Potential for endozoochorous seed dispersal by sheep and goats: Risk of weed seed transport via animal faeces

Endozoochory is known as an important mechanism for the spread of weeds. We carried out experiments to assess the fate of seeds of several weed species (Convolvulus arvensis, Cuscuta campestris, Rumex crispus, Hordeum spontaneum and Sorghum halepense) after passing through the gut of sheep and goat. Eighteen animals of both sheep and goat received diet mixed with seeds of the weed species or control with only wheat bran (five weed species + control × three replications). Results showed that a higher proportion of seeds were missing after passage through the sheep gut than in goats. In goats, a greater proportion of seeds were dead after passage, but the number of seeds collected from dung was also greater. Weed species differed, with the highest seed recovery and viability in Cuscuta campestris. Based on time of seed passages through the animal gut estimated for the different weed species, we recommend that sheep should be kept in a corral for 96 hr to minimise seed transportation via their faeces. For goats, if R. crispus and C. arvensis seeds could be excluded from the diet, then maintaining them for 96 hr in an animal stall would ensure little seed transportation via dung, but we found R. crispus and C. arvensis seeds to be present and viable in goat dung even 120 hr after feeding. Very large numbers of viable seeds can be found in goat and sheep dung, so the use of rotted manure is highly recommended to avoid transportation of viable seeds via manure fertilisers.     

Concentration-dependent effect of salicylic acid application on wheat seedling resistance to take-all fungus, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gaeumannomyces graminis</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">tritici</Emphasis>

Application of 0.1 and 0.2 mM salicylic acid (SA) significantly reduced take-all disease caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt) and increased the root and shoot lengths and biomass, whereas 0.5 and 1 mM SA had no significant effect. The effective SA concentrations also increased the activities of soluble peroxidase (SPOX) and cell-wall-bound peroxidase (CWPOX) and the concentration of total phenolic compounds. SPOX activity was highest at days 4 and 3 in healthy roots and those inoculated with Ggt, respectively, and that of CWPOX at day 6 in both healthy and inoculated roots. The concentration of phenolic compound was also highest at day 3 in both healthy roots and those inoculated with Ggt. The results indicate that the protective effect of SA depends on certain concentrations which increase peroxidase activity and phenolic compounds accumulation in the wheat roots; higher SA concentrations did not differ from the controls.     

Effect of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki on survival and mortality of immature and mature stages of Diadegma insulare parasitizing Plutella xylostella

Effects of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) on immature stages of Diadegma insulare (Cresson) (Hym., Ichneumonidae) within larvae of diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lep., Plutellidae), and on the adult stage as a Bt-honey solution were evaluated at 25?±?1?°C, 65?±?10% r.h. and 16:8?h (L:D) photoperiod. P. xylostella and D. insulare pupae were collected from cabbage fields in Karaj, Iran. A commercial wettable powder formulation of Bt (var. kurstaki, serotype H-3a3b, strain Z-52) was used in these experiments. The value of LC₅₀ for third instar larvae of P. xylostella was 210?ppm. Parasitoid??s adult mortality at field rate of Bt was not significantly different from that of control. Formation of parasitoid??s pupae in Bt-parasitoid combined treatments was significantly lower than parasitoid alone. Formation of parasitoid??s pupae in larvae treated with LC₁₀, LC₃₀ and LC₅₀ of Bt and then exposed to parasitoids after 48?h was 5%, 3% and 2%, respectively, which was significantly lower than that of the parasitoid alone (41%). Mean percentage mortality of larvae of DBM in LC₃₀ and LC₅₀ concentrations of Bt combined with the parasitoid was approximately 100%. Our results showed that B. thuringiensis kills D. insulare larvae indirectly by killing susceptible hosts in which they are developing. Successful use of multiple biological control agents will depend on close monitoring of their compatibility in the field. Our results could be useful in this purpose.     

Studies on the chiral isomers of fonofos and fonofos oxon: II. In vitro metabolism

The in vitro metabolism of the chiral isomers of fonofos and fonofos oxon in the presence of mouse liver mixed-function oxidase and serum esterase was investigated. The metabolism of ³⁵S-labeled phenyl-(S)_P-fonofos mediated by mixed-function oxidase took place stereoselectively, resulting predominantly in (R)_P-fonofos oxon. Similarly, (R)_P-fonofos was converted to (S)_P-oxon. In each case, however, a significant amount of racemization occurred. Other products were diphenyl disulfide and diphenyl disulfide oxide. In addition to stereospecificity, the oxidative metabolism of (R)_P-fonofos proceeded at a rate faster than that of (S)_P-fonofos. Stereoselective rate differences also were observed in mouse or rat serum-catalzyed degradation of the fonofos oxon enantiomers, the (S)_P isomer being degraded about twofold faster than its enantiomer. The differences in toxicities of the isomers of fonofos and fonofos oxon were consistent with the in vitro metabolism data.     

Synergistic effect of Beauveria bassiana and spirodiclofen on the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), is one of the most important pests in agriculture. Due to its short life cycle and high reproductive rate, this pest has become resistant to most acaricides. Therefore, finding alternative control strategies for this damaging pest is necessary. Application of microbiological agents with minimum concentrations of acaricides is a very suitable tactic in integrated pest management. In the present study, lethal effects of a chemical acaricide – spirodiclofen, and an Iranian strain of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana, were evaluated on different life stages of the two-spotted spider mite on two host plants, bean and cucumber. In the next step, compatibility of acaricide with the fungus was studied regarding conidial germination and vegetative growth of the fungus in the presence of different concentrations of the acaricide. Finally, the acaricide at rates of LC₂₅ with the fungus at LC₅₀ were sprayed on adult female mites. The results showed that immature stages of T. urticae were more susceptible to the acaricide whereas the adults were more susceptible to the fungus. Also, mites reared on cucumber were significantly more susceptible to the acaricide and fungus than those reared on bean. Spirodiclofen and the fungus had a synergistic effect; percentage of mortality for fungus infection was 48.6% and 53.5% on bean and cucumber, respectively, while it was 80.6% on bean and 84.5% on cucumber when the mite was sprayed with both the fungus and the acaricide.     

Shortening transplantation periods of potato plantlets by use of potassium humate and kadostim and their effects on mini-tuber production

Plantlets produced from meristem culture of six advanced cultivars (Agria, Advanced clone 397007-9, Marfona, Sante, Satina and Ceaser) propagated by single node cuttings arranged in a RCBD base factorial design with ten replications. Factor A was plantlets produced from meristem culture of advanced cultivars and factor B was seven treatments (four concentrations of potassium humate as 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 mL, one concentrations of kadostim as 1 mL, compound concentration of potassium humate and kadostim as 1 ml L(-1) MS media culture and without them as control). Produced plantlets transplanted into the planting beds of Pitmass (Biolan) with punce (1:1 v/v) in the greenhouse. Some of traits measured such as average weight and number of mini-tuber per plant after harvesting. Results of analysis of variances showed the significant differences between effects of kadostim and potassium humate on advanced cultivars, for transplantation into the greenhouse, stem solidity and rhizo-genesis characters. So transplantation days decreased from 30 to 13 days in MS media culture with compound of potassium humate + kadostim by concentration of 1 ml L(-1) MS media culture, also decreased to 15 days in MS media culture with kadostim by concentration of 1 ml L(-1) MS media culture and also decreased to 22 days in MS culture with potassium humate by concentration of 1 and 1.5 ml L(-1) MS media culture and plantlets had the highest stem solidity and better rhizo-genesis in all of treatments. Agria, Sante and Marfona transplanted earlier and Ceaser transplanted later than others to the greenhouse. Compound concentration of potassium humate and kadostim 1 ml L(-1) MS media culture had the highest number of mini-tubers per plant and potassium humate 0.5 ml L(-1) MS and Kadostim 1 ml L(-1) MS had the highest mini-tuber weight per plant and average of mini-tuber weight per plant. Agria had the highest number and average of weight of mini-tubers per plant. Potassium humate 0.5 ml L(-1) MS in satina, kadostim 1 ml L(-1) MS in marfona and potassium humate + kadostim 1 ml L(-1) MS in Agria had the highest number of mini-tubers per plant. Increasing rate of weight and number of mini-tubers per plant with potassium humate and kadostim in all of advanced cultivars were more than control.     

Application of two way indicator species analysis in lowland plant types classification

A TWINSPAN classification of 60 sample plots from the Khanikan forest (North of Iran) is presented. Plant types were determined from field observations and sample plot data arranged and analyzed in association tables. The types were defined on the basis of species patterns of presence, absence and coverage values. Vegetation was sampled with randomized-systematic method. Vegetation data including density and cover percentage were estimated quantitatively within each quadrate and using the two-way indicator species analysis. The objectives of the study were to plant type's classification for Khanikan lowland forest in North of Iran, Identification of indicator species in plant types and increase our understanding in regarding to one of Multivariate analysis methods (TWINSPAN). Five plant types were produced for the study area by TWINSPAN, i.e., Menta aquatica, Oplismenus undulatifolius, Carex grioletia, Viola odarata and Rubus caesius. Therefore, at each step of the process, the program identifies indicator species that show strongly differential distributions between groups and so can severe to distinguish the groups. The final result, incorporating elements of classification can provide a compact and powerful summary of pattern in the data set.