Additional records of nematode parasites from Papua New Guinea amphibians with a list of recorded endohelminths by amphibian hosts

An examination of a small sample of four species of frogs (Cophixalus riparius, Phrynomantis humicola, Ph. stictogaster, Ph. wilhelmana) from Papua New Guinea yielded altogether 5 species of nematodes, 2 of them being new to science. These include: Cosmocercella phrynomantisi sp. n. (type host Ph. humicola), Spinicaudinae gen. sp., Parathelandros andersoni sp. n. (type host C. riparius), Oswaldocruzia bakeri, and Paracapillaria spratti. C. phrynomantisi sp. n. differs from congeneric species mainly in the length of spicules (0.180 mm) and the character, arrangement and number of caudal papillae in the male, while P. andersoni sp. n. is characterized mainly by the presence of four well developed spines on the male tail. Pseudocapillaria spratti is redescribed in detail and it is transferred to Paracapillaria as P. spratti (Moravec et Sey, 1986) comb. n. Capillaria combesi Chabaud et Knoepffler, 1985 is transferred to Amphibiocapillaria Moravec, 1982 and Capillaria petiti Justine et Bain, 1987 to Pseudocapillaria Freitas, 1959. A survey of the endohelminths (excluding Hirudinea) hitherto reported from New Guinea amphibians is presented.     

Tobacco rattle virus serotypes and associated nematode vector species of Trichodoridae in the bulb-growing areas in the Netherlands

Soil samples from the coastal bulb-growing areas in the provinces of North- and South-Holland and the North-East Polder in the Netherlands were examined for trichodorid nematodes and tobacco rattle virus (TRV) serotypes. At least one of a total of eight species of Trichodoridae, of whichParatrichodorus pachydermus was most prevalent, was found in 93% of the samples from the provinces of North- and South-Holland and TRV, including four serotypes, was obtained from 49% of these samples. In the North-East Polder one of three species of trichodorids, of whichP. teres occurred most frequently, was present in 72% of the samples, and TRV of one serotype was obtained from 28% of these samples. The TRV isolates recovered from these samples reacted serologically with one of four antisera to strains of TRV. Virus transmitted byP. pachydermus reacted to the PRN-, byTrichodorus viruliferus to the RQ-, byP. teres to the N5- and byT. similis, to the TS-antiserum, respectively.     

Growth of the mycoparasitic fungus Verticillium biguttatum from different geographical origins at near-minimum temperatures

Sclerotia ofRhizoctonia solani collected from potato tubers from different countries were assayed for the presence of mycoparasites. Among the mycoparasites observedVerticillium biguttatum predominated. Its geographical distribution was not restricted to certain latitudes or soil types;V. biguttatum occurred worldwide in potato fields.The minimum growth temperature of 57V. biguttatum isolates was found to be in the narrow range from 10 to 13°C, irrespective of their geographical origin. A non-linear logistic growth model was used to describe the radial growth onRhizoctonia mycelium and nutrient agar plates. At near-minimum temperature the maximum colony radii varied considerably; they were up to 3.8 times that of the reference isolate M73. Based on parameter values for logistic growth, fast-and slow-growing isolates could be distinguished. Although the growth properties ofV. biguttatum isolates from different locations varied, the presence of fast- and slow-growing isolates was not restricted to particular areas and both types could be found in the same field. However, bioassays with selected fast- and slow-growing isolates do not support the assumption that growth at near-minimum temperatures is a relevant criterion for screening isolates ofV. biguttatum in terms of effectiveness for biological control ofR. solani.     

Phenotypic instability of flusilazole sensitivity in Venturia inaequalis

Sensitivities of 16 monoconidial isolates of Venturia inaequalis to the sterol demethylation inhibitor flusilazole were found to be stable, when cultures which had been successively transferred to inhibitor-free nutrient agar and maintained at 20 C were retested 6 months after isolation. In contrast, with storage of these isolates at 2 C for 7 additional months, phenotypic sensitivities were subject to change. A high degree of phenotypic instability was also observed for 77 representative strains which had been subcultured for 10 months. In both cases, the majority of strains became more sensitive to flusilazole. The frequency and magnitude of these changes were most pronounced for strains with moderate levels of resistance. More than 70% of the strains investigated were collected from wild-type populations, suggesting that the reversion of resistant strains was not related to a process of unstable adaptation but to a high degree of plasticity in the genetic control of sensitivities to sterol demethylation inhibitors.     

Soil metabolism of the herbicide napropamide in cereals, maize, sugar beet and vegetable field replacement crops

The metabolism of the herbicide napropamide has been studied in the field in the soil of replacement crops (cereals, corn, sugar beet, potato and several vegetables). Napropamide was soil applied in the autumn and the soil left fallow during the winter. Crops were sown in April of the following year and simulated the replacement crops that are grown in the event of failure of the first autumn-sown crop. Trials were made twice, i.e. during the 1987-1988 and 1988-1989 crop seasons. The soil metabolism of napropamide was also studied in a rose nursery. Napropamide was transformed by microbiological processes in the soil into the corresponding monoethylamide and acid. These compounds did not generally accumulate in the soil, and their individual concentrations did not exceed that of residual napropamide during the observed growing seasons. The kinetics, metabolic pathways and agricultural implications of the herbicide are briefly discussed.     

Tolerance ofsclerotinia sclerotiorum to glyceollin i,a soybean phytoalexin

Glyceollin I was fungistatic rather than fungicidal towardSclerotinia sclerotiorum. Within the mycelial mat apical cells were more vulnerable than mature cells.S. sclerotiorum removed large amounts of glyceollin from solution by a non-energy-requiring process. Contribution from Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica.     

Preliminary studies on the insecticidal activity and wash-fastness of twelve pyrethroid treatments impregnated into bednetting assayed against mosquitoes

The insecticidal properties of twelve pyrethroid preparations impregnated into polyester netting were compared, before and after washing, with a view to assessing their suitability for treating bednets (mosquito nets) in the field. Bioassays were carried out by exposing the mosquitoes, Anopheles gambiae Giles sensu stricto andAedes aegypti L. to netting with two concentrations of insecticide, on washed and unwashed samples, for 30 s and 3 min at different times after impregnation. Mortality was recorded after 24 h. Permethrin applied at 97°C at pH 3.4 resulted in increased uptake by polyester fibres. The performance of most insecticides on unwashed netting had not declined appreciably 12 weeks after impregnation. However, all the insecticides were depleted by washing. The treatments with best insecticidal activity after washing were cypermethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin applied at ambient temperature and normal pH and permethrin applied in a hot acid solution.     

A computer-based system for the management of the rust disease of French prunes1

Rust (Tranzscheliu discolor) is the most important disease of French prunes in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Infection by this fungus occurs only when leaves are wet. The length of time for which the leaves are wet and the temperature during such periods are major determinants of whether infection occurs and its likely severity. The use by prune growers of new rust management strategies depends on knowledge of infection events and therefore requires ready access to environmental data from orchards. To satisfy this need, microprocessor-based device called a Prune Rust Infection Predictor (PRIP) was developed. The instrument measures air temperature, rainfall, and the presence or absence of free water tree canopies. Measurements are taken at 5-min intervals during wet periods. The instrument calculates whether or not conditions have been suitable for rust infection and potential severity of infection. The system has been operated by advisory staff of NSW Agriculture Fisheries since the 1988/1989 growing season. Potential infection period and related environmental data are collected by personal computers via permanently installed telephone lines from PRIPs located within prune orchards. Prune growers are then advised by recorded telephone messages and given appropriate disease mangement advice. Cumulative potential infection period values are used to provide a prognosis of current-season rust epidemic severity. An expert system is also being developed to assist growers in making decisions on specific rust management options.     

Pectate lyases of Erwinia chrysanthemi: Pel E-like polypeptides and pelE homologous sequences in strains isolated from different plants

Pel E, one of the four major pectate lyases produced by Erwinia chrysanthemi (Echr) strain EC16, was purified to homogeneity and was found to have an apparent molecular weight of 47 500 and a pI of 10. Antibodies produced against this preparation inhibited Pel E activity, but did not affect Pel A, Pel B or Pel C activities. Immunotitration revealed that Pel E accounted for a major fraction of the total extracellular Pel activity ranging from 40–60% in culture and potato tuber tissue. Isoelectric focusing of the extracellular Pels produced by various Echr strains indicated that while the Pel profiles of strains isolated from various hosts were different, the profiles of strains isolated from the same host were very similar. A significant proportion (ranging from 39 to 74%) of the Pel activity of these strains was inhibited by the anti-Pel E antibodies. DNA hybridization under stringent conditions indicated the presence of pelE homologous sequences in the genomes of E. chrysanthemi strains. We conclude that a Pel E-like enzyme occurs in all E. chrysanthemi strains examined.