Meta-analysis of fungicide efficacy on soybean target spot and cost–benefit assessment

Target spot of soybean has spread in Brazil, the southeastern United States and Argentina in the last decade. A collaborative network of field Uniform Fungicide Trials (UFT) in Brazil was created in 2011 to study the target spot control efficacy of fungicides, including azoxystrobin + benzovindiflupyr (AZ_BF), carbendazim (CZM), fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin (FLUX_PYRA), epoxiconazole + FLUX_PYRA (EPO_FLUX_PYRA), mancozeb (MZB) and prothioconazole + trifloxystrobin (PROT_TRIF). Network meta-analysis was used to conduct a quantitative synthesis of UFT data collected from 2012 to 2016 and to evaluate the effects of disease pressure (DP, low ≤ 35% target spot severity in the nontreated control < high) and year of experiment on the overall mean efficacy and yield response to each of the tested fungicides. Based on mean percentage control of target spot severity, the tested fungicides fall into three efficacy groups (EG): high EG, FLUX_PYRA (76.2% control relative to the nontreated control) and EPO_FLUX_PYRA (75.7% control); intermediate EG, PROT_TRIF (66.5% control) and low EG, MZB (49.6% control), AZ_BF (46.7% control) and CZM (32.4% control). DP had a significant effect on yield response. At DP_Low, the highest response was due to PROT_TRIF (+342 kg ha⁻¹, +12.8%) and EPO_FLUX_PYRA (+295.5 kg ha⁻¹, +11.2%), whereas at DP_High, EPO_FLUX_PYRA and FLUX_PYRA outperformed the other treatments, with yield responses of 503 kg ha⁻¹ (+20.2%) and 469 kg ha⁻¹ (+19.1%), respectively. The probability of a positive return on fungicide investment ranged from 0.26 to 0.56 at DP_Low and from 0.34 to 0.66 at DP_High.     

Trichoderma species associated with green mould disease of Pleurotus ostreatus and their sensitivity to prochloraz

Green mould disease causes serious economic losses in Pleurotus ostreatus crops worldwide, including in Italy, where prochloraz is the only chemical fungicide allowed to control the disease. The effectiveness of the doses 0.01, 0.05, 0.25 and 1.25 μL L⁻¹ (field dose) of prochloraz (Sponix Flow, 450 g L⁻¹), against colony growth rate and spore germination of Trichoderma pleuroti, T. pleuroticola and T. guizhouense strains on wheat straw extract agar plates were evaluated. Complete inhibition of Trichoderma pleuroti and T. pleuroticola growth was shown by the field dose of prochloraz, and also by the 0.25 μL L⁻¹ dose for T. pleuroti. Complete inhibition of spore germination occurred for all Trichoderma strains at field dose, and at 0.25 μL L⁻¹ for T. pleuroti strains. In in vivo assays, the effect of prochloraz doses 0.05, 0.25 and 1.25 μL L⁻¹ on colonization of straw substrate by T. pleuroti, T. pleuroticola and T. guizhouense inoculated at two spore densities (10² and 10⁵ spores mL⁻¹) immediately after P. ostreatus spawn was studied. Trichoderma pleuroti and T. pleuroticola were both responsible for green mould disease, whereas T. guizhouense was not pathogenic. Trichoderma pleuroti was more aggressive than T. pleuroticola. Prochloraz was effective against T. pleuroti at the field dose, and against T. pleuroticola at 0.25 and 1.25 μL L⁻¹. The study on Trichoderma × Pleurotus interaction type showed that Trichoderma species were active against the mycelial growth of P. ostreatus by competition for space and nutrients, and neither hyphal interaction nor effect by volatile or nonvolatile metabolites occurred.     

Distribution and genetic diversity among Aspergillus flavus isolates across three agro-ecologies essential for maize cultivation in Ghana

Fungal mycotoxins are important contaminants of agricultural commodities that pose serious concerns to producers, consumers and exporters. Aflatoxin is a carcinogenic metabolite produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. These fungi and other mould species living in the soil contaminate several crops including maize. This study was undertaken with the following objectives: (i) to assess the presence of A. flavus and other moulds in Ghanaian soil; (ii) to determine the distribution and density of A. flavus under three agro-ecologies noted for major maize production; and (iii) to assess the effect of percentage of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) and soil pH on A. flavus population densities and diversity in the isolates found across the agro-ecologies. The data showed seven moulds that were common across the agro-ecologies. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in the A. flavus density and distribution within and across these agro-ecologies. Fumesua soils recorded the highest levels of A. flavus (1.185 × 10³ cfu g⁻¹) while Akomadan recorded the least (9.76 × 10² cfu g⁻¹). Percentage available C, N and soil pH did not significantly influence A. flavus density. The A. flavus isolates identified in this study varied in genetic sequence within the aflatoxin gene cluster, but these differences were not distinguishable by origin.     

Comparative performance of the highly invasive Mimosa invisa and its less invasive subspecies under different nutrient and light conditions

Invasive plants may be more plastic than non‐invasive plants and maintain high fitness under various environmental conditions. Previous studies mainly focused on the comparisons between invasive and native plants, and comparisons between highly invasive and less invasive exotic species are still relatively rare, especially for comparisons at the subspecies level. This study examined the effects of nutrient addition and shading on the performance of the highly invasive Mimosa invisa and its less invasive subspecies M. invisa var. inermis under either isolated or competitive conditions. Nutrient addition increased biomass and plant height and decreased root‐to‐shoot ratio (R/S). Shading decreased biomass and R/S and increased plant height. Under isolated conditions, the two invaders did not differ in R/S, plant height and plasticity of these traits in response to nutrient addition or shading, and the two invaders also did not differ in biomass production under each of the nutrient and light treatments. When the two invaders competed with each other, M. invisa outcompeted M. invisa var. inermis under high soil nutrient conditions, and the two invaders did not differ in performance under other growth conditions. Thus, only considering competition may we find out the difference between highly invasive species and their closely related, less invasive subspecies. Management of M. invisa should focus on habitats with high soil nutrient availability, in which M. invisa is more likely to dominate.     

Tomato brown rugose fruit disease: current distribution,knowledge and future prospects

Tomato is the most economically important fruit/vegetable crop grown worldwide. However, viral diseases remain an important factor limiting its productivity, with estimated quantitative and qualitative yield losses in tomato crops often reaching up to 100%. Many viruses infecting tomato have been reported, while new viral diseases have also emerged. The climatic changes the world is experiencing can be a contributing factor to the successful spread of newly emerging viruses, as well as the establishment of disease in areas that were previously either unfavourable or where the disease was absent. Because antiviral products are not available, strategies to mitigate viral diseases rely on genetic resistance/tolerance to infection, control of vectors, improvement in crop hygiene, roguing of infected plants and seed certification. Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) is an emerging viral threat to tomato productivity and is currently spreading into new areas, which is of great concern to the growing global production in the absence of mitigation measures. This review presents the current knowledge about ToBRFV and future prospects for an improved understanding of the virus, which will be needed to support effective control and mitigation of the impact it is likely to cause.     

天山高寒草原植物叶片氮磷化学计量特征对氮沉降的响应

人类活动和气候变化导致的大气氮沉降急剧升高,将会影响高寒草原植物养分循环。为了研究氮沉降对高寒草原植物养分含量及生态化学计量学特征的影响。依托2009年在新疆天山巴音布鲁克高寒草原设置的长期氮沉降研究平台,于2017年7月和10月采集溚草（Koeleria cristata）、二裂委陵菜（Potentilla bifurca）和天山赖草（Leymus tianschanicus）3种植物的成熟叶和老叶,分析3种植物叶片N、P元素生态化学计量对不同施氮水平的响应规律。结果表明：① 3种植物养分浓度及其化学计量比在成熟叶和老叶之间存在较大差异,成熟叶和老叶的N、P含量分别为12.78 mg·g^-1、0.88 mg·g^-1和6.88 mg·g^-1、0.46 mg·g-1mg·g^-1。3种植物成熟叶和老叶的N元素含量均为：二裂委陵菜>天山赖草>溚草,P元素含量同N元素含量趋势一致;② 氮添加增加了成熟叶和老叶N浓度,分别达12%和48%;成熟叶与老叶P浓度对氮添加的响应规律不一致,成熟叶P浓度对氮添加的响应与物种有关,而老叶P浓度呈一致的下降趋势;氮添加对成熟叶和老叶N∶P的比值影响亦不同,其中相对于成熟叶,老叶的N∶P呈显著增加趋势。③ 植物叶片的N元素、P元素和N∶P比三者之间的相关分析表明:N元素和N∶P之间呈显著正相关关系(P<0.05),在生长旺盛期和枯黄期,溚草和天山赖草的N与P元素之间没有发现显著相关性(P>0.05),而二裂委陵菜呈现一定的差异性,在生长旺盛期二裂委陵菜叶片N与P元素呈显著的正相关、枯黄期呈显著的负相关(P<0.05)。表明长期氮的添加显著影响了3种植物叶片的养分含量和生态化学计量,不同物种间存在一定差异,未来氮沉降升高将会影响天山山地草原的植物养分循环。     

押金返还制度在农药包装废弃物回收中的应用

农药包装物随意丢弃会造成农村环境污染。近年来,多地探索运用多种手段加强对农药包装废弃物的回收,其中,押金返还制度在农药包装废物的回收中有一定应用。本文以广西藤县为例,探讨押金制度对农药包装废弃物回收的适用性,提出押金制度在实际应用中存在的一些问题和几点建议。     

基于NIR定量模型快速预测发酵麸皮中还原糖和可溶性蛋白成分的含量

为建立一种能快速预测发酵麦麸还原性糖和可溶性蛋白含量的定量分析模型,本研究以发酵麦麸为样本,采用3,5-二硝基水杨酸比色法（3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid, DNS）和BCA蛋白浓度测定法分别测定样品的还原性糖和可溶性蛋白含量;利用近红外光谱技术（Near infrared spectrum instrument, NIR）结合偏最小二乘法（Partial least squares regression, PLS）,比较预处理方法、最佳波长及主成分因子的决定系数R²,建立发酵麦麸还原性糖和可溶性蛋白含量的NIR快速检测定量模型。结果表明：1）发酵麦麸还原性糖定量模型的预处理方法使用一阶导数 （First derivative, FD）+二阶导数 （Second derivative, SD）+标准正态变换 （Standard normal variate, SNV）,光谱范围为908~1 670 nm ,主因子数为7时,模型效果最优,其决定系数Rc²为0.904 8,校正均方根误差（Square error corrected, SEC）为1.576 1,相对分析误差（Relative percentage difference, RPD）为3.240 8;外部验证集决定系数Rp²为0.954 9且还原糖活性成分的验证集样本的测定值与NIR光谱预测值的P值为0.959 5>0.05。2）发酵麦麸可溶性蛋白定量模型的预处理方法使用一阶导数 （First derivative, FD）+二阶导数 （Second derivative, SD）+标准正态变换 （Standard normal variate, SNV）,光谱范围为908~1 670 nm ,主因子数为10时,模型效果最优,其决定系数Rc²为0.938 2,校正均方根误差（Square error corrected, SEC）为2.003,相对分析误差（Relative percentage difference, RPD）为4.021 9;外部验证集决定系数Rp²为0.994 4,且可溶性蛋白活性成分的验证集样本测定值与NIR光谱预测值的P值为0.901 9>0.05。综上,建立的NIR光谱定量模型稳定性和准确性较好,且预测准确度良好,可用于快速预测发酵麦麸样品的还原性糖和可溶性蛋白含量。