Site‐specific management is crucial to managing Mikania micrantha

Increasingly, weeds have been taking on global distributions. With the proliferation of invasive weeds has come the challenge of managing these species over broad geographical regions, with diverse habitats and political jurisdictions. Here, we review the management of Mikania micrantha Kunth (Asteraceae; mile‐a‐minute) throughout its invaded range, extending through most of the Pacific islands and southern and south‐east Asia. Context matters when determining the best course of action for managing M. micrantha, as it has invaded a large variety of agricultural and natural systems. In Queensland, Australia and Florida, USA, M. micrantha has been targeted in relatively successful eradication campaigns, highlighting the importance of early detection and rapid response methods, while elsewhere in its invaded range, populations are either still increasing or showing limited signs of decline. An inter‐regional approach to research and management should incorporate successful management strategies employed throughout the invaded range including, but not limited to, chemical and cultural control practices, manual and mechanical control, classical biological control using the rust fungus Puccinia spegazzinii, plant–plant competition and integrated approaches utilising two or more control methods concurrently. Additional knowledge of M. micrantha genetics is required to determine if management approaches could be fine‐tuned for particular populations. Countries bordering the Mekong River formed a network in 2011 to co‐ordinate the management of invasive species such as M. micrantha. Expanding such a collaborative approach to other regions could further reduce populations of M. micrantha and limit its spread.     

防御信号途径在B型烟粉虱取食烟草诱导抗蚜防御中的作用

B型烟粉虱取食能够诱导烟草产生对烟蚜的抗性反应,为了明确水杨酸和茉莉酸防御信号途径与烟粉虱诱导抗蚜防御之间的关系,采用生化分析、实时定量PCR、蚜虫生物活性测定等方法比较了烟粉虱若虫取食对烟草水杨酸、茉莉酸含量、通路下游防御基因表达水平的影响及外源水杨酸、茉莉酸对烟蚜生长发育的影响。结果显示：烟粉虱侵染能够显著激活水杨酸防御途径,在取食15天后,水杨酸水平较对照升高1.40倍,水杨酸下游防御基因PR-1a及PR-2a分别较对照升高3.22和0.74倍;然而烟粉虱侵染后烟草叶片茉莉酸含量与对照相比无显著变化,JA下游防御基因PI-II和TPI的转录水平分别较对照降低73.91%和56.73%。生测结果显示,外源施用水杨酸对烟蚜的存活率和相对平均生长率具有显著不利影响。烟草叶片施用1 mmol/L水杨酸后,蚜虫的存活率及相对生长率分别较对照降低43.2%和11.54%;然而喷施茉莉酸甲酯对蚜虫的生长发育无不利影响。上述结果表明,水杨酸介导的防御应答在B型烟粉虱取食诱导烟草的抗蚜防御中起重要作用。     

Influence of intra-row cruciferous surrogate weed growth on crop yield in organic spring cereals

In Northern Europe, inter-row hoeing has become a popular tactic for controlling weeds in organic cereals. Hoeing is highly effective and can be implemented from crop emergence until stem elongation to maintain a nearly weed-free inter-row zone. However, hoeing has a lesser effect on weeds growing in the intra-row zone, where crop–weed proximity results in heightened competition. In the hoed cereal system, it is investigated whether tall-growing, competitive, cruciferous weeds in the intra-row zone affect crop biomass, yield and thousand kernel weight (TKW). An additive experimental design is employed to enable the fitting of rectangular hyperbolas, describing and quantifying the effects of increasing intra-row surrogate weed density on crop growth parameters. Regressions were studied under the influence of crop (spring barley and spring wheat), row spacing (narrow [12.5 or 15.0 cm] and wide [25.0 cm]) and nitrogen rate (50 and 100 kg NH₄-N/ha). Cruciferous surrogate weeds were found to impact crop yield and quality severely. For example, ten intra-row plants/m² of surrogate weed Sinapis alba reduced grains yields by 7%–14% in spring barley and by 7%–32% in spring wheat with yield losses becoming markedly greater in wheat compared to barley as weed density increases. Compared to wheat, barley limited yield and quality losses and suppressed intra-row weed growth more. Row spacing did not have a consistent effect on crop or weed parameters; in one of six experiments, the 25 cm row spacing reduced yields and increased intra-row weed biomass in wheat. Nitrogen rate did not affect crop or weed parameters. Results warrant the implementation of additional tactics to control intra-row weeds and limit crop losses.     

Stable isotopes and gut contents indicate differential resource use by coexisting asp (Leuciscus aspius) and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca)

Differential use of habitat and prey resources is an important mechanism that may allow coexistence of sympatric species. Unlike interactions between smaller cyprinid and percid fishes, the resource use by coexisting predatory asp (Leuciscus aspius) and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) is relatively unknown. Here, gut content and stable isotope analyses were used to study ontogenetic dietary shifts and interspecific trophic niche overlap between asp and pikeperch coexisting in two reservoirs. The hypothesis that both species show an ontogenetic dietary shift from small invertebrates to large fish prey, but at the same time use different prey resources to reduce potential competitive interactions, was validated. The isotopic niches of the two predators showed no, or only a moderate, degree of overlap (0%–65%). The ontogenetic changes in the degree of interspecific isotopic niche overlap were different in the two reservoirs, suggesting that trophic segregation can be dynamic and variable among systems. Gut contents revealed that small (<100 mm standard length) asp consumed mostly terrestrial invertebrates and emerged aquatic insects, whereas small pikeperch foraged on zooplankton, larval and pupal stages of aquatic insects and fish. Larger individuals (>100 mm) of both species were predominantly piscivorous, with asp consuming more cyprinid prey and pikeperch more percid prey. Coexisting asp and pikeperch populations are able to utilise different prey resources, thereby reducing potential negative competitive interactions.     

Invasive Chinese pond mussel Sinanodonta woodiana threatens native mussel reproduction by inducing cross‐resistance of host fish

1. The effects of invasive alien species (IAS) on host–affiliate relationships are often subtle and remain unnoticed or insufficiently quantified. The global decline of freshwater unionid mussel species has been attributed to many causes, but little is known about the interactions of IAS, with their complex life cycle, which includes an obligatory parasitic stage (the glochidium) that develops on fishes.
2. The capacity of a European freshwater mussel, Anodonta anatina, to develop on its widespread fish host, Squalius cephalus was tested experimentally, after previous infestations by the IAS, Sinanodonta (Anodonta) woodiana. The initial attachment of glochidia, the length of the parasitic period, and the metamorphosis success rate of A. anatina glochidia were compared among treatments of different priming infestation intensities.
3. The metamorphosis success rate of the native A. anatina glochidia was strongly reduced (Wilcoxon Signed‐Rank Test, P < 0.001) and declined by 42.1 and 45.4% on fish hosts that were previously exposed to S. woodiana by single and multiple priming infestations, respectively, in comparison with the control group. Such cross‐resistance is expected to decrease significantly the quality of the host resources available to native mussels.
4. This study provides the first evidence of the host‐mediated adverse impact of invasive S. woodiana on native mussel species. These results also highlight the importance of potential competition for hosts between threatened groups of affiliate species and their invasive counterparts, which should be reflected in conservation strategies.

     

Response of industrial hemp to Salsola kali subsp. tragus densities under organic and conventional fertilisation

A 2-year field study was conducted to determine the effects of different nutrition systems and Salsola kali subsp. tragus densities on industrial hemp yield and its components. Experiments were conducted as a split plot in a randomised complete block design with three replicates. Factors were fertilisation (poultry manure, vermicompost and nitrogen fertiliser) as the main plot and weed density (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 plants/m²) as the subplot. Results indicated that the maximum number of racemes per plant, seeds per raceme, 1000-seed weight, biomass, grain yield and harvest index (HI) of industrial hemp were obtained using vermicompost and were reduced with nitrogen fertiliser application. All measured properties in hemp plants decreased due to increasing S. kali subsp. tragus density, especially at 15 and 20 plants/m². The most significant reduction in hemp grain yield and its components was observed by increasing weed density with the application of nitrogen fertiliser. The application of vermicompost at high weed densities resulted in greater hemp grain yield and its components compared with nitrogen fertiliser. It is recommended to apply organic fertilisers, especially vermicompost at high S. kali subsp. tragus densities.     

核桃细菌性疫病菌特性及其与核桃内生菌的竞争作用

为了明确本实验室前期分离得到的一株核桃细菌性疫病菌Xaj DW3F3的相关特性及其与寄主内生菌的竞争能力。对该病原细菌进行了显微观察、生物膜形成测定，不同培养基上多糖和色素含量，以及18项生理生化指标测定。通过毛细管法和滴落法观察其趋化作用，并测试其与寄主内生菌的竞争能力。结果表明，病原菌DW3F3为杆状、极生鞭毛、有运动性并能形成生物膜。其在YPGA、King’B 和NA培养基上生长较好，产生多糖和色素较多。病原菌有较强的耐盐性，致死温度达60℃，对纤维素和淀粉都有较强的分解能力，对NaCl和寄主叶片表现出一定的趋性。在其与核桃叶部内生菌的共培养中表现出一定竞争优势。该病菌菌DW3F3有树生黄单胞菌核桃致病变种（Xanthomonas arboricola pv.juglandis，Xaj）的基本特征及致病相关特性，这些特征可能与其致病性强及病害难以控制有关。     

基于单克隆抗体的O型口蹄疫病毒抗体固相竞争ELISA检测方法的建立

为建立评价O型口蹄疫病毒(FMDV)疫苗免疫水平的方法,本研究以单克隆抗体(MAb)3D9为捕获抗体,以HRP标记的MAb 8E8作为检测MAb,经过条件优化建立了基于MAb的检测O型FMDV抗体的固相竞争ELISA(SPCE)方法。对该方法进行了特异性、敏感性、重复性试验。结果显示,MAb 3D9的最佳稀释度为1:25 000,灭活O型FMDV抗原的最佳稀释浓度为1:3,HRP标记的MAb 8E8的最佳稀释度为15 000,当血清1:32稀释时,检测的临界值确定为45%。该方法分别检测A型FMDV抗体阳性参考血清以及牛冠状病毒、牛轮状病毒以及猪繁殖与呼吸障碍综合征病毒、猪圆环病毒、猪瘟病毒的标准阳性血清,检测结果均为阴性,未出现交叉反应。经检测,当阳性标准血清的抗体稀释度在1:512时,该方法仍具有较好的敏感性;批内和批间重复性试验的变异系数均小于10%,表明其重复性较好。并将该方法与液相阻断ELISA(LPBE)方法和病毒中和试验(VNT)的相关性进行了比较,结果显示该方法与LPBE和VNT的相关性分别为0.896和0.923。本研究为国内评价O型FMDV疫苗免疫水平建立了一种新的方法。     

涉农专业青年教师以竞赛为平台的专业成长有效途径研究

在信息技术飞速发展的当今社会,对教育工作者提出了越来越高的要求。在专业教师队伍中,青年教师已逐渐成为主体,而想要将这支年轻的队伍打造成一支中坚力量,成为师资队伍建设的重心,也是当今教育资源建设的一项重要任务。本文以涉农专业青年教师为研究的出发点和立足点,通过搭建各种竞赛平台,研究促进青年教师的专业成长的有效途径。     

Changes in the herbicide sensitivity and competitive ability of Abutilon theophrasti over 28 years: Implications for hormesis and weed evolution

BACKGROUND

The potential of weed species to respond to selection forces affecting the evolution of weedy traits such as competitive ability is poorly understood. This research characterized evolutionary growth changes in a single Abutilon theophrasti Medik. population comparing multiple generations collected from 1988 to 2016. A competition study was performed to understand changes in competitive ability, and a herbicide dose–response study was carried out to assess changes in sensitivity to acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides and glyphosate over time.

RESULTS

When grown in monoculture, A. theophrasti biomass production per plant increased steadily across year-lines while leaf number decreased. In replacement experiments, A. theophrasti plants from newer year-lines were more competitive and produced more biomass and leaf area than the oldest year-line. No clear differences in sensitivity to imazamox were observed among year-lines. However, starting in 1995, this A. theophrasti population exhibited a progressive increase in growth in response to a sublethal dose of glyphosate (52 g a.e. ha⁻¹), with the 2009 and 2016 year-lines having more than 50% higher biomass than the nontreated control.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that weeds can rapidly evolve increased competitive ability. Furthermore, the results indicate the possibility of changes in glyphosate hormesis over time. These results highlight the importance of the role that rapid (i.e., subdecadal) evolution of growth traits might have on the sustainability of weed management strategies. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.