A dynamic, optimal disease control model for foot-and-mouth disease: I. Model description

A dynamic optimization model was developed and used to evaluate alternative foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) control strategies. The model chose daily control strategies of depopulation and vaccination that minimized total regional cost for the entire epidemic duration, given disease dynamics and resource constraints. The disease dynamics and the impacts of control strategies on these dynamics were characterized in a set of difference equations; effects of movement restrictions on the disease dynamics were also considered. The model was applied to a three-county region in the Central Valley of California; the epidemic relationships were parameterized and validated using the information obtained from an FMD simulation model developed for the same region. The optimization model enables more efficient searches for desirable control strategies by considering all strategies simultaneously, providing the simulation model with optimization results to direct it in generating detailed predictions of potential FMD outbreaks.     

Tsetse control in cattle from pyrethroid footbaths

In Burkina Faso, we assessed the efficacy of treating cattle with a footbath containing aqueous formulations of pyrethroids to control two tsetse-fly species, Glossina tachinoides Westwood, 1850 (Diptera, Glossinidae) and Glossina palpalis gambiensis Vanderplank 1949. Legs were the most targeted parts of the body for tsetse-fly blood meals: 81% (95% CI: 73, 89) for G. tachinoides and 88% (81, 95) for G. palpalis.

The in-stable efficacy of footbath treatments was compared with manual full spraying with a 0.005% alphacypermethrin (Dominex, FMC, Philadelphia, USA) formulation (250 mL versus 2 L). The proportions of knocked-down flies were the same with footbath and full spray but the latter was more protective against fly bites. In field use, the efficacy of both methods should be similar given the recommended treatment frequency: 3 days for footbath versus 7 days for full spray.

Among 96 cattle drinking at the same water point in Dafinso (Burkina Faso), 68 (71%) were treated with a footbath containing a 0.005% deltamethrin formulation (Vectocid, CEVA SA, Libourne, France). We observed the effect of this live-bait technique on the one hand on released cohorts of reared, irradiated flies, and on the other hand on wild tsetse flies. In both cases, the footbath treatment was associated with a reduction of the apparent fly density probably related to an increased mortality.     

Optimising cutting method and timing for the control of Abutilon theophrasti seed production

Abutilon theophrasti (velvetleaf) is a widespread and problematic annual weed. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different cutting methods on the viability of A. theophrasti seeds. Three cutting methods were assessed: (1) Entire plant cut and dried (EPD)—plants were cut at soil level and dried with capsules attached on the greenhouse bench or soil surface for 4 weeks; (2) capsules detached and dried (CD)—capsules were removed from plants and dried for 4 weeks; and (3) capsules detached and tested while fresh (CF)—a control treatment. Before drying, the developmental stage (stage one, dark green; stage two, light green; stage three, yellowish-green; or stage four, black with the slightly open capsule) and age (days after flowering, DAF) of each capsule was recorded. Seed viability was measured immediately in the CF treatment and after the 4-week drying period in the EPD and CD treatments. No seeds in the EPD and CD treatments were viable when harvested at the first developmental stage (1–8 DAF) in either experiment, but 100% of seeds in the CF treatment in the field were viable when harvested at 8 DAF. In both greenhouse and field experiments, seeds attained full viability at earlier harvest ages in CF than in EPD or CD treatments, suggesting that seeds might become viable relatively early in development but lose viability if allowed to dry. These findings could be applied to optimise late-season mechanical control of A. theophrasti.     

Evaluation of finger weeder safety and efficacy for intra-row weed removal in irrigated field crops

Increased demand for pesticide-free food and the development of herbicide-resistant weed populations have created a need for non-chemical weed-control tools. A candidate mechanical tool for controlling weeds in the seeding line (intra-row zone) is the finger weeder. This study thus aimed to evaluate the safety and weed-control efficacy of the finger weeder in various irrigated field crops. Eight field trials were conducted in processing tomato, sweet corn, sunflower, cotton, and beetroot over 2 years. The finger weeder treatments were applied as the sole weed-control method (single or double treatments) and in combination with herbicides. A mini meta-analysis was used to evaluate the overall effect of the finger weeder treatments on crop stand and yield and on weed control efficacy. Weed density in the control not treated with herbicides nor a finger weeder ranged between 2 and 62 weeds m⁻². The finger weeder treatments resulted in a significant reduction in weed density, which ranged between 40% and 90%. The weed density following the double finger weeder treatment was not significantly different from that for the conventional herbicide-based treatment (p = 0.32) and could therefore be considered as an effective environmentally friendly alternative. Furthermore, a single FW treatment integrated with herbicide application gave better weed control than the conventional herbicide treatment (p = 0.04). This treatment was safe for the crops with no significant stand (p = 0.19) or yield (p = 0.29) reductions compared to commercial treatment. The results of this study demonstrate the promise of the finger weeder as an effective tool within integrated weed management systems for conventional agro-systems. The tool offers a rational weed-control solution for sustainable systems under irrigation.     

生物杀虫剂组合在有机水稻种植中的作用效果

针对上海市崇明区有机水稻生产过程中病虫害防治效果不佳的问题,在水稻无化肥、无化学农药种植条件下开展了生物杀虫剂对水稻主要害虫稻纵卷叶螟和稻飞虱的田间防控效果评价。在崇明区的2个试验基地,于水稻不同生长时期,以绿僵菌、白僵菌产品分别与病毒杀虫剂MbNPV、植物源杀虫剂苦参碱和细菌杀虫剂Bt组合进行施药处理。结果表明,应用绿僵菌/白僵菌与MbNPV组合,能够有效防治稻纵卷叶螟,在稻纵卷叶螟发生较早的基地,施药后7 d和14 d的防效可达58.2%～81.2%,而在稻纵卷叶螟发生较晚的另一基地,施药后7 d防效可达61.3%和65.6%;绿僵菌/白僵菌与苦参碱组合,可用于防治稻飞虱,7 d和14 d的防效达64.7%～76.1%;绿僵菌/白僵菌与苏云金杆菌组合防治稻纵卷叶螟的14 d防效分别达64.0%和75.4%,优于对稻飞虱的防效;各组合试验结果显示,白僵菌有相对较长的持效作用,且在害虫迁入早期阶段(水稻发育分蘖盛期至拔节期)施用生物农药比在中后期(抽穗期及之后)施用的防效高。可见,生物杀虫剂组合可作为农作物绿色防控的有效手段。     

不同杀菌剂对当归主要病害的防效及经济效益比较

针对甘肃当归病害逐年加重态势, 采用田间随机区组试验, 分析比较70%噁霉灵WP?50%氯溴异氰尿酸WP和80%代森锰锌WP对当归主要病害防效及经济效益, 以期筛选出最佳防控药剂?结果表明:3种杀菌剂均能不同程度防治当归病害, 其中以50%氯溴异氰尿酸WP 1.86 g/L对褐斑病?麻口病防效最佳, 分别为70.38%~78.75%?84.48%~91.04%, 70%噁霉灵WP 0.34 g/L和80%代森锰锌WP 7.92 g/L次之, 对褐斑病防效分别为59.14%~63.72%?58.14%~62.84%, 对麻口病防效分别为78.61%~83.57%?78.97%~83.57%?50%氯溴异氰尿酸WP 1.86 g/L能很好地抑制当归抽薹, 抑制率达58.63%~63.15%?3种杀菌剂均能明显提高当归药材产量构成因子, 以80%代森锰锌WP 7.92 g/L处理增产增收效果最好, 两年平均增产量高达5 559.91 kg/hm2, 平均经济效益为194 136.65元/hm2, 但投入产出比最低, 为1∶480.63?50%氯溴异氰尿酸WP 1.86 g/L对当归病害防效及抽薹抑制率最高, 投入产出比为1∶634.02, 在此基础上综合考虑病害防效和经济效益, 50%氯溴异氰尿酸WP 1.86 g/L可作为生产上防控当归主要病害的主推药剂?     

稻粉虱的发生及其化学防治药剂筛选

稻粉虱Aleurocybotus indicus David et Subramaniam, 属半翅目粉虱科, 以刺吸式口器为害水稻叶片而导致产量损失, 是我国闽?赣?浙等稻区的一种偶发性水稻害虫, 近20多年已鲜有报道, 但2019年-2021年在中国水稻研究所富阳试验农场稻田暴发?本文描述了稻粉虱的为害症状和形态特征, 并配以原色照片; 克隆得到了稻粉虱线粒体DNA COⅠ基因片段, 发现其与烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci序列一致性最高(85.80%); 田间调查表明, 富阳试验农场及周边稻田稻粉虱均有不同程度的发生, 但前者发生量明显较高(每个分蘖最高可达251头), 推测可能与农场温室内的稻粉虱越冬虫源有关; 利用稻苗浸渍法评估了不同作用机制的7种杀虫剂对稻粉虱的毒力, 发现双丙环虫酯?氯虫苯甲酰胺?氟啶虫胺腈?氟啶虫酰胺和溴氰虫酰胺对稻粉虱成虫均有较好的杀虫活性, 其中前4种药剂推荐中剂量处理后72 h的校正死亡率均可达100%, 其LC50分别为3.028?3.769?6.405 mg/L和7.894 mg/L?本研究可为我国稻粉虱的识别诊断和化学防治提供重要依据?