A review of the pest management situation in mango agroecosystems

Integrated pest management programs for mango must be based on sampling and on economic thresholds, and must take into account the effects of cultural practices, horticultural sprays and disease control on pest and natural enemy interactions. An analysis of the mass of information available on the different mango pests,viz., fruit flies(Bactrocera sp.,Ceratitis sp.,Anastrepha sp.), mango seed weevil(Sternochetus mangiferae), thrips(Frankliniella spp.), gall midges(Procontarinia sp.), scales, mites and mealybugs is given, as well as different examples for future entomological research.     

Glutathione Depletion and Insecticide Synergism in Triatoma infestans produced by the Butyl Ester of Buthionine Sulfoximine

The butyl ester of buthionine sulfoximine (BBSO) applied topically to the nymph V stage of Triatoma infestans (Klug) caused glutathione depletion which was maintained for four days after treatment. Topical pre-treatment of nymph V with BBSO significantly synergised the toxicity of DDT and fenitrothion to T. infestans.     

Identification ofTomato Mottle Taino Begomovirus strains in Cuban potato fields

The presence of a begomovirus in potato plants with yellow mottle symptoms was determined for the first time in Cuba. The incidence of typical begomovirus-like symptoms in potato plants in some regions of Havana province (Güira de Melena, San José de las Lajas, Güines and Boyeros) during the growing seasons from 1992 to 1998 was in general low. However, in some cultivars belonging to the National Program for Potato Genetic Improvement, the incidence reached 100%. Yield losses, determined in 1992 and 1994, ranged as high as 19% to 56.33% depending on the cultivar. Characterization of the causal agent was done by light microscopy, host range (graft and mechanical transmission), DNA hybridizations, polymerase chain reaction, and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Nucleotide sequence of the amplified fragments revealed the presence ofTomato mottle Taino virus. The virus was transmittedvia tubers and has been detected in mixed infections withPotato virus X and withPotato leaf roll virus. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Oct. 20, 2003. The first two authors contributed equally to this work.     

Occurrence, Distribution and Epidemiology of Grapevine Yellows in Spain

The main viticultural production areas in Spain were surveyed in 1994, 1995 and 1996 for the occurrence and incidence of Grapevine Yellows diseases associated to phytoplasmas. Samples from 300 plants showing symptoms of phytoplasma infection were collected from grapevine fields in the Spanish regions of Aragón, Catalonia and Navarra and analysed by PCR with specific primers for a non-ribosomal DNA of stolbur/Bois Noir (BN) and of Flavescence dorée (FD) phytoplasma. Nested PCR with universal primers P1/P7 and fU5/rU3 was also used. In the survey conducted in 1994 and 1995 only BN/stolbur phytoplasma was detected. The incidence of symptomatic plants was low in five plots of Catalonia from 3% to 18% in 1994 and 1995, respectively, and high in two plots of Navarra, from 60% to 80%. In the survey conducted in 1996 the incidence of symptomatic plants in Catalonia increased (6–80%) due to the presence of FD in five plots in the Northeastern Catalonia. An epidemiological study was carried out in two BN-affected plots of two regions from 1994 to 1997, with the evaluation of potential vectors and of host plants. The stolbur phytoplasma was found in individuals from different insect species belonging to the families Cicadellidae and Delphacidae. Some wild plants naturally infected with stolbur phytoplasma around the infected grapevines were: Convolvulus arvensis, Lavandula officinalis, Polygonum convolvulus, Solanum nigrum, and Thymus officinalis. The incidence of the disease in one BN-infected grapevine plot increased from 3.4% in 1994 to 18.40% in 1997.     

Measuring and Modeling Grain Sorption Equilibria of Amaranth Grains

Water activity (a_w)of Amaranthus cruentus were measured at 35, 45, and 65°C at different moisture contents by means of an electronic water activity meter. Experimental curves were fitted to one three-parameter equation (GAB equation). The equilibrium values and temperature shifts were modeled with a three-parameter equation in the approximate a_w range of 0.03–0.88. An analytical expression to calculate the isosteric heat of sorption and its moisture content dependence was used, and the results were compared with the isosteric heat calculated from the experimental equilibrium data by means of the Clausius-Clapeyron equation.     

Saliva chromogranin A in growing pigs: A study of circadian patterns during daytime and stability under different storage conditions

Salivary chromogranin A (CgA) is considered to be a biomarker of activation of the sympatho-adrenomedullary system, and has recently been proposed as a useful indicator of the acute stress response in pigs. The aim of the present study was to determinate whether salivary CgA concentrations in healthy growing pigs exhibits any circadian pattern during the daytime, and to evaluate its stability under different storage conditions. A total of 80 pigs (40 in spring and another 40 in autumn) of two different ages and genders were used. To establish the circadian pattern, saliva samples were collected at 07.00, 11.00, 15.00 and 19.00 h on two consecutive days. Pooled samples were used for the stability study and were measured on the day of sampling and periodically for up to 360 days later. Samples were stored at 4 °C, ?20 °C or ?80 °C and the effect of repeated freezing and thawing was also evaluated.No circadian pattern was detected for salivary CgA in either season and there were no significant effects of gender or age. However, mean salivary CgA concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in the pigs sampled in autumn, compared to those sampled in the spring. Short term storage at 4 °C is recommended for up to 2 days, whereas frozen samples can be stored for 1 year at ?20 °C or ?80 °C, without substantial reduction in CgA values. In addition, samples can be frozen and thawed up to seven times without significant loss of the biomarker.     

Characteristics of capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) semen analysed with flow cytometry combined with fertility results

In order to increase the reproductive indices of capercaillie kept in closed breeding facilities, it is necessary to constantly expand the methods of better understanding the characteristics of sperm and their fertilizing potency. The aim of the study was to analyse selected features of capercaillie sperm using flow cytometry and their connection with fertility results. The study included five males, three of which were kept in a family group with eight females and two were kept alone. For sperm viability, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial potential and DNA defragmentation were assessed. Paternity analyses were performed in order to confirm the paternity of the individual and to link the evaluated semen traits with reproductive success. Analyses carried out in the flow cytometer showed any significant differences between males in sperm characteristics. In the semen of male No. 101, the father of all chicks from the analysed family group, 91.3% of live sperm, 91.5% with intact acrosome, 83.6% with active mitochondria and 2.0% with DNA defragmentation were observed. The average fertility rate was 71.0%, and chick hatchability was 100%. Using flow cytometry in the analysis of capercaillie semen and its connection with the results of natural mating, we were able to obtain deeper knowledge about new sperm characteristics that were not examined before and which in the future may be helpful in selecting males for the reproductive flocks and developing assisted reproduction techniques.