Optimal cultivar mixtures in focal plant diseases

This paper deals with a study on the effects of mixtures of partially resistant cultivars in focus forming plant diseases. The focus expansion velocity in a mixture of two partially resistant cultivars depends on four parameters, the focus expansion velocity in a crop of cultivar 1 only and in a crop of cultivar 2 only, the net-reproduction in a crop of cultivar 1 and of cultivar 2, respectively. An explicit equation is developed for the damage of a cultivar mixture where the crop is infected by two physiological races of the pathogen. It is shown that cultivar mixtures exist where damage is smaller than in crops of either of the two cultivars only. A simple explicit formula is given on the basis of which it can be decided whether an optimal mixture exists for a given pathosystem.     

甘蓝多酚氧化酶的生物化学性质及其杀虫剂的诱导作用

采用时间动力学法,在研究了甘蓝多酚氧化酶的最适反应条件的基础上,对有机溶剂和杀虫剂对多酚氧化酶活性的影响进行了研究。结果表明:甘蓝多酚氧化酶反应的最适pH值为6.4,最适反应温度为55℃;丙酮和乙醇对多酚氧化酶活性有明显的激活作用;高效氯氰菊酯、灭多威和辛硫磷以及小菜蛾和桃蚜取食的胁迫会对多酚氧化酶的活性产生影响。     

Comparative bioactivity of selected seed extracts from Brazilian Annona species and an acetogenin-based commercial bioinsecticide against Trichoplusia ni and Myzus persicae

The acute and chronic toxicity of ethanolic seed extracts from selected Brazilian Annona species (Annona montana Macfadyen, Annona mucosa Jacquin, Annona muricata Linnaeus, and Annona sylvatica A. St.-Hil) and an acetogenin-based commercial bioinsecticide (Anosom^®) were investigated against the cabbage looper Trichoplusia ni Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). In the laboratory, extracts of A. mucosa and A. sylvatica as well as Anosom^® were especially active through oral and topical administration. A greenhouse trial showed that a formulated A. mucosa extract and Anosom^® were highly effective (>98% mortality) against third instar T. ni larvae, and comparable to a pyrethrin-based commercial insecticide (Insect Spray^®) used as a positive control. Similar to results with T. ni, A. mucosa extract showed the greatest aphicidal activity followed by A. sylvatica extract and Anosom^®. In another greenhouse trial, aphid population reduction from the formulated A. mucosa extract was superior to that provided by other treatments including the positive control. Though inferior to the A. mucosa extract, the acetogenin-based commercial insecticide (Anosom^®) and A. sylvatica extract also reduced aphid populations in a manner comparable to the positive control. Botanical insecticides based on these Annonaceae derivatives could be useful in the framework of Brassica IPM in Brazil and elsewhere, especially for organic production.     

基于紫花苜蓿混播草地的全草型肉羊放牧育肥模式案例研究

本研究旨在探讨紫花苜蓿（Medicago sativa L.）混播草地放牧利用的生产潜力和集成全草型集约化肉羊放牧育肥技术模式。2017-2018年，在位于河北省廊坊市的中国农业科学院国际农业高新技术产业园内开展了2年羔羊育肥的划区轮牧试验，研究了紫花苜蓿混播草地的地上生物量、育肥羊增重以及羊肉品质的变化规律。结果表明：混播草地地上生物量超过11.2 tDM·hm^-2，5月份紫花苜蓿混播草地的粗蛋白为20.92%，每公顷紫花苜蓿混播草地可满足51只育肥羊、放牧育肥150天，每只增重30 kg所需的干物质、代谢能和粗蛋白三个方面的全部需求。与此同时，紫花苜蓿混播草地还可以显著增加羊肉中欧米伽3型多不饱和脂肪酸的含量，n-6/n-3比例为2.72，羊肉健康品质显著提高。以紫花苜蓿混播草地为基础的全草型肉羊放牧育肥技术具有广阔的应用前景，对我国苜蓿产业以及草地畜牧业发展具有重要意义。     

Farmers' knowledge and perception of grain legume pests and their management in the Eastern province of Kenya

Grain legumes play an important role in community livelihood and in the national economy in Kenya. Unfortunately, in many African countries, production doesn't satisfy the demand in grains due to various constrains. Understanding farmers practices and behavior in the management of grain legume pests is a crucial step in the development of sustainable management strategies. A total of 216 farmers were surveyed in eight districts of eastern Kenya to evaluate farmers' knowledge and perceptions of grain legume pests; to examine current pest management practices, and to identify other production constraints. Grain legumes are grown by a wide age-group of farmers, with both genders equally represented. Chemical control remains the main pest management strategy, and, to ensure pesticide effectiveness, farmers also use increased application rates, chemical alternation, frequent application and mixtures of chemicals. While farmers used other control measures, they showed only limited interest in biological control. The majority of the farmers had experience in grain legume farming and were able to identify the major pests, which were the legume flower thrips Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom, the cowpea aphid Aphis craccivora Koch and the legume pod borer Maruca vitrata Fabricius. Our survey revealed that education and proximity to extension services contributed significantly to farmers' knowledge of grain legume pests, suggesting the need to provide continuous training and capacity building on integrated pest management in grain legume farming. The study also suggests integration of other pest management strategies such as the use of early maturing varieties, biopesticides and biofertilizer to reduce the use of chemical for sustainable pest management.     

Influence of acute exposure to a low dose of systemic insecticide fipronil on locomotor activity and emotional behavior in adult male mice

Fipronil (FPN) is a systemic insecticide that antagonizes the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA_A) receptors in insects. Recently, adverse effects of FPN on mammals have been reported, but most of those were caused by high doses of FPN and additives in the products. We investigated the effects of low-dose pure FPN on the emotional behavior of mice. Nine-week-old male mice conducted behavioral tests 24 hr after FPN administration by gavage at doses of 0.05 or 5 mg/kg based on the no-observed-effect level (NOEL), showed a significant increase in locomotor activity and dose-dependent responses on the time they spent in the central zone in the open field test. Pure FPN below the NOEL dose may affect the emotional behavior of mice.     

新型广谱杀虫药沙罗拉纳在国外伴侣动物体外寄生虫防治中的应用

沙罗拉纳(sarolaner)属异恶唑啉类化合物,是一种新型广谱杀虫药。沙罗拉纳已被证实通过特异性阻断昆虫γ-氨基丁酸受体和谷氨酸门控氯离子通道而显示出抗寄生虫活性。本文综述了近年来沙罗拉纳在国外伴侣动物体外寄生虫防治中的开发及临床应用情况,旨在为该药的深入研究和国内开发应用提供参考。近年来,该药主要用于犬猫等伴侣动物体外寄生虫的临床预防和治疗,对蜱类、蚤类、螨类等体外寄生虫有高效的杀灭作用。与其他杀虫药相比,该药在分子结构、作用位点和选择性等方面有显著差异,具有杀虫活性强、治疗剂量低、安全性高等优点。此外,该药通过与多种药物联合应用,可提高治疗效果,扩大治疗范围。就国外研究来看,沙罗拉纳是一种安全广谱的高效杀虫剂,拥有广阔的应用前景。