Spread of phytophthora rot on stored citrus and its prevention by fungicide dips1

Oranges and lemons infected with Phytophthora citrophthora and P. syringae were placed among healthy fruits in boxes kept at 5, 10 and 14°C. The spread of the rot by contact infection was assessed after 3,6,12 and 18 days and again after 7 days' shelf-life at 17°C. P. citrophthora infected adjacent fruits after 12 days at 10°C and 3 days at 14°C. No infection occurred at 5°C. P. syringue infected the fruits at all the temperatures tested. On fruits kept for 6 days at 5°C, the rot developed after shelf-life. The presence of Phytophthora-infected fruits in orange and lemon packing boxes enhanced the development of penicillium rots. Post-harvest dips in metalaxyl at 0.05 and 0.1% concentrations and fosetyl-Al at 0.1,0.2 and 0.3% concentrations prevented the spread of P. citrophthora in packing boxes kept for 30,40 and 60 days at 11°C, but had no effect on penicillium rots. The mixture of the above fungicides with thiabendazole at 0.1%] or imazalil at 0.05%, concentrations gave best control against phytophthora and penicillium rots.     

Dynamics of antibody production in mice infected with Toxascaris leonina Linstow, 1909

Using counterimmunoelectrophoresis and ELISA tests the dynamics of antibody production in serum of mice experimentally infected with Toxascaris leonina was studied. The production of antibodies using both tests has already been detectable in serum of mice from 7 days post infection (DPI) and their level persisted till the end of the experiment, i.e. till 77 DPI. The most positive were reactions of sera with Antigens 1 and 3.     

Three species of the hair follicle mites (Acari: Demodicidae) parasitizing the sheep, Ovis aries L

Evidence of three distinct Demodex species parasitizing the sheep is given for the first time. A newly distinguished Demodex sp. is described, and diagnostic characters are compared for Demodex ovis Hirst, 1919, D. aries Desch, 1983, and Demodex sp. Information on prevalence, distribution in the tissues, and pathogenicity of these three Demodex species in 132 head of sheep in Czechoslovakia is presented, with a review of such data published to date.     

A new genus of capillariids from birds, Ornithocapillaria gen. n. (Nematoda: Capillariidae)

A new genus, Ornithocapillaria gen. n., belonging to the family Capillariidae and subfamily Baruscapillariinae is described and its diagnosis is given. The type species of the genus is Ornithocapillaria ovopunctata (Linstow, 1873) comb. n., other species are O. cylindrica (Eberth, 1863) comb. n., O. quiscali (Read, 1949) comb. n., and O. picorum (Rudolphi, 1819) comb. n. The new genus is characterized by a relatively large membranous pseudobursa, shape of processes supporting pseudobursa, and presence of a vulval appendage in female. It includes only species parasitic in the intestine of birds of the orders Passeriformes, Falconiformes, Strigiformes, and Piciformes.     

Tolypocladium terricola sp. N., a new mosquito-killing species of the genus Tolypocladium Gams (Hyphomycetes).

A new entomopathogenic species of the genus Tolypocladium, T. terricola is described from a soil sample from Finalnd. From other known Tolypocladium species, T. terricola differs in morphology, production of secondary metabolites and possession of relatively strong mosquitocidal activity. The fungus is characterized by broad oval conidia (2.5 x 2 microns) with one pointed end which are produced in grape-like clusters, and are not firmly adherent. When treated with T. terricola, mosquito larvae show typical features of intoxication characterized by the concentration of larvae in the centre of cup, hanging by their siphons on the surface.     

The life cycle of Rubenstrema opisthovitellinum So?tys, 1954 (Trematoda: Omphalometridae).

The life cycle of Rubenstrema opisthovitellinum So?tys, 1954, a parasite of shrews, is elucidated. The following developmental stages are described in detail: daughter sporocyst, cercaria, metacercaria, and adult. The freshwater snail Planorbarius corneus was found to be the first intermediate host in nature. The metacercariae were obtained from the larvae of mosquitoes Culex molestus and only exceptionally from snails Physa acuta. The adults were obtained from the small intestine of hamsters Mesocricetus auratus. The life cycle and the larval stages of R. opisthovitellinum are described for the first time.     

Intestinal parasites: a study of human appendices

Histological sections of 414 appendices were examined parasitologically. Enterobius vermicularis was found in 8.7%, eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides in 0.5%, trophozites of Dientamoeba fragilis in 4.8%, Endolimax nana in 2.2%, Entamoeba coli in 1% and cysts of Giardia intestinalis in 1.9% of cases. Appendicopathies associated with Enterobius were most frequent in the age group from 6 to 10 years (24.3%) and from 21 to 25 years (12.2%). Patients older than 15 years were practically women only. Dientamoeba was most frequent in the age group from 11 to 15 years (11.3%). In women D. fragilis was three times more frequent than in men. The coincidence of D. fragilis and E. vermicularis infections was 50%. No interactions were seen between the protozoans in the contents of the appendix and its mucous membrane. Statistical evaluation indicates possible etiologic role of E. vermicularis in the occurrence of acute appendicities. D. fragilis appears to be the most common intestinal protozoan parasite in Bohemia.     

The relationship between antifungal diene levels and fungal inhibition during quiescent infection of unripe avocado fruits by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

Quantitative changes in the antifungal compound, 1-acetoxy-2-hydroxy-4-oxo-heneicosa-12.15-diene, in freshly harvested avocado fruits during the initial stages of fungal development were investigated to determine the possible involvement of the compound in quiescent infections of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The concentration of the antifungal compound in the peel decreased to subfungitoxic concentrations 16 h after harvest. Fifty-six hours later the antifungal diene had increased to c . 3800 μg/g fresh weight. At this stage, germinated appressoria had penetrated the cuticle to the epidermal cells but no fungal development was observed until 7 days later when the concentration of the diene had decreased to 100-110μg/g fresh weight. Following a dip treatment at 55°C for 5 or 10 min, the antifungal diene concentration decreased as in the controls, but it remained at subfungitoxic concentrations for a longer period enabling fungal development and early symptom expression.
The concentration of the diene in the flesh of freshly harvested fruit decreased to 120 μg/g fresh weight 24 h after harvest. Inoculation of peeled fruits with spores of C. gloeosporioides showed germination without appressoria formation and symptom expression occurred 24-48 h later. Symptom expression was delayed if fruits were inoculated after coating the flesh with epicuticular wax extracts or if the flesh was inoculated 3 days after harvest when the antifungal diene had regained a fungitoxic concentration. Disease symptoms were expressed in soft fruits containing subfungitoxic concentrations of the diene.
We conclude that the diene in unripe avocado fruits inhibits fungal development of germinated appressoria or conidia. The quiescent structure of C. gloeosporioides in unripe avocado fruit is a subcuticular hypha.     

Characterization of an isolate of beet mosaic virus from South Kazakhstan

A filamentous virus isolated from a sugar-beet plant showing systemic mosaic collected in South Kazakhstan was identified as an isolate of beet mosaic virus (BMV-K). BMV-K was transmitted by the green peach aphid Myzus persicae in a non-persistent manner, and by sap inoculation to 11 out of 19 species from seven families tested. The virus could not be transmitted to Nicotiana tabacum, N. debneyi, N. glutinosa and N. clevelandii, cither mechanically or with M. persicae. The thermal inactivation point of BMV-K in sugar-beet sap was 55-60 C, dilution end point 1:1000 and longevity in vitro 2 days at 20 C. A purification procedure produced 1-5-3 mg of purified virus from 100 g of infected Stellaria media plants. Purified virus contained a single protein species of molecular weight 34 700 Da. In ELISA tests, BMV-K reacted positively with BMV-specifc antisera obtained from Japan. Germany and Portugal. By competitive DAS- ELISA, the virus isolate was shown to be closely serologically related to all the three isolates of BMV, and very distantly related to bean yellow mosaic and soy bean mosaic viruses.