The toxic effect of diflubenzuron on Spodoptera littoralis eggs and on their respiration

The mortality rates of Spodoptera littoralis eggs of different ages when dipped in aqueous dilutions of a liquid diflubenzuron formulation were investigated. Eggs 2-3 days old were less sensitive than younger eggs, 0-1 day old. The respiratory rate of eggs 0-1 day old, 1 or 2 days after treatment, was the same as in the control. Eggs in the control hatched on the next day; on this day, respiration in the treated eggs decreased rapidly, but further decrease was then gradual and the base line was not reached until 11 days after treatment, or 9 days after the maximum respiratory rate had been obtained. The curve with diflubenzuron resembled that obtained with parathion.     

The effect of IKI-7899, a new chitin synthesis inhibitor,on larvae ofTribolium castaneum andSpodoptera littoralis

The effect of IKI-7899 and diflubenzuron on larval development and emergence ofTribolium castaneum and ofSpodoptera littoralis was determined. The LC₅₀ of IKI-7899 at adult emergence ofT. castaneum larvae fed the compound in their diet and the ED₅₀ of S.littoralis larvae treated topically were approximately one-sixth those of diflubenzuron.     

Comparative Study of Genetic Diversity and Pathogenicity Among Populations of Verticillium Dahliae from Cotton in Spain and Israel

Genetic diversity and phenotypic diversity in Verticillium dahliae populations on cotton were studied among 62 isolates from Spain and 49 isolates from Israel, using vegetative compatibility grouping (VCG), virulence and molecular assays. In Spain, defoliating V. dahliae isolates (D pathotype) belong to VCG1, and non-defoliating isolates (ND) belong to VCG2A (often associated with tomato) and VCG4B (often associated with potato). The D pathotype was not identified in Israel. The ND pathotype in Israel is comprised of VCG2B and VCG4B. Isolates in VCG2B and VCG4B ranged in virulence from weakly virulent to highly virulent. The highly virulent isolates induced either partial defoliation or no defoliation. Virulence characteristics varied with inoculation method and cotton cultivar. Highly virulent isolates from Israel were as virulent as D isolates from Spain under conditions conducive to severe disease. The D pathotype is pathologically and genetically homogeneous, whereas the ND pathotype is heterogeneous with respect to virulence, VCG, and molecular markers based on single-primer RAPD and on PCR primer pairs.     

Egg-sterilizing effect of benzoylphenylureasvia the adult stage of the nitidulid beetleCarpophilus hemipterus

The effect of a 24-h exposure of adults ofCarpophilus hemipterus to artificial diets treated on the surface with different concentrations of benzoylphenylureas, on the hatchability of eggs laid during the subsequent 14 days, was investigated. The order of persistence of sterilization at 5 ppm was chlorfluazuron (IKI-7899), 12 days > XRD-473, 10 days > diflubenzuron, 6 days > teflubenzuron (CME 134), 4 days. Three of the substances (chlorfluazuron, diflubenzuron and teflubenzuron) had no direct ovicidal effect whenC. hemipterus eggs were dipped in 1000 ppm dilutions, but the larvae that hatched from the treatments died within 2 days.     

The implications of sample preparation on the particle size distribution of soil

Particle size distribution (PSD) is among basic parameters in soil and sediment characterization and provides essential information in sedimentological and environmental studies. The problem with the PSD determination is that for any given sample the result depends not only on the method used but also on the sample pre‐treatment, making them seldom comparable. In this study, the PSD of seven non‐treated and pre‐treated soil samples were determined by four granulometric methods (pipette, sedigraph, particle counter and laser diffraction analysis). Samples were subjected to pre‐treatments commonly used in sample preparation for the PSD determination, i.e., addition of dispersant (sodium metaphosphate) and removal of the organic matter (with hydrogen peroxide). The total organic carbon (TOC) analysis was used to estimate the content of organic matter before and after its removal. The effect of different pre‐treatments was evaluated based on the PSD variations and the changes in the specific surface area (SSA) of the samples. The results highlighted differences in the PSD curves of samples depending on the granulometric method and pre‐treatment applied. The most pronounced difference was the higher amount of clay fraction determined by settling techniques. The role of hydrogen peroxide in disruption of aggregates was evident in the increase in the SSA as well as the share of fine fraction determined by all four techniques, while sodium metaphosphate made no modifications of the SSA but acted in favour of prolonging settling of clay particles and increasing its content obtained by settling techniques.     

Does growing on a slope affect tree xylem structure and water relations?

Variations in slope, exposure, relief and substrate over a short distance and their influences on plant function are poorly understood. We investigated the influences of soil hydrological characteristics on internal stem structure and hydraulic properties of downy oak (Quercus pubescens Willd.) growing along a hill slope. Increment wood cores were extracted from the base and at breast height (BH) of tree stems. Relative wood water content (W(c)) and wood density (D(w)) were measured in the sapwood. Wood compression strength (delta) in the longitudinal direction was measured with a fractometer. Thin sections were cut from the transversal face of each core and vessel lumen area (V(A)) was measured and xylem theoretical hydraulic conductivity (L(th)) estimated over the sapwood. Topsoil volumetric water content (theta(v)) was determined around trees and the hydrological behavior of the slope was studied through field surveys. Data were used as input to a hydrological model to simulate topsoil water distribution along the slope. Results showed that theta(v) tends to decrease with increasing altitude. Groundwater levels were lower upslope than downslope, and results from the hydrological model confirmed these trends. Mean W(c) at the base of each tree decreased significantly with increasing altitude, whereas at BH, no differences were found along the slope. There was a significant positive relationship between W(c) measured at the tree base and theta(v) along the hill slope, but not for W(c) measured at BH. Values of D(w) and delta measured at both stem positions increased significantly with increasing altitude and decreasing theta(v). Significant negative relationships were found between delta and theta(v) measured at the stem base and at BH. At both stem positions, delta was closely related to D(w) and L(th). Vessel lumen areas at BH and the stem base were significantly regressed with altitude, theta(v), D(w) and delta. Xylem theoretical hydraulic conductivity at both stem positions was negatively related to altitude and soil theta(v), but only L(th) measured at the stem base was negatively regressed with D(w). The results are discussed in the context of how tree position along a hill slope influences water uptake and internal xylem structure.