Ecology and management of earthworm casting on sports turf

Earthworm activity is beneficial in most natural and agricultural systems, but excessive earthworm casting is a problem on sports fields worldwide. Expulsion of soil‐rich earthworm fecal matter, or casts, as mounds of soil on the turf canopy can muddy the surface, reduce photosynthesis, and lead to thinning, weed invasion and surface softening. Casts affect ball roll on sports fields, cause fouling of maintenance equipment, and dull mower blades. Build‐up of cast material on reel mower units can affect height and quality of cut. Casting activity is dependent on environmental conditions such as soil texture, temperature, moisture, pH, and organic matter. Response to environmental conditions varies by species. Management options are limited, because no pesticides are specifically labeled for earthworm control at this time, and cultural control methods such as soil modification, turfgrass clipping removal, and sand topdressing have limited and inconsistent efficacy. Products containing plant‐derived saponins and irritants show promise for earthworm management. Pest management practices to mitigate excessive earthworm casting will likely need to be species‐specific, but limited knowledge of earthworm identification by end‐users further inhibits the efficacy of control measures. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Optimizing aphid biocontrol with the predator Aphidoletes aphidimyza,based on biology and ecology

Aphidoletes aphidimyza is one of the most important predators used in the augmentative biological control of aphids, key pests of many crops worldwide. Adult females are very efficient in locating aphid infestations over a relatively long range, up to 45 m, and deposit eggs near or within aphid colonies. The predatory larvae are aphid generalists preying on several agriculturally important aphid species. The successful use of this biocontrol agent in agricultural systems depends on several biotic and abiotic factors. Among biotic factors, aphid species, plant structure, interspecific competition and intraguild predation may significantly impact the predator´s population dynamics. Key abiotic conditions include day lengths (above a critical threshold to prevent diapause), availability of mating sites in the crop, temperature (above 15 °C to enable egg laying), air relative humidity (above 70%) and availability of pupation sites. Although several successes have been reported in open field crops with naturally occurring or released populations, commercial releases are primarily used in protected crops. Optimized emergence boxes combining provisioning of food sources for the adults, integration with the technological advances that occurred in the greenhouse environment lately, insights into the nutritional ecology in open field crops and exploration of the genetic variability are proposed as future directions to improve adoption and efficacy of A. aphidimyza in crop protection. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

魔芋绿色防病高效栽培技术

魔芋是高经济价值作物,种植魔芋是我国秦巴、云贵区域的特色,是山区农民增收、脱贫致富的有效途径。由于良种缺乏、种植水平不高,魔芋病害重、产量低等这些问题,导致魔芋效益并不理想。本文首先分析魔芋生长环境的需求特性、生长面临的重大病害以及适宜的种植方式;进而总结魔芋生产各环节相关种植技术要点,形成一套魔芋绿色防病高效栽培技术体系;最后从品种、防病和栽培三个角度对魔芋研究与产业发展趋势进行展望。     

芸薹属蔬菜霜霉病研究概况及进展

霜霉病是世界范围内芸薹属蔬菜生产中常见的重要病害,病原菌为卵菌门无色霜霉属寄生无色霜霉(Hyaloperonos poraparasitica),叶片是病菌最主要的为害部位,植株发病后叶片出现枯黄症状,导致芸薹属蔬菜品质和产量下降,严重时可减产20%~60%,造成大量的经济损失,制约我国芸薹属蔬菜产业的发展。虽然霜霉病为害严重,但目前对于芸薹属霜霉病的发生规律和防治方法的认知还存在不足。本文从芸薹属蔬菜霜霉病的发生为害、防治措施、抗性遗传规律、分子标记等方面对其研究现状进行总结概括,并对未来芸薹属霜霉病的研究方向进行展望,旨在为相关研究提供参考。     

茶农绿色防控技术采用行为影响因素实证研究

利用16个茶叶主产省2 210份茶农调查数据,借助Logit模型分析了影响茶农绿色防控技术采用行为的因素。结果表明,茶农采用绿色防控技术受个人特征、家庭特征、茶园经营特征和组织与技术服务特征4个方面的因素影响,其中组织与技术服务特征因素的影响最大。具体来看,年龄、家庭人口规模和茶园规模对茶农采用绿色防控技术有显著的负向影响;农残限量标准认知、家庭年收入、组织化程度、技术培训和技术交流对茶农采用绿色防控技术有显著的积极影响。了解农残限量标准的茶农采用绿色防控技术的概率约是不了解的2倍;家庭收入每增加1万元,技术采用发生比相对增加2%;加入合作社的茶农采用绿色防控技术的概率是未加入的1.73倍;茶农参加病虫害防治培训次数每增加1次,技术采用发生比提升为原来的150%。受教育程度、打工收入占比、农药价格敏感性等因素在本研究中对茶农绿色防控技术采用的影响不显著。由此,有关政府部门需要通过增强茶农组织化程度,加强农户病虫害防治培训,降低技术使用成本等手段促进农户绿色防控技术的采用,以便实现绿色农业。     

玉米镰孢穗腐病发生条件及化学防治效果研究

通过人工接种筛选抗病品种资源,研究播期、种植密度对病害发生的影响,明确玉米镰孢菌穗腐病发生与品种资源、播期、种植密度的关系,分析棘孢木霉菌颗粒剂(TCF)和XDS种衣剂(40%毒死蜱乳油、20%辛硫磷和10%井岗霉素混剂)对玉米穗腐病的防效。结果表明,32个自交系中有6个抗病自交系,延迟播种玉米镰孢菌穗腐病发生严重,播种密度对病害发生程度无显著影响。人工接种条件下,TCF颗粒剂穴施、XDS种衣剂拌种2个处理表现为百粒重增加、秃尖长度降低,TCF颗粒剂穴施处理的防效最高,为48.69%。     

Transgenic sorghum with suppressed synthesis of kafirin subclasses: Effects on flour and dough rheological characteristics

Arising from work showing that conventionally bred high protein digestibility sorghum types have improved flour and dough functionality, the flour and dough properties of transgenic biofortified sorghum lines with increased protein digestibility and high lysine content (TG-HD) resulting from suppressed synthesis of several kafirin subclasses, especially the cysteine-rich γ-kafirin, were studied. TG-HD sorghums had higher flour water solubility at 30 °C (p < 0.05) and much higher paste viscosity (41% higher) than their null controls (NC). TG-HD doughs were twice as strong as their NC and dynamic rheological analysis indicated that the TG doughs were somewhat more elastic up to 90 °C. CLSM of doughs and pastes indicated that TG-HD had a less compact endosperm protein matrix surround the starch compared to their NC. The improved flour and dough functional properties of the TG-HD sorghums seem to be caused by reduced endosperm compactness resulting from suppression of synthesis of several kafirin subclasses which modifies protein body and protein matrix structure, and to improved protein-starch interaction through hydrogen bonding specifically caused by reduction in the level of the hydrophobic γ-kafirin. The improved flour functionality of these transgenic biofortified sorghums can increase their commercial utility by complementing their improved nutritional quality.