Postharvest fungicide dips to control fruit rot of ‘Monthong’ durian (Durio zibethinus)

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Fruit rot diseases are the serious problem in durian production for domestic consumption and export. Fungicides are commonly applied to reduce postharvest loss...     

Anticoagulant resistance: a relevant issue in sewer rat (Rattus norvegicus) control?

BACKGROUND: The majority of rat problems in cities are thought to be related to defective sewers, and the use of anticoagulant rodenticides in such places is often implemented as part of regular urban rodent control. Knowledge pertaining to the resistance status of sewer rat populations is non‐existent, which may be leading to control problems in cities. It has become crucial to provide knowledge on the prevalence of resistance and how different control strategies have affected its prevalence among sewer rat populations. The prevalence of resistance was investigated in six sewer locations in Copenhagen and its suburban area by means of the blood clotting response (BCR) test and amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction (ARMS PCR) analysis, and by additional sequencing of the VKORC1 gene. The sewer locations were chosen to represent three different control strategies: (i) no anticoagulant use for approximately 20 years; (ii) no anticoagulant use for the last 5 years; (iii) continuous use for several decades up to the present. RESULTS: A low level of anticoagulant resistance was found in the sewers regardless of control strategy. Surprisingly, none of the rats, including the resistant rats, had resistance‐related mutations in the VKORC1 gene. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the genetic background of anticoagulant resistance may have to be redefined in respect of resistance‐related changes in the VKORC1 gene. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

The efficacy of Vespex® wasp bait to control Vespula species (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in New Zealand

ABSTRACT

Transitioning from trials to pest control tool, the efficacy of controlling wasps Vespula vulgaris and V. germanica using Vespex® wasp bait was tested in 2015. Vespex® is a protein-based bait matrix with 0.1% fipronil. Five sites ranging <300 to >2000 ha and over 5500 ha in total had bait stations placed 300 × 50 m apart and received one application of Vespex®. Wasp nest traffic rates declined 93% in four days at one site, and over 97% after 20–38 days at all other sites. Measured honeydew availability also improved post wasp control. Further demonstrating feasibility, five different agencies worked closely with government leading many programme aspects. Vespex® was made more widely available in New Zealand towards the end of 2015. Web page information showed ～30% of all territorial authorities nationally are engaging in pest wasp problems. This signals a future potential in the way that pest wasps might be managed in a community context for social, economic and biodiversity conservation objectives.     

Do the introductions by botanical gardens facilitate the invasion of Solidago canadensis (Asterceae) in China?

Many invasive plants have long been suspected of firstly being introduced and cultivated by a local botanical garden or nursery and then escaping into the field after adapting to the novel environment. The role of botanical gardens in the spread of invasive plants has not yet been explored experimentally. In this article, we studied the possible roles of two botanical gardens in the spread of invasive Solidago canadensis (Asterceae) in China by analysing genetic relationships of invasive and native (United States) populations with intersimple sequence repeats markers. Our results showed a high genetic variation (mean He = 0.292) and a large proportion of genetic variation (85.6%) residing within populations. Solidago canadensis was possibly introduced firstly into eastern China. The plants from Lushan Botanical Garden showed distant genetic distance from all of the other populations, suggesting that this botanical garden had little effect on the invasion of S. canadensis. Populations from Wuhan Botanical Garden in central China, however, showed close genetic relationships with local populations and populations in west and south‐west China, suggesting gene exchange between these populations. Thus, risk assessment is critical for plant introduction and conservation, as introductions of alien plants by botanical gardens may facilitate plant invasions, while plants conserved in botanical gardens may be at risk by surrounding plant invasions.     

Integrated weed management (IWM): why are farmers reluctant to adopt non‐chemical alternatives to herbicides?

Implementation of integrated weed management (IWM) has been poor, with little evidence of concomitant reductions in herbicide use. Non‐chemical methods are often adopted as a means of compensating for reduced herbicide efficacy, due to increasing resistance, rather than as alternatives to herbicides. Reluctance to adopt non‐chemical methods is not due to a lack of research or technology but to a lack of farmer motivation and action. Justifiably, herbicides are often seen as the easier option – their convenience outweighs the increased complexity, costs and management time associated with non‐chemical alternatives. Greater use of non‐chemical alternatives to herbicides will only occur if the following seven aspects are addressed: (i) better recognition of the reasons why farmers are reluctant to use non‐chemical alternatives; (ii) encouraging farmers to adopt a longer‐term approach to weed control; (iii) changing farmers' attitudes to pesticides; (iv) paying more attention to the individual farmer's perspective; (v). greater involvement of economists, social scientists and marketing professionals; (vi) re‐evaluating research and extension priorities; and (vii) changing the mindset of funders of research and extension. If ‘persuasion’ fails to deliver greater implementation of IWM, authorities may resort to greater use of financial and other incentives combined with tougher regulations. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

The Asian planthopper Ricania speculum (Walker) (Homoptera: Ricaniidae) on several crops in Italy: a potential threat to the EPPO region?

In August 2014, twenty adults of Ricania speculum (Walker) (Homoptera: Ricaniidae) were collected on plants of Citrus spp. in La Spezia province (Liguria, Italy). This planthopper, which is native to parts of China and other Asian countries, is highly polyphagous and a pest of several crops such as citrus, cotton, coffee, oil palm and tea. As a newly introduced pest in Europe, R. speculum needs to be monitored for its potential spread, especially in Southern European countries and for the damage it may cause to agriculture in the region.     

Susceptibility of the Box tree pyralid Cydalima perspectalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) to potential biological control agents Neem (NeemAzal®-T/S) and entomopathogenic nematodes (Nemastar®) assessed in laboratory bioassays and field trials

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The Box tree pyralid Cydalima perspectalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is one of the accidentally introduced organisms that became invasive and...