Cross-resistance, inheritance and stability of resistance to acetamiprid in cotton whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Genn (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

The cotton whitefly Bemisia tabaci, (Genn.) is an important pest of field crops, vegetables and ornamentals worldwide. Neonicotinoids are considered an important group of insecticides being used against B. tabaci for several years. B. tabaci has developed resistance to some of the compounds of the group. This study was designed to investigate if the selection of B. tabaci with acetamiprid would give a broad-spectrum of cross-resistance and to genetically classify the resistance. At G₁ a low level of resistance to acetamiprid, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, thiacloprid and nitenpyram was observed with resistance ratios of 3-fold, 8-, 9-, 6- and 5-fold, respectively, compared with a laboratory susceptible population. After selection for eight generations with acetamiprid, resistance to acetamiprid increased to 118-fold compared with the laboratory susceptible population. Selection also increased resistance to imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, thiacloprid, nitenpyram, endosulfan and bifenthrin but no change in susceptibility to fipronil was observed. Furthermore resistance in a field population was stable in the absence of acetamiprid selection pressure. Genetic crosses between resistant and susceptible populations indicated autosomal and incompletely recessive resistance. Further genetic analysis suggested that resistance could be controlled by a single factor. The high level of cross-resistance and stability of incomplete resistance in the field population is of some concern. However, lack of cross-resistance between acetamiprid and fipronil or unstable resistance in the resistant population could provide options to use alternative products which could reduce acetamiprid selection pressure.     

Overwintering and population dynamics of Bemisia tabaci biotype B in greenhouse during the spring in northern China

Since the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B invaded southern China in the mid-1990s, it had spread to most other regions of the country, and become an important pest in agricultural and horticultural production. Investigations on overwintering of B. tabaci biotype B and its spring reproduction in northern China were conducted to determine the main factors that might contribute to an understanding of the population dynamics of this pest for developing improved pest control strategies. A cold hardiness test showed that when exposed for 10 h at −10 °C, mortalities of eggs, nymphs, and adults reached to 86.6%, 88.4%, and 100%, respectively, suggesting that it is probably impossible for feral populations of B. tabaci to survive in the winter under natural environmental conditions in northern China. A survey on vegetables, ornamental plants and weeds in greenhouses at Hebei Province and Beijing in northern China revealed at least 14 species of plants on which B. tabaci fed during the winter and spring. Lycopersicon esculentum Mill, Brassica alboglabra Bailey, Ficus carica L., Euphorbia pulcerrima Wild, and Hemelia patens Haence were the main host plants. Further research on the population dynamics of B. tabaci on three major greenhouse hosts; tomato, cucumber, and melon, indicated that densities remained at a low level during the winter, but increased steadily from February to March until migration into field crops in April. It is concluded that the control of the insect in greenhouse in winter and spring can play an important role for seasonal management of this pest in northern China.     

Effects of piperonyl butoxide on Bemisia tabaci Genn. (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae): mortality, development, parasitism and predation in Israeli cotton fields

In field trials in Israel, piperonyl butoxide (PB) alone, at concentrations of 2000 and 5000 ppm exerted good control over nymphal Bemisia tabaci populations on cotton. Weekly doses of these concentrations exerted greater control than a recommended oil and were as effective as the standard single application of buprofezin. Cypermethrin caused marked resurgence within the plots, probably as a consequence of its detrimental effects on natural enemies. Neither PB, buprofezin nor the oil reduced the incidence of natural enemies. Treatment with 2000 or 5000 ppm PB resulted in a shift in age structure toward a greater proportion of young instars than in other treatments. There was some evidence that these effects facilitated a greater level of parasitism in PB-treated plots.     

Understanding the dynamics of neonicotinoid activity in the management of Bemisia tabaci whiteflies on poinsettias

The relative efficacies of registered label rates for foliar and soil drench treatments of imidacloprid and dinotefuran at preventing the establishment of Bemisia tabaci B biotype whitefly populations on newly infested poinsettia plants were evaluated. Pesticide levels within and on plant leaves were monitored for 10 weeks by ELISA and LC/MS in an effort to better understand the dynamics of neonicotinoid activity against this insect and to estimate insecticide concentrations needed to kill the nymphal and adult stages. While all treatments proved equally effective as a remedial measure for the control of the resident adult populations, thereby accomplishing the objective of foliar contact treatments, the dinotefuran soil drench application was the only treatment that provided multi-generational control of Bemisia populations.     

Cotton leaf trichomes and populations of Empoasca lybica and Bemisia tabaci

Breeding cotton, Gossypium spp., for resistance to leafhoppers of the genus Empoasca and to sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), poses a dilemma. Glabrous (smooth-leaved) cotton plants have higher leafhopper populations but fewer whiteflies and less leaf and bract trash in mechanically harvested seedcotton than plants with pubescent leaves. In this study, both leafhopper and whitefly populations were observed in 31 cotton entries planted at Bet She'an, Israel, in 1987. Leafhopper populations decreased but the whitefly populations increased as the number of trichomes increased. At the end of June, plants with 40 trichomes per 13.7 mm² supported relatively low populations of both leafhoppers and whiteflies. However, the whitefly populations increased later in the season to 43 times the earlier population levels. Whitefly populations increased as the number of trichomes increased up to 70 trichomes per 13.7 mm² and then decreased as the trichomes became more dense. Various control measures and breeding schemes that might interact to provide an answer to the control of these pests are discussed.     

Lethal and sublethal effects of buprofezin and imidacloprid on Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), has become a major threat to agriculture worldwide. The development of insecticide resistance in B. tabaci has necessitated the exploration of new management tactics. The toxicity of imidacloprid and buprofezin to various life stages of B. tabaci was determined in the laboratory. Also, the sublethal effects of both insecticides were studied on demographic and biological parameters of B. tabaci. Both insecticides were very toxic against first stage larvae of the pest with LC₅₀ values of 1.0 and 19.3 ppm for buprofezin and imidacloprid, respectively. Toxicities decreased between successive stages (LC₅₀ values ranging from 1.0 to 2854.0 ppm). The LC₅₀ values of imidacloprid for adult males, females and eggs were 11.8, 71.6 and 151.0 ppm, respectively. Buprofezin had no significant effect on adults and eggs. The sublethal concentration of imidacloprid had no significant effect on demographic and biological parameters of B. tabaci but the maximal value for the mean generation time (T) (18.8 day) was observed in imidacloprid treatment. Buprofezin significantly decreased stable population and biological parameters of B. tabaci except it did not decrease the rate of population increase or the sex ratio of offspring.     

Economic injury levels for Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) in cotton: impact of crop price, control costs, and efficacy of control

Field studies were conducted during 1993 and 1994 in the Imperial Valley, California and Maricopa, Arizona to examine relationships between densities of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) populations and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) yields, and to estimate economic injury levels (EILs) for pest management application. Populations of B. tabaci were manipulated by applying different numbers of insecticide applications in replicated plots. Resulting insect populations and cotton lint yields were used to develop damage functions and to estimate EILs for all life stages in relation to variable cotton prices, insecticide costs, and pest control efficacy. Economic injury levels declined with increasing cotton prices and increased as the cost of control increased, however, these changes were relatively small, based on typical ranges in price and control costs. In contrast, the efficacy of control provided by insecticide applications had a large influence on EILs, with lower efficacies being associated with higher injury levels. We developed a multiple regression model that accounted for the dynamic changes in the EIL in relation to crop price, control costs, control efficacy, and potential yield. Based on average prices and reasonable control costs and efficacy, EILs ranged from 5.9–15.2 adults/leaf, 6.1–19.8 eggs cm⁻², and 1.7–4.7 nymphs cm⁻² of leaf area. Additional research is needed to more closely relate the costs of control to the suppression of insect populations, and to define economic thresholds that will enable pest managers to maintain pest populations below EILs.     

Status of insecticide resistance and associated mutations in Q-biotype of whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, from eastern China

Resistance levels in five field strains of Bemisia tabaci Q-biotype in eastern China to six representative insecticides were determined, and the frequencies of synaptic acetylcholinesterase ace1 mutation (F331W) and para-type voltage gated sodium channel mutations (L925I and T929V) were detected using polymerase chain reaction-based monitoring techniques. Compared with the reference strain, the field strains exhibited low to high resistance to two neonicotinoids (RF 8.68-75 for imidacloprid and 7.48-46.40 for nitenpyram). Low resistance to dichlorvos (RF 1.37-2.83) and cypermethrin (RF 2.61-8.69) were observed in these strains. All strains were susceptible to abamectin and carbosulfan. The F331W mutation in ace1 gene was fixed in all field strains, the frequencies of the L925I mutation and T929V mutation in sodium channel gene were in the range of 39.6-70% and 63-86.7%, respectively. Information on insecticide resistance status and resistance allele frequency reported in this study provided baseline data for management of insecticide resistance of Q-biotype B. tabaci in eastern China.     

The effects of nitrogen rate and the ratio of NO3:NH4 on Bemisia tabaci populations in hydroponic tomato crops

Nitrogen fertilization is one of the factors that influences Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) population density. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of three N application rates (75, 205 and 335 mg/l) and three ratios of NO₃⁻:NH₄⁺ ions (92:8, 75:25 and 55:45) in standard nutrient solution (205 mg/l N) on the population density of B. tabaci. The experiments were conducted on spring-summer hydroponic crops of tomato. The effect of plant stratum on the whitefly population was also determined. The aggregation of B. tabaci adults as well as their oviposition rate was higher at 205 and 335 mg/l N than on plants grown at 75 mg/l N. By the end of the experiment (60 d after infestation), the number of nymphs on plants at 205 mg/l N was higher than on plants at 75 mg/l N. The number of pupae was lowest on plants supplied with 75 mg/l N. An increase in NH₄⁺ percentage in standard nutrient solution (from 25% to 45% of the total N) reduced adult population density and oviposition rate. The density of nymphs and pupae, at 60 d after infestation, was lower on the tomato plants grown at 75:25 and 55:45 NO₃⁻:NH₄⁺ ratios compared to the 92:8 ratio. The 75:25 and 55:45 NO₃⁻:NH₄⁺ ratios resulted in a higher incidence of blossom-end rot of tomato fruit, with a lower incidence of disorder at 75:25 than at the 55:45 ratio. Plant stratum influenced adult whitefly distribution in two years of the study. Middle stratum leaves were more attractive to adults in both years. The results demonstrate the effects of N fertilization (N rate and the ratio of NO₃⁻:NH₄⁺) and plant stratum on B. tabaci population density.     

玉米脂肪酸α-双加氧酶cDNA克隆与表达分析

以玉米自交系丹340为实验材料,同源克隆到玉米脂肪酸α-双加氧酶基因(ZmDOX)cDNA序列,并利用半定量与定量RT-PCR分析其在不同组织和PEG胁迫下的表达特征。序列分析结果表明,该cDNA序列包含1 857 bp完整的开放阅读框,编码619个氨基酸残基的蛋白产物。玉米、水稻、小麦中DOX氨基酸序列高度同源,聚集在同一进化枝,而双子叶植物存在两类DOX蛋白。组织表达特征分析发现,ZmDOX在根、茎、叶中均有表达,其中在根中表达量最高。PEG胁迫条件下,根中ZmDOX对胁迫的响应较快且增加幅度较大,而在叶中表达量有降低的趋势。     

Composition and physical properties of cress (Lepidium sativum L.) and field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) oils

The fatty acid profiles and tocopherol and phytosterol contents of crude oils of cress (Lepidium sativum L.) and field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) are reported, along with yields from the corresponding seeds. The physical properties of these oils were also determined, which included oxidative stability, kinematic viscosity, viscosity index, low temperature fluidity, specific gravity, acid value, lubricity, and iodine value. The oil content of dried cress and field pennycress seeds was 22.7 and 29.0 wt%, respectively. The primary fatty acids found in cress oil were oleic (30.6 wt%) and linolenic acids (29.3 wt%), whereas field pennycress oil was principally composed of erucic (32.8 wt%) and linoleic (22.4 wt%) acids. Cress oil contained high concentrations of γ- (1422 ppm) and δ- (356 ppm) tocopherols, whereas α-tocopherol (714 ppm) was the primary tocopherol discovered in field pennycress oil. The overall tocopherol concentrations of cress and field pennycress oils were 1799 and 851 ppm, respectively. The primary phytosterols elucidated in cress and field pennycress oils were sitosterol and campesterol, with avenasterol also present in significant quantity in cress oil. The total phytosterol concentration in cress oil (14.41 mg/g) was greater than that in field pennycress (8.55 mg/g) oil. Field pennycress oil exhibited excellent low temperature fluidity, whereas cress oil was more stable to oxidation and over a range of temperatures displayed lower kinematic viscosities as well as a higher viscosity index. The acid and iodine values of field pennycress oil were lower than those for cress oil, but both oils had excellent lubrication properties.     

小麦丙氨酸-乙醛酸转氨酶基因（ TaAGT2）的克隆、生物信息学预测及表达分析

光呼吸是植物细胞H_2O_2的重要来源,也是维持细胞氧化还原的重要成分,影响植物对生物和非生物逆境的应答,因此,挖掘与光呼吸有关的基因对提高植物的抗逆性具有重要意义。本研究以耐旱小麦品种青麦6号转录组数据为基础,通过RACE技术克隆得到小麦 AGT2基因的全长cDNA,将其命名为 TaAGT2,并对其进行了生物信息学预测及表达模式分析。结果表明, TaAGT2开放阅读框长1 434bp,编码477个氨基酸。该蛋白属于亲水性稳定蛋白,定位于线粒体中,二级结构以α-螺旋(42.14%)和无规则卷曲(32.91%)为主。 TaAGT2基因包含AAT-I基因族保守区域,与二穗短柄草 AGT2的相似性高达97%。通过qRT-PCR对基因 TaAGT2在不同组织中(根、茎和叶)及4种非生物胁迫(低温、ABA、干旱、高盐)下的表达特性进行分析,结果表明, TaAGT2在根、茎和叶中均有表达,茎中的表达显著高于根和叶,在不同胁迫条件下上调表达,表明该基因可能参与调控植物的抗逆反应。     

不同发育特性小麦品种春化基因 VRN2的序列分析

为了明确小麦春化基因VRN2与春化发育表现型的关系,以6个不同春化发育特性的普通小麦品种为试验材料,采用PCR技术对春化基因VRN2的CCT保守区中43个氨基酸序列进行了分析。结果表明,不同品种间ZCCT-A1的CCT功能域的序列存在差异,肥麦有R35W突变,另外5个品种均有R39C突变;ZCCT-A2均存在R16C突变;B和D基因组中均未发现突变。这表明VRN2基因编码区的等位变异主要出现在A基因组上,而B和D基因组中的VRN2基因在目前大面积主栽品种中均为显性。     

转小麦 TaPDI-A、 TaTRXh-A和 TaPP2Ac-D基因拟南芥植株的主要抗旱性研究

核氧还蛋白（nucleoredoxin,NRX）可通过还原目标蛋白的二硫键来调控其生物活性,在植物的生长发育和抗逆境胁迫中发挥着重要作用。蛋白质二硫键异构酶（protein disulfide isomerase,PDI）、h型硫氧还蛋白（h-type thioredoxin,TRXh）和蛋白磷酸酶2A催化亚基（protein phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit,PP2Ac）是小麦核氧还蛋白TaNRX1的互作蛋白。为了明确TaNRX1互作蛋白的抗旱性功能,本研究在拟南芥中过表达了小麦 TaPDI-A、 TaTRXh-A和 TaPP2Ac-D基因,对野生型和转基因拟南芥的表型和抗旱相关生理指标进行了鉴定。结果表明,干旱胁迫处理后,转 TaPDI-A、 TaTRXh-A和 TaPP2Ac-D基因拟南芥的根长、存活率、脯氨酸含量均大于野生型,离体叶片失水率、丙二醛（MAD）含量均小于野生型。二氨基联苯胺（diaminobenzidine,DAB）对H₂O₂组织定位染色结果表明,干旱胁迫处理后,转 TaPDI-A、 TaTRXh-A和 TaPP2Ac-D基因拟南芥的H₂O₂含量均低于野生型。上述结果说明,TaNRX1的互作蛋白基因 TaPDI-A、 TaTRXh-A和 TaPP2Ac-D增强了拟南芥对于干旱胁迫的抵抗能力。本研究可为小麦抗旱育种提供候选基因和理论基础。     

玉米灌浆期3种鳞翅目害虫的空间分布

采用网格式取样200株玉米,整株剖秆调查亚洲玉米螟、桃蛀螟和棉铃虫在玉米上的数量,用地统计学的方法分析和模拟它们在田间的水平分布;采用生态位理论分析3种害虫在玉米植株上的生态位和种间竞争。结果表明,亚洲玉米螟、桃蛀螟和3种鳞翅目害虫整体在玉米田中的水平分布分别适合球形、高斯、球形模型拟合,均属于聚集分布。Kriging插值模拟图显示,亚洲玉米螟和桃蛀螟为核心分布型;在垂直分布上,雌穗上3种害虫数量最多,占总虫量的69.82%。亚洲玉米螟的基础生态位宽度最大,在整株玉米上都可危害;桃蛀螟则主要在玉米中、上部;棉铃虫基础生态位最窄,只在雌穗附近危害。3种害虫在玉米茎秆上种间竞争激烈,异种害虫无法共存;雌穗上种间竞争程度小于茎秆,异种害虫可以共存。     

Identification of resistance to Uromyces pisi (Pers.) Wint. in Pisum spp. germplasm

A germplasm collection of 2759 pea accessions was screened for resistance against Uromyces pisi (Pers.) Wint. All accessions displayed a compatible interaction (high infection type) both in adult plants under field conditions and in seedlings under growth chamber conditions, but with varying levels of disease reduction. The identified resistance was based on reduction of disease severity with no associated host cell necrosis, which fits the definition of Partial Resistance. No complete resistance or incomplete resistance based on hypersensitivity was observed.     

Combining reflective mulch and host plant resistance for sweetpotato whitefly (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) management in watermelon

A study was conducted to evaluate the use of reflective mulch and host plant resistance for the management of the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), in watermelon [Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus (Thunberg) Matsum & Nakai]. Whitefly abundance data were collected under both greenhouse (caged and uncaged) and field conditions. Consistently, a reflective mulch (also called silver or metallic) treatment resulted in a lower incidence of adult whiteflies as compared with a standard black mulch treatment. Moreover, two whitefly resistant Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad genotypes, which are wild relatives of cultivated watermelon, reduced whitefly populations as compared with standard watermelon. There was generally no interaction between the mulch and genotype variables. No effect of mulch color was observed on sticky card capture of Delphastus catalinae (Horn), a whitefly predator, or on capture of an Eretmocerus sp. whitefly parasitoid in caged trials, which suggests no adverse effect on these natural enemies when using reflective mulch. Overall whitefly populations were relatively low during four seasons of field trials (2006–2009). Results from this study suggest that a combination of using reflective mulch and host plant resistance can additively suppress whitefly infestations, which have particular importance in the fast-growing organic vegetable production industry.     

玉米Opaque-2基因在毕赤酵母中的表达

从玉米自交系辽2345授粉后18 d的胚乳中提取总RNA,经反转录后得到第一链cDNA,利用Opaque-2基因的特异引物克隆出该基因的全编码区,将该编码区的全序列以正确的阅读框架利用Infusion同源重组的方法亚克隆到毕赤酵母表达载体pPIC9的α因子下游,并置于AOXⅠ启动子控制下,利用pPIC9表达载体上的特异引物进行PCR鉴定,鉴定后的重组质粒用Bgl Ⅱ酶切线性化后,电转化导入甲醇型毕赤酵母菌株GS₁15中,利用MM、MD和菌落PCR的方法筛选出Mut⁺表型,得到的重组子以甲醇诱导表达蛋白。经SDS-PAGE结果显示,Opaque-2蛋白得到表达,其相对分子质量（Mr）约为47 KD。     

Potential use of Asteraceae extracts to control Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and selectivity to their parasitoids Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) and Telenomus remus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)

Extracts of 12 Asteraceae were tested on Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and on their parasitoids Telenomus remus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) and Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). The plants Lychnophora ericoides and Trichogonia villosa were toxic for 97.7 ± 0.15% of one-day-old eggs of S. frugiperda and Lepidaploa lilacina for 72.0 ± 2.50% for two-day-old eggs of this insect. Extracts of Vernonia holosenicea, Lychnophora ramosissima and Chromolaena chaseae had higher impact on S. frugiperda, while those of Eremanthus elaeagnus and L. ericoides were more selective to T. pretiosum and T. remus. Asteraceae extracts present potential for integrated pest management programs of S. frugiperda.