西花蓟马取食、机械损伤和外源物质诱导对番茄植株次生物质及西花蓟马解毒酶的影响

为阐明寄主植物番茄受害虫西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis取食、机械损伤及外源物质茉莉酸和水杨酸甲酯诱导后次生物质含量的变化,以及害虫如何通过调整体内解毒酶活性适应植物的防御反应,采用生化分析法测定了各诱导处理下次生物质黄酮、总酚和单宁含量及西花蓟马体内解毒酶多功能氧化酶(MFO)、乙酰胆碱酯酶(AchE)、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GSTs)和羧酸酯酶(CarE)活性的变化。结果表明:番茄叶片在各诱导处理下黄酮含量在36 h和48 h时均显著高于对照,相应时间段茉莉酸处理与水杨酸甲酯处理的黄酮含量升高最显著,分别达32.07 mg/g和31.76 mg/g;各诱导处理后24 h和36 h时,单宁和总酚含量均有不同程度下降,但总酚含量在48 h时显著升高,其中虫害处理增加最显著,达34.51 mg/g。取食各种诱导处理番茄植株6 h时,西花蓟马体内MFO活性均升高,AchE活性均受到抑制;取食除机械损伤外的其它诱导处理叶片6 h后,西花蓟马体内GSTs活性均被抑制,CarE活性均显著上升,其中取食水杨酸甲酯处理叶片的西花蓟马体内GSTs活性下降幅度最大,而CarE活性升高最显著,分别为3 882.35 U/mg和106.33 U/mg。表明各诱导处理不仅可以使番茄次生物质含量发生变化,诱导植株产生防御反应,也会使西花蓟马改变解毒酶的活性以适应寄主植物的诱导抗性,即寄主植物和害虫通过防御与反防御相互适应。     

钙离子和茉莉酸灌根对菜豆叶片防御酶活性和西花蓟马取食偏好性的影响

为探明外源物质对菜豆植株防御酶活性和西花蓟马取食偏好性的影响。本试验分别采用CaCl₂和茉莉酸(JA)进行灌根,研究了西花蓟马取食前后菜豆叶片脂氧合酶(LOX)、丙二烯氧化物合酶(AOS)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)和多酚氧化酶(PPO)活性的变化,并研究了西花蓟马对JA和CaCl₂处理后的菜豆植株的取食偏好性。结果表明：不论CaCl₂还是JA灌根均可诱导菜豆防御酶AOS、LOX、CAT和SOD活性的上升,其中对CAT活性影响最大,其活性分别上升至对照的2.83倍和3.57倍,但对POD和PPO活性没有影响。西花蓟马取食CaCl₂处理的菜豆植株,能诱导LOX、POD和PPO活性分别上升1.40、2.03倍和2.26倍,而SOD活性则被显著抑制。西花蓟马取食JA灌根的菜豆植株能明显诱导POD和PPO活性的升高,二者活性分别是未取食植株的1.67倍和1.45倍,但AOS、LOX、CAT和SOD活性被抑制。西花蓟马2龄若虫取食CaCl₂和JA...     

CO2浓度升高对取食不同寄主的西花蓟马和花蓟马生理酶活性的影响

为明确取食不同寄主植物的西花蓟马和花蓟马对CO_2浓度升高的响应机制,分别选取四季豆、茼蒿和辣椒寄主,分析不同CO_2浓度对2种蓟马成虫体内解毒酶和保护酶活性的影响。结果表明,2种蓟马的羧酸酯酶(Car E)、乙酰胆碱酯酶(Ach E)、微粒体多功能氧化酶(MFO)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性均随着CO_2浓度的升高而增强。与对照相比,高CO_2浓度下西花蓟马取食四季豆时Car E和POD活性分别升高了21.70%和40.16%,取食茼蒿时Car E、MFO和POD活性分别升高了40.11%、6.73%和43.85%,而以辣椒为寄主时超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性降低了57.56%;在800μL/L高CO_2浓度下,花蓟马的Car E、Ach E和MFO活性均略有升高;四季豆、茼蒿和辣椒饲养的花蓟马SOD活性分别下降了26.84%、52.16%和53.71%。研究表明,2种蓟马均能通过调节体内的生理酶活性来适应环境的变化,且西花蓟马的适应能力强于花蓟马。     

植物源次生物质棉酚和芸香苷对绿盲蝽保护酶与解毒酶活性的影响

为明确棉酚和芸香苷2种植物次生物质对绿盲蝽Apolygus lucorum体内3种保护酶——过氧化氢酶(CAT)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和3种解毒酶——碱性磷酸酶(AKP)、酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GST)的影响,通过在人工饲料中添加棉酚和芸香苷饲喂不同龄期绿盲蝽若虫,分别在24、48、72 h后测定若虫体内保护酶和解毒酶的活性。结果表明,同一龄期的绿盲蝽若虫取食不同浓度的同种外源次生物质后,随着次生物质浓度的升高,3种保护酶活性分别在不同浓度处理下达到最大值,如1龄若虫其CAT活性在0.4 mg/mL棉酚胁迫下达到最大,为72.8 U/mg protein,SOD和POD活性分别在0.8 mg/mL棉酚胁迫下达到最大,为59.8、23.0 U/mg protein,而3种解毒酶ACP、AKP和GST活性则均在0.4 mg/mL棉酚胁迫下达到最大,分别为26.9、29.5、66.8 U/mg protein,即绿盲蝽受到不同浓度外源次生物质胁迫后,体内的保护酶和解毒酶被激活的程度不同。同一龄期若虫取食不同种类的次生物质后,体内同一种保护酶的活性变化也不尽相同,如3龄若虫其SOD活性在1.0 mg/mL棉酚或0.04 mg/mL芸香苷胁迫48 h后均达到最大,分别为58.0 U/mg protein或61.1 U/mg protein,且显著高于其它浓度胁迫,即不同种类次生物质诱导绿盲蝽同一种保护酶达到最大值所需浓度不同。表明绿盲蝽受到不同种类外源次生物质或者不同浓度同种外源次生物质胁迫后,体内保护酶和解毒酶活性的变化是一个复杂的过程,且不同酶的变化处于一种协调状态,以适应外界环境条件的变化。     

球孢白僵菌剂量对西花蓟马偏好温度的影响

球孢白僵菌是一种对西花蓟马具高致病力的重要生防真菌。球孢白僵菌感染改变了西花蓟马的偏好温度。探讨这一现象对于提高球孢白僵菌对西花蓟马的防治效果具有重要意义。本研究分析了西花蓟马偏好温度随球孢白僵菌剂量和感染时间的变化趋势。结果表明,在各观察时间点（24～120 h,48 h除外）,感染高剂量球孢白僵菌的西花蓟马偏好温度显著低于被低剂量真菌侵染的个体。与健康西花蓟马的偏好温度（24℃±0.5℃）相比,无论是高剂量还是低剂量真菌,染菌蓟马偏好温度均随时间推移呈先下降后上升的趋势。染菌0～48 h时,蓟马的偏好温度逐渐下降。染菌后48～120 h,偏好温度回升。感染高剂量球孢白僵菌的蓟马体内真菌基因拷贝数大于被低剂量真菌感染的个体,随染菌时间的推移,差异进一步加大。本研究将为建立西花蓟马的高效防控体系提供理论支持。     

健康和虫害菜豆对二斑叶螨、西花蓟马发育及繁殖的影响

为明确西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis （Pergande）和二斑叶螨Tetranychus urticae Koch取食的菜豆对后取食昆虫的影响,研究了二斑叶螨和西花蓟马分别取食健康和虫（螨）害菜豆时生长发育和繁殖情况,并组建生命表,比较生命参数的异同。二斑叶螨取食健康菜豆和西花蓟马2龄若虫为害菜豆时未成熟期没有明显区别,但各螨态的存活率在健康菜豆上较高;取食健康菜豆时,雌成螨寿命为24.56 d,内禀增长率为0.2640,均高于取食西花蓟马为害菜豆。西花蓟马的未成熟期取食两种菜豆时也没有明显的区别,但二斑叶螨为害菜豆使西花蓟马的存活率下降;西花蓟马雌成虫平均寿命和单雌日产卵量在健康菜豆上分别为33.35 d和4.02粒,显著高于螨害菜豆,在健康菜豆上净增殖率也较高,为40.4264。研究表明,西花蓟马或二斑叶螨为害后的叶片对后取食害虫的生长发育影响不大,但对其存活率和繁殖均产生不利影响,西花蓟马和二斑叶螨取食诱导菜豆产生了一定的防御反应。     

不同诱导处理对番茄植株保护酶及西花蓟马体内消化酶活性的影响

正西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis(Pergande)对我国多种农作物造成严重危害,探讨其与寄主的相互关系十分必要。植株被昆虫为害后,保护酶活性会发生变化以适应外界不利环境,如从春蕾等(2013)研究认为西花蓟马取食可诱导其适宜寄主菜豆叶片的超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)、过氧化物酶(peroxidase,POD)和过氧化氢酶(catalase,CAT)活性升高;昆虫取食被诱导处理的     

绿僵菌与FKBP52联合使用对西花蓟马的毒力

为阐明绿僵菌与昆虫免疫抑制蛋白的增效机理,采用浸渍法测定昆虫免疫抑制蛋白FKBP52与金龟子绿僵菌Metarhizium anisopliae对西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis的毒力和其体内羧酸酯酶（carboxylesterase,CarE）、谷胱甘肽-S转移酶（glutathione-S transferase,GST）、酚氧化酶（phenoloxidase,PO）及几丁质酶活性的变化。结果显示,金龟子绿僵菌和FKBP52蛋白联合使用对西花蓟马的致死中时LT₅₀为7.32 d,优于绿僵菌单用（10.87 d）或FKBP52蛋白单用的（14.15 d）。金龟子绿僵菌和FKBP52蛋白联合使用9 d时,西花蓟马的累计死亡率达81.11%,显著高于绿僵菌单用（45.56%）或FKBP52蛋白单用的（36.67%）;金龟子绿僵菌和FKBP52蛋白联合使用的协同毒力指数为24.10,表现为增效作用。金龟子绿僵菌与FKBP52蛋白联合使用1 d后,西花蓟马体内CarE和PO活性小于金龟子绿僵菌单用后的活性;联合使用2 d后,西花蓟马体内几丁质酶活性小于绿僵菌单用后的活性,而CarE和GST活性均大于金龟子绿僵菌单用后的活性;联合使用3 d后,西花蓟马体内几丁质酶、CarE和PO活性均大于绿僵菌单用后的活性。表明与金龟子绿僵菌单用相比,金龟子绿僵菌和FKBP52蛋白联合使用后西花蓟马体内CarE、GST、PO和几丁质酶活性抑制或诱导效应与时间有关,这可能是两者具有增效作用的重要机制。     

黄绿绿僵菌侵染对褐飞虱部分生理生化指标的影响

本研究测定了3个不同浓度（1.0×10⁷、1.0×10⁸和1.0×10⁹孢子/mL）黄绿绿僵菌孢悬液处理的褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens Stål体内的羧酸酯酶（carboxylesterase,CarE）、谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶（glutathione-S-transferase,GST）、超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase,SOD）、过氧化氢酶（catalase,CAT）、过氧化物酶,酚氧化酶（phenoloxidase,PO）以及尿酸与6种必需氨基酸含量随侵染时间的变化。结果表明,3个浓度绿僵菌溶液处理的褐飞虱种群体内CarE与GST含量在处理72 h后均呈现显著下调趋势;而CAT与SOD含量随着处理时间延长,呈现上升趋势,其中SOD 3个浓度处理至72 h时分别达到430.87、377.64和376.16 U/mg显著高于对照的276.63 U/mg;酚氧化酶PO含量在24和48 h内均无显著变化,直至72 h,1.0×10⁹孢子/mL浓度处理褐飞虱种群体内PO含量上升至316.43 U/mg。结果显示,虽然低浓度处理褐飞虱种群体内产生大量尿酸的囤积,但同一处理褐飞虱种群体内的6种必需氨基酸含量未呈现显著降低趋势,当处理72 h后,1.0×10⁷孢子/mL处理褐飞虱种群体内赖氨酸（Lys）与苏氨酸（Thr）含量反而突然上升至204.68和112.38 μg/g。结果显示绿僵菌的侵染会对褐飞虱体内解毒酶、保护酶以及氨基酸含量等造成影响。     

转sck/cry1Ac基因稻谷对米蛾幼虫解毒酶系的影响

采用酶活力测定及酯酶同工酶电泳方法研究米蛾(Corcyra cephalonica)幼虫取食表达SCK/Cry1Ac毒蛋白的转基因稻谷后体内重要解毒酶活力的变化,明确其代谢毒蛋白的主要酶类。结果表明:取食转Bt基因稻谷米蛾幼虫体内的α-乙酸萘酯酶、碱性磷酸酯酶的活力在24～72h显著低于对照;酸性磷酸酯酶活力在12、48h和72h时也显著低于对照;而α-乙酸萘酯羧酸酯酶和乙酰胆碱酯酶的活力显著高于对照。谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶的活性除饲喂24h的处理外,其他处理与对照无显著差异。此外处理72h后米蛾幼虫体内酯酶同工酶谱有4条酯酶酶带,4种酯酶Est1、Est2、Est3、Est4的活性均受到不同程度的抑制,酯酶Est4的抑制效果最明显。这些解毒酶和酯酶同工酶直接参与Bt毒蛋白的代谢作用。     

Relationship Between Production of the Phytotoxin Prehelminthosporol and Virulence in Isolates of the Plant Pathogenic Fungus Bipolaris sorokiniana

A gas chromatographic method was developed to quantify the phytotoxin prehelminthosporol, which is a sesquiterpene metabolite of the plant pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana. The toxin was extracted from mycelium or culture filtrates, pre-cleaned using solid phase extraction, and analyzed by gas chromatography as a trimethylsilyl-derivative. The detection limit of the method was 5ngl^–1 (signal to noise ratio 4:1) which corresponds to ca. 15ng prehelminthosporol per mg dry weight of mycelium or 15ng prehelminthosporol per ml culture filtrate. The total amount of prehelminthosporol (mycelium plus culture filtrate) increased with cultivation time when examined in six isolates of B. sorokiniana after 6, 9, 12 and 15 days of incubation. The screening experiment of 17 isolates for prehelminthosporol production after 8 days of incubation revealed significant differences in the toxin production between the isolates. The isolates with low toxin production had lower virulence towards barley roots compared to those with higher production of the toxin. However, the virulence did not increase with prehelminthosporol level among the high producing isolates. Prehelminthosporol was also analyzed in a number of related Bipolaris and Drechslera species. In addition to B. sorokiniana, three out of six Bipolaris species (B. setariae, B. zeicola, B. victoriae) produced prehelminthosporol, which indicates that ability to produce prehelminthosporol is conserved among closely-related Bipolaris species.     

Monitoring of the winter populations of cereal aphids near Wageningen,the Netherlands,in 1982/1983

Cereal aphids on a wheat crop were sampled through the winter of 1982/1983 using both fixed and random quadrats.Sitobion avenae overwintered successfully anholocyclically although there was a substantial decline in the population of this species. No evidence for successful anholocyclic overwintering in other aphid species was found, althoughRhopalosiphum padi was seen to colonise the crop in early winter and was found until the end of December.Eggs ofR. padi onPrunus padus were observed through the winter. A steady decline in their numbers occurred. The overall survival rate of the 5385 eggs was c.30%.Eggs ofMetopolophium dirhodum onRosa spp. were also monitored. They also showed a steady decline in numbers through the winter. The overall survival rate of the 1360 eggs was c.34%.Egg hatch in bothR. padi andM. dirhodum was closely synchronised with bud burst of their host plant. For the latter species this resulted in egg hatch starting in January.Samenvatting In de winter van 1982/1983 werden de graanluizen in een tarwegewas regelmatig geteld in willekeurig en in van tevoren gekozen monstereenheden. Hoewel er een aanmerkelijke afname van de populatie vanSitobion avenae werd waargenomen, overwinterde deze soort toch anholocyclish. Er werden geen aanwijzingen gevonden dat de andere bladluissoorten anholocyclish overwinterden hoewel kolonies vanRhopalosiphum padi tot eind december werden waargenomen.De gehele winter werden eieren vanR. padi opPrunus padi aangetroffen, de aantallen ervan namen geleidelijk af; van de 5385 getelde eieren overleefde ongeveer 30%. Ook de aantallen eieren vanMetopolophium dirhodum opRosa spp. werden reglematig vastgesteld; ook hier werd een geleidelijke afname geconstateerd. Van de oorspronkelijk getelde 1360 eieren overleefde ongeveer 34%.Het uitkomen van de eieren vanR. padi enM. dirhodum viel nauw samen met het uitlopen van de knoppen van hun waardplant. VoorM. dirhodum betekende dit dat de eerste eieren al begin januari uitkwamen.     

沉默转录因子OsERF7提高水稻对褐飞虱和白背飞虱的抗性

为了解植物中特有的转录因子乙烯响应因子(ethylene responsive factor,ERF)在植物诱导抗虫反应中的作用,通过克隆1个水稻ERF转录因子基因OsERF7,并结合分子生物学、反向遗传学及生物测定,探究其在水稻防御褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens和白背飞虱Sogatella furcifera为害过程中的作用。结果显示,机械损伤处理与褐飞虱产卵雌成虫为害均能在中后期诱导OsERF7的表达。沉默OsERF7能显著降低水稻上褐飞虱及白背飞虱卵的孵化率,并延长褐飞虱卵的发育历期;与野生型水稻相比,褐飞虱和白背飞虱在沉默突变体品系R1和R30上的卵孵化率分别只有野生型水稻上的62.5%～68.3%和68.0%～76.0%,褐飞虱卵的发育历期则延长0.37～0.45 d。沉默OsERF7不影响褐飞虱产卵雌成虫为害诱导的水稻防御相关信号分子—茉莉酸(JA)、水杨酸(SA)、乙烯(ET)和过氧化氢(H_2O_2)的含量。表明转录因子OsERF7作用于防御相关信号途径的下游,并且负调控水稻对褐飞虱和白背飞虱的抗性。     

Genetic Analysis of the Role of Trichothecene and Fumonisin Mycotoxins in the Virulence of Fusarium

The phytotoxicity of the Fusarium trichothecene and fumonisin mycotoxins has led to speculation that both toxins are involved in plant pathogenesis. This subject has been addressed by examining virulence of trichothecene and fumonisin-nonproducing mutants of Fusarium in field tests. Mutants were generated by transformation-mediated disruption of genes encoding enzymes that catalyze early steps in the biosynthesis of each toxin. Two economically important species of Fusarium were selected for these studies: the trichothecene-producing species Fusarium graminearum, which causes wheat head blight and maize ear rot, and the fumonisin-producing species F. verticillioides, which causes maize ear rot. Trichothecene-non-producing mutants of F. graminearum caused less disease than the wild-type strain from which they were derived on both wheat and maize, although differences in virulence on maize were not observed under hot and dry environmental conditions. Genetic analyses of the mutants demonstrated that the reduced virulence on wheat was caused by the loss of trichothecene production rather than by a non-target mutation induced by the gene disruption procedure. Although the analyses of virulence of fumonisin-non-producing mutants of F. verticillioides are not complete, to date, the mutants have been as virulent on maize ears as their wild-type progenitor strains. The finding that trichothecene production contributes to the virulence of F. graminearum suggests that it may be possible to generate plants that are resistant to this fungus by increasing their resistance to trichothecenes. As a result, several researchers are trying to identify trichothecene resistance genes and transfer them to crop species.     

Occurrence of pepper yellow vein in the Netherlands

Samenvatting Het verschijnsel van geelnervigheid bij paprika (Capsicum annuum) kon door verenting en met de schimmelOlpidium brassicae worden overgebracht. Hierdoor bleek de ziekte identiek te zijn met een eerder in Engeland gemelde ziekte. Door inoculatie met zoösporen of rustsporen vanO. brassicae werden ook symptomen verkregen inC. baccatum, C. chacoense enC. frutescens. S. villosum bleek een waardplant te zijn voor het geelnervigheidsagens, waarbij zwakke nerfchlorosen werden waargenomen.Seconded to the Glasshouse Crops Research Station, P.O. Box 8, 2670 AA Naaldwijk, the Netherlands.     

Effects of the saprophytic leaf mycoflora on growth and productivity of winter wheat

The effects of the saprophytic mycoflora and its interference with cereal aphids on growth and yield of winter and spring wheat was studied in field experiments in 1980, 1981 and 1982.Yields varied between 5000 and 8000 kg dry matter of kernels per ha. The effect of the saprophytic mycoflora on yield was determined in different treatments: A) no control measures against cereal aphids and saprophytic and necrotrophic fungi, B) no control of cereal aphids, control of saprophytic and necrotrophic fungi, C) control of cereal aphids and control of saprophytic and necrotrophic fungi, D) control of cereal aphids and stimulation of saprophytic mycoflora and E) control of cereal aphids, no control of saprophytic and necrotrophic fungi nor stimulation of saprophytic mycoflora.Considerable differences in top densities of saprophytic mycoflora (10 times as large in A and D as in B and C) were determined. The consequences of these differences for the growth and productivity of wheat were minor. A negative effect of saprophytic mycoflora on the yield could not be detected in 1981 and 1982, whereas a small positive significant effect was found in 1980. This stimulation may have been due to competition between necrotrophic fungal pathogens and saprophytic mycoflora. As a result of favourable weather conditions necrotrophic fungal pathogens were very numerous in 1980 and could form an important yield reducing factor. Yield levels may effect the importance of the necrotrophic and saprophytic mycoflora as yield reducing factors. Additionally, in the presence of aphid honeydew captafol was found to be relatively ineffective against saprophytic fungi.     

食物对兹沃尔新小绥螨生长发育和繁殖的影响

为探究不同食物对兹沃尔新小绥螨Neoseiulus zwoelferi种群生长、发育和繁殖的影响,采用年龄-龄期两性生命表分析测定兹沃尔新小绥螨取食卢氏叶螨Tetranychus ludeni、甜果螨Carpoglyphus lactis和香蒲Typha orientalis花粉后的存活率、发育历期、寿命及繁殖情况。结果显示,3种食物均能满足兹沃尔新小绥螨生长发育和繁殖的需求。卢氏叶螨处理组的净增殖率和总繁殖率分别是28.99和36.99,均显著高于其他2个处理组;以甜果螨、卢氏叶螨和香蒲花粉为食的兹沃尔新小绥螨从卵发育至成螨所需时间分别为5.28、7.34和6.87 d,种群倍增时间分别3.35、4.22和11.77 d,前者显著短于其他2个处理;甜果螨处理组和卢氏叶螨处理组的雌成螨平均寿命分别比香蒲花粉处理组长2.75 d和4.92 d,但两者之间无显著差异;卢氏叶螨处理组雌成螨产卵天数最长,为17.84 d,产卵前期时间最短,为2.75 d,产卵量最大,为38.15粒/雌;香蒲花粉处理组雌成螨产卵天数最短,仅1.82 d,产卵前期时间最长,为5.89 d,产卵量最少,为3.36粒/雌。甜果螨处理组的内禀增长率、周限增长率分别为0.21 d-1和1.23 d-1,均显著高于其他处理组,但平均世代周期为14.65 d,显著低于其他处理组。表明3种食物均可使兹沃尔新小绥螨完成整个世代,其中甜果螨是室内饲养兹沃尔新小绥螨的最佳食物,香蒲花粉可以作为短期饲养的食物。     

Parasitoid community of the loreyi leaf wormMythimna (Acantholeucania) loreyi: Novel host-parasitoid associations and their efficiency in the eastern mediterranean region of Turkey

The loreyi leaf worm,Mythimna (Acantholeucania) loreyi Duponchel (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), is a pest of gramineous crops and causes significant economic damage to maize. In field surveys on maize to determine the parasitoid community and its impact on the pest in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey, nine parasitoid species were found associated with immature stages ofM. loreyi: The hymenopteran (Braconidae and Ichneumonidae) parasitoidsCotesia (=Apanteles) ruficrus (Haliday),Chelonus oculator Panzer,Meteorus ictericus Nees,Hyposoter didymator (Thunberg),Sinophorus sp.; and the dipteran (Tachinidae) parasitoidsPseudogonia rufifrons Wiedeman,Exorista rossica Mesnil,Gonia picea (Robineau-Desvoidy) andLinnaemya vulpina (Fallen) — the last three recorded for the first time as parasitoids ofM. loreyi in Turkey.C. ruficrus was the dominant parasitoid species, being recovered from 38.5% of the larvae collected and was also the most prevalent species, existing in 91.0% of the fields in whichM. loreyi was found. Total parasitism levels achieved by braconid species was 41.4%, by ichneumonid parasitoids 4.8%, and by tachinid parasitoids 1.9%. In a separate field experiment, seasonal population fluctuations and natural efficiency ofC. ruficrus onM. loreyi were found to be 35.1% and 42.4%, respectively. Population levels ofC. ruficrus were closely related to fluctuations in the population ofM. loreyi, with parasitism ranging between 0 and 77.3% during the study. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Aug. 28, 2005.     

Systemic toxicity of spinosad to the greenhouse whiteflyTrialeurodes vaporariorum and to the cotton leaf wormSpodoptera littoralis

When spinosad was administered at the stem base of tomato plants grown in rockwool, the main substrate used in greenhouses in northern Europe, it was taken up by the roots and transported to the leaves. Laboratory toxicity experiments showed that systemically applied spinosad, at doses as low as 2 mg active ingredient per plant, gave excellent control of nymphs of the greenhouse whiteflyTrialeurodes vaporariorum, but was less toxic to adults. The toxicity of spinosad on Homoptera has not been documented yet and a dose-response relationship was established. The persistence of toxicity was at least 22 days for whitefly nymphs. A dose-response relationship of systemically applied spinosad was also determined on third-instar larvae of the cotton leaf wormSpodoptera littoralis; a dose of 5 mg per plant consistently killed all larvae. The persistence of systemically applied spinosad reached up to 45 days after treatment. Systemically applied spinosad was harmless to the parasitic waspEncarsia formosa. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Nov. 29, 2005.     

Aetiology and causal agents of mango sudden decline disease in the Sultanate of Oman

Mango sudden decline is a recently introduced, economically serious disease in Oman. Affected mango trees have wilting symptoms that usually begin on one side and later spread to involve the entire tree. Trees exude amber-coloured gum from the bark of their trunks or branches and vascular tissues are discoloured. Having entered Oman in the recent past, survey data is presented that shows the disease to have spread throughout the northern part of the country. Evidence is presented that the vascular wilt pathogen Ceratocystis fimbriata causes mango sudden decline disease in Oman, possibly in concert with Lasiodiplodia theobromae and the recently described Ceratocystis omanensis. Isolates of these fungi from affected trees, cause infection and can be recovered from inoculated seedlings. Bark beetles (Hypocryphalus mangiferae) are shown to carry C. fimbriata and L. theobromae and are presumably responsible for transmitting both pathogens to healthy mango trees. Acting as a wounding agent and vector, the bark beetle is likely to have assisted the rapid spread of the disease across Oman.