Temporal disease dynamics and relative importance of sexual and asexual reproduction of grape downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) in an isolated vineyard in the North Georgia Mountains,USA

The North Georgia Mountains are the southernmost region along the United States East Coast where European wine grapes (Vitis vinifera) are grown commercially. Epidemics of downy mildew, caused by Plasmopara viticola, are frequent and severe, but little is known about the epidemiology and population biology of the pathogen in this region. Disease monitoring in an experimental vineyard from 2015 to 2017 indicated that times of disease onset and progress rates were highly variable across years and cultivars. Oospores were observed microscopically, and simulation with a process-based model indicated presence of conditions favourable for oospore germination in the spring and early summer each year. A total of 409 P. viticola isolates collected over three  years were genotyped with seven microsatellite markers, revealing very high genotypic diversity, which when combined with the observation of oospores is indicative of a sexually reproducing population. Among the 409 isolates, 225 multilocus genotypes (MLGs) were identified, of which 164 were detected only once and 61 were repeated (clonal). Eight MLGs (represented by 28 isolates) were detected across years, suggesting the possibility of asexual overwintering of P. viticola in this region. Across sampling dates, the percentage of isolates belonging to nonrepeated (unique) MLGs ranged from 27.3% to 63.2%. Even towards the end of the annual epidemic, the percentage of isolates in nonrepeated MLGs was still relatively high, around 30%. These MLGs may have originated from oospores germinating late during the growing season, although incomplete sampling at earlier dates and contribution by immigration cannot be fully excluded.     

Variation in juvenile steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) dispersal in relation to age and growth performance

Volitional dispersal is a ubiquitous strategy characteristic of species across major faunal groups. Dispersal during the juvenile life stage is of interest because early performance can be critical for determining future success (survival/reproduction). For salmonids, dispersal can influence local density, competition, individual growth and survival, though drivers of dispersal at meso-scales are rarely quantified. Here, we evaluate dispersal of tagged juvenile steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) through habitat units in extended stream reaches (500 m) at sites across a watershed from July to October 2017. Our aim was to quantify the frequency and spatial extent of dispersal, identify links to biotic and abiotic factors, evaluate the implications for individual growth and test for associations between dispersal and migration initiation. Dispersal rates varied between sites, but were consistently higher for age 1+ than for age 0 steelhead (avg. 21% vs. 6% respectively). Age 1+ dispersal probability was positively correlated with time between recapture events and body mass, and negatively correlated with growth rate, maximum temperature experienced and age 1+ density. At sites where there appeared to be growth benefits to remaining sedentary compared to moving, proportionally fewer fish performed dispersal. We found no links between dispersal and timing or probability of migration initiation the following spring. Our results support the hypothesis that although dispersal over intermediate scales (10–1,000 m) might be rare, it could be an important strategy that permits fish to seek out better opportunities (foraging, shelter or otherwise) in underutilised areas.     

二甲基二硫的生物活性评价及对土壤养分的影响

采用室内生物活性测定方法,评价二甲基二硫(dimethyl disulfide,DMDS)对土壤病原线虫和土传病原菌的毒力,比较不同浓度药剂处理对土壤理化性质和土壤呼吸的影响,为探究DMDS作为新型土壤熏蒸剂提供切实可行性的依据。结果表明:DMDS熏蒸对土传病原线虫和镰刀菌属的LD_(50)分别为4.743 mg/kg和1.513 mg/kg,可见DMDS对病原线虫和镰刀菌有良好的生物活性。对土壤理化性质进行数据分析发现:DMDS能显著增加土壤铵态氮含量,抑制硝化作用过程,减少NO~-_3-N的产生,提高植物可吸收态氮素水平。DMDS处理的土壤有机质含量和电导率均显著高于对照土壤,而土壤pH和速效钾含量较对照均有降低。此外,熏蒸土壤中有效磷含量较对照减少,但两者无显著差异。对DMDS熏蒸后土壤进行底物诱导呼吸试验,表明DMDS能够在试验初期抑制土壤微生物生物量。本试验结果可为指导DMDS的科学使用提供理论依据及对土壤微生物活性的影响作出科学评价。     

星油藤青枯病病原菌鉴定

 星油藤(Plukenetia volubilis L.) 是一种重要的藤本油料植物,在我国华南地区广泛种植。青枯病是近两年在海南星油藤种植区发生的新病害,为探究星油藤青枯病菌的基本特性及种下分化情况,本研究对分离的6株代表菌株进行了相关分析。细菌学鉴定及致病性测定结果表明,该病害是由类茄科雷尔氏菌(Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum)侵染引起。同时,从传统分类及分子生物学不同层面分析了星油藤青枯病菌的遗传分化情况。生理小种及生化变种的测试结果表明,星油藤青枯病菌属于1号生理小种和生化变种Ⅲ;16S rDNA和egl基因部分序列聚类分析显示,星油藤青枯病菌属类茄科雷尔氏菌演化型Ⅰ即亚洲分支菌株,序列变种34。     

Breaking the ice: the introduction of biofouling organisms to Antarctica on vessel hulls

1. Few reports exist that describe marine non‐native species in the Southern Ocean and near‐shore waters around the Antarctic continent. Nevertheless, Antarctica's isolated marine communities, which show high levels of endemism, may be vulnerable to invasion by anthropogenically introduced species from outside Antarctica via vessel hull biofouling.
2. Hull surveys of the British Antarctic Survey's RRS James Clark Ross were undertaken between 2007 and 2014 at Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula (Lat. 67°34'S; Long. 68°07'W) to investigate levels of biofouling. In each case, following transit through scouring sea‐ice, over 99% of the vessel hull was free of macroscopic fouling communities. However, in some surveys microbial/algal biofilms, balanomorph barnacles and live individuals of the cosmopolitan pelagic barnacle, Conchoderma auritum were found in the vicinity of intake ports, demonstrating the potential for non‐native species to be transported to Antarctica on vessel hulls.
3. Increasing ship traffic volumes and declining duration of sea ice in waters to the north and west of the Antarctic Peninsula mean the region may be at increased risk of non‐native species introductions. Locations at particular risk may include the waters around popular visitor sites, such as Goudier Island, Neko Harbour, Whalers Bay, Cuverville Island and Half Moon Island, and around northern peninsula research stations.
4. Simple and cost‐effective mitigation measures, such as intentionally moving transiting ships briefly through available offshore sea ice to scour off accessible biofouling communities, may substantially reduce hull‐borne propagule pressure to the region. Better quantification of the risk of marine non‐native species introductions posed by vessel hulls to both Arctic and Antarctic environments, as sea ice patterns and shipping traffic volumes change, will inform the development of appropriate regional and international management responses.

Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Effect of Bacillus cereus as a water or feed additive on the gut microbiota and immunological parameters of Nile tilapia

We evaluated the effects of Bacillus cereus, as an additive in water and feed, on the gut microbiota and immunological parameters of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. Experiments were performed in tanks and net cages respectively. Experiment 1: Tilapia were housed in tanks for 42 days, and B. cereus was added to the water at 1.0 × 10⁴ cfu mL^?1 (Treatment 1) and 1.0 ×10⁵ cfu mL^?1 (Treatment 2) weekly. For the control, no probiotic was added. Experiment 2: Tilapia were housed in cages for 42 days, and the feed was supplemented with B. cereus at 1.0 × 10⁷ cfu g^?1 (Treatment 1) and 1.0 × 10⁸ cfu g^?1 (Treatment 2) weekly. For the control, no probiotic was added. Each treatment contained three replicates, with 50 male tilapias per replicate. The fish from the probiotic treatments in both tank and cage experiments had significantly higher serum lysozyme and peroxidase activities than the control. In the cage experiment, alkaline phosphatase and total superoxide dismutase activities in tilapia were significantly higher in probiotic treatments compared with the control. The results of polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed that B. cereus supplementation in the feed and water affected the autochthonous gut bacteria community of tilapia and stimulated various potentially beneficial bacteria. Therefore, B. cereus, as a water or feed additive, could enhance the immune status and affect the gut microbiota of tilapia. Bacillus cereus was more effective as a feed supplement rather than a water additive for enhancing the immune status of tilapia.     

Exploring connectivity between spawning and nursery areas of Mullus barbatus (L., 1758) in the Mediterranean through a dispersal model

Connectivity between spawning and nursery areas plays a major role in determining the spatial structure of fish populations and the boundaries of stock units. Here, the potential effects of surface current on a red mullet population in the Central Mediterranean were simulated using a physical oceanographic model. Red mullet larvae were represented as Lagrangian drifters released in known spawning areas of the Strait of Sicily (SoS), which represents one of the most productive demersal fishing‐grounds of the Mediterranean. To consider the effect of inter‐annual variability of oceanographic patterns, numerical simulations were performed for the spawning seasons from 1999 to 2012. The main goal was to explore connectivity between population subunits, in terms of spawning and nursery areas, inhabiting the northern (Sicilian‐Maltese) and southern (African) continental shelves of the SoS. The numerical simulations revealed a certain degree of connectivity between the Sicilian–Maltese and the African sides of the SoS. Connectivity is present in both directions, but it is stronger from the Sicilian–Maltese spawning areas to the African nurseries owing to the marine circulation features of the region. However, because the majority of the larvae are transported to areas unsuitable for settlement or outside the SoS, the dispersal process is characterized by a strong loss of potential settlers born in the spawning areas. These results are in agreement with the low genetic heterogeneity reported for this species in the Mediterranean Sea and support the existence of a metapopulation structure of red mullet in the SoS and the adjacent areas.     

土培条件下不同盐分梯度对水稻产量及其生理特性的影响

以南粳9108和甬优2640为材料,设置6个土壤含盐量(0%、0.07%、0.14%、0.21%、0.28%、0.35%),研究不同盐分梯度对水稻产量和生理特性的影响。结果表明:(1)盐胁迫影响水稻的生长和发育进程。株高、叶面积、干物质量等形态指标均随盐浓度的上升而下降;稻谷产量亦随盐浓度增加而下降,在0.14%、0.21%、0.28%、0.35%盐浓度处理时产量显著下降,南粳9108分别减产14.14%、43.65%、58.91%、65.68%,甬优2640分别减产20.25%、31.97%、40.41%、49.82%。(2)随着盐浓度的增加,2个参试品种抽穗期叶片抗氧化酶活性均呈先升后降趋势,在0.07%处理下达最高值。(3)抽穗期叶片中游离脯氨酸含量随盐浓度的上升而增加,盐浓度大于0.14%,游离脯氨酸含量较对照显著增加。(4)盐胁迫下,水稻植株吸收Na~+并置换出K~+,除叶片中K~+变化无规律之外,随着盐浓度上升,各部位K~+含量均下降,Na~+含量均上升,K~+/Na~+均呈下降趋势。茎鞘与叶运输的SK、Na随盐浓度的上升而上升,茎选择性运输K~+而抑制Na~+进入叶片;根与茎的SK、Na随盐浓度的上升而下降,茎吸收Na~+并输出K~+到根系。总体而言,低盐浓度对高产水稻品种产量和生理特性无显著影响,盐浓度大于0.07%时影响显著。     

直播稻田无人机全程防治病虫草害初探

针对不同设备设计不同喷液量,飞行参数验证防治效果,从而验证无人机在稻田全程应用的可能性,旨在探索2种小型多旋翼植保无人机低空喷洒在整个水稻生长时期病虫草害防治过程中的防效。结果表明:当喷洒水田封闭式除草剂的喷洒量为10650、15000 mL/hm²,其对杂草的株防效与鲜重防效与人工电动喷雾相近。在病虫害的防治试验中,使用推荐用量且喷洒量为10650、15000 mL/hm²时,以及使用70%推荐用量（减量30%）且喷洒量为15000 mL/hm²时,防治效果均与人工电动喷雾器无显著差异。通过验证,选择合适的药剂,配合科学的喷洒参数,可在保证药效的前提下减少农药使用量。多旋翼植保无人机在水稻田有进行大面积全程飞防植保应用有广阔的前景。