Early detection of Neophysopella tropicalis in grapevine leaves and on spore traps by qPCR

Neophysopella tropicalis, one of the causal agents of Asian grapevine leaf rust (AGLR), can cause severe epidemics in Brazil that lead to yield losses in commercial vineyards. An early detection of the pathogen by air sampling of urediniospores on spore traps or in symptomless leaves would be valuable to multiple studies, such as epidemics modelling, risk forecasting, monitoring of pathogen introductions in rust-free areas, and predicting the beginning of epidemics. This study developed a quantitative PCR (qPCR) protocol to quantify N. tropicalis urediniospores attached to adhesive tapes and in grapevine leaves before symptom appearance. A specific primer pair was designed based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence region of the AGLR pathogen. Standard amplification curves using genomic DNA from urediniospores of N. tropicalis and from urediniospores attached to adhesive tapes were established. Grapevine leaves inoculated with N. tropicalis were collected at 2, 5, and 7 days postinoculation (dpi). One primer pair (580F/720R) amplified a 140 bp product in all AGLR isolates but did not amplify products of other rust genera, such as Phakopsora, Puccinia, Hemileia, Tranzschelia, Cerotelium, and Coleosporium. As little as 0.1 pg DNA and 10 urediniospores of N. tropicalis attached to adhesive tapes could be detected. qPCR enabled the detection of the pathogen as early as 2 dpi, before symptom appearance. This method can be used to monitor N. tropicalis inoculum in grapevine-growing areas and to quantify symptomless infections of the AGLR pathogen.     

Note on the Control of Olive Fly (Dacus oleae [Gmel.]) by Means of Low and Ultra-low Volume Bait-spraying

In 1967, 1968 and 1969 the efficacy of aerial low volume and ultra-low volume bait-spraying against Dacus oleae (Gmel.) was compared in Greece. Results were mainly assessed by periodical trapping and by post-treatment countings of the percentage of attack in sampled olives. No difference between the effect of the two methods became apparent. It is deemed necessary, however, to repeat the experiments under conditions of heavier infestation.     

Systemic fungicidal and insecticidal activities of 1- and 2-[bis (dimethylamido)phosphoryl]-3-alkyl-5-anilino-1,2,4-triazoles

The compounds referred to in the title have been investigated for fungicidal, insecticidal and acaricidal activities in laboratory and greenhouse tests. Several representatives of this class of compounds were active against powdery mildew on apple, cucumber, and barley, and against aphids and spider mites, both when applied to the leaves and when added to the nutrient solutions of test plants. Treatment of leaf halves resulted in protection of the entire leaves. A striking difference in pesticidal activity was observed between two series of isomers. Representatives of the series with the phosphoryl group in the 1-position showed much greater pesticidal activities than their corresponding isomers with the phosphoryl group in the 2-position. The optimum activity within the two homologous series (R-H, CH₃ ... C₆H₁₃) was determined: generally the lower homologues (R-H, CH₃, C₂H₅ and i-C₃H₇) showed the greatest pesticidal activity in the systemic tests. After leaf-application the influence of the length of R was less pronounced or even reversed.Samenvatting De in de titel genoemde stoffen zijn onderzocht op fungicide, insecticide en acaricide werking in laboratorium en kasproeven. Verscheidene vertegenwoordigers van dit type verbindingen waren werkzaam tegen echte meeldauw van appel, komkommer en gerst, en tegen bladluizen en spint, dit zowel na toepassing op de bladeren als na toevoeging aan de voedingsoplossingen van proefplanten. Behandeling van bladhelften resulteerde in bescherming van de gehele bladeren. Een opvallend verschil werd waargenomen tussen de werking van twee reeksen isomeren. Vertegenwoordigers van de reeks met de fosforylgroep op de 1-plaats waren veel werkzamer dan hun isomeren met de fosforylgroep op de 2-plaats. Het optimum binnen de twee homologe reeksen (R-H, CH₃ ... C₆H₁₃) werd bepaald: in het algemeen waren de lagere homologen (R-H, CH₃; C₂H₅ en i-C₃H₇) het werkzaamst in de systemische proeven. Na een preventieve bladbespuiting was de invloed van de lengte van R minder uitgesproken of zelfs omgekeerd.     

Radiochemical distribution and decline studies with bromoxynil octanoate in wheat

Bromoxynil octanoate labelled with ¹⁴C in the ring or in the cyano-group was applied to wheat seedlings at the two-leaf or fully-tillered stage and at rates equivalent to up to 16 oz a.i./acre. The plants were grown either in environmental chambers under controlled conditions for up to 28 days, or outdoors under field conditions for various periods up to harvest. Initially, elimination of radioactivity occurred more rapidly with bromoxynil-cyano-[¹⁴C]-octanoate than with bromoxynil-ring-[¹⁴C]-octanoate, indicating metabolic attack on the cyano group. Under outdoor conditions with ring-[¹⁴C]-herbicide applied at the two-leaf stage, only 12% of the radioactivity was retained after 28 days, principally in the treated leaves. When application was made at fully-tillered stage, about 33% of the ¹⁴C was retained after 56 days, almost entirely in the treated senescent leaves at the base of the plant. There was very little translocation of the herbicide or of any major metabolite. The level of radioactivity in harvested grain and in straw more than 7.5 cm above the ground was very low, even after very late application of ring-[¹⁴C]-labelled herbicide. The amount of bromoxynil octanoate, together with any metabolite retaining part of the aromatic ring, did not collectively exceed the equivalent of approx. 0.01 parts/million bromoxynil octanoate.     

Binucleate Rhizoctonia sp. AG G causing root rot in yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) in Brazil

A new rot caused by a binucleate Rhizoctonia sp. affecting the tuberous root cortex of the domesticated yacon ( Smallanthus sonchifolius ) has been observed in Brazil. Isolates of a binucleate Rhizoctonia sp. were collected from roots with rot symptoms and characterized by the number of nuclei per cell, hyphal anastomosis, RAPD molecular markers, ITS-5·8S rDNA sequence and pathogenicity tests. All isolates had a mean of 1·9–2·2 nuclei per cell and anastomosed with the binucleate Rhizoctonia sp. AG G-tester strain. RAPD analysis was carried out between 11 isolates recovered from yacon and 11 AG (A, Ba, Bb, Bo, C, D, F, G, O, P, Q) standard testers of binucleate Rhizoctonia sp. Genetic similarities of 94·8–100% were observed among isolates of the binucleate Rhizoctonia sp. from yacon and all isolates were genetically more closely related to the AG G tester than other strains according to upgma analysis using RAPD markers. Homologies of complete ITS nucleotide sequences were 100% between binucleate isolates of Rhizoctonia sp. from yacon and the AG G tester. According to pathogenicity tests, the isolates caused typical rot symptoms of yacon tubers 90 days after inoculation     

Efficacy of Different Control Methods Applied Separately and in Combination in Managing Root-knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) in Common Beans

Investigations on the efficacy of various methods of managing root-knot nematodes in microplots and under field conditions revealed that soil solarization, Furadan 5G and Tagetes erecta applied separately or in combination with other control methods, were the most effective in reducing the numbers of three root-knot nematodes, and root gall and egg mass indices. These management methods also resulted in significant increases (P0.05) in number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod and 100-seed weight, and increased seed yield by up to 96.7 percent. Farmyard manure and Crotalaria ochroleuca were the least effective treatments. The use of T. erecta was the most economical root-knot nematode control method.     

Slug control in Australian canola: monitoring, molluscicidal baits and economic thresholds

Exotic slugs have become serious pests of canola, at establishment, in Southern Australian high-rainfall cropping zones. Slugs were monitored using relatively inexpensive 300 mm x 300 mm terracotta tiles acting as refuges. An investigation was made of the effects of the time of application of chelated iron baits on the slug species Deroceras reticulatum Müller and Lehmannia nyctelia Bourguignat. Baits reduced the number of surface-active slug species. A single application at sowing provided greater efficacy than one application before sowing, and efficacy was comparable with that of two applications. Canola seedling densities showed a negative response to D. reticulatum numbers; the presence of even one individual per refuge trap reduced seedling numbers below optimum densities. Thistles and other vegetation were associated with increased numbers of slugs. European guidelines for slug monitoring and damage appear to be at least partly applicable to Australian conditions.     

Plasma aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinaseactivities in thoroughbred racehorses in relation to age, sex, exercise and training

In order to investigate the effect of age, sex and month on the response of plasma aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and creatine kinase (CK) to exercise, blood samples were collected once a month between March and September from a group of 40 2- and 3-year-old (2yo and 3yo) thoroughbred racehorses (kept under the same managemental regimen) at rest before exercise (PRE) and at 2 (2H) and 24h (24H) post-exercise. The absolute change in activities between the 2H and PRE samples (2HΔ) and the 24H and PRE samples (24HΔ) was also calculated. Age had a significant effect on all measured and calculated parameters for colts (C), apart from 24HΔ CK but showed no effect in the fillies (F). Sex only had a significant effect in the 3yo in the 2HΔ CK. In the 2yo, significant effects of sex were found for both CK and AST in the PRE, 2H and 24H samples. The effect of month varied according to the classification group with only the 2yoC not showing any significant effect on any parameter. Fillies were, in general, more likely than colts to show greater than a twofold increase in CK activity at 2H post-exercise and the number of animals showing such an increase decreased as the season progressed. Very little change in AST activities occurred with exercise.