Preference and performance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plutella xylostella</Emphasis> (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) on canola cultivars

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is an important insect pest of canola, Brassica napus L., in Ardabil, Iran. Host plant resistance is an essential component of integrated management of P. xylostella. We investigated the preferences and performance of P. xylostella on nine commercial cultivars of canola, namely Zarfam, RGS003, Adder, Okapi, Opera, Hyola401, Ebonite Option500 and Elite under greenhouse conditions at 23 ± 1°C, 50 ± 5% RH and 14L:10D. In free-choice situation, oviposition was lowest on Opera (23.5) and highest on Zarfam (44.7). In the life table study, fecundity of new generation female moths was lowest on Opera (95.4) and highest on Adder (145.7). Survival from egg to adult was significantly lower on Opera, Option500 and Hyola401 than on other tested cultivars. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r _m) and population growth rate (λ) were lowest on Opera and highest on Zarfam. The generation time (T) was shortest on Zarfam (17.2 days) and longest on Hyola401 (19.9 days) whereas doubling time (DT) was longest on Opera (3.9 days) and shortest on Zarfam (3.0 days). Our results clearly suggest that Opera was the most resistant host among the tested cultivars and has the potential to be used in the integrated management of P. xylostella.     

Estimation of rubberwood production in Cambodia

We estimated the production of rubberwood from 1996 to 2011 in Cambodia. We employed data from interview surveys with three rubberwood processing companies and statistics from estate rubber plantations and wood retailing companies. The result was that the end use of rubberwood in Cambodia was the sawntimber products, being exported to Vietnam and China. The yield rate from rubberwood stumpage into sawn timber was between 11.6 and 14.9%, closely matching the rates of Malaysia and Thailand. The average production of rubberwood roundwood from 1996 to 2011 was 254,697 m³/year, of which sawn timber as well as residuals in secondary processing was 84,559 and 170,138 m³/year, respectively. Although the timber production of Cambodia has declined sharply due to the strict restriction of natural forest logging, rubberwood could explain more than 60% of the domestic industrial roundwood production from 2000. We suggest the necessity of monitoring the expansion of rubber plantations in new rubber producing countries and linking the rubberwood production with the regional wood resource management.     

Historical processes and landscape context influence genetic structure in peripheral populations of the collared lizard (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Crotaphytus collaris</Emphasis>)

Populations at the periphery of a species’ range often show reduced genetic variability within populations and increased genetic divergence among populations compared to those at the core, but the mechanisms that give rise to this core-periphery pattern in genetic structure can be multifaceted. Peripheral population characteristics may be a product of historical processes, such as founder effects or population expansion, or due to the contemporary influence of landscape context on gene flow. We sampled collared lizards (Crotaphytus collaris) at four locations within the northern Flint Hills of Kansas, which is at the northern periphery of their range, to determine the genetic variability and extent of genetic divergence among populations for ten microsatellite loci (n = 229). We found low genetic variability (average allelic richness = 3.37 ± 0.23 SE; average heterozygosity = 0.54 ± 0.05 SE) and moderate population divergence (average F_ST = 0.08 ± 0.01 SE) among our sample sites relative to estimates reported in the literature at the core of the species’ range in Texas. We also identified differences in dispersal rates among sampling locations. Gene flow within the Flint Hills was thus greater than for other peripheral populations of collared lizards, such as the Missouri glade system where most of the mesic grasslands have been converted to forest since the last glacial retreat, which appears to have greatly impeded gene flow among populations. Our findings signify the importance of considering landscape context when evaluating core-peripheral trends in genetic diversity and population structure.     

Comparison of biological parameters between the invasive B biotype and a new defined Cv biotype of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bemisia tabaci</Emphasis> (Hemiptera: Aleyradidae) in China

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a widely distributed and destructive agricultural pest on various host plants. The biology of two biotypes of B. tabaci: the invasive B and a new defined Cv biotype, on a range of host plants (hibiscus, laurel, poinsettia, collard, cucumber and tomato) were studied in the laboratory. Results revealed that the developmental periods of the B biotype immatures were not significantly different on the tested host plants except those between laurel and collard. The Cv biotype immatures developed significantly slower on cucumber and tomato than on the other plants. B. tabaci B biotype had the highest survivorship on collard (68.55%), and the lowest on laurel (33.24%), while the Cv biotype had the highest and lowest survivorships on laurel (61.63%) and tomato (36.74%). Host plants did not significantly affect the pre-ovipostion period regardless of biotype. The longest averaged longevity and highest fecundity of B biotype were both recorded on collard: 25.15 days and 143.0 eggs. The highest fecundity of Cv biotype was 196.49 eggs on laurel and its longest longevity was on hibiscus (19.62 days). The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r _m) of B biotype on the three vegetables were all higher than those on the three ornamentals whereas the r _m of Cv biotype on the three ornamentals were all higher that those on the three vegetables. Our research indicates that B. tabaci B and Cv biotypes have different host plant suitabilities. The three tested vegetables were more suitable for B biotype while the three tested ornamental plants were more suitable for Cv biotype. The potential mechanism for the different suitability of B and Cv biotypes on various host plants is also discussed.     

Prevalence of antimicrobial residues in raw table eggs from farms and retail outlets in Enugu State,Nigeria

The use of antimicrobial agents in poultry production results in their accumulation in the body tissues and products such as milk and egg. The subsequent accumulation of these drugs and their metabolites in body cells is known as drug residue. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of antimicrobial residues in eggs from poultry farms and retail outlets in Enugu State, Nigeria. Eggs from 25 selected commercial farms and ten retail outlets were screened for the prevalence of antimicrobial residue. Also, structured questionnaires were administered to 25 commercial farms in the state to determine the management practices and the most widely used antimicrobial drugs in farms and possible association between the management practices and the occurrence of antimicrobial residues in eggs from these farms. All the 25 farms surveyed use oxytetracycline. Eggs from nine of the surveyed farms tested positive for antimicrobial residue and three of the ten surveyed farms also tested positive for antimicrobial residue. No association was observed (p 0.05; Fisher’s exact test) between the occurrence of antibiotic residues in eggs and farm size, feed source and housing systems. This study was able to demonstrate the presence of antimicrobial residues in eggs destined for human consumption. Drugs like nitrofurans which has been banned for use in food animals are still very much in use in Enugu State, Nigeria. Antibiotics given as feed additives may give rise to drug residues in food animals.     

Habitat modification by invasive crayfish can facilitate its growth through enhanced food accessibility

Background

Invasive ecosystem engineers can facilitate their invasions by modifying the physical environment to improve their own performance, but this positive feedback process has rarely been tested empirically except in sessile organisms. The invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii is an ecosystem engineer that destroys aquatic macrophytes, which provide a physical refuge for animal prey, and this destruction is likely to enhance vulnerability to predators. Using two series of mesocosm experiments, we tested the hypothesis that the invasive crayfish increases its feeding efficiency on animal prey by reducing submerged macrophytes, thus increasing its individual growth rate in a positive density-dependent manner.

Results

In the first experiment, increasing crayfish density reduced both macrophytes and animal prey (dragonfly and chironomid larvae) and, importantly, increased the growth rate of individual crayfish, in accordance with our expectation. In the second experiment, we used artificial macrophytes to clarify whether the physical architecture of macrophytes itself protects animal prey and limits crayfish growth rate. Increasing the artificial macrophyte quantity not only increased the survival of animal prey, but also retarded the crayfish growth rate.

Conclusions

We conclude that macrophytes strengthen bottom-up control of crayfish, but this effect can be relaxed by increasing the density of crayfish via reduction in macrophytes. This positive feedback process may explain the crayfish outbreaks and regime shifts occasionally observed in invaded freshwater ecosystems.

     

Promoter anchored amplified polymorphism based on random amplified polymorphic DNA (PAAP-RAPD) in cotton

Non-coding sequences account for a majority of the higher plant genome, some of which have important effects in gene regulation and plant development. In an effort to develop molecular marker systems to search for polymorphisms associated with high fiber yield and quality in cotton, we have developed a methodology that could specifically target the regulatory regions of the cotton genome. In this study we designed 10-nucleotide degenerate promoter primers based on conserved core promoter sequences and tested their applicability in PCR amplifications in combination with 10-mer random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers. The amplified markers are called promoter anchored amplified polymorphism based on RAPD (PAAP-RAPD). Forty cotton genotypes with diverse genetic and geographical backgrounds were used to test the PAAP-RAPD system using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Based on PAAP-RAPD markers amplified from 12 primer combinations, the 40 genotypes were classified into five distinctive groups: two Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) groups from China, another two Upland cotton groups from the USA, and one group from American Pima cotton (G. barbadense). The groupings are in general consistent with their genetic and geographical origins. Thirty-six PAAP-RAPD and RAPD fragments were cloned and four of them were further subjected to sequence analysis. Signal scanning using software PLACE confirmed that they contained an array of cis-regulatory sequences in addition to the core promoter sequences. The results demonstrate the potential application of PAAP-RAPD as a new marker system specifically targeting regulatory regions of the plant genome.     

Polymorphisms of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">FT</Emphasis> gene as a tool to identify underground rhizome types of bamboos

The Flowering Locus T (FT)-like genes of angiosperms are highly conserved. The FT-encoded proteins include a phosphatidylethanolamine-binding domain that is involved in the control of the shoot apical meristem identity and flowering time. In the present study, FT genes were investigated in 20 bamboo species that are grouped into sympodial, mixed and scattered bamboos based on their morphology. All examined orthologous FT genes consisted of four exons and three introns. Their encoded protein sequences contained the critical amino acid residues Tyr85, Glu109, Leu128, Tyr134, Trp138, Arg139, Gln140 and Asn152, of which each possesses a biological function. The DNA sequences were rich in single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites. The SNP frequency was 1 SNP/16.8 bp, and the nucleotide diversity (π) equaled 0.265. Some SNPs altered restriction enzyme sites or resulted in changes in amino acid contents. The correlation analysis showed that several SNPs were informative in relation to the underground rhizome types of bamboos. Therefore, FT polymorphisms could be used as a tool to identify the underground rhizome types of bamboos. The phylogenetic tree constructed based on the FT gene sequences showed that the obtained clustering was consistent with the underground rhizome types. The SNP markers developed in the present study will provide information on the genetic diversity of bamboos and they can aid taxonomic study as well.     

Fabrication of hydrophobic/oleophilic cotton fabric by mussel-inspired chemistry for oil/water separation

A straightforward approach was proposed to modify cotton fabric for oil/water separation based on musselinspired reaction. The poly(DMA-Octadecyl acrylate) was designed to contain key chemical constituents present in mussel adhesive proteins by free radical polymerization of dopamine hydrochloride and octadecyl acrylate, which strongly adsorbed to fabric substrates, providing a special surface for fabric. The chemical structure, surface topography, and surface wettability of the fabric were characterized. The results showed that as-prepared cotton fabric displayed a high CA of >150° when dripped water droplets were on the modified fabric surface, and the oil contact angle (OCA) was close to 0°, it had excellent potential to be used in practical applications and has created a new method of fabric modification for oil/water separation.