Effects of aqueous extracts and decomposition of Mikania micrantha H.B.K. debris on selected agronomic crops

Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effects of aqueous extract and the debris of Mile-a-Minute ( Mikania micrantha H.B.K.) on the germination and growth of four test species, viz. tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), Chinese cabbage ( Brassica chinensis L.), corn ( Zea mays L.) and long bean ( Vigna sesquipedalis L.). Germination percentage, radicle length and fresh weight of two crops, Chinese cabbage and tomato, decreased progressively when plants were exposed to increasing concentrations (12.5, 25, 37.5 and 50 g L⁻¹) of aqueous extract of Mikania , but did not affect those of corn and long bean seedlings. The emergence of tomato and Chinese cabbage was greatly reduced when Mikania debris was incorporated into the soil, irrespective of the amount of debris and the decomposition period. In contrast, the emergence of corn and long bean seedlings was not affected. The application of fertilizer (NPK 15 : 15 : 15) enhanced the fresh weight of all seedlings tested as compared with those not supplied with the fertilizer. Four compounds were identified in the leaf extract of Mikania , viz. caffeic acid, p -hydroxybenzaldehyde, resorcinol and vanillic acid.     

Effect of phytoplasmal infection on photosystem II efficiency and thylakoid membrane protein changes in field grown apple (Malus pumila) leaves

We have studied the effect of the apple proliferation phytoplasmal infection on some features of the thylakoids from field grown apple (Malus pumila) leaves. Changes in photosynthetic pigments, soluble proteins, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, nitrate reductase, photosynthetic activities and thylakoid membrane proteins were investigated. The level of total chlorophyll and carotenoids were reduced in phytoplasma-infected leaves. Similar results were also observed for soluble proteins and ribulose- 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase activity. The in vivo nitrate reductase activity was significantly reduced in infected leaves. When various photosynthetic activities were followed in isolated thylakoids, phytoplasmal infection caused marked inhibition of whole chain and photosystem II activity while the inhibition of photosystem I activity was only marginal. The artificial exogenous electron donors, diphenyl carbazide and hydroxylamine significantly restored the loss of photosystem II activity in infected leaves. The same results were obtained when F_v/F_m was evaluated by chlorophyll fluorescence measurements. The marked loss of photosystem II activity in infected leaves could be due to the loss of 47, 33, 28–25, 23 and 17 kDa polypeptides. It is concluded that phytoplasmal infection inactivates the donor side of photosystem II. This conclusion was confirmed by immunological studies showing that the content of the 33 kDa protein of the water-splitting complex was diminished significantly in infected leaves.     

Physiologic races ofFusarium oxysporum f.sp.melonis in the southeastern anatolia region of turkey and varietal reactions to races of the pathogen

Thirty-four isolates ofFusarium oxysporum f.sp.melonis (F.o.m.) obtained from 205 fields in melon-producing areas in the southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey were identified on the basis of colony morphology and pathogenicity by the root dip method. In this region the mean prevalence of wilt disease was 88.1% and the mean incidence of disease was 47.5%. Physiologic races 0, 1, 2, and 1,2 of the pathogen were determined by their reactions on differential melon cultivars ‘Charentais T,’ ‘Isoblon’, ‘Isovac’ and ‘Margot’ in the greenhouse. Race 1,2, representating 58.8% (20/34) of all isolates, was widely distributed. Of the other pathogenic isolates, eight were identified as race 0, five as race 1, and one as race 2. This is the first report of physiologic races ofF.o.m. in Turkey. Of 44 melon cultivars tested in the greenhouse for resistance toF.o.m. races, 36 were found to be moderately resistant to race 0, 17 were susceptible to race 1,2, 34.1% were highly resistant to race 1, and 52.2% had moderate resistance to race 2. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 16, 2002.     

Bound xenobiotic residues in food commodities of plant and animal origin

The following are extended summaries of Technical Reports which are produced at intervals by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). They are entirely the responsibility of IUPAC/the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board of Pest Management Science. Copyright © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

A leakiness index for assessing landscape function using remote sensing

The cover, number, size, shape, spatial arrangement and orientation of vegetation patches are attributes that have been used to indicate how well landscapes function to retain, not ‘leak’, vital system resources such as rainwater and soil. We derived and tested a directional leakiness index (DLI) for this resource retention function. We used simulated landscape maps where resource flows over map surfaces were directional and where landscape patch attributes were known. Although DLI was most strongly related to patch cover, it also logically related to patch number, size, shape, arrangement and orientation. If the direction of resource flow is multi-directional, a variant of DLI, the multi-directional leakiness index (MDLI) can be used. The utility of DLI and MDLI was demonstrated by applying these indices to three Australian savanna landscapes differing in their remotely sensed vegetation patch attributes. These leakiness indices clearly positioned these three landscapes along a function-dysfunction continuum, where dysfunctional landscapes are leaky (poorly retain resources). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Natural tolerance of Cuscuta campestris to herbicides inhibiting amino acid biosynthesis

The response of Cuscuta campestris Yuncker, a non‐specific above‐ground holoparasite, to amino acid biosynthesis inhibitor (AABI) herbicides, was compared with other resistant and sensitive plants in dose–response assays carried out in Petri dishes. Cuscuta campestris was found to be much more resistant to all AABI herbicides tested. The I₅₀ value of C. campestris growth inhibition by glyphosate was eightfold higher than that of transgenic, glyphosate‐resistant cotton (RR‐cotton). The I₅₀ value for C. campestris shoot growth inhibition by sulfometuron was above 500 μM, whereas that of sorghum roots was only 0.004 μM. Cuscuta campestris exposed to glyphosate gradually accumulated shikimate, confirming herbicide penetration into the parasite and interaction with an active form of the target enzyme of the herbicide, 5‐enolpyruvylshikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase. More than half of the C. campestris plants associated with transgenic, glyphosate‐resistant sugarbeet (RR‐sugarbeet) treated with glyphosate or with transgenic, sulfometuron‐resistant tomato (SuR‐tomato) treated with sulfometuron recovered and resumed regular growth 20–30 days after treatment. New healthy stems developed, followed by normal flowering and seed setting. The results of the current study demonstrate the unique capacity of C. campestris to tolerate high rates of AABI. The mechanism of this phenomenon is yet to be elucidated.     

Simulating evolution of glyphosate resistance in Lolium rigidum II: past, present and future glyphosate use in Australian cropping

Glyphosate is a key component of weed control strategies in Australia and worldwide. Despite widespread and frequent use, evolved resistance to glyphosate is rare. A herbicide resistance model, parameterized for Lolium rigidum has been used to perform a number of simulations to compare predicted rates of evolution of glyphosate resistance under past, present and projected future use strategies. In a 30‐year wheat, lupin, wheat, oilseed rape crop rotation with minimum tillage (100% shallow depth soil disturbance at sowing) and annual use of glyphosate pre‐sowing, L. rigidum control was sustainable with no predicted glyphosate resistance. When the crop establishment system was changed to annual no‐tillage (15% soil disturbance at sowing), glyphosate resistance was predicted in 90% of populations, with resistance becoming apparent after between 10 and 18 years when sowing was delayed. Resistance was predicted in 20% of populations after 25–30 years with early sowing. Risks of glyphosate resistance could be reduced by rotating between no‐tillage and minimum‐tillage establishment systems, or by rotating between glyphosate and paraquat for pre‐sowing weed control. The double knockdown strategy (sequential full rate applications of glyphosate and paraquat) reduced risks of glyphosate and paraquat resistance to <2%. Introduction of glyphosate‐resistant oilseed rape significantly increased predicted risks of glyphosate resistance in no‐tillage systems even when the double knockdown was practised. These increased risks could be offset by high crop sowing rates and weed seed collection at harvest. When no selective herbicides were available in wheat crops, the introduction of glyphosate‐resistant oilseed rape necessitated a return to a minimum‐tillage crop establishment system.     

Olive processing wastes for weed control

The herbicidal effect of olive processing wastes (OPW) on some weed species in wheat, maize and sunflower was investigated in the Aegean region of Turkey. In trials with maize and sunflower, OPW was applied as an air‐dried solid form at 3 and 4.5 kg m^?2. It provided an effectiveness level on Portulaca oleracea of 63–98%. In trials with wheat, OPW was applied as solid and liquid forms, each at two different doses, namely 4.5 and 6 kg m^?2 (solid), and 5 and 10 L m^?2 (liquid). Solid OPW provided a reduction in total weed coverage of 75% and 81% at doses of 4.5 and 6 kg m^?2, respectively. The weed coverage reduction by liquid OPW was 39% and 62% with 5 and 10 L m^?2, respectively. Apart from 12–26% reduction of the number of germinating seeds, OPW showed no toxic effects on maize and sunflower. Wheat was affected in the initial stages but no adverse effect was detected at harvest. It can be concluded that the herbicidal effect of OPW may be considered as an alternative to chemical weed control in some important summer crops (maize and sunflower) and for most of the weeds in winter wheat.     

Identification of a major gene (Mex-1) from Coffea canephora conferring resistance to Meloidogyne exigua in Coffea arabica

Among the most damaging root-knot nematode species, Meloidogyne exigua is especially common in Latin America and constitutes a major agronomic constraint in all major coffee-growing ( Coffea arabica ) areas. Growing nematode-resistant coffee represents the most promising option for control of the pest. The present study aimed to determine the mode of inheritance of the M. exigua resistance transferred into C. arabica from a related species, Coffea canephora , and to identify associated molecular markers. Segregation data analysis of F ₂ progeny derived from a cross between the resistant introgression line T5296 and the susceptible accession Et6 showed that the resistance to M. exigua is controlled by a simply inherited major gene (designated the Mex -1 locus). The gall index distribution exhibited by the F ₂ individuals suggested incomplete dominant expression. Fourteen AFLP markers were found associated with the resistance to M. exigua and a localized genetic map of the chromosome segment carrying Mex -1 was constructed. Furthermore, the association of the identified AFLP markers with Mex -1 was confirmed by analysis of a set of genotypes involving 28 introgression Arabica lines either resistant or susceptible to M. exigua in field conditions. These results represent an important starting point to enhance backcross breeding programmes and to perform an early selection of resistant seedlings.