Studies on the potential use of Pasteuria penetrans as a biocontrol agent of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.)

Some aspects of the interaction of the bacterial parasite Pasteuria penetrans and the root-knot nematode ( Meloidogyne spp.) were investigated in laboratory and pot experiments. The variable spore attachment on juveniles exposed to water suspensions of the bacterium is probably attributed to differential susceptibility of biotypes within a heterogeneous Meloidogyne population. The relationship between spore concentration and attachment level is not linear over a range of spore dosages, indicating that even at very high spore concentrations the number of spores capable of attachment may not be present in excess and it is difficult to ensure sufficient numbers of spores to ensure infection will attach to all nematodes. Attempts to apply the bacterium in conditions such as might occur in seedbeds did not suppress nematode multiplication after transplanting in nematode-infested soil, indicating that the only effective application method is a thorough spore distribution in the planting sites. Two major constraints were revealed: high levels of spore attachment to juveniles does not always guarantee a significant reduction of egg laying and this is greatly influenced by the Meloidogyne biotype. Furthermore, the cumulative effect of the parasite in reducing Meloidogyne populations over several crop cycles was less than expected as the bacterium reduced intra-specific competition for the food supply and the less damaged root enabled many nematodes to survive.     

The effects of ultraviolet-B (UV-B: 290–320 nm) radiation on blister blight disease of tea (Camellia sinensis)

Sunlight is known to reduce the incidence of blister blight disease of tea, caused by Exobasidium vexans . The effects of the ultraviolet-B (UV-B: 290–320 nm) component of solar radiation on the disease and the development of E. vexans were studied in the field in Sri Lanka using UV-screening filter materials held over a commercial crop. Exclusion of UV-B radiation by Polyester, which reduces fluxes in the UV-B region by approximately 75–85%, increased both the number of translucent spots (immature sites of infection) and number of sporulating blisters (mature sites of infection), but it had little or no effect on the sporulation of the pathogen. When basidiospores were artificially inoculated on leaves, and were exposed to full or filtered solar radiation, their survival and germination increased when UV-B wavelengths were removed; significant differences were found 62 h after inoculation. However, UV-B did not affect the extension of germ tubes. This study indicates that the UV-B component of solar radiation plays an important role in the natural regulation of blister blight disease in the field.     

Transfer from Erwinia herbicola to Escherichia coli of a plasmid associated with biocontrol of fire blight

Strains of Erwinia herbicola effective in the biocontrol of fire blight of hawthorn were used to investigate the possibility that the antagonistic activity is coded by plasmid-born genes. Agarose gel electrophoresis of isolated plasmids from four antagonistic Erw. herbicola strains showed a band of a supercoiled 12 kb plasmid in each strain, with a second band greater than 16.2 kb consistently seen in two strains. Erw. herbicola strains showed resistance to penicillin-G, which could be conferred on penicillin-G sensitive Escherichia coli TG1 by transformation with a pure Erw. herbicola plasmid preparation. Transformed strains of Esc. coli appeared to contain the Erw. herbicola 12 kb plasmid, but not the > 16.2 kb plasmid. In an agar plate assay, Esc. coli transformants produced an inhibition zone against Erw. amylovora similar to those produced by the original Erw. herbicola strains. In two biocontrol assays, the transformed Esc. coli strains had a suppressive effect on disease development on infected pear fruit slices and hawthorn blossoms.     

Effects of neemgard on phytophagous and predacious mites and on Spiders

The effects of Neemgard, an acaricidal and fungicidal formulation obtained from neem (Azadirachta indica) seed kernels, on the phytophagous miteTetranychus cinnabarinus, the predacious mitePhytoseiulus persimilis, and the predatory spiderChiracanthium mildei, were investigated in laboratory experiments. Neemgard was highly toxic toT. cinnabarinus but had no toxic effect onC. mildei orP. persimilis. Another neem formulation—the insecticidal Neemix 45—caused conspicuous repellency, but no mortality, inT. cinnabarinus.     

Comparison of two sampling methods for leafhoppers (Homoptera, Cicadellidae) associated with sesame in the east Mediterranean region of Turkey

Yellow sticky-traps and a modified Johnson-Taylor suction-trap were used to index the relative population dynamic of leafhoppers associated with sesame in the east Mediterranean region of Turkey. Comparison of the obtained results signified important differences between both traps. 32 leafhoppers species were caught in the suction-trap while only 18 species were determined on yellow sticky-traps. For most of the leafhopper species, relatively more males were determined on the yellow-traps than in the suction-trap, indicating a higher activity of male leafhoppers during daytime hours. A close relationship between the seasonal flight pattern as indexed by sticky-traps and by suction-trap was only observed forAsymmetrasca decedens (Paoli) andEmpoasca decipiens Paoli. For most other leafhopper species no or only a very poor correlation for the relative population dynamic was determined between both traps. Important leafhopper vector species, e.g.,Circulifer haematoceps (Mulsant et Rey) andOrosius orientalis (Matsumura) were better represented in yellow sticky-trap catches than they were in the suction trap.

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Zusammenfassung  Die relative Populationsdynamik der mit Sesam assozüerten Zwergzikaden wurde mit beleimten Gelbtafeln und einer stationären Johnson-Taylor-Saugfalle an der südöstlichen Mittelmeerküste der Türkei untersucht. Beim Vergleich beider Methoden zeigten sich deutliche Unterschiede zwischen den Fallentypen. In der Saugfalle konnten 32 Zwergzikadenarten erfaßt werden, während dies auf den Gelbtafeln nur 18 Arten waren. Die meisten Zwergzikadenarten zeigten auf den Gelbtafeln ein stark in Richtung der Männchen verschobenes Geschlechterverhältnis, was eine erhöhte Flugaktivität der Männchen während des Tageslichts vermuten läßt. Auch der Verlauf der saisonalen Flugaktivität war für die meisten Zwergzikadenarten zwischen den beiden Fallentypen sehr unterschiedlich, und es konnten zwischen Saug- und Gelbfalle keine deutlichen Korrelationen hergestellt werden. Nur für die beiden zusammen erfaßten ArtenAsymmetrasca decedens (Paoli) undEmpoasca decipiens Paoli wurde ein enger Zusammenhang zwischen der mit der Saugfalle und den gelben Leimtafeln erfaßten relativen Populationsdynamik festgestellt. Wichtige Vektorenarten unter den Zwergzikaden, z. B.Circulifer haematoceps (Mulsant et Rey) undOrosius orientalis (Matsumura) waren auf den Gelbtafeln besser repräsentiert als in der Saugfalle.

     

Biological and molecular characterization of Tomato spotted wilt Virus in Israel

Received April 24, 1997; received in final form June 29, 1997. Symptoms resembling tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) infections were documented among ornamental and vegetable crops in commercial greenhouses and open fields in Israel. Plants exhibiting these symptoms were collected from January 1992 to December 1996. Among cultivated plants analyzed for TSWV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), 19 species representing five families were found to be infected; natural infection was also recorded in six plant species of weeds. Virus identity was characterized by host range, serology and electron microscopy. Serological reaction with the isolates, found in Israel, using antisera from different sources as well as the sequence analysis of the nucleocapsid gene, demonstrated that the Israeli isolates of TSWV are a member of tospovirus serogroup I, type I (BR-01 strain). No virus transmission was found in seeds collected from virus-infected vegetable and ornamental crops. A non-radioactive molecular probe derived from the cloned nucleocapsid isolate enables specific detection of the virus in crude sap from infected plants. The detection of TSWV in Israel constitutes a severe potential threat to the ornamental and vegetable industry.     

小麦化感作用物的提取,分离及其对白茅的杀除效果

小麦颖壳提取物经3520树脂分离后,对所得甲醇洗脱物离心,分得油类似物、上清液及沉淀物。前两个组分在300mg/L的浓度下,对白茅生长抑制率分别为100％和98％。上清液经硅胶柱分离,得7个亚组分,其中第1、3和7号亚组分在500mg/L浓度下对白茅生长的抑制率分别为95％、91％和95％。第3亚组分经葡聚糖凝胶柱分离,又分得A、B、C 3个组分,褐色粉末状的B组分在1000mg/L浓度下使白茅的生长量下降81％。从而证明小麦颖壳对白茅的化感作用是由多个化感物共同作用的结果。室内和温室及大田的测定结果表明,小麦颖壳中的甲醇洗脱物在24mg/株的剂量下对白茅生长的抑制率可达90％以上。这暗示,小麦颖壳中的甲醇可溶物可望开发成为防治白茅的生物除草剂。     

稀土对刺槐苗木生理特性影响的研究

稀土对刺槐苗木生理特性影响的研究赵兰勇，梁玉堂（山东农业大学林学院泰安２７１０１８）王九龄（北京林业大学北京１０００８３）关键词稀土，刺槐，光合速率，叶绿素含量，水分利用效率，矿质元素含量近年来，稀土元素在农业上的应用研究越来越受到人们的重视，并且已...