PCR-based detection of Xanthomonas campestris pathovars in Brassica seed

Xanthomonas campestris is a seedborne bacterium that causes black rot of crucifers. Substantial crop losses may result from the rapid spread of the bacteria under favourable conditions, especially those occurring during seedling production. A PCR-based method has been developed for the rapid and sensitive detection of the pathovars of X. campestris that affect crucifers. Primers were designed to specifically amplify a 619 bp fragment of the hrpF gene from X. campestris . Amplification products were not detected from other Xanthomonas species, or from other pathogenic or epiphytic bacteria occurring on these plants. To avoid false-negative results arising from the presence of amplification inhibitors in plant extracts, primers targeting a 360 bp section of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region from Brassica spp. were included in a multiplex PCR. The assay readily detected X. campestris pv. campestris infections in diseased plants and from bacterial colonies isolated on growth media, and was more sensitive and specific than traditional plating methods and a commercially available ELISA. A seed-washing protocol was optimized to allow the detection of a single artificially infected seed among 10 000 healthy seeds using the multiplex PCR.     

Long-term tillage and crop rotation effects on weed seedbank size and composition

Size and composition of the weed seedbank was assessed after 12 years of application of four tillage systems in two crop rotations. Mouldboard and chisel ploughing at 45 cm, minimum tillage at 15 cm and no tillage were compared in continuous winter wheat and a pigeon bean/winter wheat 2-year rotation. Weed control was based upon post-emergence herbicide application. Weed seedling emergence from soil samples taken at 0–15, 15–30 and 30–45 cm depths was assessed in a non-heated glasshouse for 12 months. The tillage system influenced weed seedbank size and composition to a much greater extent than crop rotation. Total weed seedling density was higher in no tillage, minimum tillage and chisel ploughing plots in the 0–15, 15–30 and 30–45 cm layers respectively. Density in the whole (0–45 cm) layer did not differ significantly among tillage systems. With no tillage, more than 60% of the total seedlings emerged from the surface layer, compared with an average 43% in the other tillage systems. Crop rotation did not influence either weed seedbank size or seedling distribution among soil layers, and only had a small influence on major species abundance. The weed seedbank was dominated (>66%) by Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq. and Amaranthus retroflexus (L.), which thrived in chisel ploughing and no tillage respectively. Results suggested that crop rotation and substitution of mouldboard ploughing by non-inversion tillage (especially by minimum tillage) would not result in increased weed problems, whereas use of no tillage might increase weed infestations because of higher seedling recruitment from the topsoil.     

林间释放平腹小蜂防治银杏大蚕蛾研究

笔者于1999－2000年在城口银杏大蚕蛾发生区释放用其卵繁育的平腹小蜂防治银杏大蚕蛾，结果表明：放蜂区虫卵寄生率明显提高，其校正寄生率为69.30%，是一种可利用的天敌昆虫。可在银杏大蚕蛾发生区内推广应用。     

The role ofPseudomonas spp. and competition for carbon,nitrogen and iron in the enhancement of appressorium formation byColletotrichum coccodes on velvetleaf

Colletotrichum coccodes is currently being investigated as a mycoherbicide against the weed velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti). Two isolates ofPseudomonas spp. (Ps2 and Ps5) reduced the percentage of germ tubes and increased appressorial formation ofC. coccodes on detached leaves of velvetleaf. A study was conducted to see whether this effect could be attributed to competition for nutrients or iron betweenC. coccodes andPseudomonas spp. Ps2 and Ps5 had no effect on early spore germination, but reduced the percentage of germ tubes at 24 and 30 h, compared to the nontreated control. This reduction was diminished by the addition of nutrients but not Fe³⁺. Ps2 and Ps5 stimulated the formation of dark-coloured appressoria without germ tubes (AWGT), but this stimulation was diminished by the addition of nutrients or Fe³⁺. Germ tube branching at 30 h was also inhibited by the bacteria, but was not diminished by the addition of nutrients or iron. EDTA stimulated conidial germination at 10 h, which was reduced by the addition of Fe³⁺. However, EDTA did not stimulate the formation of appressoria (AWGT). These results suggest that the reduction in the percentage of germ tubes and the increase in the percentage of appressoria induced by the bacteria may be due to the competition for carbon or nitrogen. Iron competition may also be involved in the stimulation of appressorial formation, but not in the reduction in germ tube percentage and branching. Phylloplane bacteria may compete for carbon, nitrogen and iron, limiting the saprophytic phase of the pathogen on the phylloplane and accelerating the development of the parasitic phase. This may enhance the field efficacy ofC. coccodes as a biocontrol agent against velvetleaf.     

Ovipositional response ofHelicoverpa armigera to different cotton genotypes

The ovipositional response ofHelicoverpa armigera (Hübner) to different cotton varieties and species was studied under caged conditions. Maximum oviposition (51.6 eggs/female) was recorded on LH 900, a variety ofGossypium hirsutum, and minimum oviposition (3.0 eggs/female) on G 27, a variety ofG. arboreum. Oviposition, in general, was low (3 to 6.5 eggs/female) onarboreum cottons as compared withhirsutum. Of the number of factors found to affect the oviposition ofH. armigera, the trichome length on the upper surface of the leaf, rather than the density, was positively correlated (r = 0.687*). Among different months in the cropping season, oviposition was maximum (552.7) during April. Oviposition was higher on leaves than on other plant parts.     

Accumulation of phytoalexins in leaves of plane tree (Platanus spp.) expressing susceptibility or resistance toCeratocystis fimbriata f. sp.platani

Inoculation of leaves of resistantPlatanus occidentalis and susceptiblePlatanus acerifolia leaves withCeratocystis fimbriata f. sp.platani, the canker stain disease agent, induced foliar necrosis and biosynthesis of two phytoalexins, scopoletin and umbelliferone. Foliar symptoms keep localized and accumulation of coumarin phytoalexins was rapid for incompatible interactions. Necrosis spread widely and accumulation of these phenolic compounds was much later and lower for compatible interactions. The differential response could be used in a genetic improvement program for resistance against canker stain.     

棉花对硃砂叶螨抗性的鉴定和机制研究

1988-1991年进行的棉花抗硃砂叶螨试验表明,海岛棉和二倍体栽培棉(中棉和草棉)对硃砂叶螨具有较高水平的抗性,它们的抗螨性已通过远缘杂交技术转移到了感螨的陆地棉栽培品种中。来自四川省和河南省的一些品种以及来自美国的PD种质系对硃砂叶螨的抗性比湖北省当地品种要差。叶片有毛,无腺体和高含淀粉的棉花,硃砂叶螨为害较重;而叶片具有致密茸毛、棉酚、可溶性糖、叶绿素和类黄酮含量高以及叶片鲜重高的品种抗螨性较强。     

农作物重要病原菌颉颃菌的筛选

从全国6省12个地区的26种植物根围采集到土壤样本50份。经室内分离、纯化后得到以芽孢杆菌为主的细菌菌株226个。以水稻、小麦和棉花等6种农作物上主要病原菌(8种真菌,4种细菌)为指示菌对这226个菌株进行平板双培养法抑菌测定,分别筛选到至少对1种病原真菌或细菌有颉颃活性的菌株95个和78个。对进一步研制防治不同作物病害的生物制剂建立了一个颉颃菌资源库。     

火生态因子对草原的效应及有计划用火的研究

火烧可以提高禾草类的生物量25—30%,可以快速地(当年)大幅度提高羊草种群的生物量达100%以上。火烧提高羊草的抽穗率,促进草群更新复壮。火烧可以有效地抑制针茅种群的增长,并改变群落中的种群分布格局,促进羊草种群形成均匀分布格局,扩大羊草种群在群落中的生态位。火烧对草原的总生产力不发生负效应,一次火烧的正效应可持续2—3年。基于以上的结果,我们认为锡林郭勒草原区中,东部含有羊草的草原群落,可在春季四月下旬进行火烧,将会取得良好的效果。     

赤眼蜂寄生行为研究（Ⅳ）—子代数量分配和子代性分配

本文在对赤眼蜂性控行为研究的基础上〔3〕,进一步探讨了不同种赤眼蜂在同一种寄主不同分布以及同一蜂种(松毛虫赤眼蜂 Trichogramma dendrolimi)在不同种寄主上的子代数量分配和子代性分配问题。研究结果表明,赤眼蜂具有根据寄主卵体积大小分配及调整其子代数量和子代性别的能力,在不同体积的寄主上具有明显不同的子代数量安排策略和子代性安排策略。在同一种寄主卵上,不同种的赤眼蜂对子代性分配的安排存在着较明显的种间差异.在米蛾卵上,松毛虫赤眼蜂的第一雄卵主要在其第一产卵序产出,稻螟赤眼蜂的第一雄卵主要在其第二产卵序产出,拟澳洲赤眼蜂产第一雄卵的位置比较分散,主要分布在前三卵序。松毛虫赤眼蜂大约每产6粒雌卵而产1粒雄卵;稻螟赤眼蜂和拟澳洲赤眼蜂大约每产5.33和3.37粒雌卵而产1粒雄卵(见表2).寄主卵的体积不同,雌蜂在不同寄主上所分配的子代数量也明显不同。松毛虫赤眼蜂在每粒米蛾卵上只安排1粒蜂卵;在每粒马尾松毛虫卵上平均安排18.64粒蜂卵;在每粒“人造卵”上平均安排33.15粒,在柞蚕卵上平均安排77.43粒蜂卵(见表3)。随着寄主卵体积的增大,雌蜂产第一雄卵的时间后移,在松毛虫卵上,松毛虫赤眼蜂雌蜂在产下第一粒雄卵后,大约以每产16粒雌卵而产1粒雄卵;在柞蚕卵上,大约每隔15粒雌卵产1粒雄卵;在“人造卵”上,产雄卵的间隔大约为9粒雌卵。