Effect of root-exudates of Neem and Persian lilac on plant parasitic nematodes

Root-exudates of Neem/Margosa and Bakain/Persian lilac brought about considerable mortality ofHoplolaimus indicus, Helicotylenchus indicus, Tylenchus filiformis, Tylenchorhynchus brassicae, Rotylenchulus reniformis andMeloidogyne incognita, however, to varying extent. The root-exudate of Neem was more toxic to nematodes than that of Bakain. The root-exudates also inhibited larval hatch ofM. incognita.     

Interaction of root-knot nematode and mycorrhizal fungi on common beanPhaseolus vulgaris L.

The interactions of root-knot nematode and VAM fungus on common bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), and the sequence of nematode infection were studied in the greenhouse. The inoculation with VAM fungus caused a significant increase in plant height and fresh weight compared with non treated plants.Meloidogyne infection unsignificantly decreased plant height and dry weight. When fungus was inoculated at 15 and 30 days prior toM. incognita infection, a significant increase in fresh weight was observed. There were no significant differences in total nitrogen (mg/plant) between plants inoculated withM. incognita alone or those inoculated with bothM. incognita and VAM fungus at the same time or 15 days after the fungus inoculation. Plants preinoculated with VAM fungus 30 days prior to nematode infection had a significant increase in total nitrogen. The inoculation with VAM fungus caused a significant increase in phosphorus content. However, it was significantly decreased in plants inoculated with nematode alone and in plants inoculated with VAM fungus andM. incognita at the same time. Gall index and final nematode population were significantly increased when nematodes were treated at the same time with fungus, although there were significant decrease in nematode final population and gall index when the plants were treated with nematodes at 15 and 30 days after mycorrhizal infection. A decrease in percentage of fungal colonization was observed when nematodes were inoculated with fungus at the same time.     

On the rearing of the aphid lion,Chrysoperla carnea Steph. (Neuroptera,Chrysopidae) on artificially paralized preys

Full-grown paralyzed larvae ofSpodoptera littoralis, Phthorimaea operculella andAnagasta kuebniella were used as preys for rearingChrysoperla canea larvae.P. operculella induced the shortest larval period, the lowest larval or pupal mortality, highest percent of emergence, longest adult longevity and maximum productivity. Using mature larvae ofS. littoralis gave intermediate values between those reported forP. operculella andA. kuebniella.     

Effect of essential oils of some medicinal plants on phytonematodes

The essential oils of four medicinal plants belonging to Lamiaceae were explored for phytonematode control. The four oils inhibited (P<0.05) nematode motility butMentba spicata was generally more effective in reducing the numbers of active nematodes followed byThymus vulgaris, Majorana bortensis andMentba longifolia. The main corresponding compound of each oil, determined by GLC analysis, was carvone (58.14%), P-cymene (40.5%), terpinen-4-ol (41.6%) and carvone (70.36%). Soil stages of the reniform nematode were more affected by the oil than those of the ring and lance nematodes. When transferred to water, the total nematodes that regained their activeness ranged from 12% forT. vulgaris to 60% forM. longifolia. The four 0.1 oil solutions inhibited more than to about 3.5% at the control. The content of oxygenated compounds in these oils ranged from 45.79% to 96.5% and may be partially responsible for the nematicidal effects.     

Comparative host suitability of selected crop plants toMeloidogyne chitwoodi Golden et al. 1980 andM. fallax Karssen 1996

Several tests were conducted in the greenhouse to compare the reproduction ofM. chitwoodi andM. fallax on some field crops grown at the type locality ofM. fallax and in the region were both nematodes occur. In addition some related crops andTagetes erecta andT. patula were also tested. The French bean cv. Masai, the chicory cvs Hybrid F1, Mid-Early and Groenlof, the dahlia cv. Vuurvogel and an unknown cv. of borage supported low populations of bothM. chitwoodi andM. fallax. The French bean cvs Strike and Groffy showed a differential response toward both nematodes: both cvs were good hosts forM. chitwoodi and non-hosts forM. fallax.With 1 table     

Zur Wirkung verschiedener Beutearten auf die räuberische Kapazität des NematodenDiplogaster sp. (Rhabdita,Diplogasteridae)

Zusammenfassung Zwecks Untersuchung der Beutepräferenz und der Effizienz des räuberischen NematodenDiplogaster sp. wurden dessen Adulten mit den Larven zweier pflanzenparasitärer Nematodenarten (Pratylenchus zeae undMeloidogyne incognita var. 3) sowie mit den Larven zweier Fliegenarten (Ceratitis capitata undMusca domestica) zusammen gehalten.Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß dieDiplogaster-Nematoden einen großen Teil der Beutetiere fraßen, und zwar in der ReihenfolgeM. incognita, P. zeae, C. capitata undM. domestica. Die beiden phytoparasitären Nematodenarten wurden somit den Insekten-larven vorgezogen. Die Vernichtungsquoten betrugen in dieser Reinhenfolge 81,5-76-55 und 44%.

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Effect of different kinds of food source on the predation efficiency ofDiplogaster sp. nematode (Rhabdita, Diplogasteridae)

The present investigation was conducted to assess the favorable prey of different vermiform larvae of certain insects (Ceratitis capitata, Musca domestica) and phyto-parasitic nematodes (Pratylenchus zeae, Meloidogyne incognita var. 3) which would exterminated by the predator nematode,Diplogaster sp.The obtained results indicate thatDiplogaster sp. exteriminated large numbers of prey ofM. incognita var. 3 andP. zeae, followed byC. capitata andM. domestica. The larvae of phytoparasitic nematodes were preferable prey toDiplogaster nematode, than that of insects. The predatious rate on the larvae ofM. incognita, P. zeae, C. capitata andM. domestica was 81.5, 76, 55, and 44%, respectively.

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Mit einer Tabelle     

Untersuchungen zur Wirkung eines Kernpolyedervirus ausNeodiprion sertifer (Geoffr.) auf andere Blattwespenarten

A virus strain of the European pine sawfly (Neodiprion sertifer [Geoffr.]) NsNPV was tested against 7 species of sawflies. This strain was pathogenic forN. sertifer, M. pallipes andD. pini. After infection, retardation of the growth of the larvae and high mortality were observed. The speciesD. similis, G. laricis, P. abietina andC. abietis didn't show any susceptibility. The virus formed inclusion bodies in the midgut-cells of theN. sertifer-larvae; no polyhedra could be detected in dead larvae ofM. pallipes andD. pini. Extracts of infected larvae of these two species applicated toN. sertifer caused a typical polyhedrosis again.     

Über die Polyphenoloxydase bei gesunden sowie von Rotylenchulus reniformis Lin. et Ol. und Meloidogyne incognita Chit. (Nematoda) befallenen Tomaten

Assay of polyphenol oxidase activity in relation to infection with the reniform nematode, influence of reducing and oxidizing agents and the enzyme activity level inRotylenchulus reniformis- andMeloidogyne incognita-tomatoes were conducted in this study. Polyphenol oxidase activity was greater inR. reniformis-infected than in uninfected roots, but was less in tissues treated with ascorbic acid and glutathione reducing agents than in healthy or in tissues treated with copper oxychloride oxidizing agent. In uninfected roots, activity of polyphenol oxidase was nearly equal to that inR. reniformis infected tissues treated with copper oxychloride. Best plant growth was observed with copper oxychloride which was associated with the least soil and root numbers ofR. reniformis. The enzyme activity in tissues infected withR. reniformis was much higher than in those parasitized withM. incognita. This activity in either nematode infected tissue was higher than that noticed in healthy tissues. This work demonstrated the occurrence of altered metabolism uponR. reniformis infection, involvement of the oxidation-reduction physiological processes anti/pro nematode buildup as well as the detection of noticeable differences in polyphenol oxidase activity whenR. reniformis orm. incognita was present.     

Genetic variation in relation to adaptability of three mangrove species from the Indian Sundarbans assessed with RAPD and ISSR markers

Rich genetic polymorphism is important for plants to adapt to changes because it enables the plant to make anatomical, physiological and biochemical changes in response to abiotic stress. Geomorphologic characteristics, demographic interference and a cumulative decrease in freshwater influx in the Indian Sundarbans region have proved detrimental to some economically important plants. In this study, genetic polymorphism of three mangrove species, Xylocarpus granatum, Excoecaria agallocha, and Phoenix paludosa, was assessed using RAPD and ISSR molecular markers. X. granatum, already in distress in the Sundarbans, had the least genetic polymorphism, 14.56% in the RAPD analysis and 12.92% in the ISSR. Relatively higher genetic polymorphism was recorded for the profusely growing E. agallocha and P. paludosa: 24.66 and 26.4% in RAPD; 24.87 and 20.32% in ISSR analysis respectively. A UPGMA dendrogram constructed using the similarity matrix from RAPD, ISSR and combined data showed that for X. granatum, the least and highest salinity zones clustered together, whereas for E. agallocha and P. paludosa, higher and lower salinity areas clustered in different clades. Nei’s genetic diversity, calculated from RAPD and ISSR data, was also in accordance with 0.0637 and 0.0583 for X. granatum, respectively, much lower than 0.0794 and 0.0818 for E. agallocha and 0.0799 and 0.0688 for P. paludosa. This opposing degree of polymorphism might be attributed to the profusely growing E. agallocha and P. paludosa and precarious status of X. granatum throughout the Indian Sundarbans.     

Effect ofMelia azedarach extract on larval development and reproduction parameters ofSpodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) andAgrotis ipsilon (Hufn.) (lep. noctuidae)

Methanolic extract ofMelia azedarach fruits enriched by washing with petrolether and ethyl acetate was used for laboratory treatments of two lepidopteran pests in Egypt. The experiments were carried out with concentrations of 10, 15, 25, 50, 100 and 1000 ppm in a diet and compared with control insects. In both insects food consumption, weight gain and conversion of ingested food (ECI) in body matter decreased with increasing extract amounts. The conversion of digested food (ECD) was lowered gradually by using higher concentrations ofMelia extract. Some antifeedant activity was observed in larvae ofS. littoralis andA. ipsilon. The percentage of mortality increased with application of higher concentrations ofMelia extract in both species. Starting from 3rd larval instar the larvae of both species reduced significantly their weight until pupation in 25 ppm and higher extract concentrations, while the larval period was prolonged. The pupal weight was significantly reduced at 15, 25 and 50 ppm. At higher concentrations the larvae failed to pupate. Duration of pupal period was affected only inA. ipsilon. All reproduction parameters, as period of oviposition, fecundity, fertility and longevity of males and females were affected using emerged adults from treated larvae with concentrations of 10, 15 and 25 ppmMelia extract. InS. littoralis no adult emerged from pupae originated from larvae treated with 50 ppm and higher amounts and no larva hatched from eggs laid by adults treated with 25 ppmMelia concentration as larvae. In both species the oviposition period was shortened at 15 and 25 ppm extract, the fecundity and fertility were drastically reduced, and the longevity of males and females was reduced. Cross sections of the midgut showed that the epithelial cells are destroyed in both pests. This can be one of the reasons for the observed effects.     

Insecticidal effect of some plant extracts on the cowpea aphidAphis craccivora Koch (Homoptera: Aphididae)

The insecticidal activity of acetone extracts ofCymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf.,Momordica charantia L.,Zingiber officinale (Ros.),Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich.,Ocimum gratissimum L. andAframomum melegueta (Ros.) K. Schum against the cowpea aphid,Aphis craccivora Koch was investigated.Z. officinale andA. melegueta extracts had the greatest effect in causing mortality ofA. craccivora and inhibiting its reproduction. Extract fromM. charantia caused high nymphal mortality whilst extract fromC. citratus also caused significant nymphal mortality, reduction of life span of adult aphids and inhibition of aphid reproduction.With 3 tables     

Studies on population frequency of insects and mites causing galls on the leaves of the European aspen<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Populus tremula</Emphasis> L. in southern Poland

Species composition of galls on the leaves of Populus tremula L. was studied in 2002–2003 in two localities: the Ojców National Park and the Andrychów Forest District. A total of 2,199 galls were found, 1,522 of which were found in 2003. The galls were caused by ten insect or mite species. The species composition of the galls was similar in these two consecutive years. Phyllocoptes populi (Nalepa) was the most abundant species in both areas in 2003. The index of occurrence frequency (F) value was highest in the case of P. populi, namely 0.280 in the Ojców NP (2003), and lowest , i.e. 0.00002, for Trichiocampus grandis (Lepeletier) at both sites in 2003, and for Contarinia petioli (Kieffer) in the Ojców National Park in 2002. The highest value for Agrells index of species co-occurrence , i.e. 0.944, was found for Harmandia cavernosa (Rübsaamen) and H. tremulae (Winnertz) (Ojców NP, 2002), and the lowest (0.050) for T. grandis and H. globuli (Rübsaamen) (Ojców NP, 2003).     

Der MaiskäferSitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Col., Curculionidae) und seine Begleitfauna — eine Freilandstudie auf den Philippinen

During the years 1982 to 1984 the attack ofSitophilus zeamais has been studied on corn fields owned by small-scale farmers in Cebu (Central Philippines). The invasion bySitophilus started 4 to 5 weeks before harvest and increased continously up to harvest time, when 93% of the drafted cobs could be occupied. A long lasting and for this region unusual drought (8 months) caused a drastic collapse of the population during the following planting season. But another planting season later the field population has been recovered and showed a high rate of infestation again. The frass-holes caused byHeliothis armigera, and said to be important as an “entry” forSitophilus, have been significant only during the beginning of the attack byS. zeamais, while the husk was still tight. During the corn ripening and the desiccation of the huskSitophilus has best chances to get into the cob without influence from outside. This stage coincides with the increase of the population density. The control ofH. armigera is not considered to be effective to keep the infestation ofSitophilus on a minimum level. A distinct orientation behaviour byS. zeamais regarding the main wind direction has been noticed in the field. BesideSitophilus the Nitidulid beetlesCarpophilus mutilatus and (but less important)C. humeralis have been found abundantly within the cobs. The drought did not show any obvious influence on the population ofC. mutilatus. Some further observations on the field infestation byS. zeamais are described.     

Rumen degradation in sheep,goats and cattle and voluntary intake by sheep of four browse species

Two experiments were conducted using dried leaves ofAlchornea cordifolia, Ficus capensis, Manniophytum fulvum andAlbizza niopoides. In Experiment 1, dry matter (DM) degradation characteristics were investigated using thein sacco nylon bag technique in West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep, WAD goats and Bunaji steers. In Experiment 2, voluntary intake of the browse forage when fed as supplements to sheep at 0, 10 and 30% levels was measured. In Experiment 1,A. cordifolia andM. fulvum had significantly higher rapidly degradable DM fraction thanA. niopoides andF. capensis. Averaged across browse species, the extent of DM degradation for sheep (58.3%) was significantly higher than for goat (47.7%) or cattle (44.1%). Ranking order of browse species for the extent of DM degradation was:F. capensis>A. cordifolia=M. fulvum=A. niopoides. In Experiment 2, as the level of supplementation increased from 10 to 30%, voluntary intake ofA. niopoides andM. fulvum increased while voluntary intake ofA. cordifolia andF. capensis declined. The results suggest that dried leaves ofA. niopoides andM. fulvum are more acceptable to WAD sheep than those ofA. cordifolia andF. capensis.     

华南地区4种阔叶幼苗水分胁迫条件下的抗旱性初探

以火力楠、山杜英、木荷、黧蒴锥幼苗为试验材料,利用聚乙二醇6000(PEG-6000)人工模拟水分胁迫环境,研究了水分胁迫对这4种幼苗的影响。结果表明:随着水分胁迫强度的增加,火力楠和木荷叶片的相对含水量下降幅度较小, 山杜英次之,黧蒴锥下降幅度最大;火力楠和木荷叶片的相对电导率上升幅度较小, 山杜英次之,黧蒴锥叶片的相对电导率大幅增加;火力楠和木荷幼苗叶片脯氨酸含量变化不大,而山杜英和黧蒴锥比对照有明显的增加;4种幼苗叶片的可溶性糖含量随着水分胁迫强度的增加呈上升趋势;4种幼苗叶片的叶绿素含量一般呈小幅波动;重度胁迫36 h后,火力楠和木荷叶片的SOD活性显著提高,山杜英显著低于对照,黧蒴锥接近对照水平;火力楠叶片的MDA含量略有增加,木荷保持稳定,山杜英明显增加,黧蒴锥大幅增加。用主成分分析评价4种幼苗的抗旱性,结果表明:4种幼苗的抗旱性为木荷>火力楠>山杜英>黧蒴锥。     

Die blaue HolzwespeSirex cyaneus F. (Hym., Siricidae) und der TannendüsterkäferSerropalpus barbatus Schall. (Coleoptera,Serropalpidae) als technische Holzschädlinge an Tannen in Südtirol

In the summer of 1983 dead firs were found near Kaltern, South Tyrol, Italy attacked heavily bySirex cyaneus (60%) andSerropalpus barbatus (40%). The slipping holes of both species were identical. The numerous relation between females and males ofS. cynaea was 1∶10. About 26% of this species were parasitized byIbalia leucospoides Hoch. (Cynip., Ibaliidae).Sirex cyaneus andSerropalpus barbatus must be considered as important wood destroyers of silver firs.     

The potential use of different predatory bug species in the biological control of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Frankliniella occidentalis</Emphasis> (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

In the present study, the suitability of different predatory bug species, such as Dicyphus tamaninii Wagner, Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur), Orius albidipennis Reuter, Orius majusculus Reuter and Orius sauteri Poppius, for the biological control of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), were investigated. Development of the predatory bug species, their reproduction as well as their daily and total prey consumption over a 18-day period with F. occidentalis larvae or various stages of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) individuals as prey species were studied during the experiments in the laboratory. In further experiments, the efficiency of D. tamaninii, M. pygmaeus, O. albidipennis and O. majusculus in controlling F. occidentalis under glasshouse conditions was investigated. Results showed that all the predators could develop under the experimental conditions with either F. occidentalis larvae or different stages of T. urticae as prey. When F. occidentalis larvae were offered as prey, the shortest duration of development was observed for O. albidipennis with a mean of 17.7 days, while D. tamaninii took the longest to develop with a mean of 36.3 days. With different stages of T. urticae as prey, the duration of development ranged from 19.3 days in O. albidipennis to 42.9 days in M. pygmaeus. Mean daily fecundity ranged from 0.8 eggs/female for O. majusculus to 2.2 eggs/female for O. sauteri with F. occidentalis larvae as prey and from 0.6, O. majusculus, to 2.3 eggs/female/day, O. sauteri, when different stages of T. urticae were offered as prey. Over the 18-day reproduction period, O. sauteri was the most fecund predatory species, laying a mean total of 31.6 and 31.3 eggs/female with F. occidentalis and T. urticae as prey, respectively. Daily consumption from F. occidentalis larvae ranged between 5.5 individuals consumed per day by O. majusculus and 29.1, by O. sauteri. When different stages of T. urticae were offered as prey, maximal consumption was observed in D. tamaninii with a mean of 29.0 individuals/day, while O. albidipennis consumed the least with an average of 8.1 preys/day. Over the 18-day prey consumption period, D. tamaninii consumed the highest mean number of 422.8 F. occidentalis larvae, while O. majusculus only consumed 98.8 larvae. Also, D. tamaninii had the maximum consumption of different stages of T. urticae with a mean of 522.4, while M. pygmaeus and O. albidipennis consumed the least, with an average of 146.1 and 146.0, respectively. The predatory bugs D. tamaninii, M. pygmaeus, O. albidipennis and O. majusculus significantly reduced the density of F. occidentalis on hybrids of Euphorbia milii, Serissa foetida and Saintpaulia ionantha in the glasshouse, which confirms their efficiency against this pest on different hosts under controlled climatic conditions.     

Trichogramma evanescens West. (Hym., Trichogrammatidae) as an egg parasitoid of Grape MothLobesia botrana (Den. & Schiff.) (Lep., Tortricidae)

The adaptation of the primary internal parasitoid,Trichogramma evanescens (Westw.), as an egg parasitoid ofLobesia botrana (Den. & Schiff.) was the first report in Alexandria region, Egypt. The life-span of this parasitoid on eggs ofL. botrana andSitotroga cerealella Ol. was investigated. The duration from egg to adult, longevity of adult stage, sex-ratio and total life cycle each of the two hosts were recorded. The ovipositional periods of mated females ofT. evanescens on egg ofL. botrana at 27±2c^o and 75±2% R.H. were studied. Also, percentages of parasitism byT. evanescens ranged from 22%–64% on the eggs ofL. botrana. Therefore, this parasitoid was very efficient as a biocontrol agent against the most serious grape pestL. botrana in Egypt.     

Nematotoxic activity of essential oils from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monarda</Emphasis> species

Bioactivity of essential oils (EOs) from Monarda species has never been investigated on phytoparasitic nematodes. In this study, the EOs from two Italian ecotypes of Monarda didyma and M. fistulosa and their main compounds, carvacrol, γ-terpinene, o-cymene, and thymol, were evaluated for their in vitro activity on the infective stages of phytoparasitic nematodes Meloidogyne incognita and Pratylenchus vulnus, as well as on M. incognita egg hatch. Soil treatments with the two EOs were also investigated for their suppressiveness on M. incognita on tomato. Both EOs were strongly active on M. incognita juveniles, as a only 1.0 μL mL^?1 LC50 value was evaluated after a 24-h exposure to both EOs, whereas a lower activity was recorded on P. vulnus (15.7 and 12.5 μL mL^?1 LC50 values for M. didyma and M. fistulosa EOs, respectively). Among the EOs’ main compounds, carvacrol was highly active also at a short exposure in low concentrations, whereas γ-terpinene and thymol were much less active on both nematode species and o-cymene showed a discrete activity on P. vulnus only at the highest concentration. Hatch percent of M. incognita eggs treated with M. didyma and M. fistulosa EOs was always significantly lower than in water or in Tween 20 and Oxamyl solutions. In the experiment in soil, the multiplication of M. incognita and gall formation on tomato roots was significantly reduced by soil treatments with both EOs. The strong nematicidal activity of both Monarda EOs may suggest them as potential sources of new sustainable nematicidal products.     

Release of two predators and two parasitoids to control aphids and whiteflies

The potential of the two predators,Chrysoperla carnea Steph. andCoccinella undecimpunctata Reich., as well as the two parasitoidsDiaeretiella rapae andEretmocerus mundus in an open field and under green house were conducted after several releases againstAphis gossypii, A. fabae, Brevicorine brassicae andBemisia tabaci. Double releases ofC. carnea (1∶5 predator∶aphids) achieved 100% reduction inA. gossypii after 12 days. A single release ofC. undecimpunctata (1∶50 predator∶aphids) resulted in 99.97% reduction in the same aphid. Releasing ofD. rapae to controlB. brassicae at the rate of 1∶50 resulted in 29% parasitism. ReleasingE. mundus for the control ofB. tabaci in cabbage at the rate of 5 adults/m² resulted in 32% parasitism. Three releases ofC. undecimpunctata adults in a greenhouse cultivated with soybean, decreasedA. fabae population from 207 to 7.6 aphids/plant.