Improving sooty blotch and flyspeck severity estimation on apple fruit with the aid of standard area diagrams

Sooty blotch and flyspeck is caused by numerous species of fungi that colonize the surface of apple fruit and thereby lower its market value. Although this disease poses a substantial threat to apple growers’ profitability in some regions, reliable and cost-effective methods for epidemiological and disease control studies have not been validated, nor are they widely available. We modified a standard area diagram to aid sooty blotch and flyspeck severity assessments and quantified its impact on accuracy and precision of visual estimates. Samples of ‘Fuji’ and ‘Mutsu’ fruit were photographed both from the top and laterally. Severity was assessed from a sub-sample of 160 images using image analysis software. Validation of the diagram was performed by eight raters who independently assessed severity in two series of selected images representing the lateral view and the top view, initially unaided and subsequently with the aid of the scale. Severity estimates ranged from 0.4% to 98% (most fruit had <10% severity). Accuracy and precision of the estimates were significantly improved when using the diagrammatic scale; concordance correlation coefficient values increased from 0.81 to 0.95. A strong tendency to underestimate severity for the mid-range to high levels was minimized when using the aid, which also improved reproducibility of the estimates among raters. In addition to strengthening evidence that a standard area diagram can be used reliably in sooty blotch and flyspeck studies, we expanded its application to disease assessment in the peduncle region, which enhances the usefulness of the method for evaluating efficacy of management practices.     

ROS and NO production in compatible and incompatible tomato-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Meloidogyne incognita</Emphasis> interactions

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to be an essential regulatory molecule in plant response to pathogen infection in synergy with reactive oxygen species (ROS). At the present, nothing is known about the role of NO in disease resistance to nematode infection. We used a resistant tomato cultivar with different sensitivity to avirulent and virulent populations of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita to investigate the key components involved in oxidative and nitrosative metabolism. We analyzed the superoxide radical production, hydrogen peroxide content, and nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-like and nitrate reductase activities, as potential sources of NO. A rapid NO accumulation and ROS production were found at 12 h after infection in compatible and incompatible tomato-nematode interactions, whereas the amount of NO and ROS gave different results 24 and 48 h after infection amongst compatible and incompatible interactions. NOS-like arginine-dependent enzyme rather than nitrate reductase was the main source of NO production, and NOS-like activity increased substantially in the incompatible interaction. We can envisage a functional overlap of both NO and ROS in tomato defence response to nematode invasion, NO and H₂O₂ cooperating in triggering hypersensitive cell death. Therefore, NO and ROS are key molecules which may help to orchestrate events following nematode challenge, and which may influence the host cellular metabolism.     

Cellular and ultrastructural changes in the seedling roots of upland rice (Oryza sativa) under the stress of two allelochemicals from Ageratina adenophora

Two sesquiterpene‐derivative compounds, 4,7‐dimethyl‐1‐(propan?2‐ylidene)–1,4,4a,8a‐tetrahydronaphthalene‐2,6(1H, 7H)‐dione (DTD) and 6‐hydroxy‐5‐isopropyl‐3,8‐dimethyl?4a,5,6,7,8,8a‐hexahydronaphthalen‐2(1H)–one (HHO), are the major putative allelochemicals of the aqueous leachates of Ageratina adenophora. A laboratory experiment was conducted, using the hydroponic method, to evaluate the cellular and ultrastructural changes in the seedling roots of upland rice under the stress of DTD and HHO. The subsequent changes were observed in the treated upland rice roots in comparison with their controls. The scanning electron microscopy results showed that the DTD‐treated root tip cells turned into an irregular arrangement and shape and that most of them were wizened, with a poor cytoplasm. In the HHO treatment, the root tips had many irregularly shaped cells, with a greater number of sloughing cells, as well as short, wide cells that resulted in spherical and wider, but shorter, roots. At the ultrastructural level, DTD and HHO induced irregularly shaped and lobed nuclei, increased cytoplasmic vacuolation, reduced ribosome density and dictyosomes, and a reduced number of mitochondria in the cells, which indicated limited protein transportation and a reduced capability to export substances for cell development and growth in the upland rice seedling roots. The overall effect of HHO on the upland rice seedlings was more pronounced than that of DTD.     

Field trial measuring the compatibility of methoxyfenozide and flonicamid with Orius laevigatus Fieber (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) and Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in a commercial pepper greenhouse

BACKGROUND: Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) are among the most serious pests of sweet peppers in greenhouses. Chemical control is difficult because of their high reproductive rates and insecticide resistance, and seasonal inoculative releases of Orius laevigatus (Fieber) and Amblyseius swirskii (Athias‐Henriot) are commonly used to reduce their populations. As chemical treatments are often needed in the crop against other pests, the side effects of methoxyfenozide (an insect growth regulator against lepidopteran pests) and flonicamid (a selective feeding inhibitor against sucking insects) were studied in both beneficial organisms in a commercial greenhouse. RESULTS: Orius laevigatus and A. swirskii were released at commercial rates (4–5 and 100 m^?2), and a strong establishment and a very homogeneous distribution were reached. One pesticide treatment with the maximum field recommended concentration of methoxyfenozide and flonicamid (96 and 100 mg AI L^?1) was done when they were well established, and their population levels were not affected either immediately or up to 30 days after treatment. CONCLUSION: The results are indicative of no impact of methoxyfenozide and flonicamid on the two natural enemies in the field, and both can be considered as potential alternatives to be included in IPM programmes in sweet pepper. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Partial replacement of Fe(o,o‐EDDHA) by humic substances for Fe nutrition and fruit quality of citrus

The most widely used Iron (Fe) fertilizer in calcareous soils is the synthetic chelate Fe(o,o‐EDDHA). However, humic substances are occasionally combined with Fe chelates in drip irrigation systems in order to lower costs. We investigated the effect of various mixtures of Fe(o,o‐EDDHA) and a commercially available humic substance on Fe availability in a calcareous soil from Murcia, Spain (in vitro experiment) and on leaf Fe content and fruit‐quality attributes of Citrus macrophylla (field experiment). In the in vitro experiment, a calcareous soil was incubated for 15 d with solutions of sole Fe(o,o‐EDDHA) and humic substance and of a mixture of humic substance and Fe(o,o‐EDDHA) to determine the dynamics of available Fe. While the mixture did not significantly increase the available soil Fe, it did decrease the rate of Fe retention in the surface soil compared to sole Fe(o,o‐EDDHA). In the field experiment, the substitution in the application solution of 67% of Fe(o,o‐EDDHA) by commercial humic substance increased leaf P in lemon trees from 0.19% with sole Fe(o,o‐EDDHA) to 0.30% and leaf Fe from 94 mg kg^–1 to 115 mg kg^–1. Some quality parameters like vitamin C content and peel thickness were also improved with a partial substitution of Fe(o,o‐EDDHA) by humic substances. We conclude that a partial substitution of commercial Fe chelates by humic substance can improve crop Fe uptake and may thus be economically attractive. The underlying physiological mechanisms and ecological implications require further studies.     

Evidence of plaggen soils in European North Russia (Arkhangelsk region)

To clarify whether a particular group of soils of Archangelsk region (European N Russia) with humus‐rich topsoils exceeding the plowing zone supports an anthropogenic formation, four exemplary profiles were investigated. The investigation sites are characterized by distinct elevated surfaces, and the soils show thick toplayers of up to 60 cm with enrichment of soil organic matter and artifacts like brick, charcoal, and peat fragments, all indicating an anthropogenic origin. Increased phytolith amounts and high P contents of up to 800 mg kg^–1 citric acid–soluble P and up to 1,400 mg kg^–1 total P in the top horizons support an anthropogenic influence. These properties are very similar to the Plagganthrepts of NW Europe. The same is true regarding the main management aims: increasing soil fertility and overcoming the need of bedding materials. Having the required depths of the anthropogenic topsoil, the properties of the soils of the Archangelsk region allow a classification as Agrozems (Russian classification), Plaggenesche (German classification), and Plagganthrepts (US taxonomy). Since the high base saturation of the topsoil excludes a designation as plaggic horizon, the topsoil has to be considered as terric horizon, which leads to a classification as Terric Anthrosol according to WRB.     

Malolactic fermentation in wine with Lactobacillus casei cells immobilized on Delignified cellulosic material

In this work Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 cells immobilized on delignified cellulosic material (DCM) were used for malolactic fermentation (MLF) of wine. Wine was produced using yeast cells immobilized on DCM at 20 degrees C, and after alcoholic fermentation, MLF at 27 degrees C followed using immobilized L. casei ATCC 393 cells. A total of 11 repeated alcoholic and subsequent MLF batches were performed within a period of 1 month. As the repeated MLF batches proceeded, the MLF activity of the immobilized biocatalyst was reduced. Malic acid degradation was reduced from 80 to 2%, pH was reduced by 0.5-0.1 unit, acetic acid concentrations were slightly reduced or remained stable (0.002 g/L), the higher alcohols 1-propanol, isobutyl alcohol, and amyl alcohol were decreased by 84, 23, and 11%, respectively, and ethyl acetate concentration was increased by approximately 56%. Wine samples were analyzed by GC-MS before and after MLF, revealing some qualitative differences.     

Vertical advection of extracellular DNA by water capillarity in soil columns

The fate of extracellular DNA in the environment concerns both the fate of transgenes from genetically modified organisms and the evolution of active bacteria capable of incorporating this DNA into their genomes. This study addressed the possibility that DNA, like other organic molecules, could move vertically in the capillary fringe of groundwater aquifers. The targeted gene fragment used here was the 35S-nptII sequence, which was below detection levels in controls. Initial microcosm studies detected the DNA target molecule by PCR during the entire experiment. The vertical advection of water and DNA were monitored for a period of 3 days in soil columns. DNA was added as a water solution at the bottom of the unsaturated soil column, and then DNA-free water was added at the bottom after 12 and 24 h. After the addition of the DNA solution, capillary water rose 4 cm within the soil column and the target DNA was detected up to that height. After 60 min, the entire soil column (10 cm) was wetted and the target sequence was detected up to a height of 7.5 cm. After the second wetting (12 h later), the target sequence was detected up to the top of the soil column (10 cm). However, after the third wetting (24 h later), the marker sequence was only found at heights from 0.5 to 4 cm. Results clearly show the vertical movement of DNA due the capillary rise and suggest the possibility of DNA degradation within the soil column.