Pathogenicity and host‐parasite relationships of the root‐knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita on celery

Pathogenicity and host‐parasite relationships in root‐knot disease of celery (Apium graveolens ) caused by Meloidogyne incognita race 1 were studied under glasshouse conditions. Naturally and artificially infected celery cv. D’elne plants showed severe yellowing and stunting, with heavily deformed and damaged root systems. Nematode‐induced mature galls were spherical and/or ellipsoidal and commonly contained more than one female, males and egg masses with eggs. Feeding sites were characterized by the development of giant cells that contained granular cytoplasm and many hypertrophied nuclei. The cytoplasm of giant cells was aggregated along their thickened cell walls and consequently the vascular tissues within galls appeared disrupted and disorganized. The relationship between initial nematode population density (Pi) and growth of celery plants was tested in glasshouse experiments with inoculum levels that varied from 0 to 512 eggs and second‐stage juveniles (J₂) mL^?1 soil. Seinhorst's model y = m + (1 – m)z^P–T was fitted to height and top fresh weight data of the inoculated and control plants. The tolerance limit with respect to plant height and fresh top weight of celery to M. incognita race 1 was estimated as 0·15 eggs and J₂ mL^?1 soil. The minimum relative values (m) for plant height and top fresh weight were 0·37 and 0·35, respectively, at Pi ≥ 16 eggs and J₂ mL^?1 soil. The maximum nematode reproduction rate (Pf/Pi) was 407·6 at an initial population density (Pi) of 4 eggs and J₂ mL^?1 soil.     

Complementary host–pathogen genetic analyses of the role of fumonisins in the Zea mays–Gibberella moniliformis interaction

Zea mays often is colonized with the fungus Gibberella moniliformis, which produces fumonisin toxins. The role of fumonisins in seedling colonization and blight was studied using complementary genetic analyses of host and pathogen. Only one of two fumonisin B1 (FB1)-insensitive maize backcross lines was more resistant than the FB1-sensitive parent to seedling blight, indicating that the increase in FB1-insensitivity was not associated with an increase in resistance. FB1-producing and nonproducing isogenic fungal strains did not differ in ability to cause seedling blight, but the FB1-producing strain was more effective in systemic colonization of seedlings in reciprocal strain challenge tests. Together, these and previous results indicate that the role of fumonisins depends on complex environmental and genetic contexts in this host–pathogen interaction.     

胶林寒害与橡胶小蠹虫发生为害的关系浅析

［目的］ 探索利用气象及寒害指标预测橡胶小蠹虫发生的方法和途径。 ［方法］ 对我国植胶区历年橡胶小蠹虫发生为害率与当年橡胶受低温寒害影响等数据进行分析,拟合低温持续时间、极端低温、橡胶树寒害率、寒害危害程度与橡胶小蠹虫发生为害的关系模型。［结果］ 数据分析及模型拟合均表明,低温持续时间越长、极端低温越低,橡胶树寒害率越高、寒害危害程度越大,则橡胶小蠹虫发生为害越严重。所拟合的模型经检验均达到显著水平。［结论］ 生产中可以应用拟合的模型对田间橡胶小蠹虫的发生为害进行间接监测。     

Jasmonic and salicylic acid-induced resistance in sorghum against the stem borer Chilo partellus

Induced resistance was studied in three sorghum genotypes (IS2205, ICSV1 and ICSV700) against Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera; Pyralidae) infestation and jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) application. The activity of plant defensive enzymes [peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT)], and the amounts of total phenols, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA), and proteins were recorded at 6 days after infestation. The induction of enzyme activities and the amounts of secondary metabolites varied among the genotypes and treatments. The genotype IS2205 showed a stronger effect than that of ICSV1 or ICSV 700. Treatment with JA followed by insect infestation induced greater levels of enzymes and secondary metabolites. The results suggest that JA induces greater levels of resistance components in sorghum plants against insect pests. Thus, pretreatment of plants with elicitors including JA and SA could provide a greater opportunity for plant defense against herbivores.     

Structure–biological activity relationships in triterpenic saponins: the relative activity of protobassic acid and its derivatives against plant pathogenic fungi

BACKGROUND: Triterpenic saponins from Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn. and Diploknema butyracea JF Gmelin were evaluated for in vitro antifungal activity against four phytopathogenic fungi. The study of the structure–antifungal activity relationships of protobassic acid saponins was widened by including semi‐synthetic derivatives. RESULTS: Diploknema butyracea saponins exhibited significant antifungal activity against three fungi (ED₅₀ 230–455 µg mL^?1), whereas S. mukorossi saponin was effective against two fungi (ED₅₀ 181–407 µg mL^?1). The n‐butanol extract after preparative HPLC separation provided two saponins from D. butyracea saponin mixture: 3‐O‐[β‐D ‐glucopyarnosyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl]‐16‐α‐hydroxyprotobassic acid‐28‐O‐[arabinopyranosyl‐glucopyranosyl‐xylopyranosyl]‐arabinopyranoside (MI‐I), and 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐glucopyranosyl‐glucopyranosyl‐16‐α‐hydroxyprotobassic acid‐28‐O‐[arabinopyranosyl‐xylopyranosyl‐arabinopyranosyl]‐apiofuranoside (MI‐III). The single saponin extracted from S. mukorossi saponin mixture was identified as 3‐O‐[O‐acetyl‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐β‐D ‐arabinopyranosyl‐β‐D ‐rhamnopyranosyl] hederagenin‐28‐O[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐β‐D ‐rhamnopyranosyl] ester (SM‐I). Monodesmosides resulting from the partial degradation of hederagenin and hydroxyprotobassic acid bisdesmosides exhibited significant reduction in antifungal effect. Further removal of sugar moiety yielded complete loss in activity. The antifungal activity of the triterpenic saponins was associated with their aglycone moieties, and esterification of the hydroxyl group led to change in antifungal activity. CONCLUSION: Sapindus mukorossi saponin, which is effective against Rhizoctonia bataticola (Taub.) Briton Jones and Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc., can be exploited for the development of a natural fungicide. A sugar moiety is a prerequisite for the antifungal activity of triterpenic saponin. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Quantitative structure–activity relationships in aquatic toxicology

Quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSARs) enable the toxicity of aquatic pollutants to be predicted from their physicochemical properties. This paper reviews several techniques that can be used to obtain QSARs and examples of QSAR studies are presented for some important groups of aquatic pollutants; reactive organic halides, anilines, phenols and for some relatively unreactive, non-ionised compounds. Finally the possibility of applying predicted toxicities in environmental hazard assessment is discussed.     

Concepts of plant health – reviewing and challenging the foundations of plant protection

Plant health is a frequently used but ill‐defined term. However, there is an extensive literature on general health definitions and health criteria in human medicine. Taking up ideas from these philosophical debates, concepts of plant health are reviewed and a framework developed to locate these concepts according to their position in several philosophical controversies. In particular, (i) the role of values in defining plant health in a naturalist versus a normativist approach; (ii) negative and positive definitions of plant health; (iii) reductionist versus holistic perspectives; (iv) the focus on functionality versus resilience, i.e. the ability of the plant to perform under stress with or without human interference; (v) materialist versus vitalist approaches; and (vi) biocentric versus anthropocentric views, are surveyed. The ways in which these perspectives relate to mainstream and alternative approaches to plant protection are explored and we suggest how the contradicting views might be reconciled. It is argued that none of these perspectives is without inherent contradictions, but that by combining contrasting approaches it is possible to provide a comprehensive though fuzzy concept. Rather than giving a new definition of plant health, a conceptual framework is developed that suggests what questions may be answered in debates on plant health issues and how such debates could be organized.     

Fipronil resistance mechanisms in the rice stem borer,Chilo suppressalis Walker

Fipronil resistance mechanisms were studied between the laboratory susceptible strain and the selective field population of rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis Walker in the laboratory. The borer population was collected from Wenzhou county, Zhejiang province. After five generations of selection, fipronil resistance ratio was 45.3-fold compared to the susceptible strain. Synergism experiments showed that the synergistic ratios of PBO, TPP and DEF on fipronil in susceptible and resistant strains of C. suppressalis were 7.55-, 1.93- and 2.91-fold, respectively, and DEM showed no obvious synergistic action on fipronil. Activities of carboxylesterase and microsomal-O-demethylase in the resistant strain were 1.89- and 1.36-fold higher that in susceptible strain, and no significant difference of glutathione-S-transferase activity was found between the resistant and susceptible strains. The K_m and V_max experiments also demonstrated that fipronil resistance of C. suppressalis was closely relative to the enhanced activities of carboxylesterase and microsomal-O-demethylase. Moreover, cross-resistance between fipronil and other conventional insecticides and the multiple resistant properties of the original Wenzhou’s population were also discussed.     

Meta‐analytic modelling of the incidence–yield and incidence–sclerotial production relationships in soybean white mould epidemics

White mould (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) is a destructive disease of soybean worldwide. However, little is known of its impact on soybean production in Brazil. A meta‐analytic approach was used to assess the relationship between disease incidence and soybean yield (35 trials) and between incidence and sclerotia production (29 trials) in experiments conducted in 14 locations across four seasons. Region, site elevation and season included as moderators in random‐effects and random‐coefficients models did not significantly explain the variability in the slopes of the incidence–yield relationship. The Pearson's r, obtained from back‐transforming the Fisher's Z estimated by an overall random‐effects model, showed that incidence of white mould was moderately and negatively correlated with yield (r = ?0.76, P < 0.0001). A random‐coefficients model estimated a slope of ?17.2 kg ha^?1%^?1, for a mean attainable yield of 3455 kg ha^?1, indicating that a 10% increase in white mould incidence would result in a mean yield reduction of 172 kg ha^?1. White mould incidence and production of sclerotia were strongly and positively correlated (r = 0.85, P < 0.0001). For every 10% increase in white mould incidence, 1 kg ha^?1 of sclerotia was produced. The relationship between disease incidence and production of sclerotia was stronger in southern regions and at higher elevation. In the absence of management, economic losses associated with white mould epidemics, assuming 43% incidence in 22% of the soybean area, were estimated at approximately US $1.47 billion annually within Brazil.     

2003年灵川县晚稻稻瘿蚊、二化螟大发生

灵川县水稻病虫观察区位于灵川县灵川镇石子岭村 ,地理位置为北纬 2 5°2 5′,东经 1 1 0°1 9′,海拔1 68.2 m,地域较平坦 ,水田面积约 30 hm2 ,旱地面积 1 7.67hm2 ,为早稻—中稻—晚稻混栽区 ,在其周围为 66.67hm2 左右的连片水稻种植区域。石子岭村2 0 0 3年早稻种植面积为 1 6.93hm2 ,占全年水稻种植面积的 40 .3% ,中稻面积为 1 2 .33hm2 ,占 2 9.3% ,晚稻面积为 1 2 .8hm2 ,占 30 .4% ,中稻种植面积占的比例较大。1　发生为害情况　　 2 0 0 3年晚稻期间 ,石子岭村稻瘿蚊及二化螟发生普遍而严重。 9月中旬调查晚稻稻瘿蚊发生为害情况…     

半自然条件下几种赤眼蜂及品系对亚洲玉米螟卵寄生能力比较

在半自然条件(田间网罩)下,将人工饲养的玉米螟卵按4、8、16块/株3个处理分别固定在网罩内的玉米植株中上部叶片上,然后每网罩分别引入供试赤眼蜂20头,24 h后更换玉米螟卵块,连续3 d。7 d后调查供寄生的玉米螟卵被寄生率及羽化率。结果表明:在半自然条件下广赤眼蜂伊朗1-1品系虽寄生能力高于其他供试品系,但到第2、3天明显降低;玉米螟赤眼蜂北京6-2-2品系每天均维持一个较平稳的寄生能力,产卵量在时间上的分配比较分散,并在第2、3天显示出比其他品系较高的寄生潜能。广赤眼蜂伊朗1-1品系的卵块寄生数量可随卵块密度的增加而增加,而其他品系则在各处理密度下,寄生数量基本没有变化;从卵粒寄生率看,广赤眼蜂伊朗1-1和吉林1-2两个品系的寄生数量随卵块密度的增加而大幅度提高,其他品系增加幅度较小。     

Structure–degradability relationships for propyzamide analogues in soils

The kinetics of the degradation in soil of propyzamide and nine analogues have been measured at two temperatures (28 and 60°C). The degradation rates of propyzamide were determined in sterilised soil and in soil perfusates. The results obtained are in agreement with a chemical degradation of propyzamide and its analogues. Relationships were established between degradation rate constants and physicochemical parameters of the compounds: log k = ?aσ+bπ + c where σ = Hammett constant, π = hydrophobic constant, a, b, c are constants.     

Cereal stem borer management practices in subsistence farms of eastern Ethiopia

In eastern Ethiopia, empirical information regarding farmers’ perceptions and implementation of research results about stem borer management is either scarce or unavailable. A survey of 120 farmers from four maize- and sorghum-growing districts of eastern Ethiopia was carried out in 2014 to study common management practices of cereal stem borers. Drought, pests, and land shortage were reported as the main constraints to maize and sorghum production in the area. Stem borers were perceived as the most important pests in these crops. The estimated yield losses from stem borers ranged from 10% to 50%. The majority of the farmers reported not using chemical insecticides to control these pests due to lack of capital, unavailability, and lack of knowledge. Moreover, most farmers were not using improved maize varieties. Cultural practices were found to be the most promising control method of cereal stem borers. Despite differences among districts, farmers practiced crop rotation, intercropping, manipulation of planting dates, crop residue disposal, and post-harvest tillage as common control strategies, even though a considerable proportion of the farmers was not implementing these practices sufficiently. The design of appropriate strategies for stem borer management based on farmers’ needs and priorities should be promoted.     

First report of the ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus compactus and associated fungi in the Mediterranean maquis in Italy,and new host–pest associations

In September 2016, a survey conducted in the Circeo National Park revealed an outbreak and serious damage caused by the black twig borer (Xylosandrus compactus) and its associated fungi in the Mediterranean maquis. Among the affected hosts, Quercus ilex, Viburnum tinus, Ruscus aculeatus, Pistacia lentiscus, Laurus nobilis and Ceratonia siliqua, showed flagging and wilting of branches and, in younger individuals, the death of the whole plant occurred. In total, 18 different fungal taxa were found associated with the insect. These included Ambrosiella xylebori, Geosmithia pallida, Fusarium spp., Epicoccum nigrum and Bionectria sp. This is the first report in Europe of X. compactus and associated ambrosia fungi in a natural environment.     

杂交水稻穗期三化螟侵入部位及防治技术探讨

2a的试验调查表明,杂交水稻穗期三化螟的侵入以穗茎部和倒一节为主,穗部以下各节也可侵入;三化螟有转移为害习性;在大发生年,杂交水稻穗期三化螟必须防治两次,第一次防治适期应以卵孵始盛至卵孵高峰期为宜,间隔5～7d后防治第二次。     

Characterisation of midgut digestive proteases from the maize stem borer Busseola fusca

BACKGROUND: Insect damage is a major constraint on maize production. Control of Busseola fusca (Fuller) in sub‐Saharan Africa is relatively ineffective; the major larval digestive enzymes were characterised with a view to developing future control strategies. RESULTS: Using BODIPY‐FL Casein, maximal activity was at pH 9.5, with six protease forms visualised by gelatin‐PAGE. Synthetic substrates and diagnostic inhibitors demonstrated the presence of serine proteases. Chymostatin was a potent inhibitor of general proteolysis (90%), providing strong evidence for the presence of chymotrypsin; it also caused significant inhibition (>95%) with SA₂PFpNA as substrate. The I₅₀ values for chymostatin with casein and SA₂PFpNA were 0.0075 µM and 0.06 µM respectively. Z‐Phe‐Arg‐pNA activity was inhibited by chymostatin and TLCK (50 and 30% respectively), suggesting the presence of trypsin‐like activity. BApNA hydrolysis was also strongly inhibited by chymostatin and TLCK (92 and 75%), suggesting trypsin activity, while SBBI, PMSF, pepstatin and E‐64 had no significant effect. Interestingly, SBBI (I₅₀ = 0.39 µM ) and SBTI both inhibited general proteolysis by approximately 70%, suggesting that SBBI's dual inhibitory role makes this inhibitor a potentially useful candidate for expression in maize for control of B. fusca. CONCLUSION: These results provide a basis for the rational design of insect‐resistant transgenic maize expressing protease inhibitors. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Regeneration of sugarcane elite breeding lines and engineering of stem borer resistance

Five elite sugarcane breeding lines were tested for efficiency in embryogenesis and plant regeneration. All of them produced regenerative embryogenic calli but with varied efficiencies. To engineer strongly insect-resistant sugarcanes, the GC content of a truncated cry1Ac gene, which encodes the active region of Cry1Ac insecticidal delta-endotoxin, was increased from the original 37.4 to 47.5% following the sugarcane codon usage pattern. The synthetic cry1Ac gene (s-cry1Ac) was placed under the control of maize ubiquitin promoter and introduced by microprojectile bombardment into the embryogenic calli of sugarcane lines YT79-177 and ROC16. Southern blotting analysis showed that multicopies of s-cry1Ac were integrated into the genomes of transgenic sugarcane lines. Immunoblotting analysis identified 18 transgenic lines expressing detectable levels of s-Cry1Ac, which were estimated in the range of 1.8-10.0 ng mg(-1) total soluble proteins. Four transgenic and two parental lines were assayed for sugarcane stem borer resistance in leaf tissue feeding trials and greenhouse plant assays. The results showed that, while the untransformed control lines were severely damaged in both leaves and stems, the transgenic sugarcane lines expressing high levels of s-Cry1Ac proteins were highly resistant to sugarcane stem borer attack, resulting in complete mortality of the inoculated insects within 1 week after inoculation.     

江西省部分地区水稻二化螟抗药性测定

用点滴法普查了江西省南昌、南城、永新、丰城、上饶、彭泽6县(市)二化螟种群4铃幼虫对4种(类)杀虫剂的抗药性。结果表明,供试二化螟种群对沙蚕毒素类农药杀虫单、有机磷类农药三唑磷已产生了较强的抗性,抗性倍数分别为33.30~241.95、7.97~111.20;对苯基吡唑类农药氟虫腈和抗生素类农药阿维茵素部分地区也产生了低水平抗性,抗性倍数分别为5.88~16.47、3.70~9.90。本文还对二化螟抗性治理对策进行了讨论。