Flash flood simulation and valve behavior of Mytilus galloprovincialis measured with Hall sensors

Mussels close their shell as a protective strategy and the quantification of this behavioral marker may represent an alarm signal when they are exposed to environmental stressors. In the present study, we investigated the ability of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis to recover and then the resilience or inertia of valve activity after a pulsing exposition to diverse levels of salinity (5, 10, 20, and 35 PSU as reference value). The trial simulated an event of drastic and sudden reduction of seawater salinity thus mimicking an event of flash flood from intense rain. Valve gaping and movements were measured in continuous cycle for 10 days using a customized magneto-electric device which uses Hall sensors. Results showed that under normal conditions of salinity (35 PSU), the general pattern of valve movements was a continuously open state with sporadic spikes indicating a closing motion. At salinity of 5, PSU mussels reacted by closing their valves, leading to a 77% mortality on the 4th day. At salinity of 10, PSU animals were observed with closed valves for the entire duration of the exposure and no mortality occurred, they showed a significant reduction in the valve activity once the reference value of salinity was re-established. In contrast, salinity of 20 PSU did not trigger a significant behavioral response. Interestingly, there no define rhythms of valve movements were recorded during salinity challenges.     

Synthesis and Antifouling Activity Evaluation of Analogs of Bromosphaerol,a Brominated Diterpene Isolated from the Red Alga Sphaerococcus coronopifolius

Marine biofouling is an epibiotic biological process that affects almost any kind of submerged surface, causing globally significant economic problems mainly for the shipping industry and aquaculture companies, and its prevention so far has been associated with adverse environmental effects for non-target organisms. Previously, we have identified bromosphaerol (1), a brominated diterpene isolated from the red alga Sphaerococcus coronopifolius, as a promising agent with significant antifouling activity, exerting strong anti-settlement activity against larvae of Amphibalanus (Balanus) amphitrite and very low toxicity. The significant antifouling activity and low toxicity of bromosphaerol (1) motivated us to explore its chemistry, aiming to optimize its antifouling potential through the preparation of a number of analogs. Following different synthetic routes, we successfully synthesized 15 structural analogs (2–16) of bromosphaerol (1), decorated with different functional groups. The anti-settlement activity (EC₅₀) and the degree of toxicity (LC₅₀) of the bromosphaerol derivatives were evaluated using cyprids and nauplii of the cirriped crustacean A. amphitrite as a model organism. Derivatives 2, 4, and 6–16 showed diverse levels of antifouling activity. Among them, compounds 9 and 13 can be considered as well-performing antifoulants, exerting their activity through a non-toxic mechanism.     

Irrigation facility relocations along the Arizona state route 85 corridor

In 1999 the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) began improvements along the State Route 85 (SR85) corridor between Gila Bend and Interstate 10 (I-10). At the time SR85 was a two-lane highway that carried a large volume of truck traffic between Interstate 8 near Gila Bend and Phoenix. The SR85 roadway improvements project is broken into phases. The first phase includes the construction of frontage roads and using these roads as a divided highway. Once the divided highway is completed, the final freeway cross section will be constructed between the frontage roads. The project impacted existing irrigation facilities for three irrigation districts located between the Gila River and I-10; the Arlington Canal Company, Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District (BWCDD) and Roosevelt Irrigation District (RID). The roadway improvements impact three main canals, turnouts from the main canal, main canal check structures, delivery structures, laterals, groundwater wells and tailwater collection systems. Three miles of irrigation facilities relocations were completed in various phases between 1999 and 2009. Total construction cost as of May 2009 is about $9.4 million. ADOT is currently working on 30% design plans for the main line between the Gila River and Broadway Road. The irrigation districts are coordinating with ADOT regarding the impacts to the irrigation facilities. In this paper we present the institutional and functional constraints to infrastructure modernization in an urbanizing area with historic irrigated agriculture. This process was complicated by the need to continue to operate the irrigation delivery facilities on an almost year-round basis.     

Hymenoptera wasps associated with the Asian gall wasp of chestnut (Dryocosmus kuriphilus) in Calabria,Italy

The parasitoid complex of the Asian chestnut gall wasp Drycosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu was studied in Calabria (Italy). A total of 14 different species of parasitoids were collected, of which three are recorded on the Asian gall wasp for the first time. The composition of the parasitoid complex collected in Calabria was compared with that reported from Italy and from Europe. The altitude of the sites of collection seemed to have an effect on the distribution and abundance of the single species of parasitoids.     

Monitoring neonicotinoid resistance in biotype B of Bemisia tabaci in Florida

BACKGROUND: Biotype B of the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.), is a worldwide pest that has developed resistance to many insecticides, including the neonicotinoid class. Florida field populations were monitored for susceptibility to the neonicotinoids imidacloprid and thiamethoxam using a cut leaf petiole bioassay method. RESULTS: Average RR₅₀ values for imidacloprid increased from 3.7 in 2000 to 12.0 in 2003; decreased to 5.0 and 2.5 in 2004 and 2005, respectively; and then increased to 26.3 and 23.9 in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Populations with RR₅₀ values of about 50 to 60 during generation one reverted to RR₅₀ values of ?4 in six generations, when reared without further exposure to imidacloprid. Average RR₅₀ values for thiamethoxam increased from 2.0 in 2003 to 24.7 in 2006 and decreased to 10.4 in 2007. Populations with RR₅₀ values of about 22, 32 and 53 during generation one declined to 8, 5 and 6, respectively, after being reared for five generations without exposure to thiamethoxam. The correlation coefficient from the 26 populations that were bioassayed both with imidacloprid and thiamethoxam showed a significant positive correlation (R² = 0.58) between these populations. CONCLUSION: The high level of RR₅₀ values to imidacloprid and thiamethoxam suggest an unstable decline in the susceptibility of B. tabaci to imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, with possible cross‐resistance or predisposition for dual resistance selection. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Intraspecific Relationship of Plasmopara halstedii Isolates Differing in Pathogenicity and Geographic Origin Based on ITS Sequence Data

Sequence parts of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA were analysed to screen for the intraspecific variability of a non-coding genomic region in 15 Plasmopara halstedii populations of different pathotype and geographic origin. Samples revealed uniformity in a ca. 790 Bp fragment comprising of the ITS-1, 5.8S and front parts of the ITS-2. In contrast, clear differences were found in a ca. 810 Bp fragment of the ITS-2 thus allowing differentiation between populations of pathotype 100, 310 and 330 and a group of populations representing pathotypes 700, 701, 703, 710 and 730. Samples of pathotypes 700 to730 originated from Slovakia, France, and Germany, but were uniform in both ITS sequence parts, thus indicating very recent origin of these highly aggressive physiological races. The potential use of ITS sequences for pathotype differentiation and phylogenetic studies in P. halstedii is discussed.     

Clostridium bifermentans and C. subterminale are associated with kiwifruit vine decline,known as moria,in Italy

Since 2012, a new pathogenic syndrome has frequently been observed in many areas of kiwifruit cultivation in Italy. The main symptoms include an initial withering of the leaves followed by a total and sudden collapse of plants, mainly occurring during summer. The withered leaves fall and the main and secondary feeder roots appear rotten, sometimes showing a reddish-brown discoloration. The disease, that affects both the green and yellow-fleshed cultivars, has been called kiwifruit vine decline and is locally known as moria. The syndrome has been found consistently associated with soil waterlogging, which frequently occurs either after the traditional agronomical practice of irrigating orchards through surface irrigation or after very heavy rainfall. So far, the role played by bacteria in this syndrome has not been investigated. In the present study, Clostridium spp. were isolated from both rotten roots and soils obtained from Italian kiwifruit orchards affected by the syndrome, indicating for the first time that anaerobic bacteria are able to cause damage to woody crops. C. bifermentans and C. subterminale incited symptoms in kiwifruit in both in vivo and in vitro pathogenicity tests. Soil waterlogging seems to potentially favour colonization of kiwifruit roots by anaerobic bacteria, probably because saturation of the soil can facilitate proliferation and persistence of these bacteria during long periods of the vegetative growth of the crop. The occurrence of anaerobic bacteria does not exclude the possibility that other microorganisms can play additional/synergic role(s) in causing the kiwifruit vine decline.     

First report of QoI resistance in Italian population of Pyricularia oryzae

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Rice blast disease, caused by Pyricularia oryzae Cavara, is considered the most destructive rice disease in Italy. Quinone outside inhibitor (QoI)...     

Pseudomonas syringae pv. coryli, the Causal Agent of Bacterial Twig Dieback of Corylus avellana

ABSTRACT Thirty-eight bacterial strains isolated from hazelnut (Corylus avellana) cv. Tonda Gentile delle Langhe showing a twig dieback in Piedmont and Sardinia, Italy, were studied by a polyphasic approach. All strains were assessed by fatty acids analysis and repetitive sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fingerprinting using BOX and ERIC primer sets. Representative strains also were assessed by sequencing the 16S rDNA and hrpL genes, determining the presence of the syrB gene, testing their biochemical and nutritional characteristics, and determining their pathogenicity to hazelnut and other plants species or plant organs. Moreover, they were compared with reference strains of other phytopathogenic pseudomonads. The strains from hazelnut belong to Pseudomonas syringae (sensu latu), LOPAT group Ia. Both fatty acids and repetitive-sequence-based PCR clearly discriminate such strains from other Pseudomonas spp., including P. avellanae and other P. syringae pathovars as well as P. syringae pv. syringae strains from hazelnut. Also, the sequencing of 16S rDNA and hrpL genes differentiated them from P. avellanae and from P. syringae pv. syringae. They did not possess the syrB gene. Some nutritional tests also differentiated them from related P. syringae pathovars. Upon artificial inoculation, these strains incited severe twig diebacks only on hazelnut. Our results justify the creation of a new pathovar because the strains from hazelnut constitute a homogeneous group and a discrete phenon. The name of P. syringae pv. coryli is proposed and criteria for routine identification are presented.     

Germination of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gibberella zeae</Emphasis> ascospores as affected by age of spores after discharge and environmental factors

The effects of age of ascospores (0–18 days after discharge), photon flux density (0–494 mol m^–2 s^–1 PAR), temperature (4–30 °C), frost (–15 °C for 30 min), relative humidity (RH; 0–100%), pH (2.5–6.5) and dryness (0 and 53% RH for up to 40 min) on the germination of the ascospores of the mycotoxin-producing fungus Gibberella zeae (anamorph Fusarium graminearum) were studied. Freshly discharged ascospores germinated within 4 h at 20 °C and 100% RH. The rate of germination and the percentage of viable ascospores decreased over time after the spores were discharged from perithecia. The time course of ascospore germination was not significantly affected by photon flux density. The period of time required to obtain 50% germinated ascospores at 100% RH was 26.90 h at 4 °C, 10.40 h at 14 °C, 3.44 h at 20 °C and 3.31 h at 30 °C. There was no significant effect of frost on the percentage of viable ascospores. A small percentage (6.6 ± 3.8%) of the ascospores germinated at 53% RH. At RH 84% and 20 °C almost 100% of the freshly discharged ascospores germinated. The time course of ascospore germination was affected by pH. The maximum rate of ascospore germination was estimated to be at pH 3.76. Ascospores lost their ability to germinate following exposure to 0% RH almost instantaneously. No germinating spores were detected after an incubation period of 1 min at 0% RH. Incubating the ascospores at 53% RH decreased the percentage of viable spores from 93 to 6% within 10 min. The data demonstrate that age of spores, relative humidity, temperature and pH, but not photon flux density, are key factors in germination of G. zeae ascospores.