Efficacy of new EC formulations of neem oil and pungam oil for the management of sheath rot disease of rice

Neem oil (NO) and pungam oil (PO) based emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations,viz., neem oil 60 EC (acetic acid) [NO 60 EC(A)], neem oil 60 EC (citric acid) [NO 60 EC(C] and neem oil + pungam oil 60 EC (citric acid) [NO+PO 60 EC(C)], which had been developed at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, were evaluated for their efficacy against sheath rot of rice. All three formulations effectively inhibited the mycelial growth of the pathogen,Sarocladium oryzae, underin vitro conditions. There was no significant difference between efficacy of the freshly prepared and stored formulations in arresting the growth ofS. oryzae; efficacy was maintained even after 9 months of storage. These formulations effectively controlled rice sheath rot and led to increased yield in five field trials. Among the various treatments, the formulation NO 60 EC(A) achieved the highest grain yield in four out of five field trials, with a pooled mean grain yield of 4684 kg/havs 3882 kg/ha in the control. NO 60 EC(A) achieved the maximum cost-benefit ratio of 1:4.8, followed by NO+PO 60 EC(C), with 1:3.3.     

Verticillium longisporum and Fusarium solani: two new species in the complex of internal discoloration of horseradish roots

This study was conducted to determine the causal agent(s) of internal discoloration of horseradish roots. In 1999, 133 roots from 31 fields, and in 2000, 108 roots from nine fields, were assayed to determine the incidence and severity of internal discoloration of horseradish roots as well as the pathogen(s) associated with discoloured tissue. Verticillium dahliae , Verticillium longisporum and Fusarium solani were isolated from 14, 16 and 23% of roots in 1999, and from 24, 20 and 19% of roots in 2000, respectively. Verticillium longisporum on horseradish was identified for the first time. Pathogenicity tests of isolated microorganisms were conducted on horseradish in the glasshouse. In one experiment on the susceptible cultivar 1573, roots (sets) were inoculated by dipping the sets in a suspension of either V. dahliae microsclerotia, V. longisporum microsclerotia, or F. solani conidia and then grown in a soil mix over 5 months. Plants inoculated with any of the three species developed root discoloration similar to that observed in commercial fields. Internal root discoloration symptoms developed over a period of 5 months. For all three pathogens, severity of root discoloration was significantly higher after 5 months compared with 2 months from inoculation. In another experiment on cultivar 1590, tissue culture-generated seedlings and sets were planted in an infested soil mix with V. dahliae or V. longisporum and grown in the glasshouse. Plants developed root discoloration, as observed in the field. The pathogens were reisolated from inoculated plants in both experiments. No pathogen was isolated from the control plants in the experiments. The results of this study suggest that internal discoloration of horseradish roots is a disease complex caused by at least three fungal species.     

精二甲吩草胺防除大蒜、大葱田杂草效果

试验结果表明：72％精二甲吩草胺乳油对大蒜、大葱田一年生杂草表现出较好的速效性与持效性，且安全性好。     

Acaricidal effects of cardiac glycosides, azadirachtin and neem oil against the camel tick, Hyalomma dromedarii (Acari: Ixodidae)

The cardiac glycoside, digitoxin, from Digitalis purpurea L (Scrophulariaceae), a cardiac glycosidal (cardenolide) extract from Calotropis procera (Ait) R Br (Asclepiadaceae), azadirachtin and neem oil from Azadirachta indica A Juss (Meliaceae) were tested for their effects against larvae and adult stages of the camel tick, Hyalomma dromedarii Koch (Acari: Ixodidae). The contact LC50 values of the first three materials against adults were 4.08, 9.63 and >40.7 microg cm(-2), respectively, whereas the dipping LC50 values of the four materials were 409.9, 1096, >5000 and >5000 mg litre(-1), respectively. Contact and dipping LC50 values of the extract and azadirachtin against larvae were 6.16, >20.3 microg cm(-2) and 587.7 and >2500 mg litre(-1), respectively. Azadirachtin had no effects on egg production or feeding of adults up to 5000 mg litre(-1); however at 2500 mg litre(-1), it caused significant reduction in feeding activity of larve, prolonged the period for moulting to nymphal stage, and caused 60% reduction in moultability. Results of the two cardiac glycoside materials are comparable with those of several commercial acaricides. The risks and benefits associated with the use of cardiac glycosides are considered.     

Use of oils combined with low doses of insecticide for the control of Myzus persicae and PVY epidemics

Experiments were carried out in the laboratory to assess the insecticidal effect on Myzus persicae Sulzer of different oils applied alone or combined with imidacloprid or pirimicarb. The oils tested were a horticultural mineral oil, a refined rapeseed oil, a refined soya oil and a raw fish oil. When the oils were sprayed alone on pepper plants infested with M. persicae, mineral oil caused the highest mortality of aphids (over 80%). Applied before aphid infestation of pepper leaves and in mixture with low doses of imidacloprid (at one-fifth of the dose recommended by the manufacturer) and pirimicarb (at one-tenth of the dose recommended by the manufacturer), the oils did not significantly increase the toxicity of the insecticides alone. However, sprayed on aphid-infested pepper plants, the mortality rates achieved by imidacloprid/mineral oil and imidacloprid/rapeseed oil mixtures were significantly higher than those achieved by imidacloprid alone at 16 and 24 h. In a field experiment the effect on the incidence of the potato virus (PVY) of the oils in combination with imidacloprid was determined. Mineral oil, rapeseed oil and soya oil were sprayed eight times onto seed potato plants treated with imidacloprid before sowing. Mineral oil reduced PVY-infected plants by 60% and rapeseed oil by 40% compared with plots treated with imidacloprid. The oils applied as 10 ml litre-1 emulsions in water did not cause symptoms of phytotoxicity on the potato plants, and yield was not reduced.     

2.5%氟铃脲·甲维盐乳油防治甘蓝甜菜夜蛾试验

用2.5%氟铃脲甲维盐乳油防治甘蓝甜菜夜蛾。结果表明:2.5%氟铃脲甲维盐乳油能够很好的控制甘蓝甜菜夜蛾,防治效果明显高于对照,且对作物安全。     

Contact and fumigant toxicity of plant essential oils and efficacy of spray formulations containing the oils against B‐ and Q‐biotypes of Bemisia tabaci

BACKGROUND: The contact + fumigant toxicity of 92 plant essential oils and control efficacy of 18 experimental spray formulations containing nine selected essential oils (0.5 and 0.1% sprays) and six commercial insecticides to females from B‐ and Q‐biotypes of Bemisia tabaci were evaluated using vapour‐phase mortality and spray bioassays. RESULTS: Garlic and oregano (LC₅₀, 0.15 mL cm^?3) were the most toxic oils against B‐ and Q‐biotype females. Strong fumigant toxicity to both biotype females was also obtained from catnip, cinnamon bark, clove bud, clove leaf, davana, savory and vetiver Haiti oils (LC₅₀, 0.17–0.48 mL cm^?3). The 0.5% sprays of these oils (except for thyme red oil) resulted in 90–100% mortality against both biotype females. Only garlic applied as 0.1% spray provided 100% mortality. Spinosad 100 g L^?1 suspension concentrate (SC) treatment resulted in 92 and 95% mortality against both biotype females, whereas acetamiprid 80 g L^?1 wettable powder (WP), imidacloprid 80 g L^?1 SC, thiamethoxam 100 g L^?1 water‐dispersible granule (WDG) and pyridaben 200 g L^?1 WP treatments resulted in 89–100% mortality against B‐biotype females only. CONCLUSION: In the light of global efforts to reduce the level of highly toxic synthetic insecticides in the agricultural environment, the essential oils described, particularly garlic, cinnamon bark and vetiver Haiti, merit further study as potential insecticides for the control of B. tabaci populations as fumigants with contact action. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of clarified neem oil on growth and aflatoxin B1 formation in submerged and plate cultures of aflatoxigenicAspergillus spp.

An increase of 11–31% of dry mycelial mass was observed along with a slight decrease (5–10%) in aflatoxin Bi production in 5-day-old aflatoxigenicAspergillus spp. submerged cultures containing either 0.5 ml or 1.0 ml clarified neem oil (CNO) in 0.1 % Triton solution. Fungal growth and aflatoxin B₁ production were also determined in potato-dextrose-agar petri plate cultures inoculated with aflatoxigenicAspergillus spp. containing an atmosphere of volatiles emitted from 0.25 ml, 0.5 ml, and 1.0 ml CNO added to the plates. After 5 days’ incubation, fungal radial growth was reduced by 7–29% and aflatoxin B₁ production by 0–67%. GC/MS analysis of the head space volatiles of the CNO indicated that the reduction of fungal growth and aflatoxin B₁ was probably due to low molecular weight hydrocarbons, aldehydes, alcohols, and sulfur compounds emitted at 30°C in the dry culture. These results suggest that volatiles emitted from CNO at 30° C in plate cultures were more fungistatic and consequently inhibited aflatoxin production more than neem oil added in liquid cultures.     

Formulation of vegetable fat pellets with pheromone and Beauveria bassiana to control the larger grain borer,Prostephanus truncatus (Horn)

The use of hydrogenated rapeseed oil as a carrier for conidia of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals) Vuill was investigated as part of a research programme on the control of the larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn). Melting the oil, which is solid at temperatures below 32 °C, allows the incorporation of materials such as aggregation pheromones and conidia; sudden cooling produces solid fat pellets. In attraction tests conducted with pellets containing P truncatus aggregation pheromone, significantly higher numbers of beetles were attracted to pellets containing pheromone at a concentration of 4 ml litre⁻¹ compared to control pellets for at least four weeks when held in Petri dishes in the laboratory and for at least six weeks when pellets held in insect traps were exposed to outside conditions. The attraction was retained over a period of storage in glass bottles; pellets stored in the freezer or incubator (at −10 °C or 27 °C) attracted beetles according to the pheromone level for the duration of the work (14 and 13 months respectively). When pheromones and conidia were incorporated into the same pellets they could be stored in a freezer or refrigerator retaining over 80% viability after 51 weeks; those stored in an incubator at 27 °C showed significantly lower germination at 20.7–27.2% after the same time. There was an indication that the pheromone caused a slight reduction in the viability of conidia, although this may have been just a slight delay in the speed of germination. Rapid dose transfer from pellets with conidia with and without the addition of pheromone was demonstrated. Insects were exposed to pellets for 24 hours and 96–100% mortality was observed in treatments containing conidia within six days of exposure. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

氯虫•噻虫嗪不同剂型对水稻二化螟、稻纵卷叶螟的防治效果及施用技术

2007-2008年,应用氯虫•噻虫嗪不同剂型防治水稻二化螟、稻纵卷叶螟的田间试验结果表明：0.6%氯虫•噻虫嗪颗粒剂对二化螟的效果较好,但难以控制稻纵卷叶螟危害;40%氯虫•噻虫嗪水分散粒剂可有效防控以上2种虫害且持效期长达30 d。同一时期同等剂量下,各施用1次0.6%氯虫•噻虫嗪颗粒剂、40%氯虫•噻虫嗪水分散粒剂,前者撒施处理对其药效均显著低于后者茎叶喷雾处理。     

7种植物精油对小菜蛾幼虫取食及卵孵化行为的影响

为筛选出对小菜蛾幼虫取食和卵孵化行为均有生物活性的精油用于小菜蛾防控。本研究测试了7种精油对小菜蛾2龄幼虫取食和卵孵化行为的影响。结果表明,石菖蒲精油对小菜蛾2龄幼虫取食的抑制作用最强。经石菖蒲精油10μL/mL、100μL/mL浓度处理,2龄幼虫取食面积均显著低于对照,表现出了较高的拒食作用。经植物精油200μL/mL浓度处理,香茅精油、柠檬精油、陈皮精油、石菖蒲精油、甜橙精油、洋甘菊精油、橘子精油对小菜蛾卵孵化行为均起到了抑制作用,其中石菖蒲精油与橘子精油的抑制作用最强,抑制率达到100%。可见,石菖蒲精油对小菜蛾2龄幼虫取食及卵孵化行为均有抑制作用,可用于小菜蛾的绿色防控之中。     

Management of bakanae and bacterial seedling blight diseases in nurseries by irradiating rice seeds with atmospheric plasma

The control of seedborne rice seedling diseases in the seed beds is important to avoid epidemics in rice nurseries and paddies, which may result in severe yield loss. Recently, irradiation with plasma containing electrons, creating positive or negative ions and neutral species, has been shown to have an antimicrobial effect, probably via generation of reactive oxygen species. This study examines whether two seedborne rice seedling diseases, bakanae disease caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium fujikuroi, and bacterial seedling blight caused by Burkholderia plantarii, are suppressed by irradiation of infected rice seeds with atmospheric plasma. Seed germination and seedling growth were not inhibited in plasma‐treated healthy seeds. When F. fujikuroi‐infected rice seeds were irradiated with plasma after being immersed in sterile distilled water, bakanae disease severity index and the percentage of plants with symptoms were reduced to 18.1% and 7.8% of non‐irradiated control, respectively, depending on the duration of plasma irradiation. The bacterial seedling blight disease index was also reduced by plasma irradiation in vacuum‐inoculated seeds to 38.6% of the non‐irradiated control, and in infected seeds harvested from spray‐inoculated heads of rice plants to 40.1% of the control. Therefore, plasma irradiation seems to be effective in controlling two independent seedborne rice seedling diseases.     

稻糠与浮萍控制稻田杂草和稻纹枯病初步研究

温室盆栽和田间小区试验研究了稻糠、稻草糠、浮萍和满江红对稻田主要杂草和水稻纹枯病的控制作用,以及对水稻生长及产量的影响。结果表明,单独施用稻糠、稻草糠、浮萍和满江红对水稻分蘖、株高、生物量和产量无显著影响,但可明显抑制稗草的萌发、降低其生物产量;对移栽的莎草、鸭舌草、牛毛毡的株高、鲜重控制效果不一。稻糠加浮萍可显著提高对主要杂草和水稻纹枯病的控制效果,且对水稻无明显影响。     

柴油及其与阿维菌素复配对柑橘全爪螨卵的作用

室内测定了柴油对柑橘全爪螨卵的毒力及其与阿维菌素复配植物油基新型乳油的杀卵作用。结果表明,柴油对柑橘全爪螨卵的LC50为2790.39μg/mL;两种柴油与阿维菌素复配新型乳油1000、750和500倍液3种浓度下的杀卵率均高于90%,其中添加了印楝油的复配剂3浓度的杀卵率与对照药剂24%螺虫乙酯SC 3000倍液相当。     

Burkholderia gladioli associated with symptoms of bacterial grain rot and leaf-sheath browning of rice plants

Rice plants with bacterial leaf-sheath browning and grain rot were observed in Fukuoka Prefecture in Japan during the autumn seasons of 1995 and 1996. Burkholderia spp. were consistently isolated from the infected leaf sheaths and grains. These isolates were pathogenic and induced symptoms of seedling rot, grain rot, and leaf-sheath browning in rice plants, as well as in some orchidaceous plants (cymbidium, dendrobium, and oncidium leaves), gladiolus leaves, and onion bulbs. On the basis of morphological, physiological and pathological tests, and species-specific polymerase chain reaction, the isolates were identified as belonging to either Burkholderia glumae or Burkholderia gladioli. B. gladioli, as well as B. glumae, attacked rice plants after artificial inoculation and reproduced the symptoms similar to those after natural infections. We confirmed that rice is an additional natural host of B. gladioli. It is clarified that bacterial grain rot of rice is caused not only by B. glumae but also by B. gladioli.     

Interference by the weed Parthenium hysterophorus L. with grain sorghum: Influence of weed density and duration of competition

Two sets of field experiments were conducted at two sites (lowland and intermediate altitude) for 2 years in eastern Ethiopia to determine the influence of parthenium weed ( Parthenium hysterophorus ) density and duration of competition on grain yield of sorghum. In the first set of experiments, target weed densities of 0, 3, 7, 13, 27, 53 and 100 plants m -2 were used. Yield loss was severely affected by parthenium weed density, peaking at 97% at the lowland site in 2000. At this site, even very low density (e.g. three plants m -2 ) resulted in a high yield loss (69%). Owing to differences between sites and years, however, it was not possible to specify meaningfully the threshold densities for weeding. In the critical weed-free period experiments, four parthenium weed-infested and four weed-free periods from emergence to harvesting of sorghum were maintained by hand hoeing. The critical periods for weed control, i.e. the period over which weeding had the greatest benefit on yield, were 19 - 69 and 40 - 57 days from emergence of sorghum in 1999 and 2000, respectively, at the intermediate altitude (assuming an acceptable loss of 10%). In the lowland, however, it ranged directly from emergence to 61 and 66 days, indicating more severe competition at this site. The substantial variation in yield and yield loss between sites and years illustrates the problems of attempting to give well-established, accurate recommendations for threshold densities and critical periods in small-scale, rain-fed agriculture.     

水稻纹枯病生防细菌筛选及其与病原菌侵染垫形成的关系

为筛选对立枯丝核菌Rhizoctonia solani具有拮抗作用的生防细菌,利用稀释涂布平板法,从吉林省水稻纹枯病样中分离筛选出对立枯丝核菌AG-1A具有高拮抗活性的生防菌株,通过gyrB基因序列分析鉴定其分类地位,并采用离体侵染试验和温室防治试验测定筛选生防菌株对水稻纹枯病的防效,在显微镜下观察生防菌株预处理后接种病原菌的水稻叶片表面的菌丝生长情况,分析其生防机理。结果显示,从水稻纹枯病样中共分离获得35株菌株,其中菌株ND11对立枯丝核菌AG-1A的抑制率和抑菌圈直径最大,分别为74.12%和31.50 mm。基于gyrB基因序列分析最终将菌株ND11鉴定为短小芽胞杆菌Bacillus pumilus;该菌株能够减缓立枯丝核菌AG-1A的侵染速度,抑制其侵染垫的形成,对水稻纹枯病的温室防效达70.69%以上。表明短小芽胞杆菌菌株ND11能够通过抑制立枯丝核菌侵染垫的形成来防治水稻纹枯病,且防效较好,具有开发为生防菌剂的潜力。     

Acaricidal activities of Santolina africana and Hertia cheirifolia essential oils against the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)

BACKGROUND: Many plant essential oils show a broad spectrum of activity against pests. This study investigated the effects of two essential oils on Tetranychus urticae, one of the most serious pests in the world. RESULTS: The chemical composition of the two oils was characterised by GC‐MS. The most abundant component in the Santolina africana (Jord. & Fourr) oil was terpinen‐4‐ol (54.96%), while thymol (61%) was prevalent in the Hertia cheirifolia (L.) oil. Mortality and fecundity were measured upon treatment with oil concentrations ranging from 0.07 to 6.75 mg L^?1 with a Potter spray tower. Mite mortality increased with oil concentration, with LC₅₀ values of 2.35 mg L^?1 for S. africana and 3.43 mg L^?1 for H. cheirifolia respectively. For both oils, a reduction in fecundity was observed at concentrations of 0.07, 0.09 and 0.29 mg L^?1. Artificial blends of constituents of oils were also prepared and tested with individual constituents missing from the mixture. The results showed that the presence of all constituents was necessary to equal the toxicity of the two natural oils. CONCLUSION: S. africana and H. cheirifolia oils can provide valuable acaricide activity with significantly lower LC₅₀ values. Thus, these oils cause important mortality and reduce the number of eggs laid by females. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

物种多样性与病虫草害管理研究进展

农业生物多样性有许多重要的生态功能,控制农业有害生物的发生和流行是其中重要组成部分。生物多样性包括形态的多样性、功能多样性及互作的多样性,互作物质的多样性和互作方式的多样性决定了互作结果的多样性。充分利用品种之间,作物之间、作物与非作物之间的正向作用和负向作用来促进植物生长,减少病虫害的发生,是有效控制农林有害生物的重要措施。本文介绍该领域近年来的物种多样性研究的主要进展,同时提出以后研究的建议和方向,即应用宏基因组学、蛋白组学和代谢组学等后基因组学及植物生理生化等综合技术,系统分析农田生态系统中各种生物之间直接和间接互作机制的基础,根据不同的防控对象及环境条件确定多样性的结构和模式,通过大数据进行管控,才能实现病虫害的绿色防控和农业可持续发展。     

4种种衣剂防治棉花苗期主要病虫害效果及经济效益比较

为明确4种复合型种衣剂对棉花苗期主要病虫害的防治效果和经济效益,以‘新陆早41号’为试材,采用田间小区试验,研究400 g/L福美双·萎锈灵种子处理悬浮剂(FS)、26%多菌灵·福美双·甲基立枯磷FS、25%噻虫嗪·咯菌腈·精甲霜灵FS和30%噻虫嗪·嘧菌酯·咪鲜胺FS对棉花出苗、苗期立枯病和红腐病、地下害虫、苗期蓟马、蚜虫和产量的影响,分析其防治病虫害的效果及经济效益,以期筛选出田间试验效果最佳的种衣剂。结果表明:播种10 d时4种种衣剂处理的出苗率显著优于对照,较对照增加6.64%~19.23%,播种30 d时4种种衣剂对苗期立枯病和红腐病防治效果分别为30.88%~50.74%和31.13%~59.15%,对棉花地下害虫和蓟马的防治效果分别为39.24%~69.62%和39.12%~63.04%。棉花上蚜虫发生时间推迟1~3 d。400 g/L福美双·萎锈灵FS防病效果最佳,25%噻虫嗪·咯菌腈·精甲霜灵FS防虫效果最佳。种衣剂处理收获株数较对照增加0.78%~1.11%,增产量为53.70~184.40 kg/hm 2,经济效益为322.20~1106.40元/hm 2,投入产出比为1∶5.65~1∶12.29。综合分析显示,25%噻虫嗪·咯菌腈·精甲霜灵FS防治苗期病虫害和增产效果较好,具有推广应用价值。