Mercury, arsenic, and cadmium in fish, water, and sediment of American Falls Reservoir, Idaho, 1974.

Mercury and cadmium were found in fish, water, and sediment of American Falls Reservoir (AFR), Idaho. Mercury and cadmium levels in some fish exceeded human health standards set by the Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, and the World Health Organization. Analyses performed on the flesh of rainbow trout showed mercury residues of up to 1.20 mg/kg, which were higher than residues previously reported in trout collected in 1970 and 1971 from AFR. Cadmium residue levels were as high as 0.80 mg/kg. Although arsenic was found in reservoir sediment at levels of 1.36-2.40 mg/kg, it was not detected in fish.     

Intestinal uptake,metabolism, and transport of naphthol: In vitro capacity,requirements, and inhibition

The metabolism and transport of [¹⁴C]-naphthol were investigated in sacs of rat small intestine to better understand metabolism of the pesticide carbaryl (which contains naphthol) in the intestine. The capacity to synthesize polar ¹⁴C-labeled metabolites was approximately saturated at 50 μM naphthol. The metabolic capacity of the cranial small intestine was about two times the capacity of the caudal. Anaerobic incubation severely suppressed naphthol metabolism. Sodiumfree medium suppressed metabolism only slightly but altered transport of water and of the polar ¹⁴C-labeled metabolites to serosal and mucosal fluids; the effect on metabolite transport cannot be explained by the effects of sodium on water movements, however. Calcium-free medium did not affect metabolism or metabolite transport; 2,4-dinitrophenol, and possibly phlorizin, but not ouabain, suppressed naphthol metabolism in specific regions of the intestine. Each of the three inhibitors altered metabolite transport. It is concluded that the capacity to conjugate naphthol in the small intestine is greater in the cranial than caudal regions; the quantity of naphthol taken up from the medium is proportional to the rate of formation of the polar metabolite, naphthyl glucuronide; addition of 2,4-dinitrophenol, phlorizin, or ouabain, or deletion of sodium, perturbed the transport of the polar metabolite, but the perturbance could not be explained by the effect on rate or direction of fluid transfer and indicated an effect on cellular permeability or on transport mechanisms; the effect of the three inhibitors and possibly of elevated naphthol concentrations (to 520 μM) in the medium on metabolite transport may be by a sodium interaction; the latter suggests that naphthol may be toxic to the intestine at concentrations approaching 100 to 1000 μM.     

Insecticidal activity of N,N-diethyl-, N,N-dipropyl-, N,n-di-isopropyl-, and n,n-di-isobutylalkanamides against mosquito larvae

N,N-Diethyl-, N,N-dipropyl-, N,N-di-isopropyl, and N,N-di-isobutylalkanamides in which the acyl moiety ranged from C₈ to C₂₁ were synthesised, and their larvicidal activity was determined against the first-instar larvae of the southern house mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus Say. The four homologous series of amides generally showed an increase in their larvicidal activity as the carbon number in the acyl moiety of the amides increased, until the activity reached a maximum. Subsequently, an increment of carbon number resulted in declining activity in the higher homologues, until the activity disappeared. N,N-Diethyltetradecanamide, N,N-dipropylundecanamide, N,N-di-isopropylundecanamide, and N,N-di-isobutlynonanamide or -dodecanamide were the most active compounds in their respective homologous series of amides; however, they were less active than their analogous N,N-dimethylalkanamides previously studied.     

Population dynamics of Rhizoctonia,Oculimacula, and Microdochium species in soil,roots, and stems of English wheat crops

This study aimed to elucidate the population dynamics of Rhizoctonia, Oculimacula, and Microdochium species, causing the stem base disease complex of sharp eyespot, eyespot, and brown foot rot in cereals. Pathogen DNA in soil, roots, and stem fractions, and disease expression were quantified in 102 English wheat fields in two seasons. Weather data for each site was collected to determine patterns that correlate with assessed diseases. Oculimacula spp. (66%) and R. solani AG 2-1 (63%) were most frequently detected in soil, followed by R. cerealis (54%) and Microdochium spp. (33%). Oculimacula spp. (89%) and R. cerealis (56%) predominated on roots and soil but were not associated with root rot symptoms, suggesting that these species used soil and roots for survival and as inoculum source. M. nivale was more frequently detected than M. majus on stems up to GS 21–30 and co-occurred on plant samples with O. acuformis. O. yallundae had higher DNA concentration than O. acuformis at the lower 5 cm basal region at GS 37–45. R. cerealis predominated in the upper 15 cm above the base beyond stem extension. Brown foot rot by Microdochium spp. was favoured by cool and wet autumns/winters and dominated in English wheat. Eyespot and sharp eyespot disease index by Oculimacula spp. and R. cerealis, respectively, correlated with wet/humid springs and summers. Results suggested that stem base pathogens generally coexisted; however, their abundance in time and space was influenced by favourable weather patterns and host development, with niche differentiation after stem extension.     

DDT and BHC residues in some body tissues of goats, buffalo, and chickens, Lucknow, India

Muscle, liver, brain, and abdominal body fat samples of goats, buffalo, and chickens, all common meat sources in India, were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) for residues of DDT and benzene hexachloride (BHC). A few samples of goat and buffalo bone marrow were also included. Relatively high residue levels were found in body fat and bone marrow compared with other tissues. DDT and BHC residue levels were highest in chicken body fat, averaging 4.157 ppm sigma DDT and 3.879 ppm BHC. DDT content was much higher in goat and buffalo bone marrow than in the corresponding body fat. DDT levels in brain samples were highest (0.138 ppm) in buffalo. p,p'-TDE levels were higher than p,p'-DDE levels in buffalo; overall DDT levels were lowest in goats. BHC residues were generally low in buffalo; alpha-BHC accounted for most BHC residues in brain tissues. Greater accumulations of DDT and BHC were found in leg muscles than in breast muscles of chickens.     

啶酰菌胺在南瓜、芦笋、山楂、芒果和木瓜上的膳食摄入风险评估

为明确啶酰菌胺在南瓜、芦笋、山楂、芒果和木瓜上使用可能产生的膳食摄入风险,通过进行规范田间残留试验,检测了南瓜、芦笋、山楂、芒果和木瓜中啶酰菌胺的最终残留量,结合国内和国际两种膳食消费量数据,评估了啶酰菌胺的长期膳食摄入风险,并就两种方法的评估结果进行了比较分析。样品采用QuEChERS方法前处理,液相色谱-串联质谱 (LC-MS/MS) 定量分析。结果表明:南瓜在0.01、0.1和3 mg/kg,芦笋在0.01、0.1和20 mg/kg,山楂在0.01、0.1和60 mg/kg,芒果在0.01、0.1和4 mg/kg,木瓜在0.01、0.1和10 mg/kg添加水平下,啶酰菌胺在空白样品中的平均回收率为79%~101%,相对标准偏差为2%~14%。采用 “中国居民营养与健康状况调查报告” 的膳食消费数据,计算得啶酰菌胺针对普通人群的国家估算每日摄入量 (NEDI) 为0.707 5 mg/(kg bw),风险商 (RQ) 为28.1%;采用世界卫生组织 (WHO) 提供的每种农产品的单独膳食量进行计算,啶酰菌胺的每日摄入量为0.128 2 mg/(kg bw),风险商 (RQ) 为5.1%。两种方法的评估结果均表明啶酰菌胺对一般人群的健康不会产生不可接受的风险,然而,采用不同膳食消费数据进行计算会导致风险评估结果存在较大差异,其原因主要是由于中国所采用的膳食消费数据是作物分类基础上的数据,而不是具体某种农产品的单独消费量,因而易导致中国的膳食摄入风险评估结果过于保守。因此建议相关部门进一步完善居民的营养与健康状况调查监测工作,提供具体到每一种农产品的膳食消费数据,以便于科学评价农药对人体健康的风险。     

施肥对小麦、玉米和大豆连作土壤微生物群落功能多样性的影响

为了明确长期施肥和不施肥条件下作物连作对土壤微生物群落功能多样性的影响,以典型黑土为研究对象,选取长期定位实验站长期施肥和不施肥条件下的小麦、玉米和大豆连作处理,通过稀释平板法和Biolog Eco微平板法,测定土壤细菌、真菌、放线菌数量、碳源代谢活性等指标,为建立合理的农田管理措施提供数据支撑和理论依据。结果表明:长期施肥条件下大豆、小麦和玉米连作土壤细菌、真菌和放线菌数量均高于不施肥处理,且均以大豆连作处理细菌和真菌数量最高。不施肥条件下小麦和玉米连作土壤细菌总数较大豆连作处理分别下降了24.8%和31.0%,真菌总数分别下降了64.0%和51.2%;施肥条件下小麦和玉米连作土壤细菌总数则较大豆连作处理分别下降了29.0%和45.5%,真菌总数分别下降了26.7%和31.5%。Biolog结果表明,不施肥条件下小麦连作处理的平均颜色变化率(AWCD)高于玉米和大豆连作处理,施肥条件下则是大豆连作处理的AWCD值高于小麦和玉米连作处理。不施肥条件下大豆、玉米和小麦连作处理利用最多的碳源是碳水化合物类,施肥后不同连作处理利用最多的是碳水化合物类和多聚物类。大豆和小麦连作不施肥条件下土壤微生物利用率最高的碳源均是α-D-乳糖,施肥条件下利用率最高的碳源均是D,L-α-甘油,而不论施肥与否,玉米连作条件下土壤微生物利用率最高的碳源均是D-半乳糖醛酸;葡萄糖-1-磷酸盐和γ-羟基丁酸是农田黑土微生物群落特异利用的关键碳源。主成分分析得出,施肥对土壤微生物碳源代谢能力的影响大于作物的影响。     

Comparison of trifluralin,oryzalin, pronamide,propham, and colchicine treatments on microtubules

The mode of action of trifluralin (α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine), oryzalin (3,5-dinitro-N⁴,N⁴-dipropylsulfanilamide), pronamide(N-(1,1-dimethylpropynyl) 3,5-dichlorobenzamide), and propham (isopropyl carbanilate) on purified microtubules from pig brains and on the ultrastructure of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. “Mediterranean,” C. I. 5303) and corn (Zea mays L. “yellow dent, U. S. 13”) roots was compared with that known for colchicine. Colchicine disrupts the in vivo cortical and spindle microtubules of root cells. Like colchicine, the herbicides trifluralin, oryzalin, and pronamide caused the loss of both cortical and spindle microtubules of root cells. The rate of microtubule disappearance depended on the type of herbicide and length of exposure of roots to the herbicide. Unlike colchicine, cortical microtubules were present in propham-treated roots but they were disoriented within the cell.In vitro polymerization studies with pig brain microtubules (Sus scrofa) showed that the herbicides failed to inhibit the assembly of purified microtubular protein into microtubules and that radioactively labeled herbicides did not bind to the microtubular protein. Colchicine inhibited the polymerization of microtubular protein and readily bound to the microtubular subunits. These results indicate that the mode of action of the herbicides is not similar to that of colchicine and that the loss of microtubules from root tip cells treated with trifluralin, oryzalin, and pronamide may be caused by these herbicides interfering with synthesis of microtubular protein or metabolism of endoplasmic reticulum membranes involved in microtubule assembly. The mode of action of propham appears to be on the microtubular organizing centers rather than on microtubules per se.     

Action of some herbicides on growth,respiration, plasmalemma integrity,and proton extrusion of Acer pseudoplatanus cells: II. Amides,diphenyl ethers,nitriles, phenols,triazines, and uracils

The activity of 15 herbicides from different families was assayed on nonphotosynthetic Acer pseudoplatanus cells, in batch suspension culture. They inhibited growth, stimulated the oxygen consumption by cells, and changed the pH evolution of the culture medium. Amides did not seem to disturb the membrane properties. Some diphenyl ethers and phenols directly modified the proton compartmentation of cells whereas some other diphenyl ethers, nitriles, triazines, and uracils altered permeabilities to potassium and leucine. Changes in membrane permeabilities to protons and medium constituents were discussed.     

四种常用三唑类杀菌剂在香蕉上残留行为及使用评价研究

采用田间试验研究了戊唑醇、氟环唑、苯醚甲环唑、丙环唑等4种常用三唑类杀菌剂在香蕉上的残留行为, 并比较了戊唑醇在套袋与不套袋情况下的最终残留量。研究结果表明：香蕉上戊唑醇、氟环唑、苯醚甲环唑、丙环唑的降解半衰期分别为10.8~14.1、8.1~9.5、7.9~12.9、9.4~15.6 d。在试验剂量条件下, 末次施药后42 d时, 戊唑醇(不套袋)、戊唑醇(套袋)、氟环唑、苯醚甲环唑、丙环唑在蕉肉中的残留量分别为：0.01~0.04、<0.01、0.01~0.08、≤0.01 mg/kg和0.02~0.07 mg/kg; 在全蕉上的残留量分别为0.05~0.47、<0.01、0.10~0.36、0.03~0.19 mg/kg 和0.05~0.32 mg/kg。香蕉果肉占全果的比例约为55%~75 %, 全果的残留量约为果肉2~19倍, 表明香蕉中戊唑醇、氟环唑、苯醚甲环唑、丙环唑主要残存在果皮上。戊唑醇防治香蕉叶斑病, 在套袋情况下可以显著地减少其在收获期香蕉上的残留。     

Prevalence and pathogenicity of spinach root pathogens of the genera Aphanomyces, Phytophthora, Fusarium, Cylindrocarpon, and Rhizoctonia in Sweden

In a 4-year disease survey in commercial spinach fields, pathogens were isolated from spinach root pieces placed on selective agar media. Aphanomyces cladogamus was the most abundant pathogen, followed by Phytophthora. cryptogea and Fusarium oxysporum. Rhizoctonia solani was found only occasionally. Other pathogens isolated were F. redolens, F. sambucinum and Cylindrocarpon destructans. P. cryptogea was the most severe pathogen, causing death of most plants, but A. cladogamus also caused severe root damage. Isolates of F. oxysporum ranged from highly pathogenic, i.e. P. oxysporum f.sp. spinaciae race 1. to moderately pathogenic and non-pathogenic, Rhizoctonia solani isolates also varied widely in their pathogenicity. Only a small number of the F. redotens and F. sambucinum isolates were pathogenic and most C. destructans isolates were weakly pathogenic. Isolation frequencies were relatively stable from year to year, but P. cryptogea was isolated more frequently in autumn than in spring. No clear relationships were found between pathogen prevalence and disease severity index of surveyed field plants, between pathogen prevalence and plant developmental stage, or between prevalence of the different pathogens isolated.     

Allelopathic effects of Hemistepta lyrata on the germination and growth of wheat, sorghum, cucumber, rape, and radish seeds

The allelopathic effects of a water extract from Hemistepta lyrata were tested on the seeds of selected crops in Petri dishes. The results showed that the extract strongly inhibited the germination and seedling growth of wheat ( Triticum aestivum ), rape ( Brassica campestris ), and radish ( Raphanus sativus ), but only slightly inhibited those of sorghum ( Sorghum vulgare ) and cucumber ( Cucumis sativus ). The extract stimulated the growth of roots and hypocotyls at lower concentrations, while it inhibited their growth at higher concentrations. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content of cucumber and radish increased after treatment with the extract. These results indicated that the MDA concentration in plants is one important aspect of the allelopathic effects of H. lyrata .     

Ultrastructure, Morphology, and Sporogenesis of Pasteuria penetrans

ABSTRACT Pasteuria penetrans is a bacterial parasite of root-knot nematodes that shows great potential as a biocontrol agent. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy were used to study the ultrastructure, morphology, and sporogenesis of four isolates of P. penetrans. The effects of different Meloidogyne spp. and tobacco cultivars on sporangium size and morphology of endospores attached to the cuticle of second-stage juveniles (J2) of root-knot nematodes also were investigated. The P. penetrans isolates and their origins were P-20 from M. arenaria race 1 in Levy County, FL; P-100 from Meloidogyne sp. in Pasco County, FL; B-4 from Pratylenchus scribneri in Seminole County, FL; and P-120 from Meloidogyne spp. in Alachua County, FL. Sporangia of the four isolates were identical morphologically and similar in their dimensions, ranging from 2.39 to 3.42 mum in diameter and from 1.38 to 2.38 mum in height. Different Meloidogyne spp. and tobacco cultivars had no effect on sporangium size. Endospores attached to J2 were visualized in three forms: endospores retaining the sporangium wall, endospores covered with a thin exosporium, and endospores without covering. Sporogenesis of P. penetrans was similar to that of other gram-positive bacteria and generally matched the seven-stage scheme reported for Bacillus thuringiensis.     

Effect of Carbon, Nitrogen, and C:N Ratio on Growth, Sporulation, and Biocontrol Efficacy of Talaromyces flavus

ABSTRACT Engelkes, C. A., Nuclo, R. L., and Fravel, D. R. 1997. Effect of carbon, nitrogen, and C:N ratio on growth, sporulation, and biocontrol efficacy of Talaromyces flavus. Phytopathology 87:500-505.Five-day biomass production by the biocontrol fungus Talaromyces flavus was measured in a liquid basal medium, pH 5.5, containing each of 37 carbon (C) sources with a single nitrogen (N) source, and each of 42 N sources with a single C source. In general, production of biomass was greatest on complex sugars such as polysaccharides (32 g/liter of medium) and beta-glucosides (2.4 g/liter of medium), and was least on monosaccharides (1.3 g/liter of medium). Ascospore production at 6 weeks on solid basal medium with the same amount of these same 37 degrees C sources was greatest on oligosaccharides (2.9 x 10(8) spores per 5.5-cm-diameter petri dish), and least on polysaccharides and monosaccharides (1.6 and 1.4 x 10(8) spores per 5.5-cm-diameter petri dish, respectively). For C sources, there was no correlation between production of ascospores and hyphal dry weight. The various N sources yielded 0 to 10(9) ascospores per 5.5-cm-diameter petri dish and 10(-4) to 10(-5) g of hyphal dry weight per milliliter. In general, N sources that resulted in the greatest number of ascospores also yielded the greatest hyphal dry weights. For the two C and two N sources tested, the number of ascospores increased as the ratio of C to N increased from 5:1 to 30:1. This effect was most obvious as the C:N ratio increased from 5:1 to 15:1. At low C:N ratios (<15:1), treatments with hypoxanthine as a N source resulted in significantly greater production of biomass than treatments with ammonium tartrate; no difference was observed at C:N ratios >/=15:1. Incidence of Verticillium wilt was 50% lower for eggplants drenched with ascospores grown on potato dextrose agar (PDA) compared with eggplants either nondrenched or drenched with ascospores grown on media with hypoxanthine plus lactose or maltose. Thus, C and N sources that slightly increased ascospore production of T. flavus reduced efficacy of biocontrol of Verticillium wilt compared with ascospores produced on PDA.     

Germination, emergence, and dormancy of Mimosa pudica

Mimosa pudica (common sensitive plant) is a problematic weed in many crops in tropical countries. Eight experiments were conducted to determine the effects of light, seed scarification, temperature, salt and osmotic stress, pH, burial depth, and rice residue on the germination, seedling emergence, and dormancy of M. pudica seeds. Scarification released the seeds from dormancy and stimulated germination, though the germination of the scarified seeds was not influenced by light. The scarification results indicate that a hard seed coat is the primary mechanism that restricts germination. The germination increased markedly with the exposure to high temperature "pretreatment" (e.g. 150°C), which was achieved by placing non-scarified seeds in an oven for 5 min followed by incubation at 35/25°C day/night temperatures for 14 days. The germination of the scarified seeds was tolerant of salt and osmotic stress, as some seeds germinated even at 250 mmol L⁻¹ NaCl (23%) and at an osmotic potential of −0.8 MPa (5%). The germination of the scarified seeds was >74% over a pH range of 5–10. The seedling emergence of the scarified seeds was 73–88% at depths of 0–2 cm and it gradually decreased with an increasing depth, with no seedling emergence at the 8 cm depth. The rice residue applied to the soil surface at rates of ≤6 t ha⁻¹ did not influence the seedling emergence and dry weight. The information gained from this study identifies some of the factors that facilitate M. pudica becoming a widespread weed in the humid tropics and might help in developing components of integrated weed management practises to control this weed.     

Response of black, cranberry, kidney, and white bean to linuron

Dry bean producers in Ontario, Canada, have few herbicide options available for annual broad-leaved weed management and there is little information on the tolerance of dry bean to linuron. The tolerance of black, cranberry, kidney, and white bean to the pre-emergence (PRE) application of linuron at the rates of 0, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, and 2500 g ai ha⁻¹ was evaluated in field studies conducted in 2005 and 2006 at Exeter and in 2006 at Ridgetown, Ontario. The four market classes differed in their response to linuron. Cranberry and kidney bean were more tolerant to the PRE application of linuron than black and white bean. Linuron applied PRE caused as much as 12% injury in cranberry and kidney bean, 47% injury in black bean, and 56% injury in white bean. Linuron applied PRE at 500–2500 g ai ha⁻¹ had no effect on the height of cranberry and kidney bean but decreased the height by 7, 8, and 15% in black bean and by 10, 13, and 23% in white bean at 1500, 2000, and 2500 g ai ha⁻¹, respectively. Linuron applied PRE at the rates evaluated did not cause any adverse affect on the yield of cranberry, kidney, and white bean but black bean yield was reduced by 16% at 2500 g ai ha⁻¹. Based on these results, there is not an adequate margin of crop safety for the PRE application of linuron in black and white bean at rates >1000 g ai ha⁻¹. However, there is a potential for the use of linuron PRE for weed management in cranberry and kidney bean at the rates evaluated.     

Tolerance of black, cranberry, kidney, and white bean to cloransulam-methyl

The level of tolerance of various market classes of dry bean to cloransulam-methyl is not known. Three field studies were conducted in Ontario, Canada during 2007 and 2008 to determine the level of tolerance of black, cranberry, kidney, and white bean to the pre-emergence (PRE) and postemergence (POST) application of cloransulam-methyl at 17.5, 35, and 70 g ai ha⁻¹. Cloransulam-methyl applied at 17.5, 35, and 70 g ha⁻¹ caused between 13 and 23% injury in black, cranberry, kidney, and white bean, respectively. Cloransulam-methyl applied at 17.5, 35, and 70 g ha⁻¹ reduced the shoot dry weight by between 16 and 28% compared to the untreated control. Cloransulam-methyl applied PRE reduced the height of black bean by 27% and the height of cranberry bean by 25% at 70 g ha⁻¹ and reduced the height of white bean by 19% at 35 g ha⁻¹ and by 37% at 70 g ha⁻¹. Cloransulam-methyl applied PRE reduced the yield of black bean by 29% at 35 g ha⁻¹ and by 43% at 70 g ha⁻¹, reduced the yield of cranberry bean by 43% at 70 g ha⁻¹, and reduced the yield of white bean by 36% at 35 g ha⁻¹ and by 54% at 70 g ha⁻¹. Based on these results, there is not an adequate margin of crop safety for the PRE and POST application of cloransulam-methyl in black, cranberry, kidney, and white bean at the rates evaluated.