Fitness cost, cross resistance and realized heritability of resistance to imidacloprid in Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Imidacloprid has been used as a key insecticide for controlling sucking insect pests of cotton, whereas Spodoptera litura also has been indirectly exposed to this insecticide in Pakistan. To evaluate the risk of resistance evolution and to develop a better resistance management strategy, a field collected population was selected with imidacloprid in the laboratory. Thereafter, fitness cost, realized heritability and cross resistance of imidacloprid resistance in S. litura were investigated. After 14 generations of selection with imidacloprid, S. litura developed a 137.48-fold resistance to the insecticide. Bioassay revealed that this strain showed cross-resistance to acetamiprid (RR 8.52) and a little to lamdacyhalothrin (1.92) but negative cross-resistance was found to methomyl (−0.19). The resistant strain had a relative fitness of 0.38, with substantially lower rates of larval survival, larval duration, male pupal duration, development time, emergence rate of healthy adults, fecundity, hatchability, and prolonged larval and pupal duration. Mean relative growth rate of the larvae, intrinsic rate of population increase, and biotic potential was lower for the selected populations. The estimated realized heritability (h²) of imidacloprid resistance was 0.15 in the resistant strain of S. litura. Development of the resistance may cost significant fitness for the resistant population. This study provided valuable information for further understanding the impact of imidacloprid resistance on physiological parameters of S. litura and for facilitating the development of resistance management strategies.     

Cross‐resistance,mode of inheritance and stability of resistance to emamectin in Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

BACKGROUND: Spodoptera litura (F.) is a cosmopolitan pest that has developed resistance to several insecticides. The aim of the present study was to establish whether an emamectin‐selected (Ema‐SEL) population could render cross‐resistance to other insecticides, and to investigate the genetics of resistance. RESULTS: Bioassays at G₁ gave resistance ratios (RRs) of 80‐, 2980‐, 3050‐ and 2800‐fold for emamectin, abamectin, indoxacarb and acetamiprid, respectively, compared with a laboratory susceptible population Lab‐PK. After three rounds of selection, resistance to emamectin in Ema‐SEL increased significantly, with RRs of 730‐fold and 13‐fold compared with the Lab‐PK and unselected (UNSEL) population respectively. Further studies revealed that three generations were required for a tenfold increase in resistance to emamectin. Resistance to abamectin, indoxacarb, acetamiprid and emamectin in UNSEL declined significantly compared with the field population at G₁. Furthermore, selection with emamectin reduced resistance to abamectin, indoxacarb and acetamiprid on a par with UNSEL. Crosses between Ema‐SEL and Lab‐PK indicated autosomal and incomplete dominance of resistance. A direct test of a monogenic model and Land's method suggested that resistance to emamectin was controlled by more than one locus. CONCLUSION: Instability of resistance and lack of cross‐resistance to other insecticides suggest that insecticides with different modes of action should be recommended to reduce emamectin selection pressure. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Oligonucleotide-modified gold nanoparticles for intracellular gene regulation

We describe the use of gold nanoparticle-oligonucleotide complexes as intracellular gene regulation agents for the control of protein expression in cells. These oligonucleotide-modified nanoparticles have affinity constants for complementary nucleic acids that are higher than their unmodified oligonucleotide counterparts, are less susceptible to degradation by nuclease activity, exhibit greater than 99% cellular uptake, can introduce oligonucleotides at a higher effective concentration than conventional transfection agents, and are nontoxic to the cells under the conditions studied. By chemically tailoring the density of DNA bound to the surface of gold nanoparticles, we demonstrated a tunable gene knockdown.     

Bluetongue virus seropositivity in sheep flocks in North West Frontier Province, Pakistan

The objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence and distribution of serum antibodies to Bluetongue virus (BTV) in a sample of 38 sheep flocks in northern areas of the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan and to identify demographic and productivity variables that are associated with BTV seropositivity. Blood samples were taken from a random sample of ewes in each flock in April 1995. The owners of the flocks were interviewed regarding some demographic, husbandry and productivity variables of the flocks on the day of blood sampling. A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was conducted to test the serum samples for BTV group-specific antibodies. BTV seropositive reactions were obtained in 184 (48.4%) out of 380 tested sera, and in 89.5% (34/38) of the flocks. In the 34 seropositive flocks, the prevalences ranged from 12.5 to 100% (median = 47). A multivariable logistic analysis was carried out to study the influence of demographic and productivity variables on the BTV serological status of the sheep flocks. Abortion risk in the previous lambing season was mildly associated with the serological status of the flock (adjusted odds ratio = 1.16, P = 0.07). For the seropositive flocks, a linear multiple regression showed that distance travelled by the flock during transhumant movement was significantly associated with percent seropositivity (partial regression coefficient (± SE) = − 0.091 ± 0.045).     

A study of mechanical behavior and morphology of carbon nanotube reinforced UHMWPE/Nylon 6 hybrid polymer nanocomposite fiber

We report a phenomenal increase in strength, modulus, and fracture strain of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber by 103 %, 219 %, and 108 %, respectively through hybridizing this fiber with Nylon 6 as a minor phase and simultaneously reinforcing it with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Loading of Nylon 6 and SWCNTs into UHMWPE was 20.0 wt% and 2.0 wt%, respectively. Hybridized fibers were processed using a solution spinning method coupled with melt mixing and extrusion. We claim that the enhancement in strain-to-failure of the nanocomposites is due to induced plasticity in the hybridized Nylon 6-UHMWPE polymers. The enhancement in strength and stiffness in the nanocomposites is attributed to the load sharing of the SWCNTs during deformation. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies showed that changes in percent crystallinity, rate of crystallization, crystallite size, alignment of nanotubes, sliding of polymer interfaces and strong adhesion of CNT/polymer blends were responsible for such enhancements.     

Plant Density and Nitrogen Effects on Maize Phenology and Grain Yield

ABSTRACT

Nitrogen (N) and plant density are considered some of the most important factors affecting crop phenology (days to tasseling, silking, and maturity), morphology (leaves plant^?1, seeds ear^?1, ears 100 plants^?1) and grain yield. The effects of plant density and N on phenology, morphology, and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) at Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan were evaluated during 2002 to 2004. The 2 × 3 × 6 factorial experiment was designed having two plant densities (60,000 and 100,000 plants ha^?1) and three N levels (60, 120, and 180 kg N ha^?1) applied to main plots, while six split application of N in different proportions were applied to subplots in two equal, three equal, three unequal, four equal, five equal and five unequal splits at sowing and with 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th irrigation at two week intervals. All the phenological characteristics were significantly affected by year, plant density, rate and timing of nitrogen application. Year and plant density had no significant effect while rates and split application of N had significant effects on the leaf number plant^?1 and seed number ear^?1. Year, plant density and N rate had significant effects while N splits had no significant effects on the number of ears 100 plants^?1 of maize. Significantly higher grain yield was observed under high plant densities, high N rate and split application of N, while its response to year effects was statistically non-significant. Tasseling, silking and physiological maturity were delayed and maximum grain yield was obtained from those plots maintained at higher plant density. Delaying in the phenological characteristics while increasing the number of leaves and seeds plant^?1, and number of ears 100 plant^?1 through high rate and split application of N results in maximum yield of maize at Peshawar. This study suggested that maize production can be maximized through high plant density and high N split application.     

Effects of dietary supplementation of spices on forage degradability,ruminal fermentation,in vivo digestibility,growth performance and nitrogen balance in Black Bengal goat

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of spices on forage utilization and nitrogen (N) emission using in vitro and in vivo approach. A 6 × 5 factorial triplicate arrangement was used to assess the in vitro degradability of rice straw with control (without spices) and individual (40 mg/g rice straw) spices (cumin, coriander, clove, black cumin, turmeric) at five different incubation times. In vitro dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) degradability of rice straw were highest in presence of spices except for clove. Clove significantly reduced the total volatile fatty acids concentration, molar proportion of acetate and propionate ratio, but increased propionate production. Acetate and butyrate production were not affected by treatments. The ammonia‐nitrogen concentration was lowest for clove and turmeric compared to other spices. Rumen pH was unchanged but gradually decreased over the incubation period. For in vivo study, 12 bucks with average live weight 7.65 ± 0.19 kg were assigned to a completely randomized design with three treatments and four replicates for a 28‐day period. Bucks were fed a total mixed ration without (0 g/kg DM) or with (2.5, 7.5 g/kg DM) clove supplementation. DM intake, body weight and apparent total tract digestibility of crude protein (CP) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) were not affected by increasing dietary doses of clove but tended (p = .09) to increase DM and OM digestibility. The urinary N and urine urea N concentration of bucks decreased linearly with incremental doses of clove diet. In contrary, clove supplementation had positive effects on plasma urea N and retained N in bucks. We concluded that though some spices had positive effects on ruminal digestion and fermentation, the dosage level assessed in the current study (up to 7.5 g/kg DM clove) can be promoted as an effective dietary approach to mitigate N losses in bucks.