Development of the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) on natural and synthetic diets

The development of the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) was investigated on a newly developed semiartificial diet as compared with two natural diets namely sugarcane stem and banana fruit. The weevil was successfully maintained on these diets and duration of the life cycle for males and females, respectively were 164.97 and 194.61 days on the semiartificial diet, 192.5 and 186.5 days on banana, and 172.00 and 170.00 days on sugarcane. The average egg production per female was shown to be significantly higher on the semiartificial diet, being 184.00±18.68 eggs compared with an average of 125.00±11.97 and 133.00±15.21 eggs on banana and sugarcane, respectively. The fertility ranged between 94–100% in those eggs deposited by females previously reared on the tested diets. The developed semiartificial diet was shown to be suitable for maintaining laboratory colonies of the red palm weevil, and it can substitute natural diets.     

The development of mice and voles in an oak forest with a surplus of acorns

130kg of acorns of Common Oak (Quercus robur L.) were distributed on an area of 1.44ha in an oak forest near Zagreb (Croatia), where acorns were lacking. The influence of this surplus of food on the development of mice and voles was observed from September 1999 till February 2000 on the experimental plot and on an untreated control area before and after offering the acorns. The Redbacked Vole Clethrionomys glareolus was the most abundant and dominant species in both observed areas. After distribution of the acorns, all species of mice, e.g. the Yellownecked Fieldmouse Apodemus flavicollis, the Longtailed Fieldmouse A. sylvaticus, and the Striped Field Mouse A. agrarius, increased up to 4 times in number on the area treated with a surplus of acorns. On the same area, however, all species of voles, e.g. the Redbacked Vole C. glareolus, the Field Vole Microtus agrestis, and the Common Vole M. arvalis, decreased. The numbers of captured and recaptured rodents before and after offering acorns on the treated and the untreated control area were compared by statistical analysis (Chi²-test). The results show how food can influence the competitive relations between mice and voles.     

Development of the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) on natural and synthetic diets

The development of the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) was investigated on a newly developed semiartificial diet as compared with two natural diets namely sugarcane stem and banana fruit. The weevil was successfully maintained on these diets and duration of the life cycle for males and females, respectively were 164.97 and 194.61 days on the semiartificial diet, 192.5 and 186.5 days on banana, and 172.00 and 170.00 days on sugarcane. The average egg production per female was shown to be significantly higher on the semiartificial diet, being 184.00±18.68 eggs compared with an average of 125.00±11.97 and 133.00±15.21 eggs on banana and sugarcane, respectively. The fertility ranged between 94–100% in those eggs deposited by females previously reared on the tested diets. The developed semiartificial diet was shown to be suitable for maintaining laboratory colonies of the red palm weevil, and it can substitute natural diets.     

Sucking rates of the white-backed planthopper Sogatella furcifera (Horv.) (Homoptera, Delphacidae) and yield loss of rice

The sap-sucking rates of the white-backed planthopper (WBPH) Sogatella furcifera (Horv.) (Homoptera, Delphacidae) were examined under a series of experimental conditions in the laboratory. The sucking rate increased with the age of the planthopper. The relative sucking rate of nymphs at the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th instars and macropterous male adult was 0.19, 0.27, 0.37, 0.49, 0.59, 0.69, and 1 of that of macropterous female adult (set as standard insect [SI]), respectively. The SI sucked at a maximum rate from rice plants at tillering stage. In indica rice varieties, the SI had higher sucking rate than in japonica varieties. The effect of temperature on sucking rate could be described by an exponential quadratic equation. A power equation (W=0.0001S^1.8107) could be used to transfer the relative sucking rate in area (S, mm²) of honeydew excreted by WBPH into absolute dry mass weight (W, mg). The relationship between injury to rice by WBPH in cage and yield loss assessment showed that yield loss was mainly caused by decreased filling percentage of kernels and kernel weights rather than the number of panicles and spikelets per panicle. Finally, experimental results were integrated to a formula that links percentage of yield loss and sucking equivalence of WBPH.     

Sucking rates of the white-backed planthopper Sogatella furcifera (Horv.) (Homoptera, Delphacidae) and yield loss of rice

The sap-sucking rates of the white-backed planthopper (WBPH) Sogatella furcifera (Horv.) (Homoptera, Delphacidae) were examined under a series of experimental conditions in the laboratory. The sucking rate increased with the age of the planthopper. The relative sucking rate of nymphs at the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th instars and macropterous male adult was 0.19, 0.27, 0.37, 0.49, 0.59, 0.69, and 1 of that of macropterous female adult (set as standard insect [SI]), respectively. The SI sucked at a maximum rate from rice plants at tillering stage. In indica rice varieties, the SI had higher sucking rate than in japonica varieties. The effect of temperature on sucking rate could be described by an exponential quadratic equation. A power equation (W=0.0001S^1.8107) could be used to transfer the relative sucking rate in area (S, mm²) of honeydew excreted by WBPH into absolute dry mass weight (W, mg). The relationship between injury to rice by WBPH in cage and yield loss assessment showed that yield loss was mainly caused by decreased filling percentage of kernels and kernel weights rather than the number of panicles and spikelets per panicle. Finally, experimental results were integrated to a formula that links percentage of yield loss and sucking equivalence of WBPH.     

Pymetrozine: Selectivity spectrum to beneficial arthropods and fitness for integrated pest management

Pymetrozine is the first and only substance from the group of azomethine pyridines, a novel class of insecticides. The spectrum of activity covers sucking pests such as aphids, whiteflies and planthoppers.Tests were carried out in the laboratory and under field conditions to evaluate its impact on beneficial arthropods.In laboratory tests it demonstrated full selectivity against predaceous Coleoptera, Heteroptera, Neuroptera and the predatory mite Typhlodromus pyri.Following a single application at 250/200g a.i./ha on cotton in Egypt and in the USA, the regular sampling of predators over a period of three weeks revealed a similar population development in the pymetrozine and the untreated control plots. On okra, a vegetable crop in Egypt, it suppressed populations of Aphis gossypii with two sprays at 100g a.i./ha for the whole observation period of 23 days. It also allowed the survival of predators.These positive features make pymetrozine an ideal component in situations where sucking pests have to be controlled and natural enemies can play a substantial role as complementary control tools.     

The development of mice and voles in an oak forest with a surplus of acorns

130kg of acorns of Common Oak (Quercus robur L.) were distributed on an area of 1.44ha in an oak forest near Zagreb (Croatia), where acorns were lacking. The influence of this surplus of food on the development of mice and voles was observed from September 1999 till February 2000 on the experimental plot and on an untreated control area before and after offering the acorns. The Redbacked Vole Clethrionomys glareolus was the most abundant and dominant species in both observed areas. After distribution of the acorns, all species of mice, e.g. the Yellownecked Fieldmouse Apodemus flavicollis, the Longtailed Fieldmouse A. sylvaticus, and the Striped Field Mouse A. agrarius, increased up to 4 times in number on the area treated with a surplus of acorns. On the same area, however, all species of voles, e.g. the Redbacked Vole C. glareolus, the Field Vole Microtus agrestis, and the Common Vole M. arvalis, decreased. The numbers of captured and recaptured rodents before and after offering acorns on the treated and the untreated control area were compared by statistical analysis (Chi²-test). The results show how food can influence the competitive relations between mice and voles.     

Occurrence of pathogens in associated living bark beetles (Col., Scolytidae) from different spruce stands in Austria

Pathogen occurrence was studied in 16099 adult specimens of 10 different bark beetle species, which live associated on Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Beetles (mainly Ips typographus L. and Pityogenes chalcographus L.) were collected from 6 different localities in Austria (4 secondary spruce stands and 2 natural forest type stands, 9 sampling plots in total) in elevations between 400m and 1600m. Various viral, protozoan, and fungal pathogens could be diagnosed with a light microscope in the examined beetles. Numerous pathogen species were known from former studies, some pathogens were totally new or could be found in a new host species beside their type host. The most dominant pathogen species were Protozoa, Gregarina cf. typographi, Malamoeba cf. scolyti, and Chytridiopsis cf. typographi. Over the whole investigation period, the highest pathogen diversity with eight pathogen species was found in I. typographus. Differences were observed in the pathogen complex of each beetle species from the different collection sites and in different years of investigation. Several species showed an overlapping in their host range and infected various bark beetle species. Furthermore, pathogen occurrence and prevalence differed in bark beetles from 4 different sampling plots in an area (one locality) within a distance of a few kilometres.     

Increase of Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Kurdj.) in hot and dry weather (2000) (Hom., Aphididae)

Two hot and dry weather periods during mid-spring and early summer caused severe drought-stress to barley groves in many districts of the Czech Republic in 2000. Although not generally taken into consideration as an injury-increasing factor, the Russian wheat aphid (=RWA), Diuraphis noxia (Kurdj.), was discovered to contribute significantly to injury in the ripening stage of spring barley as well as to the substantial decrease of yield (up to 30–40% of the calculated mean, in some districts). RWA increased considerably not only in the lowland banker areas but also in the higher altitudes, values in the latter case then manifesting those found in the lowland banker areas in the previous years.     

Conjugation of δ-endotoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis with abamectin of Streptomyces avermitilis as a new type of biocide, GCSC-BtA, for control of agricultural insect pests

Conjugation of -endotoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis with abamectin, a toxin of Streptomyces avermitilis, was carried out to form a new type of biocide, GCSC-BtA based on Germany-China Scientific Cooperation research, for the control of agricultural insect pests. The strategy for biochemical linkage was designed by conjugating an amino group in B.t. protoxin with a carboxyl group in carboxylated abamectin under the treatment of conjugator EDC [1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl carbodiimide Hydrochloride)]. The formation of B.t. protoxin was processed by solubilizing B.t. crystal in 25mM dithiothreitol (DTT) at 37°C for 2h. The carboxylated abamectin was formed by carboxylating the NaH-activated abamectin with 10mg/ml butyric anhydride at 111°C in a water-circumfluent condensation device for 2h. The conjugating reaction, consisting of 5mg/ml B.t. protoxin, 10mg/ml carboxylated abamectin and 19.17mg/ml EDC, was successfully conducted at room temperature for 24h. Significant differences were found between pure abamectin, carboxylated abamectin and the conjugated BtA by means of UV-photo absorptions recorded at wavelengths 354, 438, 518, 600nm (P<0.01). LT₅₀ of the conjugated GCSC-BtA to the 3^rd instar larvae of Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lep., Plutellidae) was 35.27 g a.i./ml, about 62% and 76% of that caused by the B.t. protoxin and the caxboxylated abamectin, respectively. The conjugated GCSC-BtA caused 87.14% mortalities in larvae of P. xylostella, 93.75% in adult Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hom., Aphididae) and 89.33% in adult Phyllotreta vittata Fabricius (Col., Chrysomelidae) as compared to 48.33% by the B.t. crystal only in P. xylostella. The symptoms caused by conjugated GCSC-BtA in the 3^rd instar of P. xylostella were black color in the head part and white-yellow in the abdomen of dead larvae, which differed from the black color or the white-yellow all along the body caused by either the B.t. crystal or the abamectin, respectively. It was concluded that the conjugated GCSC-BtA biocide had a broader host spectrum and a faster killing speed than either the B.t. crystal or abamectin alone for the control of agricultural pests.     

Toxigenic Fusarium Species of Liseola Section in Pre-harvest Maize Ear Rot, and Associated Mycotoxins in Slovakia

The occurrence of Fusarium species of Liseola section and related toxins was investigated for two years (1996 and 1998) on maize ear rot samples collected in the most important areas for maize growing in Slovakia. The species most frequently isolated was F. verticillioides, followed by F. proliferatum in 1996 and F. subglutinans in 1998. Most of the strains belonged to mating populations A, D, and E of the teleomorph Gibberella fujikuroi. Fusarium graminearum was also frequently recovered in both the years of investigations. Toxin analysis of maize ears showed that most of the samples (21 out of 22) were contaminated with at least one toxin. In particular, the concentration of fumonisin B₁, and fumonisin ₂ was up to 26.9 and 5.1gg^-1, respectively in 1996, and up to 12.1 and 6.3gg^-1, respectively in 1998. Beauvericin was detected only in one sample in 1996. Seven samples in 1996 were contaminated by fusaproliferin up to 8.2gg^-1, but just traces of the toxin were found in one sample in 1998. All 29 strains of F. verticillioides, two of three strains of F. proliferatum and none of eight F. subglutinans strains isolated from samples produced fumonisin B₁ in culture on whole maize kernels (0.1–5646 and 940–1200ugg^-1, respectively). Two strains of F. subglutinans and two of F. proliferatum produced beauvericin (up to 65 and 70gg^-1, respectively). Ten strains of F. verticillioides produced beauvericin: 9 strains produced a low amount (up to 3gg^-1), while only one of them produced a high level of toxin (375gg^-1). Fusaproliferin was produced by two F. proliferatum strains (220 and 370gg^-1), by seven F. subglutinans (20–1335gg^-1) and by three F. verticillioides (10–35gg^-1). This is the first report on fusaproliferin production by F. verticillioides, although at low level.     

The identity of the footrot fungus of flax

From comparative morphological studies and inoculation tests it is concluded that the footrot fungus of flax (current nameAscochyta linicola Naoum. & Vass.) can be distinguished from a ubiquitous soil-borne fungus (current namePhoma solanicola Prill. & Del.) only by its pathogenicity on flax and its general appearancein vitro. The correct name of the latter fungus proved to bePhoma exigua Desm. For the footrot fungus the new combinationPhoma exigua Desm. var.linicola (Naoum. & Vass.) Maas is proposed. A documentation of the synonymy and literature are given for both organisms, and misapplications are discussed.Samenvatting Om na te gaan in hoeverre de dode harrel-schimmel van vlas (in Nederland bekend alsAscochyta linicola Naoum. & Vass.) identiek is met een algemeen voorkomende zwak parasitaire grondschimmel (o.a. bekend alsPhoma solanicola Prill. & Del.) zijn een aantal stammen van deze twee schimmels aan een vergelijkend onderzoek onderworpen, waarbij behalve de morfologische kenmerken ook de totale habitus in vitro en de pathogeniteit ten opzichte van vlas zijn onderzocht. In verband met bepaalde literatuurgegevens is ook de koolparasietLeptosphaeria maculans (Desm.) Ces. & de N. (stat. con.Plenodomus lingam (Tode ex Fr.) Hoehn.) en de van vlaszaad beschreven maar algemeen voorkomende schimmelPeyronellaea nicotiae Leduc bij dit onderzoek betrokken.Het bleek, dat de dode harrel-schimmel alleen door zijn afwijkende uniforme groei in cultuur en door zijn veel grotere pathogeniteit ten opzichte van vlas is te onderscheiden van de algemeen voorkomende grondschimmel (fig. 1; tabel 1). Derhalve werd geconcludeerd, dat we hier het beste kunnen spreken van twee variëteiten van één schimmel, welke gezien de morfologische kenmerken thuishoort in het geslachtPhoma Sacc. De oudst bekende naam van de algemeen voorkomende grondschimmel bleekPhoma exigua Desm. te zijn. Voor de dode harrel-schimmel werd de nieuwe combinatiePhoma exigua var.linicola (Naoum. & Vass.) Maas geïntroduceerd. Van beide organismen is een documentatie gegeven van de synonymie, literatuurgegevens en onjuiste toepassingen.De twee andere onderzochte schimmels, welke morfologisch van een geheel ander type zijn danPhoma exigua, bleken niet pathogeen te zijn voor vlas (tabel 1). Voor de algemeen voorkomendePeyronellaea nicotiae bleek afgestorven vlas een bijzonder geschikt substraat te zijn. Het literatuurgegeven datPhoma lingam (=Plenodomus lingam) morfologisch veel overeenkomst vertoont met de dode harrel-schimmel bleek op een misidentificatie te berusten en heeft in feite betrekking op de algemeen voorkomende grondschimmel.     

Specific detection of Ralstonia solanacearum 16S rRNA sequences by AmpliDet RNA

The potential of AmpliDet RNA for specific detection of Ralstonia solanacearum in potato tuber samples and surface water was demonstrated. AmpliDet RNA is a procedure based on nucleic acid sequence based amplification (NASBA) of RNA sequences and homogeneous real time detection of NASBA amplicons with a molecular beacon. The procedure is carried out in sealed tubes, thus reducing the risks for carry-over contamination. AmpliDet RNA enabled reliable detection of specific 16S rRNA sequences of R. solanacearum in total RNA extracts from potato tuber samples in 90min at a level of 10 cells per reaction, equivalent to ca. 10⁴cellsml^–1 of sample. In surface water, AmpliDet RNA allowed detection of R. solanacearum at a level of 10cfuml^–1, after concentrating bacteria from 200ml of surface water into 1ml of surface water by centrifugation.All strains of R. solanacearum and a strain of R. syzygii were positive in AmpliDet RNA, but not other (related) bacterial species. Ralstonia solanacearum (race 3, biovar 2) could be detected reliably in 18 naturally infected potato tuber samples containing varying concentrations of cells. Ninety-one negative tuber samples, from which no R. solanacearum was isolated, were tested in AmpliDet RNA, including 23 samples containing bacteria (cross-) reacting with antibodies against R. solanacearum in immunofluorescence (IF) cell-staining. Only one negative sample, containing high numbers of IF-positive cells, was positive in AmpliDet RNA.     

The delphacidSogata cubana vector of a virus ofEchinochloa colonum

Samenvatting In Nickerie, het belangrijkste rijstproducerende gebied van Suriname komt het grasEchinochloa colonum (L.)Link talrijk voor, zowel in de rijstvelden als op de dijken daar rondom heen. Nagenoeg alle planten van dit gras blijken verschijnselen te vertonen, die sterk overeenkomen met de symptomen bij rijstplanten, aangetast door het hoja blanca virus. Ondanks deze verschijnselen op de grasplanten vertonen op vele plaatsen de in de naaste omgeving groeiende rijstplanten geen afwijkingen. Hiervoor zijn twee verklaringen mogelijk, nl. 1. het virus vanEchinochloa is niet identiek met het hoja blanca virus van rijst, of 2. de overdracht van het hoja blanca virus van gras op gras wordt door een andere vector tot stand gebracht van de overdracht van gras op rijst of van rijst op rijst. De eerste verklaring wordt gesteund door het feit dat in de omgeving van Paramaribo de symptomen van hoja blanca nog niet in de rijstvelden konden worden gevonden, ofschoon daar wel afwijkendeEchinochloa-planten voorkomen.In juni 1959 werd de delphacideSogata cubana Crawford in Nickerie op zieke grasplanten waargenomen.Sogata oryzicola Muir werd daarentegen zelden gevangen op de in de omgeving groeiende rijst. Met exemplaren vanS. cubana. opgekweekt op ziekeEchinochloa-planten, konden gemakkelijk gezonde zaailingen van dit gras worden besmet. Zo werden in een proef alle vijfEchinochloa-planten ziek, waar 20 van dergelijke insekten op waren geplaatst. In een tweede proef werden drie exemplaren vanS. cubana, afkomstig van zieke planten, op twee Echinochloa-plantjes gezet; negen dagen later vertoonde een dezer planten de symptomen van de virusziekte. In een derde proef vermocht zelfs een exemplaar vanS. cubana een van de vijfEchinochloa-zaailingen te infecteren. S. cubana, opgekweekt op een ziekeE. colonum-plant was echter niet in staat jonge rijstplantjes te infecteren. Echinochloa-plantjes waarop exemplaren vanS. cubana zogen, die op het grasLeptochloa scabra Nees waren opgekweekt, gingen geen afwijkingen vertonen. Dit maakt het onwaarschijnlijk dat bijEchinochloa de op hoja blanca gelijkende symptomen een gevolg zouden zijn van een intoxicatie door het zuigen der insekten.     

Definition of the flight period of Lasioderma serricorne (F.) in stored tobacco

A 4-year (1996–99) survey of the biology of L. serricorne (F) (Coleoptera, Anobiidae) on stored tobacco has taken place in Thessaloniki, northern Greece. For the trapping of the adults, pheromone ('New Serrico' and 'Black Stripe Moth') as well as electric (black light) traps were used. The first generation adults emerging from larvae hibernating inside the tobacco bales appeared flying on the 17/5, 16/5, 28/4, and 30/4 of the years 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999, respectively. In parallel observations, adults inside the bales were found on the 14/5, 12/5, 23/4, and 26/4 of the above-mentioned years, respectively. Termination of flights, in all the years concerned, took place during October or November, while the last flights of November were recorded in temperatures of about 13°C.     

Winter mortality in sub-corticolous populations of Ips typographus (Coleoptera, Scolytidae) and its parasitoids in the south-eastern Alps

A study concerning the winter mortality of a sub-corticolous population of Ips typographus and its parasitoids has been carried out in the south-eastern Alps (Italy) during the winter 1997/98. Three attacked spruce trees were sampled three times (November, February and April) by collecting infested bark disks (1dm² each). All insects that emerged from the bark or died in the samples before emergence were counted. The mean number of living Ips typographus occurring under the bark decreases by 49% from November to April. Winter mortality mainly affects larval stages and young adults. The same trend was observed for the parasitoids Coeloides bostrychorum (48.5%) and Roptrocerus xylophagorum (47.5%).     

Biological characteristics and life tables of Neoseiulus umbraticusChant (Acari, Phytoseiidae) at three constant temperatures

The development time, survival and fecundity of the generalist predatory mite, Neoseiulus umbraticusChant, were determined at 20, 25, and 30°C and 65±10% RH. N. umbraticus females completed development in 9.7, 8.0 and 5.9 days, respectively, using a diet of all life stages of Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval. Total developmental times of males were relatively shorter at 25 and 30°C than at 20°C. In general, preoviposition, oviposition, and postoviposition periods of N. umbraticus shortened as temperature increased. The longest survival rate of N. umbraticus of 80.5 days occurred at 20°C, followed by 67.0 and 57.6 days at 25 and 30°C, respectively. Mated females laid an average 0.9, 1.3 and 1.4 eggs per female per day and 33.1, 44.0 and 43.6 eggs over their entire lives at 20, 25 and 30°C, respectively. The sex ratios of this species were 0.57, 0.57 and 0.54 female (female+male) at 20, 25 and 30°C, respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (r_m) became greater with rising temperatures from 0.123 at 20°C to 0.180 at 30°C. The net reproduction rate (R_o) was highest at 25°C (25.0 females/female) and lowest at 20°C (18.8 females/female), while T_o decreased with increasing temperatures, from 23.8 days at 20°C to 17.5 days at 30°C.     

Zur Sch?dlingsvertilgung einiger Singvogelarten in einem Schwarzkiefern/Eichen-Mischbestand im Beynamer Wald bei Ankara

Analysis of nestling food in four species of Parus and one species of Ficedula using the 'Halsringmethode' showed a high quota of adults and caterpillars of the important forest pests: Tortrix viridana, Euproctis chrysorrhoea, Diprion pini, and Lymantria dispar. These four major pest species amounted in the nestling food of Parus major to 50%, P. coeruleus to 52.6%, P. ater to 40.9%, and Ficedula hypoleuca to 30.2%.     

Serological identification of some soil-borne viruses causing diseases in fruit crops in the Netherlands

Samenvatting Tot voor kort was slechts weinig bekend over de identiteit van de virussen, die verantwoordelijk zijn voor de lepelbladziekte van rode bes en de Eckelraderziekte van kers. Een antiserum werd gemaakt tegen het lepelbladvirus en toetsingen werden uitgevoerd. Het lepelbladvirus bleek een stam van het Schotse raspberry ring spot-virus te zijn. Ook een virus uit Eckelraderzieke kersen bleek met het antiserum tegen lepelbladvirus te reageren. Het antiserum tegen lepelbladvirus reageerde met alle getoetste isolaties van dit virus tot een verdunning van 1/512, doch met een viertal isolaties uit Eckelraderzieke kersen tot een verdunning van slechts 1/128. Hoewel het lepelbladvirus en het virus uit Eckelraderzieke kersen dus duidelijk verwant zijn, bleek, ook uit premunitieproeven, dat er verschillen zijn. De verwantschap tussen het virus uit Eckelraderzieke kersen en het raspberry ring spot-virus is uit verschillende proefresultaten gebleken.Een derde virus, afkomstig uit aardbeiplanten van het ras Red Gauntlet, geïmporteerd uit Schotland, bleek te reageren met een antiserum tegenHarrisons beet ring spot stam van het tomato black ring-virus. Dit antiserum werd verstrekt door Dr.C. H. Cadman, Schotland.     

Biological control of cucumber powdery mildew by Tilletiopsis minor

Samenvatting Onder optimale omstandigheden konT. minor de ontwikkeling van komkommermeeldauw (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) tegengaan.Spuiten met 2×10⁷ sporen ml^–17 dagen na inoculatie met komkommermeeldauw gaf een reductie van meeldauwontwikkeling van ongeveer 90%. Wanneer een tweede bespuiting met dezelfde concentratie sporen 3 dagen na de eerste werd toegepast bleven de planten vrij van meeldauw tot ze werden opgeruimd 3 weken later.Bij een R.L. lager dan 70% en een temperatuur boven 30 °C had geen van de behandelingen succes. T. minor bleek ongevoelig voor dimethirimol (Milcurb) bij een concentratie van 125 g ml^–1, terwijl er gemakkelijk een mutant kon worden verkregen, die resistent was tegen 100 g fenarimol ml^–1, bij gelijk blijvende groeikracht en pathogeniteit ten opzichte van komkommermeeldauw, waardoorT. minor ingepast kan worden in een schema voor geïntegreerde bestrijding.