棉田三种瓢虫对棉蚜的捕食功能反应

在室内常温的条件下,研究了南疆棉田3种瓢虫对棉蚜的捕食功能。试验结果表明:3种瓢虫幼虫及成虫对棉蚜的功能反应均符合HollingⅡ反应。十一星瓢虫1-4龄幼虫及成虫,功能系数分别为0.8699、1.1307、0.7473、1.0869和1.1159;当N→∞时,日最大捕食量分别为18.0、25.2、160.6、146.0和265.9头。多异瓢虫1-4龄幼虫及成虫,功能系数分别为0.6537、0.8617、0.8580、0.8988和1.1000;当N→∞时,日最大捕食量分别为28.2、46.4、125、172.8和246.7头。菱斑巧瓢虫1-4龄幼虫及成虫,功能系数分别为0.7515、0.7878、0.6744、0.9648和0.9398;当N→∞时,日最大捕食量分别为20.8、47.4、139、219和269.9头。     

棉田十一星瓢虫的种群动态

2001年5月15日至9月17日系统调查了不同棉花品种的棉田十一星瓢虫的种群动态。结果表明：尉犁县棉田瓢虫主要为十一星瓢虫（Coccinella undecimpunctata Linnaeus），它是控制棉田棉蚜危害的优势种天敌，占棉田瓢虫总数的81％。十一星瓢虫在棉田中的消长规律为：越冬代成虫5月底开始进入棉田取食棉蚜；卵期5月29日至7月14日，6月下旬进入产卵盛期；幼虫期6月5日至7月31日，高峰期7月7日左右；蛹期6月20日至7月21日，高峰期7月7日左右；成虫期6月20日至9月中下旬，高峰期7月7日至7月14日。十一星瓢虫的种群动态与棉田棉蚜数量有明显的跟随反应，棉田中的早播玉米带、棉田边缘的胡杨和沙枣树的树皮缝隙是瓢虫夏眠的场所。     

异色瓢虫对苜蓿上豌豆蚜和牛角花齿蓟马的捕食效能及捕食偏好性

异色瓢虫是我国苜蓿重要的天敌昆虫,豌豆蚜和牛角花齿蓟马是严重为害苜蓿的刺吸类害虫。为探究异色瓢虫对豌豆蚜和牛角花齿蓟马的生防潜力,室内测定了异色瓢虫1～4龄幼虫和雌成虫分别对豌豆蚜2～3龄若蚜和牛角花齿蓟马成虫的捕食功能反应及猎物捕食偏好性。结果表明,不同龄期的异色瓢虫对两种害虫的捕食功能反应均符合HollingⅡ模型。异色瓢虫4龄幼虫对豌豆蚜2～3龄若蚜的捕食能力最强,雌成虫次之,异色瓢虫1～3龄幼虫的捕食能力随龄期减少而逐渐降低。另外,异色瓢虫雌成虫对牛角花齿蓟马成虫的捕食能力最强,其次为4龄幼虫,3龄幼虫和2龄幼虫的捕食能力较弱。不同龄期的异色瓢虫分别对豌豆蚜2～3龄若蚜和牛角花齿蓟马成虫的搜寻效应均随猎物密度的增加而降低。当猎物豌豆蚜若蚜和牛角花齿蓟马成虫以3种不同数量比例（豌豆蚜:蓟马=40:80头、60:60头、80:40头）共存时,异色瓢虫4龄幼虫对猎物的选择性指数（D）均大于1,表明4龄幼虫对豌豆蚜表现较强的正捕食偏好性;但异色瓢虫雌成虫对猎物的选择性指数均小于1,表明雌成虫对两种猎物无明显的捕食偏好。综上表明异色瓢虫对苜蓿豌豆蚜若蚜和牛角花齿蓟马成虫具有较好的控制能力...     

异色瓢虫对雪松长足大蚜的捕食作用

为明确异色瓢虫Harmonia axyridis对雪松长足大蚜Cinara cedri的捕食能力,采用捕食功能反应方法在室内测定了异色瓢虫各龄幼虫和成虫对雪松长足大蚜4龄若蚜的捕食功能反应、寻找效应、种内干扰效应及环境温度对其捕食能力的影响。结果显示:异色瓢虫各龄幼虫和成虫对雪松长足大蚜若蚜的捕食功能反应类型均属于Holling II型,成虫对雪松长足大蚜的捕食能力强于幼虫,幼虫的捕食能力随虫龄的增大而增强,1～4龄幼虫及成虫的日最大捕食量分别是11.41、41.32、61.73、140.85、188.68头;异色瓢虫1～4龄幼虫及成虫对雪松长足大蚜4龄若蚜的寻找效应随猎物密度的增加而下降,二者之间呈线性相关,相关系数为0.9758～0.9993,其中2龄幼虫的搜寻效应随猎物密度的增加,下降趋势最大,成虫则下降趋势最小;异色瓢虫成虫的捕食受到较强的种内干扰,在猎物密度和捕食空间一定的情况下,单头日平均捕食量随其自身密度的增加而降低,二者间关系符合模型A=58.8391x~(-0.3313);异色瓢虫的捕食受环境温度影响明显,在15～35℃范围内,其成虫对雪松长足大蚜的捕食量先增加后减少,25℃是异色瓢虫最适宜的捕食温度。表明异色瓢虫对雪松长足大蚜有很强的捕食能力,尤其是成虫和高龄幼虫,但应用时还需考虑温度因素的影响。     

十一星瓢虫的生物学特性

对十一星瓢虫的生物学特性进行观察研究,结果表明:十一星瓢虫成虫捕食量为127头/d,幼虫1~4龄的捕食量分别为11,79,166,181头/d。每头雌虫产卵25~79粒/d,平均为44粒/d。在28±1℃条件下,卵期为2.3d;幼虫发育历期1龄为2.0 d,2龄为0.7 d,3龄为0.9 d,4龄为2.1 d;蛹期为3.5 d,世代发育历期为11.5 d;成虫飞翔能力强,具有明显的群集越夏特性;冬季成虫栖息在树皮缝隙中或枯枝落叶下,在-15℃的气温下,成虫仍能安全越冬。     

六斑月瓢虫对柑橘木虱的捕食作用

亚洲柑橘木虱DiaphorinacitriKuwayama是柑橘、脐橙等芸香科植物上的重要害虫,六斑月瓢虫Menochilussexmaculata(Fabricius)是我国南方地区常见的天敌昆虫。为了评价六斑月瓢虫对柑橘木虱的控害潜能,在室内条件下分别测定了六斑月瓢虫的1龄、4龄幼虫和成虫对柑橘木虱的低龄、高龄若虫和成虫的捕食功能反应、搜寻效应和自身密度干扰反应。结果表明,六斑月瓢虫的幼虫和成虫对柑橘木虱的若虫和成虫的捕食功能反应均能较好地拟合HollingⅡ型圆盘方程。其中六斑月瓢虫1龄幼虫对柑橘木虱低龄若虫的日最大捕食量为55.55头/d、高龄若虫为66.66头/d;六斑月瓢虫4龄幼虫对柑橘木虱低龄若虫的日最大捕食量为500头/d、高龄若虫为200头/d、成虫为200头/d;六斑月瓢虫成虫对柑橘木虱低龄若虫的日最大捕食量为333.33头/d、高龄若虫为250头/d、成虫为125头/d。六斑月瓢虫对柑橘木虱的搜寻效应随着猎物密度的增大而降低。由于捕食者自身密度的干扰,当柑橘木虱密度不变时随着六斑月瓢虫密度的增加,瓢虫单头捕食量减小、捕食效率降低、分摊竞争强度增大。本研究为田间应用...     

异色瓢虫对梨瘿蚊幼虫的捕食功能反应及捕食偏好

为明确异色瓢虫对梨瘿蚊幼虫的潜在防控能力,在室内条件下研究了异色瓢虫对梨瘿蚊幼虫的捕食功能、寻找效应、种内干扰反应及对不同猎物的捕食偏好。结果显示,异色瓢虫幼虫和成虫对梨瘿蚊幼虫的捕食功能反应均符合Holling-Ⅱ型模型,其中以成虫捕食量最大,24 h理论最大捕食量75.19头。异色瓢虫各龄幼虫、成虫对梨瘿蚊幼虫的寻找效应均随梨瘿蚊数量的增加而减小。梨瘿蚊幼虫数量固定时,随着异色瓢虫密度的增加,单头异色瓢虫日平均捕食量逐渐降低。异色瓢虫对梨瘿蚊幼虫有较强捕食偏好,存在梨瘿蚊与梨木虱两种捕食对象的情况下,异色瓢虫倾向于选择捕食梨瘿蚊,Cain指数D值均大于1。综合分析捕食功能和捕食偏好性,表明异色瓢虫对梨瘿蚊具有良好的控害潜能。     

异色瓢虫对草地贪夜蛾2龄幼虫的捕食功能反应

为明确天敌昆虫异色瓢虫Harmonia axyridis对草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda的捕食能力,在室内光照培养箱(25±1)℃、L//D=16 h//8 h条件下,研究了异色瓢虫雌雄成虫对草地贪夜蛾2龄幼虫的捕食功能反应与搜寻效应。异色瓢虫成虫对草地贪夜蛾2龄幼虫具有捕食作用,其捕食功能反应符合HollingⅡ模型,其雄成虫对草地贪夜蛾2龄幼虫的日最大捕食量、瞬时攻击率和处理时间分别为62.8头、0.796和0.016 d;雌成虫对2龄幼虫的日最大捕食量、瞬时攻击率和处理时间分别为70.4头、0.979和0.014 d。异色瓢虫成虫对草地贪夜蛾2龄幼虫的搜寻效应随瓢虫密度的增加而下降。异色瓢虫成虫对草地贪夜蛾幼虫具有较好的控害效果,可用于对草地贪夜蛾的防控实践。     

异色瓢虫对草地贪夜蛾和禾谷缢管蚜的捕食功能反应及捕食选择性研究

为探究入侵害虫草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda与本地害虫禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi同时存在时,异色瓢虫Harmonia axyridis对入侵害虫草地贪夜蛾的防控效果,本研究开展了异色瓢虫成虫及4龄幼虫对草地贪夜蛾2龄幼虫、禾谷缢管蚜2龄若虫的捕食功能反应、搜寻效应、捕食选择性试验。结果表明,异色瓢虫对草地贪夜蛾、禾谷缢管蚜的捕食功能反应均符合HollingⅡ模型方程,其日捕食量随物密度的增加而增加,搜寻效应均随猎物密度的增加而逐渐降低;异色瓢虫成虫对草地贪夜蛾2龄幼虫、禾谷缢管蚜2龄若虫的控害效能分别为221.88头和343.01头,其4龄幼虫对草地贪夜蛾2龄幼虫、禾谷缢管蚜2龄若虫的控害效能分别为140.88头和210.93头。异色瓢虫对草地贪夜蛾和禾谷缢管蚜具有较好的控害能力,其成虫对两种害虫的防控效果优于其4龄幼虫,且异色瓢虫对禾谷缢管蚜的捕食选择性强于草地贪夜蛾。     

龟纹瓢虫捕食玉米蚜功能反应研究

室内研究了不同龄期的龟纹瓢虫Propylea japonica幼虫和成虫对玉米蚜Rhopalosiphum maidis的捕食功能反应。结果表明,龟纹瓢虫各龄幼虫及成虫对玉米蚜的日捕食量差异较大。龟纹瓢虫4龄幼虫对玉米蚜具有较强的捕食能力,最大日捕食量为196.85头。各龄幼虫和成虫的捕食功能反应均属于HollingⅡ型圆盘方程,经χ2检验,其理论值与观察值差异不显著。     

Dermestid beetles in ‘evolution Canyon’, lower Nahal Oren, Mt. Carmel, including new records for Israel

Fifteen species of dermestid beetles were recorded at ‘Evolution Canyon’ (EC), Lower Nahal Oren, Mt. Carmel, Israel. They represent ~35% of known Israeli dermestid species. The following three species were recorded for the first time in Israel:Trogoderma svriaca Dalla Torre, 1911;Ctesias svriaca Ganglbauer, 1904; andAnthrenus (s.str.) jordaniens Pic, 1934. Adults of 13 species were collected on the more solar radiated, warmer and climatically more fluctuating south-facing slope (SFS); ten species were collected on the opposite, north-facing slope (NFS), which was cooler and climatically more stable. The abundance of adult dermestid beetles was 1.9 times higher on the SFS than on the NFS (86 and 47, respectively). Species richness and abundance distribution at EC (three collecting stations on each slope and one at the valley bottom) were significantly negatively correlated with the plant cover that consisted of trees and bushes (Spearmanr _s ,P=0.007 and 0.039, respectively) and perennials (Spearmanr _s ,P=0.039 and 0.077, respectively), indicating that non-woody plants were preferred by adult dermestid beetles.     

Epidemiology of Toxigenic Fungi and their Associated Mycotoxins for Some Mediterranean Crops

Recent data on the epidemiology of the common mycotoxigenic species of Fusarium, Alternaria, Aspergillus and Penicillium in infected or colonized plants, and in stored or processed plant products from the Mediterranean area are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the toxigenicity of the causal fungal species and the natural occurrence of well known mycotoxins (aflatoxins, ochratoxins, fumonisins, trichothecenes, zearalenone, patulin, Alternaria-toxins and moniliformin), as well as some more recently described compounds (fusaproliferin, beauvericin) whose toxigenic potential is not yet well understood. Several Fusarium species reported from throughout the Mediterranean area are responsible of the formation of mycotoxins in infected plants and in plant products, including: Fusarium graminearum, F. culmorum, F. cerealis, F. avenaceum, F. sporotrichioides and F. poae, which produce deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, fusarenone, zearalenone, moniliformin, and T-2 toxin derivatives in wheat and other small grains affected by head blight or scab, and in maize affected by red ear rot. Moreover, strains of F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum, and F. subglutinans, that form fumonisins, beauvericin, fusaproliferin, and moniliformin, are commonly associated with maize affected by ear rot. Fumonisins, were also associated with Fusarium crown and root rot of asparagus and Fusarium endosepsis of figs, caused primarily by F. proliferatum. Toxigenic A. alternata strains and associated tenuazonic acid and alternariols were commonly found in black mould of tomato, black rot of olive and citrus, black point of small cereals, and black mould of several vegetables. Toxigenic strains of A. carbonarius and ochratoxin A were often found associated with black rot of grapes, whereas toxigenic strains of A. flavus and/or P. verrucosum, forming aflatoxins and ochratoxin A, respectively, were found in moulded plant products from small cereals, peanuts, figs, pea, oilseed rape, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pistachios, and almonds. Finally, toxigenic strains of P. expansum and patulin were frequently found in apple, pear and other fresh fruits affected by blue mould rot, as well as in derived juices and jams.     

A survey of the genera of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Microgaster</Emphasis> latreille and<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hygroplitis</Emphasis> thomson (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) from China

The genera ofMicrogaster Latreille 1804 andHygroplitis Thomson 1895 from China are presented systematically in this paper. Thirty-two species ofMicrogaster and three species ofHygroplitis are known in China. Diagnosis, character variation, distribution and host of each species among the two genera are presented, including its host and distribution. Keys to the species ofMicrogaster andHygroplitis are given. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 19, 2006.     

Broad bean mottle virus in Morocco; curculionid vectors,and natural occurrence in food legumes other than faba bean (Vicia faba)

Broad bean mottle virus (BBMV) was transmitted from infected to healthy faba-bean plants by the curculionid weevilsApion radiolus Kirby,Hypera variabilis Herbst,Pachytychius strumarius Gyll,Smicronyx cyaneus Gyll, andSitona lineatus L. The latter appeared to be an efficient vector: acquisition and inoculation occurred at the first bite, the rate of transmission was c. 41%, and virus retention lasted for at least seven days.S. lineatus transmitted the virus from faba bean to lentil and pea, but not to the three genotypes of chickpea tested. This is the first report on the generaHypera, Pachytychius, andSmicronyx as virus vectors, and onA. radiolus, H. variabilis, P. strumarius, andS. cyaneus as vectors of BBMV.Out of 351 samples of food legumes with symptoms suggestive of virus infection, 16, 11, 19, and 17% of the samples of chickpea, lentil, pea, and common bean, respectively, were found infected when tested for BBMV in DAS-ELISA. This is the first report on the natural occurrence of BBMV in chickpea, lentil, pea, and common bean. The virus should be regarded as a food-legume virus rather than a faba-bean virus solely, and is considered an actual threat to food legume improvement programmes.     

Plant Viruses Transmitted by Whiteflies

One-hundred and fourteen virus species are transmitted by whiteflies (family Aleyrodidae). Bemisia tabaci transmits 111 of these species while Trialeurodes vaporariorum and T. abutilonia transmit three species each. B. tabaci and T. vaporariorum are present in the European–Mediterranean region, though the former is restricted in its distribution. Of the whitefly-transmitted virus species, 90% belong to the Begomovirus genus, 6% to the Crinivirus genus and the remaining 4% are in the Closterovirus, Ipomovirus or Carlavirus genera. Other named, whitefly-transmitted viruses that have not yet been ranked as species are also documented. The names, abbreviations and synonyms of the whitefly-transmitted viruses are presented in tabulated form together with details of their whitefly vectors, natural hosts and distribution. Entries are also annotated with references. Whitefly-transmitted viruses affecting plants in the European–Mediterranean region have been highlighted in the text.     

Characterization of potato potyvirus Y (PVY) isolates from seed potato batches. Situation of the NTN, Wilga and Z isolates

A collection of 38 PVY isolates from seed potato batches, originating from several Western European countries, was characterized by using current biological, serological and molecular tools differentiating PVY strains and groups. The correlation between the three kinds of tests was good but not absolute. No single serological or PCR method was able to discriminate among the five isolate groups found. Twenty-nine isolates belonged to the PVY^N strain and six to the PVY^O strain. No PVY^C was found. Two other isolates reacted serologically like PVY^O, but were unable to elicit a hypersensitive response from the Ny_tbr gene and probably represent the PVY^Z group. At the molecular level, these two isolates showed a combination of both PVY^O and PVY^N and could be recombinants of these strains. Another isolate reacted serologically like PVY^O, but induced vein necrosis in tobacco, like PVY^N-Wilga. Some PVY^N isolates caused tuber ring necrosis in glasshouse conditions. These might belong to the PVY^NTN group. The PVY^NTN, PVY^N-Wilga and PVY^Z groups probably represent pathotypes within strains PVY^N and PVY^O, respectively. The present study also confirms previous reports showing a high genetic variation at the 5 end within the PVYN strain.     

The autumn leafroller: Phenology,damage and parasitoids in a Dutch apple orchard

The phenology of the autumn leafroller,Syndemis musculana, a local pest of apple, was studied in order to forecast larval emergence. From 1983–1986, peak flight as determined with sexpheromone traps was always between 13–18 May. The duration of embryonic development was determined at various constant temperatures and used to estimate the periods of egg hatch in these four years. Each year, most eggs should have hatched in the second decade of June.Differences in attack rates between apple cultivars seem to be explained largely by the variation in picking time. Larvae are only half grown at the beginning of harvest (cv. James Grieve), and have gone into hibernation when the latest variety (cv. Golden Delicious) is picked. Moreover, the varieties Cox's Orange Pippin and Belle de Boskoop, picked about half time, are liable to receive additional damage by caterpillars brought with the picked fruits into storage.Various hymenopterous parasites were reared from caterpillars. As the only leafroller in the orchard which hibernates as mature larva,S. musculana may promote winter survival of some parasitoids, like the eulophidColpyclypeus florus.Samenvatting De fenologie van de herfstbladroller (Syndemis musculana Hübner), een incidentele plaag op appel, werd nader bepaald met het doel het uitkomen van de eieren te kunnen voorspellen. In 1983–1986 viel de piekvlucht, bepaald met behulp van feromoonvallen, steeds tussen 13 en 18 mei.De ontwikkelingsduur van de eieren bij verschillende constante temperaturen werd gebruikt om de periode van uitkomen te schatten. De meeste eieren zullen ieder jaar in de eerste helft van juni uitkomen.Geconstateerde verschillen in schade tussen appelrassen blijken goeddeels terug te voeren op verschillen in pluktijdstip. De rupsen van de herfstbladroller zijn pas half-was als de eerste appels eind augustus geplukt worden, terwijl tegen het einde van de oogst begin oktober de meeste al in winterslaap zijn. Met name tussentijdse rassen, als Cox's Orange Pippin and Schone van Boskoop, lopen extra schade op doordat grotere rupsen met de geplukte vruchten in de kist terecht komen.Uit de rupsen werden negen, al van andere boomgaardbladrollers bekende, sluipwespen gekweekt, Omdat deze bladrollersoort, als enige in de boomgaard, als volgroeide rups overwintert, lijkt zij bij uitstek geschikt als winterwaard.This study was carried out at the Experimental Orchard De Schuilenburg, Schuilenburg 3, 4041 BK Kesteren, the Netherlands, to which address correspondence should be addressed.     

Characterization of Sclerotinia minor populations in Texas peanut fields

In the summer of 2004 an epidemic of sclerotinia blight of peanut, a disease caused by Sclerotinia minor, occurred in Texas in fields where the disease was never previously detected. The disease was observed on many plants within one of the fields (>3000 disease foci), although most foci were <1 m. It is hypothesized that these observations were inconsistent with the recent introduction of a monocyclic pathogen, even if disease developed under conducive environmental conditions. The pattern of disease is most suggestive of the presence of foliar (ascospore) infections, although air temperature was above the known limits for apothecia development if the pathogen had arrived in the field in 2004 peanut seed. To further examine this epidemic, 232 isolates were collected, across a variety of spatial scales spanning this field and other Texas peanut fields, and evaluated for aggressiveness, fungicide sensitivity and genotypic diversity. There was wide variation among isolates for the phenotypic characteristics measured, but there was no evidence that a genotypically unique, highly aggressive, and fungicide resistant isolate had been introduced or evolved. The predominant genotype, TX1, which contained 154 isolates, was found in every county and field population.     

Eyespot of Cereals Revisited: ITS phylogeny Reveals New Species Relationships

Four species so far classified in Pseudocercosporella or Ramulispora (hyphomycetes) are associated with eyespot disease symptoms of cereals. Two of these have been linked to teleomorphs that were described in Tapesia. Sequence data derived from the Internal Transcribed Spacer region (ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2) of the rDNA operon showed, however, that the eyespot fungi associated with Tapesia are not congeneric with Ramulispora sorghi, the type of Ramulispora. The genus name Tapesia is now rejected in favour of the conserved name Mollisia, which appears to comprise heterogeneous fungi. Tapesia yallundae is not closely related to the type of Mollisia, M. cinerea, but clusters separately, being more closely allied to species with Cadophora anamorphs. A new holomorph genus, Oculimacula, is therefore proposed for teleomorphs of the eyespot fungi, while the anamorphs are accommodated in Helgardia gen. nov.     

Tumours of Begonia and some other ornamentals,induced by Corynebacterium fascians

In 1975 many tumours were observed in plants ofBegonia Schwabenland grown in Aalsmeer. Submersion of the roots ofNicotiana megalosiphon seedlings in a homogenate of tumorous tissue, induced tumours after two weeks. Short periods of submergence yielded results similar to those obtained after longer periods. Tumour homogenates lost their infectivity after ten min at 50°C. Aphids transmitted the infectious agent.Treatment with propylene oxide did not inhibit infectivity completely. Filtration through a 450 nm filter removed the infectious agent.Tobacco tumor virus or a viroid could not be isolated. Cultures ofCorynebacterium fascians, isolated from tumours ofN. megalosiphon were highly infectious and induced tumours in healthyN. megalosiphon andBegonia. Tumorous tissue homogenates ofPelargonium zonale, Dahlia sp.,Gladiolus sp., andLilium sp. also caused tumours inN. megalosiphon, from whichC. fascians was isolated. It was not possible to produce tumours inN. megalosiphon with homogenates from roses with symptoms of bud proliferation.Samenvatting In 1975 werden vele tumoren waargenomen inBegonia Schwabenland op Aalsmeerse bedrijven (Fig. 1). De infectiositeit van tumorweefsel kon goed en snel worden vastgesteld door de wortels van zaailingen vanNicotiana megalosiphon in een homogenaat van tumorweefsel te dompelen. Tumoren ontstonden na twee weken, de eindbeoordeling geschiedde na een maand (Fig. 2). Ook verschillende andereNicotiana spp.,Melilotus officinalis (Fig. 3) enPisum odoratum (Fig. 4) werden aangetast.Bij de infectiositeitstoets gaven zeer korte dompeltijden even goede resultaten als langere (Tabel 1). Infectieus sap verloor zijn infectievermogen na 10 min verhitting bij 50°C. Bladluizen brachten de smetstof over. Propyleenoxide verminderde de infectiositeit wel, doch onderdrukte deze niet totaal. Bij filtratie door een 450 nm filter bleef het infectieuse agens op het filter achter. Het tumor-inducerende agens was ook aanwezig in die delen van planten met tumoren welke gezond leken en het ging voor een gering deel over met zaad (Tabel 2).Uit tumoren konden wij geen tabakstumorvirus of een viroïde isoleren. Culturen vanCorynebacterium fascians, geïsoleerd uit tumoren vanN. megalosiphon bleken zeer infectieus en veroorzaakten tumoren inN. megalosiphon enBegonia. Homogenaten van tumorweefsel vanPelargonium zonale, dahlia (Fig. 5), gladiool (Fig. 6) enLilium Mid Century Hybrid Enchantment (Fig. 7) veroorzaakten ook tumoren opN. megalosiphon, waaruitC. fascians werd geïsoleerd. Met sap van kroeskopzieke rozen konden wijN. megalosiphon niet besmetten.