Effects of pheromone loading, dispenser age, and trap height on pheromone trap catches of the oriental fruit moth in apple orchards

The effects of field aging (0–28 days) and pheromone loading rate on the longevity of red rubber septa loaded with the sex pheromone blend of the oriental fruit mothGrapholita molesta (Busck), were evaluated in North Carolina apple orchards in 2002. Separate field tests examined the influence of trap height and pheromone loading rate of rubber septa on trap catches of adultG. molesta males in an abandoned orchard. The loss of the major pheromone component, (Z)-8-dodecenyl acetate (Z8–12:OAc), from red rubber septa over a 4-week period exhibited a relatively constant release rate with 30, 100 and 300 μg pheromone. Trap catch was significantly higher in pheromone traps placed in the upper canopy than in those in the lower canopy. Pheromone traps baited with 100μg lures caught more moths compared with those loaded with 300 μg. There was no apparent relationship between pheromone trap catch and septa age, with trap catch appearing to be primarily a function ofG. molesta population density. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 14, 2006.     

Pharmacokinetics of levamisole in the red‐eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans)

The pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of levamisole were determined in red‐eared slider turtles after single intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SC) administration. Nine turtles received levamisole (10 mg/kg) by each route in a three‐way crossover design with a washout period of 30 days. Blood samples were collected at time 0 (pretreatment), and at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 48 hr after drug administration. Plasma levamisole concentrations were determined by a high‐performance liquid chromatography assay. Data were analyzed by noncompartmental methods. The mean elimination half‐life was 5.00, 7.88, and 9.43 hr for IV, IM, and SC routes, respectively. The total clearance and volume of distribution at steady state for the IV route were 0.14 L hr^?1 kg^?1 and 0.81 L/kg, respectively. For the IM and SC routes, the peak plasma concentration was 9.63 and 10.51 μg/ml, respectively, with 0.5 hr of T_max. The bioavailability was 93.03 and 115.25% for the IM and SC routes, respectively. The IM and SC route of levamisole, which showed the high bioavailability and long t_1/2?z, can be recommended as an effective way for treating nematodes in turtles.     

Mass trapping low-density populations of Tuta absoluta with various types of traps in field-grown tomatoes

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) has recently invaded and spread through the major tomato-growing regions in Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean...     

Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of danofloxacin in chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar) following intravenous,intramuscular, subcutaneous,and oral administrations

The aim of the present study was to determine the pharmacokinetics (PKs) and bioavailability of danofloxacin in chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar) following intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SC), and oral (PO) administrations at a dose of 10 mg/kg. A total of eight clinically healthy chukar partridges weighing 480 ± 45 g were used for the investigation. The study was performed in a crossover design (2 × 2 × 2 × 2) with a 15‐day washout period between two administrations in four periods. The plasma concentrations of danofloxacin were determined using reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography. Noncompartmental PK parameters were also estimated. No local or systemic adverse drug effects were observed in any of the chukar partridges. The mean elimination half‐life ranged between 8.18 and 12.08 hr and differed statistically among administration routes. The mean peak plasma concentrations of danofloxacin following IM, SC, and PO administrations were 8.05, 9.58, and 3.39 μg/ml at 0.5, 1, and 4 hr, respectively. Following IM, SC, and PO administrations, the mean bioavailability was 86.33%, 134.40%, and 47.62%, respectively. The mean total clearance and volume of distribution at steady‐state following IV administration were 0.13 L hr^?1 kg^?1 and 0.96 L/kg, respectively. These data, including favorable PKs and the absence of adverse drug effects, suggest that danofloxacin is a useful antibiotic in chukar partridges.     

Non-escaping frost tolerant QTL linked genetic loci at reproductive stage in six wheat DH populations

Reproductive stage frost poses a major constraint for wheat production in countries such as Australia.However,little progress has been made in identifying key genes to overcome the constraint.In the present study,a severe frost event hit two large-scale field trials consisting of six doubled haploid(DH)wheat populations at reproductive stage(young microspore stage)in Western Australia,leading to the identification of 30 robust frost QTL on 17 chromosomes.The major 18 QTL with the phenotype variation over 9.5%were located on 13 chromosomes including 2 A,2 B,2 D,3 A,4 A,4 B,4 D,5 A,5 D,6 D,7 A,7 B and7 D.Most frost QTL were closely linked to the QTL of anthesis,maturity,Zadok stages as well as linked to anthesis related genes.Out of those,six QTL were repetitively detected on the homologous regions on 2 B,4 B,4 D,5 A,5 D,7 A in more than two populations.Results showed that the frost damage is associated with alleles of Vrn-A1 a,Vrn-D1 a,Rht-B1 b,Rht-D1 b,and the high copy number of Ppd-B1.However,anthesis QTL and anthesis related genes of Vrn-B1 a and Ta FT3-1 B on chromosomes 5 B and 1 B did not lead to frost damage,indicating that these early-flowering phenotype related genes are compatible with frost tolerance and thus can be utilised in breeding.Our results also indicate that wild-type alleles Rht-B1 a and Rht-D1 a can be used when breeding for frost-tolerant varieties without delaying flowering time.     

Masculinization of Convict Cichlid (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum</Emphasis>) by immersion in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tribulus terrestris</Emphasis> extract

We have examined the effects of Tribulus terrestris (TT), a non-toxic herb, on sex reversal in the Convict Cichlid Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum with the aim of introducing a new environmentally friendly method for masculinization in C. nigrofasciatum. TT is a natural plant product that elevates the testosterone levels in humans and animals. Different concentrations (0.0, 0.10, 0.20 and 0.30 g/l) of TT extract were tested for their effect on sex reversal in C. nigrofasciatum by immersing newly hatched offspring once weekly for 2 months in TT extract. Of the dosages used in the present study, 0.30 g/l TT was the most effective in terms of masculinization, resulting in a maximum male ratio of 87.23% (P < 0.001). Sex ratios of 79 and 85% at 0.10 and 0.20 g/l TT, respectively, were also significantly different from the expected 1:1 ratio (P < 0.001). Histological examinations revealed that the testes of fish treated with TT extract contained all stages of spermatogenesis, clearly demonstrating that the administration of TT extract to C. nigrofasciatum stimulated spermatogenesis. Total survival rates in all treatments and the control were uniformly high, ranging from 88.57 to 90% (P > 0.05). We concluded that TT had no negative effect on the survival rate of C. nigrofasciatum. In addition, all groups of TT-treated fish exhibited successful growth acceleration compared to the control group, but only the 0.30 g/l TT treatment significantly improved the growth rate of C. nigrofasciatum. (P < 0.01). Sex reversal in C. nigrofasciatum demonstrated that TT-treated 0-day-old larvae showed successful sex reversal, spermatogenesis and a better growth rate than untreated progenies.     

Sampling and development of economic injury levels for Anthonomus rubi Herbst adults

Field studies were conducted in northwestern Turkey from 1998–2000 to examine population dynamics of adult strawberry blossom weevils (Anthonomus rubi Herbst), and to establish economic injury levels based on the relationship between densities of overwintered adults and yield losses. Adult weevils were sampled weekly in untreated and insecticide-treated plots using a sweep net. Sweep net catches showed that the abundance of A. rubi adults had two peaks; the first between late-April and early-May, and the second between late-June and mid-July. Linear regression revealed a strong relationship between overwintered and new-generation adult densities. The overwintered-generation adults had generally higher mean population densities than the new-generation. A significant linear decrease was observed in strawberry yields as densities of overwintered-generation adults increased. Percentage yield losses varied between 1.64% and 13.42% among sites. Estimated economic injury levels ranged from 1.00 to 4.00 adults per sweep depending on the management scenario, control cost, control efficacy, and crop value.