Harmonic radar: efficacy at detecting and recovering insects on agricultural host plants

BACKGROUND: In pest management research, harmonic radar systems have been largely used to study insect movement across open or vegetation‐poor areas because the microwave signal is attenuated by the high water content of vegetation. This study evaluated whether the efficacy of this technology is sufficient to track insects in vegetative landscapes. RESULTS: Field efficacy data were collected using portable harmonic microwave radar and electronic dipole tags mounted on adults of three economically important pests: Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), Diabrotica virginifera virginifera (LeComte) and Conotrachelus nenuphar Herbst. Detection and recovery of tagged Colorado potato beetles, plum curculios and western corn rootworms was high within and among potato plants, moderate within apple trees and high within, but not between, corn plants respectively. The efficacy of the radar depends on the ability of the operator to move around the host, scanning for a signal ‘sightline’ with the tagged insect among plant structures. CONCLUSION: The detection rate of tagged insects by harmonic radar systems is high enough to track the walking path of pests through low row crops such as potato, tall row crops such as corn or tall but well‐separated trees of orchard‐type crops by adapting the scanning procedure to the vegetative architecture. Copyright © 2010 Crown in the right of Canada. Published by JohnWiley & Sons, Ltd     

长期施磷黑土中磷的吸附–解吸特征及其影响因素

  【目的】  比较长期不施磷与施磷黑土对外源磷的吸附–解吸特征,为黑土区磷素管理提供理论基础。  【方法】  供试黑土长期定位试验位于吉林省公主岭市,始于1990年。2018年选择其中不施肥(CK),施氮钾肥(NK),施氮磷钾肥(NPK)和氮磷钾+有机肥(NPK+M) 4个处理小区,采集0—20、20—40和40—60 cm土层的土壤样品,分析了土壤理化性质,采用恒温平衡法测定了土壤磷的吸附–解吸特征,并由此计算得到磷最大吸附量(Q_m)、吸附亲和力常数(K_Q)、最大缓冲容量(MBC)、磷吸附饱和度(DPS)、最大解吸量(D_m)和解吸率(D_r)。  【结果】  随着平衡溶液中磷浓度的增加,磷的吸附量与解吸量均呈先快速增加后逐渐趋于平衡的过程。与不施磷处理(CK和NK)土壤相比,施磷处理(NPK、NPK+M)减少了磷的吸附量,增加了磷的解吸量。与不施磷处理相比,施磷处理在0—60 cm剖面上的Q_m和MBC值分别降低了4.94%～63.46%和15.90%～75.18%,D_r值增加了8.52%～474.0%,以NPK+M处理变化量最大。施磷处理比不施磷处理在0—60 cm土壤剖面上全磷和有机质含量分别增加了34.40%～145.5%和12.77%～50.07%,游离态铁铝氧化物(Fe_d+Al_d)含量降低了5.14%～11.35%。冗余分析表明,不施磷处理土壤的有机质、Fe_d+Al_d和全磷,以及施磷处理中的Fe_d+Al_d、络合态铁铝氧化物(Fe_p+Al_p)、pH和有机质是影响磷吸附解吸特征参数的主要土壤因子,分别解释了不施磷和施磷处理全部变异的77.59%和90.62%。土壤有效磷(Olsen-P)与磷吸附饱和度(DPS)相关关系表明,所研究的黑土DPS环境界限值为8%左右,NPK+M处理中3个土层的DPS_M-P值(由Mehlich-3 浸提的磷、铁和铝计算)为7.77%～25.96%,DPS_O-P值(由Olsen-P和Q_m计算)为17.24%～24.75%,均高于此环境界限值,具有磷素流失的风险。  【结论】  长期施磷降低了黑土对外源磷的吸附量,增加了磷解吸量。长期不施磷肥,土壤对磷的吸附和解吸主要受有机质、游离态铁铝氧化物的影响。而长期施肥,特别是有机肥与化肥配合处理,土壤中游离态和络合态铁铝氧化物、有机质及pH是影响磷吸附解吸特征的主要因素。     

Effects of sheep and cattle alternate grazing on sheep parasitism and production

Production of sheep (nursing ewes) grazing alternately with cattle (growing weaned heifers) was compared to the production of sheep or cattle grazing alone (controls). Pasture production and sheep parasitism were also monitored. The herbage allowance was higher for the control heifers than for the alternate heifers, but the leaf to green material ratio (LGMR) was lower, and no difference on heifer growth was revealed (443 vs. 431g.d^-1, P = 0.54). The LGMR was higher for the alternate sheep (+3 points) than for the control sheep, except during the dry season, when the herbage density was lower. The effects of parasitism on the packed cell volume of alternate ewes and lambs were lower than those of control ewes and lambs. However, the infection of sheep by Cooperia sp. (better adapted to cattle) was significantly higher for the alternate sheep than for the controls, and some indication of cattle infection by Haemonchus contortus was suggested. The 70-day lamb weight was higher in the alternate grazing system than in the control (+0.76,+1.11 and+0.61kg for the dry, intermediate and rainy seasons, respectively), and the average 70-day lamb production per ewe exposed was 21.42kg in the alternate grazing system vs. 18.59kg in the control (P = 0.003).     

Oak powdery mildew changes growth patterns in its host tree: host tolerance response and potential manipulation of host physiology by the parasite

Context

Parasites can induce strong effects on their host’s growth, not only as a result of host resource exploitation (growth loss) but also with a potential adaptive value for host (tolerance response) and themselves (increased transmission).

Aims

We assessed these three types of phenotypic changes in oak seedlings infected by powdery mildew.

Methods

A manipulative field experiment with three levels of parasite inoculum was designed in order to tease apart infection from genetic effects on oak growth. Seedlings were monitored during 3 years for height growth, phenology and infection.

Results

Powdery mildew infection induced both significant growth loss and qualitative changes in plant architecture. The most striking and unexpected change was increased growth polycyclism in infected seedlings. This benefitted both the host as a form of compensation for infection-caused height loss, and the pathogen, by increasing sporulation.

Conclusion

The study highlights the effect of parasites in the expression of plant phenotypic traits, such as phenology and ultimately tree architecture. Both host tolerance and parasitic manipulation may be involved in the observed changes in growth patterns. These results suggest a complex interplay between development and defence in trees and emphasize the need to better assess tolerance mechanisms when considering the defence strategies of trees against pathogens.     

Detection of novel papillomaviruslike sequences in paraffin-embedded specimens of invasive and in situ squamous cell carcinomas from cats

OBJECTIVE: To detect and partially characterize papillomavirus (PV) DNA in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) tumor specimens from cats. SAMPLE POPULATION: 54 formalin-fixed paraffinembedded skin biopsy specimens were examined. Specimens originated from Bowenoid in situ SCC (BISC; n = 21), invasive SCC (22), and skin affected by miscellaneous nonneoplastic conditions (11). PROCEDURES: Samples from each tissue block underwent DNA extraction after deparaffinization, and PCR assays were performed. Two sets of primers derived from PV E1 were used. The first set of primers was designed for the narrow-range PCR assay and was able to generate amplification products of feline PV (FePV), canine oral PV, or closely related PVs. The second set of primers was selected for the broad-range PCR assay because of its ability to amplify DNA from 64 human PVs. Sequence analysis of each amplified DNA was performed. RESULTS: 1 of the 21 specimens of BISC was positive for PV DNA on the basis of narrow-range PCR assay results, whereas all the other specimens (BISC, invasive SCC, and controls) had negative results for PV DNA. In contrast, 5 of 21 BISC specimens and 4 of 22 invasive SCC specimens were positive for PV DNA on the basis of broad-range PCR assay results. Sequence analysis revealed that only 1 specimen was infected by a virus closely related to classic FePV. In the 8 other specimens positive for PV DNA, DNA of unknown PVs was uncovered. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Bowenoid in situ SCC and invasive SCC of cats may be associated with PVs of genetic diversity.     

Influence of agricultural soils on the growth and reproduction of the bio-indicator Folsomia candida

Soil organisms have been recommended as bio-indicators of soil quality due to their sensitivity to anthropogenic influences and their high degree of site-specificity. The objectives of this study were to determine if the relationship between the soil Collembola, Folsomia candida, and forest soil could be extended to other soils and, if not, to determine the relationship between its life parameters and soils from the different phases of an agricultural rotation sequence. A comparison of growth, reproduction and survival of 1 day old neonates and 10 day old juveniles subjected to a series of different soils (composted manure, pasture soil, forest soil, sand alone, and sand supplemented with yeast) established that the association between F. candida and forest soil quality cannot be automatically transferred to soils from other ecosystems. The test also showed that neonate (1 d) individuals were more sensitive to the different soil treatments than 10 d old juveniles and should be used in future tests. On this basis, neonate F. candida individuals were used to determine if the species could be employed to characterize the agricultural soils from the different phases of an organic or conventional rotation sequence. Results demonstrated that changes in body growth and reproduction constituted suitable criteria to characterize the soil quality of these different phases. The research required to develop these results as a standard bio-indicator test of agricultural soil quality is discussed.     

Mutualism between euryhaline tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheron heudelotii and Chlorella sp.—Implications for nano-algal production in warmwater phytoplankton-based recirculating systems

The West-African euryhaline tilapia, Sarotherodon melanotheron heudelotii shift from visually feeding on zooplankton when juveniles to mostly filter feeding on phytoplankton when adults. When reared using an appropriate ration in intensive aquaculture systems, S. m. heudelotii also consume algal-based detritus, and contribute to sediment mineralization, clean up their environment, and ultimately stimulate and sustain algal growth. We analysed such practical advantages for phytoplankton-based recirculating systems, using S. m. heudelotii and Chlorella sp. as biological material originating from the prototype of such a system operated in Senegal. We performed a 24-h factorial design experiment in 36 tubs, cross-classifying three levels of S. m. heudelotii (fishless control, unfed fish, and fed fish) with four levels of Chlorella initial density.Chlorella overall mean density increased significantly from fishless, to unfed fish, and fed fish treatments, and with Chlorella initial density. S. m. heudelotii did not alter nitrogen nor phosphorus concentrations, only affected by algal initial densities. Most ammonia excreted by fish was probably uptaken by Chlorella. Bacteria-mediated diurnal nitrification was possibly an alternative ammonium loss mechanism at highest oxygen concentrations. Algae were not limited by nitrogen or phosphorus but most likely by low dissolved organic carbon availability. Chlorella differential responses with fed vs. unfed Sarotherodon suggest that CO₂ supplied by heterotrophic S. m. heudelotii respiration played a key role. Observed Chlorella growth rates were similar to the highest rates obtained in algal mass cultures, enriched with CO₂, nitrate and phosphate, under artificial lighting.Our results suggest the existence of a Sarotherodon-Chlorella mutualism in our systems, where S. m. heudelotii provide CO₂, the major limiting factor of Chlorella growth, whereas Chlorella oxygenate and detoxify the water media from ammonia, promoting S. m. heudelotii production. This mutualism could be used to optimize photosynthetic suspended-growth aquaculture systems, particularly in the Tropics where light is abundant and temperature is continuously high.