Antifungal activity of commercial disinfectants against a benomyl-tolerant strain ofTrichoderma harzianum

A benomyl-tolerant strain (94110Tr) ofTrichoderma spp. was isolated from airborne fungi in a growing room for sawdust-based cultivation ofLentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler in Hokkaido. The strain was identified asT. harzianum Rifai, so the antifungal activity of benomyl (BEN), thiabendazole (TBZ), benzalkonium chloride (BAC), chlorhexidine digluconate (CHG), and glutaraldehyde (GLA) were tested against six strains ofT. harzianum, including 94110Tr. It was found that 94110Tr was more resistant than the others not only to BEN but also to TBZ, but it had no explicit tolerance to BAC, CHG, or GLA, similar to the other strains. CHG and GLA showed potent antifungal activity against most of the six strains. It is estimated that CHG and GLA are available for disinfection of the benomyl-tolerant strains ofT. harzianum found in edible-mushroom factories.Part of this paper was presented at the 24th annual meeting of the Society for Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents, Toyonaka, Japan, May 1997     

Antineurotoxic activity of Galactia glaucescens against Crotalus durissus terrificus venom

Ethanolic extract of leaves of Galactia glauscescens (GGE) at concentration of 100 and 500 mug/ml prevented the neuromuscular paralysis induced by Crotalus durissus terrificus venom on mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation.     

Resistance of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood modified with functionalized commercial silicone emulsions against subterranean termites

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sapwood was treated with quat-silicone micro-emulsion (<40?nm), amino-silicone macro-emulsion (110?nm), alkyl-modified silicone macro-emulsion (740?nm) and solutions of inorganic water glass. Three treatment concentrations of 5, 15 and 30% (w/w) were used for the impregnation of the test specimens. Termite resistance was assessed following a 16-week field trial conducted in northern Queensland, Australia. Two different field sites were chosen for exposure to feeding by Coptotermes acinaciformis (Froggatt) and Mastotermes darwiniensis (Froggatt). Following exposure, the test and feeder specimens were inspected and assessed for termite damage using a visual rating system (from 10 sound to 0 completely destroyed) and individual mass losses. The specimens treated with quat- and amino-silicone emulsions resisted damage by both termite species, even at less than 15% weight percent gains (WPGs). Alkyl-modified silicone macro-emulsion and water glass treatment induced somewhat less resistance to termite damage, but imparted protection at higher WPGs.     

Preparation of active carbons from a commercial holm-oak charcoal: study of micro- and meso-porosity

We studied the influence of the degree of gasification and the choice of activating agent (carbon dioxide, water vapour, or both carbon dioxide and water vapour acting successively) on the activation of samples of a commercial holm-oak wood (Quercus rotundifolia) charcoal. To this end, we prepared the active carbon samples using the activating agents at 800, 850, 900, and 950°C for the time required to gasify 20, 40, or 60% of the mass of the charcoal at the moment when the set gasification temperature had been reached. The active carbons were characterised by physical gas adsorption and densimetry. Those prepared with carbon dioxide or water vapour alone had textural characteristics that were better than those of the precursor charcoal. The micropore volume was greater in the samples activated with carbon dioxide than with water vapour. The activation with both carbon dioxide and water vapour successively led to a major increase in porosity, taking into account that these samples presented a 40% burn-off percentage which endowed them with good textural characteristics. In general, as the burn-off percentage increased, so did the micropore and mesopore volumes.To sum up, holm-oak wood is a good raw material, not only to get barbecue coal, which has been used as a precursor to obtain activated coal, but it also allows the activated coal to develop its microporosity and mesoporosity in a good way, which is suitable for new applications as it is absorbent in liquid phase, gas absorbent, is a constituent part of combustible batteries, etc.The main interest of this research is the preparation of activated coal and the determination of the size pore distribution obtained, given its great influence in the quality of the activated coal obtained starting from holm-oak wood, what gives a great economic and industrial value in the Southwest of Spain for this raw material.     

The effect of thinning on ground spider diversity and microenvironmental factors of a subtropical spruce plantation forest in East Asia

Currently, information about the effect of forest management on biodiversity of subtropical plantation forests in Asia is quite limited. In this study, we compared the spider community structures and guild compositions of subtropical Cryptomeria japonica plantation forests receiving different degree of thinning (0, 25 and 50 %) in central Taiwan. The ground spider diversities and environmental variables were sampled/measured once every 3 months for 1 year before thinning and 2 years after thinning. Results showed that before thinning spider compositions did not differ significantly among three plantation forest types. Two years after thinning, spider species and family compositions of three plantation forest types differed significantly. In all three plantation forest types, the spider composition differed from year to year, indicating existence of temporal variations in spider diversity. Ground hunters (increased 200–600 % in thinned forests), sheet web weavers (increased 50–300 % in thinned forests) and space web weavers (decreased 30–50 % in thinned forests) were the major contributors of the observed spider composition differences among plantation forests receiving different treatments. The stands receiving thinning treatments also had higher illumination, litter decomposition rate, temperature and understory vegetation density. Thinning treatments might have changed the structures of understory vegetation and canopy cover and consequently resulted in abundance and diversity changes of these guilds. Moreover, the heterogeneity in understory vegetation recovery rate and temporal variation of spider composition might further generate spider diversity variations in subtropical forests receiving different degree of thinning.     

我国经济林生产中存在的问题及对策

全面总结了我国经济林生产中的存在的主要问题:建园不当,品种混杂;管理粗放,产量低,品质差;市场发育不健全,产品销售渠道不畅;贮藏加工环节薄弱;缺人才、技术和资金。提出了解决问题的有效对策:加强人才培养和技术培训;优化树种、品种结构;加大科技含量,实施科学管理;注重贮藏保鲜与加工实现转化增值;掌握市场规律,搞好商品流通。     

病毒和细菌类生物制剂防治美国白蛾试验

采用美国白蛾核型多角体病毒和苏云金杆菌对美国白蛾幼虫进行了防治试验，效果均在74％以上。生物防治能有效地保护人居环境不受污染，保护自然界天敌，形成自控的生态系统。降低美国白蛾的危害。     

The commercial use of conifer rooted cuttings in forestry: a world overview

Conifer reforestation programs have traditionally been carried out using natural seeding, direct seeding or, more recently, planting with nursery-grown stock. Only within the past decade have rooted cuttings found use in large scale commercial operations. To assess the current status of this technology questionnaires were developed and mailed to 50 individuals and organizations around the world. The questionnaires were designed to collect information on: (1) annual production by region and species, (2) objectives of rooted cutting programs, (3) production procedures, (4) field performance of cuttings as compared to seedlings, and other topics.According to the 36 responses received more than 65 million conifer rooted cuttings are being produced around the world annually, with this number growing rapidly. Fully half the production is in Japan where valuable sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) cultivars have been vegetatively propagated for at least five centuries. Another 10 million or more cuttings of radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) are being grown in Australia and New Zealand annually. Canada, Scandinavia, and the British Isles together produce about 21 million Norway Spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst), Sitka spruce (P. sitchensis [Bong.] Carr) black spruce (P. mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.) and other species annually. Programs of one million or less exist in France, West Germany, Belgium, Eastern Europe, the United States and the USSR.Aside from the Japanese program and some European and Scandinavian programs, where cloning valuable genotypes is the main aim of vegetative propagation, the primary use of rooted cutting technology is for bulk production of genetically improved half or full-sib families. Other uses include production of air pollution-resistant clones in eastern Europe, and production of species which have high commercial value but are difficult to propagate from seed.Propagation methods have changed little during the past 15 years. Most cuttings are produced from hedges, stock plants, nursery seedlings or field grown trees, and rooted under mist in glass or plastic covered houses. Rooting hormones are often, but not always, used. Roughly half are grown in containers and half bareroot, generally reflecting the preferred method of seedling production in a given region. Although relatively few detailed studies have been reported, field performance of rooted cuttings appears similar to that of seedlings provided donor plants are juvenile. Key research needs are juvenility maintenance, stock plant culture, root system improvement, mechanization, and field testing.     

Analysis of genotype-by-environment interaction in a multisite progeny test with Scots pine for supporting selection decisions

European Journal of Forest Research - In multisite forest genetic experiments, the presence of genotype?×?environment interaction (GEI) is common. GEI may negatively affect the...     

Influence of host plant species on the development and reproduction of hawthorn spider mites

A leaf disc bioassay was employed to investigate the influence of host species of deciduous fruit trees, like apple, peach, plum, cherry and apricot, on the development and reproduction of the hawthorn spider mite Tetranychus viennensis Zacher in the laboratory under conditions of 25±1°C, 60±10% RH and a photoperiod of 16 h: 8 h light: dark. This was done by determining the duration of each life stage of the mites, the intrinsic rate of population increase (r _m ), mean generation time (T) and net reproductive rate (R ₀) of the spider mites on each of the host plant species. Differences in life table parameters of the spider mite among host plants were analyzed with the jack-knife method. The results indicated that plum might be the best suitable plant for the spider mite among the plants tested due to shorter developmental period and higher intrinsic rate of increase, whereas cherry and apricot were least suitable due to their long developmental duration and low intrinsic rates of increase. When the spider mites were transferred from apple to other fruit trees, negative effects on developmental duration, fecundity and life table parameters were found in the first generation, but the effects faded out in succeeding generations. When transferred onto plum and peach, the spider mite adapted to the new hosts in the second generation; however, on cherry and apricot, it adapted in the third generation. __________ Translated from Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2005, 27(7) [译自: 生态学报, 2005, 27(7)]     

Effect of accelerated aging treatment on a surface property and dynamic mechanical properties of commercial wood-based panels

Changes in surface property and mechanical properties in commercial particleboards and medium density fiberboards subjected to repetitive relative humidity treatment (i.e., aging treatment) were investigated. The stylus technique was used to evaluate surface roughness and a non-destructive vibrational test was used to evaluate dynamic bending strength during aging treatment. These methods evaluated the effect of aging treatment effectively. The aging treatment increased surface roughness and loss tangent (tan δ) values, but decreased dynamic modulus of elasticity (E _d) values of the panels compared to the respective initial values. The increment of surface roughness and E _d degradations observed were larger than the tan δ degradations. Surface roughness and tan δ seemed to be relatively dependent on resin type, whereas E _d was relatively independent under the aging treatment. Overall, the medium density fiberboard bonded methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDF(MDI)) panel was superior among the types of panels studied under the aging treatment. There was strong correlation between average roughness (R _a) increment and E _d retention.     

The influence of interaction with forest on cognitive function

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether forest experience had a positive impact on cognitive function. Cognitive function refers to a person's ability to intellectually process by which one becomes aware of, perceives, or comprehends ideas. It involves all aspects of perception, thinking, reasoning, and remembering. Sixty university students participated in this study. We compared the restorative effects on cognitive functioning of interactions with forest versus urban environments. To measure participants’ cognitive function and mood state, Trail Making Test B and Profile of Mood States were used in this study. The results of this study indicated that participants’ cognitive function was significantly improved when they walked in forest (i.e. time taken to complete the task was shortened by more than 7 seconds), but not when they walked downtown. In addition, participants’ mood also positively changed when they walked in forest. The results of this study confirmed Kaplan's attention restoration theory (ART). ART has emphasized the importance of cognitive functions from interaction with natural environments such as forests.     

应用灭虫药包和布撒器防治食叶害虫试验初报

2004—2006年,先后在重庆、广西、山西等地进行了灭虫药包及布撒器施药技术防治食叶害虫试验。试验表明,除白僵菌灭虫药包因天气影响而防治效果较低外,其他灭虫药包防治效果十分显著。应用该项技术可降低防治成本和防治作业劳动强度,扩大有效防治面积,提高防治效率和药剂覆盖度,保护环境和生物多样性。     

Timing and order of different insecticide classes drive control of Drosophila suzukii; a modeling approach

The spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, is an invasive pest causing significant damage to soft skinned fruits. Control of D. suzukii is critical since there is no tolerance for infested fruit in the market. While most insecticides control one or more D. suzukii life-stages (e.g., egg, larvae, and adult), the impact of insecticides that are toxic to immature stages  is unclear on the subsequent generation of a field population. Insecticides were applied at field recommended rates on cherries and blueberries in the laboratory to determine immature D. suzukii mortality. Spinetoram, cyantraniliprole, malathion, methomyl, spinosad, and phosmet resulted in relatively high mortality of all immature life stages. Zeta-cypermethrin, cyclaniliprole, and fenpropathrin resulted in lower mortality of egg and all larval instars. Malathion was also applied to lowbush blueberries with different fruit sizes (small, medium, and large) in the laboratory and there was no statistical difference in mortality rates depending on fruit sizes. Mortality data from the laboratory experiments were used to parameterize a refined D. suzukii population model. The model revealed that the timing and order of different insecticide classes are important to control D. suzukii population. Model runs that included early applications of more effective insecticides resulted in high immature mortality and greater reduction of D. suzukii populations compared to treatments applied later.

     

The role of timber tree species in the nutritional ecology of spider monkeys in a certified logging concession,Bolivia

Selective harvesting of timber can lead to population declines in some primate species. As frugivorous primates are important seed dispersers in tropical forests, the reduction of their populations may affect the ecological sustainability of selectively logged forests. This paper is the first to quantify the importance of timber tree species in the diet and nutritional ecology of a primate species. We studied spider monkeys (Ateles chamek) inhabiting a certified forestry concession in Bolivia where post-logging population declines of this species have been recorded. We show that spider monkeys occupying unlogged areas obtained approximately 50% of their total intake of macro-nutrients from timber tree species and exhibited a distinct preference for foraging within trees that were of harvestable size. Timber tree species dominated the spider monkeys’ diet both during peak fruiting periods and during periods of fruit scarcity. We estimate that under current timber extraction intensities spider monkeys lose significant proportions of their food sources. Our results indicate that further extraction limits could be considered for Ficus boliviana, Spondias mombin and Pouteria nemorosa. We suggest that to ensure long-term ecological sustainability of certified forestry concessions, the importance of timber tree species in the ecology of seed dispersers needs to be taken into account.     

噻虫啉防治马尾松毛虫和蜀柏毒蛾的林间试验

开展了静电喷雾与非静电喷雾48%噻虫啉悬浮剂和2%噻虫啉微胶囊悬浮剂防治马尾松毛虫Dendrolimus punctatus(Walker)和蜀柏毒蛾Parocneria orienta Chao林间试验。试验结果表明:使用相同浓度药液,静电喷雾的防治效果明显优于非静电喷雾的防治效果,药液浓度越低,增效幅度越大;静电喷雾低浓度药液与非静电喷雾高浓度药液能获得同样防治效果,可节省农药30%以上;48%噻虫啉悬浮剂4 000倍液和2%噻虫啉微胶囊悬浮剂2 000倍液可作为静电喷雾防治马尾松毛虫3～4龄幼虫和蜀柏毒蛾4～5龄幼虫的适宜药液浓度。