Diclofop-methyl tolerance in cultivated oats (Avena sativa L.)

The feasibility of achieving selective wild oat (Avena fatua L.) control in a stand of the Australian oat (Avena sativa L.) cv. Savena I was examined. Diclofop-methyl was applied at rates of 0·4–0·7 kg a.i. ha^?1 at the three- and five-leaf stages of A. fatua (84–132 culms m²). Although all rates of diclofop-methyl caused initial chlorosis and necrosis to the crop, the subsequent control of A. fatua permitted increased crop tillering. Avena fatua control and crop yield response were maximized when diclofop-methyl was applied at the three-leaf stage. Crop grain yield was increased by as much as 32% and 22% during 1984 and 1985, respectively. In the absence of A. fatua competition, crop shoot dry weight at ear emergence was reduced only where diclofop-methyl was applied at 0·6 or 0·7 kg ha^?1. However, final grain yield was not reduced by any treatment. Only 11 of 240 cultivars or lines tolerated diclofop-methyl, and none reached the level attained by Savena I and a closely related Australian line [(Irwin × (West × New Zealand Cape/42)) × West]/24. The nature of the inheritance of diclofop-methyl tolerance was examined (1983–1985) by crossing and backcrossing (BC) Savena I with four diclofop-methyl susceptible, but agronomically superior, lines. Inheritance of diclofop-methyl tolerance appeared to be controlled by two genes, with susceptibility being dominant to tolerance in F₃, BCIF₂ and BCIF₃ lines.     

Pythium oligandmm associated with a cropping disorder of Agaricus bisporus

Pythium oligandrum was consistently isolated from black patches of mushroom compost from two farms. When used in experiments it inhibited the growth of mycelium of Agaricus bisporus and this effect was enhanced in the presence of a compost supplement which contained high levels of nitrogen. The common name pythium-black compost is proposed for the problem.     

A serious disease of seedling rambutan caused by Pseudocercospora nephelii sp. nov.

Pseudocercospora nephelii is described from necrotic lesions on leaves of Nephelium lappaceum seedlings in Brunei, sometimes causing complete defoliation and death. The pathogen also occurs in Sabah and Selangor in Malaysia. Recommendations for control include treatment with mancozeb or benomyl.     

Review—mechanism of action of herbicidal and fungicidal compounds on cell membranes

The eukaryotic cell membrane is thought to consist of a mobile bilayer of phospholipid, sometimes intercalated with sterols, in which peripheral and transmembrane proteins are embedded. This provides a model whereby the mode of action of many fungicidal and herbicidal compounds can be rationalised and understood. Some compounds, such as the polyene antibiotics, steroidal saponins and certain phytoalexins, induce membrane malfunction by direct insertion, often complexing with vital components. Others, such as paraquat and the nitrodiphenyl ether herbicides, cause membrane damage by inducing lipid peroxidations. Furthermore, there are many compounds, including the sterol-biosynthesis-inhibiting fungicides and the aryloxyphenoxypropionate and cyclohexanedione herbicides, which interfere with the biosynthesis of membrane components. Because membrane structure is fundamentally similar in eukaryotes, it is important to discover the reasons for any differential toxicity displayed by these compounds and, if necessary, to find ways of optimising desirable patterns of selectivity.     

水稻品种苗期阶段对白叶枯病的抗性研究

 根据水稻品种各叶期对白叶枯病的抗性表现和强弱程度可分为四类:(1)全期抗病型;(2)全期中抗型;(3)苗感成株抗病型;和(4)全期感病型。可以看出,水稻品种除少数苗感成抗型外,其余三种抗性类型苗期与成株期的抗性反应是一致的。由于中抗、成抗和感病品种各叶期的抗性有随着叶位的升高而抗性增强的趋势,不同抗性品种在苗期阶段抗感对比均较成株期明显。因此,水稻品种对白叶枯病的抗性鉴定采用苗期鉴定方法是可行的。影响水稻品种苗期抗性的因素是:苗龄(叶期)、观察时期、品种与菌株的组合等。     

Sources, survival and transmission of Cladosporium allii and C. allii-cepae, leaf blotch pathogens of leek and onion

Neither Cladosporium allii nor C . allii-cepae was detected in seed samples of 46 commercial cultivars of leek and nine of onion.
In glasshouse tests where flower inflorescences of onions and leeks were dusted with conidia of C. alliicepae and C. allii , respectively, few onion seeds and no leek seeds became contaminated. In field crops of leeks some spathes and inflorescences became diseased and gave 0 002% C. allii contaminated seeds. No infected onion seeds were obtained from naturally-infected plants in the field.
Conidia of both fungi survived for less than 6 weeks in sterile and non-sterile soil (during which time the temperature varied from -8 to +11 C); pseudothecial bodies survived longer.
Both pathogens survived for 3 months in debris of onion or leek on the surface of soil in pots under similar conditions. In debris buried at a depth of 7 cm in sterile or unsterile soil they survived for 2 months. Although C. allii survived only 1 month in debris on the soil surfaces following a leek crop, conidia of the fungus were trapped from the air above the area for at least 6 months and healthy leeks transplanted into this area developed the disease. No leaf blotch developed in leeks grown on land which had not previously borne that crop.     

Normal germling development by Erysiphe graminis on cereal leaves freed of epicuticular wax

Experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that recognition of the physical structure of epicuticular leaf waxes by Erysiphe graminis may be important to the development of normal germlings and the formation of functional appressoria. Comparisons of germination rates and characteristics of germling development by E. graminis f.sp. avenae , and in one experiment by f.sp. hordei , were made between intact cereal leaves and leaves from which the epicuticular waxes had been stripped away.
Overall, fungal development was very similar on intact and wax-free leaves: although germination rates were slightly, but significantly, lower, and lengths of appressorial germ tubes slightly greater, on stripped than intact leaves, a very similar proportion of germlings formed apparently normal appressoria in both cases. This was true for f.sp. avenae on first- and fifth-formed leaves of susceptible and adult plant resistant oats, and on barley and wheat first leaves, and for f.sp. hordei on first leaves of barley, oat and wheat. The appressoria formed on stripped leaves not only appeared normal, but also formed haustoria with at least the same frequency as on intact leaves; in several experiments, a higher proportion formed haustoria in stripped than intact leaves. Wax removal did not affect the adult plant resistance of oat cv. Maldwyn, which limits haustorium formation by appressoria, indicating that epicuticular wax was not involved in this resistance. It is concluded that the physical structure of epicuticular wax is not involved in the recognition processes leading to normal germling development.     

Tobacco rattle virus serotypes and associated nematode vector species of Trichodoridae in the bulb-growing areas in the Netherlands

Soil samples from the coastal bulb-growing areas in the provinces of North- and South-Holland and the North-East Polder in the Netherlands were examined for trichodorid nematodes and tobacco rattle virus (TRV) serotypes. At least one of a total of eight species of Trichodoridae, of whichParatrichodorus pachydermus was most prevalent, was found in 93% of the samples from the provinces of North- and South-Holland and TRV, including four serotypes, was obtained from 49% of these samples. In the North-East Polder one of three species of trichodorids, of whichP. teres occurred most frequently, was present in 72% of the samples, and TRV of one serotype was obtained from 28% of these samples. The TRV isolates recovered from these samples reacted serologically with one of four antisera to strains of TRV. Virus transmitted byP. pachydermus reacted to the PRN-, byTrichodorus viruliferus to the RQ-, byP. teres to the N5- and byT. similis, to the TS-antiserum, respectively.     

Growth of the mycoparasitic fungus Verticillium biguttatum from different geographical origins at near-minimum temperatures

Sclerotia ofRhizoctonia solani collected from potato tubers from different countries were assayed for the presence of mycoparasites. Among the mycoparasites observedVerticillium biguttatum predominated. Its geographical distribution was not restricted to certain latitudes or soil types;V. biguttatum occurred worldwide in potato fields.The minimum growth temperature of 57V. biguttatum isolates was found to be in the narrow range from 10 to 13°C, irrespective of their geographical origin. A non-linear logistic growth model was used to describe the radial growth onRhizoctonia mycelium and nutrient agar plates. At near-minimum temperature the maximum colony radii varied considerably; they were up to 3.8 times that of the reference isolate M73. Based on parameter values for logistic growth, fast-and slow-growing isolates could be distinguished. Although the growth properties ofV. biguttatum isolates from different locations varied, the presence of fast- and slow-growing isolates was not restricted to particular areas and both types could be found in the same field. However, bioassays with selected fast- and slow-growing isolates do not support the assumption that growth at near-minimum temperatures is a relevant criterion for screening isolates ofV. biguttatum in terms of effectiveness for biological control ofR. solani.     

Microspalacinae, a new subfamily of the feather mite family Alloptidae Gaud (Acarina, Analgoidea).

Microspalacinae subfam. n. (Analgoidea, Alloptidae) is established for the feather mite genus Microspalax Mégnin et Trouessart (= Connivelobus Dubinin, new synonymy). Morphologies of the species are described and illustrated with line drawings and SEM micrographs, and taxonomical comments are given for named species. The mites are known from shearwaters (Procellaridae) and stormpetrels (Hydrobatidae); host associations are discussed. The alloptid subfamily Thysanocercinae Atyeo et Peterson is elevated to familial rank.