Re-test of Rhinocyllus conicus host specificity, and the prediction of ecological risk in biological control

Biological control is proposed as an ecological strategy to manage the threat of invasive plants, especially in natural areas. To pursue this strategy, we need to know that the host specificity criteria used to evaluate ecological risk with deliberate introduction of an exotic insect for biocontrol are sufficient to predict potential impact on native species. Host specificity is defined by adult feeding and oviposition preferences and larval development. One way to evaluate the criteria is to re-examine case histories where ecological effects are recorded, such as that of Rhinocyllus conicus Frölich. This flower head weevil, released in North America in 1968 to control exotic thistles like Musk thistle (Carduus nutans L), is now reducing seed production by multiple native North American thistle species (Cirsium spp.), and local population density of Platte thistle (Cirsium canescens Nutt.). We hypothesized that host specificity of R. conicus has changed since pre-release testing, providing an explanation for the unexpected magnitude of the documented ecological effects. Instead, when we re-tested host specificity of weevils naturalized over 28 generations, we found that host specificity has not changed. Naturalized adults of R. conicus showed strong feeding and oviposition preference for Musk thistle over Platte thistle. In addition, larval development by these weevils was faster and more successful (to larger size) on Musk thistle than on Platte thistle. Thus, our results indicate that a change in host specificity cannot explain the unexpectedly large build-up of R. conicus and significant ecological effect on Platte thistle. We conclude that accurate prediction of the potential level of impact on native host plants in the field requires further ecological information in addition to host specificity.     

Segetal and ruderal relatives of cultivated plants and the problems of their conservation and use: a Russian perspective

The paper presents a survey of the situation existing now in nature with wild relatives of crop species from the group of segetal and ruderal plants, found within the territories of Russia and of other CIS countries. The majority of non-specialized annual and perennial weeds have been shown still to occur in the territory of the former USSR. For the past 50 years they have not seriously vanished from agriculture. Some of them even have a tendency to expand their areas and to become more abundant. Hence they need not be conserved in gene banks. It is only for a relatively small group of species of specialized contaminants that care should be taken to preserve them and to store their seeds in gene banks.     

Pollination of the invasive exotic shrub Lupinus arboreus (Fabaceae) by introduced bees in Tasmania

Exotic plant invasions threaten ecological communities world-wide. Some species are limited by a lack of suitable pollinators, but the introduction of exotic pollinators can facilitate rapid spread. In Tasmania, where many non-native plants are naturalised, exotic honeybees (Apis mellifera) and bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) have become established. We determined how these species affect the pollination of Lupinus arboreus, an invasive, nitrogen-fixing shrub, which is rarely visited by native pollinators. The proportion of flowers setting seed and the number of ovules fertilised per flower were positively related to the visitation rates of both exotic bee species. There was no effect of bee visitation rates on the proportion of seeds aborted prior to maturity, possibly due to post-fertilisation environmental constraints. We conclude that the spread of B. terrestris may not alter the fecundity of L. arboreus because of the pollination service provided by A. mellifera, and discuss potential interactions between these two bee species.     

旱直播稻田杂草群落演替规律及化学除草的研究

北方地区的旱直播稻田杂草群落属于水旱共生型复合群落，具有2个杂草发生高峰期，第1次高峰期为旱生型杂草，第2次高峰期以水生及湿生型杂草为主导群落．用百草枯除苗前大草，秧苗3叶期用“快杀稗＋苯达松”茎叶处理，杂草综合防效可达95％以上．     

74.7%农民乐防除休闲耕地杂草试验研究

采用农民乐防除休闲地杂草,结果表明,74.7%农民乐对苣荬菜的防除适宜剂量为1 500g.hm-2;对野胡萝卜为750—1 050g.hm-2;赖草、硬枝早熟禾为2 250g.hm-2;对西伯利亚蓼、三脉紫菀、茵陈蒿为3 000g.hm-2。     

农田杂草灰飞虱的空间格局与抽样技术

通过聚集度指标法测定和*m--X回归法分析,研究了浙江地区农田杂草越冬代灰飞虱成若虫的田间分布格局与抽样技术。结果表明,灰飞虱成虫、若虫和成若虫混合种群趋向于聚集分布,聚集强度随虫口密度增加而增强,抽样数量随虫口密度增加而递减,最适理论抽样模型为n2=105.95/-X 31.2,当灰飞虱虫口密度每样方2,5,10和20头以上时,分别抽查80,50,40和30样方。以棋盘式、五点式或Z字型等取样方法较宜。     

沿江圩区农作物病虫草害演替及综合治理对策

沿江圩区主要农作物病虫草害演替呈现以下特点 :种类增加 ,不断出现新的病虫为害 ;危害期拉长 ,发生程度加重 ;突发性病虫暴发成灾 ;螟虫危害趋于复杂化等。为此制定了近期与长远期综合治理措施 ,及时有效地控制其危害     

7种除草剂对红麻田杂草的防除效果和安全性

通过对7种不同除草剂防除红麻福红991田杂草的筛选试验,结果表明,敌草胺、乙草胺、精异丙草胺等7种除草剂对红麻田杂草株防效和鲜重防效差异均不显著,对杂草株防效达到78%~98%,对杂草鲜重防效达到77%~98%。48%氟乐灵EC对福红991的安全性最好,福红991植株鲜重达到3.35 kg/m2。     

河北省谷田杂草综合防控技术研究

春播谷田杂草发生有3个峰期,夏播谷田杂草发生仅1个峰期。综合防控技术方案为：44%单嘧.扑灭WP的最佳剂量为1 800 g/hm2,播后苗前进行土壤处理;整地要平整、紧实;土壤含水量要求达到15%;药后不喷灌,或避开有中到大雨的天气用药。这样药效持续期在45 d以上,能有效控制谷田杂草危害,确保谷子安全生长。