High‐level of resistance to spinosad,emamectin benzoate and carbosulfan in populations of Thrips tabaci collected in Israel

BACKGROUND: The onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman, is a major pest of several crop plants in the genus Allium, such as onions, garlic and chives. In Israel, these crops are grown in open fields and in protected housing. This thrips is usually controlled by the application of chemical insecticides. In recent years, spinosad, emamectin benzoate and carbosulfan have been the major insecticides used for the control of the onion thrips. In the last 4 years, growers of chives and green onion from several regions of Israel have reported a significant decrease in the efficacy of insecticides used to control the onion thrips. RESULTS: The susceptibility of 14 populations of the onion thrips, collected mainly from chives between the years 2007 and 2011, to spinosad, emamectin benzoate and carbosulfan was tested using a laboratory bioassay. The majority of the populations showed significant levels of resistance to at least one of the insecticides. LC₅₀ values calculated for two of the studied populations showed that the resistance factor for spinosad compared with the susceptible population is 21 393, for carbosulfan 54 and for emamectin benzoate 36. Only two populations, collected from organic farms, were susceptible to the insecticides tested. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of a high resistance level to spinosad, the major insecticide used to control the onion thrips. Resistance cases to spinosad were associated with failures to control the pest. Populations resistant to spinosad also had partial or complete resistance to other insecticides used for controlling the onion thrips. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Circulation of bovine ephemeral fever in the Middle East--strong evidence for transmission by winds and animal transport

Bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) is an economically important arbovirus of cattle. The main routes of its transmission between countries and continents are not completely elucidated. This study aimed to explore BEFV transmission in the Middle-East. A phylogenetic analysis was performed on the gene encoding the G protein of BEFV isolates from Israel from 2000 and 2008 with isolates from Turkey (2008), Egypt (2005), Australia (1968-1998) and East Asia (1966-2004). Calf sera collected during the years 2006-2007 were tested by serum neutralization in order to explore for recent exposure to BEFV before 2008. These were followed by a meteorological analysis, aimed to reveal movement of air parcels into Israel in the two weeks preceding the first case of BEF in Israel in 2008. The 2008 Israeli and Turkish isolates showed 99% identity and formed a new cluster with the 2000 Israeli isolate. The serological survey showed no new exposure to BEFV during 2006 and 2007. These results coincided with the meteorological analysis, which revealed that air parcels originating in Southern Turkey had reached the location of outbreak onset in Israel nine days before the discovery of the index case. The Egyptian isolate clustered phylogenetically with the Taiwanese isolates, coinciding with data on importation of cattle from China to the Middle East in the year preceding the isolation of the Egyptian isolates. These results suggest that both winds and animal transport may have an important role in trans-boundary transmission of BEFV.     

Preparation and epitope characterization of monoclonal antibodies suitable for detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tomato yellow leaf curl virus</Emphasis>

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is a begomovirus that seriously threatens tomato crops worldwide. Current immunodiagnostic methods for this pathogen employ commercially produced mAbs raised against TYLCV. However, despite the existence of these mAbs, little information regarding their characterization or strategy of production has been published. In addition, research on TYLCV would certainly benefit were more mAbs available, thus allowing efficient examination of the virus life cycle, modes of pathogenesis and possibly the development of resistant cultivars. The coat protein (CP) of TYLCV is the only known building block of the viral capsid. Therefore, in this study we used CP as an immunogen for the production of novel mAbs. We employed a strategy in which the CP was truncated at its C-terminus to avoid intra- and inter-protein interactions that could impair epitope exposure. For the same reason, we used a denaturated antigen to expose linear epitopes during the immunization. This effort yielded three mAbs: they were characterized biochemically and immunologically, and their epitopes were mapped. Possible applications of these mAbs are discussed.     

利用农杆菌注射法鉴定番茄黄化曲叶病毒的沉默抑制子

利用农杆菌注射法鉴定了番茄黄化曲叶病毒的沉默抑制子V2。将分别携带目标基因与GFP表达载体的农杆菌共注射到本氏烟草中,2 d后GFP瞬时高量表达。西瓜褪绿矮化病毒BV1基因表达载体和空载体pBIN分别与GFP共侵染7 d后,GFP表达量由于寄主沉默机制而急剧减弱。V2基因表达载体与GFP表达载体共侵染叶片7 d后,GFP仍保持高水平表达,说明V2作为番茄黄化曲叶病毒沉默抑制子可阻止寄主的沉默机制。农杆菌注射法可快速方便筛选植物病毒沉默抑制子。     

Scanning electron microscopy of the interactions betweenerwinia herbicola pv.gypsophilae andgypsophila paniculata

Ultrastructural studies of interactions betweenErwinia herbicola pv.gypsophilae and gypsophila plants showed that the bacterial pathogen multiplied rapidly and colonized gypsophila cuttings within 2 days. Fourteen days after inoculation, the plant tissue turned tumorigenic and a gall formed. Scanning electron microscopy showedE. gypsophilae cells densely occupying the plant xylem elements. Bacteria were found in association with fibrils which might be used by bacterial cells for attachment to plant cells. Substantial numbers of fibrils were also clearly seen on calli cell surfaces.     

Eucalyptus plantations in Israel: an assessment of economic and environmental viability

This paper discusses a plantation management approach involving a combination of “short” and “long” rotations designed to allow farmers to receive income from trees as soon as possible after establishment. We present results from two plots that represent extreme conditions: (a) a seasonally waterlogged, non-saline site (Nahalal), and (b) a saline site (Ginnegar) located in the Yizre’el Valley, Israel. Six improved seed sources, four of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and two of E. occidentalis, were examined. The local Israeli seed source of E. camaldulensis (HA) performed best at both sites. In Nahalal, the short rotation thinning of the slower growing (50%) plantation trees could provide economic returns approximately five years after establishment. The calculated mean annual increment (MAI) of these trees reached 12.2 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. The long rotation, or better performing half of the plantation trees, could be used as a source of sawn timber, providing higher-value products. By nine years after establishment, the average DBH of the various seed sources reached 25.8 ± 1.9 cm. The calculated MAI of the combined cutting rotations reached 48.3 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Eucalyptus grown under the combined (short- and long-term) management approach at Nahalal was more profitable than many other non-irrigated local crops. Eucalyptus production in Ginnegar would be less profitable than in Nahalal. However, an additional ecological benefit was provided by the crop’s ability to lower the water table. When this contribution to regional drainage is taken into account, trees become economically competitive with other non-irrigated field crops under saline conditions. Jim Morris–Deceased.