青藏铁路沿线植物生态资源调查初步报告

通过对格尔木至拉萨段铁路沿线目前生态环境和青藏铁路建设过程中产生的生态环境影响为期21 d的调查,初步总结沿线主要植物种382个,主要呈现出5个生态分区,并提出青藏铁路后期建设的建议.     

两种沉水植物在不同水深和生长时期对入侵植物的响应

为研究沉水植物在不同水深和生长时期对不同种类入侵植物的响应,选取2种湿地入侵植物凤眼莲Eichhornia crassipes、水盾草Cabomba caroliniana和2种常见本地沉水植物黑藻Hydrillaverticillata、菹草Potamogeton crispus为研究对象,通过模拟试验探究在不同水深（0.2、0.4 m）和生长时期（生长初期和生长旺期）的本地沉水植物对2种入侵植物的响应。结果显示,当水深为0.4 m时更有利于黑藻的生长,并可削弱入侵植物对黑藻生长的消极作用,而水深对菹草的生长无显著影响;入侵植物种类对本地沉水植物的生长无显著影响,但影响方式却存在差异,其中水盾草倾向于直接抑制本地沉水植物的生长,而凤眼莲可以通过降低水体透明度以及总磷含量进而间接抑制本地沉水植物的生长。此外,外来植物在本地沉水植物生长初期入侵对本地沉水植物产生的消极影响较生长旺期入侵时更显著。表明凤眼莲及水盾草入侵对本地沉水植物生长的影响机制存在差异,本地沉水植物在适宜水深和生长旺期对2种入侵植物具有更强的抵抗能力。     

Application and mechanisms of metal-based nanoparticles in the control of bacterial and fungal crop diseases

Nanotechnology is a young branch of the discipline generated by nanomaterials. Its development has greatly contributed to technological progress and product innovation in the field of agriculture. The antimicrobial properties of nanoparticles (NPs) can be used to develop nanopesticides for plant protection. Plant diseases caused by bacterial and fungal infestations are the main types of crop diseases. Once infected, they will seriously threaten crop growth, reduce yield and quality, and affect food safety, posing a health risk to humans. We reviewed the application of metal-based nanoparticles in inhibiting plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi, and discuss the antibacterial mechanisms of metal-based nanoparticles from two aspects: the direct interaction between nanoparticles and pathogens, and the indirect effects of inducing plant resilience to disease. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.     

Assessment of microbial biocontrol agent (BCA) viability to mechanical and thermal stress by simulating spray application conditions

Background

In order to improve the biological control agent (BCA) efficacy, stress factors threatening the viability of microorganisms during spray application need to be determined. The effect of spray mixture temperature and exposure time on Trichoderma harzianum T 22 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens QST713 viability were tested. Concurrently the combined effect of mechanical and thermal stress effect on BCA viability were tested at two initial spray mixture temperatures (14 and 25 °C) by simulating a spray application using airblast sprayers featured by different tank capacity and a spray liquid circuit (without and with hydraulic agitation system). To assess the BCA microorganism viability, spray mixture samples were collected at time intervals along trials and plated to count the colony forming units (CFU).

Results

The critical temperature threshold that inhibited BCA viability was 35 °C with 30 min of exposure. The sprayer type, the initial temperature of the spray mixture and the temperature increment during the trials significantly decreased the number of CFU recovered. When simulating a spray application, the spray mixture temperature increase rate was determined mainly by the residual amount of spray mixture in the tank. Even if the tank capacity does not substantially affect the final temperature reached by the spray mixture, the higher residual spray mixture in bigger tanks can expose the BCAs for a longer time to critical temperatures.

Conclusions

Experimental trials allowed us to identify the effect of factors affecting the viability of tested BCAs, providing information about the actual chance to guarantee the biological efficacy of BCA treatments. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Target and non-target site mechanisms of fungicide resistance and their implications for the management of crop pathogens

Fungicides are indispensable for high-quality crops, but the rapid emergence and evolution of fungicide resistance have become the most important issues in modern agriculture. Hence, the sustainability and profitability of agricultural production have been challenged due to the limited number of fungicide chemical classes. Resistance to site-specific fungicides has principally been linked to target and non-target site mechanisms. These mechanisms change the structure or expression level, affecting fungicide efficacy and resulting in different and varying resistance levels. This review provides background information about fungicide resistance mechanisms and their implications for developing anti-resistance strategies in plant pathogens. Here, our purpose was to review changes at the target and non-target sites of quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicides, methyl-benzimidazole carbamate (MBC) fungicides, demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides, and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides and to evaluate if they may also be associated with a fitness cost on crop pathogen populations. The current knowledge suggests that understanding fungicide resistance mechanisms can facilitate resistance monitoring and assist in developing anti-resistance strategies and new fungicide molecules to help solve this issue. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.