Eutypa canker and dieback of almonds

Eutypa canker and dieback of almonds was first recorded in commercial plantations in Greece in mid-1980 and confirmed as due to the ascomycetous fungus Eutypa lata. The disease manifests itself by the formation of cankers at the point of the junction of the branches and the trunk and is associated with pruning wounds made by the growers in order to confront the'non-infectious bud failure'disorder or to remove unwanted limbs close to the crotch. Pathogenicity tests made on young trees of cv. Texas with different isolates originated from grapevine, almond, apricot and pear showed significant differences in virulence. Pathogenicity tests carried out on 20 different almond cultivars gave a significant indication of the existence of tolerant and susceptible cultivars.     

Dose response of weeds to methyl iodide and methyl bromide

Labonuory bioassay and field experiments were conducted to characterize the dose response of weeds to methyl iodide and methyl bromide as soil fumigants. The patterns in potency of both fumigants and in sensitivity of diffcretit weed species to the fumigants were distinguished with the use of logistic dose-response models. Similar to its response to methyl hromide fumigation. Amaranthus retrofleus L. was the most sensitive to methyl iodide fumigation. Cyperus rotundtis L. was the least sensitive to methyl iodide fumigation, whereas Portuloca oleracea L. was the least sensitive to methyl hromide. Lolium multiflorum Lam. Abutilon theophrasti Medik. Chenopodium album L. P. ateracea . Brassica kaber (D.C.) L.C. Wheeler and Cyperus escuden-tus L. were similar in sensitivity to methyl iodide. Methyl iodide was as potent as methyl bromide for A. retroflexus but more potent than methyl bromide for L. multiflorum , A. theophrasti. C. album. P. oleracea. B. kaber, C. esculentus and C. rotundus. The dose response for weeds in the field was similar to that obtained in laboratory bioassays. Under fieid conditions. 280 kg ha^-1 methyl iodide killed all species tested except Solanum nigrum L Methyl iodide appears to be a suitable replacement for meihyl bromide because it can be used in situations simitar to methyl bromide fumigation, has superior efficacy against a broad spectrum of pests and has a low potential for degrading the earth's ozone lavers.     

Weed communities of winter wheat as influenced by input level and rotation

The influence of cropping systems constituted by the combination of three input levels (low, intermediate and high) and four 2-year rotations between a spring summer crop and winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) on the density and composition of the winter wheat weed flora was evaluated from 1989 to 1992. Spring summer crops were maize ( Zea mays L.). soyabean ( Glycine max (L.) Merr.). sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris L.) and sunflower ( Helianthus and L.) Total weed density at the end of the wheat tillering stage ranged from 2.5 to 128.7 plants m^-2 and generally decreased with cropping intensity, although to a differing extent, depending upon rotation. Differences among weed communities of the 12 cropping systems were mostly dependent upon input level. The effect of the preceding crop on the weed flora composition of winter wheat was evident only with reduced herbicide use (low-input systems). Weed species could be ascribed to four categories: (a) species sporadically associated with cropping systems (most of the weeds); (b) species associated with a specific input level (e.g. Papaver rhoeas L. to low and intermediate input levels and Veronica persica Poiret to the high input ievel): (c) species associated with a specific rotation (e.g. Anm majus L. to sugar beet winter wheat): and (d) species associated with specitie plots that become important every other year (e.g. Convolvulus arvensis L. and Stellaria media (L.) Vill.).     

Modelling crop:weed interactions in wheat with ALMANAC

ALMANAC is a dynamic model for plant growth, water balance and soil nitrogen dynamics that can simulate on a daily basis two or more competing species. The simulation of competition for light is based on Beer's law, allowing a different extinction coefficient ( k ) for each species. Light is partitioned between species based on k -values, leaf area index and plant heights. Total hiomass is simulated with radiation use efficiency and grain yield with a harvest index approach, sensitive to water stress. The model simulates competition for water and nutrients based on each species current rooting zone and demand by each species. The effect of crop management on the competition issue can he simulated. The model was evaluated in Dijon (France) using 4 years of experimental data on wheat:oat mixtures, differing in oat ( Avena sativa L.) densities, the period of oat emergence, the date of weed suppression by herbicides and the wheat ( Triticun aestivum L.) genotype. Additional data on oilseed rape ( Brassica nupus L.) and vetch ( Vilcia sauiva L.) competition in spring wheat were also used. The wheat grain yield was reasonably simulated with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.10-0.35 t ha^-1. Corresponding values for oats were 0.10-0.55 t ha^-1. The competitiveness of oats, oilseed rape and vetch was correctly simulated. The model appears as a reasonable tool for estimating damage thresholds in integrated weed control programmes.     

Germination behaviour of dormant oilseed rape seeds in relation to temperature

Seeds of oilseed rape ( Brassica napus L., cv. Liglandor) were induced into secondary dormancy by imbibing them for 2-4 weeks in an osmotic solution at -1500 kPa in darkness. Treated seeds were then transferred into pots or Petri dishes, where they were given adequate water for germinatton. These pots and Petri dishes were exposed to various temperature regimes during the course of the following 6–14 months. During that time, seed samples were taken at 2- to 6- weekly intervals to monitor survival of seeds and to study their dormancy. The ntimber of seeds that had not germinated in pots or Petri dishes remained constant in the majority of treatments. but it declined when seeds were exposed to pronounced daily temperature alternations. This decline was due to germination and not to death of seeds from other causes. Germination tests on subsamples of seeds showed that they were light sensitive, more seeds germinating in the light than in the dark. The seeds'germination behaviour differed between samphng dates. This variation in germination behaviour appeared not to display the classical dormancy:non-dormancy cycle. Part of the variation seemed to be due to the changes in temperature that the seeds experienced when taken from pots and set up in the germination tests. Seeds exposed to a constant temperature for 1 year appeared lo become more dormant with time. The relevance of this work in relation to the persistence of volunteer oilseed rape is discussed.     

The egg parasitoids ofThaumetopoea pityocampa in the atlas Mountains near Marrakech (Morocco)

Studies were performed on 25 egg batches ofThaumetopoea pityocampa (Den. & Schiff.) collected onPinus pinaster Ait. on 29. XI. 1995, in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco near Marrakech at 1400-1800 m above sea level. All the egg masses had been deposited in the autumn of 1995 and were exposed to the parasitoids throughout the developmental period of the host. In 1996, the egg batches, kept singly in test tubes, were observed almost daily. Emerged parasitoids were recorded and separated. The final analyses were made in November 1996 based on the meconia and remains of the emerged or the dead parasitoids in the eggs. In all cases, oviposition occurred from the base to the tip of the needles, distances varying up to 62 mm from the base. The mean number of eggs per batch was 175 (range 34-245), the number of egg-rows varied between 6 and 11, and a 1-cm egg-row contained a mean of 9 eggs. Caterpillars hatched from 72. 7% of the eggs; total mortality of the eggs was thus 27. 3%. The impact of egg parasitoids was 21. 4%. Most of the parasitized eggs were attacked byBaryscapus servadeii (Dom.) followed byOoencyrtus pityocampae (Mercet). Males (1. 5%) were found only in B. servadeii. The emergence rate ofO. pityocampae was much higher in the year of host oviposition than in the following year. B. servadeii emerged in equal numbers before and after hibernation, and in the subsequent year in equal numbers in spring and autumn. The high rate of emergence ofB. servadeii in April-May is discussed in relation to the embryonic development ofThaumetopoea bonjeani (Powel) until the end of winter, as an alternative host ofB. servadeii in the Atlas region.     

Comparison of two sampling methods for leafhoppers (Homoptera, Cicadellidae) associated with sesame in the east Mediterranean region of Turkey

Yellow sticky-traps and a modified Johnson-Taylor suction-trap were used to index the relative population dynamic of leafhoppers associated with sesame in the east Mediterranean region of Turkey. Comparison of the obtained results signified important differences between both traps. 32 leafhoppers species were caught in the suction-trap while only 18 species were determined on yellow sticky-traps. For most of the leafhopper species, relatively more males were determined on the yellow-traps than in the suction-trap, indicating a higher activity of male leafhoppers during daytime hours. A close relationship between the seasonal flight pattern as indexed by sticky-traps and by suction-trap was only observed forAsymmetrasca decedens (Paoli) andEmpoasca decipiens Paoli. For most other leafhopper species no or only a very poor correlation for the relative population dynamic was determined between both traps. Important leafhopper vector species, e.g.,Circulifer haematoceps (Mulsant et Rey) andOrosius orientalis (Matsumura) were better represented in yellow sticky-trap catches than they were in the suction trap.

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Zusammenfassung  Die relative Populationsdynamik der mit Sesam assozüerten Zwergzikaden wurde mit beleimten Gelbtafeln und einer stationären Johnson-Taylor-Saugfalle an der südöstlichen Mittelmeerküste der Türkei untersucht. Beim Vergleich beider Methoden zeigten sich deutliche Unterschiede zwischen den Fallentypen. In der Saugfalle konnten 32 Zwergzikadenarten erfaßt werden, während dies auf den Gelbtafeln nur 18 Arten waren. Die meisten Zwergzikadenarten zeigten auf den Gelbtafeln ein stark in Richtung der Männchen verschobenes Geschlechterverhältnis, was eine erhöhte Flugaktivität der Männchen während des Tageslichts vermuten läßt. Auch der Verlauf der saisonalen Flugaktivität war für die meisten Zwergzikadenarten zwischen den beiden Fallentypen sehr unterschiedlich, und es konnten zwischen Saug- und Gelbfalle keine deutlichen Korrelationen hergestellt werden. Nur für die beiden zusammen erfaßten ArtenAsymmetrasca decedens (Paoli) undEmpoasca decipiens Paoli wurde ein enger Zusammenhang zwischen der mit der Saugfalle und den gelben Leimtafeln erfaßten relativen Populationsdynamik festgestellt. Wichtige Vektorenarten unter den Zwergzikaden, z. B.Circulifer haematoceps (Mulsant et Rey) undOrosius orientalis (Matsumura) waren auf den Gelbtafeln besser repräsentiert als in der Saugfalle.

     

Host status effect of cowpea and sunflower on the populations ofMeloidogyne javanica andRotylenchulus reniformis

A highly susceptible cowpea,Vigna sinensis cv. Baladi plants were tested as trap plants for eitherMeloidogyne javanica orRotylenchulus reniformis under greenhouse conditions. The plants were gathered by cutting them above the surface of the soil or by uprooting them, 1/2, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 days after nematode inoculation. Both of the mentioned nematodes began to mature and lay eggs after the 12th day from their inoculation. Hence, it is advised to pull up cowpea plants from 3–12 days after nematode inoculation. After planting sunflower,Helianthus annus cv. Miak replacing cowpea, the nematode populations were higher, in most cases, on sunflower plants replacing cutting cowpea than those on sunflower replacing uprooted cowpea. The highest percentages of nematode reduction were 98.55 and 99.57 forM. javanica and 95.09 and 92.90% forR. reniformis on sunflower plants replacing cutting and uprooted cowpea plants after 12 days from nematode inoculation, respectively.M. javanica andR. reniformis decreased the length and weight of sunflower plants as affected by planting time and method of cowpea harvest. This method of nematode control is cheaper, easy and pollution free.     

Biological and molecular characterization of Tomato spotted wilt Virus in Israel

Received April 24, 1997; received in final form June 29, 1997. Symptoms resembling tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) infections were documented among ornamental and vegetable crops in commercial greenhouses and open fields in Israel. Plants exhibiting these symptoms were collected from January 1992 to December 1996. Among cultivated plants analyzed for TSWV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), 19 species representing five families were found to be infected; natural infection was also recorded in six plant species of weeds. Virus identity was characterized by host range, serology and electron microscopy. Serological reaction with the isolates, found in Israel, using antisera from different sources as well as the sequence analysis of the nucleocapsid gene, demonstrated that the Israeli isolates of TSWV are a member of tospovirus serogroup I, type I (BR-01 strain). No virus transmission was found in seeds collected from virus-infected vegetable and ornamental crops. A non-radioactive molecular probe derived from the cloned nucleocapsid isolate enables specific detection of the virus in crude sap from infected plants. The detection of TSWV in Israel constitutes a severe potential threat to the ornamental and vegetable industry.