Extended summaries sci pesticides group symposium biological control: Use of living organisms in the management of invertebrate pests,pathogens and weeds.

The following are extended summaries based on material presented at a meeting of the SCI Pesticides Group, held on 19-20 October 1992 at the SCI, 14/15 Belgrave Square, London SWIX 8PS, UK. The summaries published here are entirely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board of Pesticide Science.     

Biomedical evaluation of black lemurs (Eulemur macaco macaco) in Lokobe Reserve, Madagascar.

Complete medical evaluations were performed on 25 wild black lemurs (Eulemur macaco macaco) in Lokobe Reserve, northwestern Madagascar. Each animal received a complete physical examination. Weight, body temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate were recorded. Blood samples were collected for complete blood cell count, differential white blood cell count, hemoparasite examination, serum biochemical profile, fat-soluble vitamin analysis, trace mineral analysis, and Toxoplasma gondii and viral serology. Fecal samples were collected for bacterial culture and endoparasite examination. Ectoparasites were collected and identified. Values were compared to established ranges from captive black lemurs in North American zoos. Significant differences exist between captive and wild animals for total white blood cell count, segmented neutrophil count, band neutrophil count, eosinophil count, monocyte count, and basophil count, and for serum biochemistry values of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, serum alkaline phosphatase, total protein, creatinine, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, potassium, and creatine phosphokinase. One animal had a positive Toxoplasma titer. Detected endoparasites were identified as Lemuricola and Callistroura. Two ectoparasite mites were identified, one within the Psoroptes genus and one within the Laelapidae family. Enteric bacterial flora included Enterococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Escherichia coli, Streptococcus sp., Klebsiella ozaenae and Bacillus cereus.     

Immunisation strategies against prion diseases: prime-boost immunisation with a PrP DNA vaccine containing foreign helper T-cell epitopes does not prevent mouse scrapie

Vaccination against prion diseases constitutes a promising approach for the treatment and prevention of the disease. Passive immunisation with antibodies binding to the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) can protect against prion disease. However, immunotherapeutic strategies with active immunisation are limited due to the immune tolerance against the self-antigen. In order to develop an anti-prion vaccine, we designed a novel DNA fusion vaccine composed of mouse PrP and immune stimulatory helper T-cell epitopes of the tetanus toxin that have previously been reported to break tolerance to other self-antigens. This approach provoked a strong PrP(C)-specific humoral and cellular immune response in PrP null mice, but only low antibody titres were found in vaccinated wild-type mice. Furthermore, prime-boost immunisation with the DNA vaccine and recombinant PrP protein increased antibody titres in PrP null mice, but failed to protect wild-type mice from mouse scrapie.     

Vacuum-assisted closure for treatment of a deep shell abscess and osteomyelitis in a tortoise

CASE DESCRIPTION: A female Aldabra tortoise (Geochelone gigantea) was evaluated because of focal necrosis of the carapace. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Debridement revealed a 14.5 x 11.5-cm area of shell necrosis, deep abscess formation, and osteomyelitis involving bacterial (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas spp) and fungal pathogens. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Following extensive debridement, vacuum-assisted closure incorporating silver-impregnated bandaging materials was used. The wound was considered healed after 55 days, at which time a layer of epidermal tissue with progressing keratinization was present, with smooth underlying ossification. Keratinization with normal pigmentation continued over the next 67 days. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings suggested that vacuum-assisted closure with silver-impregnated bandaging materials may provide advantages over traditional methods in the treatment of shell lesions in chelonians, including faster wound healing, improved cosmetic appearance of the healed wound, superior control of microbial contamination, and lower overall treatment costs.     

基于决策树和混合像元分解的玉米种植面积提取方法

Landsat 8影像具有较高空间分辨率和时间分辨率,长时间序列Landsat 8-NDVI曲线反映农作物的物候历、种植模式和种植结构信息,是精确提取玉米种植面积的理想数据源。基于时序Landsat 8-NDVI影像提取玉米种植面积的方法中,决策树方法快速、高效,可通过多阈值限定进行分类,但由于混合像元问题,如果阈值设置过宽,提取面积偏大;阈值设置过窄,提取面积偏小;混合像元分解通过计算端元组分丰度可以排除异质地类干扰。因此,以时序NDVI为数据源、耦合使用2种算法是精确提取作物种植面积的有效方法。本研究基于时序Landsat 8-NDVI,提取河北省保定市大田玉米的种植面积。首先,分析典型作物区的NDVI曲线特征,并构建决策树从而初步提取早播夏玉米、小麦夏玉米和春玉米的分布范围。然后,根据端元平均NDVI波谱曲线,进行3种玉米混合度分解,进而根据玉米丰度比例精确提取玉米种植面积。精度评价结果表明:利用本方法提取的玉米种植区总分类精度在98%以上,Kappa系数在0.97以上;所提取的玉米种植类型主要是夏玉米,春玉米种植主要集中在涿州市中部,这与实地调查结果一致。上述定量和定性的评价结果表明该方法可用于快速、精确提取玉米种植面积。     

高产优质黄秋葵新品种“石秋葵1号”选育

"石秋葵1号"是采用系统选育的方法培育而成的黄秋葵新品种。植株生长势强,抗逆性强,株高160~200cm,始花节位5~6,嫰果无棱,绿色,果长12~16cm,横径2.0cm,单果重25g,口感脆嫩,纤维少,商品性好。丰产性好,每667m2产量为2 000kg以上,适合北方地区露地栽培。     

Depth distribution and bioavailability of pollutants in long-term differently tilled soils

Pollutants can be introduced to soil through the application of organic and inorganic fertilizers and pesticides and through atmospheric depositions. The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of long-term (9–17 years) tillage systems on the behavior of pollutants in soils. Bioavailability and enrichment of heavy metals, arsenic, and organics, i.e. polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s) and a chlorinated phenol (2,4-DCP) were measured in a Eutric Cambisol and a Luvisol under conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and no-tillage (NT). Soil samples were collected from 0 to 3, 3 to 10, and 10 to 25 cm depths.

The upper layer of NT soils was enriched in pollutants, but concentrations decreased with increasing soil depth. Atmospheric deposition of pollutants and input via organic fertilizers was noticeable in soils under long-term NT. Total amount of zinc (59 mg kg⁻¹) was significantly enriched in the 0–3 cm depth of the Luvisol under NT and this was attributed to higher sorption capacity for heavy metal input via liquid manure. In the Eutric Cambisol, NT resulted in significant increase of cadmium extracted by aqua regia in the arable layer of 0–25 cm. As a result of higher soil organic C, long-term accumulation of PCB’s in NT soils was more pronounced than in plowed soils. In plowed soils the mixing effect resulted in homogeneous distribution of pollutants within a soil depth of 0–25 cm.

The enrichment of organic C in RT and NT soils emphasizes the role of soils as a sink for pollutants, buffering the contaminants against leaching and transfer into crops.     

Uptake of galaxolide, tonalide, and triclosan by carrot, barley, and meadow fescue plants

Many xenobiotics entering wastewater treatment plants are known to be persistent during wastewater treatment and tend to adsorb to sewage sludge. The application of sewage sludge as fertilizer in agriculture may pose the risk of an incorporation of xenobiotics in the cultivated plants and, finally, an inclusion into the food chain. This study was performed to investigate the uptake of common sewage sludge contaminants, galaxolide, tonalide, and triclosan, by plants used for human consumption and livestock feeding. Barley, meadow fescue, and four carrot cultivars were sown and grown in spiked soils under greenhouse conditions. After harvesting the plants, roots and leaves were analyzed separately, and the respective bioconcentration factors were calculated. In carrots, a concentration gradient of the xenobiotics became evident that decreased from the root peel via root core to the leaves. A significant influence of the differing root lipid contents on the uptake rates cannot be supported by our data, but the crucial influence of soil organic carbon content was confirmed. Barley and meadow fescue roots incorporated higher amounts of the target substances than carrots, but translocation into the leaves was negligible. The results indicated that an introduction of persistent semi- and nonpolar xenobiotics into the food chain via edible plants like carrots could be of certain relevance when sludge is applied as fertilizer. Due to low rates found for the translocation of the xenobiotics into the aerial plant parts, the entrance pathway into food products via feeding livestock is less probable.     

Selected Calcium Salt Formulations: Interactions between Spray Deposit Characteristics and Ca Penetration with Consequences for Rain-Induced Wash-Off

The effect of two ethoxylated rapeseed oils (RSO) as surfactants for foliar-applied calcium chloride CaCl₂ and calcium acetate Ca(CH₃COO)₂ on deposit characteristics, penetration, and calcium (Ca) residues after rainfall was investigated in columnar apple trees (CAT, Malus domestica Borkh.) and apple seedlings. Irrespective of salt and apple variety, both surfactants enhanced droplet spreading and led to a greater area covered by calcium within the droplet residues. The addition of the rather lipophilic surfactant RSO 5 and the rather hydrophilic RSO 60 increased penetration of Ca from both salts through isolated apple leaf cuticular membranes. Our data demonstrate that penetration is better reflected by area covered with calcium than by droplet spreading area. Considering the point of deliquescence (POD) from the salts and results of cuticular Ca penetration, we postulate that in case of CaCl₂ reduction of wash-off was due to enhanced penetration, whereas for Ca(CH₃COO)₂ wash-off was decreased due to distinct enhancement of rainfastness.     

Selection of bacteria and fungi for control of soilborne seedling diseases of maize

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Plant-based screening experiments were conducted with the aim of identifying biocontrol bacteria and fungi for seed treatment of maize. Candidate...