Cutting weeds with a CO2 laser

Stems of Chenopodium album . and Sinapis arvensis . and leaves of Lolium perenne . were cut with a CO₂ laser or with a pair of scissors. Treatments were carried out on greenhouse-grown pot plants at three different growth stages and at two heights. Plant dry matter was measured 2 to 5 weeks after treatment. The relationship between dry weight and laser energy was analysed using a non-linear dose–response regression model. The regression parameters differed significantly between the weed species. At all growth stages and heights S. arvensis was more difficult to cut with a CO₂ laser than C. album . When stems were cut below the meristems, 0.9 and 2.3 J mm⁻¹ of CO₂ laser energy dose was sufficient to reduce by 90% the biomass of C. album and S. arvensis respectively. Regrowth appeared when dicotyledonous plant stems were cut above meristems, indicating that it is important to cut close to the soil surface to obtain a significant effect. When cutting L. perenne plants with 2-true leaves at a height of 2 cm from the soil surface with a laser, the biomass decreased significantly compared with plants cut by scissors, indicating a delay in regrowth. This delay was not observed for the dicotyledonous plants nor for the other growth stages of L. perenne .     

Optimization of production of nucleopolyhedrovirus ofHelicoverpa armigera throughout larval stages

Studies were carried out to optimize production of nucleopolyhedrovirus of American bollworm,Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), by treating larvae individually with an inoculum dose that allowed maximal larval growth and also gave the highest occlusion bodies (OB) yield/larva. The maximum virus yield of 12.2x 10⁹ OB/larva was obtained when 6-day-old larvae were fed individually with a dose of 1 x 10³ OB. Topical spiracular treatment of larvae as old as 8 days with 10 μ of 2x 10⁷ OB ml^-1 gave the highest yield, of 15.2x 10⁹ OB from 13-day-old larvae, of 12.8x 10⁸ OB from prepupae and of 1.49x 10⁸ OB from pupae at the time of their death. These studies showed that dietary inoculum is the best route for 6-day-old larvae and topical spiracular treatment is the best for 8-day-old larvae.     

The role ofPseudomonas spp. and competition for carbon,nitrogen and iron in the enhancement of appressorium formation byColletotrichum coccodes on velvetleaf

Colletotrichum coccodes is currently being investigated as a mycoherbicide against the weed velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti). Two isolates ofPseudomonas spp. (Ps2 and Ps5) reduced the percentage of germ tubes and increased appressorial formation ofC. coccodes on detached leaves of velvetleaf. A study was conducted to see whether this effect could be attributed to competition for nutrients or iron betweenC. coccodes andPseudomonas spp. Ps2 and Ps5 had no effect on early spore germination, but reduced the percentage of germ tubes at 24 and 30 h, compared to the nontreated control. This reduction was diminished by the addition of nutrients but not Fe³⁺. Ps2 and Ps5 stimulated the formation of dark-coloured appressoria without germ tubes (AWGT), but this stimulation was diminished by the addition of nutrients or Fe³⁺. Germ tube branching at 30 h was also inhibited by the bacteria, but was not diminished by the addition of nutrients or iron. EDTA stimulated conidial germination at 10 h, which was reduced by the addition of Fe³⁺. However, EDTA did not stimulate the formation of appressoria (AWGT). These results suggest that the reduction in the percentage of germ tubes and the increase in the percentage of appressoria induced by the bacteria may be due to the competition for carbon or nitrogen. Iron competition may also be involved in the stimulation of appressorial formation, but not in the reduction in germ tube percentage and branching. Phylloplane bacteria may compete for carbon, nitrogen and iron, limiting the saprophytic phase of the pathogen on the phylloplane and accelerating the development of the parasitic phase. This may enhance the field efficacy ofC. coccodes as a biocontrol agent against velvetleaf.     

The role of peroxidase in the resistance of sunflower against Orobanche cumana in Russia

We present the results of a histochemical study comparing seedlings of races C and D of Orobanche cumana Wallr. (syn. O. cernua Loefl.) attacking sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in southern Russia. Three groups of O. cumana seedlings were distinguished according to the peroxidase content of the cells in the radicles: (1) those with neither extracellular nor intracellubr peroxidase and whose radicles have a smooth apex (these were classified as non-infective): (2) those with a high peroxidase content of the nuclei and the cytoplasm layer adjacent to the cell wall, as well as excretion of peroxidase from the apex of the radicles: (3) those with a similarly high peroxidase activity in the parasite cells, but without extracellular excretion. The apices of the radicles of the last two groups are swollen. It is suggested that these belong to O. cumana races C and D respectively. The extracellular peroxidase in O. cumana race C reacts with phenolic compounds, which are lignin precursors of the host, resulting in host resistance due to the formation of lignin layers in sunflowers possessing the Or3 gene for resistance. The absence of extracellular peroxidase in O. cumana race D prevents lignin formation and enables the parasite to attach to the host vascular system. Comparison of these data with the information on the earlier O. cumana races A and B, and older sunflower cultivars, points to a crucial role of peroxidase in the process of breeding new sunflower cultivars and the evolution of new O. cumana races.     

核盘菌在亚麻上侵染致病的微观过程

 第1次利用电子显微镜对核盘菌在亚麻叶片上侵染致病的微观过程进行深入细致的观察。结果表明,该菌在侵入叶表面之前可能产生某些酶类物质来软化溶解亚麻叶表面角质层,以帮助该菌对叶表面的侵入。本文还对菌丝和子囊孢子侵染过程的异同进行了比较。     

Components of resistance to late blight (Phytophthora infestans) in eight South AmericanSolanum species

Four components of partial resistance toPhytophthora infestans were measured after inoculation in the greenhouse and in the field ofSolanum arnezii x hondelmannii, S. berthaultii, S. circaeifolium, S. leptophyes, S. microdontum, S. sparsipilum, S. sucrense andS. vernei, and four hybrid progenies ofS. microdontum withS. tuberosum. The four components were infection efficiency, lesion growth rate, generation time and sporulation capacity. The results were compared with resistance ratings derived from field experiments, and with observations made on the potato cultivars Bintje, Bildstar, Libertas and Pimpernel. Genetic variation for all components was found, while the relative importance of the components of partial resistance appeared to vary between the species. InS. microdontum, generation time, infection efficiency and lesion growth rate, and inS. tuberosum infection efficiency, lesion growth rate and sporulation capacity appeared positively associated, but in other species no such association was found. A strong hypersensitive reaction, the expression of which appeared to depend on environmental conditions, was found inS. microdontum. ForS. berthaultii, infection efficiency appeared to be the main resistance component.Abbreviations ADPC area under the disease progress curve - IE infection efficiency - LGR lesion growth rate - GT generation time - SC sporulation capacity     

Nerve insensitivity resistance to cypermethrin in larvae of the tobacco budworm Heliothis virescens from USA cotton field populations

Spontaneous neuronal activity was recorded from the peripheral nerves of third-instar larvae of strains of Heliothis virescens (F.) obtained directly from cotton fields in the USA. Following a control period the preparations were exposed to increasing concentrations of cis-cypermethrin in a cumulative dose-response assay. A positive response was defined as an increase of at least five-fold in the rate of neuronal activity over that seen during the control period. Up to 35 individuals of each strain were assayed and the responses used to construct a phenotypic profile categorising the individuals from nerve-susceptible to highly nerve-insensitive. An EC₅₀ for the action of cis-cypermethrin was also obtained. There was a positive, significant correlation between non-synergisable resistance to cypermethrin and nerve insensitivity as defined in the neurophysiological assay. It was shown that nerve insensitivity to cypermethrin increased throughout the cotton-growing season.     

Take-all in autumn-sown wheat, barley, triticale and rye grown with high and low inputs

Winter cultivars of wheat, barley, triticale and rye were grown under two contrasting husbandry systems (low and high inputs) at two locations (Woburn and Rothamsted) known to be infested with the take-all fungus. The sandy loam at Woburn is less fertile than the silty clay loam at Rothamsted. Root infection in these crops was assessed in spring and summer.
Rye was least infected by the take-all fungus, wheat the most infected and barley and triticale had intermediate levels of infection. Barley yields were less affected by take-all than those of wheat or triticale, because barley was at a later growth stage by the time severe infection occurred. Yields of wheat and barley responded most to the high-input husbandry on the less fertile soil at Woburn. On the basis of quantity of grain, triticale would appear to be a good substitute for wheat on the less fertile soil when inputs are low, but not where they are high. At Rothamsted, yields of wheat and triticale were similar in both input systems. There was no strong support, at either site, for the contention that triticale could be a useful substitute for barley where low or high inputs are used. A total of 177 isolates of Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (the causal fungus of take-all) were obtained from infected roots in these experiments and tested for their pathogenicity on wheat and rye seedlings. These tests revealed a range of pathotypes with varying pathogenicities to wheat and rye, but pathogenicities were not correlated with the host plant from which the fungi were isolated.     

Rhizoctonia foliar blight of Rosmarinus officinalis

Symptoms of severe leaf blight observed on rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis ) at Bangalore, India, were demonstrated to be caused by Rhizoctonia solani (anamorph of Thanatephorus cucumeris ). This is thought to be the first recorded incidence of this pathogen causing disease on rosemary.