Cryopreservation of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) shoot tips by encapsulation-vitrification

Shoot tips excised from in vitro cultured plants of Dianthus caryophyllus L. (cv. Pallas, cv. Pink Candy and cv. Wanessa) were successfully cryopreserved using an encapsulation-vitrification method. Shoot tips (2–3 mm in length) were encapsulated in sodium alginate, precultured on liquid Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium supplemented with various sucrose concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 M) for 24 h or 48 h and dehydrated with the vitrification solution PVS2 (up to 4 h) at 24 °C or 0 °C prior to direct immersion in liquid nitrogen (−196 °C). A maximum of shoot regeneration from cryopreserved shoot tips was obtained with the following combinations: preculture in 0.5 M sucrose and 180 min dehydration treatment at 0 °C for cv. Pallas (60% shoot formation), or preculture in 0.75 M and 200 min dehydration at the same temperature for cv. Pink Candy (66.6% shoot formation) and cv. Wanessa (73% shoot formation).     

Rooting response of shoot cuttings from three peach growth habits

Current year shoot cuttings were collected in October and August from three growth habits of peach (Compact, Pillar, and Standard) and treated with one of four concentrations of indole butyric acid (0, 250, 1250, and 2500 mg L⁻¹ IBA). Rooting response was measured after 5 weeks in the greenhouse. Little or no rooting occurred with cuttings from any growth habit that was collected in October or in August when treated with 0 and 2500 mg L⁻¹ IBA. In August, the number of shoots that rooted was greater in cuttings from Pillar (79 and 45%) than Compact (13 and 3%) treated with 250 and 1250 mg L⁻¹ IBA, respectively. Cuttings from Standard trees had intermediate rooting of 56 and 6% at 250 and 1250 mg L⁻¹ IBA, respectively. Pillar trees consistently grew more roots with greater root length per cutting than the other growth habits. It is proposed that differences in rooting response among the growth habits may be associated with differences in endogenous auxin concentration that had been found in previous studies. Within peach and possibly other fruit trees, the capacity of shoot cuttings to develop adventitious roots can vary by cultivar and successful root induction with exogenous plant growth regulators may depend, in part, on endogenous hormone levels.     

Introductions of non-native plant pathogens into Great Britain, 1970–2004

An analysis of records of plant pathogens first identified in Great Britain from 1970 to 2004 (inclusive) was undertaken to determine the numbers of new species that have become established over time. Results show that the numbers of newly recorded pathogens have not varied significantly. Of the 234 pathogens recorded for the first time between 1970 and 2004, 157 were fungi, 27 were oomycetes, 26 were viruses, 23 were bacteria, and one was a phytoplasma. Approximately 53% of pathogens were found on ornamental crops, 16% on horticultural crops, 15% on wild native species, 12% on agricultural crops, 2% on pasture plants and 2% on exotic forestry tree species. Where the origin of introductions was known or strongly suspected, 47% came from the Netherlands. About 38% of newly recorded pathogens with information on the location of first record were discovered in the South East region of England. Plant Pathologists regarded 19% of all new pathogens as important because of actual or potential economic/environmental losses. The results indicate that the numbers of new or important pathogens establishing in recent years are not increasing and that most new findings are associated with ornamental plants.     

Effects of loosing Aigamo ducks on the growth of rice plants, weeds, and the number of arthropods in paddy fields

Aigamo duck farming has been noticed as one of the techniques of environmental conservation agriculture. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of loosing Aigamo ducks on the growth and production of rice plants, the quantity of weeds and arthropods, and the balance of nitrogen (N) in paddy fields by changing the density of the Aigamo ducks. A paddy field was divided into three test plots: a 10-Aigamo-duck plot, a five-Aigamo-duck plot, and a weeding plot. The results show that the height, number of culms, and yield crops of the rice plants increased more in the 10-Aigamo-duck plot and the five-Aigamo-duck plot than that of the weeding plot. Millet ( Echinochloa oryzicola ) remained in both the Aigamo duck plots. The weeding plot was covered with monochoria ( Monochoria vaginalis ). In both the Aigamo duck plots, the outbreak of total arthropods was lower than that of the weeding plot, but the number of rice plants damaged by grass leaf rollers ( Cnaphalocrocis medinalis ) was increased. The number of spiders, regarded as useful insects, did not differ that much between the experimental plots. The N content of the soil did not differ as an effect of loosing the Aigamo ducks. The rice plants in the 10-Aigamo-duck plot absorbed more N than the rice plants in the other plots.     

A method for mapping the distribution of willow at a catchment scale using bi-seasonal SPOT5 imagery

This study showed that seasonal imagery acquired at specific stages of phenology can be used to improve the mapping accuracy of invasive willow at a catchment scale. SPOT5 XI (10 m) satellite imagery was acquired for early autumn and winter to represent the phenological stages of leaf cover and leaf fall respectively. Four classification regimes were evaluated using single‐ and bi‐seasonal composite imagery to determine the most accurate method. Significant spectral noise was found in willow populations, especially in the winter image, due to the effects of undergrowth exposure, shadowing, topography and boundary‐mixed pixels. Two noise reduction techniques were applied to the bi‐seasonal composite image to improve the classification results. The noise‐reduced bi‐seasonal composite image was classified using the spectral angle mapper (SAM) algorithm before importation into a geographical information system. Aerial photography was used to reduce the errors of commission associated with misclassification of pastures. The class accuracy achieved for willow using the method described in this study was 77.5% (Kappa =0.87). The high cost of eradicating willow means that managers must establish priorities for control; this technique can provide a powerful tool for prioritizing control programmes and for monitoring results at a catchment scale.     

中华真地鳖抗菌物质的抑菌活性测定

以研磨法从中华真地鳖五龄若虫体内提取得到抗菌物质,分别采用比浊法和菌碟法测定了其对多种细菌和植物病原真菌的抑菌活性。结果表明,该抗菌物质对大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、白菜软腐菌和枯草芽孢杆菌等4种细菌生长均有一定的抑制作用,对数期延迟1~4h,菌的浓度、繁殖速度减缓。对7种植物病原真菌的抑菌试验表明,该抗菌物质对玉米茎基腐病菌、小麦根腐病菌、棉花枯萎病菌抑制效果较好,抑制率分别为50.0%、49.2%、45.2%;而对白菜黑斑病菌和玉米大斑病菌活性较差,抑制率仅为28.3%和24.5%。     

植物挥发性次生物质对植食性昆虫的影响

植物挥发性次生物质对植食性昆虫的寄主选择、取食、交配、产卵等行为有着重要的影响作用。本文就植物挥发性次生物质对植食性昆虫影响的研究状况及其进展进行综述报道,以便为进一步深入开展这方面的研究提供借鉴。     

卷叶螟绒茧蜂寄生棉大卷叶螟的行为及其与寄主密度的关系

卷叶螟绒茧蜂Apanteles derogatae Watanabe是棉大卷叶螟Sylepta derogata Fabricius幼虫期的一种重要内寄生蜂,对棉大卷叶螟种群有较好的控制作用。在实验室条件下,运用人工接虫观察法研究卷叶螟绒茧蜂对棉大卷叶螟幼虫的寄生行为。结果表明,该蜂搜寻寄主的时间平均为2．38 min,处理寄主的时间仅需0．86 min;寄生寄主的最适龄期为寄主2龄幼虫;对1龄幼虫的致死率达32%,但其寄生率仅为16%,其余16%的个体为穿刺致死。饲喂蜂蜜水能显著增加该蜂的产卵量,延长其产卵历期和增强其穿刺能力。寄生蜂的寄生能力与寄主密度的关系呈抛物线型:在寄生蜂均为16头/m~3雌蜂条件下,当寄主密度从80头/m~3增加到320头/m~3时,寄主的被寄生个体数随之增加,但当寄主密度超过320头/m~3后,寄主的被寄生个体数反而随寄主密度的上升呈下降趋势。     

微卫星DNA标记及其在检疫性实蝇种群遗传学中的研究应用

微卫星DNA是一种广泛用于种群遗传学研究的分子标记技术,具有共显性标记、反应速度快、重复性好和结果可靠等特点。本文在概述微卫星标记的原理、特点、位点筛选和引物设计的基础上,系统分析了该技术在检疫性实蝇(小条实蝇属、果实蝇属等)种群遗传关系中的研究与应用。     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spongospora subterranea</Emphasis> soil contamination and its relationship to severity of powdery scab on potatoes

We investigated soil contamination by Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea (Sss) and disease severity of powdery scab in 29 potato fields in Hokkaido, Japan, using a hydroponic culture method with tomato seedlings as bait plants. The quantity of Sss infection on the roots of bait plants was evaluated using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and expressed in terms of the infection potential in the soil. The infection potential was positively correlated with the disease severity of harvested tubers, whereas the spore ball density determined using PCR had an indistinct relationship with disease severity. The infection potential can be useful in evaluating soil contamination and in applying countermeasures against powdery scab.