同病毒病症状的甘薯资源样品,利用PCR和RT-PCR检测技术对这些样品进行了17种病毒的分子检测.155份样品均有病毒检出,包括甘薯羽状斑驳病毒Sweet pot...     

The effect of physiological age of potato tubers on female production of potato cyst nematodes (Globodera pallida Pa 2/3)

Fourteen cultivars generally regarded as uniformly susceptible toGlobodera pallida Pa 2/3 were assessed in plastic closed containers for degree of susceptibility and also for root and sprouting characteristics. The material was assessed by scoring degree of sprouting before planting and number of cysts and root growth at the end of experiment at intervals from the time of initial dormancy break through to prolific sprouting. Using covariate analyses, it was found that the degree of root development, particularly in the earlier assessments, significantly influenced the degree of cyst development and so the perceived levels of susceptibility/resistance. Having taken account of root growth characters, significant differences between the cultivars with regard to nematode multiplication were still evident. The implications of the results are discussed in relation to potato breeding and nematological studies.     

Evaluation of the resistance of transgenic potato plants expressing various levels of Cry3A against the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) in the laboratory and field

BACKGROUND: The Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, is a destructive pest. The CPB is a quarantine pest in China, but has now invaded the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and is continuing to spread eastwards. To control the damage and overspreading, transgenic potato plants expressing Cry3A toxin were developed, and their resistance to CPB was evaluated by bioassays in the laboratory and field in 2009, 2010 and 2011. RESULTS: The insect resistance of the high‐dose (HD) transgenic lines was significantly greater than the middle‐dose (MD) and low‐dose (LD) transgenic lines regarding leaf consumption, biomass accumulation and mortality. The HD and MD transgenic lines showed 100% mortality when inoculated with first‐ and second‐instar larvae; however, the LD transgenic lines showed about 50% mortality. The HD transgenic lines exhibited a significantly higher yield than the MD and LD transgenic lines owing to their high CPB resistance. CONCLUSION: Commercially available transgenic potato plants with above 0.1% Cry3A of total soluble protein and NT control refugia could control damage, delay adaptation and halt dispersion eastwards. The two HD transgenic lines developed in this study, PAH1 and PAH2, are ideal for use as cultivars or germplasm to breed new cultivars. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

基质酸度对马铃薯植株生理特性及微型薯结薯能力的影响

以移栽于蛭石中的马铃薯夏波蒂和费乌瑞它两品种的脱毒试管苗为试验材料,采用不同pH值[3、4、5、6、6.5(CK)]的MS营养液浇灌幼苗,研究基质pH值对马铃薯植株生理特性及微型薯结薯能力的影响.结果表明,马铃薯叶片中叶绿素含量、SOD活性、硝态氮含量、磷钾含量、微型薯结薯数和平均单株产量均随pH值的升高而增加,pH值6时达最大值,pH值3时值最小,且夏伯蒂品种的pH值6处理在叶绿素含量、SOD活性等性状方面与对照(pH 6.5)间差异显著;脯氨酸含量则随pH值的升高呈降低趋势,pH值6时最低,pH值3时最高.结果表明,pH值6是马铃薯植株生长及微型薯形成的最适酸度值.