Effect of dietary cowpea trypsin inhibitor (CpTI) on the growth and development of the tomato moth Lacanobia oleracea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and on the success of the gregarious ectoparasitoid Eulophus pennicornis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

Cowpea trypsin inhibitor (CpTI) was shown to have a deleterious effect on the growth and development of larvae of the tomato moth, Lacanobia oleracea, when incorporated in artificial diet (2.0 % of soluble protein) and expressed in transgenic potato leaf (up to 1.0 % of soluble protein). The effect of CpTI on parasitism of L oleracea by the ectoparasitoid Eulophus pennicornis was investigated. The parasitic success of the wasp was reduced by the presence of CpTI in the diet of the host and, in the case of transgenic potato leaves expressing the transgene protein, was collated with the length of time the host fed on the diet prior to parasitism. In all cases the proportion of hosts parasitised when fed CpTI‐containing diets was reduced when compared with controls, although these differences were only significant when hosts were fed from the third instar on the transgenic potato leaves. Parasitoid progeny that developed on L oleracea reared on CpTI‐containing diets, however, were not adversely affected. These results show that, whilst expression of CpTI in transgenic potato plants confers resistance to the lepidopterous pest L oleracea, adverse effects on the ability of the ectoparasitoid E pennicornis to parasitise this moth species successfully may also occur. These results are discussed in relation to the potential impact of transgenic crops on beneficial biological control agents. © Crown copyright 2001. Reproduced with the permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Published for SCI by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of a competitive inhibition ELISA and the card agglutination test for detection of antibodies to Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma centrale in cattle

OBJECTIVE: To compare a recently developed recombinant MSP-5 competitive inhibition ELISA with a card agglutination test for detection of antibodies to Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma centrale in Australian cattle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ELISA was compared with the card agglutination test using 208 sera from cattle in Anaplasma-free herds, 86 sera from cattle experimentally infected with A marginale or A centrale and 757 sera from cattle in areas endemic for A marginale. RESULTS: The specificity of the ELISA, based on testing 208 sera from cattle in Anaplasma-free areas, was 99.5%, and the sensitivities for detection of antibodies to A marginale and A centrale in sera from the experimentally infected cattle were 98.0% and 100%, respectively. For the same sets of sera, the specificity of the card agglutination test was 98.6% and the sensitivities for detection of antibodies to A marginale and A centrale were 98.0% and 100%, respectively. For the 757 sera collected from cattle in areas endemic for A marginale, the agreement between the ELISA and the card agglutination test depended on the positive threshold selected for the ELISA. The maximum achievable agreement was 91.5% (kappa = 0.73; 95% confidence interval 0.66, 0.79). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the competitive inhibition ELISA is a useful alternative to the card agglutination test for detection of A marginale or A centrale infection in cattle. The assay should be particularly useful for epidemiological applications such as prevalence studies and control programs.     

Simulated increase of hurricane intensities in a CO2-warmed climate

Hurricanes can inflict catastrophic property damage and loss of human life. Thus, it is important to determine how the character of these powerful storms could change in response to greenhouse gas-induced global warming. The impact of climate warming on hurricane intensities was investigated with a regional, high-resolution, hurricane prediction model. In a case study, 51 western Pacific storm cases under present-day climate conditions were compared with 51 storm cases under high-CO2 conditions. More idealized experiments were also performed. The large-scale initial conditions were derived from a global climate model. For a sea surface temperature warming of about 2.2 degrees C, the simulations yielded hurricanes that were more intense by 3 to 7 meters per second (5 to 12 percent) for wind speed and 7 to 20 millibars for central surface pressure.     

Plasma kinetics of injected recombinant chicken somatotropin in juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) using a homologous radioimmunoassay

Although somatotropins are potent growth promoters in salmonids, there is little information on how these proteins are metabolized by poikilotherms. In the present study, the plasma uptake and clearance rates of recombinant chicken somatotropin (rcGH) were investigated in juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). Two doses of rcGH were administered by intraperitoneal (ip) or intramuscular (im) injection and blood samples were collected over a period of 32 days. A specific radioimmunoassay was validated and used to discriminate rcGH from endogenous somatotropin. Plasma rcGH concentration was proportional to the dose delivered, but uptake and clearance rates were found to be independent of dose (between 0.5 and 5.0 g/g). Absorption of rcGH into the plasma was faster from the im site, but the peak levels attained were similar after im or ip treatment (using the same dose) as was area under the curve. Plasma half-life was calculated from the declining phase of the uptake/clearance profile but the results were biased by the concurrent uptake of rcGH from the ip or im reservoir of material, resulting in an over-estimation of the true half-life value. Effective treatment doses and intervals are discussed.     

巴旦杏砧木组织培养及植株再生

以新疆南疆咯什、和田地区的巴旦杏砧木品种桃巴旦、石头巴旦树上当年结的种子为试材,先用赤霉素打破休眠,消毒后接种子诱导生长及分化的培养基上。生长约一个月后,将由试管中种子培养长成的小植株剪切成长约1cm的单芽茎段,接入增殖培养基,20d后将增殖伸长的嫩茎用于生根,再将生根后的巴旦杏苗移栽到珍珠岩基质中培养,进行有效的移栽驯化管理,获得了较理想的移栽成活率。成功地进行了离体组织培养及植株再生。     

林业病虫害防治工作中的问题及对策

林业有害生物防治是国家减灾工程的重要组成部分,通过对乌拉特前旗林业有害生物防治工作存在问题的分析,提出了解决这类问题切实可行的对策措施。     

克拉玛依果树腐烂病病原菌鉴定及其拮抗菌的筛选

【目的】提高克拉玛依果树腐烂病生物防治的效率,为相关果树高效生物防治提供科学依据和物质基础。【方法】从克拉玛依林杨的苹果树和李子树腐烂病发病植株及周边采集病灶和土壤样品,分析病原菌及其拮抗菌的筛选及微生物分子鉴定及拮抗效果。【结果】苹果树和李子树腐烂病病原菌均黑腐皮壳菌属（Valsa）,其中李子树病原菌涉及该属的两个种：Valsa mali 和Valsa leucostoma ,而苹果树病原菌仅为Valsa mali。同时获得各类真菌拮抗菌15株,涉及4个属9个种,筛选到具有高效拮抗细菌2株,其最大抑菌圈菌落比分别达到2-11和2-79。【结论】菌株芽孢杆菌B4和B6对果树腐烂病具有较好的抑菌效果,研究报道了李子树腐烂病病原菌,为相关果树的高效生物防治提供了科学依据和物质基础。