Effects of the nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita and of venom from the endoparasitic wasp Pimpla hypochondriaca on survival and food consumption of the pest slug Deroceras reticulatum; implications for novel biocontrol strategies

BACKGROUND: Controlling pests through disruption of biochemical pathways by physiologically active compounds/factors from animals and plants represents an expanding field of research. The authors investigated whether such factors in venom from the wasp Pimpla hypochondriaca (Retzius) can affect the viability and food consumption of the slug Deroceras reticulatum (Müller), and whether they can improve the efficacy of nematode-induced slug mortality. RESULTS: Exposure of slugs to 4 mL of water containing 500, 1000 and 5000 Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita (Schneider) resulted in significant increases in mortality (with hazard ratios of 3.5, 3.9 and 5.8 respectively) and significant reductions in total food consumption and mean food consumption each day for 21 days. Injection of slugs with 4, 8 or 12 microL of P. hypochondriaca venom resulted in significant increases in mortality (with hazard ratios of 3.3, 4.5 and 9.0 respectively) and significant reductions in total food consumption compared with the controls. However, there was no significant effect of venom on the mean food consumption on individual days of the 21 day assay period, although significant reductions occurred for the 8 and 12 microL doses up to day 10. Injecting slugs with 4 microL of venom prior to exposure to 500 nematodes had no synergistic effect on either mortality or food consumption compared with either of the individual treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Pimpla hypochondriaca venom contains factors capable of killing and reducing food consumption by D. reticulatum. The utilization of these factors as components of integrated pest management strategies is discussed.     

Yield benefits of triticale traits for wheat under current and future climates

Triticale often out-yields wheat in both favourable and unfavourable growing conditions. Observed traits suggested for the higher yields in triticale include greater early vigour, a longer spike formation phase with same duration to flowering, reduced tillering, increased remobilization of carbohydrates to the grain, early vigorous root growth and higher transpiration use efficiency. To quantify the impact of these traits systematically across seasons and contrasting rainfall regions and soil types, these triticale traits were introduced into a wheat model (APSIM-Nwheat). The impact of each individual trait and their full combination was analysed in a simulation experiment for three Mediterranean growing environments, two contrasting soil types and long-term historical weather data. The simulated impact of these traits was compared with measured impacts from a range of field experiments across several environments. Simulated responses of various crop characteristics including yield, were in general similar to responses observed in wheat-triticale comparison field experiments across a large range of growing conditions. The simulation analysis indicated that the yield response to the incorporation of the triticale traits into wheat was positive, in both low and high yielding growing conditions, similar to measured differences, but the simulated benefit was on average lower than the range observed in data of triticale and wheat. This suggests that other traits might also be involved in higher-yielding triticale, or the magnitude of some of the traits may be underestimated in field experiments due to ‘trait by environment’ interactions. The simulation results suggest the highest yield benefit can be achieved from increasing transpiration use efficiency in wheat, but early vigour, remobilization of stem carbohydrates and early root growth also contribute positively to a yield increase in the different growing environments. The yield benefits from the triticale traits increased in the future climate change scenario in particular on soils with high water-holding capacity from contributions of increased early vigour, remobilization of stem carbohydrates and transpiration use efficiency, and remained stable on the lighter soils.     

Cover Image,Volume 73, Issue 11

The cover image, by Nicola K Richards et al., is based on the Research Article Genetic variation within species and haplotypes of the Wiseana (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae) complex and development of non‐sequenced based identification tools to aid field studies, DOI: 10.1002/ps.4620 . Photo Credit: Colin M. Ferguson, AgResearch‐ Invermay.

     

In vitro erythrocytic membrane effects of dibenzyl trisulfide, a secondary metabolite of Petiveria alliacea

We investigated the in vitro effect of dibenzyl trisulfide (DTS), a secondary metabolite of Petiveria alliacea, on erythrocyte elasticity, relaxation time and membrane morphology. Blood samples from 8 volunteers with hemoglobin AA were exposed to 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1000 ng/ml of DTS respectively and the elasticity and relaxation time measured. There were statistically significant, dose-dependent increases in elasticity and relaxation times. The changes in membrane morphology observed also increased with increased concentration of DTS. This suggests that DTS interaction with membrane protein resulted in increased elasticity, relaxation time and deformation of the erythrocyte membrane.     

Effects of Cultivation after Planting on Yields of Seed Cotton

Abstract

Experiments carried out over several seasons showed that, on a soil prone to crusting, cultivations after the establishment of a cotton crop only increased yields in a season of low rainfall. This yield increase appeared to have been due to enhanced entry into the soil of the limited effective rainfall. In one season of high rainfall, deep cultivation significantly reduced yields.     

Notes on the Vegetative Propagation of Cacao by Cuttings

Many investigations at the West African Cacao Research Institute require the production of uniform clones of cacao. Although Amelonado, which is the name adopted for the most predominant variety of cacao in West Africa, appears to be genetically uniform, it has been considered advisable to use self-rooted clones for such detailed work as the definition of virus symptomatology. Also many of the Institute’s disease and pest resistant selections are known to be heterozygous types of cacao, and investigations on these must of necessity be carried out on clonal material. Cacao can be rapidly propagated by budding, but this method introduces the variability associated with seedling rootstocks.     

Anti-biofilm compounds derived from marine sponges

Bacterial biofilms are surface-attached communities of microorganisms that are protected by an extracellular matrix of biomolecules. In the biofilm state, bacteria are significantly more resistant to external assault, including attack by antibiotics. In their native environment, bacterial biofilms underpin costly biofouling that wreaks havoc on shipping, utilities, and offshore industry. Within a host environment, they are insensitive to antiseptics and basic host immune responses. It is estimated that up to 80% of all microbial infections are biofilm-based. Biofilm infections of indwelling medical devices are of particular concern, since once the device is colonized, infection is almost impossible to eliminate. Given the prominence of biofilms in infectious diseases, there is a notable effort towards developing small, synthetically available molecules that will modulate bacterial biofilm development and maintenance. Here, we highlight the development of small molecules that inhibit and/or disperse bacterial biofilms specifically through non-microbicidal mechanisms. Importantly, we discuss several sets of compounds derived from marine sponges that we are developing in our labs to address the persistent biofilm problem. We will discuss: discovery/synthesis of natural products and their analogues-including our marine sponge-derived compounds and initial adjuvant activity and toxicological screening of our novel anti-biofilm compounds.     

Adiposity and adiponectin in dogs: investigation of causes of discrepant results between two studies

Although one study showed lower adiponectin concentrations in obese dogs, other recent studies indicate that adiponectin might not be decreased in obese dogs, raising the possibility that the physiology of adiponectin is different in dogs than in humans. The aim of this study was to investigate possible causes of the discrepancy between the two largest studies to date that assessed the association between adiposity and adiponectin concentration in dogs, including the validity of the assay, laboratory error, and the effects of breed, sex, and neuter status on the relationship between adiposity and adiponectin concentrations. Adiponectin concentrations measured with a previously validated adiponectin ELISA were compared with those estimated by Western blotting analysis of reduced and denatured plasma samples. The possibility of laboratory error and the effect of EDTA anticoagulant and aprotinin were tested. Adiponectin concentration was measured by ELISA in 20 lean dogs (10 male and 10 female, 5 neutered in each sex). There was close correlation between adiponectin concentrations measured by ELISA and those estimated by Western blotting analysis (r = 0.90; P < 0.001). There was no substantial effect of EDTA, aprotinin, or laboratory error on the results. There was confounding by neuter status of the relationship between adiposity and adiponectin concentrations, but adiponectin concentrations were not significantly lower in male than in female lean dogs (females, 36 mg/L; males, 26 mg/L; P > 0.20) and were not significantly lower in intact than in neutered lean male dogs (intact, 28 mg/L; neutered, 23 mg/L; P = 0.49). We conclude that the adiponectin ELISA previously validated for use in dogs appears to be suitable for determination of canine adiponectin concentrations and that testosterone does not appear to have a strong effect on plasma adiponectin concentrations in dogs. Obesity might decrease adiponectin concentrations in intact but not in neutered dogs.     

Rumen temperature change monitored with remote rumen temperature boluses after challenges with bovine viral diarrhea virus and Mannheimia haemolytica

Remote rumen temperature monitoring is a potential method for early disease detection in beef cattle. This experiment was conducted to determine if remotely monitored rumen temperature boluses could detect a temperature change in steers exposed to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and challenged with a common bovine respiratory disease pathogen, Mannheimia haemolytica (MH). Twenty-four Angus crossbred steers (BW = 313 ± 31 kg) were allotted to 1 of 4 treatments: 1) no challenge (control); 2) challenge by a 72-h exposure to 2 steers persistently infected with BVDV; 3) bacterial challenge with MH; and 4) viral challenge by a 72-h exposure to 2 steers persistently infected with BVDV followed by bacterial challenge with MH (BVDV + MH). Remotely monitored rumen temperature boluses programmed to transmit temperature every minute were placed in the rumen before the time of exposure to steers persistently infected with BVDV. Rectal temperatures were taken before MH challenge (0) and at 2, 4, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 96 h after MH challenge. Rumen temperatures were recorded 3 d before (-72 h; period of BVDV exposure) through 14 d after (336 h) MH challenge. Rumen temperatures were analyzed as a randomized complete block design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments and a first-order autoregressive covariance structure for repeated measures. A treatment × day interaction was observed for average daily rumen temperature (P < 0.01). A treatment difference (P < 0.01) was observed on d 0, when MH-challenged steers had greater rumen temperatures than steers not challenged with MH. There was no BVDV × day interaction (P > 0.01). Rumen temperatures averaged every 2 h resulted in a BVDV × hour interaction (P < 0.01) and an MH × hour interaction (P < 0.01). The BVDV × hour differences occurred at h -18 to -14, 40 to 46, 110, 122, and 144 to 146 (P < 0.01). The MH × hour difference occurred at h 4 to 24 (P < 0.01). Maximum rumen temperature was increased (P < 0.01) for BVDV (0.8 °C), MH (1.2 °C), and BVDV + MH (1.3 °C) compared with the control. On average, rumen temperatures measured by the boluses at the same time points as the rectal temperatures were 0.13 °C less than rectal temperatures, and the 2 body temperatures were highly correlated (r = 0.89). Rumen temperature boluses appear to have potential as a tool for detecting temperature changes associated with adverse health events such as exposure to bovine respiratory disease and BVDV.