Pathogenicity and mycotoxin production by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium proliferatum</Emphasis> isolated from onion and garlic in Serbia

Fusarium proliferatum can occur on a wide range of economically important vegetable plants but its role in disease is not always well established. In 2000 and 2001, from forty-one field samples of wilting onion and garlic plants in Serbia, F. proliferatum as the predominant fungal species was isolated from root and bulbs. Seventy isolates were firstly characterized for their sexual fertility and were shown to be mostly members of Gibberella intermedia (sixty-seven of seventy isolates, the remaining three isolates were unfertile), the sexual stage of F. proliferatum (syn. mating population D of G. fujikuroi complex). A selected set of eleven F. proliferatum isolates from both hosts were also tested for their pathogenicity and toxigenicity. Although onion and garlic plants were susceptible to all isolates, onion plants showed a significantly higher disease severity index. Six of the eleven isolates of F. proliferatum produced fumonisin B₁ from 25 to 3000 μg g⁻¹, and beauvericin from 400 to 550 μg g⁻¹; ten isolates produced fusaric acid from 80 to 950 μg g⁻¹ and moniliformin from 50 to 520 μg g⁻¹. Finally, all isolates produced fusaproliferin up to 400 μg g⁻¹. These results confirm F. proliferatum as an important pathogen of garlic and onion in Europe and that there is a potential mycotoxin accumulation risk in contaminated plants of both garlic and onion.     

Control of the Whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westw. (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae) on tomato by the new insecticide Acetamiprid

The efficacy of a new class of insecticide (chloronicotinyl) Mospilan 20 SP (a.?i. acetamiprid), compared with Lannate 90 SL (a.?i. methomyl) and Applaud WP 25 (a.?i. buprofezin), in glasshouse control of whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) on tomatoes, was investigated. All investigated insecticides significantly decreased the number of whitefly larvae, compared with untreated plots where population density grew during the trial. Based on statistical analysis, efficacy of all insecticides on whitefly larvae were in the same category. Some differences occurred 7 days after the third treatment. Deposited egg number was significantly different between checks and each insecticide plot. Efficacy of investigated insecticides, evaluated according to deposited egg number, was also good and in the same category.     

Hydrolysis of glycoalkaloids fromSolanum tuberosum L. haulm by enzymes present in plant material and by enzyme preparation

Summary This paper deals with the kinetics of enzymatic hydrolysis of glycoalkaloids from potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) haulm. The hydrolysis was carried out by the action of the enzymes present in fresh haulm, juice of fresh haulm and in haulm dried at various temperatures. The highest degree of enzymatic hydrolysis of 90% was obtained during fermentation of haulm dried at 40 °C after 30 h incubation time. The enzyme preparation was obtained from the juice of fresh potato haulm by using capillary dialysator HM 16 (AQM 1681, 1.6 m² Hemofan 8 υ). The best degree of enzymatic hydrolysis by enzyme preparation, 68%, was achieved after 20 h time of incubation. The enzyme preparation from juice of fresh haulm was characterized by K_m of 0.70 mM at pH 5.5 and 35 °C.     

Additional diet of the parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and the parasitizing of the Elm Bark Beetle (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

Supplementing the diet of Coeloides scolyticida, Dendrosoter protuberans and Ecphylus silesiacus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with Parker's diet and the nectars of melliferous plants: Daucus carota L., Sinapis alba L. and Stachys recta L. had a significant effect on longevity, reproduction, developmental rate, and parasitizing of Scolytus scolytus (Fab.), Scolytus multistriatus (Marsh.) and Scolytus pygmaeus (Fab.) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). These values were considerably lower for wasps fed with the nectar of Sinapis arvensis L. and Trifolium repens L. and the lowest for those without dietary additives. Parker's diet had the most significant effect on the parasitoids and parasitizing of the bark beetles. Nectar of S. recta and S. alba proved most suitable for C. scolyticida and D. protuberans, while E. silesiacus using the nectar from D. carota flower significantly increased parasitizing of S. pygmaeus. T. repens flowers were not a suitable additive for the diet of parasitoids. The parasitoids without additives in their diet had shorter lives, shorter development, and were less effective in reducing host numbers. E. silesiacus wasps had the longest development, and C. scolyticida the shortest. Generally, the parasitoids of the second generation had a slightly prolonged development (1–2 days).     

Additional diet of the parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and the parasitizing of the Elm Bark Beetle (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

Supplementing the diet of Coeloides scolyticida, Dendrosoter protuberans and Ecphylus silesiacus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with Parker's diet and the nectars of melliferous plants: Daucus carota L., Sinapis alba L. and Stachys recta L. had a significant effect on longevity, reproduction, developmental rate, and parasitizing of Scolytus scolytus (Fab.), Scolytus multistriatus (Marsh.) and Scolytus pygmaeus (Fab.) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). These values were considerably lower for wasps fed with the nectar of Sinapis arvensis L. and Trifolium repens L. and the lowest for those without dietary additives. Parker's diet had the most significant effect on the parasitoids and parasitizing of the bark beetles. Nectar of S. recta and S. alba proved most suitable for C. scolyticida and D. protuberans, while E. silesiacus using the nectar from D. carota flower significantly increased parasitizing of S. pygmaeus. T. repens flowers were not a suitable additive for the diet of parasitoids. The parasitoids without additives in their diet had shorter lives, shorter development, and were less effective in reducing host numbers. E. silesiacus wasps had the longest development, and C. scolyticida the shortest. Generally, the parasitoids of the second generation had a slightly prolonged development (1?–?2 days).     

Effect of Neem extract on Lymantria dispar L. (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) and Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

High antifeedancy and low toxicity of the plant preparation Neem (azadirachtin), on the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar L. larvae were proved under laboratory conditions. A high index of Neem antifeedancy was confirmed in all tested concentrations. Under laboratory conditions the Neem had satisfying antifeedancy on Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say third instar larvae too. Field experiments also proved that the foliage protective effect of Neem was very significant. Experiments showed that some antifeedants or repellents, such as Neem, should control olygophagous (L. decemlineata, Coleoptera) insects as well as very polyphagous insects such as L. dispar (Lepidoptera). As a biological, plant-derived preparation, Neem could be suitable for integrated pest management (IPM) programs, especially in small orchards, parks, and tree rows in urban environments and on small private gardens.     

Effect of Neem extract on Lymantria dispar L. (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) and Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

High antifeedancy and low toxicity of the plant preparation Neem (azadirachtin), on the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar L. larvae were proved under laboratory conditions. A high index of Neem antifeedancy was confirmed in all tested concentrations.Under laboratory conditions the Neem had satisfying antifeedancy on Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say third instar larvae too. Field experiments also proved that the foliage protective effect of Neem was very significant.Experiments showed that some antifeedants or repellents, such as Neem, should control olygophagous (L. decemlineata, Coleoptera) insects as well as very polyphagous insects such as L. dispar (Lepidoptera).As a biological, plant-derived preparation, Neem could be suitable for integrated pest management (IPM) programs, especially in small orchards, parks, and tree rows in urban environments and on small private gardens.