Is attract‐and‐kill technology potent against insecticide‐resistant Lepidoptera?

Attract-and-kill techniques, associating an attractant and a contact insecticide in a sticky formulation, are a new way of controlling Lepidopteran pests. Insecticide resistance may, however, limit the effectiveness and even the attractiveness of such formulations where resistance pleiotropic effects influence pheromone perception. We have tested this hypothesis on resistant codling moths Cydia pomonella (L) using a commercial formulation containing (E,E)-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol (codlemone), the major component of the sex pheromone, as an attractant and permethrin as toxicant. We first compared the attractiveness of codlemone in a wind tunnel and the contact toxicity of pyrethroids on males of one susceptible and of three strains selected for resistance to diflubenzuron, deltamethrin and azinphos-methyl. The dose-response relationships of males of susceptible and resistant strains to codlemone did not differ significantly. The deltamethrin-selected strain was the most resistant to pyrethroids, exhibiting 138-, 25- and 18-fold resistance ratios to deltamethrin, cypermethrin and permethrin, respectively. The efficiency of the attracticide formulation, applied successively on filter paper support, glass support and wood support, was estimated by recording the mortality delay of males after natural contact with the formulation in the wind tunnel. The deltamethrin- and diflubenzuron-resistant strains were significantly less affected than the susceptible strain by contact with the attracticide on the wooden support, exhibiting 58- and 2.3-fold greater LT50 ratios, respectively. Mortality of deltamethrin-resistant moths did not exceed 40% after 48 h. The LT50 value was significantly greater on filter paper support than on the two other supports. Surprisingly, the LT50 ratio of the deltamethrin-resistant strain was markedly higher on filter paper support (1021-fold), which was more absorbent, than on the glass support (31-fold). No sublethal effects in terms of pheromone response, mating or fecundity occurred in moths surviving contact with the attracticide. Choice of insecticides in attracticide formulations will be influenced by the resistance background of the target pests. Principles of insecticide resistance management may also be applied to attract-and-kill technology by alternating with other insecticides or control methods.     

Can a chitin‐synthesis‐inhibiting turfgrass fungicide enhance black cutworm susceptibility to a baculovirus?

BACKGROUND: Developmental resistance, i.e. reduced virulence and speed of kill of late instars, is a limiting factor in the use of baculoviruses for caterpillar control. Agrotis ipsilon multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgipMNPV) is highly infective to young black cutworms, Agrotis ipsilon, but too slow‐acting against late instars for effective curative control on golf courses or sports fields. Chitin‐synthesis‐inhibiting fungicides containing the active ingredient polyoxin‐d are used to control fungal diseases in turfgrass, and similar compounds have been shown in the laboratory to synergize baculoviruses by disrupting peritrophic membrane function. This study tested whether applying the virus together with such a fungicide can synergize AgipMNPV activity against A. ipsilon in turfgrass. RESULTS: The addition of a chitin synthesis inhibitor failed to increase AgipMNPV infectivity to A. ipsilon in the field. Rather, delayed and slightly reduced mortality from viral infection was seen when larvae fed on fungicide/virus‐treated grasses as opposed to virus‐only treatments. Choice tests revealed the fungicide residues to be a mild feeding deterrent. CONCLUSION: Because polyoxin‐d does not deactivate AgipMNPV, the two substances are compatible. However, combination applications of polyoxin‐d and Agip MNPV on turfgrass might interfere with larval ingestion of a lethal virus dose, resulting in prolonged larval feeding in the field. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Can the parasitic weeds Striga asiatica and Rhamphicarpa fistulosa co‐occur in rain‐fed rice?

Striga asiatica and Rhamphicarpa fistulosa are important parasitic weeds of rain‐fed rice, partly distributed in similar regions in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). It is not evident whether their ecologies are mutually exclusive or partially overlapping. In Kyela, a rice‐growing area in south Tanzania where both parasites are present, three transects of about 3 km each across the upland–lowland continuum were surveyed in June 2012 and 2013. A total of 36 fields were categorised according to their position on the upland–lowland continuum as High, Middle or Low and soil samples were taken. In each field, parasitic and non‐parasitic weed species were identified in three quadrats. Additionally, in two pot experiments with four different moisture levels ranging from wilting point to saturation, influence of soil moisture on emergence and growth of parasites was investigated. Striga asiatica was observed in higher lying drier fields, while R. fistulosa was observed in the lower lying wetter fields. Furthermore, non‐parasitic weed species that were exclusive to S. asiatica‐infested fields are adapted to open well‐drained soils, while species that were exclusive to R. fistulosa fields are typical for wet soils. The experiments confirmed that S. asiatica is favoured by free‐draining soils and R. fistulosa by waterlogged soils. These results imply that changes in climate, specifically moisture regimes, will be crucial for future prevalence of these parasitic weeds. The non‐overlapping ecological range between their habitats suggests that their distribution and associated problems might remain separate. Thus, management strategies can be focused independently on either species.     

Can the storage effect hypothesis explain weed co‐existence on the Broadbalk long‐term fertiliser experiment?

Understanding how plant species with similar resource requirements co‐exist has been a long‐standing ecological question with several theoretical explanations. One potential mechanism is the storage effect hypothesis. According to this hypothesis, species co‐exist because they differ in when they are most actively using resource and, therefore, respond differently to environmental perturbation. The hypothesis is based on two main assumptions: (i) two competitors have different responses to climate and (ii) the responses to climate are mediated by changes in the relative importance of intra‐ and interspecific competition. The hypothesis could provide useful insights into the role of climate in maintaining weed species diversity and potential shifts in dominant species under climate change. This study tested the basic principles of the storage effect hypothesis on weed communities using data from the Broadbalk long‐term fertiliser experiment. Relative abundance of weeds in 10 plots with contrasting fertility but no herbicides was assessed for 21 years. Multivariate analyses and generalised additive mixed models were used to analyse the data. The following pairs of species were found to be adapted to similar fertiliser levels, but diverged in their response to climate: (i) Papaver rhoeas–Tripleurospermum inodorum, (ii) Medicago lupulina–Vicia sativa and (iii) Scandix pecten‐veneris–Ranunculus arvensis. Contrasting responses to spring temperature within these species pairs modified the competition balance providing evidence for the storage effect hypothesis and helping to explain weed co‐existence in the Broadbalk experiment.     

Regulated non‐quarantine pests: fact or fiction?

A new category of officially regulated pests has been introduced during the past decade. The aim of this new categorization is to protect plant health and, in particular, farmers’ and growers’ crops against the introduction of pests via propagation material. The phytosanitary term ‘regulated non‐quarantine pests’ (RNQPs) is relatively new. It was introduced in 1997 as part of the new revised text of the International Plant Protection Convention. These RNQPs differ from the common category of quarantine pests in that they can be widespread within the territory of concern. Unlike quarantine pests, a level of tolerance could be applied for RNQPs infesting certain plants for planting. Some certification systems for the production of propagation material may specify certain tolerance levels, however, these systems are usually not regulated by national plant protection organizations and the tolerance levels are usually not based on scientific evidence. To date, only a few countries have applied the concept of RNQPs: notably Uruguay and Brazil. To apply the concept and, in particular, to determine specific tolerance levels presents many challenges. The concept may be embraced in the coming years by the European Community as part of the revision of the EU Council Directive 2000/29/EC.     

Are herbicide‐resistant crops the answer to controlling Cuscuta?

BACKGROUND: Herbicide‐resistant crop technology could provide new management strategies for the control of parasitic plants. Three herbicide‐resistant oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) genotypes were used to examine the response of attached Cuscuta campestris Yuncker to glyphosate, imazamox and glufosinate. Cuscata campestris was allowed to establish on all oilseed rape genotypes before herbicides were applied. RESULTS: Unattached seedlings of C. campestris, C. subinclusa Durand & Hilg. and C. gronovii Willd. were resistant to imazamox and glyphosate and sensitive to glufosinate, indicating that resistance initially discovered in C. campestris is universal to all Cuscuta species. Glufosinate applied to C. campestris attached to glufosinate‐resistant oilseed rape had little impact on the parasite, while imazamox completely inhibited C. campestris growth on the imidazolinone‐resistant host. The growth of C. campestris on glyphosate‐resistant host was initially inhibited by glyphosate, but the parasite recovered and resumed growth within 3–4 weeks. CONCLUSION: The ability of C. campestris to recover was related to the quality of interaction between the host and parasite and to the resistance mechanism of the host. The parasite was less likely to recover when it had low compatibility with the host, indicating that parasite‐resistant crops coupled with herbicide resistance could be highly effective in controlling Cuscuta. Published 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Can rice genetic diversity reduce Echinochloa crus‐galli infestation?

Pot and field experiments were conducted to test whether rice genetic diversity can reduce Echinochloa crus-galli infestation through rice variety mixed-plantings. Two weed-suppressive rice ( Oryza sativa ) varieties, Guodao No. 1 (GD) and PI312777 (PI), and three non-suppressive varieties, Xiushui No. 63 (XS), Zhongjian No. 2 (ZJ) and Chunjiang No. 016 (CJ) were used. Monocultures (GD, PI, XS, ZJ and CJ), two-variety mixtures (GD + XS, GD + ZJ, GD + CJ, PI + XS, PI + ZJ, PI + CJ) and three-variety mixtures (GD + PI + XS, GD + PI + ZJ and GD + PI + CJ) were tested. Effects of herbicide on rice grain yield of non-suppressive varieties were compared between monocultures and mixtures. Pot experiment showed that E. crus-galli germination rate in all mixed-planting except CJ + PI, and E. crus-galli biomass in mixed-planting with GD decreased compared with monocultures. In a field experiment, E. crus-galli density decreased in all mixed-planting models of XS and CJ and ZJ + GD. Echinochloa crus-galli biomass reduction was found in XS + GD, XS + GD + PI, ZJ + GD and CJ + GD. Rice grain yield increased in XS + GD, ZJ + GD, CJ + GD, CJ + PI and CJ + GD + PI. Rice grain yields of non-suppressive varieties under mixtures without herbicides were lower than that in monoculture with full herbicide, but were not significantly different from monocultures with half rate herbicide. Moreover, rice yields of ZJ and CJ under mixtures with half rate herbicides did not decrease compared with monocultures with full rates. The results suggested that rice genetic diversity could reduce E. crus-galli infestation and herbicide utilisation through rice variety mixed-planting.     

2001—2010年策勒绿洲-沙漠过渡带的变化及其成因

通过分析多年的NDVI,探讨策勒绿洲-沙漠过渡带的空间结构变化,并结合同期自然环境和人为活动情况进行讨论。结果表明：① 过渡带植被变化总体上受地下水位控制,植被由绿洲向沙漠梯度递减;其内部植被覆盖区域与裸沙地并存,植被分布呈斑块状。根据过渡带NDVI的变化,将过渡带分为单向渐变型、双向渐变型和突变型过渡带。② 2001—2010年策勒绿洲-沙漠过渡带边界变化剧烈,过渡带内边界主要受控于人为活动;过渡带外边界主要受控于自然因素。③ 虽然绿洲地下水受到持续过度开采,绿洲-沙漠过渡带不断被开垦成为耕地,但是由于封育保护,2001—2010年过渡带植被略有改善,基本上保持其自身的稳定。④ 策勒绿洲-沙漠过渡带NDVI变化趋势与年降水量的变化趋势相一致,但变化幅度相差较大。     

Virulence structure of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Blumeria graminis</Emphasis> DC.f. sp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">avenae</Emphasis> populations occurring in Poland across 2010–2013

The aim of the present study was to determine the virulence structure of powdery mildew of oats (Blumeria graminis DC.f. sp. avena) in Poland in the years 2010–2013. For this purpose, powdery mildew isolates were collected from three experimental stations in Poland. To assess the virulence of the isolates, eight oat varieties with different responses to the pathogen were used. The results showed that a significant proportion of powdery mildew isolates found in Poland overcame the resistance genes of varieties Bruno (Pm6), Jumbo (Pm1) and Mostyn (Pm3). In contrast, lines Av1860 (Pm4), Am27 (Pm5) and Cc3678 (Pm2) were completely resistant to all pathogen isolates involved in the experiment. Changes constantly occurring in the powdery mildew population perfectly reflect diversity indexes, which were the smallest in the first year of observation, where in the following years these parameters were significantly higher. It is worth noting that the presence of powdery mildew is seasonal and local, which is reflected in the prevalence of the disease in a defined area of the country.     

Is acetyl/butyrylcholine specificity a marker for insecticide‐resistance mutations in insect acetylcholinesterase?

Substrate specificity has been widely studied in vertebrate cholinesterases and it has been shown that two phenylalanines in the acyl pocket of acetylcholinesterase govern the acceptance of the acetyl/butyryl moiety of the choline esters. As an insecticide‐resistance mutation has been evidenced in the acyl pocket of Drosophila melanogaster and Musca domestica acetylcholinesterase we investigated the possibility of linking changes in acetyl/butyrylthiocholine specificity with mutations in insect acetylcholinesterase. We thus analyzed the effect of 28 mutations in Drosophila enzyme on acetyl/butyrylthiocholine, N‐methyl/N‐propyl‐carbamates and ethyl/methyl‐paraoxon preference. It appeared that the highest changes on acetyl/butyrylthiocholine and N‐propyl/N‐methyl‐carbamates preference were due to mutations in the acyl pocket. Nevertheless, other insecticide‐resistance mutations, not located in the acyl pocket, also modified these substrate preferences. Moreover, the effect of mutations in the acyl pocket was hidden when some other insecticide‐resistance mutations were combined in the enzyme. Consequently, acetyl/butyrylthiocholine preference alteration cannot be used as a marker to localize a mutation in the insect AChE. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

新疆额尔齐斯河流域“2005•6•1”大洪水分析

2005年6月1-2日,额尔齐斯河全流域发生了突发性融雪和降雨混合型大洪水,各支流洪水峰高、量大、来势凶猛,其中额尔齐斯河源头支流--库依尔特斯河发生有实测资料（50 a）以来最大洪水,布尔津河、哈巴河发生有实测资料（54 a）以来第2、第3位洪水,给当地造成较大经济损失。根据河流实测洪水、降水量、气温、高空和环流形势等资料,对这次洪水的成因、过程、特点进行分析。结果表明：① 在额尔齐斯河流域融雪与降雨混合型大洪水的形成过程中,前期气温和大尺度降水天气起重要作用;② 从[JP2]有实测洪水记录的50多年以来,第4次发生全流域性洪水,在全球气候变暖和随阿勒泰地区冬季降水量明显增多的形势下,灾害性洪水出现的可能性将增加;③ 由于融雪与降雨混合型洪水过程较长、峰量较大,因此,洪水挟沙能力较强,在设计蓄水工程时要引起重视;④ 对下游有较大城市或重点水利工程的山区河流,要加强防洪预警系统的建设力度,以减轻灾害性洪水造成的损失。     

Does Fusarium‐caused seed mortality contribute to Bromus tectorum stand failure in the Great Basin?

Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass, downy brome) is an important invader in western North America, dominating millions of hectares of former semi‐arid shrubland. Stand failure or ‘die‐off’ is relatively common in monocultures of this annual grass. The study reported here investigated whether soil‐borne pathogens could be causal agents in die‐offs. Soils from two die‐off areas and adjacent B. tectorum stands were used in a glasshouse experiment with sterilised and non‐sterilised treatments. Soil sterilisation did not increase emergence, which averaged 80% in both die‐off and non‐die‐off soils. Seedling biomass was higher in die‐off soils, probably due to increased nitrogen availability. Fusarium was isolated from 80% of killed seeds in non‐sterilised soil treatments. In pathogenicity tests with 16 Fusarium isolates, host seeds incubated under water stress (?1.5MPa for 1 week prior to transfer to free water) suffered over twice the mortality of seeds incubated directly in free water (25–83% with water stress vs. 5–43% without water stress). These results suggest that soil‐borne Fusarium could play a role in B. tectorum stand failure in the field, but that low water stress conditions in the glasshouse experiment were not conducive to high levels of disease. Pathogenic Fusarium isolates were obtained from seeds planted in both die‐off and non‐die‐off soils, suggesting that microenvironmental factors that affect levels of water stress might be as important as relative abundance of soil‐borne pathogens in mediating spatial patterns of disease incidence in the field.     

Detection of plant pathogens using real‐time PCR: how reliable are late Ct values?

Effective detection of pathogens from complex substrates is a challenging task. Molecular approaches such as real‐time PCR can detect pathogens present even in low quantities. However, weak real‐time PCR signals, as represented by high cycle threshold (C_t) values, may be questionable. Therefore, setting a reliable C_t threshold to declare a positive reaction is important for specific detection. In this study, five methods were assessed for their performance in determining a C_t cut‐off value. These methods were based on the widely used probability of detection (POD) or receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) approaches. Two important forest pathogens, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus and Fusarium circinatum, were used to set up three experimental frameworks that combined two types of substrates (seed lots and spore traps) and different PCR machines. The ROC‐based method emerged as the most complete and flexible method under various experimental conditions. It was demonstrated that the ROC method leads to a cut‐off value below which late C_t results can reliably be considered indicative of positive test results. This cut‐off value must be determined for each experimental approach used. The method based on the distribution of a previously determined set of C_t values corresponding to false‐positives appeared to be better adapted to detecting false‐negative results, and thus useful for testing potentially invasive pathogens.     

Spread of glyphosate‐resistant sourgrass (Digitaria insularis): Independent selections or merely propagule dissemination?

The first reports of glyphosate‐resistant (GR) sourgrass (Digitaria insularis) came from Paraguay (2005) and from South and Southeast Brazil, in Paraná (2008), and São Paulo state (2009). The hypothesis of this research is that the evolution of these resistant populations might have occurred independently. To test this hypothesis, a dose–response experiment was conducted in order to confirm resistance and inter simple sequence repeat markers subsequently were evaluated in five sourgrass populations from Paraguay (PY‐R), Paraná (PR‐S and PR‐R), and São Paulo (SP‐S and SP‐R). Resistant populations were confirmed in PY‐R, PR‐R and SP‐R. The resistant populations presented lower polymorphism than susceptible populations, possibly related to the selection pressure exerted by the herbicide. Both similarity matrix and dendrogram provided evidences that the origin of resistance in the populations from Paraguay and Paraná could be the same, which also is explained by their geographical proximity. In contrast, the evolution of GR populations in São Paulo was suggested to occur independently from other locations because resistance evolved in genetically divergent populations. This study’s data provide evidences that GR sourgrass populations from Paraguay and Paraná share a similar genetic background; therefore, it is possible that resistance from Paraguay spread to Paraná through gene flow. The population from São Paulo probably was selected independently because the high values of its genetic structure and low level of gene flow. Independent selections and seed dispersion of GR sourgrass have contributed to the rapid spread of resistance across South America.     

Mechanisms of induced resistance in lettuce against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bremia lactucae</Emphasis> by DL<Emphasis Type="Bold">-</Emphasis>β<Emphasis Type="Bold">-</Emphasis>amino<Emphasis Type="Bold">-</Emphasis>butyric acid (BABA)

BABA induced local and systemic resistance in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) against the Oomycete Bremia lactucae. Structure-activity analysis showed no induced resistance by related amino-butanoic acids or β-alanine. The R-enantiomer of BABA induced resistance whereas the S-enantiomer did not, suggesting binding to a specific receptor. Other compounds known to be involved in SAR signaling, including abscisic acid, methyl-jasmonate, ethylene, sodium-salicylate and Bion® (BTH) did not induce resistance. Systemic translocation of ¹⁴C-BABA and systemic protection against downy mildew were tightly correlated. BABA did not affect spore germination, appressorium formation, or penetration of B. lactucae into the host. Epifluorescence and confocal microscopy revealed that BABA induced rapid encasement with callose of the primary infection structures of the pathogen, thus preventing it from further developing intercellular hyphae and haustoria. Invaded host cells treated with BABA did not accumulate phenolics, callose or lignin, or express HR. In contrast, cells of genetically-resistant cultivars accumulated phenolics, callose and lignin and exhibited HR within one day after inoculation. The callose synthesis inhibitor DDG did not inhibit callose encasement nor compromised the resistance induced by BABA. PR-proteins accumulated too late to be responsible for the induced resistance. DAB staining indicated that BABA induced a rapid accumulation of H₂O₂ in the penetrated epidermal host cells. Whether H₂O₂ stops the pathogen directly or via another metabolic route is not known.