Diversity of insecticide resistance mechanisms and spectrum in European populations of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella

Only a few of the registered insecticides against Cydia pomonella L. are still effective in areas where insecticide resistance has emerged in this pest. Resistance mechanisms are multiple, and their lone or cumulative effects in a single population are not completely understood. A detailed estimation of resistance spectrum is still required to define the suitable insecticides to use against a given population. The efficacy of ten insecticides was therefore investigated together with the resistance mechanisms expressed in four laboratory strains and 47 field populations of C. pomonella from five countries. Bioassays were performed using topical applications of diagnostic concentrations on diapausing larvae, and resistance mechanisms were analysed on adults emerging from control insects. All populations exhibited a reduced susceptibility to at least one insecticide when compared with the susceptible laboratory strain. Cross-resistances were observed between azinphos-methyl or phosalone and more recent compounds such as spinosad and thiacloprid. Resistances to azinphos-methyl, diflubenzuron, spinosad, tebufenozide and thiacloprid were significantly correlated with mixed-function oxidase activity, while increased glutathione-S-transferase and reduced non-specific esterase activities were correlated with resistance to azinphos-methyl and emamectin, respectively. Conversely, resistances to azinphos-methyl, tebufenozide and thiacloprid were negatively correlated with increased esterase activity. None of the observed mechanisms explained the loss of susceptibility of populations to chlorpyrifos-ethyl, and no significant correlation was detected between resistance to deltamethrin and the presence of the kdr mutation. The suitability of such non-target instars to monitor insecticide resistance in field populations is discussed.     

Proline and light as quality enhancers of rocket (Eruca sativa Miller) grown under saline conditions

Stress conditions experienced during growth may affect plant responses during post-harvest storage and eventually determine the overall quality of commercial products. In this context, we hypothesized that foliar applications of proline during the growth cycle and light exposure during post-harvest storage could be two important modulators of yield and quality parameters of rocket plants exposed to NaCl stress. Dry matter percentage increased upon NaCl treatment. However, fresh weight loss during storage did not change over time as a consequence of salt stress. High salinity (100 mM NaCl) moderately reduced both leaf nitrate (14%) and nitrite (3%) contents. Lipophilic (LAC) and hydrophilic (HAC) antioxidant activities also decreased by 10% at the highest salinization (average of two growth cycles). In contrast, during storage, LAC decreased whereas HAC increased. Proline applications reduced the leaf nitrate content during storage by 16%, increased carotenoids and chlorophyll contents in salinized plants and also increased the ascorbate leaf concentration in both salinized and non-salinzed plants. Light storage enhanced fresh weight loss in contrast to dark storage. However the exposure to light reduced leaf nitrate levels by 7% (average of two growth cycles) and contributed to maintain high leaf ascorbate concentrations over time.     

A socio-demographic examination of the perceived benefits of agroforestry

Agroforestry has been suggested to produce an array of ecological and socio-economic benefits that not only reach their adopters, but society as a whole. In spite of strong evidence of the benefits of agroforestry, there is a lack of understanding of the public perceptions of those benefits, which prevents the development of benefit-based promotion strategies of agroforestry products. Thus, this study examines the awareness of these benefits among residents and explores whether perceptions vary across individuals with different socio-demographic characteristics. An on-line platform was used to survey three panels of residents from Missouri, Pennsylvania and Texas. Overall, respondents had a neutral perception of the importance of the ecological and socio-economic benefits that agroforestry farms provide to society when compared to farms employing conventional agricultural practices. These results stress the need to increase public awareness of agroforestry practices and their benefits to more strategically position their products among the final consumer. Gender, education level, and residence location were significantly associated with the perceived ecological benefits produced by agroforestry farms and to a lesser extent with the socio-economic benefits. Results also showed that females and young individuals have a greater awareness of several benefits produced by agroforestry farms. Critical marketing implications to stimulate the purchase of agroforestry products (e.g., berries, nuts) among specific groups of consumers are discussed.     

Incorporation of Whole Lupin,Lupinus albus,Seed Meal in Commercial Extruded Diets for Rainbow Trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss: Effect on Growth Performance,Nutrient Digestibility,and Muscle Fatty Acid Composition

Whole lupin seed meal was evaluated as partial replacement for fishmeal in extruded diets for rainbow trout, with particular emphasis on the effect on growth performance and apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of protein, lipids, carbohydrates, and energy. Effect on muscle fatty acid composition was also evaluated. All diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isoenergetic and to contain approximately 45% crude protein and 5.5 kcal energy g/diet. Diets were formulated to include whole lupin seed meal at 0, 10, 15, and 20%. Triplicate groups of fish weighing 65.9 ± 15.1 g on average were fed twice a day until apparent satiation during 12 wk. Growth, feed intake, hepatosomatic index, hepatic histology, proximate composition of whole body, and muscular fatty acid profile were determined. Growth and feed utilization were similar in all treatments and whole‐body composition did not vary among treatments. Polyunsaturated fatty acids of the n‐6 and n‐3 series remained constant in muscle as the amount of lupin in diets increased. Furthermore, the ADCs were similar among all diets. These results suggest that inclusion of whole lupin seed meal up to 20% in extruded diets for rainbow trout do not have any negative effect on growth, feed performance, or flesh quality.     

Genomic characterization of H1N2 swine influenza viruses in Italy

Three subtypes (H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2) are currently diffused worldwide in pigs. The H1N2 subtype was detected for the first time in Italian pigs in 1998. To investigate the genetic characteristics and the molecular evolution of this subtype in Italy, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis of whole genome sequences of 26 strains isolated from 1998 to 2010. Phylogenetic analysis of HA and NA genes showed differences between the older (1998-2003) and the more recent strains (2003-2010). The older isolates were closely related to the established European H1N2 lineage, whereas the more recent isolates possessed a different NA deriving from recent human H3N2 viruses. Two other reassortant H1N2 strains have been detected: A/sw/It/22530/02 has the HA gene that is closely related to H1N1 viruses; A/sw/It/58769/10 is an uncommon strain with an HA that is closely related to H1N1 and an NA similar to H3N2 SIVs. Amino acid analysis revealed interesting features: a deletion of two amino acids (146-147) in the HA gene of the recent isolates and two strains isolated in 1998; the presence of the uncommon aa change (N66S), in the PB1-F2 protein in strains isolated from 2009 to 2010, which is said to have contributed to the increased virulence. These results demonstrate the importance of pigs as mixing vessels for animal and human influenza and show the presence and establishment of reassortant strains involving human viruses in pigs in Italy. These findings also highlighted different genomic characteristics of the NA gene the recent Italian strains compared to circulating European viruses.     

Tuberculosis survey of free-ranging marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) in Brazil.

Esophageal-pharyngeal fluids from 53 free-ranging marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) captured for a research program in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, were assayed for tuberculosis. Total DNA was extracted. amplified by polymerase chain reaction using specific primers for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. microti, and M. africanum), and observed by agarose gel electrophoresis stained with ethidium bromide. All samples were negative. This, along with necropsy and histopathology data, suggests that these animals are not shedding and probably do not have active disease.     

Deep Impact observations by OSIRIS onboard the Rosetta spacecraft

The OSIRIS cameras (optical, spectroscopic, and infrared remote imaging system) onboard the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft observed comet 9P/Tempel 1 for 17 days continuously around the time of NASA's Deep Impact mission. The cyanide-to-water production ratio was slightly enhanced in the impact cloud, compared with that of normal comet activity. Dust particles were flowing outward in the coma at >160 meters per second, accelerated by the gas. The slope of the brightness increase showed a dip about 200 seconds after the impact. Dust Afrho values before and long after the impact confirm the slight decrease of cometary activity. The dust-to-water mass ratio was much larger than 1.