Large-scale,multi-year,phenology modelling of forest insects in Pinus radiata plantations

Journal of Pest Science - Ecologically and economically harmful wood borers and bark beetles, which have the capacity to expand geographically through the international log trade, require...     

Dietary supplementation of Zingiber officinale and Zingiber zerumbet to heat‐stressed broiler chickens and its effect on heat shock protein 70 expression,blood parameters and body temperature

The present study was conducted to assess the effects of dietary supplementation of Zingiber officinale and Zingiber zerumbet and to heat‐stressed broiler chickens on heat shock protein (HSP) 70 density, plasma corticosterone concentration (CORT), heterophil to lymphocyte ratio (HLR) and body temperature. Beginning from day 28, chicks were divided into five dietary groups: (i) basal diet (control), (ii) basal diet +1%Z. zerumbet powder (ZZ1%), (iii) basal diet +2%Z. zerumbet powder (ZZ2%), (iv) basal diet +1%Z. officinale powder (ZO1%) and (v) basal diet +2%Z. officinale powder (ZO2%). From day 35–42, heat stress was induced by exposing birds to 38 ± 1 °C and 80% RH for 2 h/day. Irrespective of diet, heat challenge elevated HSP70 expression, CORT and HLR on day 42. On day 42, following heat challenge, the ZZ1% birds showed lower body temperatures than those of control, ZO1% and ZO2%. Neither CORT nor HLR was significantly affected by diet. The ZO2% and ZZ2% diets enhanced HSP70 expression when compared to the control groups. We concluded that dietary supplementation of Z. officinale and Z. zerumbet powder may induce HSP70 reaction in broiler chickens exposed to heat stress.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere of Macaranga denticulata Muell. Arg., and their effect on the host plant

A fallow enriching tree, Macaranga denticulata Muell. Arg., has been shown to increase rice yield in a rotational shifting cultivation system in northern Thailand through increased accumulation of mineral nutrients. As arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi may play an important role in nutrient accumulation, AM fungi in the rhizosphere of M. denticulata and the effects of the indigenous soil inoculum on the host plant were investigated. The diversity and abundance of AM fungi were documented for the rhizosphere of M. denticulata in the field for two years. Based on morphology, 29 species of AM fungi were found in the rhizosphere of M. denticulata growing in farmers’ fields. Root colonization ranged from 63.5 to 81.5% in the first year and 68.7 to 79.9% in the second year of study. The highest spore density was observed at the end of the wet season. The effects of indigenous soil inoculum, and N and P fertilizers on the host plant were investigated in pots for four months. Inoculation with soil-containing AM fungi strongly increased plant growth and nutrient contents when P was limiting but N was applied. Application of N and P together strongly depressed root colonization and spore density of AM fungi, whereas applying them separately had much less effect. AM fungi may play an important role in nutrient accumulation in M. denticulata-rich fallow and thus in nutrient cycling that is beneficial to the maintenance of upland rice yield and sustainability of the rotational shifting cultivation system. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Bark beetles on pine logs: forecasting winter colonisation dynamics based on trap catches and temperature records

Journal of Pest Science - Seasonality influences the abundance and activity of forest insects. Harvesting during periods of reduced activity could minimise colonisation risk on logs and reduce the...     

Antinociceptive effect of Melastoma malabathricum ethanolic extract in mice

The antinociceptive effect of the ethanolic extract of Melastoma malabathricum (MME) was investigated using acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing test and hot-plate test in mice. It was demonstrated that the extract (30-300 mg/kg, i.p.) strongly and dose-dependently inhibited the acetic acid-induced writhing with an ED(50) of 100 (78-160) mg/kg i.p. It also significantly increased the response latency period to thermal stimuli. Furthermore, the nonselective opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone blocked the antinociceptive effect of the extract in both tests, suggesting that M. malabathricum may act both at peripheral and central levels.     

Evaluation of the antinociceptive activity of Ficus deltoidea aqueous extract

The aqueous extract of Ficus deltoidea leaves was evaluated for possible antinociceptive activity in three models of nociception, namely, acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, formalin and hot plate test. The results of the present study showed that intraperitoneal administration of the F. deltoidea leaves aqueous extract at the dose of 1, 50 and 100 mg/kg, 30 min prior to pain induction produced significant dose-dependent antinociceptive effect in all the models used, which indicating the presence of both central and peripherally mediated activities. Furthermore, the antinociceptive effect of the extract in the formalin and hot plate test was reversed by the non-selective opioid receptor antagonist naloxone suggesting that the endogenous opioid system is involved in its analgesic mechanism of action. Thus, the present results demonstrated that F. deltoidea leaves aqueous extract contains pharmacologically active constituents which possess antinociceptive activity justifying its popular therapeutic use in treating conditions associated with the painful conditions.     

Susceptibility of native New Zealand Myrtaceae to the South African strain of Austropuccinia psidii: A biosecurity threat

Austropuccinia psidii, cause of myrtle rust, has spread globally where Myrtaceae occur. Multiple strains of A. psidii have been identified, including a unique strain found only in South Africa. The South African strain is a biosecurity concern for species of Myrtaceae worldwide. This is because preliminary testing of South African Myrtaceae suggests it could have a wide host range, and thus has the potential to be invasive. In this study, we assessed the ability of the South African strain to infect other species of Myrtaceae by testing the susceptibility of New Zealand provenance Myrtaceae. Seedlings of four native New Zealand Myrtaceae species (Metrosideros excelsa, Leptospermum scoparium, Kunzea robusta, and Kunzea linearis) were artificially inoculated in South Africa with a single-uredinium isolate of the South African strain. Fourteen days after inoculation, uredinia, and in many cases telia, had developed on the young leaves and stems of all four host species, which led to shoot tip dieback in the more severe cases. When comparisons were made between the species, K. robusta was the least susceptible to the South African strain of A. psidii, while L. scoparium and M. excelsa were the most susceptible. While only a limited number of seed families were tested, only a small proportion of the seedlings showed resistance to infection by the South African strain. This preliminary testing highlights the potential invasive risk the South African strain poses to global Myrtaceae communities, including New Zealand Myrtaceae.