Efficacy of a formulated product containing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quillaja saponaria</Emphasis> plant extracts for the control of root-knot nematodes

The nematicidal effect of a formulated product containing extract from Quillaja saponaria was evaluated against the root-knot nematodes. The product QL Agri® 35 (QL) was tested to record the effect on second stage juveniles motility, egg hatch and also against field populations in greenhouse experiments contacted in three different locations of Greece. Convulsive movement of second stage juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita was recorded after exposure for 8 days at a series of doses, while the most paralyzed juveniles were counted at the dose of 8 mg l^?1. There was also a gradual decrease in the number of juveniles emerging from egg masses of the same nematode species when the dose of Q. saponaria was increased from 0 to 8 mg l^?1. In greenhouse experiments, the use of Q. saponaria could control root-knot nematodes and prevent nematodes increase in soil. The present study demonstrates that the use of Q. saponaria extract has the ability to control root-knot nematodes. Control given by Q. saponaria in field populations infecting cucumber was similar to that of cadusafos (Rugby®) and oxamyl (Vydate®) under the tested dosages and the specific conditions of the experiments.     

Damage thresholds and population dynamics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pratylenchus penetrans</Emphasis> on carrot (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Daucus carota</Emphasis> L. cv. Nerac) at three different seed densities

Yield and quality loss of carrot (Daucus carota L. cv. Nerac) caused by Pratylenchus penetrans and the population dynamics of this nematode were studied in a climate controlled glasshouse. A range of 12 nematode densities was used at three different seed densities of carrot; 2, 4 and 18 seeds pot^?1. Seinhorst’s yield loss model; y?=?m?+?(1 - m) 0.95 ^Pi/T-1 for Pi?>?T; y?=?1 for Pi?≤?T for Tylenchina was fitted to the yield and quality loss data. Seinhorst’s model for population dynamics of migratory nematodes with multiple generations; \( Pf=M* Pi/\left( Pi+M/a\right) \) was fitted to the data of the final population densities (Pf). P. penetrans had a significant impact on carrot taproot yield and its quality. The tolerance limits for the relative carrot taproot yield (T _y) were 1.51, 1.88, and 1.37 and those of quality yields (T _q) were 0.67, 0.18, and 0.40 P. penetrans (g dry soil)^?1 at 2, 4 and 18 seeds pot^?1, respectively. Both the minimum yield (0.20, 0.29, and 0.60) and the minimum quality yield (0.05, 0.07, and 0.20), expressed as a proportion, increased with seed density at 2, 4 and 18 seeds pot^?1, respectively. The model for population dynamics fitted well to the Pf data obtained. The maximum multiplication rates (a) were 19.58, 9.99, and 17.54, while the maximum population densities (M) were 49.86, 43.21, and 60.37 P. penetrans (g dry soil)^?1 at 2, 4, and 18 seeds pot^?1, respectively. Carrot cv. Nerac can be considered a good host for P. penetrans.     

Potential biopesticides for crucifer flea beetle, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllotreta cruciferae</Emphasis> (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) management under dryland canola production in Montana

The crucifer flea beetle, Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze), is an economically important and dominant pest of canola (Brassica napus L) in the Northern Great Plains of the USA. The current flea beetle management strategy is based on using synthetic chemical treated seeds and if necessary, foliar spray of chemicals at canola seedlings in early spring for targeting adult population. However, there is an increasing demand for development of alternative management strategies for P. cruciferae pertaining to concerns over the development of resistance to synthetic insecticides and non-target effects on pollinators and other beneficial insects. Replicated field trials were conducted to test the efficacy of several commercially available biopesticides including Entrust® (spinosad), entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae?+?Barricade® (polymer gel 1%), Aza-Direct® (azadirachtin), Pyganic 1.4® EC (pyrethrin), Grandevo® SC (Chromobacterium subtsugae), Venerate® XC (Heat killed Burkholderia sp. strain A396 as seed treatment and foliar application) and Gaucho® (imidacloprid) (chemical check) for the P. cruciferae management at two locations (Conrad and Sweetgrass) of Montana in 2016. Biopesticide products were evaluated based on canola leaf area injury ratings and seed yield levels. Although, there was no clear trend of canola yield increase, selected biopesticide treatments were effective in maintaining low leaf area injury ratings as compared to untreated control. Entrust was able to maintain low leaf area injury ratings (8.5–14.5%) when compared to untreated control (16.0–21.4%) at both the locations. Entomopathogenic nematodes, Steinernema feltiae?+?Barricade® and Venerate® applied as foliar treatments maintained significantly lower feeding injury pressure at Sweetgrass (11.8%) and Conrad (13.4%) locations respectively, when compared to the untreated control. Our study results suggest that these biopesticide treatment results were comparable in efficacy to the chemical seed treatment Gaucho®. Other two biopesticide products- Aza-Direct® and Pyganic 1.4® EC treatments did not provide effective control of P. cruciferae at both the locations.     

Weed Suppression of Living Mulch in Sugar Beets

Weed suppression in sugar beets (Beta vulgaris.) is commonly achieved with two to three post-emergent herbicide applications across the entire field. Field studies were performed, in order to investigate the weed suppressing ability of Medicago lupulina, Trifolium subterraneum and a mixture of Lolium perenne and Festuca pratensis as living mulches in sugar beet at four locations in South Germany during 2014 and 2015. Living mulches were sown 2 and 30 days after sowing (DAS) of sugar beet. Weed densities ranged from 0 to 143 plants m^?2 with Chenopodium album, Polygonum convolvulus and Polygonum aviculare being the most abundant weed species. It has been found that living mulches could reduce herbicide input up to 65?%. Weed suppression of living mulch was highest with Trifolium subterraneum (71?%). The early sown living mulches (2 DAS) revealed a 28 g m^?2 higher biomass compared to late sowing (30 DAS). However, no any linear correlation was found between living mulch biomass and weed suppression. White sugar yield (WSY) was highest in the herbicide treatments (12.6 t ha^?1). Trifolium subterraneum yielded the highest WSY of the living mulches with 11.1 t ha^?1 across all locations. Our work reveals that living mulch can play a major role in integrated plant protection by reducing herbicides in sugar beet production.     

Resistance to root-knot nematodes on passion fruit genotypes in Brazil

With the expansion of passion fruit cultivation in Brazil, phytosanitary problems have increased, among them, the occurrence of root-knot nematodes. This research aimed to study the response of passion fruit genotypes to Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica and M. enterolobii in addition to evaluating the life cycle of M. enterolobii in the passion fruit genotype ‘FB 200’. The genotype response was carried out in a greenhouse. Each pot’s soil was inoculated with 5000 eggs. Gall index, egg mass index and nematode reproduction factors were evaluated at 120 days after inoculation. All genotypes studied were resistant to M. incognita, M. javanica and M. enterolobii, except ‘Roxinho do Kênia’, which was susceptible to the three nematode species. The life cycle of M. enterolobii in “FB 200” passion fruit was studied in a growth chamber at 26 °C with a photoperiod of 12 h. Seven days after transplantation, each plant was inoculated with approximately 400 second-stage juveniles. Evaluations were done at 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and 49 days post inoculation. The nematode did not complete its life cycle.     

TaqMan PCR assay for detection and quantification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stagonosporopsis tanaceti</Emphasis> in pyrethrum seed and seedlings

Pyrethrum seed has an important role in the transmission of Stagonosporopsis tanaceti, the cause of ray blight disease of pyrethrum. A TaqMan probe based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed to quantify the level of S. tanaceti inocula in pyrethrum seed and seedlings. Primer pair (St_qF3, St_qR2) was designed based on the intergenic spacer (IGS) region of S. tanaceti, which produced a 125 bp amplicon specific to S. tanaceti. TaqMan PCR assay using St_qF3, St_qR2 and a probe St_qP was highly specific against the genomic DNA of S. tanaceti, but did not amplify DNA of 14 related Stagonosporopsis species or other foliar pathogens of pyrethrum. The sensitivity limit of this assay was measured using the cycle threshold (C_t) value which ranged from 17.59 for 10 nanograms (ng) to 36.34 for 100 femtograms (fg) genomic DNA of S. tanaceti. There was a significant negative correlation (r = ?0.999, P < 0.001) between the C_t value and the percent of S. tanaceti infected seed. In addition, this TaqMan PCR assay detected latent infection within seedlings. This assay could be applied to test commercial seed and seedlings before deciding on the appropriate management practices.     

Tight regulation of allene oxide synthase (AOS) and allene oxide cyclase-3 (AOC3) promote <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis</Emphasis> susceptibility to the root-knot nematode <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meloidogyne javanica</Emphasis>

Biosynthesis of the oxylipin jasmonic acid (JA) in Arabidopsis thaliana is catalyzed by a single allene oxide synthase (AOS)-encoding gene and four genes encoding four functional allene oxide cyclase (AOC) polypeptides (AOC1, AOC2, AOC3, and AOC4). To elucidate the biological activities of the JA pathway in regulating the plant defense response to plant-parasitic nematodes, transgenic lines carrying the GUS reporter gene under the control of individual AOC or AOS promoters were examined. Upon penetration by second-stage juveniles (J2 s), promoter activities of AOC1, AOC3 and AOC4 appeared in the root tip and root-elongation zone, with AOC3 demonstrating highest induction. At 5 days AOC3 activity continued to be highly pronounced in the stele and root cortex, associated with nematode invasion throughout gall initiation and maturation. AOS expression appeared 3 days postinfection and accompanied all later infection stages. Mutant lines were analyzed: disruption in AOS rendered plants more resistant to nematode infection, as reflected by the decreased number of females produced on this line; loss-of-function of AOC3 rendered plants more susceptible to nematode infection. Oxylipins derived from the 9- and 13-lipoxygenase pathways were assayed for their direct inhibitory activity toward M. javanica J2 s. Clear nematicidal activity of the bioactive 9- and 13-hydroperoxides was observed. Oxylipins produced by divinyl ether synthase, colneleic acid, colnelenic acid and ω5(Z)-etherolenic acid demonstrated strong inhibitory activity. These data, along with those of other assayed oxylipins, suggest that temporal and spatial fine tuning of the JA route allowing nematodes parasitism on plant host.     

Rice nematode problems in Nigeria: Their occurrence,distribution and pathogenesis

Abstract

In a survey of plant parasitic nematodes associated with or affecting rice throughout Nigeria, some important nematode pests, especially the white tip disease nematode, Aphelenchoides besseyi and the rice root nematodes Hirschmanniella spinicaudata and H. oryzae were identified from seed, soil and root samples from swamp rice fields respectively. The sugarcane cyst nematode, Heterodera sacchari occurred in swamp rice fields only around the major sugarcane estates in Nigeria. The root‐knot Meloidogyne incognita and the root lesion nematode, Pratylenchus brachyurus were also encountered in upland (rainfed) rice fields. The white tip disease nematode, A. besseyi occurred at low levels in soils and rice seeds throughout the country. High population levels of H. spinicaudata and H. oryzae were encountered especially in areas where monoculture of rice is practised. General chlorosis, poor tillering and significantly reduced yield have been observed due to H. spinicaudata. Rice plants attacked by H. sacchari also showed intense chlorosis, delayed and reduced tillering and reduced grain yield. The roots of attacked plants were twiggy, very necrotic and blackened. The root‐knot M. incognita and the root lesion nematodes P. brachyurus have both been observed to reduce rice yields. Rice cultivars screened for reactions to the nematodes showed varying degrees of susceptibilities. Some varieties were however resistant to the root‐knot nematode, M. incognita.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphelenchoides gorganensis</Emphasis> n. sp. (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae)<Emphasis Type="Italic">,</Emphasis> a new species from Iran

Phytophthora capsici infection of chili pepper seedlings can cause substantial losses due to damping-off and collar rot diseases. Chemical control is no longer effective due to reported resistance development, on top of the related environmental concerns and the consumer demands for reduced use of fungicides. Biological control is a sustainable option, with several agents having been reported to be effective against this pathogen. This research focused on optimizing the application of strain THSW13 of Trichoderma hamatum and a bacterial isolate BJ10–86 with the objectives of improving chili pepper seed germination, reduce damping-off disease incidence, and improve the growth of the seedlings. Bacterial isolate BJ10–86 was subjected to molecular identification and found to be Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Chili pepper seeds treated with the biocontrol agents, individually or in combination, were seeded into commercial nursery media that had been pre-inoculated with P. capsici zoospores. Over a period of 35 days the chili pepper seed treatments significantly (P = 0.008) reduced the disease incidence of seedlings damping-off. Combined application of T. hamatum and P. aeruginosa was the best biocontrol treatment with an area under disease curve of only 36.61 units compared to 92.87 units for the control treatment. Similar results were observed in vitro where T. hamatum and P. aeruginosa synergistically inhibited P. capsici growth by 73.2 %. The inhibition activity of this treatment was similar to mefenoxam treatment, which implies that it is an effective and sustainable alternative for chili pepper seed treatment. The biocontrol seed treatment had no effect on seed germination and seedling growth.     

A review of castor-derived products used in crop and seed protection

Castor-derived products are currently used for protecting agricultural crops and seeds from devastating damages of pests and diseases. Extracts (1–10%) of leaf or seed in water or chemical solvents, and crude oil (3–5%) extracted from seed were found effective as sprays against foliage insect pests. Populations of the root-knot nematodes were significantly reduced when de-oiled seed cake was incorporated into soil at 1000 kg/ha, especially after mixing it with bio-inoculants such as, a fungus (Poecilomyces lilacinus) or a bacterium (Pasteuria penetrans). Castor proved as a potential synergist when mixed with other plant products or chemical pesticides and exhibited different modes of actions but with comparatively limited insecticidal properties. In less developed and developing countries, the common use of oil is for treating stored cereals and pulses at 5–10 ml/kg seed. In both field and greenhouse experiments, pest mortality and other biological parameters were dose-dependent. This review discusses different uses of castor products to foresee possibility of replacing or at least reducing use of toxic chemicals in crop and seed protection.     

Host status of selected cultivated fruit crops to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meloidogyne enterolobii</Emphasis>

Meloidogyne enterolobii (syn. M. mayaguensis) has been reported to cause severe damage in commercial guava orchards and other plants in Central and South American countries. Considering the risk of introduction and dissemination of this pest in the European region, M. enterolobii was placed on the EPPO A2 list in 2010. The use of non-host fruit species is a recommended strategy to manage root-knot nematodes in infested guava orchards. This study screened 89 plant genotypes from 25 fruit plants of economic importance, plus two susceptible controls (guava and tomato) for its host status to M. enterolobii. Three to eight months after inoculation, nematode reproduction factor (RF) was used to characterize host suitability of fruit crops to this nematode. Ten banana genotypes, six Barbados cherries, one fig, two grape rootstocks and six melons were rated as good hosts for this nematode. Sixteen fruit plants behaved either as non-hosts or poor hosts to M. enterolobii, including assaí, atemoya, avocado, cashew nut, citrus, coconut, grape, jabuticaba, mango, mulberry, papaya, passion fruit, sapodilla, soursop, starfruit and strawberry. For the future, field experiments in areas infested by this nematode are essential to confirm the greenhouse results. These non-host fruit species can replace in the future eradicated guava trees in fields severely infested by this nematode and become an economic option for growers where M. enterolobii is considered a serious problem.     

Disease risk assessment of sugar beet root rot using quantitative real-time PCR analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphanomyces cochlioides</Emphasis> in naturally infested soil samples

Sugar beet root rot, caused by the oomycete Aphanomyces cochlioides, is a serious and economically important disease of sugar beets world-wide. Today, disease risk assessment consists of a time-consuming greenhouse bioassay using bait plants. In the present study, a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for determination of A. cochlioides DNA in field-infested soil samples was developed and validated using the standard bioassay. The qPCR assay proved to be species-specific and was optimized to give high amplification efficiency suitable for target copy quantification. A high correlation (R² > 0.98, p < 0.001) with pathogen inoculum density was shown, demonstrating the suitability for monitoring soil samples. The limit of detection (LOD) was evaluated in several different soil types and varied between 1 and 50 oospores/g soil, depending on clay content. Soils with a high LOD were characterised as having a low clay content and high content of sand. Varying levels of the A. cochlioides target sequence were detected in 20 of the 61 naturally infested soil samples. Discrepancies between the bioassay and the qPCR assay were found in soils from low- and medium-risk fields. However, the qPCR diagnostic assay provides a potentially valuable new tool in disease risk assessment, enabling sugar beet growers to identify high-risk fields.     

Visual detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Didymella bryoniae</Emphasis> in cucurbit seeds using a loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay

A method was developed using a Loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay (LAMP) for detecting Didymella bryoniae in cucurbit seeds. The LAMP primers were designed based on the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II RPB140 gene (RPB2) from D. bryoniae. Calcein was used as an indicator for the endpoint visual detection of DNA amplification. The LAMP assay was conducted in isothermal (65 °C) conditions within 1 h. The detection threshold of the LAMP assay was 10 pg of genomic DNA and D. bryoniae was detected in 100 % of artificially infested seedlots with 0.05 % infestation or greater. With the LAMP assay, 16 of 60 watermelon and muskmelon seedlots collected from Xinjang province were determined to be positive for D. bryoniae. In contrast, a real-time PCR assay determined that 11 of the 60 seedlots from Xinjiang province were positive for the pathogen. These results showed that the LAMP technique was simple, rapid and well suited for detecting D. bryoniae DNA, especially in seed health testing.     

Long-term dynamics of causative agents of stem base diseases in winter wheat and reaction of Czech <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oculimacula</Emphasis> spp. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microdochium</Emphasis> spp<Emphasis Type="Italic">.</Emphasis> populations to prochloraz

Trichoderma aggressivum is an aggressive contaminant mould in the cultivation of Agaricus bisporus leading to severe reductions in mushroom yields. Production of fully colonised A. bisporus substrate in Europe is commonly carried out in large tunnels (Phase III), after which the substrate undergoes several bulk handling (mixing) operations before ending up on shelves in mushroom growing facilities. The work presented here studied the effect of Trichoderma aggressivum inoculum, substrate mixing and supplementation on Agaricus bisporus yields and evaluated four methods to detect T. aggressivum in bulk handled substrate. Inoculum dilution level was shown to correlate well with mushroom yield (P < 0.0001) with reductions of 2–6 % at the most dilute level (10^?4) and 60–100 % at the most concentrated level (10^?1), depending on the experiment. Supplementation, with or without T. aggressivum, had no significant effect on mushroom yield (P ≥ 0.85) but a high degree of substrate mixing was shown to significantly increase (P < 0.0001) T. aggressivum-associated crop losses. Four T. aggressivum detection methods were evaluated and a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method gave the most consistent and least variable results. Cycle threshold (CT) values ranged from 24 to 40, depending on the experiment and the inoculum dilution level, and false negatives (CT = 40) were reported on one occasion with the most dilute samples. The results indicate that Phase III mushroom substrate is vulnerable to infection by T. aggressivum when the fully colonised substrate is broken up and mixed during bulk handling operations, identifying a previously unidentified risk for Phase III substrate producers.     

Challenging the larvae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicoverpa armigera</Emphasis> and assessing the immune responses to nematode-bacterium complex

Helicoverpa armigera is a strong insecticidal resistance developed insect pest. The understanding of its innate immune responses to emerging biocontrol agent entomopathogenic nematode-bacterial complex can provide an opportunity to control this insect in an environmentally benign manner. Study was focused on role of hemocytes changes and PO activity in Steinernema abbasi-Xenorhabdus indica challenged larvae of H. armigera over the time. Total cell count changed effectively from 10.2?±?1.81?×?10⁵ to 15.5?±?3.3?×?10⁵ cells/mm³ upto 9 h and reduced distinctly up to 8.0?±?2.49?×?10⁵ cells/ mm³ in 24 h. PO activity inclined significantly and was recorded highest at 9 h (24.67?±?1.08?×?10² units) and lowest at 24 h (14.34?±?0.74?×?10² units) in total hemolymph with a similar pattern in plasma and the cellular fraction. Phenoloxidase activity in total and cellular component of hemolymph was positively correlated with prohemocytes, granulocytes and oenocytoids. Study showed the hemocytes and PO accounted as active immune responses against nematode infection. The results provide the first insight to understand the hemolytic activity, quick immunosuppression responses of S. abbasi-X. indica and vulnerability of H. armigera.     

Inheritance of resistance to Meloidogyne enterolobii in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Psidium guajava</Emphasis> x <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. guineense</Emphasis> hybrid

Inheritance of the resistance to nematodes has been studied on many different crops, however to our knowledge, no data are available for guava species. The basic genetic resistance parameters to Meloidogyne enterolobii are estimated in the current research in order to guide the development of genotypes resistant to the pathogen. The parental plants, F1 and F2 from a Psidium guajava x P. guineense cross were assessed for the presence or absence of galls and for the number of eggs and juveniles in the root system at the 120th and 240th days after inoculation with 10,000 eggs and juveniles of the nematode. At the age of nine years, the P. guineense plant remained without nematode attack symptoms, whereas the maternal plant was destroyed by the pathogen. The F1 generation showed 270 plants with reproduction factor (RF) <0.322, and there were tiny galls in only 16 plants. The segregation for the presence or absence of galls in the root system in generation F2 was 9:7, wherein the χ² values were 0.78 and 2.66, respectively, at the 120th and 240th days after inoculation, whereas the segregation for RF was 15:1, wherein the χ² values were 2.76 and 1.18, respectively, at the 120th and 240th days. These results indicate epistatic interaction between two genes: in RF < 1 only one allele sets the resistance to the pathogen. The broad sense heritability of RF, estimated to the two assessments was 0.97, and it also indicates a simple inheritance of resistance to M. enterolobii.     

Artemia sp. Cysten als Aufzuchtfutter für Macrolophus pygmaeus: eine Evaluation unter Praxisbedingungen

Macrolophus pygmaeus is an omnivore insect with beneficial characteristics because of its good feeding performance and broad host range. However, disadvantages for its use are the high purchase and rearing costs. Labortary experimants showed that the breeding of this predatory bug is also possible with the eggs of Artemia sp. The objective of the present study therefore was to test Artemia sp. cysts as a food alternative for Macrolophus pygmaeus under practical conditions. For this purpose, a population of this bug was grown in glasshouse departments of the Research Center for Horticulture in Straelen, Germany. Three glasshouse compartments served as control treatments and were fed with E. kuehniella; the other three compartments were fed with cysts of Artemia sp. The population of M. pygmaeus, that has been raised with Artemia sp., turned out to be significantly smaller than the control. In this greenhouse trial, Artemia sp. cysts turned out to be an unsuitable alternative, because no stable and powerful population of M. pygmaeus could be established. However, this trial has been conducted under real practice conditions in the greenhouse, where because of the complexity of the system further research is needed to identify the specific reasons or factors of influence being responsible for the different outcome of experiments conducted under lab and practice conditions.     

Morphological and biochemical basis of resistance in okra to cotton jassid, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amrasca biguttula biguttula</Emphasis> (Ishida)

Fifteen okra germplasm entries viz. accessions: IC0506027, IC0506118 and EC0306728; Abelmoschus spp.: Abelmoschus tuberculatus, Abelmoschus moschatus, Abelmoschus angulosus, Abelmoschus tetraphyllus, Abelmoschus manihot and Abelmoschus caillei; genotypes: POL-6 and POL-7; and four cultivated varieties: Punjab 8, Punjab Padmini, Punjab 7 and Pusa Sawani were screened against jassid, Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Ishida) in field at Vegetable Research Farm, Department of Vegetable Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India during Kharif 2015. Different morphological and biochemical parameters of leaves of the selected entries were also studied. The correlation between jassid nymphal population and mid vein hair density, total phenols and tannins was negative and significant (r = ?0.67, ?0.83, ?0.75, respectively); negative and non-significant for hair length, angle of insertion of hair, total sugars and silica (r = ?0.40, ?0.49, ?0.63 and ?0.59, respectively) and positive and highly significant for lacination index, reducing sugars and lignins (r = 0.82, 0.95 and 0.90, respectively). Abelmoschus spp. Abelmoschus tetraphyllus, Abelmoschus angulosus and Abelmoschus moschatus were found to be field resistant on the basis of significantly lower pooled jassid nymphal population (1.56–1.99), jassid injury index (1.16–1.27) and susceptibility index (2.70–2.92). High degree of resistance in Abelmoschus tetraphyllus, Abelmoschus angulosus and Abelmoschus moschatus was found to be associated with high hair density (4.75–7.50), longer hair (1285.00–1513.20 μm), more erect hair (83.40–95.20°), broad leaves, high total sugars (15.21–18.36 mg/g), total phenols (1.52–1.58 mg/g), tannins (26.12–31.48 mg/g) and silica (32.66–33.17 mg/g) and low levels of reducing sugars (2.50–3.39 mg/g). Abelmoschus tuberculatus, A. manihot, IC0506027 and EC0306728 were found moderately field resistant with variable levels of morphological and biochemical parameters. High hair density, broad leaves, moderate levels of total sugars, reducing sugars, total phenols, tannins and silica seems to be associated with moderate levels of resistance in these entries. The variable levels of above mentioned parameters in moderately resistant entries also indicate that a single factor is not responsible for resistance but combination of different factors may be conferring resistance to jassid.     

Effect of abamectin on root-knot nematodes and tomato yield

BACKGROUND: Tomato growers in Shandong Province, China, commonly face heavy root‐knot nematode infestations. Current methods of control include cadusafos and methyl bromide (MeBr), but alternative methods are required because of the high toxicity of these pesticides and the ecological risk of their use. Therefore, abamectin soil applications were evaluated for their potential to control soil nematodes in a series of laboratory tests, greenhouse pot experiments and field trials. RESULTS: Laboratory tests showed that abamectin exhibited rapid knockdown of Meloidogyne incognita, with LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values that were superior to those of cadusafos and averaged 7.06 and 21.81 mg L^?1. In the greenhouse pot experiment, soil applications of abamectin provided significant M. incognita control similar to that provided by cadusafos while maintaining excellent plant height and vigour. In the field trials, abamectin exhibited excellent control effects to nematodes while giving a higher tomato yield. There was a 19.3–39.0% yield increase from the various treatments compared with the control, and the best results were obtained from the highest dose of abamectin. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that abamectin has the potential to be used as an effective alternative to MeBr and cadusafos for nematode control in tomato production in Shandong Province. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Inoculation with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sclerotium rolfsii</Emphasis>, cause of stem rot in Jerusalem artichoke,under field conditions

Stem rot caused by Sclerotium rolfsii is an important problem of Jerusalem artichoke, and breeding of Jerusalem artichoke for resistance to stem rot requires effective screening methods. The objective of this study was to compare methods for inoculating Jerusalem artichoke with S. rolfsii under field conditions. A 4 × 2 × 3 factorial in a randomized complete block with four replications was used in two environments characterized by different rates of fertilizer application (recommended rate and low rate) in the rainy season. The factors included four Jerusalem artichoke varieties (HEL280, HEL278, HEL256 and JA49), two levels of wounding (wounded and not wounded) and three methods of inoculation. The inoculation methods consisted of: 1) non-inoculated natural infection; 2) attaching one colonized sorghum seed at the crown of plants (single sorghum seed method); and 3) spreading 30 g m^?2 of colonized sorghum seeds (broadcast inoculation method). Jerusalem artichoke varieties and inoculation methods were significantly different for disease incidence, whereas the difference between wounded and non wounded treatments was not significant. Significant interactions were found between the variety and wounding method, the variety and inoculation method, wounding method and inoculation method, and inoculation method and environments. Natural infection resulted in the lowest disease incidence (32.2 %), whereas the single sorghum seed and the broadcast inoculation methods had a high disease incidence (79.0 % and 77.3 % respectively) and were not signnificantly different from each other. Broadcast inoculation did not allow differentiation of Jerusalem artichoke varieties for disease incidence, whereas single seed inoculation could better identify the differences among Jerusalem artichoke varieties.