Detection of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus in imported tomato fruit in northern Europe

Imported tomato fruits infected with Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) were identified on the market in northern Europe using paper‐based FTA Classic Cards (Whatman), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and partial DNA sequence analysis. Trade tomatoes originating from southern Europe, Africa and the Middle East were sampled in Estonia and Sweden, and tested for infection with begomoviruses. Out of 100 batches analysed with five fruits sampled in each batch (58 batches from Estonia and 42 from Sweden), 20 batches were positive (16 from Estonia and four from Sweden). Rolling circle amplification (RCA) and full‐length genome sequence analysis of one isolate collected in Estonia and one isolate in Sweden, revealed highest nucleotide sequence identity at 99% to TYLCV‐IL for the Estonian isolate and at 97% to TYLCV‐Mld for the Swedish isolate. In this study, TYLCV was identified for the first time in imported tomato fruits on the market in northern Europe. FTA cards proved to be an effective means to collect, extract and store begomovirus DNA from tomato fruits and the subsequent molecular analysis.     

Current status and impact of mango malformation in Egypt

A survey was conducted in 1998 to determine the status and impact of mango malformation in Egypt. In the El Giza, Ismailîa and Sharkaia Governerates, disease incidence and severity ranged from 20 to 100% and from 5 to 60%, respectively. In contrast, 75 km to the south in the El Faiyûm Governerate, incidence and severity were lower, 3-5 and 0.1 to <1%, respectively. Based on these figures and recent production statistics, it is estimated that malformation causes losses in Egypt of at least E35 million/year. When malformation was managed in El Giza, Ismailîa and Sharkaia by removing affected vegetative and floral terminals, the mean disease incidence and severity were lower than in non-managed orchards (69 versus 29% and 29 versus 6%, respectively). Thirty-nine isolates of the pathogen, Fusarium mangiferae, recovered during the survey were sexually incompatible with the B, C and D mating populations of the Gibberella fujikuroi complex; 10 of these were also incompatible among themselves. Four vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) were detected among 43 of the isolates from this and a previous survey. VCG was generally not correlated with farm, governerate or host cultivar, and in three instances, isolates from two different VCGs were recovered from the same tree. RAPD analyses divided isolates into two genetically distinct clusters: Group I contained isolates in VCGs 1, 2 and 4; Group II contained isolates in VCG 3. The VCG and RAPD data support the conclusion that isolates of the pathogen from the Nile Delta were probably responsible for the recent appearance of the disease in El Faiyûm.     

Effect of weaning method on body weight,testicular growth,sexual behavior,age of puberty,and testosterone concentration of Beetal bucks

The current study evaluates the effects of early (8th week) and late (16th week of age) weaning of male goat kids on their body growth, testicular growth, sexual behavior, plasma testosterone concentration, and pubertal age. Early (n = 6) and late (n = 7) weaned Beetal bucks were weekly monitored from 18th to 38th week for their body weight, scrotal circumference, testicular volume, testicular echogenicity (via ultrasonography), sexual activities, and plasma testosterone concentration. In comparison to early-weaned, late-weaned bucks showed a marked increase (p < .05) in body weight (11.4 ± 0.8 vs. 13.7 ± 0.6kg), testicular volume (44.1 ± 7.2 vs. 79.8 ± 18.7cm³), scrotal circumference (10.7 ± 0.6 vs. 12.8 ± 0.7cm), and testicular echogenicity (28.3 ± 2.7 vs. 38.3 ± 2.1) from 18th, 28th, 21st, and 24th week onward, respectively. Sexual activities started earlier in late- than early-weaned bucks (22nd vs. 25th week, respectively). Moreover, the sexual behavior index was better (p < .05) after the 34th week in late than early-weaned bucks. The plasma concentration of testosterone (at 39 weeks of age) was relatively more and the onset of puberty was 2–3 weeks earlier (p < .05) in late than early-weaned bucks. In conclusion, age-based early weaning of male kids impairs their testicular growth, sexual behavior, and age at puberty compared to conventional weaning.     

青杨楔天牛病原细菌——链球菌致病性研究

青杨楔天牛(Saperda populnea Linnaeus)是新疆维吾尔自治区杨树(Populus spp.)的主要蛀干性害虫。在调查青杨楔天牛的过程中发现了在虫瘿内自然感病死亡的天牛幼虫,从感病幼虫体上分离培养的细菌经鉴定为链球菌属(Streptococcus Rosebach)的一种细菌。     

Fluorescein-Labeled Goat Milk Antibodies: Use in Detection of Mumps Virus in Tissue Culture

Specific antibodies are found in the globulin fraction of the milk following instillation of mumps virus in the mammary gland of the goat. These antibodies, conjugated with fluerescein isothiocyanate, have been successfully employed in the direct fluorescent antibody staining of mumps virus in infected BS-C-1 cells.     

An epidemiological survey on bovine and ovine babesiosis in Kurdistan Province, western Iran

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the Babesia infection in domestic animals in Kurdistan Province of Iran for the first time. In this survey, 9,111 domestic livestock, including cattle and sheep, were randomly sampled and examined from 500 flocks in Kurdistan Province from July 2007 to September 2009. Thin peripheral blood smears were taken and then stained by Giemsa staining method. From a total of 9,111 collected samples, 2,642 were sheep and 6,469 were cattle. Babesia spp. is detected in 1,359 (51.4%) out of sheep samples and 136 (2.1%) out of cattle samples by direct examination of blood smear. Altogether, the prevalence rate of Babesia infection was 16.4% (n = 1,495) in both animal groups. Babesia ovis and Babesia bigemina were the most prevalent species found in sheep and cattle, respectively. The relatively high prevalence of Babesia infection in livestock indicates the epizootic stability status of babesiosis in the western part of Iran.     

野果林区苹果小吉丁虫种群消长动态及缓释瓶筛选

【目的】研究不同生境中苹果小吉丁Agrilus mali Matsumura成虫种群消长动态规律,筛选出对苹果小吉丁引诱剂具有良好缓释效果的缓释瓶,为监控苹果小吉丁成虫提供有效手段。【方法】 将YC和YSYZ 2种引诱剂与浅绿色和蛋黄色2种颜色的粘虫板进行组合,在3种环境中对苹果小吉丁的种群动态进行监测,对比3种缓释瓶对2种引诱剂田间诱捕效果及缓释作用,比较诱捕器在树冠不同悬挂方位的诱捕效果。【结果】 栽培苹果园于6月中旬、平均气温达到20℃时开始监测到成虫,高峰期出现于6月下旬,平均温度为21.5℃。河滩野果林于6月中旬、平均温度为18.1℃时开始监测到成虫,于7月下旬、平均温度达到20.5℃时为高峰期。山区野果林成虫始见期出现于6月下旬,平均温度为21.1℃,成虫羽化高峰集中于8月中下旬。3种缓释瓶与2种引诱剂组合对苹果小吉丁引诱效果无显著性差异,但软陶扩香瓶的诱捕数量最高;透明扩香瓶对2种引诱剂的持效期最长,软陶扩香瓶缓释效果次之,PVC缓释瓶缓释效果最差。从悬挂方位诱捕数量来看,北面4 m高度诱捕数量最多,3 d平均诱捕数量达到2.60头/张,东面2 m高度诱捕数量最少,仅为0.64头/张。【结论】 温度对苹果小吉丁成虫的消长动态具有一定的调控作用,软陶扩香瓶缓释效果良好、诱捕效果最佳;田间使用时悬挂于野苹果树北面4 m处可起到良好的引诱效果。     

主要气象因子对吐鲁番枣实蝇越冬代成虫羽化率的影响

枣实蝇(Carpomyia vesuviana Costa)是我国禁止进境的检疫性入侵害虫,该害虫主要以幼虫蛀食果肉来为害红枣(Ziziphus jujube Mill.)和酸枣(Z.juju-ba var.spinosa(Bunge)Hu)等[1-2]。2007年9月在