The presence of Rickettsia is associated with increased susceptibility of Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) to insecticides

BACKGROUND: The presence of certain symbiotic microorganisms may be associated with insecticide resistance in insects. The authors compared the susceptibility of two isofemale lines, Rickettsia-plus and Rickettsia-free, of the sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) to major insecticides from different chemical groups, including imidacloprid, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, pyriproxyfen, spiromesifen and diafenthiuron. RESULTS: While the Rickettsia-plus and Rickettsia-free lines showed no differences in their susceptibility to imidacloprid and diafenthiuron, higher susceptibility of the Rickettsia-plus line to acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, spiromesifen and especially pyriproxyfen was observed. LC(90) values indicated that the Rickettsia-free line was 15-fold more resistant to pyriproxyfen than the Rickettsia-plus line. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that the infection status of B. tabaci populations by Rickettsia is an important consideration that should be taken into account when performing resistance monitoring studies, and may help in understanding the dynamics of B. tabaci resistance, symbiont-pest associations in agricultural systems and the biological impact of Rickettsia on whitefly biology.     

Leaching of Terbuthylazine and Bromacil Through Field Soils

A field experiment was designed to provide data on the effect of soil heterogeneity on the distribution of herbicides following leaching by irrigation and rain water. Terbuthylazine and bromacil, two nonconservative herbicides, together with CaBr₂, a conservative chemical, were used in the reported experiment. The experimental field consisted of a noncultivated 175-m² plot in which 20 observation points were randomly selected. A hundred and ten centimeters of irrigation and rainwater were applied and the field was periodically sampled for chemical distributions. The spatial variability of the field was determined by measuring the K_s (saturated conductivity) and α (Gardner parameter). Auxiliary laboratory experiments were performed to define the adsorption-desorption of the chemicals studied in these field soils. Results on the adsorption-desorption of terbuthylazine and bromacil and on the redistribution of these chemicals in the field to a depth of 120 cm during leaching are shown. Bromacil leached to a greater extent than terbuthylazine. The differences among the concentrations of herbicides in the various cores studied may be explained in terms of properties of the chemicals and soil spatial variability. The residual concentrations of terbuthylazine and bromacil were also determined to a depth of 400 cm after the leaching of 110 cm of water. In some of the cores, two zones showing a relatively high concentration of terbuthylazine and bromacil were observed at depths of 40–60 and 200–300 cm, respectively. This redistribution pattern of the herbicides could be explained by the preferential flow of the solute in the cores studied.     

Binding of 125I-labeled endotoxin to bovine, canine, and equine platelets and endotoxin-induced agglutination of canine platelets

Endotoxin from Escherichia coli O127:B8, Salmonella abortus-equi and S minnesota induced clumping of some canine platelets (PLT) at a final endotoxin concentration of 1 microgram/ml. Endotoxin-induced clumping of canine PLT was independent of PLT energy-requiring processes, because clumping was observed with canine PLT incubated with 2-deoxy-D-glucose and antimycin A. The PLT responded to adenosine diphosphate before, but not after, incubation with the metabolic inhibitors. Endotoxin induced a slight and inconsistant clumping of bovine and equine PLT at high (mg/ml) endotoxin concentration. High-affinity binding sites could not be demonstrated on canine, bovine, and equine PLT, using 125I-labeled E coli O127:B8 endotoxin. Nonspecific binding was observed and appeared to be due primarily to an extraneous coat on the PLT surface that was removed by gel filtration. The endotoxin that was bound to PLT did not appear to modify PLT function. An attempt to identify plasma proteins that bound physiologically relevant amounts of endotoxin was not successful. The significance of the endotoxin-induced clumping or lack of it on the pathophysiology of endotoxemia is discussed.     

Polymyxin B: pharmacokinetics of single doses given intravenously and intramuscularly to turkeys, and minimal inhibitory concentrations for Escherichia coli and Pasteurella multocida.

The 50% and 90% minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC50 and MIC90) of polymyxin B for avian Escherichia coli and Pasteurella multocida isolates were determined by the agar plate dilution method. Polymyxin B at approximate MIC level in serum was bactericidal for E. coli in 2 to 4 hours. Aqueous polymyxin B sulfate was administered by a single bolus intravenous injection into turkeys at 10,000 IU/kg, and by a single bolus intramuscular injection at 5,000, 10,000 or 20,000 IU/kg. Effective serum drug concentrations after intramuscular injection (MIC50 levels or greater) were maintained for E. coli for 7.0 hr (10,000 IU/kg) and 11.5 hr (20,000 IU/kg), and for P. multocida for 3.0 hr (10,000 IU/kg) and 4.1 hr (20,000 IU/kg). Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by non-compartmental methods. Elimination time half-lives, mean residence time, clearance, and apparent volume of distribution at steady state (Vdss) were all much higher for i.m. injection of 20,000 IU/kg than for i.m. injection of 10,000 IU/kg. We postulate that there exists a minimal tissue-interaction threshold concentration (MTC) at which polymyxin B can enter previously unavailable compartments or bind to previously refractory tissue components. Bioavailability of polymyxin B injected i.m. was 0.904 for the 10,000 IU/kg dose and 0.675 for the 20,000 IU/kg dose. Dosage intervals necessary to produce minimal steady state concentrations (Cssmin) equal to the MIC were calculated. Certain aspects of the use of the parameter Vdss, and limitations on the use of dosage interval calculations for polymyxin B, are discussed. One week after i.m. injection of polymyxin B at 10,000 IU/kg, high tissue drug levels were present, especially in bound form in liver. Following single injections, no toxic effects on turkeys were observed.     

Plant growth enhancement and disease control byTrichoderma harzianum in vegetable seedlings grown under commercial conditions

Trichoderma harzianum was applied to cucumber and pepper seedlings as a peat-bran preparation incorporated into the propagative mixture in a commercial production nursery. On marketing day (after 18 and 30 days for cucumber and pepper, respectively), significant increases of 23.8% and 17.2% in seedling height, 96.1% and 50% in leaf area, and 24.7% and 28.6% in plant dry weight were observed in cucumber and pepper seedlings, respectively, as compared to their non-treated counterparts.Trichoderma-treated seedlings were much more developed and vigorous and had higher chlorophyll contents. No significant differences were found in N, P or K content between treatments. Cucumber seedlings were then transplanted to a commercial greenhouse and analyzed over two successive growth cycles following soil fumigation with methyl bromide (500 kg/ha). Results revealed theTrichoderma-treated plants to be more resistant to damping-off disease. During the first cycle, immediately after soil fumigation, no damping-off was observed with either treatment, except in border beds where 4% of the non-treated plants died, as compared to no damping-off in theTrichoderma-treated plants. During the second growing cycle however, significant reductions in damping-off of 67% and 52% were obtained in middle and border beds, respectively, as compared to the non-treated controls.     

Immunoelectrophoresis of avian viral proteins in a phosphate-buffered system

Avian influenza and hemorrhagic enteritis viral preparations were immunoelectrophoresed in a phosphate-buffered system. Excellent separation and resolution of viral proteins were achieved. Reasons are given why this method might be preferred over the conventional method employing a veronal (barbital)-buffered system.