High‐throughput sequencing reveals bacterial community composition in the rhizosphere of the invasive plant Flaveria bidentis

Bacteria are important soil components as both decomposers and plant symbionts and play a major role in plant–microbe interaction processes. However, little is known about the diversity of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere of the invasive plant Flaveria bidentis. In this study, we used high‐throughput sequencing to investigate bacterial communities in the rhizosphere of F. bidentis, compared with those of native crop maize and control plant Setaria viridis. We obtained >70 000 analysis reads from the three samples and used bioinformatics and multivariate statistics to analyse the results. An analysis of indicators showed that F. bidentis samples had lower richness but higher diversity than maize and S. viridis samples. Operational taxonomic unit (OTU)‐based bioinformatics and statistical analysis also demonstrated that F. bidentis significantly altered the bacterial rhizosphere community. Higher abundance of Actinobacteria and lower abundance of Firmicutes were observed in F. bidentis rhizosphere than those of maize and S. viridis. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed the correlations between soil bacteria communities, soil nutrients and the abundance of bacterial groups. Our results provide a starting point for investigations of the effects of F. bidentis on soil bacterial diversity and a theoretical basis for the microecological mechanism of F. bidentis invasion.     

Q‐bank,a database with information for identification of plant quarantine plant pest and diseases

This paper describes the database Q‐bank ( www.q-bank.eu ). This freely accessible database contains data on plant pathogenic quarantine organisms to allow fast and reliable identification. Development of accurate identification tools for plant pests is vital to support European Plant Health Policies. Council Directive 2000 ? 29 ?EC lists approximately 300 entries representing a large number of species (e.g. non‐European Tephritids contains approximately 3500 species) for which protective measures, against introduction and their spread within the European Community, need to be taken. The risk of introduction of pests into the European Union is increasing because of the increase in the volumes, commodity types and origins of trade, the introduction of new crops, the continued expansion of the EU, the numbers of international travellers and the impact of climate change. Identifying pests (in particular new emerging pests) requires staff with specialised skills in all disciplines (mycology, bacteriology etc.), which is only possible within large centralised laboratory facilities. Expertise in taxonomy, phytopathology and other fields in plant health, which are vital for sustaining sound public policy on phytosanitary issues, are under threat. Sharing knowledge on regulated and non‐regulated pests is necessary to manage a cost‐effective and efficient plant health system in the context of expanding globalisation of trade in plant material.     

Herbicide research and development: challenges and opportunities

The high adoption of chemical weed control and the broad range of solutions already available to manage most weed problems are significant hurdles to the development and launch of new herbicides. Business potentials are influenced by the high technical and biological standards provided by existing herbicides, as well as the intense competition in the marketplace. Other factors adding complexity are agronomic, structural and technological changes, including the introduction of herbicide‐tolerant crops, and the high costs of development for new active ingredients, mainly due to increasing regulatory requirements. In the light of increasing weed resistance to widely used herbicides, securing diversity in agronomy as well as weed management is a key to efficient crop production in future. In order to support this objective, new herbicides, preferably with new modes‐of‐action, will need to be discovered and developed.     

Rangelands of Central Asia: challenges and opportunities

Rangelands of Central Asia(referring to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in this study), the largest contiguous area of grazed land in the world, serve as an important source of livelihood for pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in this region. They also play an important role in absorbing CO2 as a global carbon sink. However, unsustainable management of rangelands has led to their degradation hugely by downgrading their potential agro-ecological, environmental and socio-economical roles. This paper reviewed the rangeland degradation in Central Asia, a topic which so far has received only scant coverage in the international scientific literature. It also provided examples of successful experiences and outlined possible options that land managers can adopt to enhance the sustainable management of these vast degraded rangelands. The experiences and lessons described in this paper may also be relevant for other degraded rangeland areas, especially in the developing countries. The causes of rangeland degradation within the Central Asian region are numerous, complex and inter-related. Therefore, while addressing the factors associated with improper rangeland management may shed some light on the causes of rangeland degradation, the scope of this paper would not be all-encompassing for the major causes of degradation. There is a need to develop and widely apply the viable and locally accepted and adapted packages of technical, institutional and policy options for sustainable rangeland management. Incentivizing the collective action of small-scale pastoralists who group together to facilitate access to remote pastures can reduce the degree of overgrazing within community pastures, such as those near the settlements. We also found that migratory grazing through pooling of resources among small-scale pastoralists can increase household income. After their independence, most Central Asian countries adopted various rangeland tenure arrangements. However, the building of enhanced capacities of pasture management and effective local rangeland governance structures can increase the likelihood, which will be sustainable and equitable. Finally, this paper presented several promising technical options, aiming at reversing the trend of rangeland degradation in Central Asia.     

High‐throughput detection of highly benzimidazole‐resistant allele E198A with mismatch primers in allele‐specific real‐time polymerase chain reaction

BACKGROUND: A point mutation often confers resistance of organisms against medical drugs and agricultural pesticides. Allele‐specific nucleotide polymerase chain reaction (ASPCR) and allele‐specific quantitative real‐time PCR using SYBR Green (ASQPCR) are widely and effectively applied to detect and monitor this type of resistance. However, the former is unsuitable for high‐throughput detection, and the latter often reduces the accuracy of detection. RESULTS: In order to decrease background amplification, a rapid and high‐throughput genotyping method with mismatch primers was developed (ASQPCR‐MP) and applied specifically to survey the frequency of the highly benzimidazole‐resistant MBC^HR mutation (E198A) in the β‐tubulin gene of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary populations. Genomic DNA from 223 sclerotia was analysed. Similar genotype results were also obtained using ASPCR with mismatch primers and a mycelial growth inhibition assay. It was found that ASQPCR‐MP clearly differentiated MBC^HR and benzimidazole‐sensitive MBC^S phenotypes. Moreover, ASQPCR‐MP took less than 6 h to complete. CONCLUSION: ASQPCR‐MP appears suitable for large epidemiological studies involving resistant genotypes and requiring high‐throughout formats. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

中国鼠害治理的瓶颈、短板与机遇

鼠害治理事关国家粮食安全、生物多样性保护、生态安全及人民健康安全。鼠害治理的行业需求差异及鼠害防控理念的转变对鼠害治理提出了新的挑战。本文根据鼠害发生和治理技术的特点从技术层面分析了我国鼠害治理的主要瓶颈及短板, 提出了未来鼠害治理理论与技术研发的重点方向。     

In‐field molecular diagnosis of plant pathogens: recent trends and future perspectives

Accurate management practices in crop health and food safety are critical, especially regarding the detection of plant pathogens in the early stages of a disease. To date, specific, fast and sensitive technologies for point‐of‐care diagnosis and simple or grower‐friendly devices are very valuable, as no specialized staff are required for diagnosing a disease in the field. This is especially the case today, when factors such as climate change may cause the appearance of pathogens in areas where years ago they were unexpected. The aim of this research is to review some of the promising techniques that can be applied to in‐field molecular detection of plant pathogens and how these techniques can change the way farmers and pathologists are diagnosing plant diseases. Some of them, like loop‐mediated isothermal amplification and recombinase polymerase amplification, are already being successfully used for routine diagnosis. However, most technologies still need validation in the plant pathology field, where they have a promising future for in‐field diagnosis when combined with simple DNA extraction methods, reagent stabilization techniques and their integration into portable devices.     

Insecticide‐induced hormesis and arthropod pest management

Ecological backlashes such as insecticide resistance, resurgence and secondary pest outbreaks are frequent problems associated with insecticide use against arthropod pest species. The last two have been particularly important in sparking interest in the phenomenon of insecticide‐induced hormesis within entomology and acarology. Hormesis describes a biphasic dose–response relationship that is characterized by a reversal of response between low and high doses of a stressor (e.g. insecticides). Although the concept of insecticide‐induced hormesis often does not receive sufficient attention, or has been subject to semantic confusion, it has been reported in many arthropod pest species and natural enemies, and has been linked to pest outbreaks and potential problems with insecticide resistance. The study of hormesis remains largely neglected in entomology and acarology. Here, we examined the concept of insecticide‐induced hormesis in arthropods, its functional basis and potential fitness consequences, and its importance in arthropod pest management and other areas. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Surveillance techniques for non‐native insect pest detection*

The risk of introduction of new insect pest species is growing with the increase in passenger travel and the trade in plant products worldwide. Though effective detection methods exist in a number of cases, only some of them are applied in practice through organized networks. This paper reviews the detection tools available for insect pests, based on commonly available attractants and trapping systems. Chemical attractants are divided into powerful attractants (such as pheromones and para‐pheromones), attractants of lower intensity (such as kairomones and food attractants), and their combinations. Physical attractants are also considered, such as visual cues, which are generally used in combination with olfactory attractants, and light traps. Finally, the diversity of trapping systems is also presented in relation to attractants, trap design and target species.     

Climate change impacts on plant canopy architecture: implications for pest and pathogen management

Climate change influences on pests and pathogens are mainly plant-mediated. Rising carbon dioxide and temperature and altered precipitation modifies plant growth and development with concomitant changes in canopy architecture, size, density, microclimate and the quantity of susceptible tissue. The modified host physiology and canopy microclimate at elevated carbon dioxide influences production, dispersal and survival of pathogen inoculum and feeding behaviour of insect pests. Elevated temperature accelerates plant growth and developmental rates to modify canopy architecture and pest and pathogen development. Altered precipitation affects canopy architecture through either drought or flooding stress with corresponding effects on pests and pathogens. But canopy-level interactions are largely ignored in epidemiology models used to project climate change impacts. Nevertheless, models based on rules of plant morphogenesis have been used to explore pest and pathogen dynamics and their trophic interactions under elevated carbon dioxide. The prospect of modifying canopy architecture for pest and disease management has also been raised. We offer a conceptual framework incorporating canopy characteristics in the traditional disease triangle concept to advance understanding of host-pathogen-environment interactions and explore how climate change may influence these interactions. From a review of recent literature we summarize interrelationships between canopy architecture of cultivated crops, pest and pathogen biology and climate change under four areas of research: (a) relationships between canopy architecture, microclimate and host-pathogen interaction; (b) effect of climate change related variables on canopy architecture; (c) development of pests and pathogens in modified canopy under climate change; and (d) pests and pathogen management under climate change.     

Exploiting the high‐resolution JRC‐MARS European climatic dataset for pest risk mapping

Climatic data with a high temporal and spatial resolution are invaluable when modelling the potential distribution of non‐native pests. The European Commission Joint Research Centre Monitoring Agricultural ResourceS (MARS) programme provides a unique source of European daily climatic data. Available from 1975 to 2015 and updated annually, the data are interpolated from over 5000 weather stations to 25‐km grid cells. All geographical Europe is included, plus Mediterranean areas of the Middle East and North Africa. The climatic parameters available include temperature (daily minima and maxima), solar radiation, rainfall and relative humidity. As well as the potential for use in simple pest models, selected parameters can be imported into more complex models, such as CLIMEX, for more detailed analyses. Case studies showing how the MARS data have been used by the UK in pest risk analyses are presented for three insect pests: Thaumetopoea pityocampa, Hyphantria cunea (both Lepidoptera) and Popillia japonica (Coleoptera). The case studies illustrate some methods of representing uncertainty where thresholds are lacking in the published literature, there are conflicting data and only air temperature data are available to model a soil‐dwelling organism.     

Challenges and opportunities of unmanned aerial vehicles as a new tool for crop pest control

The application of pesticides is not simply delivering chemicals to the target area. It also involves considering the negative aspects and developing strategies to deal with them during the application process, to ensure the maximization of pesticides use efficiency and the maintenance of the ecosystem. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sprayers demonstrate unique advantages compared to traditional ground sprayers, particularly in terms of maneuverability and labor intensity reduction, showed great potential for chemical application in pest control. It is undeniable that there exist challenges in the practice of UAV spraying, such as higher potential risks of pesticide drift or pathogen transmission, uncertainty canopy deposition for different crops, and unexpected leaf breakage induced by downwash flow. Maximizing the utilization of downwash flow while avoiding lateral air movement outside the intended target crop area is a major issue for chemical application with UAV sprayers, particularly in light of the increasingly apparent consensus on the need for enhanced environmental protection during the chemical application process. It must be considered that the operation strategy in different scenarios and for different crop targets is not the same, unique requirements should be given on nozzle atomization, flight parameters, adjuvants and aircraft types in specific working situations. In future, the implementation of spray drift prediction, technical procedures development, and other solutions aimed at reducing pesticide drift and improving deposition quality, is expected to promote the adoption of UAV sprayers by more farmers. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.