Acaricidal effects of cardiac glycosides, azadirachtin and neem oil against the camel tick, Hyalomma dromedarii (Acari: Ixodidae)

The cardiac glycoside, digitoxin, from Digitalis purpurea L (Scrophulariaceae), a cardiac glycosidal (cardenolide) extract from Calotropis procera (Ait) R Br (Asclepiadaceae), azadirachtin and neem oil from Azadirachta indica A Juss (Meliaceae) were tested for their effects against larvae and adult stages of the camel tick, Hyalomma dromedarii Koch (Acari: Ixodidae). The contact LC50 values of the first three materials against adults were 4.08, 9.63 and >40.7 microg cm(-2), respectively, whereas the dipping LC50 values of the four materials were 409.9, 1096, >5000 and >5000 mg litre(-1), respectively. Contact and dipping LC50 values of the extract and azadirachtin against larvae were 6.16, >20.3 microg cm(-2) and 587.7 and >2500 mg litre(-1), respectively. Azadirachtin had no effects on egg production or feeding of adults up to 5000 mg litre(-1); however at 2500 mg litre(-1), it caused significant reduction in feeding activity of larve, prolonged the period for moulting to nymphal stage, and caused 60% reduction in moultability. Results of the two cardiac glycoside materials are comparable with those of several commercial acaricides. The risks and benefits associated with the use of cardiac glycosides are considered.     

Both anti-oxidation and lipid-carbohydrate conversion enhancements are involved in priming-improved emergence of Echinacea purpurea seeds that differ in size

This study evaluated the effects of priming on emergence responses of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L. Moench) seeds. The seeds that differ in seed size were either primed with moistened vermiculite (solid matrix priming) or primed in non-aerated −0.5 MPa polyethylene glycol 6000 solution at 25 °C for 6 days (osmopriming), followed by air-drying to their initial moisture level. The tetrazolium staining tests indicated that both large and small seeds were biochemically viable. No notable difference in germination percentage was found between large and small seeds. However, extensive cavity was visible in portions of small seeds in comparison with large seeds. Large seeds accumulated more antioxidants and had greater activities of anti-oxidative enzymes than small seeds. They also had greater isocitrate lyase and malate synthase activities than small seeds. As a result, large seeds had higher emergence percentage and faster emergence speed as compared to that of small seeds. Both solid matrix priming and osmopriming increased emergence percentage and shortened mean emergence time of purple coneflower seeds by increasing the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes and decreasing the levels of malondialdehyde and total peroxide accumulation. Moreover, priming also enhanced the anti-oxidative activities of treated seeds. The activities of isocitrate lyase and malate synthase were also increased in primed seeds. The enhanced anti-oxidation and lipid-carbohydrate conversion activities might explain in part why primed purple coneflower seeds emerged better than non-primed seeds.     

红菜薹自交不亲和性快速测定初报

红菜薹的自交不亲和性表现为柱头抑制。授粉后24h的柱头,在电镜和荧光镜下观察,即可对其不亲和性进行测定。有些单株老龄花亲和性比幼龄花亲和性稍高。亲本亲和指数同后代条和指数的平均值呈正相关,因此在选择时,最好选择那些亲和指数低,不亲和性强的单株。     

青海湖地区紫花针茅型中度与重度退化草地地下植物量的比较研究

对青海湖地区紫花针茅型中度与重度退化草原地下植物量进行了比较研究,结果表明,中度与重度退化样地地下植物量的季节积累动态并不相同,随着退化程度加重,在草地植物地上部枯黄之前,光合产物向地下部的运转减少,根部贮藏的营养物质减少,地下与地上植物量的比值随退化程度的加重而增大。两个退化样地地下植物量的80%分布在0~20 cm土层,用y=axb能够很好描述中度与重度样地在生长季各土层平均分布的植物量及其所占比例。在40 cm深的土层中,中度与重度退化样地地下植物量每年的净生产量分别为849.6 g/m21、346.05 g/m2;周转值分别为32.45%、51.93%。     

原始林内紫果云杉种群的 数量动态

本文将紫果云杉种群看作是由不同径级林木所组成的群体，借以Leslie矩阵描述其数量动态情况，由此得种群Leslie矩阵的特征根λ＝1．028，对应特征向量亦即种群稳定的级径组成为：（9941，783，556，393，280，116，32，8）。结果表明：在原始林内，紫果云杉种群结构较为稳定，呈增长稳定型；经预测，种群未来的结构组成与现在的相似。     

紫锥菊提取物对肉仔鸡免疫功能的影响

将400羽健康肉仔鸡随机分成4组,分别按0、0.1、0.5、1 mL剂量口服紫锥菊提取物药液7 d。25日龄时再次口服7 d,按肉鸡正常程序免疫进行试验。结果表明,紫锥菊提取物能够显著促进肉雏鸡免疫器官发育,提高外周血中新城疫抗体,是一种效果极为明显的免疫增强剂,并且能显著促进肉鸡的生产性能,以0.5 g·只-1为日最佳饲喂剂量。     

紫菜薹细胞质雄性不育系及其保持系在不同发育时期内源激素的变化

利用酶联免疫测定技术研究了紫菜薹细胞质雄性不育系和保持系不同发育时期的生长素IAA、赤霉素GA和玉米素核苷ZR的动态变化.结果表明,内源IAA、GA、ZR含量在生殖器官和营养器官保持系和两种不育系都表现出显著性变化,改良萝卜不育系和ogura不育系的内源激素含量在植物发育的各个时期也存在差异.苗期ZR含量主要集中于根部,保持系根部ZR含量最高;幼根保持系IAA含量显著高于不育系,幼苗期叶片IAA含量相差不大;不育系与保持系苗期不同器官GA含量分布不均衡.在花期叶片激素含量在保持系和不育系之间变化较大,蕾期不育系的IAA、GA和ZR含量出现不同程度的亏缺,尤其是从小蕾期到大蕾期阶段,ogura不育系、改良萝卜不育系的IAA、GA和ZR含量都极显著低于保持系.IAA、GA和ZR是植物体内重要的信号物质,可调节植物的多种生命活动,其亏缺影响花粉的正常发育,从而引起败育.     

不同密度甘肃马先蒿寄生和内生真菌互作对紫花针茅内源激素及生物碱含量的影响

根寄生植物是禾草生长过程中的一种生物逆境,禾草内生真菌能增强其对生物或非生物逆境的耐受能力;然而,有关禾草内生真菌对不同密度根寄生逆境下禾草生长、内源激素水平和生物碱含量变化的研究鲜有报道。基于此,通过开展温室盆栽试验,以建立根寄生关系的带菌(E+)和未带菌(E-)紫花针茅及根寄生植物-甘肃马先蒿为研究对象,比较E+和E-紫花针茅在不同甘肃马先蒿寄生强度下生长、内源激素和生物碱含量变化。结果表明,与未寄生紫花针茅相比,随着甘肃马先蒿密度增加,紫花针茅生物量降低80%,株高、分蘖数和根长均降低25%,吲哚乙酸、脱落酸含量分别增加43%和51%,细胞分裂素含量降低50%。内生真菌侵染显著提高紫花针茅生长特性,增加内源激素和生物碱含量;带菌紫花针茅在根寄生逆境下生物碱含量持续增加,同时甘肃马先蒿利用根部木质部通道可获取寄主内生真菌合成的生物碱。由此可见,内生真菌通过调控紫花针茅体内有关生长和逆境预警相关内源激素水平及改变生物碱含量的方式增强紫花针茅对甘肃马先蒿根寄生逆境的耐受能力,为利用禾草内生真菌共生体修复甘肃马先蒿型退化草地提供新视角。     

甘肃马先蒿寄生对禾草内生真菌共生体共生关系的影响

根寄生植物-甘肃马先蒿是高寒草地重度退化阶段主要滋生毒杂草种类,利用根部吸器与侵染内生真菌的禾草(紫花针茅和麦宾草)建立寄生关系。当禾草成为甘肃马先蒿和内生真菌共同寄主(宿主)时,有关内生真菌调控甘肃马先蒿对禾草根寄生危害的相关研究较少。以侵染Epichloë属内生真菌(E+)和未侵染内生真菌(E-)的紫花针茅和麦宾草为研究对象,观测甘肃马先蒿寄生对E+、E-紫花针茅和麦宾草株高、分蘖、根茎比、生物量变化和根部吸器数量及显微结构差异。结果表明:甘肃马先蒿寄生显著降低紫花针茅和麦宾草株高、分蘖和生物量,内生真菌侵染显著影响甘肃马先蒿根寄生处理禾草的生长特性。紫花针茅E+、E-植株被甘肃马先蒿寄生后,E+植株分蘖、生物量和根茎比明显高于E-植株,而E-植株根部功能性吸器数量明显高于E+植株; 麦宾草与甘肃马先蒿建立寄生关系后,E-植株株高、分蘖、生物量和根茎比明显高于E+植株,E+植株根部功能性吸器数量明显高于E-植株。由此可见,甘肃马先蒿与禾草建立寄生关系后,内生真菌与禾草间的共生关系处于互惠共生和相互拮抗的动态变化,草地群落其他植物与禾草间相互作用能调节禾草与内生真菌的共生关系。     

紫锥菊、黄芪对法氏囊病雏鸡的肝损伤及脾脏NK细胞活性的影响

给14日龄雏鸡灌服不同浓度紫锥菊、黄芪合剂,连续灌服7d,21日龄时雏鸡接种传染性法氏囊病病毒(IB-DV),来观察雏鸡血液转氨酶活性及脾脏NK细胞活性的变化。结果显示,攻毒后4d和攻毒后11d时用药组与攻毒对照组相比,谷草转氨酶(Ast)、谷丙转氨酶(Alt)均有所降低,差异显著(P<0.05);攻毒后11d时Ast/Alt比值极显著低于攻毒对照组(P<0.01)。脾脏NK细胞活性在感染后14d,高剂量组活性极显著高于攻毒对照组和空白对照组(P<0.01),感染21d后各组差异不显著。结果表明,紫锥菊、黄芪合剂在雏鸡感染IBDV后12d前后一段时间可显著降低传染性法氏囊病病毒对肝脏造成的损伤,促进脾脏NK细胞的活性,增强机体的防御功能,有利于该疾病的防治。