Timing and order of different insecticide classes drive control of Drosophila suzukii; a modeling approach

The spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, is an invasive pest causing significant damage to soft skinned fruits. Control of D. suzukii is critical since there is no tolerance for infested fruit in the market. While most insecticides control one or more D. suzukii life-stages (e.g., egg, larvae, and adult), the impact of insecticides that are toxic to immature stages  is unclear on the subsequent generation of a field population. Insecticides were applied at field recommended rates on cherries and blueberries in the laboratory to determine immature D. suzukii mortality. Spinetoram, cyantraniliprole, malathion, methomyl, spinosad, and phosmet resulted in relatively high mortality of all immature life stages. Zeta-cypermethrin, cyclaniliprole, and fenpropathrin resulted in lower mortality of egg and all larval instars. Malathion was also applied to lowbush blueberries with different fruit sizes (small, medium, and large) in the laboratory and there was no statistical difference in mortality rates depending on fruit sizes. Mortality data from the laboratory experiments were used to parameterize a refined D. suzukii population model. The model revealed that the timing and order of different insecticide classes are important to control D. suzukii population. Model runs that included early applications of more effective insecticides resulted in high immature mortality and greater reduction of D. suzukii populations compared to treatments applied later.

     

Dielectric behaviour of polyamide monofilament fibers containing moisture as measured in woven form

This paper discusses measurement and modeling of dielectric properties of polymeric materials in a three phase mixture consisting air, moisture and the polymer itself. Using nylon 6 monofilaments as base polymeric materials and assembled in simple woven fabric form, it is shown that the effective permittivity follows a quadratic curve with respect to the volume fraction. The effect of moisture absorption by the fibers on the effective volume fraction is calculated theoretically and results show negligible difference between two extreme cases of moisture adsorption. A new method of analyzing the system as a three phase system is described in this paper.     

Varietal tolerance to Zinc deficiency in wheat and barley grown in chelatorbuffered nutrient solution and its effect on uptake of Cu,Fe, and Mn

Tolerance to zinc (Zn) deficiency was examined for three wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and three barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties grown in chelator‐buffered nutrient solution. Four indices were chosen to characterize tolerance to Zn deficiency: (1) relative shoot weight at low compared to high Zn supply (“Zn efficiency index”), (2) relative shoot to root ratio at low compared to high Zn supply, (3) total shoot uptake of Zn under deficient conditions, and (4) shoot dry weight under deficient conditions. Barley and wheat exhibited different tolerance to Zn deficiency, with barley being consistently more tolerant than wheat as assessed by all four indices. The tolerance to Zn deficiency in the barley varieties was in the order Thule=Tyra>Kinnan, and that of wheat in the order Bastian=Avle>Vinjett. The less tolerant varieties of both species accumulated more P in the shoots than the more tolerant varieties. For all varieties, the concentrations of Mn, Fe, Cu, and P in shoot tissue were negatively correlated with Zn supply. This antagonism was more pronounced for Mn and P than for Cu and Fe. Accumulation of Cu in barley roots was extremely high under Zn‐deficient conditions, an effect not so clearly indicated in wheat.     

Effect of different forms and sources of arsenic on crop yield and arsenic concentration

Two greenhouse experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different sources of As application on the yield of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and the arsenic concentration in crop tissue. The soils used were a sand and a loam soil. In the first experiment (3 yr), As was applied either as sodium arsenite or as disodium hydrogen arsenate at the rate of 0, 2, 10, 50, and 250 mg As kg^?1 soil in year 1. In years 2 and 3, only the residual effect of As applied in year 1 was investigated. In the second experiment (5 yr), a NPK(16-7-12) fertilizer containing 10, 100 and 3000 mg As kg^?1 as sodium arsenite was applied at rates of 750 and 600 mg kg^?1 to ryegrass and barley, respectively, with lime and without lime. Arsenite had more inhibitory effect on crop yield than arsenate. Although the residual effect persisted up to year 3, it was found to be dependent on As application rate, soil type, and crop species. Only minor differences in As concentration in crops between arsenite and arsenate sources were observed. The yield reduction and the increase of As concentration in crops was highly related to As application rates. The As rates of 50 and 250 mg As kg^?1 resulted in significant yield reduction and marked increase of As concentration in both crops and these rates could be considered as critical for both crops. The application of As containing fertilizer had little or no effect on crop yield. The As concentration in both crops was little affected by the fertilizer containing up to 100 mg As kg^?1 but the concentration increased several folds when the fertilizer containing 3000 mg As kg^?1 was applied. The application of additional P to the treatment containing 3000 mg As kg^?1 fertilizer only slightly increased crop yields but it increased As concentration in ryegrass markedly. The repeated application of As containing fertilizer up to a period of 5 yr, even at 3000 mg As kg^?1 level, generally did not affect either the yields or the As concentration in both crops although a slight increase of As concentration in barley grain over the years was observed. In both experiments, the yield reduction and the increase in As concentration in crop tissue were lower in the loam soil than in the sand and barley straw cointained much higher As than barley grains, indicating that greater proportion of the As taken up by this crop was retained in the vegetative organs.     

Occurrence and infectivity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in some norwegian soils influenced by heavy metals and soil properties

Mycorrhizae are ubiquitous symbiosis which can mediate uptake of some plant nutrients. In polluted soils they could be of great importance in heavy metal availability and toxicity to plants. Mycorrhizae have also been reported to protect plants against toxic metals. We investigated the occurrence and infectivity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) spores as affected by heavy metal levels and other soil properties in Norwegian soils collected from heavy metal polluted, high natural background and non-polluted areas. Spore numbers, mycorrhizal infectivity and spore germination of indigenous mycorrhizal fungi and of a reference strain (Glomus mosseae) in soils showed lower values in two soils with high metal concentrations and in one soil with a low pH. Mycorrhizal infectivity was negatively correlated with extractable metals. Spore number and mycorrhizal infectivity in a soil with naturally high heavy metal content were not different to in non-polluted soils, and indigenous AM fungi appeared more tolerant to metals than those in non-polluted soils. Mycorrhizal infectivity, expressed as MSI₅₀ values, was significantly correlated (r′=0.89, P< 0.05) with the percentage of germinating G. mosseae spores in the soils. However, the number of spores per volume of soil was not significantly correlated with infectivity or spore germination of the reference strain. The spore germination method is discussed as a bioassay of heavy metal toxicity in soil.     

Aggregate associated carbon, nitrogen and sulfur and their ratios in long-term fertilized soils

Farmyard manure (FYM) and fertilizer applications are important management practices used to improve nutrient status and organic matter in soils and thus to increase crop productivity and carbon (C) sequestration. However, the long-term effects of fertilization on C, nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) associated with aggregates, especially on S are not fully understood. We investigated the effects of more than 80 years of FYM (medium level of 40 Mg ka⁻¹ and high level of 60 Mg ka⁻¹) and mineral fertilizer (NPKS and NK) on the concentrations and pools of C, N, and S and on their ratios in bulk soil, dry aggregates and water stable aggregates on an Aquic Eutrocryepts soil in South-eastern Norway. A high level of FYM and NPKS application increased the proportion of small dry aggregates (<0.6 mm) by 8%, compared with the control (without fertilizer). However, both medium and high level of FYM application increased the proportion of large water stable aggregates (>2 mm) compared with mineral fertilizer (NPKS and NK). The total C and N pools in bulk soils were also increased in FYM treatments but no such increase was seen with mineral fertilizer treatments. The increased total S pool was only found under high level of FYM application. Water stable macroaggregates (>2 and 1–2 mm) and microaggregates (<0.106 mm) contained higher concentrations of C, N and S than the other aggregate sizes, but due to their abundance, medium size water stable aggregates (0.5–1 mm) contained higher total pools of all three elements. High level of FYM application increased the C concentration in water stable aggregates >2, 0.5–1 and <0.106 mm, and increased the S concentration in most aggregates as compared with unfertilized soils. Higher C/N, C/S and N/S ratios were found both in large dry aggregates (>20 and 6–20 mm) and in the smallest aggregates (<0.6 mm) than in other aggregate sizes. In water stable aggregates, the C/N ratio generally increased with decreasing aggregate size. However, macroaggregates (>2 mm) showed higher N/S ratios than microaggregates (<0.106 mm). We can thus conclude, that long-term application of high amounts of FYM resulted in C, N and S accumulation in bulk soil, and C and S accumulation in most aggregates, but that the accumulation pattern was dependent on aggregate size and the element (C, N and S) considered.     

Status of selenium and vitamin E on Norwegian organic sheep and dairy cattle farms

Herbage selenium (Se) concentration is generally low in Norway. It is unknown whether feeding practices on Norwegian organic farms fulfil the dietary needs of Se and vitamin E for sheep and dairy cattle. Therefore we analysed Se in soil and herbage, and Se and vitamin E in animal blood in the indoor feeding season at 14 organic dairy and 14 organic sheep farms. The herbage Se concentration was low. Approximately 50 and 35% of all samples in the first and second cut, respectively, had Se concentrations below the detection limit of 0.01 mg/kg dry matter (DM). The median (10th, 90th percentile) Se concentrations were <0.01 (<0.01, 0.03) and 0.02 (<0.01, 0.06) mg/kg DM in the first and second cuts, respectively. Whole blood Se concentrations were 0.10 (0.04, 0.15) μg/g in dairy cattle and 0.14 (0.03, 0.26) μg/g in sheep. Vitamin E concentrations were 4.2 (2.7, 8.4) mg/l in dairy cattle and 1.3 (0.9, 2.4) mg/l in sheep. None of the soil or plant variables explained the variation in herbage Se concentration, although Se in soil and plant tended to be correlated. Herbage Se concentration was inadequate to meet the dietary Se requirements. Vitamin E requirement was only met in dairy herds. We recommend Se and vitamin E supplementation to ruminants on organic farms.     

Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Rapid Screening for the Nephrotoxic and Hepatotoxic Effects of Microcystins

In vivo visualization of kidney and liver damage by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) may offer an advantage when there is a need for a simple, non-invasive and rapid method for screening of the effects of potential nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic substances in chronic experiments. Here, we used MRI for monitoring chronic intoxication with microcystins (MCs) in rat. Male adult Wistar rats were treated every other day for eight months, either with MC-LR (10 μg/kg i.p.) or MC-YR (10 μg/kg i.p.). Control groups were treated with vehicle solutions. T₁-weighted MR-images were acquired before and at the end of the eight months experimental period. Kidney injury induced by the MCs presented with the increased intensity of T₁-weighted MR-signal of the kidneys and liver as compared to these organs from the control animals treated for eight months, either with the vehicle solution or with saline. The intensification of the T1-weighted MR-signal correlated with the increased volume density of heavily injured tubuli (R² = 0.77), with heavily damaged glomeruli (R² = 0.84) and with volume density of connective tissue (R² = 0.72). The changes in the MR signal intensity probably reflect the presence of an abundant proteinaceous material within the dilated nephrons and proliferation of the connective tissue. T₁-weighted MRI-is a valuable method for the in vivo screening of kidney and liver damage in rat models of intoxication with hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic agents, such as microcystins.     

Identification of major immunogenic proteins of Mycoplasma synoviae isolates

Mycoplasma synoviae isolates differ in patterns of immunogenic proteins, but most of them have not been identified yet. The main aim of this study was their identification in two closely related M. synoviae isolates, ULB 02/P4 and ULB 02/OV6, recovered recently from chickens in Slovenia. N-terminal sequencing identified 17 M. synoviae proteins. Amongst them were 14 major, highly expressed but previously unidentified proteins, including enzymes, chaperones and putative lipoproteins. ULB 02/P4 proteins with increasing molecular weight (M(w)) in the region above the lipoprotein MSPB (approximately 40 kDa) were elongation factor EF-Tu, enolase, NADH oxidase, haemagglutinin MSPA, ATP synthase beta chain, trigger factor, pyruvate kinase and chaperone DnaK. Enolase (approximately 47 kDa) seemed to be immunogenic for chickens infected with M. synoviae, whereas EF-Tu, which might cross-react with antibodies to the P1 adhesin of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, was not. ULB 02/OV6 synthesized several immunogenic proteins and those with M(w) of approximately 70, 78, 82, 90, 110 and 160 kDa, cross-reacted with antibodies to Mycoplasma gallisepticum. They remain to be identified, because besides putative lipoproteins, protein bands of 78, 82, 85 and 110 kDa contained also dehydrogenase PdhD, elongation factor EF-G, enzyme PtsG and putative neuraminidase, respectively.