Dispersion patterns and sampling plans for the pea aphid,Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), on grass pea,Lathyrus sativus L.

From 2009/2010 to 2010/2011, flight patterns and spatial distribution of pea aphids were studied in northwestern Ethiopia. Yellow traps were used and legume fields sampled. Trap catches varied between years (lower in 2009/2010 than in 2010/2011), locations and months in the growing season. At Woreta, peaks were observed in January (20–70 per trap) and at Wondata in October and November (60–80 per trap). Also, pea aphid numbers were more on fallow land than on other land-use systems (a maximum of 41,000 in December 2010/2011 and 25,000 in January 2009/2010 per 100 plants). Taylor's power law coefficients, i.e., b values, were significantly greater than 1 on grass peas planted after fallow; the corresponding r² values ranged between 0.87 and 0.94. Coefficients were inconsistent on grass peas planted after teff and undersown in maize. The optimum sample size n (number of yellow traps) required in relation to the mean densities of the pea aphid was more or less the same for the three levels of accuracy (D = 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5). At D = 0.5, numerical sample size curves showed 10 traps as mean number of aphids per trap approached 4 or 5, which is practical and affordable. Some additional work at more locations may be required to validate these sampling plans before wider use.     

Spatial dispersion and binomial sequential sampling for the potato psyllid (Hemiptera: Triozidae) on potato

BACKGROUND: The potato psyllid is a serious pest of potatoes. Sampling plans on potatoes for the potato psyllid have yet to be developed, thus the authors' objectives were (1) to determine the most efficient within‐plant sampling unit, (2) to determine the spatial dispersion of potato psyllids in potato fields and (3) to develop a binomial sequential sampling plan for this pest. RESULTS: Significantly more potato plants were infested with potato psyllids on the edges of the field, and significantly more plants were infested with psyllids on the ‘top’ and ‘middle’ of the potato plant. Significantly more psyllids were also found on the undersides of leaves. The potato psyllid has an aggregated distribution in potato fields. Binomial sequential sampling plans were developed for three action thresholds representing 0.5, 1 and 5 psyllids per plant. The average sample numbers for these action thresholds were between 12 and 16 samples, depending on the action thresholds. However, based on the shape of the operating characteristic curve, the 0.5 and 1 sampling plans were more reliable than the 5 psyllids per plant plan. CONCLUSION: The binomial sequential sampling plans are useful for detecting potato psyllids at low levels of infestation, which will be useful for pest management purposes. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Evaluation of sampling methods and assessment of the sample size to estimate the weed seedbank in soil, taking into account spatial variability

As field sampling is time consuming, it is necessary to develop efficient sampling techniques to obtain accurate estimates of the weed seedbank in soil. The relative efficiency between sampling schemes depends on the spatial variability in weed seed density across agricultural fields. Spatial variability of the weed seed density was characterized by theoretical correlograms. A systematic sampling (square grill) scheme was considered and it was found that, taking into account spatial variability, this sampling scheme was more efficient than simple random sampling. As a result, the sample size can be reduced in comparison with that given in previous studies, where spatial correlation was ignored. The reduction depends on the correlation structure defined as a function of the ratio, τ, between the nugget effect and the sill of the variogram. The maximum reduction of the sample size, without loss of either precision or confidence level corresponds to the case where there is no nugget effect, τ = 0. The opposite extreme case, where the reduction is nil, corresponds to the case of a pure nugget effect τ = 1. The abaci based on given expressions are provided to determine the sample size in species whose spatial pattern can be fitted either to a Poisson or to a negative binomial distribution.     

Distribution pattern and sequential sampling plan for spotted pod borer,Maruca vitrata (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on pigeon pea,Cajanus cajan L

Spatial distribution of legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on Pusa 992 pigeon pea cultivar during kharif (rainy season) 2011 and 2012 was analyzed through Taylor's power law (TPL) and Iwao's mean crowding (IMC) regression. M. vitrata exhibited an aggregated distribution pattern on the crop. The pooled data for the two years fitted well to the TPL (a = 1.05, b = 1.19, R² = 0.967) and the IMC (α = ?0.17, β = 1.124, R² = 0.99). The optimal sample sizes with the TPL parameters increased with an increased precision level. Based on the TPL parameters, the decision lines of sequential sampling for M. vitrata were determined to be d = 3n ± 2.5√n. The sequential sampling plan would economize decision-making for an effective management of M. vitrata.     

Spatial characteristics of white mould epidemics and the development of sequential sampling plans in Australian bean fields

To improve sampling efficiency and precision in the assessment of white mould (caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) disease incidence on bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), the spatial characteristics of epidemics were characterized in 54 linear transects in 18 bean fields during 2008–2010 in northern Tasmania, Australia. The incidence of diseased pods and plants was assessed prior to harvest. Distributional and correlation‐based analyses indicated the incidence of diseased pods was characterized by a largely random pattern at the individual plant scale, with some patches of similar disease levels on pods occurring at a scale of 1·5 m or greater. Collectively, these results suggested epidemics may be dominated by localized sources of inoculum. Sequential sampling approaches were developed to estimate or classify disease incidence above or below provisional thresholds of 3, 5 and 15% incidence on pods near harvest. Achieving prespecified levels of precision by sequential estimation was possible only when disease incidence on pods was greater than approximately 4% and sampling was relatively intense (i.e. 10 pods evaluated on each of at least 64 plants). Using sequential classification, correct decisions on disease status were made in at least 95% of independent validation datasets after assessment of only 10·1–15 plants, depending on classification threshold and error rates. Outcomes of this research provide the basis for implementing more efficient sampling and management strategies for this disease in Australian fields.     

一品红花卉上烟粉虱的序贯抽样技术研究

烟粉虱[Bemisiatabaci(Gennadius)]在花卉一品红上的为害十分猖獗,在调查分析的基础上,研究了烟粉虱在一品红上的序贯抽样技术。结果表明:烟粉虱成虫的平均拥挤度*m与平均密度x-回归方程为*m=-9.05+2.26x-,相关性极显著(0.799 1);以Iwao的序贯抽样为基础,结合Kuno的序贯抽样,提出复序贯抽样技术,防治指标上下限为T′₀(n)=7n+2 5.39n,T″₀(n)=7n-2 5.39n,截止线为T(n)=α+1/(D₀²-β-1/n),D₀=0.15。     

Binomial sequential sampling plans for rangeland grasshoppers

Advances in sampling technology have made it possible to developbinomial sequential sampling plans for rangeland grasshoppers. Using this technique, grasshopper infestations can be rapidly classified into 'high' or 'low'categories relative to a threshold. We have developed a set of binomial sequential sampling tools, or plans, to assess the level of adult and nymphal grasshopper infestations on rangelands. The adult grasshopper plan was used to assess the level of grasshopper infestations throughout Wyoming, USA, in 1998; this resulted in a 79.5% reduction of the sampling effort. In addition, the adult sequential sampling plan was of sufficient scientific rigour to qualify some ranchers for federal disaster relief funds due to excessive grasshopper feeding. Grasshopper managers should consider using binomial sequential sampling plans wherever and whenever efficient surveys are needed to determine if grasshoppers are a threat to the production of rangeland forage and the maintenance of this ecosystem.     

Sampling for plant disease incidence

ABSTRACT Knowledge of the distribution of diseased plant units (such as leaves, plants, or roots) or of the relationship between the variance and mean incidence is essential to efficiently sample for diseased plant units. Cluster sampling, consisting of N sampling units of n individuals each, is needed to determine whether the binomial or beta-binomial distribution describes the data or to estimate parameters of the binary power law for disease incidence. The precision of estimated disease incidence can then be evaluated under a wide range of settings including the hierarchical sampling of groups of individuals, the various levels of spatial heterogeneity of disease, and the situation when all individuals are disease free. Precision, quantified with the standard error or the width of the confidence interval for incidence, is directly related to N and inversely related to the degree of heterogeneity (characterized by the intracluster correlation, rho). Based on direct estimates of rho (determined from the theta parameter of the beta-binomial distribution or from the observed variance) or a model predicting rho as a function of incidence (derived from the binary power law), one can calculate, before a sampling bout, the value of N needed to achieve a desired level of precision. The value of N can also be determined during a sampling bout using sequential sampling methods, either to estimate incidence with desired precision or to test a hypothesis about true disease incidence. In the latter case, the sequential probability ratio test is shown here to be useful for classifying incidence relative to a hypothesized threshold when the data follows the beta-binomial distribution with either a fixed rho or a rho that depends on incidence.     

入侵移栽稻田的福寿螺卵块空间分布型及其抽样技术

福寿螺Pomacea canaliculata Lamarck是重要外来入侵有害生物,严重危害水稻苗期至分蘖期的秧苗植株.为明确福寿螺在水稻田的空间分布,以1、4丛水稻为取样单位(样方)调查了14块移栽稻、每块田300个样方的福寿螺卵块密度,并利用聚集度指标法、Taylor幂法则和Iwao的M-m回归法进行分析.结果表明,移栽稻田中的福寿螺卵块主要呈聚集分布,部分田块呈随机或均匀分布.根据福寿螺卵块的分布型,通过计算抽样时间和抽样准确率的关系、不同样方和误差条件下的理论抽样数,确定以准确估计田间卵块密度为目标的最佳抽样方法,以横(行)向平行线跳跃法间隔30～45行调查1行,共调查6行90个4丛水稻样方,即两人以常规速度按上述方法取样18min以上,可达85%以上的取样准确率.     

Anthracnose on almond in Australia:disease progress and inoculum sources of Colletotrichum acutatum

Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum acutatum, is an important disease of almond and has caused significant economic losses in California, Israel and Australia. Anthracnose development was monitored for three growing seasons in an almond orchard in South Australia on two almond cultivars, Price and Nonpareil, with up to 80 % of fruit affected in 2004. Lesions, typical of anthracnose, formed on young developing fruit and symptoms continued to appear until the fruit were ca 20 mm long, after which no further lesions developed. Symptoms were observed on leaves, woody tissue showed signs of dieback, but blossom blight was not observed. Maximum disease incidenceperfor, man and Relative Area Under the Disease Progress Curve (RAUDPC) were significantly larger for Price than Nonpareil for each season, but differences in the apparent rates of infection for both cultivars were insignificant for the three growing seasons. The apparent rates of infection were correlated with rainfall and daily temperature for the three years combined but there was no correlation between maximum disease incidence or RAUDPC and these environmental parameters. Considerably more mummified fruit remained on the trees of cv. Price than Nonpareil each year; however, there was no correlation between the number of mummified fruit in one season and maximum disease incidence, RAUDPC or apparent rate of infection, in the following season. C. acutatum was recovered from mummified fruit, peduncles and bark, from both Price and Nonpareil, every month throughout a year-long sampling period. C. acutatum was also recovered from asymptomatic leaves, fruit, bark, buds and blossom, however, less frequently and at lower rates than from mummified fruit and peduncles. Recovery was consistently greater from Price than from Nonpareil for all tissues.     

Evaluating field‐scale sampling methods for the estimation of mean plant densities of weeds

The weed flora (comprising seven species) of a field continuously grown with soyabean was simulated for 4 years, using semivariograms established from previous field observations. Various sampling methods were applied and compared for accurately estimating mean plant densities, for differing weed species and years. The tested methods were based on (a) random selection wherein samples were chosen either entirely randomly, randomly with at least 10 or 20 m between samples, or randomly after stratifying the field; (b) systematic selection where samples were placed along diagonals or along zig‐zagged lines across the field; (c) predicted Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv seedling maps which were used to divide the field into low‐ and high‐density areas and to choose the largest sample proportion in the high‐density area. For each method, sampling was performed with 5–40 samples. Systematic methods generally resulted in the lowest estimation error, followed by the random methods and finally by the predicted‐map methods. In case of species over‐ or under‐represented along the diagonals or the zig‐zag sampling line, the systematic methods performed badly, especially with low sample numbers. In those instances, random methods were best, especially those imposing a minimal distance between samples. Even for S. viridis, the methods based on predicted S. viridis maps were not satisfactory, except with low sample numbers. The relationships between sampling error and species characteristics (mean density, variability, spatial structures) were also studied.     

House sparrows (Passer domesticus (Linn.)) causing severe damage to peach buds in residential areas at Ludhiana,Punjab

Abstract

House sparrow (Passer domesticus (Linn.)) damage to peach flower buds/flowers was observed during 1978–1985 in the Aggar Nagar (Ludhiana) residential locality. At the flower bud stage, sparrows destroy the buds completely by eating or damaging them so that no flowers are produced, but leaf buds and young leaves remain untouched. The average yield of the Flordasun peach cultivar is 75 kg per tree (Anonymous, 1985) but in the present case only 0 to approximately 2 kg fruit were produced per tree.     

棉蚜寄主植物与棉平突蚜茧蜂寄生选择的关系

为了解棉平突蚜茧蜂Lysiphlebia japonica（Ashmead）对取食不同寄主植物棉蚜Aphis gossypii Glover的偏好性,进行了相关的虫口动态、寄生率和体重等参数的调查。虫口动态结果表明,棉田和罩笼中西葫芦上棉蚜、棉平突蚜茧蜂和僵蚜数量均最多,与棉花和黄瓜上的相比有显著差异。室内和罩笼中西葫芦上棉蚜的体重较大,约0.36 mg,显著高于棉花和黄瓜上的棉蚜体重。室内寄生试验结果表明,棉平突蚜茧蜂在西葫芦上对棉蚜的寄生率较高,其中来源于西葫芦上的棉平突蚜茧蜂对西葫芦、棉花和黄瓜上蚜虫的寄生率分别为81.3%、58.3%和44.0%。本文初步明确了棉平突蚜茧蜂对西葫芦具有偏好性,为棉平突蚜茧蜂在生物防治上的应用提供一定的理论指导和实践依据。     

东亚飞蝗蝗蝻抽样的研究

自五十年代以来,应用于东亚飞蝗蝗区估计蝗蝻种群密度的抽样方法,是样方为10平方尺的筒单随机抽样。本文是以抽样数、抽样消耗、相对精确度为标准,对三种抽样模型、三个抽样单位进行了比较。根据这些结果,我们提出了在当前蝗蝻密度较低的情况下,应采用样方为100平方尺的最适配额分层抽样。这种抽样方法在精确度方面可以高出现用的抽样方法2倍以上。而抽样时间消耗可相对节约一半以上。     

新蚜虫疠霉感染致病蚜虫的空间分布特征及其理论抽样技术

[目的]探明新蚜虫疠霉的空间分布特点,为进一步研究蚜虫新蚜虫疠霉病害流行规律及田间释放病原菌防治桃蚜提供依据.[方法]调查甘蓝田新蚜虫疠霉感染致病桃蚜密度,采用Taylor幂法与Iwao回归法分析新蚜虫疠霉的空间分布特征.[结果]新蚜虫疠霉在甘蓝田呈聚集分布中的负二项分布,公共K值为2.87.Iwao直线回归方程拟合式为(m*)=0.12+1.36 m(R=0.99),Taylor幂公式为lg(v)=0.35+1.69 lgm (R=0.96).在不同季节,其空间分布的拥挤度差异显著(F=5.34,p＜0.01),7-9月平均拥挤度最高,而1-3月和10-12月最低.精度分别为0.1、0.2、0.3和0.5时的理论抽样数公式分别为n=430.26/x+138.30、n=107.56/x+34.57、n=47.81/x+15.37和n=17.21/x+5.53.当被新蚜虫疠霉感染罹病桃蚜密度较低,即低于每样方5头时,以模型n=17.21/x+5.53较为适宜,在较高密度,即每样方10头/株以上时,以模型n=107.56/x+34.57较宜.[结论]新蚜虫疠霉在甘蓝田均呈聚集分布中的负二项分布,聚集原因是新蚜虫疠霉生物学特性和环境因素.在6-8月,对该菌侵染蚜虫的总体理论抽样以抽查20株左右样方为宜,而在其他季节,抽查30株左右样方为宜.     

Monilia Disease

Monilia is a well-known parasite of stone fruit trees. It normally attacks flowers, buds and fruits, producing the diseases known as “brown rot” and “mummified fruit”. In certain circumstances, however, Monilia can also attack older branches, producing chronic or acute symptoms. In the first case, the affected branches wilt after a certain time, while in the second, this wilting is extremely fast; these are the classical symptoms of dieback. The parasite penetrates through wounds in the branches and first damages the phloem. If it reaches the cambium and girdles it, the branch dies from the area of attack to the tip. If there is no, or only moderate damage to the cambium, the tree can recover, or the disease may become chronic. The speed of disease development depends, primarily, on environmental conditions.     

麦套Bt棉田的经济效益和对棉蚜及天敌的影响

2004～2005年,在冀南棉区调查了麦套Bt棉田对棉花苗期蚜虫和天敌的影响及其经济效益。结果表明,麦套棉田的棉蚜数量均显著低于对照田(P<0.05),其高峰期的蚜虫种群数量低于防治指标,且受棉蚜的危害程度小于对照田。麦套棉田中的瓢虫和僵蚜的种群数量显著高于对照田和化防田,与对照田相比,麦套棉田中的瓢虫发生高峰期提前10天左右。化防田的籽棉产量高于麦套棉田和对照田,但麦套棉田2004和2005年的综合经济效益分别为1.7万元/hm2和2.08万元/hm2,比化防田多0.53万元/hm2和0.57万元/hm2。试验结果还表明,棉花苗期蚜虫能够显著影响棉花产量,采用套种等多熟种植模式可以作为Bt棉有害生物综合治理的重要组成部分。     

胶园六点始叶螨Iwao序贯抽样技术

介绍六点始叶螨(Eotetranychus sexmaculatus Riley)Iwao序贯抽样方案的设计和在田间调查中的应用。六点始叶螨的Iwao序贯抽样公式的上限T1=5n+1.64(5×[(0.135+1)×5+(1.375-1)×52])(1/2)、下限T0=5n-1.64(5×[(0.135+1)×5+(1.375-1)×52])(1/2)。在相同的置信水准下,序贯抽取的样本含量明显比常规抽样的少。     

Seasonal abundance and spatial distribution of the predator<Emphasis Type="Italic">Macrolophus costalis</Emphasis> and its prey<Emphasis Type="Italic">Myzus persicae</Emphasis> on tobacco

Field studies were conducted to assess the population and the spatial dynamics of the predatory bugMacrolophus costalis Fieber (Hemiptera: Miridae) and of its prey, the aphidMyzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea), on tobacco. From an untreated tobacco field in Tithorea (central Greece), tobacco leaves were collected from the upper and the lower half of the plants from June until September, in 1999 and 2000. The numbers ofM. costalis andM. persicae individuals per leaf were counted. Most aphids were observed during July and August (early and mid season), with densities dropping markedly in September. In contrast,M. costalis population densities increased late in the season (September). Significantly higher numbers of aphids were found on the upper half of the plants than on the lower half. In contrast, significantly moreM. costalis individuals were observed on the lower half. Iwao’s Regression Analysis was used in order to characterize the spatial pattern of the two species. According to this model, in both sampling seasons, aphids andM. costalis nymphs displayed an aggregated spatial pattern, whileM. costalis adults were found to be randomly distributed among sampling units. Although moreM. costalis individuals were recorded on leaves with relatively high aphid densities, this species did not react numerically to changes in prey density. In addition, a significant number of bugs were found on leaves with low aphid densities or no aphids at all. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 18, 2002.