Preliminary trials to examine the effects of ethephon as a thinner of ‘Gala’ and ‘Jonagold’ apples

Trials in southern Tasmania examined the thinning effects of ethephon on ‘Gala’ and ‘Jonagold’ apples. Untreated controls were compared with ethephon thinning sprays applied at full bloom at 50,100,200,400,800 and 1 600 mg I“1 to both cultivars. Thinning of both cultivars was related to the concentration of the spray and in most cases logistic models were fitted. Thinning effectiveness was largely reflected in increased fruit weight and size. The ‘Gala’ fruit was still not large enough for Australian markets. Ethephon at 200 mg I“1 effectively thinned ‘Jonagold’ and produced the required increases in fruit size and weight. ‘Jonagold’ was overthinned by the high concentrations of ethephon, but this was not reflected in increased fruit weight and size. Ethephon also reduced vegetative growth at the higher concentrations which was considered an advantage. More work is required to establish specific recommendations for either cultivar.     

The interactions between piperonyl butoxide and E4, a resistance‐associated esterase from the peach‐potato aphid,Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

BACKGROUND: It has been reported previously that piperonyl butoxide (PBO) can inhibit both P450 and esterase activity. Although the method by which PBO combines with cytochrome P450 has been identified, the way in which it acts as an esterase inhibitor has not been established. This paper characterises the interactions between PBO and the resistance‐associated esterase in Myzus persicae, E4. RESULTS: After incubation with PBO/analogues, hydrolysis of 1‐naphthyl acetate by E4 is increased, but sequestration of azamethiphos is reduced. Rudimentary in silico modelling suggests PBO docks at the lip of the aromatic gorge. CONCLUSIONS: PBO binds with E4 to accelerate small substrates to the active‐site triad, while acting as a blockade to larger, insecticidal molecules. Structure–activity studies with analogues of PBO also reveal the essential chemical moieties present in the molecule. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Population structure of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici in Florida inferred from vegetative compatibility groups and microsatellites

Fusarium crown and root rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL) is a serious soilborne disease reducing tomato yields in Florida, a leading state in fresh market tomato production in the United States. One hundred and twenty five isolates of FORL were collected from the three main tomato-growing counties in Florida between 2006 and 2008. Vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) and 10 microsatellite loci were used to infer the population structure of FORL. Up to 69.8 % of the isolates could be assigned to one of three VCGs, 0094, 0098 or 0099, with frequencies of 38.6, 24.4, and 6.8 % respectively. A medium level of population differentiation (Φst?=?0.159) was detected among the three counties, and three optimal clusters (populations) were supported by discriminant analysis of principal components. In addition, each population had some individuals that likely migrated from other populations. Migration probably played an important role in shaping the population structure of FORL since repeated VCGs and multilocus genotypes were observed in the three counties. Considerable migrants (> 1.33 migrants per generation) were also detected between the three counties, resulting in an increase in the effective population size and genetic diversity of F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici. Although migration is an important evolutionary force, mutation and parasexual recombination could not be completely ruled out as contributing causes to the genetic diversity of FORL. Management strategies that limit the movement of F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici are necessary to reduce the evolutionary potential of the pathogen.     

Predictors of fine-scale spatial variation in soil mite and microbe community composition differ between biotic groups and habitats

Soils support highly diverse communities, but due to the great spatial complexity at very fine scales and small size of soil organisms, our knowledge of what structures belowground communities remains limited. We used a spatially nested sampling regime (distances between samples of 0.06–122 m) to develop an understanding of the relationship between soil mite and microbial community composition and properties of vegetation and underlying soil within two habitats: birch woodland and heather moorland. We found that variation in community composition of all four biotic groups investigated (Oribatida, Mesostigmata, fungi and bacteria – thus representing multiple trophic levels) was related to variation in soil properties and vegetation, but also space. These three factors (i.e. vegetation, soil properties and space) accounted for 17–36% of the variation in community composition of the biotic groups. The remaining, rather large, proportion of unexplained variation in community composition (64–87%) is likely to represent either random variation or variation related to unmeasured variables that are not spatially auto-correlated. Soil properties generally explained more variance in belowground communities than could vegetation composition. This should not be interpreted as evidence that soil properties exert a greater influence on belowground communities than vegetation composition per se, as the vegetation composition within a habitat is likely to vary at a larger spatial scale than the soil properties we measured. Vegetation composition had stronger explanatory power in the birch woodland and was more strongly related to fungal community composition than that of any other biotic group, particularly in heather moorland. This relationship may reflect the strong association between plants and their fungal symbionts and pathogens. We conclude that both vegetation composition and variation in soil properties influence belowground communities. However, the relative importance of these two factors depends on both habitat and the type of organism being studied.     

Methods to detect species range size change from biological atlas data: A comparison using the South African Frog Atlas Project

Comparing historical species distribution data with recent biological surveys has the potential to quantify changes to species geographic ranges, and to detect declining species. The primary concern in making species range size comparisons between dissimilar datasets is the problem of incomparable sampling intensities. For South African amphibian data, an increase in sampling intensity over time was associated with a move from ad hoc to more coordinated sampling. The consequent increased geographic coverage and higher detection probabilities resulted in false range expansions. We assessed several approaches for managing variable sampling intensity: categorical comparisons, sub-sampling and correction factors. These methods were first applied to hypothetical ranges for evaluation, and then to the observed data of the South African Frog Atlas Project. Categorical comparisons oversimplified quantitative data and correctly measured the sign of change for fewer than 56% of the hypothetical ranges. Sub-sampling methods correctly estimated the sign of change for up to 78% of the hypothetical ranges, but it is essential to balance data removal with a reduction of false range expansions. The best measure of hypothetical range change was a mathematical correction factor, which achieved 83% accuracy in detecting the correct sign of change and 50% for the magnitude of change. According to this method, 68 (60.2%) South African frog species are likely to have undergone range contractions. The careful use of methods such as those assessed here allows for ad hoc data collections and biological surveys to be valuable in quantifying species range change, and hence for identifying potentially declining species.     

Conservation status and reproduction of the critically endangered freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) in Northern Ireland

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New branch line weighting regimes to reduce the risk of seabird mortality in pelagic longline fisheries without affecting fish catch

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Sea cucumbers in the Seychelles: effects of marine protected areas on high‐value species

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Esterase isoenzymes and insecticide resistance in Frankliniella occidentalis populations from the south-east region of Spain

BACKGROUND: Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) is among the most important crop pests in the south‐east region of Spain; its increasing resistance to insecticides constitutes a serious problem, and understanding the mechanisms involved is therefore of great interest. To this end, F. occidentalis populations, collected from the field at different locations in south‐east Spain, were studied in terms of total esterase activity and esterase isoenzyme pattern. RESULTS: Individual thrips extracts were analysed by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and stained for esterase activity with the model substrate α‐naphthyl acetate. Significant correlations were found between resistance to the insecticides acrinathrin and methiocarb and the presence of a group of three intensely stained bands, named Triplet A. For each individual thrips extract, total esterase activity towards the substrates α‐naphthyl acetate and α‐naphthyl butyrate was also measured in a microplate reader. Insects possessing Triplet A showed a significantly higher α‐naphthyl acetate specific activity and α‐naphthyl acetate/α‐naphthyl butyrate activity ratio. This observation allowed a reliable classification of susceptible or resistant insects either by PAGE analysis or by total esterase activity determination. CONCLUSION: The PAGE and microplate assays described can be used as a monitoring technique for detecting acrinathrin‐ and methiocarb‐resistant individuals among F. occidentalis field populations. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry