Résumés français: Resumes espanoles

Abstract

Laboratory studies were conducted, using a millet grain bait, to estimate the minimum concentration of 4‐aminopyridine (4‐AP) needed to produce abnormal behaviour and distress calls in house sparrows (Passer domesticus L.). Three concentrations (0.50, 0.75 and 1.0%) were tested and three doses (6, 18 and 30 mg) were administered by forcing birds to eat one, three or five treated grains. There were differences among the three concentrations in time from dosing to first distress call and in abnormal behaviour, but not in the duration and number of distress calls. At each concentration different doses had different effects. Males emitted more and higher pitched distress calls than did females. It is concluded that concentrations of 0.75 and 1.0% could be effective in reducing damage to cereal crops by house sparrows in Pakistan. The calculated LD₅₀ was 5.9 mg/kg (4.5–7.7 mg/kg, 95% confidence limits).     

Emergence de Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) sur culture protégée de piment (Solanaceae) en zone subsaharienne (Algérie)

In Algeria, the Mediterranean fruit fly has long been associated with fruit production in coastal regions with a temperate climate. But with climate change, especially in autumn and spring, this fly has spread and attacks other host plants. The medfly appeared in the sub-Saharan area of Souf region (Algeria) on chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum) under protected crops and causes significant damage.     

Epidemiology of flavescence dorée in vineyards in northwestern Italy

ABSTRACT A serious outbreak of flavescence dorée (FD) was reported in Piemonte, northwestern Italy, in 1998, and since then, the disease has compromised the economy of this traditional wine-growing area, even following the application of compulsory insecticide treatments to control Scaphoideus titanus, the vector of the causal phytoplasma. Affected vines show severe symptoms, varying according to the cultivar, and are rogued to reduce disease spread. Following winter and pruning, a previously affected vine may appear symptomless and free of phytoplasmas in its aerial as well as its root system, even by nested-polymerase chain reaction assays. Such plants are considered to be "recovered". Since 1998 homogenous data on the incidence of newly infected, healthy, or recovered plants productivity, presence of vectors, and treatment schedules have been collected in seven severely affected vineyards of southern Piemonte for 5 years (1999 to 2003). Infectivity and recovery rates were also calculated each year. From 1999 to 2003, the average number of healthy plants decreased and the numbers of recovered plants and those with symptoms increased. Productivity of recovered vines, although lower than that of healthy ones, was always higher than that of vines with symptoms and was not influenced by the time elapsed from date of recovery. The relationships between the ln-transformed number of vectors trapped in the vineyards the previous year and the infection and the recovery rates were fitted by an exponential (R(2) = 0.95) and an asymptotic (R(2) = 0.93) model, respectively.     

Susceptibility to flavescence dorée of different Vitis vinifera genotypes from north-western Italy

The aim of this work was to evaluate the susceptibility to flavescence dorée (FD) of 12 Vitis vinifera cultivars grown in Piedmont, and representative of the wine-making tradition of this area. The experiments were conducted under controlled conditions to ensure constant infection pressure. Test plants were ex vitro potted vines, singly inoculated with four Scaphoideus titanus infected by FD-C phytoplasma (FDp), under greenhouse conditions. Vines were tested for FDp at 5 and 8 weeks postinoculation (wpi) and the phytoplasma load was measured in leaves and roots at 8 wpi. Within the 14 V. vinifera accessions (belonging to 12 cultivars), three susceptibility clusters were identified. Cultivars within the low susceptibility group showed low phytoplasma loads and low percentages of infected plants, suggesting a tolerant behaviour. To confirm these results, four Vitis cultivars, representing extremes of FD susceptibility from low to high, were grafted onto Kober 5BB rootstocks and inoculated with laboratory-infected S. titanus, under semi-field conditions. The transmission experiments onto grafted cuttings confirmed that susceptibility to the disease depends on the scion genotype. The data indicated that none of the tested V. vinifera genotypes are resistant to FD, although some cultivars with low susceptibility are available, and can be explored for identifying genetic traits involved in disease tolerance/resistance. Moreover, ranking Vitis genotypes for their susceptibility to FD is in itself a valuable tool to support vine growers in their decision management, by helping them to choose the most appropriate varieties according to their specific FD epidemiological contexts.     

Phloem and xylem modifications of Vitis vinifera stems in response to flavescence dorée phytoplasma infection

Anatomical modifications of xylem and phloem tissues of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) stems of shoots infected by the flavescence dorée phytoplasma (FDp) were first observed and described in the 1960s, but never quantified in detail. In this paper, we describe and quantify the impact of FDp on grapevine stem tissues, and relate it to the level of expression of symptoms and to cultivar-specific FDp susceptibility. For this purpose, we measured and quantified the anatomical parameters of xylem and phloem tissues of a tolerant (Merlot) and a susceptible (Chardonnay) cultivar. For each cultivar, thin sections of eight shoots with symptoms from FDp-infected grapevines, eight symptomless shoots from the same FDp-infected grapevines, and eight symptomless shoots from symptomless grapevines (control) were compared. Results showed general inhibition of xylem growth and proliferation of phloem tissues (hyperplasia) with lack or irregular arrangement of the fibre-sclereids in the axial phloem of the stems from shoots with symptoms, irrespective of the cultivar. Xylem vessels of infected Merlot shoots were partly occluded by tyloses and a higher number of smaller vessels were produced than in control plants. Thus, the anatomical responses confirmed the detrimental effect of FDp on stems of infected grapevine shoots, including impaired stem development and lack of periderm formation. Statistically significant differences were found between the two cultivars with different levels of susceptibility to FDp infection.     

Insect injection and artificial feeding bioassays to test the vector specificity of flavescence dorée phytoplasma

ABSTRACT The specificity of vector transmission of Flavescence dorée phytoplasma (FDP) was tested by injecting FDP, extracted from laboratory-reared infective Euscelidius variegatus, into specimens of 15 other hemipteran insect species collected in European vineyards. Concentrations of viable phytoplasma extracts and latency in vectors were monitored by injection of healthy-reared E. variegatus leafhoppers. Based on these preliminary results, insects were injected by using phytoplasma extracts that ensured the highest rate of FDP acquisition and transmission by E. variegatus. Transmission into an artificial diet through a Parafilm membrane about 3 weeks after insect injection was attempted. FDP-injected insects that belonged to 15 hemipteran species were confined in cages and fed through the membrane for a 4- to 5-day inoculation access period. FDP DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the feeding buffer fed upon by Anoplotettix fuscovenosus, Aphrodes makarovi,E. variegatus, and Euscelis incisus. PCR amplification with specific primers detected FDP DNA in injected insects of all test insect species. Band intensity was positively correlated with the transmissibility of FDP. Transmission of FDP to plants by feeding was confirmed for Anoplotettix fuscovenosus, E. variegatus, and Euscelis incisus, but not for Aphrodes makarovi. Our results suggest that vector competency of FDP is restricted to specimens belonging to the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Deltocephalinae.     

Multiplication kinetics of Flavescence dorée phytoplasma in broad bean. Effect of phytoplasma strain and temperature

The multiplication kinetics of the Flavescence dorée phytoplasma in broad bean after inoculation by the experimental vector Euscelidius variegatus was determined. The number of phytoplasma cells, measured by quantitative real-time PCR in the aerial parts of the plants, increased exponentially over the time. After 22 to 30 days post inoculation, when symptoms appeared, bacterial growth reached a stationary phase. Whatever the time following inoculation there were no statistical differences between numbers of phytoplasma cells in plants infected by Map-FD1 (FD-CAM05) and Map-FD2 (FD92 and FD-PEY05) genotype strains. On the contrary, temperature had an influence on Flavescence dorée phytoplasma multiplication which was nearly twice as fast in broad beans incubated at 25 °C than in broad beans incubated at 20 °C. At 25 °C, plants expressed symptoms 1 week earlier. In a context of climate change, the consequences of a global warming on the Flavescence dorée epidemics are discussed.     

Colonization of rose by Sphaerotheca pannosa (Wallr.) Lév. var. rosae Wor.

Colonization of rose by powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca pannosa) is described in terms of mycelium growth, conidiophore production and sporulation in time. The data used are gathered during different years, put together and treated by means of graphic models. Colonies could be separated into fast and slow growing colonies. Colonies initiated on leaves of increasing age showed a decreasing growth rate. Production of conidiophores and conidia started on the same day, and the relative activity of conidiophore production reached its maximum 6 days after the end of the latency period, followed 1 day later by the maximum activity of conidium production. Both conidiophore and conidium production continued for a long time at a low level. The effect of leaf age on conidiophore production found expression in differences in production rate during the first days of colony development and in final production levels. Observations on naturally infected leaves in an outdoor experiment showed a rapid decrease of sporulation on leaves of 10 days and older. Highest percentages of sporulating leaf area were observed on leaves between 7 and 10 days old.     

Multilocus sequence typing reveals the presence of three distinct flavescence dorée phytoplasma genetic clusters in Croatian vineyards

Flavescence dorée phytoplasma (FDp) is a quarantine pathogen associated with a severe and epidemic grapevine yellows disease representing a great threat for grapevine cultivation in Europe. An increase in disease spread prompted efforts to identify FDp strains in Croatia. Over 800 samples of grapevine together with presumed reservoir plants and almost 400 samples of Scaphoideus titanus and other potential vectors were collected countrywide and analysed. FDp isolates were characterized by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of map, secY and uvrB-degV genes in order to determine genetic diversity and structure of FDp populations, and to trace transmission pathways. FD-related phytoplasmas were found in Croatia for the first time in alder, the invasive tree species Ailanthus altissima and leafhopper Phlogotettix cyclops. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of three mapFD strain clusters: mapFD1, mapFD2 and mapFD3, and for the first time in Croatia a case of Palatinate grapevine yellows strain A (PGY-A). In total, 7 different map, 10 secY and 11 uvrB-degV genotypes were detected. The identification of 15 comprehensive FDp genotypes based on MLST suggests separate routes for disease introduction and propagation origins in Croatia. Moreover, high genetic variability of Croatian isolates indicates a complex ecological cycle of FDp involving various hosts.     

First report of rhizopus soft rot on soursop (Annona muricata) caused by Rhizopus oryzae in México

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The soursop (Annona muricata) is an important tropical plant in the Pacific and Gulf region of México. In a farmer plantation during May, severe soft...     

Response of citrus peelminer Marmara gulosa Guillén and Davis (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) stages to various insecticides

BACKGROUND: Egg and larval stages of citrus peelminer Marmara gulosa Guillén and Davis infesting zucchini squash Cucurbita pepo L. var ‘Revenue’ were exposed in the laboratory to a wide range of insecticide classes used in California citrus (organophosphate, carbamate, pyrethroid, neonicotinoid, insect growth regulator, fermentation products and sulfur) to determine peelminer response with and without a non‐ionic adjuvant or oil. RESULTS: All of the insecticides tested except sulfur reduced egg hatch and mine initiation. When the larval stage was treated, only buprofezin failed to reduce larval and pupal development. Cyfluthrin and spinosad, with the addition of adjuvant or oil, and abamectin combined with oil allowed no survivors at 7 days after treatment (DAT). The slower‐acting insect growth regulators pyriproxyfen and diflubenzuron applied in combination with adjuvant or oil allowed no survival of peelminer 21 DAT. A field trial showed 62.6–68.5% reduction in mined citrus fruit after two applications of diflubenzuron and no significant improvement of control with the addition of cyfluthrin. CONCLUSION: Bioassays indicate that M. gulosa is relatively susceptible to a wide range of insecticide classes in the laboratory. Lack of efficacy experienced in field trials would then be due to characteristics of the fruit or canopy that limit coverage, rather than to the effectiveness of the insecticides. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

DDT in northern pike (Esox lucius) from the Richelieu River, Québec, Canada, 1974-75

Concentrations of DDT, TDE, DDE, and sigma DDT were determined in homogenized whole fish samples of 129 northern pike (Esox lucius). These fish were netted between June 1974 and June 1975 in the first 10 km of the Richelieu River flowing in Canadian territory. Two years after the banning of DDT, sigma DDT levels ranged from 0.2 ppm fresh body weight in two-year-old specimens to 1.5 ppm in a six-year-old pike. Residues increased greatly with age, and significant seasonal variations in the sigma DDT levels were found in five- and six-year-old pike.     

Influence of temperature on the embryonic and post-embryonic development of Scaphoideus titanus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), vector of grapevine Flavescence dorée

The embryonic and post-embryonic development of Scaphoideus titanus, the main vector of grapevine Flavescence dorée, was studied under laboratory conditions, at constant temperatures (T = 15, 18, 20, 22, 24, 27, and 29?°C). The data obtained were fitted to the equation of Brière, and the model was validated against independent field data. The minimum cardinal temperature for eggs ranged from 18 to 20?°C, the duration of egg hatching was minimum at T = 24?°C, egg hatchability was optimum at 22?°C, and very few eggs hatched at T ≥ 27?°C. The duration of post-embryonic development clearly shortened as the temperature increased, both overall and within the same life stage, almost half-reducing itself from 18 to 29?°C. Within the same temperature tested, the early instars took less time to moult compared to the late ones. The data obtained provided a significant fit with the equation of Brière. Validation was satisfactory, particularly concerning third instar nymphs and adults, which are the key life instars for targeting integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. The model proposed could be used to predict the development of S. titanus in north-western Italy for IPM purposes.     

Can the extract of Aristolochia argentina Griseb affect the foraging decisions of the leaf cutting ant Acromyrmex lundi (Guérin)? Preliminary assays

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether foraging decisions of Acromyrmex lundi in the field are affected by the extract of Aristolochia argentina. A free choice test was performed using Rosa x hybrida leaves treated with the extract and control with acetone. Two leaves (treated and control) were presented on either side of a foraging trail. The percentage of removed material was recorded for 90 minutes of observation on two consecutive days. Dry weight and repellency index were calculated. Ant activity, the percentage of carried leaves and weight data were analyzed using a “t”-test for paired data, and a General Linear Mixed Model test was used to evaluate the different variables and their interactions. A. argentina extract (1%) did not affect the foraging activity of A. lundi, whereas the 5% dose caused significant differences in foraging activity as well as between the factors and the interactions. A repellency index of above 95% was obtained at the 5% dose. The extract of A. argentina could be considered for future management of this insect.