The effect of some benzoyl phenylureas on the larvae of earias insulana

Diflubenzuron, PH 60-38, PH 6043, penfluron (PH 60-44), PH 6045, triflumuron, chlorfuazuron (IKI-7899), teflubenzuron (CME 134), XRD473 and Dowco 439 were tested for their efficacy against the larvae of the spiny bollworm,Earias insulana (Boisd.), in laboratory experiments. The compounds were incorporated at different concentrations in an artificial diet and 5-day-old larvae were introduced and grown on the treated diets until pupation and adult emergence. Teflubenzuron was active at 0.1 ppm, chlorfuazuron at 0.75 ppm and PH 60-38 at 10 ppm; triflumuron and diflubenzuron were active only at 50 ppm; all the rest of the compounds were even less active. When cotton bolls were dipped in teflubenzuron and offered to 6-day-old larvae in the laboratory, only 4% and 10% of the larvae penetrated inside the bolls treated with 50 and 25 ppm a.i., respectively, whereas 68% penetrated inside untreated bolls.     

Comparative toxicity of several insecticides to eggs,larvae and adults of the Egyptian cottonworm,Spodoptera littoralis,in laboratory trials

Insecticides commonly used in cotton fields in Israel against lepidopterous pests were tested against eggs, as well as against 2nd-instar larvae and adults raised from eggs ofSpodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) collected in cotton fields in the Bet She’an Valley. Methomyl, chlorpyrifos, methidathion, monocrotophos, ethyl parathion, and methyl parathion were effective against eggs even at low doses, profenofos and phosfolan were less active, and azinphos-methyl was ineffective. The doses needed for 90% kill (LD ₉₀ ) of the 2nd-instar larvae were 8.5, 35, 280, 1300 and 3400 g a.i./1000 m ² for chlorpyrifos, methomyl, profenofos, methyl parathion and ethyl parathion, respectively; monocrotophos was inactive against 2nd-instar larvae even at relatively high doses. The LD ₉₀ of adults was reached with 16, 32, 1700 and 6100 ga.i./l000 m² of chlorpyrifos, methomyl, ethyl parathion and profenofos, respectively. Only chlorpyrifos and methomyl gave successful control of all three stages of the insect tested, at doses close to those generally used with aerial applications.     

Effect of triflumuron on two species of nitidulid beetles,Carpophilus hemipterus andUrophorus humeralis

Egg hatch of two nitidulids,Carpophilus hemipterus L. andUrophorus humeralis F., was affected by the chitin synthesis inhibitor triflumuron (Alsystin; BAY SIR 8514)via the adult stage of the beetle. This occurred by exposure to treated diets, by a brief dip of the adults in aqueous dilutions of the toxicant, or by contact with a treated plastic netting cage. Exposure of adults ofC. hemipterus for 24 h to 0.0125%, 0.00125%, 0.00025% or 0.000125% and ofU. humeralis to 0.0125% a.i.-treated diets completely prevented hatch of eggs laid during the subsequent 48 h on an untreated diet. Although at first sterile eggs were obtained with adults of either nitidulid species transferred to an untreated diet after 24 h exposure to the 0.0125%-treated diet, egg viability gradually recovered. The speed of recovery and the course of mortality of larvae that hatched from eggs laid by treated adults, indicated thatC. hemipterus was more susceptible thanU. humeralis to triflumuron. DippingC. hemipterus adults — males or females — in 0.0125% a.i. triflumuron also resulted in complete prevention of egg hatch. Similar results were obtained by a 1-h contact of adults with treated cages. Triflumuron had no direct ovicidal activity against the two species at the concentrations used but was very effective against larvae of both species. At 0.0125% a.i., 3-5-mm-long larvae ofU. humeralis were more tolerant than newly hatched larvae and than 3-5-mm-long larvae ofC. hemipterus. Application of 0.0125% a.i. triflumuron in a date palm grove did not prevent fruit infestation by nitidulid adults but, due to prevention of egg hatch, almost no larval development was observed.     

The ovicidal effect of ph 60-40 [l-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)-urea] inspodoptera littoralis boisd

PH 60-40 is of very high toxicity toSpodoptera littoralis eggs in laboratory experiments; 100% kill was obtained by dipping young eggs in a 0.000 025% a.i. dilution in water of a 5% liquid formulation of the compound.     

Factors affecting the biological efficiency of small pesticide droplets against Tetranychus urticae eggs

Using monosized oil-based droplets of dicofol against Tetranychus urticae eggs on 1 cm² discs of bean leaf, the effects of varying droplet diameter (18–146 μm) and concentration of active ingredient (0.5–40 g litre^?1) on egg mortality were investigated. A positive curvilinear relationship was found between the spacing of droplets required to produce 50% kill (LS₅₀) and the original diameter of the droplet, D, such that: where b varied from 0.65 to 1.44 and bore a U-shaped relationship to concentration. Thus, there was an optimum concentration of about 10 g litre^?1, with control efficiency reducing as much as nine times at the extreme concentrations, and even more from the smallest to the largest droplets. The theoretical, practical and economic implications are discussed.     

Inhibitory effects of some insect growth regulators on developmental stages,fecundity and fertility of the Florida wax scale,Ceroplastes floridensis

Four juvenile hormone analogs (JHAs), fenoxycarb. Pro-drone, R-20458 and dofenapyn, and three benzoylphenyl urea molt-inhibiting compounds (MICs), teflubenzuron, triflumuron and hexaflumuron, were evaluated in the laboratory at two concentrations (5 and 50 ppm) as to their effect on the Florida wax scale,Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock. In general, when the first nymphal stages were treated, the number of adults on treated guava plants at the end of the first generation was clearly reduced in comparison with that observed on untreated plants. The JHAs fenoxycarb and R-20458 arrested the development of the insect and no adults emerged at the end of the first generation. With 50 ppm of the JHA Pro-drone only 5.2% of the nymphs developed and transformed into adults. Triflumuron was superior to the other insect MICs in hampering development, as was dofenapyn. The adults emerging at the end of the first generation were used as parental scales for the next generation. Delayed adverse effects were observed on female fecundity and egg hatchability. There was a significant difference between the egg numbers laid by the females in the treatments and the control, and also between the different IGRs. No eggs hatched with dofenapyn and egg hatchability was 46% for teflubenzuronvs 88% for the control. Furthermore, in contradistinction to the control, insects on treated plants deposited only small amounts of wax in an irregular formation.     

The ovicidal action of insecticides and insect growth regulator/insecticide mixtures on the eggs of various ages of susceptible and diflubenzuron-resistant strains of Spodoptera littoralis boisd

The ovicidal action of four insecticides and three insect growth regulators, on eggs of various ages of the susceptible (S) strain of Spodoptera littoralis, was investigated. The results revealed that diflubenzuron was the most toxic compound tested on 0-1-day-old eggs, followed by triprene and then methoprene; chlorpyrifos came next in its toxicity, followed by cypermethrin then fenvalerate; methomyl was the least effective. With the progress of embryonic development, 1-2-day-old eggs showed slight tolerance to the action of the pesticides and juvenoids, but apparently resisted the action of diflubenzuron. Eggs 2-3 days old showed increased tolerance to the insecticides and diflubenzuron and, to a lesser extent, to the action of the two juvenoids. A total of 21 insecticide or insect growth regulator-insecticide mixtures, based on their toxicity equivalents (LD₂₅ + LD₂₅), were applied jointly on 0-1-day-old eggs of the S strain. The mixtures which produced high synergism on this stage could be arranged, according to their decreasing order of potentiation, as follows: fenvalerate/diflubenzuron, cypermethrin/triprene, methomyl/methoprene, cypermethrin/methoprene, fenvalerate/ methoprene, cypermethrin/methomyl, cypermethrin/diflubenzuron, fenvalerate/triprene, diflubenzuron/methoprene and methomyl/triprene. The mixtures that produced synergistic effects on 0-1-day-old eggs were also tested against the 1-2 and 2-3-day-oldeggs of the S strain. Theresults indicated that themixtures fenvalerate/diflubenzuron, and cypermethrin with either triprene or diflubenzuron, when tested on 1-2-day-old eggs, produced levels of synergism nearly similar to those achieved on newly deposited eggs. On the other hand, the mixtures cypermethrin/methomyl, and fenvalerate with methoprene or triprene, showed comparatively lower levels of synergism. However, the synergistic action of the mixture cypermethrin/methoprene, previously detected on newly deposited eggs, became an additive effect on 1-2-day-old eggs. Only the mixtures fenvalerate/diflubenzuron, cypermethrin/triprene and fenvalerate/methoprene showed synergism on 2-3-day-old eggs. The mixtures which showed synergistic effects on 0-1-day-old eggs of the S strain were further tested on eggs of various ages of the diflubenzuron-resistant (R_d) strain. As regards 0-1-day-old eggs, only the combinations cypermethrin/triprene, methomyl/methoprene and fenvalerate/methoprene produced additive effects. The mixture cypermethrin/diflubenzuron was still synergistic against newly deposited eggs of the R_d strain, in a manner similar to that indicated with the S strain. Apparent levels of antagonism were shown to the other insecticide-juvenoid mixtures as well as to the diflubenzuron/methoprene combination. The combinations cypermethrin/methomyl and fenvalerate/diflubenzuron had some effect on the freshly deposited eggs of the R_d strain but produced lower levels of potentiation. With the increase in age of the eggs, the mixture cypermethrin/diflubenzuron showed a lower level of synergism on the 1-2 day-old eggs than was observed in younger eggs. The additive effects, previously detected with some of the mixtures on newly deposited eggs became an antagonistic effect for the 1-2-day-old eggs. The eggs at this stage were more able to resist thejoint action of the other mixtures tested. Moreover, with further increase in the age of the eggs, the combination cypermethrin/diflubenzuron produced a lower level of potentiation on 2-3 day-old eggs, followed by fenvalerate/diflubenzuron at an even lower level, while the other mixtures showed various levels of antagonism.     

Lettuce drop caused by inoculum ofsclerotinia sclerotiorum blown-in from a distance

In seven fields free of local viable sclerotia, the part played bySclerotinia sclerotiorum ascospores transported from outside these fields in the incidence of lettuce drop was determined on plants not sprayed against the fungus. Ascospores were continuously deposited on the crop during the growth period and were found in low numbers in five of the fields (average of 0.4-3.5 per plate) and in high numbers in the two other fields (average values of 22 and 62 ascospores per plate) at each exposure in the two fields, respectively. Lettuce drop was 0-0.2% in the fields with the lower inoculum and 1.5 and 2.5% in those with the higher inoculum. Thus, even though plants were not sprayed, transported inoculum caused negligible yield losses.     

Factors affecting <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neofuscicoccum ribis</Emphasis> infection and disease progression in blueberry

Botryosphaeria stem blight is an economically important disease of blueberry worldwide. In this study, factors affecting inoculum production, infection and disease progression of Neofusicoccum spp. in blueberries were investigated. Under laboratory conditions conidia of the main three Neofusicoccum species (N. australe, N. parvum and N. ribis) were released from pycnidia at 15–30 °C and under relative humidities (RHs) of 80–100%, with greatest numbers released by N. parvum. The greatest numbers of oozing pycnidia and conidial release occurred at higher temperatures (25–30 °C) and RHs (92–100%). Inoculation of green shoots with different N. parvum and N. ribis conidial concentrations (50 μL of 5 × 10⁴?5 × 10⁶ conidia/ mL) caused 100% incidence but lesion lengths increased with increasing concentrations. Wound age affected N. ribis lesion development, with lesions only observed for 0–7-day-old wounds in soft green shoots and 0–4-day-old wounds for both hard green shoots and trunks. Colonisation length decreased with increasing wound age. Lesions developed on wounded shoots when plants were exposed to 20 or 25 °C and 90 or 100% RH during the early infection processes; and in non-wounded shoots spot-like lesions were observed although N. ribis colonised the stem tissue. Seasons (summer, autumn and winter) had no effect on susceptibility of wounded plants to N. ribis. External lesions only developed in summer-inoculated plants and colonisation length was lower in winter-inoculated plants. Information on host and environmental factors that affect disease development determined by the study will be used to inform the development of control strategies.     

Management of wheat blast with synthetic fungicides,partial resistance and silicate and phosphite minerals

Field trials conducted on a yellow-red latossol (pH 6.0), replicated in 2010 and 2011, sought to examine the effect of silicon, phosphite minerals, synthetic fungicides and genetic resistance for wheat blast management (Magnaporthe grisea) in Central Brazil. Disease intensity was measured on cvs. BRS 264 and BR18 subjected to the following Si treatments: pre-plant furrow application of Ca & Mg silicate (300 kg ha^-1); post-plant scattered application of Ca & Mg silicate on top of the soil (1 ton ha^-1); multiple foliar SiO₂ applications (30 g l ^-1); and non-treated control. Blast incidence and severity were scored. Further experiments were conducted on cv. BR-264, for examination of the effect of potassium phosphite and synthetic fungicides on wheat blast intensity, with the following treatments: K₂HPO₃ (1ml l ^-1); epoxinazole + pyraclostrobin (700 ml ha^-1); tebuconazole (600 ml ha^-1); tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin (750 ml ha^-1); and non-treated control. In 2010, disease intensity was lower than in 2011. In the silicate experiments, disease was significantly lower when plants were treated with foliar or furrow silicate. Si applications significantly reduced disease in BRS-264. While BR-18 consistently demonstrated lower disease levels, cv. BRS-264 generally responded more markedly to silicon applications. In the phosphite/fungicide experiment of 2010, all treatments reduced disease when compared with the control, and in 2011 phosphite efficiency was not significantly different from some fungicide treatments. Synthetic fungicides demonstrated an average blast control of 55% by severity values. Yields were increased in the phosphite-treated plots (by 9–80%), in the Si treatments (by 26–92%), and more so, and more consistently, with synthetic fungicides (by 90–121%). Combined results of all field studies, carried out under environmental conditions highly conducive to disease, indicated that control of wheat blast necessitates the joint integration of several alternatives for efficient disease management.     

Response ofSpodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) andEarias insulana (Boisd.) larvae to azadirachtin and salannin

The effect of azadirachtin and salannin, two triterpenoids isolated from seeds of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss), on the feeding response ofSpodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) andEarias insulana (Boisd.) larvae, was investigated. Styropor (foamed polystyrene) lamellae were painted on both sides with a mixture of 5% sucrose with different concentrations of either azadirachtin or salannin dissoled in methanol-water (3∶7). Azadirachtin strongly suppressed feeding inS. littoralis larvae even at 0.001%, whereas salannin showed some antifeedant activity at 0.005% and above. Larvae ofE. insulana were deterred from feeding on azadirachtin-treated lamellae even at 0.005%, whereas salannin was effective only at 0.01% and above. Azadirachtin applied on cotton leaves deterred larvae ofS. littoralis from feeding at all concentrations ranging between 0.001 and 0.02%.     

The effect of diflubenzuron on Eggs and larvae ofEarias Insulana (Boisd.)

Diflubenzuron was tested for its efficacy against the eggs and larvae ofEarias insulana Boisd. in laboratory experiments. The toxicity obtained on dipping the eggs was only moderate and, moreover, the results were highly inconsistent. The mortality of larvae on an artificial diet into which the wettable powder had been incorporated, was relatively high.     

Neem kernel as an ovipositional repellent forSpodoptera litura (F.) moths

Laboratory and nursery tests showed that a 2% neem (Melia azadirachta L.) seed kernel suspension in water was effective as a repellent and ovipositional deterrent for moths of the tobacco caterpillar,Spodoptera litura (F.). The mean number of eggs laid on treated tobacco seedlings was 37 3 as against 1715 on control seedlings. As a consequence of the moths being repelled from the treated plants, they laid more eggs on the cloth and the glass surface in glass jar experiments. Repellency was even more pronounced when the moths were released in treated and untreated nylon-netting-caged nursery beds; the mean number of eggs laid on treated seedlings was then only 749 as against 19,713 in control beds.     

Synergism of pyrethroid — organophosphorus insecticide mixtures in insects and their toxicity againstspodoptera littoralis larvae

Synergism of mixtures of pyrethroids with organophosphorus (OP) compounds in insects is reviewed, and the toxicity of such combinations againstSpodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) larvae is reported. Mixtures of one of the pyrethroids cypermethrin, fenvalerate or deltamethrin with one of the OP compounds monocrotophos, profenofos, azinphos-methyl or acephate were assayed at different ratios as 24-h-old dipping residues on alfalfa, which was fed toS. littoralis larvae for 48 h. With most of the binary mixtures containing various OP concentrations in excess of those of the pyrethroids, synergism was demonstrated. In the pairs fenvalerate — azinphos-methyl, deltamethrin — azinphos-methyl and deltamethrin — profenofos, however, no synergism was found. In a detailed investigation with pyrethroid concentrations causing 20% mortality and OP concentrations giving a kill of no higher than ;10%, the above findings on synergism were amply confirmed. A cypermethrinmonocrotophos mixture showed synergism also on cotton leaves sprayed in the field. Synergism could not be demonstrated by topical application of pyrethroid — OP mixtures.     

The ovicidal properties of the juvenile hormone mimic sumitomo S-31183 (SK-591) to insects

S-31183 was assayed against preimaginal stages of the tobacco whitefly,Bemisia tabaci (Genn.), and eggs of the Egyptian cotton leafworm,Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.). The compound was found to be an ovicide forB. tabaci eggs in both preinfestation and postinfestation treatments. FreshS. littoralis eggs were very susceptible to the compound at 0.05 ppm a.i., response was much poorer with 1-2-day-old eggs and 2-3-day-old eggs were not affected even by 100 ppm. Publication of the Agricultural Research Organization. No. 2271-E, 1988 series.     

Sensitivity ofPhytophthora Infestans to cymoxanil

The efficacy of cymoxanil, Pulsan (oxadixyl + mancozeb + cymoxanil, 1:7:0.4) and Sandocur-M (oxadixyl + mancozeb + cymoxanil, 1:7:2) in controlling late blight was examined in potatoes (cv. ‘Alpha’). Nine oxadixyl-sensitive and seven oxadixyl-resistant isolates ofPhytophthora infestons from six countries were tested. ED₉₀ values of cymoxanil ranged between 64 and 467 mg a.i./l. No relationship was observed between sensitivity to cymoxanil and sensitivity to oxadixyl. Isolate S6A (1305) from California was the most sensitive to cymoxanil (ED₉₀ = 64 mg/l), whereas isolate R11 from Israel was the least sensitive (ED₉₀ = 467 mg/l). Most isolates from Israel were less sensitive (ED₉₀ = 151–467 mg/l) than isolates from Switzerland, the Netherlands, Ireland, Mexico or California (ED₉₀ = 64–152 mg/l). Three-way mixtures of cymoxanil with mancozeb and oxadixyl were more inhibitory than cymoxanil alone, regardless of the isolate. Sandocur-M was, for most isolates, more effective than Pulsan. The correlation coefficient between sensitivity to cymoxanil and sensitivity to Sandocur-M was 0.67, while that between cymoxanil and Pulsan was 0.76.     

Molecular variability of Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus in Shaanxi,China

Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) is one of the latent viruses that occur in apple orchards worldwide but usually without visible symptoms. In 2010–2012, a total of 550 apple leaf samples from 12 different major apple-producing areas in Shaanxi, China, were tested by serological assay for ACLSV; the results revealed an infection level of 51.5 %. Because of the known variability in the putative amino acid sequences of the coat protein (CP), and thus the potential for non-detection by serological assay, the molecular variability of isolates of ACLSV collected in Shaanxi was analyzed using PCR and compared with isolates from the rest of the world. Sequences of 504 nt corresponding to 87 % of the CP gene of 12 isolates were acquired by RT-PCR and deposited in GenBank with the accession numbers KF134387–KF134298. Comparisons of the partial CP gene sequences of these 12 isolates as well as isolates previously reported in the world revealed the pairwise identities ranging from 68.9–99.8 % and 73.8–100 % at the nucleotide and amino acid level, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on these nucleotide sequences showed that the 72 isolates deposited in GenBank fell into three groups (P205, B6 and Ta Tao 5 Group). Our 12 ACLSV isolates were separated into the P205 and B6 groups, respectively. Multiple alignment analysis of the amino acid sequences of CP revealed that there was a combination of six amino acids at positions 40, 59, 75, 86, 130 and 184 in isolates from each group that could be used to distinguish among the three groups. Two recombination events were identified from all isolates by recombination analysis, and three ACLSV isolates collected in this study participated in these two events. Our results show that molecular variation was present in isolates of ACLSV collected in Shaanxi province and this may reflect introductions of the virus associated with different sources of germplasm.     

Effect of Cotton leaf curl virus infected plants on the biology of the whitefly,Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae): Vector–virus mutualism

Cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV) (Geminiviridae : Begomovirus), the causative agent of leaf curl disease in cotton plants (Gossypium hirsutum), is exclusively transmitted by whitefly species Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). CLCuV transmission occurs in Sriganganagar (Rajasthan), an area endemic with cotton leaf curl disease. The relationships between plant viruses, their herbivore vectors and host plants can be beneficial, neutral, or antagonistic, depending on the species involved. To further understand these relationships, fecundity and life history parameters of an indigenous non- b (Asia II genetic group) biotype whitefly, B. tabaci, were compared on 10, 25, and 40 days post-inoculation (DPI), in CLCuV-infected and healthy cotton plants to determine the effect of virus on its vector. The development time of the immature stages of whiteflies was significantly reduced on CLCuV-infected plants. The development time of the immature stages did not change with severity of symptoms at 25 and 40 DPI (45- and 60-d-old plants). Cotton leaf curl virus infection increased percent egg viability of B. tabaci. Whiteflies deposited significantly fewer eggs on virus-infected plants than on healthy plants. Whiteflies had better egg viability on younger plants than older plants, whereas plant age did not affect the fecundity. Male and female whiteflies had shorter longevity on CLCuV-infected plants than on healthy plants.     

Diethylstilbestrol as a reproduction inhibitor in the Levante vole

Diethylstilbestrol (DES) at 0.019–0.025 mg/g body weight, fed with grain baits to Levante voles (Microtus guentheri [D. & A.]) of different age, sex and physiological condition, suppressed gestation for the first 10 days after mating. These doses, which are consumed voluntarily, also caused sterility in daughters of females which received DES at the end of pregnancy, and sterility or a significant delay (2–3 months) in sexual maturity of females which received it in their mother’s milk during the first days of life. DES had no significant effect on adult nonpregnant females or on males of any age, even if administered 3 days before mating.