Some factors affecting the performance of fluazifop-butyl against Elymus repens (L.) Gould (=Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.)

In this series of glasshouse experiments, several factors influencing the foliar activity of fluazifop-butyl, butyl-2-[4-(5-trifluoromethyl-2-pyridylox-y)phenoxy] propionate, against Elymus repens (L.) Gould (=Agropyron repens(L.) Beauv.) were investigated. The growth stage of the weed even up to about 16 weeks of age was not found to be a major factor affecting the performance, if a dose of 1.0 kg ai ha^?1 is used. The activity of fluazifop-butyl was affected by low temperature, low humidity and water stress, all of which reduced the herbicide performance to varying extents. High post-treatment temperature or humidity favoured the activity of the herbicide, as measured from the regrowth ability of treated plants. Moderate water stress did not affect the activity significantly, but severe stress led to the plants becoming more tolerant of the herbicide. The effect of light/shade on foliar activity was not clear, bin showed a tendency of decreasing with increasing shade. Adverse effects of rain, probably due to wash-off of the retained spray droplets, reduced the performance of fluazifop-butyl, if rain fell within 6 h of spraying. Certains facteurs qui touchent à la performance du fluazifop-butyle contre Elymus repens (L.)Gould. (= Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.) Cette expérimentation en serre a porté sur plusieurs facteurs qui influent sur l'activité foliaire du fluazifop-butyle, butyle-2–4-(5-trifluorométhyl-2-pyridyloxy)phénoxy proprionate, contre Elymus repens (L.) Gould (Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.). Il en résulte que, même jusqu'à l'âge de 16 semaines, le stade végétal de l'adventice ne paraît pas jouer un rôle important dans la performance de l'herbicide à une dose de 1,0 kg ma ha^?1. L'activité du fluazifop-butyle se trouve altérée en conséquence de température faibles, d'une faible humidité et de carence d'eau; tous ces facteurs ont amené une réduction plus ou moins grande dans la performance de l'herbicide. A en juger part la croissance nouvelle des plantes traitées, une température élevée, de même qu'une forte humidité suivant l'application, favorisent l'activité herbicide. La carence d'eau n'a exercé une influence significative sur l'activité herbicide que lorsqu'elle est devenue sévère; alors les plantes ont fait preuve d'une moindre tolérance. L'influence de la lumière sur l'activité foliaire est restée imprécise mais celle-ci a eu tendance à dimineur à mesure qu'augmentait l'ombre. Les effets néfastes de la pluie, grâce sans doute au lessivage des gouttelettes retenues sur les feuilles, ont diminué l'efficacité du fluazifop-butyle lors d'une précipitation moins de 6 heures après la pulvérisation. Einflüsse auf die Wirkung von Fluazifop-butyl auf Elymus repens (L.)Gould. (= Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.) Verschiedene Einflüsse auf die Blattwirkung von Fluazifop-butyl Butyl-2-[4-(5-trifluormethyl-2-pyridiloxy)phenoxy]propionate auf die Gemeine Quecke wurden in einer Reihe von Versuchen im Gewächshaus untersucht. Das Entwicklungsstadium des Unkrauts war auch bei bis zu 16 Wochen alten Pflanzen ohne Einfluss auf die Wirkung, solange 1,0 kgAS ha^?1 angewandt wurden. Niedrige Temperatur und Luftfeuchtigkeit sowie Wassermangel setzen die Wirkung des Herbizids, die am Wiederaustrieb gemessen wurde, herab. Hohe Temperatur und Luftfeuchtigkeit nach der Behandlung begünstigten die Wirkung. Schwacher Wassermangel beeinflusste die Wirkung nicht signifikant, aber bei starkem Wassermangel waren die Pflanzen widerstandsfähiger. Die Wirkung einer Beschattung der Pflanzen auf die Wirksamkeit des Herbizids war undeutlich, aber tendenziell zeigte sich eine Abnahme der Wirkung mit Zunahme der Beschattung. Regen innerhalb 6 Stunden nach der Behandlung verminderte die Wirkung von Ftuazifop-butyl, vermutlich wegen des Abwaschens des Spritzbelags von den Blättern.     

Application of aldicarb in a drip-irrigated cotton field for the control of the Tobacco Whitefly(Bemisia Tabaci)

Cotton was grown in loess soil, in rows 1 m apart, and drip-lines were placed in the center of every second space between rows at a distance of 50 cm from the plants. Aldicarb was applied as granules (containing 15% a.i.) to the field on two dates (mid-June and mid-July) and incorporated into the soil(a) 25 cm from the plants,i.e., equidistant from the plants and the drip-lines, on both sides of the drip-lines; and(b) 50 cm from the plants,i.e., in the center of the spaçe between the rows, near the drip-line. Measurements of mortality ofBemisia tabaci larvae, and of the accumulation of aldicarb from the late (mid-July) treatment showed that best control of the pest and the highest aldicarb residues were obtained with the late treatment. The pest control effectiveness was found to depend on both date and location of aldicarb application. Early treatment (mid-June) was more effective if applied close (25 cm distance) to the plant stems, whereas late treatment (mid-July) was more effective if applied at a distance of 50 cm from the plant stems.     

The significance of response time in the detection and measurement of fumigant resistance in insects with special reference to phosphine

The significance of the time of assessment in measurements of fumigant toxicity was examined, using the response of adults of Tribolium castaneum to phosphine. When assessments were made before end-point was reached, large differences were obtained in mortality levels and in parameters of probit lines fitted to the data. These differences reflected the concentration- and dosage-dependent nature of the speed of action, observed previously with this fumigant. The implications of this in the measurement of resistance were examined. In this instance, comparisons at the same concentration were not greatly affected if seven days or longer had elapsed after exposure. However, it was clear that if different concentrations were used for the susceptible strain and the resistant strain, comparisons made before the end-point for acute mortality response was reached could be grossly misleading. This is further discussed in the context of some recent reports of phosphine resistance. The results of this study are of significance in assessing the effect of any poison, drug or other stimulus applied to a group of organisms when the time to respond is likely to vary among individuals.     

Resurgence of Cryptodiaporthe populea in Italy1

Serious resurgence of Cryptodiapor the populea (anamorph Dothichiza populea), with appearance of perithecia, has been reported on poplar in Italy, particularly upon newly commercialized clones. Disease symptoms, incidence of attack and resulting damage have been examined through all phases of poplar cultivation, on various clones and under different environmental conditions. Consideration was also given to predisposing factors such as the water status of the plant, the adaptability to the environment of the clones and its other genetic characteristics. Levels of resistance to D. populea of 131 of the most important European clones are reported for North Italy. Most Populus deltoides and P. trichocarpa clones and their hybrids appeared resistant, while most P. nigra clones were susceptible and P. euramericana clones were partly susceptible and partly resistant. Immediate control strategies, and current genetic improvement programmes in Italy, are discussed.     

Interactions among maize streak virus disease, leafhopper vector populations and maize cultivars in forest and savanna zones of Nigeria

Monthly plantings of three maize cultivars with differing resistance/susceptibility to maize streak geminivirus (MSV) and samplings of Cicadulina leafhopper vectors were made from December 1988 to April 1990 in the humid forest and from May to November 1989 in the Guinea savanna zones of Nigeria. High MSV disease incidences (43–56%) were recorded on susceptible cultivar TZB-Gusau in late-season (July-October) plantings. Hybrid 8321-21 showed significantly lower MSV disease incidence and severity than the other two cultivars, TZB-Gusau and 8329-15. Cicadulina species population peaks (5.2-13.5 leafhoppers/m²) were observed before the rains ended in savanna locations and after the end of the rains in the forest zone. Cicadulina mbila was the predominant species, whereas C. storeyi (syn. C. triangula ), C. arachidis, C. similis and C. ghaurii were less common. The proportion of viruliferous leafhoppers increased as the season progressed, reaching maxima of 15–25% at the end of the growing season. Interactions between disease incidence, Cicadulina populations, maize cultivars and rainfall are discussed.     

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) and the relationships of some host-adapted isolates of Verticillium dahliae

The relationships of two host-adapted pathotypes of Verticillium dahliae have been examined at the molecular level using restriction fragment length polymorphisms. Isolates obtained from and adapted to Mentha × piperita (peppermint), which were presumed to be haploid, formed a distinct subspecific group (referred to as M) related to the previously described non-host-adapted subspecific group A of V. dahliae. The limited molecular variation found among the four group M isolates was not related to geographic origin. Isolates from several cruciferous hosts (and one from Beta vulgaris (sugar beet)), which are thought to be natural, stable diploids, formed another distinct group (referred to as D) that was markedly different from all previously described subspecific groupings in both V. dahliae and V. alboatrum. This group of isolates might better be regarded as a separate species. Again, only limited variation was found within the D group. Polymorphisms revealed by two probes distinguished two isolates derived from Brassica rapa (Chinese cabbage) from the six other isolates (four from Brassica napus (oilseed rape) and one each from Raphanus raphanistrum (wild radish) and Beta vulgaris).     

Resistance to Peronospora viciae expressed as differential colony growth in two cultivars of Pisum sativum

Peronospora viciae sporulated frequently following localized inoculation of leaflets of Pisum sativum cv. Krupp Pelushka but rarely on cv. Early Onward (60 and < 1% of plants respectively). Similar results were obtained following inoculation of seedling shoot apices. The proportions of sporangia that germinated, formed appressoria, invaded via stomata or cuticle, and established colonies, were similar on leaflets of both cultivars. After 2 days, total hyphal lengths of most colonies were greater than 100 μm (94% in Krupp Pelushka, 64% in Early Onward), but in Krupp Pelushka there were five times as many haustoria per unit length of hypha. Subsequently, only occasional colonies in Early Onward grew to the same extent as in Krupp Pelushka, with 8% and 88% respectively attaining lengths > 800 μm after 4 days. Reduced growth of hyphae in Early Onward was associated with increased frequency of host cells stained by trypan blue.     

Studies on the biology of black mould (Aspergillus niger) on temperate and tropical onions. 1. A comparison of sources of the disease in temperate and tropical field crops

Aspergillus niger colonies were present on 60–90% of the leaves sampled from onion crops grown under hot, tropical conditions (Shambat, Sudan), but only on 21% of leaves in crops grown under temperate conditions (Wellesbourne, UK). The seed stocks used in the Sudan were naturally contaminated with A. niger , whereas the fungus was absent from seed used in the UK. Inoculation of seed with A. niger resulted in an increase in the incidence of the fungus on onion plants (mean 83% of plants with affected leaves) in the field and on bulbs in store in crops grown in the UK. In the UK, A. niger is infrequent in the soil and air, but it is a major component of the soil and air mycoflora in the Sudan. Most of the bulbs grown in Sudan were contaminated with A. niger at harvest because of the high incidence of the fungus in the field.     

The role of Poa annua in the epidemiology of barley yellow dwarf virus in autumn-sown cereals

Studies of cereal aphids and barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) from 1989 to 1992 revealed that Poa annua is an abundant weed of commercial winter barley crops during the summer months. P. annua was frequently infected with BYDV, and there were usually similarities with the BYDV infection of the surrounding barley crop. These P. annua weeds were often infested by cereal aphids both in July (pre-harvest) and in September (in cereal stubble fields). Poa -infested cereal stubbles may be major local sources of viruliferous aphids, increasing the risk of BYDV in nearby winter cereals. P. annua plays an important role in the epidemiology of S. avenae -transmitted BYDV.     

Influence of barley variety mixtures on severity of scald and net blotch and on yield *

Two susceptible barley cultivars and two moderately resistant advanced breeding lines were grown as pure stands and as the 11 possible equi-proportional mixtures over three field seasons, in the presence of scald and net blotch. Plots were either inoculated with infested straw, or non-inoculated and sprayed with fungicide. On average, the variety mixtures restricted leaf disease development by 12%. However, mixtures of either or both susceptible cultivar/s with the moderately resistant line 1861018 restricted disease severity by 20-32%. Generally, the mixtures did not increase yield relative to the mean of the pure stands. However, in the year of highest disease severity, yield was increased by 7% owing to mixing in the inoculated plots. In addition, one mixture consistently increased yield (mean of 4%) and one mixture had consistently lower yields (mean of 6%)) over years and inoculation treatments. Thus, careful evaluation is required in this environment and with these genotypes in order to identify mixtures with positive effects on disease control and yield.