The antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus species isolated from canine dermatitis

In a retrospective study, 1538 strains of -haemolysin-producing Staphylococcus species isolated from dermatitis in dogs at three veterinary clinical microbiology laboratories in Norway during 1986–87 and 1993–94 were investigated for their antimicrobial susceptibility. None of the strains was resistant to cloxacillin, cephalexin or the quinolones enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. More than 96% of the strains were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulphonamide, bacitracin and fucidic acid. Between 67% and 89% of the strains were susceptible to erythromycin, lincosamides, tetracycline, neomycin and chloramphenicol. Only 37.9% of the strains were susceptible to penicillin. The frequency of penicillin resistance increased significantly between the first and second periods, from 46.0% to 58.6%. The frequency of resistance to lincomycin, clindamycin and erythromycin also increased significantly between the first and second periods, from 3.0%, 2.1% and 3.3% to 25.5%, 19.5% and 24.8%, respectively. A moderate increase in resistance to tetracycline was also noted, from 20.4% in the first to 27.6% in the second period. On the other hand, the frequency of resistance to trimethoprim-sulphonamide decreased significantly from 4.1% in the first to 0.9% in the second period. Many different resistance patterns were observed in each period. However, the proportion of multiresistant strains increased from 2.1% in the first to 10.2% in the second period. There was a decrease in resistance to the combination of trimethoprim-sulphonamide and penicillin from the first to the second period. Resistance to the combination of lincosamides and pencillin increased. For the combinations penicillin-tetracycline-lincosamides, pencillin-lincosamides-erythromycin, and pencillin-tetracycline-lincosamides-erythromycin, there was a striking increase in resistance between the first and the second periods.Abbreviations CVL Central Veterinary Laboratory - NCVM Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine - NVL Norwegian Veterinary Laboratory     

Effect of planting density of maize on the progress and spread of northern leaf blight fromExserohilum turcicum infested residue source

Effect of plant density (37,037, 44,444 and 55,555 plants/ha) on the increase of northern leaf blight in time and space on two maize cultivars planted at spacings of 90, 75 and 60 between rows and 30 cm within rows was investigated.Exserohilum turcicum infested maize residue was used as an inoculum source. Maize density did not significantly affect the disease indices, but significantly influenced the grain yield of the two cultivars. In contrast, the two cultivars differed significantly (P0.01) in disease severity, but not grain yield. Higher disease severities and grain yields were associated with higher plant densities, whereas the apparent infection rate was lower in higher plant density. Distance from the maize residue (inoculum source) significantly influenced disease severity. The percentage leaf area blighted, area under disease progress curve and disease progress curve intercept decreased with distance from the maize residue area, but the apparent infection rate on EV8429-SR appeared to increase with distance. Disease gradients (b) were higher in closely planted maize and flattened with time in one location only.     

Toxicity of fenpropimorph to fenarimol-resistant isolates of Penicillium italicum

Fenarimol-resistant isolates ofPenicillium italicum with cross-resistance to imidazole and triazole fungicides which inhibit ergosterol biosynthesis were tested for their sensitivity to fenpropimorph. Radial growth tests on PDA showed that the isolates (n=6) lacked cross-resistance to fenpropimorph or displayed enhanced sensitivity to the fungicide (negatively correlated cross-resistance). Control of blue mold decay of oranges incited by the wild-type isolate could be achieved by dipping fruits in suspensions of fenpropimorph at a concentration of 100 mg ml^–1. Decay of oranges incited by the fenarimol-resistant isolates was controlled at the same or at a lower concentration (30 mg ml^–1), thus showing that the normal or increased sensitivity to fenpropimorph is also expressed under in vivo conditions.Samenvatting Fenarimol-resistente isolaten vanPenicillium italicum met kruisresistentie tegen imidazool-en triazoolfungiciden die de ergosterolbiosynthese remmen, werden getoetst op hun gevoeligheid voor fenpropimorf. Radiale groeiproeven op PDA toonden aan dat de isolaten (n=6) geen kruisresistentie bezaten met fenpropimorf of een verhoogde gevoeligheid voor het middel vertoonden (negatief gecorreleerde kruisresistentie). Op sinaasappels konPenicillium-rot, veroorzaakt door het wild-type bestreden worden door middel van een dompelbehandeling met fenpropimorf bij een dosering van 100 g ml^–1). Bestrijding van rot veroorzaakt door fenarimil-resistente isolaten werd verkregen bij dezelfde of een lagere dosering (30 g ml^–1); aldus werd aangetoond dat de normale of verhoogde gevoeligheid voor fenpropimorf ook in vivo tot uiting komt.     

甘肃地方苜蓿农家品种脯氨酸积累能力与抗旱性的研究

本文依据“脯氨酸维持积累时间”和“脯氨酸维持积累量”指标评介了四个甘肃地方苜蓿农家品种的抗旱能力。结果表明:敦煌苜蓿的抗旱能力高于会宁、秦安、灵台苜蓿,其中会宁苜蓿居二,灵台苜蓿抗旱性最差。这一抗旱排序与叶片相对含水量及气孔指标所得到的结果相一致。证明了“脯氨酸维持积累时间”和“脯氨酸维持积累量”可以作为首蓿抗旱性的鉴定指标。     

“七五”国家科技攻关项目——蔬菜新品种选育研究Ⅳ.甜(辣)椒专题育成的新品种(系)简介

本文介绍了1986-1990年甜(辣)椒专题8个单位育成的15个甜椒、半辛辣椒新品种(系),其抗病性、品质、产量均优于对照品种,并已通过了农业部主持的专家组验收。     

Genetic mapping and utilization of quantitative trichome-mediated insect resistance in potato

Introgression of trichome-mediated insect resistance from the wild speciesSolanum berthaultii has become a major focus of the potato improvement program at Cornell University during the past twelve years. Several quantitative characters are involved in this resistance which is effective against a wide range of pest types. Correlative biochemical assays have been developed to assay specific components of the resistance, and the effects of the resistance on the target pests have been studied. Quantitative laboratory assays and specific measurements of insect behavior and biology have increased the precision of selection and enable the investigation of the genetic control of the resistance.We are currently using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) for genetic mapping of factors controlling the trichome traits fromS. berthaultii. Backcrosses to both the wild and the cultivated species parents have been evaluated for phenotypes contributing to the resistance mechanism, including trichome density, sucrose ester and polyphenol oxidase production by the trichomes, and the enzymatic browning reaction responsible for insect entrapment. Genetic maps are being developed for these progenies, using RFLP markers previously mapped in potato. Field and greenhouse trials under insect infestations are also being conducted with the mapping progeny. Our goal is to locate genes responsible for quantitative insect resistance by correlating RFLP variation at mapped loci with the trichome phenotypes and insect resistance. Genetic markers for these traits will be useful in transfer of the effective wild chromosomal segments into and among tetraploid potatoes, and for a better understanding of the resistance mechanism.     

Pelargonium flower-break and pelargonium line pattern viruses in the Netherlands; purification,antiserum preparation,serological identification,and detection in pelargonium by ELISA

Two viruses, detected frequently in the Netherlands in pelargonium, were identified by serology and test plant reactions. Antisera were prepared and an ELISA procedure was developed to detect the viruses in pelargonium.One of the viruses, PFBV-N, proved to be pelargonium flower-break virus. With the antiserum to PFBV-N, it could be detected reliably throughout the year inPelargonium zonale Springtime Irene.The other virus, PLPV-N, was serologically closely related to pelargonium line pattern virus (PLPV) and to pelargonium ring pattern virus (PRPV), as were an old virus isolate from Saturnus, collected in the Netherlands in 1971 (L128), and PLPV isolates from Yugoslavia (PLPV-Y) and Denmark (PLPV-D). There were only minor differences in host-plant reactions between the virus isolates. Based on these tests, PLPV and PRPV are considered as isolates of the same virus, for which, for practical reasons, the name pelargonium line pattern virus is proposed.PLPV could be reliably detected by ELISA inP. zonale Springtime Irene and Amanda throughout the year with only a few exceptions. InPelargonium peltatum Tavira, however, reslts were erratic due to uneven distribution of virus in the plant. Best results were obtained when petioles of fully expanded leaves were tested.     

Prospects for improving potato crop protection against aphid vectors

Conventional ways to control aphid vectors on potato crops rely essentially on cultural and chemical methods. The extensive use of insecticides, too often applied regardless of real needs and consequences, has resulted in more and more failures in both controlling aphids and virus spread. This paper stresses the need to introduce more rationale in the operation of existing methods by improving the efficiency of some of them like forecasting systems, to assess the potential of others like fertilization and semiochemicals and to put most efforts on resistant cultivars so that integrated pest management can be operated in the near future.     

The fate of fluroxypyr in the soil in an oil palm agroecosystem

A study on the fate of fluroxypyr in Malaysian agricultural soils was carried out under natural conditions in an oil palm plantation. Three experimental plots in the oil palm estate were selected and three types of treatments were administered, namely fluroxypyr at the recommended dosage, double the recommended rate, and the untreated control. Residues of fluroxypyr in the soil, water, and oil palm leaf were monitored at regular intervals up to 90 days after treatment (DAT). The recovery of fluroxypyr in the water and soil samples ranged from 91–102% when fortified at 1–25 p.p.b. and 91–98% when fortified at 4–50 p.p.b. The recovery from the oil palm leaf ranged from 76–114% when the oil palm leaf sample was fortified at 0.05–1.0 p.p.m. The results showed that fluroxypyr leached down to 50 cm depth at 1 DAT when the plots were treated with either dosage. However, fluroxypyr was not detected in the soil residue at 14 and 21 DAT. Fluroxypyr was not detected in the oil palm leaf samples irrespective of the rates of herbicide application or sampling intervals. The residue of fluroxypyr was detected in water from a nearby stream up to 5 DAT at levels ranging from 0.06–0.21 µg L⁻¹. This result suggests that fluroxypyr persists for a short period in the soil and water ecosystems, but not in the oil palm leaf.