Effects of age and host availability on reproduction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trioxys angelicae</Emphasis> Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitizing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphis fabae</Emphasis> Scopoli (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the effects of Trioxys angelicae Haliday (Hym.: Braconidae) age and host density (Aphis fabae Scopoli) (Hem.: Aphididae) on selected attributes of parasitoid reproductive biology. The number of hosts parasitized per day was used as an estimate of wasp fecundity. Parasitoid longevity was not affected by host density and at host densities of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 or 60 aphids per day; the parasitoids lived an average of 8.96 ± 0.82 days at 21°C. At host densities of ≤20 aphids per day, lifetime fecundity of a single Trioxys angelicae female was limited by the number of hosts available. Lifetime fecundity was highest with an average of 158.14 ± 20.33 at a density of 30 aphids per day; the maximum number of aphids parasitized by any female was 235. Daily fecundity and sex ratio were affected by parasitoid age and host density. Age-specific fecundity at different host densities fitted well to a nonlinear model. In conclusion, the fecundity and female progeny production of Trioxys angelicae as an important biological control agent of A. fabae is influenced by host availability.     

Fertility variation in endemic populations of Ehrami black pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus nigra</Emphasis> Arnold. subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">pallasiana</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">pyramidata</Emphasis>)

Fertility variation and effective number of parents were estimated in the 100 individuals from each of three plantation populations (P1, P2 and P3) of the endangered Pinus nigra. subsp. pallasiana var. pyramidata established in the Isparta–Golcuk district in southern Turkey in 1990. Potential relations between cone yield and growth characters (height, diameter at breast height, diameter at base and crown diameter) were also investigated. Large differences were found among populations and within populations for cone production and growth characters. Mean cone production was eight (ranging from 6.5 in P2 to 9.1 in P1) for the three populations. The 10 most productive individuals for cones produced 32% of the total cones in P1, 39% in P2 and 34% in P3; 21, 16 and 6 individuals, respectively did not produce any cones in the populations. According to the correlation analyses, the relation between cone yield and growth characters changed for the populations, while height, diameter at breast height and crown diameter were positively significantly correlated (r = 0.182, 0.135 and 0.209; p ≤ 0.05) with cone production for the three populations. Fertility variation was 1.81 in total of three populations, ranging from 1.72 in P3 to 3.45 in P1). Effective number of parents was 142 (55.2 of number of parents censused; 29%, P1; 49.8%, P2; 58.3%, P3).     

Successful <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis>-mediated transformation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Populus tomentosa</Emphasis> with apple <Emphasis Type="Italic">SPDS</Emphasis> gene

The problem of salinized soils has become one of the most serious constraints to agricultural and forest productivity. With the purpose of enhancing salt stress tolerance of Populus tomentosa, we transformed this tree species with spermidine synthase （SPDS） genes derived from an apple by an Agrobacterium-mediated method. Four transgenic clones were confu＇med by PCR and Southern blot analysis. As well, the expression of introduced SPDS genes was analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR.     

Effectiveness of Neem (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Azadirachta indica</Emphasis>) insecticides against Brassica pod midge (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dasineura brassicae</Emphasis> Winn<Emphasis Type="Italic">.</Emphasis>)

The efficiency of the botanical insecticide (BI) NeemAzal T/S (containing 1% Azadirachtin A), on the basis of azadirachtin applied in a dose of 20 g a.i. ha⁻¹ against Brassica pod midge (Dasineura brassicae), has been monitored for 4 years. The biological efficiency of BI was compared with the efficiency of some synthetic insecticides. It was ascertained that BI was very efficient in decreasing the number of damaged oilseed rape pods (ranging from 56.5 to 85.9% compared to untreated plants) and its efficiency was comparable with synthetic insecticides based on Chloronicotinyl (Thiacloprid) and Neonicotinoid (Acetamiprid). BI’s efficiency was, in some years, even significantly higher compared to pyrethroid (λ-cyhalothrin). The high biological efficiency of azadirachtin that we ascertained was significantly reflected in increasing potential crop yields. The yield increase of azadirachtin ranged between 9.3 and 19.4% compared to the control sample. Azadirachtin showed the highest yield for the whole time of experimentation, and in some years the yield increase was significantly higher compared to some synthetic agents.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bursaphelenchus mucronatus</Emphasis> (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) vectored by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monochamus </Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">urussovi</Emphasis> (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Hokkaido,Japan

Bursaphelenchus mucronatus Mamiya et Enda has been recovered for the first time from adults of the cerambycid beetle, Monochamus urussovi (Fischer), in Hokkaido, Japan. The nematode was also recovered from the inner bark of Picea jezoensis (Siebold et Zuccarini) Carrière and Abies sachalinensis (Fr Schmidt) Masters infested with M. urussovi larvae. PCR–RFLP analysis indicated that B. mucronatus in Hokkaido is the European type.     

Insecticidal properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thymus persicus</Emphasis> essential oil against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tribolium castaneum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sitophilus oryzae</Emphasis>

Red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (L.) are considered to be the major insect pests in storage. Essential oils from aromatic plants are recognized as proper alternatives to fumigants. Thymus persicus (Ronniger ex Rech. f.) is one of these plants that have medicinal properties and is indigenous to Iran. The essential oil was obtained from aerial parts of the plant and analyzed by GC and GC–MS. Carvacrol (44.69%) and thymol (11.05%) were the major constituents of the oil extracted. In this experiment, fumigant toxicity of the essential oil was studied against T. castaneum, S. oryzae at 27 ± 1°C and 60 ± 5% RH in dark condition. The adult insects were exposed to the concentrations of 51.9, 111.1, 207.4 and 370.4 μl/l air to estimate median lethal time (LT₅₀) values. The fumigant toxicity was increased in response to increased essential oil concentrations. The LT₅₀ values at the lowest and the highest concentrations tested were ranged from 28.09 to 13.47 h for T. castaneum, and 3.86 to 2.30 h for S. oryzae. It was found that S. oryzae adults were much more susceptible to the oil than T. castaneum. After 24 h of exposure, the LC₅₀ values (95% fiducial limit) for T. castaneum and S. oryzae were estimated to be 236.9 (186.27–292.81) and 3.34 (2.62–4.28) μl/l air, respectively. These results suggest that T. persicus essential oil merits further study as potential fumigant for the management of these stored-product insects.     

Pathogenic effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xenorhabdus nematophilus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Photorhabdus luminescens</Emphasis> (Enterobacteriaceae) against pupae of the Diamondback Moth, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plutella xylostella</Emphasis> (L.)

The relationship between Xenorhabdus nematophilus and Photorhabdus luminescens, the bacterial symbionts of the entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, against the diamondback moth, P. xylostella (L.), pupae showed the pathogenic capability of P. luminescens to be over that of X. nematophilus. They gave 60 and 40?% mortality with LC₅₀ values of 5?×?10⁴ and 5.5?×?10⁵ cells/ml, respectively.The number of bacterial cells influences the rate of killing the pupae of P. xylostella and a direct correlation between mortality of the pupae, percentage of deformed adults and the spraying dose with significant differences were observed. An inverse correlation found between the no. of eggs laid/female, percentage of hatching, adult survival and the spraying dose. These bacterial effects have been attributed to different toxic bacterial enzymes which damage the haemocytes and inhibit activation of the humoral immune system of the insect.     

Cultivation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus eryngii</Emphasis> on umbrella plant (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyperus alternifolius</Emphasis>) substrate

Mycelial growth and mushroom yields of three strains of Pleurotus eryngii produced on wheat bran-supplemented umbrella plant (Cyperus alternifolius) substrate were assessed using surface brightness, bromophenol blue color reactions, ergosterol and glucosamine contents, and water potential as indicators of strain performance. Mycelial growth was 31%–46% greater, depending on strain, on the umbrella plant substrate compared with the mushroom industry standard sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) substrate. Mushroom yields on the first flush were 20%–23% higher, depending on strain, on the plastic bottle-contained umbrella plant substrate. However, yields on the second break were lower from the umbrella plant substrate. Because many growers in Japan only harvest one flush, production of P. eryngii on umbrella plant substrate may offer commercial producers an alternative basal ingredient to diminishing supplies of sugi sawdust.Part of this report was presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Gifu, April 2002.     

Comparison of postfire mortality in endemic Corsican black pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus nigra</Emphasis> ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">laricio</Emphasis>) and its direct competitor (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus pinaster</Emphasis>)

• Introduction   

Laricio pine (Pinus nigra J.F. Arn. ssp. laricio (Poiret) Maire var Corsicana Hyl.) is a form of black pine endemic to Corsica, that may now be under threat due to current fire regimes and competition with maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton).     

Behavioral responses of the egg parasitoid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trissolcus japonicus</Emphasis> to volatiles from adults of its stink bug host, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Halyomorpha halys</Emphasis>

Halyomorpha halys, originating from East Asia, has become an important agricultural pest in northern temperate regions since its accidental introduction into North America in the mid-1990s and Europe in 2007. Trissolcus japonicus is the predominant egg parasitoid of this pest in its native range. Here, we tested the hypothesis that T. japonicus uses volatiles associated with H. halys adults during host location. The effects of these volatile compounds on H. halys adults were also assessed. Chemical analysis with GC-MS and electrophysiological analysis with GC-EAD revealed the presence of two bioactive volatile compounds from H. halys adults, n-tridecane and (E)-2-decenal. In the Y-tube assays, female T. japonicus were attracted by n-tridecane but strongly repelled by (E)-2-decenal. Furthermore, host searching time of female T. japonicus was significantly reduced when an H. halys egg mass was treated with n-tridecane and prolonged when treated with (E)-2-decenal or a mixture of (E)-2-decenal and n-tridecane. Male H. halys were significantly attracted by n-tridecane, whereas females had no response to this compound in the Y-tube assays. (E)-2-Decenal strongly repelled male and female H. halys in the Y-tube assays. We discuss the multifunctional kairomonal and other possible roles of these semiochemicals at different trophic levels in the context of intra- and inter-specific chemical communication, in the H. halys–T. japonicus system.     

Studies on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aleurothrixus floccosus</Emphasis> (Maskell) (Homoptera,Aleyrodidae) and its parasitoid, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cales noacki</Emphasis> Howard (Hymenoptera,Aphelinidae) in the East Mediterranean Region of Turkey

Survey studies of Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell) (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae) and its parasitoid Cales noacki Howard (Hymenoptera, Aphelinidae) were made in 4 provinces; namely Adana, Mersin, Hatay and Osmaniye, which are the main citrus growing areas of the East Mediterranean region of Turkey. Inoculative parasitoid releases were made in regions where no or low natural parasitism occurred after obtaining preliminary results on presence of the parasitoid. The population dynamics of A. floccosus and C. noacki were examined in Silifke (Mersin), Dörtyol (Hatay) and Yüreir (Adana), where the A. floccosus population was remarkably high at the beginning of the study in 1999. However, after parasitoid release, the pest population declined in all the sites and did not attain the same high levels again. Five predators, three parasitoids and one entomopathogen species were determined as natural enemies of A. floccosus. In addition, seven plant species, six of them belong to Rutaceae, were found as host plants for A. floccosus.     

Influence of five host plants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphis gossypii</Emphasis> Glover on some population parameters of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hippodamia variegata</Emphasis> (Goeze)

The aphidophagous ladybird beetle, Hippodamia variegata (Goeze), is an important predator in many agricultural ecosystems. However, information on the influence of the prey’s host plant species on its life history characteristics is still absent in the literature. Therefore, five host plant species of Aphis gossypii Glover, viz. Cucumis sativus L., Cucurbita pepo var. medullosa L., Cucurbita moschata var. melonaeformis Poiret, Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis L. and Lagenaria siceraria var. gourda Standl., were selected to study the influence of the prey’s host plant species on the development, survival, reproduction and life table parameters of H. variegata in the laboratory at 25°C. The results showed that all of A. gossypii from five host plant species used were acceptable for the growth, development and reproduction of H. variegata. However, the suitability of aphids from various host plants was different for this ladybird beetle. The complete pre-imaginal development was longest (14.51 ± 0.17 days) when reared with aphids on C. melo var. cantalupensis and shortest (12.60 ± 0.11 days) on L. siceraria var. gourda. Total immature survival from egg to adult was highest (58.97%) on L. siceraria var. gourda and lowest (44.06%) on C. melo var. cantalupensis. Based on the intrinsic rate of increase as an index of suitability of prey host plant species on the population increase of H. variegata, the suitability in decreasing order was: L. siceraria var. gourda > C. moschata var. melonaeformis > C. pepo var. medullosa > C. melo var. cantalupensis > C. sativus. This study offered opportunities for better understanding the tritrophic interactions of the plant–aphid–predator relationship.     

Bioremediation of CCA-treated wood by brown-rot fungi <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fomitopsis palustris</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coniophora puteana</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Laetiporus sulphureus</Emphasis>

This study evaluated oxalic acid accumulation and bioremediation of chromated copper arsenate (CCA)-treated wood by three brown-rot fungi Fomitopsis palustris, Coniophora puteana, and Laetiporus sulphureus. The fungi were first cultivated in a fermentation broth to accumulate oxalic acid. Bioremediation of CCA-treated wood was then carried out by leaching of heavy metals with oxalic acid over a 10-day fermentation period. Higher amounts of oxalic acid were produced by F. palustris and L. sulphureus compared with C. puteana. After 10-day fermentation, oxalic acid accumulation reached 4.2 g/l and 3.2 g/l for these fungi, respectively. Fomitopsis palustris and L. sulphureus exposed to CCA-treated sawdust for 10 days showed a decrease in arsenic of 100% and 85%, respectively; however, C. puteana remediation removed only 18% arsenic from CCA-treated sawdust. Likewise, chromium removal in F. palustris and L. sulphureus remediation processes was higher than those for C. puteana. This was attributed to low oxalic acid accumulation. These results suggest that F. palustris and L. sulphureus remediation processes can remove inorganic metal compounds via oxalic acid production by increasing the acidity of the substrate and increasing the solubility of the metals.An erratum to this article can be found at     

Toxicity of synthetic and biological insecticides against adults of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus</Emphasis> snout-beetle <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gonipterus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">scutellatus</Emphasis> Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Toxicity by contact and by ingestion of lufenuron, flufenoxuron, lambda (λ)-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, thiamethoxam and five entomopathogenic insecticides (three formulations of Beauveria bassiana, a compound containing spores of Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum, and a mixture of Brevibacillus laterosporus, Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus chitinosporus) were evaluated on adults of the Eucalyptus snout-beetle Gonipterus scutellatus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) under laboratory conditions. By contact, entomopathogenic fungus B. bassiana EC and the pyrethroid λ-cyhalothrin exhibited the highest efficiency, achieving 100 and 97.5% mortality, respectively. By ingestion, the highest mortality was obtained by B. bassiana EC (100%) and thiamethoxam (95%). Flufenoxuron and lufenuron, bacteria mixture and M. anisopliae showed a weak toxicity. Furthermore, we found a sex-biased mortality, being males more affected. Due to the good performance and low risk to humans and environment, B. bassiana EC (strain PPRI 5339) appears to be the most promising product to promote an IPM programme in South Africa.     

Leaf-level responses to light in two co-occurring <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus ilex</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus suber</Emphasis>): leaf structure,chemical composition and photosynthesis

We studied morphological, biochemical and physiological leaf acclimation to incident Photon-Photosynthetic-Flux-Density (PPFD) in Quercus ilex (holm oak) and Quercus suber (cork oak) at Mediterranean evergreen oak woodlands of southern Portugal. Specific leaf area (SLA) decreased exponentially with increasing PPFD in both species. Q. ilex had lower SLA values than Q. suber. Leaf nitrogen, cellulose and lignin concentration (leaf area-based) scaled positively with PPFD. Maximum rate of carboxylation (V_cmax), capacity for maximum photosynthetic electron transport (J_max), rate of triose-P utilization (V_TPU) and the rate of nonphotorespiratory light respiration (Rd) were also positively correlated with PPFD in both Quercus species, when expressed in leaf area but not on leaf mass basis. Q suber showed to have higher photosynthetic potential (V_cmax, J_max^m and V_TPU^m) and a higher nitrogen efficient nitrogen use than Q.ilex. Leaf chlorophyll concentration increased with decreasing PPFD, improving apparent quantum use efficiency (Φ) in both Quercus species. We concluded that, in Q.ilex and Q.suber, leaf structural plasticity is a stronger determinant for leaf acclimation to PPFD than biochemical and physiological plasticity.     

Variation in the host preferences and responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ascia monuste orseis</Emphasis> Godart (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) to cultivars of collard greens <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica oleracea</Emphasis> (L.) var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">acephala</Emphasis>

This work evaluated the preference of Ascia monuste orseis among 29 cultivars of collard greens through free- and no-choice assays using female adults (attractiveness and oviposition) and third-instar larvae (feeding preference), in both laboratory and greenhouse conditions. In free-choice tests with female adults, the L, V, Y, H, A, and Z cultivars produced oviposition non-preference in butterflies. Cultivars R, P, C, and D produced feeding non-preference in third-instar larvae of A. monuste orseis in free- and no-choice tests. Our findings may be useful for genetic improvement focusing on the development of B. oleracea var. acephala cultivars resistant to A. monuste orseis.     

Side effects of selected insecticides on the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tuta absoluta</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) predators <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macrolophus pygmaeus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nesidiocoris tenuis</Emphasis> (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Tuta absoluta is a pest native to South America that produces significant damage to tomato crops and was first detected in Europe in late 2006. Data obtained during 2008 from commercial tomato crops in which IPM was applied suggested that good pest control was possible through the combined action of the predatory mirid bugs Macrolophus pygmaeus and Nesidiocoris tenuis and the use of selective insecticides. The aim of our study was to evaluate the lethal and sublethal side effects of three of the insecticides most widely used to control T. absoluta on these predators: azadirachtin, spinosad and indoxacarb. Seven days after applying the treatment at the maximum recommended field rates, the mortality produced by indoxacarb ranged from 28% for nymphs of M. pygmaeus to 77% for females of N. tenuis and were significantly higher than those produced by azadirachtin, spinosad and the control (<13%). However, indoxacarb did not affect the number of descendants of females exposed to residues during the last days of their preimaginal development. In contrast, spinosad significantly reduced the offspring of M. pygmaeus and azadirachtin significantly reduced the offspring of N. tenuis females. The sublethal effects of azadirachtin and spinosad on predator reproduction should therefore not be ignored. This information could be useful when selecting the most appropriate insecticide to control T. absoluta in greenhouses and field crops in which M. pygmaeus and N. tenuis are used as biological control agents.     

Laboratory and field evaluation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Beauveria bassiana</Emphasis> for controlling Mulberry whitefly <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pealius mori</Emphasis> Takahashi (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) in mulberry (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Morus alba</Emphasis> Linn)

In a laboratory screening of 12 isolates of entomopathogenic fungi against nymphs of the mulberry whitefly (Pealius mori Takahashi), Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Crivelli) Vuillemin CKB-048 was the most virulent, causing 87 ± 3% mortality at 1 × 10⁶ conidia/ml. Infection was confirmed by growth of the fungus from cadavers and by scanning electron microscopy of treated nymphs. Beauveria bassiana CKB-048 was formulated as a wettable powder (1 × 10⁹ conidia/g) and tested in two mulberry (Morus alba Linn) plantations in central and northeastern Thailand. In both locations, two spray applications of B. bassiana CKB-048 at 3.75 × 10¹² to 6.25 × 10¹² conidia/ha and at 14 day intervals provided good control of whitefly nymphs; control with B. bassiana CKB-048 was comparable to that with the pesticide buprofezin at 250 g of active ingredient/ha. In addition, no mortality of silkworm larvae occurred when the larvae were fed with mulberry leaves sprayed with B. bassiana CKB-048 7, 14, or 21 days earlier.     

Enzymatic saccharification and ethanol production of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia mangium</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paraserianthes falcataria</Emphasis> wood,and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Elaeis guineensis</Emphasis> trunk

We examined the saccharification and fermentation of meals from Acacia mangium wood, Paraserianthes falcataria wood, and Elaeis guineensis trunk. The levels of enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose and ethanol production were highest for P. falcataria wood and lowest for A. mangium wood. Ultrasonication pretreatment of meal further increased the rates of hydrolysis and ethanol production in meal from P. falcataria wood. Through this pretreatment, hemicelluloses (xylan and xyloglucan) and cellulose were released in the meal from P. falcataria wood. Loosening of hemicellulose associations can be expected to make P. falcataria wood more useful for bioethanol production.