Esterase-mediated tolerance to a formulation of the organophosphate insecticide monocrotophos in the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuill: a promising biopesticide

The use of biopesticides compatible with chemical pesticides is recommended in pest management as an effective and ecologically sound strategy. The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuill, which is used as a biopesticide, was found to exhibit and lose tolerance to two organophosphorus insecticides widely used in Indian fields. The pattern of response is similar to the esterase-mediated organophosphate tolerance in aphids achieved through esterase gene duplication. Therefore the role of esterase in the tolerance exhibited by isolates of B. bassiana to the organophosphate, monocrotophos, was studied. Both the total soluble protein content and esterase activity were found to increase significantly in B. bassiana cultures that were able to grow in the presence of monocrotophos. With the hitherto established linkage between esterase overproduction and organophosphate tolerance in insects and the observed similarity in response of the insects and B. bassiana to the chemical, it is concluded that tolerance to monocrotophos in B. bassiana may be due to a mechanism similar to that operating in insects. Habituation of the fungus to monocrotophos to initiate expression of esterase gene may help in achieving compatibility between the two.     

Reduced consumption of pea protein-treated flour disks by stored-product insects

Consumption of pea (Pisum sativum L.) protein-treated wheat flour by the red flour beetleTribolium castaneum (Herbst.), the rice weevilSitophilus oryzae (L.) and the lesser grain borerRhyzopertha dominica (F.), was significantly reduced compared with wheat flour alone. Consumption was affected when the insects were exposed for 3 days to flour disks containing protein-rich fraction of the ‘Bonneville’ pea variety. Antifeedants present in the pea protein fraction are apparently responsible for the reduced feeding response in these species. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 6, 2004.     

不同类型鸡舍光照环境对优质肉种鸡产蛋性能的影响

为研究不同光照环境对优质肉种鸡产蛋性能的影响,试验检测了有窗高床鸡舍与全环控鸡舍的光照强度.结果显示:在外界气候适宜的环境条件下,有窗高床鸡舍与全环控鸡舍的内环境参数相差不大,均在推荐标准以内,但光照环境差异较大,尤其是光照强度的节律性变化,同时有窗高床鸡舍产蛋率高于全环控鸡舍(P＜0.05).研究提示全环控优质肉种鸡...     

腐熟秸秆还田替代部分化肥对冬小麦生长、产量和氮素利用的影响

为冬小麦减量施用化肥,秸秆资源利用提供理论依据,开展了等氮条件下腐熟秸秆替代化肥对冬小麦生长、产量及氮素利用影响的研究。试验设置了等氮条件下不同比例腐熟秸秆替代化肥:腐熟秸秆替代20%(CR20)、50%(CR50)、80%(CR80)和100%(CR100)化肥,以常规施用化肥(CK)作对照,共5个处理。结果表明,与CK相比,CR20对冬小麦的生长、产量及氮素利用影响不显著。CR50、CR80和CR100的株高、叶面积指数、叶绿素a、总叶绿素、生物量、氮素吸收效率、植株氮素利用率和氮素积累量显著低于CK,产量分别比CK减少15.4%、21.9%和23.8%。结论表明腐熟秸秆替代化肥比例宜控制在50%以下。     

生防制剂与呋喃丹颗粒剂防治根结线虫幼虫的效果

印度南方根结线虫广泛地分布于印度南部灌桑园，特别是轻质土壤的桑园，它严重地影响桑叶的产量和质量，人们曾采用农业和化学等防治措施进行桑园线虫的防治，但效果并不理想，为此，考虑用生物防治方法来进行试验研究，本研究采用拟青霉和轮枝孢真菌两种生防制剂及化学杀线虫剂呋喃丹颗粒剂对线虫幼虫进行致死性试验。每种生物制剂滤液设置3个浓度，分别为100％，75％，和50％，结果发现，该两种真菌制剂在滤液浓100％下72h后的杀虫率分别为73．55％和78．45％，两者无显著差异。虽然它们对幼虫的致死效果比化学杀线虫剂呋喃丹效果略微差些，但生物剂对自然环境，人畜安全，因此，生物制肯望成为更经济，更安全的杀线虫剂。     

Reproduction rate and viability of Merino,Nilagiri and halfbred Merino. II. Age specific replacement rate and net reproduction rate

Summary Age specific replacement rate, net reproduction rate and intrinsic rate of population increase were estimated from records over a period of 11 years of Merino, Nilagiri and halfbreds. On an average for every 1000 ewes mated 830 ewes lambed, 917 lambs were born, 898 lambs were weaned and 422 ewe lambs survived to joining age (one and a half years) in Nilagiri sheep. The corresponding figures were 665, 685, 590 and 228 in Merino and 664, 709, 691 and 341 in halfbreds. Nilagiri ewes in intermediate ages had more multiple births and older ewes weaned more lambs. The flock strength was not maintained unless the ewes were kept till the fifth lambing in Merino, third lambing in Nilagiri and fourth lambing in halfbred Merino. These results along with the culling levels indicated that the low reproductive efficiency in halfbreds may not be critical enough to avoid introduction of Merino for improvement in productivity. However, the poor reproductive efficiency of the Merino in this country may necessitate repeat importations of Merino rams for production of halfbreds.

---

Resumen Se estimó la tasa específica de edad de reemplazo, la tasa neta de reproducción y la tasa intrínsica de incremènto poblacional, a partir de registros tomados a través de II a?os, de ovejas de las razas Merino, Nilagiri y Merino media sangre. En promedio, por cada 1000 ovejas apareadas, 830 parieron, 917 corderos nacieron, 898 corderos se destetaron y 422 alcanzaron la edad de apareamiento (1 1/2 a?os), en ovejas Nilagiri. Los promedios correspondientes en Merino, fueron 665, 685, 590 y 228, y en Merino media sangre 664, 709, 691 y 341. Las ovejas Nilagiri en edad intermedia, tuvieron más mellizos y las ovejas más viejas, destetaron más corderos. La vitalidad del reba?o no se pudo mantener, a memos que las ovejas se dejaran hasta el quinto parto en Merino, tercero en Nilagiri y cuarto parto en media sangre. Estos resultados junto con los niveles de descarte, indicaron, que la baja eficiencia reproductiva de las media sangre, posiblemente no es suficientemente crítica, para evitar la introducción de sangre Merino, tendiente al mejoramiento de la productividad. Sin embargo, la pobre eficiencia reproductiva de la raza Merino observada en el país, solo podría superarse mediante la importación contínua de machos, para la producción de media sangre.

---

Résumé Le taux de renouvellement, le taux net de reproduction et le taux intrinsèque d’augmentation de la population ont été enregistrés pendant une période de onze ans pour les races Mérinos, Nilagiri et demi-sang. En moyenne, on a eu 917 agneaux nés pour 1000 brebis accouplées/830 brebis agnelantes; 898 agneaux ont été sevrés et 422 jeunes brebis ont survécu jusqu’à l’age de la lutte (un an et demi) dans la race Nilagiri. Pour les Mérinos, les chiffres correspondant sont: 665, 685, 590 et 228, et pour les demi-sang: 664, 709, 691 et 341. Les brebis Nilagiri d’age intermédiaire ont eu plus de naissances multiples et les plus vielles brebis donnent naissance à plus d’agneaux. Pour que l’effectif du troupeau se maintienne, les brebis doivent être conservées jusqu’au cinquième agnelage chez les Mérinos, au troisième chez les Nilagiri et au quatrième chez les croisés Mérinos. Ces résultats, ainsi que les niveaux de réforme, indiquent que le bas rendement en reproduction des demi-sang n’est pas suffisamment crucial pour éviter l’introduction de Mérinos dans le but d’augmenter la productivité. Toutefois les maigres performances de reproduction du Mérinos dans le pays obligent à des importations répétées de béliers Mérinos pour la production des demi-sang.

     

Characterization of CO2 Responsiveness in a Brassica oxycamp Interspecific Hybrid

A study of the characterization of CO₂ responsiveness in Brassica oxycamp and its parents Brassica oxyrrhina and Brassica campestris was done using open top chamber technology. The response of the X. B. oxycamp (hybrid) to elevated CO₂ was significantly positive in respect of photosynthesis and growth and similar to that of its parent B. campestris. X B. oxycamp and B. campestris with greater sink potential responded significantly, whereas B. oxyrrhina with a poor sink, did not respond to CO₂ enrichment. Photosynthetic changes at elevated CO₃ levels in the hybrid and parents are partially attributed to the CO₂ effects on stomatal conductance and chlorophyll fluorescence.     

A model of lamb production from an autumn catch crop

A model of lambs feeding on an autumn catch crop is described. The program must be supplied with data on the crop of interest, and with utilisation factors for that crop. The program then computes figures on land use and gross margins for management policies chosen by the user.When supplied with available data on catch crops, calculations indicate that under certain circumstances use of such a crop to fatten lambs in the autumn may well be a profitable venture. Thus it is concluded that more data on such crops should be collected.