Feeding behaviour of whitebacked planthopper, Sogatella furcifera (Horvath), on resistant and susceptible rice varieties

Feeding behaviour of the whitebacked planthopper Sogatella furcifera (Horvath) was studied on 30-, 45- and 60-day-old plants of seven resistant varieties and one susceptible variety of rice. The preference or otherwise of the hoppers to different varieties was studied in terms of the feeding marks made and the amount of honeydew excreted. The insect made more feeding marks and excreted less honeydew on resistant varieties than on the susceptible TN 1. The number of feeding marks increased with the increase in the plant age of varieties, while the honeydew excretion decreased.     

Structure of tracheal cytotoxin in complex with a heterodimeric pattern-recognition receptor

Tracheal cytotoxin (TCT), a naturally occurring fragment of Gram-negative peptidoglycan, is a potent elicitor of innate immune responses in Drosophila. It induces the heterodimerization of its recognition receptors, the peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) LCa and LCx, which activates the immune deficiency pathway. The crystal structure at 2.1 angstrom resolution of TCT in complex with the ectodomains of PGRP-LCa and PGRP-LCx shows that TCT is bound to and presented by the LCx ectodomain for recognition by the LCa ectodomain; the latter lacks a canonical peptidoglycan-docking groove conserved in other PGRPs. The interface, revealed in atomic detail, between TCT and the receptor complex highlights the importance of the anhydro-containing disaccharide in bridging the two ectodomains together and the critical role of diaminopimelic acid as the specificity determinant for PGRP interaction.     

Influence of weather factors on sorghum earhead bug Calocoris angustatus Lethierry incidence

Abstract

Weather parameters during the same week and one, two, three or four weeks before were correlated with the population of earhead bug, Calocoris angustatus on different earhead stages of two hybrids, CSH 5 and K‐Tall, in main and ratoon crops. The weather factors in the different weeks contributing to the insect population varied with the stage of earhead, the hybrid and the nature of the crop (main or ratoon). In the main crop, the insect population at pre‐flowering, milky, dough and maturity stage was influenced by weather parameters one week before, the same, two and three weeks before respectively. Morning relative humidity was important in both hybrids at all stages, with a few exceptions. In the ratoon crop, the pre‐flowering and maturity stage populations were influenced by the weather parameters of the same week. The populations at milky and maturity stage were influenced by parameters four weeks and one week before the observations respectively. The factors influencing the population on CSH 5 and K‐Tall varied. In most cases morning relative humidity had a positive influence.     

Studies on the sorghum grain midge,Contarinia sorghicola Coquillet,in relation to environmental influence

Abstract

Biology, ecology and damage potential of the sorghum midge, Contarinia sorghicola Coquillet, were studied at Coimbatore, India. The life cycle of the midge was shorter in summer than winter: Johnson grass, Sorghum halepense and pearl millet, Pennisetum americanum served as alternate hosts for the sorghum midge. Seasonal incidence studies revealed that four peak infestations occurred in crops sown in April, June, August and October. Midge developmental stages were quite active all through the year with no diapause, Peak adult midge attraction to the light trap was recorded at 21.00 hours. However, adult midges were found to be quite active only in the daytime in the field. There was no relationship between adult midge catches from the light trap and the population recorded in the field. Morning relative humidity and wind velocity were negatively associated with the population of midge attracted to the light trap. An increased percentage of midge population was recorded in the light trap during the new moon and second quarter phases of moon. Sticky traps were not efficient in trapping adult midges. One pair of adult midge per earhead caused 16–9% grain damage.     

Mineral Concentrations of Cool Season Pasture Forages in North Florida During Winter-Spring Grazing Season. I. Macrominerals and Forage Organic Constituents

Two experimental late fall-winter-spring grazing studies, each lasting two years, were conducted at the North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC), Marianna, Florida to evaluate the organic constituents and macromineral concentrations of annual cool season pasture forages grazed by growing beef cattle. Eight 1.32 ha fenced pastures or paddocks were divided into two pasture land preparation/planting methods, four pastures for the sod seeding treatments and four for the prepared seedbed treatments. These pastures were planted with two different forage combinations: rye/oats mix with or without ryegrass for the first two years (Study 1), and oats with ryegrass or ryegrass only for the last two years (Study 2). Each of the four forage/land preparation combination treatments was assigned to two pastures each year, thereby giving two replicates per year. Forage samples were collected at the start of grazing and twice monthly thereafter until the end of grazing season for each year, pooled by month, and were analyzed for calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), dry matter (DM) yield, crude protein (CP), and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD). Blood plasma samples were also collected from the tester cattle during the spring season of year 2 of Study 2 and were analyzed for Ca, P, and Mg. Month differences were observed in forage concentrations of P and K (P < 0.0001), and Mg (P < 0.05) in both studies, Ca (P < 0.01) in Study 1 only, and Na (P < 0.05) only in Study 2. Year affected P, K, and Mg concentrations in Study 1 and Ca, P, and Na concentrations in Study 2. In Study 2, forage type by month interactions on Ca, K, and Mg concentrations were noticed (P < 0.01). Forage Ca was lower (P < 0.05) than the critical level for all months from the oat plus ryegrass pastures, and for early winter months and late spring months from ryegrass only pasture. Forage Na concentrations were consistently low throughout the grazing season and unaffected by forage type or land cultivation methods used in both studies. Low Mg concentrations of both forage types in Study 2 (also with high K concentrations) were indicative of a potential risk of grass tetany (hypomagnesemia) for grazing ruminants. Forage DM yields were highly variable with fluctuations among the experimental months and were found to be highest in the spring months, with decreasing yields towards the end of the grazing season in both studies (P < 0.0001). The CP concentrations were greater than the required levels and both CP and IVOMD decreased gradually by month in both studies (P < 0.0001). Normal blood plasma concentrations of Ca and P obtained were indicative of a good overall status of these minerals in the animal's body. Plasma Mg concentrations were slightly above the critical level for cattle from both forage types. In summary, the macrominerals most likely to be deficient in North Florida during the cool season would be Ca, Na, and Mg. Special attention should be given to supplementation of Mg since forages reflected a marginal deficiency of this mineral and high K concentrations were found.     

7-O-(6-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-rutin from leaves of Canthium dicoccum

A new flavonol glycoside, characterized as 7-O-(6-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-rutin (1), has been isolated from the leaves of Canthium dicoccum. Detailed 1H COSY, HSQC, HMBC and TOCSY NMR as well as positive and negative electrospray MS and MS/MS data have been provided for the new compound.     

Mineral Concentrations of Cool Season Pasture Forages in North Florida During the Winter-Spring Grazing Season: II. Trace Minerals

Trace mineral concentrations of annual cool season pasture forages grazed by growing beef cattle during late fall-winter-spring grazing season were evaluated during two experimental cool season grazing studies, each lasting two years at the North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC), Marianna, Florida. Eight 1.32 ha fenced pastures or paddocks were divided into two groups of pasture land preparation/planting methods, four pastures for the sod seeding treatments (SS) and four for the prepared seedbed treatments (PS). Two different pasture forages, small grains, (rye/oats mix) with or without ryegrass for the first two years (Study 1); and oats with ryegrass or ryegrass only for the last two years (Study 2) were planted in these pasture lands. Each of the four forage, type, and cultivation combination treatments was assigned to two pastures each year, thereby giving two replicates per pasture treatment per year. Forage samples were collected at the start of pasture grazing and twice monthly thereafter until the end of grazing season, pooled by month, and analyzed for copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), molybdenum (Mo), and selenium (Se). Liver biopsies and blood plasma samples were collected from the tester cattle only during the spring of year two of Study 2. Liver was analyzed for Cu, Fe, Mn, Co, Mo, and Se and plasma for Cu, Fe, Zn, and Se. Forage trace mineral concentrations were found to differ by month in Cu (P < 0.01), Fe and Zn (P < 0.0001) in both studies, and with Mn (P < 0.0001) in Study 2 only. Pasture forage type effects on Cu (P < 0.05), Fe and Zn (P < 0.01), and Se (P < 0.05) and forage type by month interactions on Cu and Mn (P < 0.0001), and Zn (P < 0.05) were observed in Study 2. Forage concentrations of Cu, Zn, Mn, and Mo in Study 1 and Mn, Mo, and Se in Study 2 were affected (P < 0.05) by pasture land preparation/planting methods in that these minerals were found to be lower from forages of sod-seeded treatments than from those of prepared seedbed treatments. Forage Cu concentrations were lower than the minimum requirements (10 ppm, DM) for beef cattle among months in both studies. Oats-ryegrass pastures of Study 2 had surprisingly low Fe concentrations (P < 0.01) in all months of the winter-spring grazing season. Cobalt, Mn, Mo, and Se did not vary much month to month during the winter-spring grazing months. All mean forage Se concentrations were lower than the requirements (0.10 ppm, DM) for grazing beef cattle. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in mean Se values between the two studies. Liver Cu, Fe, Co, and Se concentrations were sufficient to indicate adequate status of these minerals in tester animals from both forage types. Liver concentrations of Mn and Mo were slightly low, indicating a low status or these minerals. Plasma concentrations of Cu, Fe, Se, and Zn were all above the recommended concentrations for beef cattle. In conclusion, trace minerals deficient in North Florida during the cool season were Cu, Co, and Se, and a special consideration should be given to include adequate amounts while supplementing the mineral mixtures to growing beef cattle since forage samples reflected deficient concentrations of these minerals.