Fluctuations in gonadotropin and ovarian steroids during the annual cycle and spawning of the common carp

The main objective of the paper is to describe the annual changes in hormones associated with reproduction in the female carp under the conditions prevailing in the Israeli fish culture. Fish were sampled monthly throughout 1984; gonadosomatic index (GSI) was calculated and the diameter of ovarian follicles was measured. Gonadotropin (GTH) content in the pituitary and the circulating GTH, estradiol, testosterone and 17, 20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17, 20-P) were determined by specific radioimmunoassays. GTH, estradiol and testosterone showed a bimodal annual pattern. The late summer peak was associated with initial vitellogenesis while the peak in spring occurred just before spawning, which took place in April-May. A resting phase in ovarian activity was noted in June and July. The levels of 17, 20-P were very low compared with those occurring during spawning induction. The paper summarizes a previous study by our laboratory on the changes in circulating hormones, as related to oocyte stages, in female carp induced to spawn by a GTH-calibrated pituitary extract. This study associates the short but prominent peak in 17, 20-P with the presence of follicles with maturing oocytes in the ovary. A correlation was found between the percentage of oocytes with eccentric germinal vesicle initially present in ovarian biopsies of females carp and their spawning success after hypophysation. The paper describes simple means to ensure successful induction of spawning in carp by utilizing a calibrated pituitary extract and prior selection of females that would respond to the induction treatment.     

Insulin-like Growth Factor-I （IGF-I） in Reproduction System of Female Bovine

Insulin-like growth factor-I （IGF-I） plays a key role in female reproduction, because it has the effect of anti-apoptosis improving cell proliferation, transformation and differentiation. This paper reviewed the effects of IGF-I on ovary, follicle growth, acquisition of oocyte competence and preimplantation embryo viability, and then summarized different points about IGF-1 for reproduction system     

Presence of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus</Emphasis> gall wasp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ophelimus maskelli</Emphasis> and its parasitoid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Closterocerus chamaeleon</Emphasis> in Portugal: First record,geographic distribution and host preference

The Eucalyptus gall wasp Ophelimus maskelli (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and its parasitoid Closterocerus chamaeleon (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) were observed for the first time in Portugal, in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Data on the distribution of O. maskelli in Portugal, differences in the susceptibility of two host species, Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus camaldulensis, and parasitism by C. chamaeleon are given.     

The cotton mealybug, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phenacoccus solenopsis</Emphasis> Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Israel: pest status,host plants and natural enemies

In Israel, the cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, an invasive scale insect, was reported for the first time in the Jordan Valley in 2008 on basil (Ocimum basilicum) and bell pepper (Capsicum annuum). This mealybug is highly polyphagous with economic and environmental impacts. Since then, Ph. solenopsis has spread to almost every region of Israel and developed high populations on several ornamental plants, mainly Hibiscus sp. (Malvaceae) and Lantana sp. (Verbenaceae). It has become a pest in greenhouses, mainly on bell pepper, tomato, and eggplant (Solanaceae) and a serious threat in cotton fields. Fourteen species of insect natural enemies have been found in association with Ph. solenopsis in Israel the common ones were: Aenasius arizonensis (Girault) (Hym. Encyrtidae), Cheilomenes propinqua (Mulsant), Hyperaspis vinciguerrae (Capra); H. polita Weise, Exochomus nigripennis (Erichson), Parascymnus varius Kirsch and Scymnus flagellisiphonatus (Fursch) (Col., Coccinellidae). To date, the population density of Ph. solenopsis in Israel is steeply decreasing in most regions of Israel due to the activity of A. arizonensis. An identification key to distinguish between adult females of the eight species belonging to the genus Phenacoccus in Israel is also provided.     

Insects associated with the banana aphid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pentalonia nigronervosa</Emphasis> Coquerel (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in banana plantations with special emphasis on the ant community

Ant attendance, well known behavior form towards aphid species was studied in case of the banana aphid Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel (Hemiptera: Aphididae) populations in four plantations in the coastal area of Carmel (Israel), where the aphid is a major pest on banana. The study characterizes the ant community the extent of attendance and the natural enemies associate with the aphid. The ants and natural enemies were sampled on mats and suckers. The ant community in the plantations was also studied by using different ant baits. In addition, the ants’ impact on the density of the banana aphid population and the potential role of local natural enemies was evaluated in artificially infested potted banana plants set in the plantation with or without a glue barrier. More than 80% of the aphid colonies on the mats were attended by ants. Ten of the twelve ant species detected in the plantations were observed attending the banana aphid. Seventeen species of potential natural enemies of the aphid, mostly belonging to the families Syrphidae, Cecidomyiidae and Coccinellidae, were found in the aphid colonies. When ant attendance on infested potted banana plants was excluded, the number of natural enemies was higher, while the aphid density was lower, than recorded on the control plants. Our finding suggest that the ants, especially the invasive species, lower the pressure of natural enemies on the aphid population and but also probably remove large quantity of honeydew which is the source of the main damage caused by the banana aphid in the local plantations.     

Occurrence of two localMegastigmus species parasitic on the eucalyptus gall waspLeptocybe invasa in Israel and Turkey

Two localMegastigmus species were found to be parasitoids on the invasive Eucalyptus gall waspLeptocybe invasa Fisher & La Salle in Turkey and Israel.Megastigmus sp, from Israel is a larval and pupal parasitoid ofL. Invasa. Both species are biparental. Features showing morphological differences between them are presented. The biology, distribution and potential efficiency as biological control agents are discussed.     

Molecular diagnosis of mango malformation disease and phylogeny of Fusarium mangiferae

Mango malformation disease (MMD) caused by various Fusaria, including the fungus Fusarium mangiferae, is difficult to diagnose and cannot be controlled effectively. In this study a PCR diagnostic tool was developed for detection of F. mangiferae by generating primers which flank fungus-specific sequences. The assay is suitable for both in-vitro and in-vivo tests, and is capable of detecting 10?pg of the fungal DNA. Relatively high genetic variation was discovered between various isolates of the pathogen based on amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analyses. In addition, some isolates of F. mangiferae (including the accession numbers FMS-123 and NRRL 25226), were found to be quite distinct from most F. mangiferae accessions. Likewise, representative MMD-associated Fusaria from the Asian and American clades of the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex were further differentiated by AFLP analyses.