Hygiene-Eliciting Brood Semiochemicals as a Tool for Assaying Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colony Resistance to Varroa (Mesostigmata: Varroidae)

Despite numerous interventions, the ectoparasitic mite Varroa (Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman [Mesostigmata: Varroidae]) and the pathogens it vectors remain a primary threat to honey bee (Apis mellifera Linnaeus [Hymenoptera: Apidae]) health. Hygienic behavior, the ability to detect, uncap, and remove unhealthy brood from the colony, has been bred for selectively for over two decades and continues to be a promising avenue for improved Varroa management. Although hygienic behavior is expressed more in Varroa-resistant colonies, hygiene does not always confer resistance to Varroa. Additionally, existing Varroa resistance selection methods trade efficacy for efficiency, because those achieving the highest levels of Varroa resistance can be time-consuming, and thus expensive and impractical for apicultural use. Here, we tested the hypothesis that hygienic response to a mixture of semiochemicals associated with Varroa-infested honey bee brood can serve as an improved tool for predicting colony-level Varroa resistance. In support of our hypothesis, we demonstrated that a mixture of the compounds (Z)-10-tritriacontene, (Z)-8-hentriacontene, (Z)-8-heptadecene, and (Z)-6-pentadecene triggers hygienic behavior in a two-hour assay, and that high-performing colonies (hygienic response to ≥60% of treated cells) have significantly lower Varroa infestations, remove significantly more introduced Varroa, and are significantly more likely to survive the winter compared to low-performing colonies (hygienic response to <60% of treated cells). We discuss the relative efficacy and efficiency of this assay for facilitating apiary management decisions and selection of Varroa-resistant honey bees, as well as the relevance of these findings to honey bee health, pollination services, and social insect communication.     

Insecticidal efficacy of beauveria bassiana,diatomaceous earth and fenitrothion against rhyzopertha dominica and tribolium castaneum on stored wheat

Bioassays were conducted in stored grains to evaluate the combined use of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana, diatomaceous earth (DE) and fenitrothion against adults of Rhyzopertha dominica and Tribolium castaneum. The insecticide agents were applied to wheat as follows: the fungus at 1 × 10⁸ conidia/kg of wheat, DE at 3 g/kg of wheat and fenitrothion at a rate of 0.15 ml/kg of wheat (25% of field dose rate). Surviving insects and progeny production were monitored at thirty-day intervals until four months. For both insect species, significantly less progeny was produced on wheat treated with fenitrothion and DE + B. bassiana formulations in comparison with controls. The effect of insecticides on the grain damage, germination power of wheat and bulk density was also evaluated. After four months, B. bassiana mixed with DE reduced the damaged insect grains by 50% in comparison with both fenitrothion and control treatments. Trials using DE caused a reduction in bulk density while there were no significant differences for germination testing between treatments.     

Physicochemical Properties of Oat Varieties and Their Potential for Breadmaking

The breadmaking potential of six oat varieties was compared with and related to their physicochemical properties. The most significant differences in the bread characteristics were found in the crumb structure. The varieties Buggy, Energie, and Zorro resulted in good bread quality with an even gas‐cell distribution characterized by a high number of relatively small pores. In contrast, Typhon, Ivory, and Nord 08/311 each had a large hole in the center of the crumb and accordingly poor quality. Breads differed little in specific volume, bake loss, and density. Rheological analysis revealed positive effects of low batter resistance to deformation on oat bread quality. On the basis of the physicochemical characterization, protein and fat contents were identified as key factors responsible for differences observed in bread quality, provided that starch damage and water‐hydration capacity were low. Additionally, high setback and final viscosity, as determined by Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) analysis, positively affected oat bread quality. High α‐amylase activity was found to influence negatively the breadmaking performance of oats. Overall, protein, fat, dietary fiber content, starch pasting properties, and α‐amylase activity were responsible for the breadmaking properties of oat varieties.     

Pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin after a single oral dose to loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta)

The single-dose disposition kinetics of marbofloxacin (MBX) were determined in clinically healthy loggerhead sea turtles (n = 5) after oral (PO) administration of 2 mg kg⁻¹ bodyweight. Marbofloxacin plasma concentrations were determined by DAD–HPLC (LOD/LOQ 0.015/0.05 μg ml⁻¹). Data were subjected to non-compartmental analysis. Following PO administration, marbofloxacin achieved maximum plasma concentrations of 11.66 ± 2.53 mg L⁻¹ at 15.00 ± 3.00 h. The absence of general adverse reactions in the turtles of the study, and the favourable pharmacokinetic properties (long half-life and high maximum plasma concentration) of MBX administered PO at the single-dose of 2 mg kg⁻¹ suggest the possibility of its safe and effective clinical use in loggerhead sea turtles.     

New invasion of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bemisia tabaci</Emphasis> Mediterranean species in Brazil associated to ornamental plants

In Brazil, the first major invasion event of Bemisia tabaci was that of Middle East–Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) species, formerly termed as B biotype, which commenced in the 1990s mainly by ornamental plants in São Paulo State. More than two decades after this invasion, the presence of the Mediterranean (MED) species of B. tabaci, formerly Q biotype, was reported in Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost State of Brazil, and now in São Paulo and Paraná States, in southeastern Brazil. Specimens of whiteflies collected from commercial begonia, hydrangea, petunia and poinsettia greenhouses in São Paulo, and also from begonias and poinsettias collected in flower shops in Paraná, were all identified as belonging to MED species. Furthermore, the secondary endosymbionts Arsenophonus, Hamiltonella and Rickettsia of MED from São Paulo and Paraná were detected by PCR and their presence confirmed by sequencing and FISH analysis, and those results differed from MED detected in Rio Grande do Sul that harbored only Hamiltonella and Cardinium. Our results suggest a new MED invasion into Brazil and is associated with ornamental plants. The two MED populations are genetically different and suggest that they are separate invasions.     

Transport of fatty acids within plasma lipoproteins in lactating and non‐lactating cows fed on fish oil and hydrogenated palm oil

The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of dietary fish oil (FO) and a blend of FO and hydrogenated palm oil (FOPO) on transport of fatty acids (FA) within plasma lipoproteins in lactating and non‐lactating cows. Two trials were conducted (one with lactating and another with non‐lactating dairy cows) in two 3 × 3 Latin squares that included three periods of 21 days. Dietary treatments for lactating cows consisted of a basal diet (Control; no fat supplement), and fat‐supplemented diets containing FO (500 g/day/cow) and FOPO (250 FO + 250 g/day/cow hydrogenated palm oil). For non‐lactating cows, dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet (Control; no fat supplement), and fat‐supplemented diets containing FO (170 g/day/cow) and FOPO (85 FO + 85 hydrogenated palm oil g/day/cow). In lactating cows, compared with control and FOPO, FO increased C16:0, C18:3 cis‐9, 12, 15, C18:2 cis‐9, trans‐11 and total saturated and polyunsaturated FA in plasma and increased C16:0, C18:2 cis‐9, trans‐11, total polyunsaturated and total polyunsaturated n‐6 in high‐density lipoprotein (HDL), whereas in non‐lactating cows, compared with control and FOPO, FO increased C16:0, C18:1 trans‐11, C18:2 trans‐9, 12, C18:2 cis‐9, trans‐11, C20:5 n‐3 and total saturated and polyunsaturated FA in plasma; C16:0, C18:1 trans‐11, C18:1 cis‐9, C18:2 trans‐9, 12, C20:5 n‐3 and total monounsaturated FA in HDL; and C18:1 trans‐6‐8, C18:1 trans‐9, C18:1 trans‐10, C18:1 trans‐11, C18:3 cis‐9, 12, 15 and C20:5 n‐3 in low‐density lipoprotein (LDL). FO increased C20:5 n‐3 in plasma and lipoproteins in non‐lactating cows and increased C18:3 cis‐9, 12, 15 in plasma (in lactating cows) and LDL (in non‐lactating cows). We concluded from results of this study that in bovine plasma, the LDL fraction appears to be the main lipoprotein transporting C18:1 trans isomers and is more responsive than other lipoprotein fractions to variation in supply of dietary lipids.     

Identification of new sources of resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Striga gesnerioides</Emphasis> in cowpea <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna unguiculata</Emphasis> accessions

The parasitic weed, Striga gesnerioides, is a major threat to cowpea productivity throughout the savannas of West and Central Africa. The identification of sources of S. gesnerioides resistance and their incorporation into breeding programs would be a beneficial strategy to combat the devastation caused by the parasite in cowpea fields. In this study we examined one hundred and ninety-four (194) accessions, four commercial varieties and two controls collected from a mini core collection of cowpea held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture genebank for resistance to S. gesnerioides race 3 (SG3), the most prevalent race in Nigeria, using phenotypic screening and molecular marker analysis. Our studies identified two cowpea accessions, Tvu-1272 and Tvu-16514, that are resistant to S. gesnerioides SG3. Resistance in these lines is associated with the molecular marker SSR1, known to segregate with the gene conferring resistance to SG3 in the cultivar B301. Phenotypically, resistance in Tvu-1272 and Tvu-16514 is expressed as a hypersensitive response at the site of infection on the roots. Allelism tests indicated that the gene that conferring SG3 resistance in Tvu-1272 is independent of that conferring resistance in B301. Tvu-1272 and Tvu-16514 will provide additional new sources of resistance to Striga and races prevalent in Nigeria.     

Study of the synergistic effects of salinity, pH, and temperature on the surface-active properties of biosurfactants produced by Lactobacillus pentosus

Many studies have investigated the effects of pH, temperature, and salinity on the surface-active properties of various surfactants, although in most cases the variables have been studied separately, without considering the effects of any interactions between them. In the present study, a Box-Behnken factorial design was applied to study the effects of pH, temperature, and salinity on the surface-active properties of a biosurfactant produced by Lactobacillus pentosus. The data obtained enabled development of a second-order model describing the interrelationships between operational and experimental variables, by equations including linear, interaction, and quadratic terms. The variable that had the greatest effect on the surface-active properties of the biosurfactant was pH. Moreover, at pH 3-5.5, decreases in salinity and temperature acted synergistically, reducing the surface tension of the biosurfactant; at pH 8, the same effect was observed with increasing salinity and temperature.     

Geomorphology and soils distribution under paraglacial conditions in an ice-free area of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica

The main pedological, geomorphological and cryogenic features of Keller Peninsula, part of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Maritime Antarctica, were mapped and quantified with emphasis on the relationship between the ice retreat process, melt-out, landform development and soil distribution. Moraines, protalus, scree slopes, inactive glacial cirques, uplift marine terraces, biogenic landforms, arêtes and Felsenmeer were mapped. Scree slope is the main landform, covering approximately 25% of the peninsula, indicating prominent paraglacial features. Inherited, glacial landforms, such as lateral moraines, highland plateau and exhumed U shaped-valleys, are now being exposed in north Keller by ice shrinkage of former ice protecting cover. Landforms influenced soil formation and stability. Cryosols and Leptosols (WRB) roughly corresponding to Gelisols and Entisols (SSS), respectively, are the most common soil classes, with an overall tendency of absent permafrost in the coastal areas, changing to sporadic permafrost at mid-slope, and discontinuous permafrost with greater altitude and substrate stability.