The application of picloram-14C to bracken

Experimental systems were produced from fragments of bracken rhizome and picloram-¹⁴C was applied to frond laminae, rhizome apices, frond buds and roots and translocation assessed 7 days after treatment. The isotope was readily taken up by all organs and freely translocated to associated fractions of the rhizome except in the case of laminae from which distribution was very poor. Accumulation of activity in the roots was considerable following treatment of the frond buds but was limited in the frond buds. Poor translocation of herbicide from treated frond laminae is considered a possible explanation of poor control in the field when bracken is sprayed in July. Lapplication du picioram e¹⁴C à la fougère Des systèmes expérimentaux ont étéétablis en utilisant des fragments de rhizome de fougére et du piciorame ¹⁴C a été appliqué sur les limbes des frondes, les apex des rhizomes, les bourgeons des frondes et les racines. La migration fut évaluée sept jours aprés le traitement. L'isotope a été facilement absorbé par tous les organes et librement transporté aux fractions correspondantes du rhizome, sauf dans le cas des limbes è partir desquels la distribution a été très faible. L'accumulation de ractivité dans les racines a été considérable è la suite du traitement des bourgeons de frondes mais a été Iimitée dans les bourgeons de frondes. Une faible migration de I'herbicide depuis les limbes des frondes est considérée comme une explication possible du désherbage mediocre auchamp, lorsque la fougère est traitée en juillet. Die Anwendung von PicIoram-¹⁴C zu Adlerfarn Aus Rhizomstücken von Adlerfarn wurden Versuchsp-flanzen gezogen und auf die Wedelspreiten, Rhizomapices, Wedelknospen und Wurzein- Picloram-¹⁴C appliziert. Die Transiokation des Herbizids wurde eine Woche nach der Behandlung gemessen. Das lsotop wurde von alien Pflan-zenorganen schnell aufgenommen und in die dem Rhizom benachbarten Pflanzenteile transloziert; bei Behandlung der Wedelspreiten war jedoch nur eine geringe Verteilung fest-zustellen. Nach Behandlung der Wedelknospen war in den Wurzein eine beträchtliche, aber in den Wedelknospen nur eine geringe Aktivitätsanreicherung feststellbar. Für den schwachen Bekämpfungserfolg des Adierfarns im Freiland bei Spritzungen im Juli, wird die geringe Transiokation des Herbizids aus den Wedelspreiten als mögliche Erklärung angesehen.     

RESUME:Studies on the Chemical Control of Aonidiella aurantii (Mask.)

Aonidiella aurantii (Mask.) which was accidentally introduced in Sicily in 1968 has since become a dangerous pest requesting special treatments in citrus groves. Experiments have been carried out on Citrus lemon to evaluate the efficacy of several organophosphorous compounds partly in mixture with white oil and this latter applied sole (cf. table 1). The results obtained against young females are set out in table 2; they show excellent results with almost all compounds whereas the same pesticides had a rather poor effect on mature females (cf. table 3).
It is concluded that the replacement of white oils by organophosphorous compounds is not justified providing that the control is directed against larvae and young females. This means that a proper timing is essential to obtain a satisfactory mortality, thus avoiding the use of detrimental broad acting pesticides.     

Effect of 2,4,5-T and picloram on the regeneration of blackberry (Rubus procerus P.J. Muell) from root segments

The formation of roots and shoots on root segments of Rubus procerus P.J. Muell was prevented by soaking the segments for 24 h in a 10^?4M solution of 2,4,5-T or a 10^?5M solution of picloram. Shoot numbers were significantly increased after treatment with 10^?9M and 10^?10M 2,4,5-T, but picloram did not cause a significant increase in shoot numbers. Measurement of the concentration of 2,4,5-T in the extracambial tissue showed that roots treated with 10^?4M 2,4,5-T contained 5× 10^?8 mmole 2,4,5-T per mg dry weight, and by extrapolation, roots treated with 10^?9M 2,4,5-T contained 2× 10^?10 mmole/mg dry weight. Action du 2,4,5-T et du piclorame sur la régénération de la ronce (Rubus procerus P.J. Muell) è partir de fragments de racines La formation de racines et de tiges è partir de fragments de racines dc Ruhus procerus P.J. Muell a été supprimée par trempage des fragmenls pendant 24 heures dans une solution a 10^?4M et de 2.4,5-T, ou dans une solution 10^?5M de piclorame. Le nombre de pousses s'est accru significativement après traitement avec le 2,4,5.-T è 10^?9M et 10^?10M, mais le piclorame n'a pas provoqué d'accroissemcnt significatif du nombre de pousses. La mesure de la concentration de 2,4,5-T dans le tissu extra-cambial a montré que les racines trailées avec du 2,4,5-T è 10^?4M contenaient 5×10^?8 mmole de 2.4,5-T par mg de poids sec et par extrapolation, quc les racines traitées avec du 2,4,5-T k 10^?9M devaient contenir 2 × 10^?12 mmole/mg de poids sec. Die Wirkiing von 2,4,5-T und Picloram auf den Wuchs der Wurzehegmenten von Bromheeren (Rubus procerus P.J. Muell). Die Bildung von Wurzeln und Sprossen aus Wurzelsegmen-ten von Ruhu.i procerus P.J. Muell wurde durch 24-stündiges Einlegen der Wurzelstücke in 10^?4M 2,4,5-T bzw 10^?5M Picloram verhindert. Die Anzahl neugebiideter Sprosse wurde nach Einlegen in 10^?9M und 10^?10M 2,4,5-T, nicht jedoch durch Picloram, signifikant erhöht. Im extracambialen Gewebe von Wurzeln, die mit 10^?4M 2,4,5-T behand-elt worden waren, wurden 5×10^?8mMol 2,4,5-T je mg Trockengewiclu bestimmt. Durch Extrapolation wurde ermittclt. dass mit 10^?9M 2,4,5-T behandelte Wurzeln 2× 10^?12mMol/mg Trockengewicht cnthielten.     

THE EFFECT OF MCPA ON THE AMINO ACID AND SUGAR COMPOSITION OF VICIA FABA LEAVES

Summary. The effect of spraying Vicia faba leaves with 5000 ppm MCPA is described. Three to 4 days after spraying, a marked increase (× 5 approx.) was found in the concentrations of leucine iso -leucine and valine in the leaves. No significant changes were detected in the other amino acids. Treatment with MGPA also caused a significant increase (× 4 approx.) in the glucose and fructose content of the leaves. Detached leaves (sprayed and unsprayed), when kept in a moist atmosphere for 3–4 days, exhibited very similar increases in amino acids and sugars to sprayed intact plants. Experiments using ¹⁴CO₂ revealed that in short term photosynthesis (30 min) of sprayed and unsprayed plants, 80–90% of the radioactivity was incorporated in sucrose, with about 5% in each of glucose and fructose. Over photosynthelic periods of 4 days, glucose and fructose were found to be almost as heavily labelled as sucrose in sprayed plants, but in the controls the distribution of radioactivity was similar to that in short term photosynthesis. It is suggested that the build up of amino acids and sugars in plants treated with MCPA is due to an interruption of the translocatory flow from the leaves, and that this build up of metabolites may be a contributory factor in the toxic action of this herbicide.
Effet du MCPA sur la composition en amino-acides et en sucre des feuilles de Vicia faba     

THE MOVEMENT OF PARAQUAT IN PLANTS

Summary. A qualitative study of the movement of the herbicide paraquat from droplets applied to leaves of tomato plants, using ¹⁴C-methyl-labelled and ¹⁴C-ring-labelled paraquat dichloride and di(methylsulphate), has shown that it moves in the xylem with the transpiration stream. The chemical is as well transported from young leaves as from mature ones, and will move through a steam-ringed petiole. The enhancement of the amount of paraquat transported from the treated leaves which occurs when treated plants are kept in darkness for a period following treatment and then exposed to light, is probably due to the greater movement into the xylem through undamaged tissue which can occur in the dark. Once the chemical has been absorbed into treated leaves, light-induced damage is required for significant movement through the rest of the plant to take place, but the damage then inhibits further entry of paraquat into the xylem. The movement of paraquat in broad bean and maize is essentially similar, though the enhancement of movement by a period of darkness after application is much less marked.
La migration du paraquat dans les plantes     

Tumours of Begonia and some other ornamentals,induced by Corynebacterium fascians

In 1975 many tumours were observed in plants ofBegonia Schwabenland grown in Aalsmeer. Submersion of the roots ofNicotiana megalosiphon seedlings in a homogenate of tumorous tissue, induced tumours after two weeks. Short periods of submergence yielded results similar to those obtained after longer periods. Tumour homogenates lost their infectivity after ten min at 50°C. Aphids transmitted the infectious agent.Treatment with propylene oxide did not inhibit infectivity completely. Filtration through a 450 nm filter removed the infectious agent.Tobacco tumor virus or a viroid could not be isolated. Cultures ofCorynebacterium fascians, isolated from tumours ofN. megalosiphon were highly infectious and induced tumours in healthyN. megalosiphon andBegonia. Tumorous tissue homogenates ofPelargonium zonale, Dahlia sp.,Gladiolus sp., andLilium sp. also caused tumours inN. megalosiphon, from whichC. fascians was isolated. It was not possible to produce tumours inN. megalosiphon with homogenates from roses with symptoms of bud proliferation.Samenvatting In 1975 werden vele tumoren waargenomen inBegonia Schwabenland op Aalsmeerse bedrijven (Fig. 1). De infectiositeit van tumorweefsel kon goed en snel worden vastgesteld door de wortels van zaailingen vanNicotiana megalosiphon in een homogenaat van tumorweefsel te dompelen. Tumoren ontstonden na twee weken, de eindbeoordeling geschiedde na een maand (Fig. 2). Ook verschillende andereNicotiana spp.,Melilotus officinalis (Fig. 3) enPisum odoratum (Fig. 4) werden aangetast.Bij de infectiositeitstoets gaven zeer korte dompeltijden even goede resultaten als langere (Tabel 1). Infectieus sap verloor zijn infectievermogen na 10 min verhitting bij 50°C. Bladluizen brachten de smetstof over. Propyleenoxide verminderde de infectiositeit wel, doch onderdrukte deze niet totaal. Bij filtratie door een 450 nm filter bleef het infectieuse agens op het filter achter. Het tumor-inducerende agens was ook aanwezig in die delen van planten met tumoren welke gezond leken en het ging voor een gering deel over met zaad (Tabel 2).Uit tumoren konden wij geen tabakstumorvirus of een viroïde isoleren. Culturen vanCorynebacterium fascians, geïsoleerd uit tumoren vanN. megalosiphon bleken zeer infectieus en veroorzaakten tumoren inN. megalosiphon enBegonia. Homogenaten van tumorweefsel vanPelargonium zonale, dahlia (Fig. 5), gladiool (Fig. 6) enLilium Mid Century Hybrid Enchantment (Fig. 7) veroorzaakten ook tumoren opN. megalosiphon, waaruitC. fascians werd geïsoleerd. Met sap van kroeskopzieke rozen konden wijN. megalosiphon niet besmetten.     

Identification and Characterisation of Bacteria Causing Soft-rot in Agave tequilana

Agave tequilana is the raw material for the production of the alcoholic beverage tequila. A bacterial disease has affected the A. tequilana crop in recent years. Previous reports based on colony and cell morphology, Gram stain and potato rot indicated that Erwinia sp. is the main pathogen. We isolated a several bacterial isolates capable of producing soft-rot symptoms in greenhouse pathogenicity assays. An extensive characterisation involving pathogenicity tests, fatty acid profile, metabolic and physiological properties, ribosomal DNA sequence and intergenic transcribed spacer amplification (ITS-PCR) and restriction banding pattern (ITS-RFLP) was made of each isolate. Three different species: Erwinia cacticida, Pantoea agglomerans and Pseudomonas sp. were identified. Fatty acid and metabolic profiles gave low similarity values of identification but 16S rDNA sequence, ITS-PCR and ITS-RFLP confirmed the identification of E. cacticida. In the phylogenetic tree, E. cacticida from blue agave was grouped neither with E. cacticida type strains nor with Erwinia carotovora. This is the first report that associates E. cacticida with A. tequilana soft-rot symptoms.     

Acute and sublethal toxicity of novaluron, a novel chitin synthesis inhibitor, to Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The acute and sublethal toxicities of novaluron, a novel chitin synthesis inhibitor, to a laboratory-reared insecticide-susceptible strain of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), were determined. Novaluron exhibited excellent residual (120 h LC(50) = 0.42 mg litre(-1)) and good direct contact (120 h LC(50) = 27 mg litre(-1)) activity against second-instar larvae (L2). Hatch of eggs exposed by direct contact to novaluron solutions > or =100 mg litre(-1) was significantly reduced, as was the ability of emerged first-instar larvae to moult. L2 from eggs exposed to > or =100 mg litre(-1) novaluron weighed significantly less (P < 0.0001) than those from untreated eggs. However, L2 from eggs treated with 1 mg litre(-1) novaluron weighed significantly more (P < or = 0.05) than those from untreated eggs, suggesting novaluron can have a hormetic effect on L decemlineata larval development. Leptinotarsa decemlineata mating pairs fed foliage treated with novaluron at 25 or 75 g AI ha(-1) produced approximately 25% fewer egg masses and eggs per mass. Hatch of eggs on treated foliage was almost completely suppressed, and longevity of male beetles was reduced by approximately 50% when fed foliage treated with novaluron at 75 g AI ha(-1).