Assessment of microbial biocontrol agent (BCA) viability to mechanical and thermal stress by simulating spray application conditions

Background

In order to improve the biological control agent (BCA) efficacy, stress factors threatening the viability of microorganisms during spray application need to be determined. The effect of spray mixture temperature and exposure time on Trichoderma harzianum T 22 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens QST713 viability were tested. Concurrently the combined effect of mechanical and thermal stress effect on BCA viability were tested at two initial spray mixture temperatures (14 and 25 °C) by simulating a spray application using airblast sprayers featured by different tank capacity and a spray liquid circuit (without and with hydraulic agitation system). To assess the BCA microorganism viability, spray mixture samples were collected at time intervals along trials and plated to count the colony forming units (CFU).

Results

The critical temperature threshold that inhibited BCA viability was 35 °C with 30 min of exposure. The sprayer type, the initial temperature of the spray mixture and the temperature increment during the trials significantly decreased the number of CFU recovered. When simulating a spray application, the spray mixture temperature increase rate was determined mainly by the residual amount of spray mixture in the tank. Even if the tank capacity does not substantially affect the final temperature reached by the spray mixture, the higher residual spray mixture in bigger tanks can expose the BCAs for a longer time to critical temperatures.

Conclusions

Experimental trials allowed us to identify the effect of factors affecting the viability of tested BCAs, providing information about the actual chance to guarantee the biological efficacy of BCA treatments. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Target and non-target site mechanisms of fungicide resistance and their implications for the management of crop pathogens

Fungicides are indispensable for high-quality crops, but the rapid emergence and evolution of fungicide resistance have become the most important issues in modern agriculture. Hence, the sustainability and profitability of agricultural production have been challenged due to the limited number of fungicide chemical classes. Resistance to site-specific fungicides has principally been linked to target and non-target site mechanisms. These mechanisms change the structure or expression level, affecting fungicide efficacy and resulting in different and varying resistance levels. This review provides background information about fungicide resistance mechanisms and their implications for developing anti-resistance strategies in plant pathogens. Here, our purpose was to review changes at the target and non-target sites of quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicides, methyl-benzimidazole carbamate (MBC) fungicides, demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides, and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides and to evaluate if they may also be associated with a fitness cost on crop pathogen populations. The current knowledge suggests that understanding fungicide resistance mechanisms can facilitate resistance monitoring and assist in developing anti-resistance strategies and new fungicide molecules to help solve this issue. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.     

沙棘组织培养与植株再生研究

将不同沙棘品种顶端分生组织接种于不同激素浓度的培养基上进行培养，试验结果表明，沙棘顶端分生组织的生长不仅需要低无机盐的培养基，而且需要较低水平的激素物质，无激素或激素浓度偏高都将导致外植体的死亡。     

作物根系研究室的设计

根据作物根系研究的需要,设计和建造了华南农业大学作物根系研究室。为此,从根室的采光、通风、保温等几方面阐述了作物根室的设计思想,并结合科学家对根系的研究特性,着重介绍了两种种植槽的结构及设计特点。     

FLUENT软件及其在植保机械方面的应用

FLUENT软件是流体力学中通用性较强的商业软件之一，由于FLUENT软件的应用，节省了大量的人力和物力。对实际应用有重大的指导作用。为此，通过简述FLUENT在植保机械方面的应用实例，提出了FLUENT在植保机械方面的发展前景。     

插皮接技术在棉花再生植株嫁接中的应用

首次将插皮接技术用于棉花再生植株的嫁接,详细介绍了它的操作过程和实用技巧,该法要求简单,操作方便,成活率高;成活后砧芽枝摘心留叶有利于接穗良好生长发育。在砧木适合的嫁接时期、成活率和生长速率等方面与劈接法作了比较。结果表明:插皮接对砧木和接穗粗细比例无严格要求,从而延长了砧木可使用的时期,砧木生长过程中适合劈接的时间有一周左右(3~5片真叶),而在此以后的较长时间内均适合于插皮接(4~5片真叶直到开花期);由于形成层吻合好,使用的砧木较大,有较发达的根系,在高成活率的前提下相对缩短了再生植株成活的时间。再生植株嫁接前不练苗,在嫁接后采取新的保湿和透气策略,使练苗和嫁接同期进行,有效缩短了再生植株缓苗时间。     

干旱区小麦多功能高分子植物生长调节剂增产和品质改善试验研究

以观测记录和拍照方式研究多功能高分子植物生长调节剂对小麦生长和繁殖、品质的影响,分别用土壤含水量为试剂保水指标,小麦生长、结实和产量指标、小麦品质指标以及经济效益指标与对照比较以评定试验效果。结果显示,施用试剂能够提高土壤保水率,有利于小麦的营养和结实生长,使小麦产量提高12.30%。小麦粗蛋白、赖氨酸和湿面筋含量均有显著提升,不利于人体健康的灰分和粗脂肪含量显著降低;经济效益有所提高,仅仅考虑增产就净增产值734.25￣794.85元/hm2。