Parasitoids on codling moth Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in apple and walnut orchards in Syria

A survey was performed between 2007 and 2013 to investigate the complex of parasitoids on Cydia pomonella (codling moth) in apple and walnut orchards in Syria. This study showed the presence of 17 species belonging to 7 families from two orders (Hymenoptera and Diptera). The families Ichneumonidae and Braconidae were most common, comprising 8 and 4 species, respectively. Mastrus ridibundus and Neoplectops pomonella were new records for Syria.     

Cronartium rust sporulation on hemiparasitic plants

Susceptibility of potential alternate host plants to pine stem rusts belonging to Cronartium spp. was artificially tested in Finland during 2012–2013. Forty‐three species representing 11 plant families were inoculated in the laboratory; 34 species (11 families) were inoculated in the greenhouse with aeciospores of Cronartium flaccidum or C. ribicola. Twenty‐one selected species (10 families) were also exposed to natural inoculum of C. flaccidum in the field in two severely affected Pinus sylvestris stands. After 5–8 weeks’ incubation, C. flaccidum sporulated on 17 species (nine families) in the laboratory, 17 species (eight families) in the greenhouse and seven species (five families) in the field. Cronartium ribicola sporulated on three species (three families) in the laboratory or greenhouse. All of the hemiparasitic plants that belong to Orobanchaceae were infected by C. flaccidum, and several species supported rust sporulation when exposed to natural inoculum. Susceptible species belonged to genera Veronica, Euphrasia, Castilleja, Pedicularis, Rhinanthus, Saxifraga, Loasa, Ribes, Tropaeolum, Swertia, Physalis, Nicotiana, Hyoscyamus, Paeonia, Apocynum, Impatiens, Vincetoxicum and Myrica.     

Pathotype diversification in the invasive PstS2 clonal lineage of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici causing yellow rust on durum and bread wheat in Lebanon and Syria in 2010–2011

Yellow rust is the major wheat disease in central West Asia and North Africa. Recently, severe epidemics have occurred, with major yield losses in 2010–2011 in Lebanon and Syria. We conducted an extensive field survey, with a collection of 273 samples of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, to explore the origin of these epidemics. All samples were genotyped with 20 microsatellite markers, and 54 isolates were pathotyped. The population was dominated by the PstS2 lineage, which has spread worldwide since 2000 and displays considerable pathotype diversity (10 pathotypes). The 22 multilocus genotypes (MLGs) detected corresponded to variants of the clonal lineage PstS2, but they differed from the common PstS2 genotype found in the worldwide study conducted between 1981 and 2010. No strong differentiation was observed between Lebanon and Syria. The dominant MLG in Syria was common to both countries. Nine MLGs were found exclusively in the Syrian population and four were restricted to the Lebanese population, including the dominant MLG in Lebanon. The predominant MLG-11 was found in nine pathotypes, at high frequency. The dominant pathotype in Syria was virulent against widely deployed resistance genes (Yr2, Yr6, Yr7, Yr9, Yr25, and Yr27); virulence against Yr3, Yr8, Yr17, and YrSP occurred at various frequencies, but Yr1, Yr4, Yr5, Yr10, Yr15, and Yr32 were effective against all isolates. No host effect was detected. The presence of diverse host populations consisting of landraces and elite varieties, and diverse climatic conditions may account for the unexpectedly high diversity of this clonal population.     

Phytophagous insect fauna of Onopordum spp. thistles in the south of Syria

Thistles from the genus Onopordum (Asteraceae) are of Mediterranean and Eurasian origin. They are very common in the south of Syria, in particular in Damascus and Al Suwayda, and are found in fallow fields, pastures, roadsides and neglected areas. In 2015–2017, several sites with large populations of Onopordum spp. were identified. Weekly surveys of some of the sites, mainly in the regions of Damascus and Al Suwayda, revealed a significant diversity of phytophagous insect species, some of which had a very high population density. A total of 29 insect species were detected, belonging to four orders and 21 families. The most abundant species were from the order Coleoptera. These were observed to be feeding on different plant parts of Onopordum spp. Purely endophagous species comprised 38% of the species observed on Onopordum spp., ectophagous species comprised 45% with 17% of species mixed ectophagous and endophagous. Species that only fed on Onopordum spp. represented 34% of all the species observed.     

亚洲玉米螟的寄主植物种类

为探明亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis(Guenée)的寄主植物种类,对13科38种植物进行了田间笼罩接虫试验和室内生物测定,并通过组建实验种群生命表分析了不同寄主植物对亚洲玉米螟生长发育和繁殖的影响。田间试验结果表明,亚洲玉米螟寄主植物有8科20种,酸模叶蓼是最适宜寄主植物,其次为玉米、谷子、薏苡等;在酸模叶蓼、玉米等11种植物上还发现了第2代幼虫。室内试验结果表明,在室内饲养条件下,亚洲玉米螟能在9科25种寄主植物上完成生活史,其中以向日葵为寄主植物的亚洲玉米螟种群增长最快,其次为玉米。研究表明,亚洲玉米螟的寄主植物共有9科27种,较适宜寄主植物有酸模叶蓼、玉米、谷子、苍耳和葎草,其中在玉米上的生长发育和繁殖最佳。     

Dipteran leafminers in the vicinity of glasshouses and plant markets in Lithuania*

Areas surrounding the glasshouses of 60 growers, and 16 plant markets, were surveyed in 2001/2003 to determine the distribution of dipterous leafminers in Lithuania, including regulated species. In total, 152 species belonging to 7 families were discovered, and the infested host plants represented 46 families. The relative frequency of Liriomyza bryoniae was 32% in the vicinity of glasshouses and 19% in market places. This species attacked plant genera such as: Amaranthus, Beta, Bryonia, Chenopodium, Cucumis, Datura, Gypsophila, Lycopersicon, Nicandra, Nicotiana, Physalis, Petunia, Sisymbrium, Solanum, Spinacia and Viola. The same plant genera also potentially provide sites for the survival of economically important species, Liriomyza huidobrensis and Liriomyza trifolii, in Lithuania.     

First report of the lacebug Corythauma ayyari (Drake) (Hemiptera: Tingidae) on Jasminum grandiflorum L. and Jasminum sambac (L.) from Syria

In Syria, defoliation was noted on several Jasminum grandiflorum and Jasminum sambac plants in various gardens in Latakia City and countryside in 2017. Subsequently, several male and female specimens of a lacebug insect were collected from the white jasmine, Jasminum grandiflorum, planted in the garden of the Latakia Center for Agricultural Research during 2018. Collected material was examined and identified as Corythauma ayyari (Drake). Infestation by this insect is considered by the authors to cause the defoliation of jasmine plants in Latakia City and it is reported to occur in Syria for the first time.     

Characterization of weeds and rotational crops as alternative hosts of Spongospora subterranea,the causal agent of powdery scab in Israel

Alternative hosts of Spongospora subterranea may allow multiplication and survival of the pathogen over time; thus, host range is important from an epidemiological aspect. Weeds and rotational crops, such as wheat and barley, were sampled from potato fields with a history of powdery scab (PS) and examined for the presence of S. subterranea by root staining followed by microscopic observations and by qPCR analysis after DNA extraction. The pathogen was detected in plants of 16 weed species from eight families and in volunteer plants of potato and wheat. The ability of the pathogen to infect weeds and rotational crops was further examined by artificial inoculations with sporosori in pot experiments. Successful inoculations occurred with 13 weed species from eight families and with 12 rotational crops from five families. The findings of this study indicate a wide host range in Israel; the families Malvaceae and Zygophyllaceae and the following species are reported for the first time as S. subterranea hosts: Solanum elaeagnifolium, Triticum aestivum, Cynodon dactylon, Phalaris paradoxa, Phalaris minor, Setaria verticillata, Rostaria cristata, Sinapis nigra, Arachis hypogaea, Medicago sativa, Astragalus hauraensis, Amaranthus albus, Chenopodium murale, Chenopodium opulifolium, Salsola soda, Malva nicaeensis, Chrysanthemum segetum, Verbesina encelioides, Ammi majus and Tribulus terrestris. Controlling weeds and avoiding the relevant rotational crops observed to be S. subterranea-positive and thus potential hosts, should be taken into consideration in the management of PS, to reduce pathogen inoculum build-up.     

黄淮海地区稻茬小麦田杂草组成及群落特征

为明确黄淮海地区稻茬小麦田杂草组成及群落特征,采用倒置W型九点取样法对黄淮海地区稻茬小麦田杂草进行了调查,并进行了区域聚类分析。调查结果表明:从杂草种类来看,黄淮海地区稻茬小麦田杂草共有49种,隶属于17科45属,其中禾本科、菊科、十字花科和石竹科种类最多,分别有10、8、7和6种;从杂草优势度来看,优势杂草有7种,分别为看麦娘Alopecurus aequalis、硬草Sclerochloa kengiana、猪殃殃Galium aparine、牛繁缕Malachium aquaticum、稻槎菜Lapsana apogonoides、荠菜Capsella bursa-pastoris、日本看麦娘A. japonicus,区域性优势杂草有6种,分别为野老鹳草Geranium carolinianum、碎米芥Cardamine hirsuta、大巢菜Vicia gigantea、通泉草Mazus japonicus、菵草Beckmannia syzigachne、委陵菜Potentilla chinensis,这13种杂草是构成黄淮海地区稻茬小麦田的主要杂草,此外还分布有一般性杂草36种;从杂草区域分布来看,江苏省北部稻麦轮作区小麦田物种丰富度最高,有40种,明显高于其它稻麦轮作区小麦田,香农指数和均匀度指数也以该区域最高,分别为2.63和0.71,辛普森指数则以山东省临沂库灌稻麦区最高,为0.27。聚类分析结果表明,黄淮海地区稻茬小麦田杂草群落可以划分为4组,河南省南部稻麦轮作区和山东省临沂库灌稻麦轮作区杂草群落结构相似构成1组,河南省北部沿黄稻麦轮作区和山东省沿黄稻麦轮作区杂草群落结构相似构成1组;江苏省北部稻麦轮作区和山东省济宁滨湖稻麦轮作区各自单独成组。     

Primary and secondary Hymenopteran parasitoids of scale insects (Homoptera: Coccoidea) in fruit orchards in Syria

A survey for primary and secondary Hymenopteran parasitoids of scale insects (Homoptera: Coccoidea) in fruit orchards (apple, plum, date, olive, fig, citrus), was conducted in Syria during 2009–2012. Thirty three species of parasitoids belonging to the families Aphelinidae, Encyrtidae, Eulophidae and Pteromalidae were recorded as parasitoids on scale insects. Thirty two of these were primary parasitoids and one was a hyperparasitoid. The family with the greatest number of genera and species is Encyrtidae with 8 genera (48% of the total) and 12 species (35% of the total). The genus with the greatest number of Encyrtid species was Metaphycus. Parasitoids of scale insects identified included several species already included on the List of biological control agents widely used in the EPPO region ‘EPPO Positive list' and suggestions for additions to this list were made.     

河南省小麦田杂草组成及群落特征

为明确河南省小麦田杂草的种类组成和群落特征,采用倒置"W"9点取样法对河南省36个区县的小麦田杂草进行了调查。结果表明,小麦田杂草有77种,隶属于20科65属,其中以禾本科、菊科、十字花科为主;优势杂草有10种,分别为播娘蒿、野燕麦、荠菜、猪殃殃、婆婆纳、麦家公、麦瓶草、节节麦、雀麦、硬草;常见杂草有28种,一般性杂草有39种。从杂草区域分布来看,伏牛山区小麦田杂草群落的物种丰富度、多样性最高,杂草有49种,Shannon-Wiener指数最高,为2.94;豫南平原区Pielou指数最小,为0.75,Simpson指数最高,为0.098,优势杂草突出。聚类分析结果表明,河南省小麦田的杂草群落可以划分为3组,第1组为豫北平原区、豫南平原区和伏牛山区的杂草群落,第2组为南阳盆地区和桐柏大别山区的杂草群落,第3组为太行山区的杂草群落。     

Screening of weed extracts for antifungal properties against Colletotrichum lagenarium,the causal agent of anthracnose in cucumber

The antifungal activity of the leaf extracts from 203 weed species was investigated by performing a bioassay using cucumber plants and Colletotrichum orbiculare. The leaf extracts from four families, namely, Urticaceae, Onagraceae, Commelinaceae, and Solanaceae, showed a relatively stronger inhibition of the anthracnose lesions in cucumber plants when compared with the other families investigated in the study. A remarkable inhibition of anthracnose infection in cucumber leaves was observed with the extracts from the following 19 weed species: Boehmeria nipononivea and Boehmeria longispica, Persicaria scabra, Ranunculus japonicus and Ranunculus sceleratus, Cardamine flexuosa, Oenothera biennis, Aeschynomene indica, Indigofera pseudo‐tinctoria, Torilis scabra, Calystegia japonica, Solanum americanum, Bidens pilosa, Gnaphalium japonicum, Kalimeris yomena, Bromus catharticus, Cynodon dactylon, Alopecurus aequalis, and Scirpus tabernaemontani. In particular, it is noteworthy that the extracts from C. dactylon, K. yomena, and S. americanum completely inhibited anthracnose infection in cucumber.     

Low genetic diversity of Rhynchosporium commune in Iran,a secondary centre of barley origin

Rhynchosporium commune is a destructive pathogen of barley, causing leaf scald. Previous microsatellite studies used Syria as a representative of cultivated barley's centre of origin, the Fertile Crescent. These suggested that R. commune and Hordeum vulgare (cultivated barley) did not co‐evolve in the host's centre of origin. The present study compares R. commune populations from Syria with those from Iran, which represents a secondary centre of origin for barley at the eastern edge of the Iranian Plateau. Results from this study also suggest that R. commune and barley did not co‐evolve in the centre of origin of cultivated barley. This was evidenced by the low pathogen genetic diversity in Iran, which was even lower than in Syria, indicating that the pathogen may have been introduced recently into Iran, perhaps through infected barley seed. Hierarchical analyses of molecular variance revealed that most genetic diversity in Iran and Syria is distributed within populations, with only 14% among populations. Analyses of multilocus association, genotype diversity and mating type frequency suggest that Iranian populations reproduce predominantly asexually. The presence of both mating types on barley and uncultivated grasses suggest a potential for sexual reproduction. Rhynchosporium commune was also found on Hordeum murinum subsp. glaucum, H. vulgare subsp. spontaneum, Lolium multiflorum and, for the first time, on Avena sativa. The variety of wild grasses that can be infected with R. commune in Iran raises concerns of these grasses acting as evolutionary breeding grounds and sources of inoculum.     

Sources of resistance to ascochyta blight in wild Cicer species

Ascochyta blight [Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Lab.] is the major foliar disease of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). In search of better sources of resistance to ascochyta blight, 201 accessions of 8 annual wildCicer species were evaluated in field and greenhouse for 3 years (1988 to 1991) at Tel Hadya, Syria. One accession each ofC. judaicum Boiss (ILWC 165) andC. pinnatifidum Jaub. & Spach. (ILWC 159) were consistently rated resistant in both field and greenhouse evaluations. Another three accessions ofC. judaicum (ILWC 61, ILWC 154, ILWC 199) and six accessions ofC. pinnatifidum (ILWC 78, ILWC 88, ILWC 155, ILWC 160, ILWC 162, ILWC 203) were resistant or moderately resistant. The blight-resistant accessions ofC. judaicum originated from Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey; and those ofC. pinnatifidum from Syria and Turkey. None of the accessions ofC. bijugum, C. chorassanicum, C. cuneatum, C. echinospermum, C. reticulatum andC. yamashitae were resistant to blight.     

Host Range Studies for Tomato chlorosis virus, and Cucumber vein yellowing virus Transmitted by Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)

The Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B transmitted host range of Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV), genus Crinivirus, Family Closteroviridae, and Cucumber vein yellowing virus (CVYV), genus Ipomovirus, Family Potyviridae, was studied. New experimental hosts were identified for each of these viruses. Seventeen species in eight plant families were assessed as potential hosts for ToCV. Infection in asymptomatic Anthriscus cereifolium (chervil) test plants by ToCV was confirmed by using a Real-Time PCR assay designed for ToCV. The presence of readily transmissible, infectious ToCV virions in A. cereifolium was confirmed by re-isolation of the virus via whitefly-transmission from A. cereifolium to Lycopersicon esculentum and A. cereifolium. This is the first report of the experimental transmission of ToCV by B. tabaci to a species within the Umbelliferae. All other hosts assessed for the presence of ToCV were found to be uninfected. Ten species in five families were assessed as potential hosts for CVYV. The CVYV host range identified included some important crops and common weeds, such as L. esculentum, Nicotiana tabacum, A. cereifolium, Datura stramonium, Nicotiana benthamiana, Nicotiana clevlandii and Cucumis sativus. Symptoms were present on D. stramonium, N. benthamiana and C. sativus control plants. The presence of infectious whitefly transmitted CVYV virions was confirmed solely for D. stramonium and N. tabacum, following re-isolation of the virus via B. tabaci transmission from all infected species to C. sativus. This is the␣first report of experimental CVYV transmission by B. tabaci to non-cucurbitaceous crop and weed hosts belonging to the Solanaceae or Umbelliferae.     

取食马铃薯块茎和叶片的马铃薯块茎蛾肠道内可培养细菌的多样性

为明确取食马铃薯块茎和叶片的马铃薯块茎蛾Phthorimaea operculella幼虫肠道可培养细菌种类组成的多样性及其差异,分别对取食马铃薯块茎和叶片的马铃薯块茎蛾4龄幼虫的肠道细菌进行分离培养,根据菌落形态和生理生化特征及16S rDNA序列分析对菌株进行分类鉴定。结果表明,从取食马铃薯块茎的马铃薯块茎蛾肠道内共分离获得细菌有4门8科10属15种,其中褪色沙雷氏菌Serratia marcescen和乙酸钙不动杆菌Acinetobacter calcoaceticus为优势种,其相对多度分别为17.20%和16.06%。从取食马铃薯叶片的马铃薯块茎蛾肠道内共分离获得细菌有4门10科10属16种,其中琥珀葡萄球菌Staphylococcus succinus和乙酸钙不动杆菌为优势种,其相对多度分别为11.86%和15.07%。取食马铃薯块茎和叶片的马铃薯块茎蛾肠道内相同的可培养细菌有4属5种,分别为褪色沙雷氏菌、深红沙雷氏菌Serratia rubidaea、阿氏肠杆菌Enterobacter asburiae、乙酸钙不动杆菌和琥珀葡萄球菌。表明取食马铃薯块茎和叶片的马铃薯块茎蛾幼虫的肠道内可培养细菌组成结构不同,且优势种存在差异。     

Response of selected South Australian native plant species to Phytophthora cinnamomi

Thirty‐seven South Australian native plant species from 11 families, including 15 threatened species in the state (of which six are listed as threatened under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) were assessed for response to infection by Phytophthora cinnamomi. Seedlings, 3–6 months old and grown in a greenhouse, were inoculated by placing infested pine wood plugs in the potting mix, maintained in moist conditions and assessed for mortality and disease symptoms for between 3 and 10 months. Thirty species were found to be susceptible, of which nine were highly susceptible, 15 moderately susceptible and six slightly susceptible. Three species were found to be resistant and results for four species were inconclusive. Six of the 15 threatened, rare or locally endangered species tested (Eucalyptus viminalis var. viminalis, Correa aemula, C. calycina, Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa, Pomaderris halmaturina ssp. halmaturina and Prostanthera eurybioides) were moderately susceptible, while two (Allocasuarina robusta and Pultenaea graveolens) were highly susceptible. Significant populations of at least five of the threatened species susceptible to the disease are located close to confirmed or suspected Phytophthora‐infested areas or growing in areas conducive for P. cinnamomi. An effective management strategy is therefore required to avoid extinction of such species due to infection by the phytophthora dieback pathogen.     

Host Range ofVerticillium dahliae in cultivated species in Crete

To determine the host range ofVerticillium dahliae among the cultivated species in Crete, Greece, studies were carried out during 1992–2000. Based on disease symptoms observed on 28 vegetable and forage species grown in a field naturally infected byV. dahliae, and an extensive survey of the most common cultivated species grown under natural conditions, seven hosts belonging to four botanical families not previously reported as susceptible to Verticilliun wilt, and 12 hosts belonging to seven families new for Greece, were recorded. The worldwide new hosts are: anise (Anethum graveolens), chard (Beta vulgaris ssp.cicla), chickpea (Cicer arietinum), wild sweet pea (Lathyrus ochrus), lentil (Lens culinaris), marigold (Tagetes erecta) and vetch (Vicia sativa). These species could be infected by their hosts-of-originV. dahliae isolates during pathogenicity tests. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Jan. 13, 2002.     

Floristic composition and vegetation: Environmental relationships of Wadi Fatimah,Mecca, Saudi Arabia

The present study aimed to determine floristic composition, the structure of the vegetation, and species distribution at 16 sample plots in Wadi Fatimah, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, highlighting the ecological factors that affect species distribution. The study revealed 100 plant species belonging to 34 families. Fabaceae and Poaceae were the dominant families, and chamaephytes and therophytes were predominant life forms, which demonstrate a typical desert life-form spectrum. Altitude showed a highly significant association with species frequency distribution. The highest species richness value of 23 species per plot was recorded in the coastal plain (Vegetation groups II & III). The lowest species richness value of 9 species per plot was recorded in the littoral salt marsh (Vegetation group I). Chorological analysis exhibited the Saharao-Arabian–Sudano-Zambezian chorotypes, 47% of the studied species were bi-regional. Using TWINSPAN, DCA, and CCA multivariate analysis, four major vegetation groups were classified into three main ecosystems (I) Halopeplis perfoliata, Suaeda fruticosa, Acacia tortilis, and Suaeda fruticosa, representing the littoral salt marsh; (II) Rhazya stricta and Haloxylon salicornicum, characterized by the coastal plain; and (III) Senna italica, Glinus lotoides, and Tribulus macropterus were the leading groups in the inland mountainous country. The CCA ordination showed that the separation of Vegetation group III along the axis was affected by Mg, K, and P concentration, and VG IV was significantly associated with silt, clay, and fine sand content. Furthermore, the Vegetation group I was significantly correlated with Na and Ca concentration, and VG II group was significantly correlated with heavy metal concentrations of elements as Fe, Pb, Zn, Ni, and Cu.     

Antinematodal activity of some Malaysian plant extracts against the pine wood nematode,Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

Methanolic extracts of 79 Malaysian plants representing 42 families were assessed for antinematodal activity against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus using a fungal-feeding assay. Extracts of 27 plants from 19 families showed antinematodal activity, while 52 species were inactive. Five extracts (Sauropus androgynus, Eugenia polyantha, Areca catechu, Piper betle and Piper nigrum) exhibited very strong activity against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus at a minimum effective dose (MED) of 0·625 mg per ball. Strong antinematodal activity (MED: 1·25–2·5 mg per ball) was shown by the extracts of Spondias cyntherea, Codiageum variegatum, Euodia glabra and Cicca acida. Eleven extracts (Carica papaya, Ipomoea aquatica, Ocimum basilicum, Leea gigantea, Pithecellobium jiringa, Crypteronia paniculata, Myristica fragrans, Murraya koenigii, Leucaena leucocephala, Melastoma malabathricum and Morinda citrifolia) demonstrated moderate activity between MED of 5 and 10 mg per ball, and weak activity was observed in seven extracts (Ipomoea batatas, Cymbopogon citratus, Garcinia atroviridis, Psophocarpus tetragonolobus, Tamarindus indica, Allium odorum and Stenochalaena palustris). © 1997 SCI