短时高温对绿豆象各虫态生长发育的影响

【目的】为明确短时高温对绿豆象Callosobruchus chinensis (L.)各虫态及其后虫态生长发育与繁殖能力的影响。【方法】以27℃饲养的绿豆象为对照,在30、33、36、39、42和45℃条件下分别对绿豆象卵、幼虫、蛹和成虫进行3 h的短时高温处理。【结果】短时高温对绿豆象卵的孵化率、幼虫的化蛹率和蛹的羽化率均有显著影响,但对卵和幼虫的后续发育影响不显著;幼虫耐高温的能力最强,经短时高温处理后化蛹率均在90%以上;蛹经45℃短时高温处理后虽表现出较高的羽化率,但羽化后成虫的寿命和产卵量均显著降低。卵期、幼虫期和成虫期绿豆象对短时高温的耐受性均有性别差异,其中,卵期和蛹期雄虫耐热性强于雌虫,成虫期雌虫强于雄虫。短时高温处理对绿豆象成虫的繁殖能力影响显著,经45℃处理后成虫的产卵量为32.30粒/头,显著低于对照。【结论】39℃以上的短时高温对绿豆象处理虫态及雌雄性别比有明显的影响,对其后虫态发育的影响仅见高温处理蛹后导致成虫繁殖能力下降。     

饲喂胡萝卜和蜂王浆对黄粉虫繁殖力的影响

采用多因素对比饲养试验,设计不同黄粉虫TemibriomolitorL.发育时期分别补饲胡萝卜、不同浓度的蜂王浆,研究胡萝卜和蜂王浆对黄粉虫繁殖力的影响。结果表明:各处理组比对照组羽化齐一,羽化率增高,产卵速度加快,总产卵量增多,良卵率、孵化率增高。幼虫期和成虫期都补饲2%的蜂王浆,可使产卵量极显著高于对照97.79%、孵化率极显著地高于对照8.90%;而只在成虫期补充2%的蜂王浆,也可使产卵量极显著高于对照90.65%、有效地提高孵化率6.66%。     

Bt玉米(MG95)对粘虫的抗性和拒食作用

在室内以我国自主培育的转Bt基因玉米 (简称 :Bt玉米 )为材料 ,测定了Bt玉米对不同龄期 ( 1～ 4龄 )粘虫PseudaletiaseparataWalker的影响。测定指标包括 :幼虫体重、幼虫发育历期、幼虫死亡率、化蛹率、蛹重、蛹历期、羽化率、产卵量、成虫历期、卵孵化率。结果显示 :用Bt玉米喂养的 1～ 4龄幼虫在处理 6d及 1～ 3龄幼虫在处理 9d时的体重与对照相比均差异显著 ;除 1龄幼虫外 ,2～ 4龄幼虫处理 6d及 2～ 3龄幼虫处理 9d后的死亡率差异不显著 ;用Bt玉米喂养的各龄幼虫发育历期延长 ,与对照相比差异显著 ;1、2龄幼虫的化蛹率与对照相比有显著差异 ,3、4龄则差异不显著 ;1～ 4龄幼虫的蛹重、蛹历期及羽化率均差异显著 ;成虫历期仅 1龄幼虫差异显著 ;与对照相比 ,各龄粘虫的产卵数、卵孵化率均无显著差异。结果表明 ,1龄幼虫对Bt玉米最为敏感。另外 ,拒食实验结果显示 ,在实验开始后的 8,1 6,2 4,3 2及 48h ,非选择性测定的拒食率为 63 2 0 ,64 60 ,48 99,2 3 3 5和 0 5 4% ,选择性测定的拒食率为98 3 3 ,82 43 ,71 5 4,40 1 6和 0 2 7% ,总体趋势是拒食率随时间延长而降低 ,48h后Bt玉米对粘虫幼虫无拒食活性。     

异色瓢虫非同胞间食卵自相残杀对成虫生殖力的影响

【目的】食卵自相残杀现象常见于瓢虫中,业已明确取食同胞卵对于初孵瓢虫至关重要,但取食非同胞卵的营养价值是否高于蚜虫仍存争议。本研究旨在明确异色瓢虫Harmonia axyridis在幼虫期除取食蚜虫外兼捕食非同胞卵是否影响其雌成虫的生殖表现。【方法】在异色瓢虫幼虫期设置3个饲喂处理,即仅饲喂禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi(对照)、除饲喂蚜虫外还分别给各龄幼虫饲喂少量非同胞卵(分散食卵)以及除饲喂蚜虫外仅给高龄幼虫饲喂较多非同胞卵(集中食卵)等,观察雌成虫体型大小、产卵前期、连续10 d的逐日产卵量和卵孵化率等形态和生殖特性。【结果】饲喂处理对瓢虫雌成虫体型大小无显著影响,对照、分散食卵和集中食卵3种饲喂处理下的雌成虫身体体积分别为92.30,89.73和93.98 mm~3;饲喂处理对雌成虫产卵前期也无显著影响,3种饲喂处理下雌成虫产卵前期分别为7.50,7.74和7.70 d;但饲喂处理对雌虫生殖力具有显著影响,分散食卵处理与对照无显著差异,羽化后10 d分散食卵和对照下累计产卵量分别为185和205粒,但集中食卵(88粒)比对照或分散食卵的产卵量显著降低;饲喂处理对卵孵化率无显著影响,对照、分散食卵和集中食卵3种饲喂处理下的卵孵化率分别为63.10%,72.58%和66.61%。【结论】结果说明,异色瓢虫各龄幼虫偶尔取食非同胞卵不影响其成虫的生长发育和生殖,但高龄幼虫捕食较多非同胞卵可降低其雌成虫的生殖力。     

薇甘菊甲醇提取物对二疣犀甲生长发育的影响

【目的】探讨入侵杂草薇甘菊Mikania micrantha的利用价值, 及其在棕榈害虫二疣犀甲Oryctes rhinoceros生态防控中的应用前景。【方法】采用浸渍法和室内饲喂法, 研究了薇甘菊甲醇提取物对二疣犀甲取食量、 卵孵化、 化蛹、 羽化及幼虫发育等的影响。【结果】薇甘菊提取物对二疣犀甲具有很好的生长发育调节活性。拒食活性研究结果表明, 在不同供试浓度下, 其对二疣犀甲3龄幼虫均表现拒食活性, 且拒食率与处理浓度呈正相关。薇甘菊提取物处理二疣犀甲的卵后, 孵化率明显降低, 且孵化期延长, 10 mg/mL提取物处理后孵化率仅达66.66%, 孵化期比对照延迟3 d, 同时初孵幼虫死亡率也高达40.43%。采用添加薇甘菊提取物的饲料饲喂1龄幼虫后, 幼虫体重增长减缓, 在处理浓度为10和5 mg/g时, 处理后90 d体重增加量分别为3.83 g和4.53 g, 而对照组体重增加量达到6.87 g。薇甘菊提取物处理老熟幼虫后, 对其化蛹具有抑制作用, 造成化蛹率降低, 化蛹时间延长及蛹的畸形。经薇甘菊提取物处理二疣犀甲蛹后, 成虫羽化率降低, 羽化时间明显延长, 且畸形成虫数量增加, 主要表现为翅无法正常伸展、 虫体瘦小、 无法正常爬行等。【结论】薇甘菊具有开发为生物源昆虫生长调节剂、 并在二疣犀甲防控中应用的潜力。     

十一种杀虫剂的亚致死剂量对中华草蛉幼虫结茧和羽化的影响

11种杀虫剂在引起中华草蛉(Chrysopa sinia (Jieder))幼虫死亡率30%左右的选择压下,对其结茧和羽化都有不同程度的影响.硫丹在明显高于田间常用浓度的143倍时,引起草蛉幼虫死亡率23.3%,对该虫结茧率和羽化率影响不大,分别为86.0%和83.0%;氰戊菊酯、甲丙硫磷、氧乐果、甲基对硫磷、辛硫磷、丙溴磷对幼虫结茧和羽化的影响相对较低,草蛉校正结茧率和羽化率为77.5%～93.7%和61.0%～74.8%;甲基毒死稗、氯氟氰菊酯、灭多威对草蛉幼虫生命力的影响很大,尤其使成虫羽化率明显降低,且以灭多威的影响最甚,50mg/kg处理后幼虫结茧率仅34.9%,成虫羽化率为12.4%;抑太保虽然对草蛉幼虫的杀伤力小,对草蛉幼虫的结茧影响不大,但对成虫羽化影响很大,处理浓度为500 mg/kg时,幼虫结茧率为84.8%,成虫羽化率仅13.5%.     

低含水量饲料对黑水虻生长发育的影响

【目的】了解低含水量饲料对黑水虻Hermetia illucens生长发育的影响。【方法】在27℃、RH 80%、光周期14L∶10D的饲养条件下,以含水量70%人工饲料饲养黑水虻为对照,比较饲料含水量降为30%和50%时黑水虻幼虫的存活率、幼虫体重、雌雄成虫体长、羽化率以及不同发育阶段持续时间等生物学参数与对照组的差异。【结果】30%和50%含水量饲料饲养幼虫平均体重与对照幼虫相比显著降低（P<0.05）,30%和50%含水量两个处理间体重亦有显著差异（P<0.05）。黑水虻幼虫不能在含水量30％的人工饲料中发育至预蛹,大部分幼虫至13 d时死亡。50%含水量饲料饲养幼虫比对照延迟5 d出现预蛹,滞后14 d结束预蛹,预蛹过程耗时18 d,比对照延长8 d;50%含水量饲料饲养雌雄虫比对照成虫体长显著缩短（P<0.05）,雌雄成虫羽化时间亦比对照延后5 d,雌雄成虫羽化历期均为18 d,比对照增加5 d;50%含水量饲料饲养黑水虻自卵孵化至蛹全部羽化为成虫所需时间比对照延长10.67 d,所需时间为55.67 d,而对照仅需45.00 d;但是50%含水量饲料饲养幼虫存活率和成虫羽化率与对照相比差异均不显著（P>0.05）。【结论】含水量低于70%的人工饲料不利于黑水虻的生长发育。     

苯并噻唑对不同虫态韭菜迟眼蕈蚊的生物活性

【目的】明确室内条件下挥发性化合物苯并噻唑对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊Bradysia odoriphaga Yang et Zhang的生物活性。【方法】采用三角瓶密闭熏蒸法测定了苯并噻唑对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊成虫、 卵、 幼虫和蛹的熏蒸活性; 利用Oxytherm氧电极研究了苯并噻唑对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊成虫呼吸速率的影响; 利用“Y”型嗅觉仪测定了韭菜迟眼蕈蚊成虫对苯并噻唑的行为反应。【结果】苯并噻唑对雌雄成虫处理0.5~2.0 h的LC50分别为0.186~0.052和0.163~0.039 μL/L; 在0.01~0.13 μL/L剂量下对卵熏蒸处理24 h, 第6 天卵孵化率为4.83%~82.39%, 而对照组孵化率为96.97%; 苯并噻唑熏蒸4龄幼虫6~72 h的LC50变化范围为1.247~0.248 μL/L; 0.01~0.09 μL/L剂量熏蒸蛹24 h, 第5天的羽化率为8.17%~69.63%, 对照组羽化率为96.23%。用0.052和0.039 μL/L浓度分别处理雌雄成虫测定2.5 h内呼吸速率的变化, 表现为处理组初始呼吸速率明显高于对照组, 然后逐渐降低至与对照组持平, 最后明显低于相同处理时间对照组呼吸速率。“Y”型嗅觉仪测定结果表明, 苯并噻唑对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊成虫有较强的引诱作用。在0.5 L/min空气流速条件下, 0.5 μL的苯并噻唑对雌雄成虫的引诱率分别为88.33%和78.33%。【结论】苯并噻唑对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊各虫态有很好的毒杀效果, 并对成虫有强烈的引诱作用。     

梨小食心虫蛹重对成虫繁殖力和寿命及下一代幼虫发育的影响

【目的】本文旨在明确营养状况不同造成的梨小食心虫Grapholitha molesta(Busck)雌、雄蛹重量差异对其羽化的成虫产卵量、产卵期、寿命及下一代(F1)幼虫发育的影响。【方法】室内条件下,通过不同的饲养方法,获得个体重量不同的梨小食心虫雌、雄蛹,待其羽化交配后,记录其产卵量、产卵时间和成虫寿命;卵孵化前后,分别测量卵和初孵幼虫大小,计算卵孵化率,统计幼虫发育历期。【结果】雌蛹重量对梨小食心虫的成虫产卵量影响显著,其重量与产卵量呈正相关(y=15.505x-59.292);同一条件下,雌蛹与雄蛹重量也呈正相关(y=0.823x-0.538)。同时,雌蛹重量对成虫产卵期影响也较大,蛹重大的个体羽化的雌虫比蛹重小的个体羽化的雌虫产卵高峰期提前1 d;较重、中等和较轻蛹羽化出的雌虫个体每天产卵量高于10粒/雌的时间分别为9~10,7和5~6 d;产卵量高于5粒/雌的时间分别为12~13,9和6~7 d。而雄蛹重量对产卵量、雄成虫寿命影响没有明显影响。较轻的蛹羽化的雌成虫寿命比较重蛹羽化的雌成虫短2~3 d;而雄蛹重量对其羽化的雄成虫寿命影响没有明显规律。雌、雄蛹重量对其羽化成虫的卵孵化率、卵和初孵幼虫的大小影响均不显著,对F_1幼虫发育历期影响也不显著。【结论】梨小食心虫雌蛹重对羽化成虫的产卵量和产卵期等影响显著,田间防治时应注意在不同条件下完成发育的个体,尤其是雌虫,由于营养差异引起的个体大小对随后种群增长的影响。     

除草剂胁迫对空心莲子草叶甲种群的影响及应对策略

为探讨除草剂胁迫对空心莲子草叶甲种群的影响,寻求合理施用除草剂,有效保护叶甲,提高其控草效果的应对策略,利用叶片残留法测试了在草甘膦、农达、水花生净与35%苄·丁可湿粉等除草剂胁迫下空心莲子草叶甲卵孵化率,幼虫、成虫存活率以及蛹羽化率。结果表明被测试的4种除草剂均不同程度地降低空心莲子草叶甲卵孵化率,幼虫与成虫存活率及蛹羽化率,特别是水花生净28.0、35.0 g/L两种浓度处理,35%苄·丁可湿粉4.0 g/L浓度处理显著降低卵孵化率;农达13.4 g/L浓度处理显著降低1龄前期幼虫存活率,农达40.1 g/L与 53.4 g/L两种浓度处理显著降低2龄前期幼虫存活率;水花生净28.0 g/L浓度处理显著降低3龄前期幼虫存活率;草甘膦97.6 g/L与 122.0 g/L浓度处理、农达26.7 g/L与66.8 g/L浓度处理、35%苄·丁可湿粉2.0 g/L浓度处理显著降低后期蛹的羽化率;35%苄·丁可湿粉1.0 g/L浓度处理显著降低羽化后3 d雌虫的存活率。除草剂除直接杀死空心莲子草叶甲,降低其种群数量外,使叶甲失去食物与避护所,快速地引起叶甲种群崩溃。建议合理施药,并在施药时,随机留若干小斑块不施药,保护叶甲,可望提高其田间控草效果。     

Effect of soft electron treatment on adzuki bean weevil, Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) (Col., Bruchidae)

Abstract:  Laboratory experiments were conducted to study the effect of soft electron (low-energy electron) treatment on adzuki bean weevil, Callosobruchus chinensis (L.), a major pest of stored legume seeds. Adzuki bean ( Vigna angularis ) seeds containing weevils of different ages (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 days), were exposed to electrons at an acceleration voltage of 170 kV for 20 min (10 kGy). The radiation sensitivity of the insect decreased with increasing age. The egg stage was highly susceptible to electron radiation whereas the 18-day-old stage (fully developed adults ready for emergence) was the most tolerant, and treatment at a higher energy (200 kV equal to 10 kGy) was necessary to achieve an 80% mortality of this stage. However, the longevity, fecundity and fertility of the surviving adult insects were adversely affected by the electron treatment and they failed to complete their life cycle. The sex ratio of weevils was not significantly affected by the electron treatment, suggesting an equal vulnerability of both sexes. Electron treatment did not affect the germination capacity of adzuki bean seeds, so soft electron irradiation represents a safer method for the disinfestation of adzuki beans.     

Determination of mortality of different life stages of Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in stored barley using microwaves

Barley, Hordeum vulgare L., one of the important crops in Canada, is used in malting, feed, and food industries. Disinfestation of barley using microwaves can be an alternative to chemical methods used to kill insects. A pilot-scale industrial microwave system operating at 2.45 MHz was used in this study to determine the mortality of life stages (egg, larva, pupa, and adult) of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Barley samples of 50 g each at 14, 16, and 18% moisture content (MC; wet basis) were infested with various life stages of T. castaneum and exposed to microwave energy at different power levels and exposure times, and the mortality of the insects was determined. The average temperature of the 14% MC sample exposed to 28 s at 0, 200, 300, 400, and 500 W were 27.4, 42.6, 53.7, 66.9, and 73.0 degrees C, respectively, and those exposed to 56 s at 0, 200, 300, and 400 W were 27.4, 57.3, 75.5, and 91.2 degrees C, respectively. A similar range of temperature was observed for 16 and 18% MC barley. Complete mortality of all life stages of T. castaneum can be achieved at a power level of 400 W and an exposure time of 56 s or at 500 W for 28 s. Among the life stages of T. castaneum, eggs were the most susceptible to microwave energy and adults were the least susceptible. There was no significant difference in the mortality of larvae and adults at 14, 16, and 18% MC, but the mortality was significantly different for eggs and pupae at different MCs. There was a significant increase in the mortality with an increase in power level or exposure time or both. Germination capacity of the seeds was decreased with an increase in power level or exposure time or both. Quality characteristics such as alpha-amylase, diastatic power, soluble protein, viscosity, and density of the barley malt treated at 500 W for 28 s were same as the control sample, whereas the samples treated at 400 W for 56 s were significantly lower.     

Effect of insecticides on the diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and its parasitoid Diadegma insulare (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Studies were conducted to evaluate the toxicity of insecticides to adult Diadegma insulare (Cresson) and its host the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.). Leaf-dip and direct-dip bioassays for diamondback moth larvae and residual bioassays for adults of diamondback moth and D. insulare were used to assess mortalities. Larval mortalities at field rates were significantly higher with carbaryl, permethrin, spinosad, and tebufenozide when compared with Bacillus thuringiensis, or imidacloprid in the larval-dip bioassay 72 h after treatment. In the leaf-dip and residual bioassays, both permethrin and spinosad caused 100% mortalities to diamondback moth larvae and adults, respectively, 72 h after treatment. Of all the materials tested, only B. thuringiensis and tebufenozide were not toxic to D. insulare 24 h after treatment. Spinosad was not toxic to D. insulare 30 min after treatment. However, 100% mortality was observed 8 h after treatment.     

绿豆象气味结合蛋白基因的克隆及表达分析

【目的】对绿豆象Callosobruchus chinensis气味结合蛋白(odorant binding proteins, OBPs)基因进行克隆、鉴定和组织表达分析,为研究OBPs在绿豆象嗅觉感受过程中的功能奠定基础。【方法】基于绿豆象触角转录组数据,通过RT-PCR克隆绿豆象6个OBP基因并进行生物信息学分析;通过qRT-PCR分析OBP基因在绿豆象雌雄成虫头(不含触角)、触角、腹、足和翅各组织中的表达情况。【结果】获得了6个绿豆象OBP基因的开放阅读框,命名为CchiOBP1-CchiOBP6(GenBank登录号: MN832700-MN832703, MN901841-MN901842);CchiOBP5为一段C端不完整的Minus-C OBP,其余均属于完整的Classical OBPs,预测6个CchiOBPs均含有信号肽。系统发育分析表明CchiOBP1, CchiOBP2和CchiOBP5与叶甲科(Chrysomelidae)昆虫OBPs的亲缘关系较近,CchiOBP3, CchiOBP4和CchiOBP6与天牛科(Cerambycidae)昆虫OBPs的亲缘关系较近。qRT-PCR结果表明,6个CchiOBPs基因在绿豆象成虫的触角、头(不含触角)、腹、翅和足部均有不同的表达量,CchiOBP1-4和CchiOBP6在雌雄成虫触角中均呈现高表达,且极显著高于在其他组织中的。CchiOBP5在雌成虫触角和头部(不含触角)中呈现高表达,但在雄成虫中表现为在足部的表达量显著高于在其他组织中的,在触角中的表达量最低。【结论】确定了绿豆象6个CchiOBPs基因的核苷酸和氨基酸序列组成,其中有5个CchiOBPs基因在绿豆象雌雄成虫触角中高表达,推测其在绿豆象嗅觉识别寄主植物过程中发挥重要作用。     

蠋蝽抗寒性对快速冷驯化的响应及其生理机制

快速冷驯化可以提高某些昆虫的耐寒性.为了探讨不同冷驯化诱导温度对蝎蝽抗寒性的影响及其生理机制,以室内人工饲养的第3代蝎蝽成虫为对象,利用热电偶、液相色谱分析等技术手段,测定了经15、10、4℃冷驯化4h和梯度降温(依次在15、10、4℃各驯化4h)冷驯化后,蠋蝽成虫过冷却点、虫体含水率及小分子碳水化合物、甘油和氨基酸含量,及其在不同暴露温度(0、-5、-10℃)下的耐寒性.结果表明:处理后暴露在-10℃时,梯度处理组和4℃冷驯化处理组的蝎蝽成虫存活率为58.3％,其他处理组及对照组(室温饲养)的存活率显著降低,平均为8.9％;梯度处理组与4℃冷驯化处理组蠋蝽成虫过冷却点平均为-15.6℃,比其他处理平均降低1.3℃;各处理虫体含水率无显著差异,平均为61.8％;与其他各组相比,梯度处理组和4℃冷驯化组蠋蝽成虫的葡萄糖、山梨醇和甘油含量分别增加2.82、2.65和3.49倍,丙氨酸和谷氨酸含量分别增加51.3％和80.2％,海藻糖、甘露糖和脯氨酸含量分别下降68.4％、52.2％和30.2％,而果糖含量各组间无显著差异.快速冷驯化对蠋蝽成虫具有临界诱导温度值,梯度降温驯化不能在快速冷驯化的基础上提高蠋蝽成虫的抗寒性.     

Experimental evolution of competing bean beetle species reveals long‐term reversals of short‐term evolution,but no consistent character displacement

Interspecific competition for shared resources should select for evolutionary divergence in resource use between competing species, termed character displacement. Many purported examples of character displacement exist, but few completely rule out alternative explanations. We reared genetically diverse populations of two species of bean beetles, Callosobruchus maculatus and Callosobruchus chinensis, in allopatry and sympatry on a mixture of adzuki beans and lentils, and assayed oviposition preference and other phenotypic traits after four, eight, and twelve generations of (co)evolution. C. maculatus specializes on adzuki beans; the generalist C. chinensis uses both beans. C. chinensis growing in allopatry emerged equally from both bean species. In sympatry, the two species competing strongly and coexisted via strong realized resource partitioning, with C. chinensis emerging almost exclusively from lentils and C. maculatus emerging almost exclusively from adzuki beans. However, oviposition preferences, larval survival traits, and larval development rates in both beetle species did not vary consistently between allopatric versus sympatric treatments. Rather, traits evolved in treatment‐independent fashion, with several traits exhibiting reversals in their evolutionary trajectories. For example, C. chinensis initially evolved a slower egg‐to‐adult development rate on adzuki beans in both allopatry and sympatry, then subsequently evolved back toward the faster ancestral development rate. Lack of character displacement is consistent with a previous similar experiment in bean beetles and may reflect lack of evolutionary trade‐offs in resource use. However, evolutionary reversals were unexpected and remain unexplained. Together with other empirical and theoretical work, our results illustrate the stringency of the conditions for character displacement.     

Growth characteristics of mung beans and water convolvuluses exposed to 425‐MHz electromagnetic fields

Effects of high‐frequency, continuous wave (CW) electromagnetic fields on mung beans (Vigna radiata L.) and water convovuluses (Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.) were studied at different growth stages (pre‐sown seed and early seedling). Specifically, the effects of the electromagnetic source's power and duration (defined as power‐duration level) on the growth of the two species were studied. Mung beans and water convolvuluses were exposed to electromagnetic fields inside a specially designed chamber for optimum field absorption, and the responses of the seeds to a constant frequency at various power levels and durations of exposure were monitored. The frequency used in the experiments was 425 MHz, the field strengths were 1 mW, 100 mW, and 10 W, and the exposure durations were 1, 2, and 4 h. Results show that germination enhancement is optimum for the mung beans at 100 mW/1 h power‐duration level, while for water convolvuluses the optimum germination power‐duration level was 1 mW/2 h. When both seed types were exposed at the early sprouting phase with their respective optimum power‐duration levels for optimum seed growth, water convolvuluses showed growth enhancement while mung bean sprouts showed no effects. Water content analysis of the seeds suggests thermal effects only at higher field strength. Bioelectromagnetics 31:519–527, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Overwintering stages of Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) in the field

Adzuki bean beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis, is a worldwide oligophagous and a field‐to‐storage pest of legumes including adzuki beans (Vigna angularis). Its over‐wintering stage is yet to be confirmed. A series of experiments was carried out at Jinju, in the southern part of the Republic of Korea, to elucidate the overwintering stages. Top‐ and sub‐soil samplings followed by pod and seed samplings from left over plants from adzuki bean fields in the winter of 2015, and an outdoor overwintering test (during Nov 2018 to Jun 2019) by exposing bean seeds harboring different stages (eggs, larvae, pupae, pharates and adults) of laboratory reared C. chinensis to the winter environment were carried out. None of the C. chinensis stages was detected from the top‐ and sub‐soil samples. When the pods and seeds from left over plants were sampled, only a few live pupae were obtained. In the outdoor test with laboratory reared C. chinensis, all the stages (larvae, pupae, and adults), except eggs, were detected on every other weekly samples of infested adzuki bean seeds throughout the winter. These results showed that the overwintering stages of C. chinensis in Jinju, southern Korea, are larvae, pupae, pharates and adults.     

Inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella on artificially or naturally contaminated mung beans (Vigna radiata L) using a stabilized oxychloro-based sanitizer

AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy of a stabilized oxychloro-based (SOC) sanitizer to decontaminate mung beans artificially or naturally contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 or Salmonella. METHODS AND RESULTS: Naturally contaminated beans were produced by introducing a five-strain cocktail of E. coli O157:H7 or Salmonella onto the flowers of growing mung bean plants. Escherichia coli O157:H7 was only sporadically recovered from sprout lots (three testing positive from 10 tested) derived from harvested beans. In contrast, Salmonella was recovered from 18 of 20 lots screened. Pathogens present on naturally contaminated seed could be successfully inactivated with SOC applied at 200 ppm for 24 h at 28 degrees C. SOC treatment could also decontaminate artificially inoculated mung bean batches containing different levels of contaminated seed. SOC inactivated E. coli O157:H7, but not Salmonella introduced onto damaged (scarified) beans. CONCLUSIONS: SOC sanitizer could inactivate Salmonella or E. coli O157:H7 naturally or artificially introduced onto mung beans. However, the SOC treatment failed to inactivate Salmonella introduced onto damaged mung beans. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: SOC sanitizer represents an effective method for decontaminating undamaged mung beans.     

Synergistic effect of fumigation with ethyl formate and methyl salicylate on mortality of life stages of adzuki bean beetle,Callosobruchus chinensis (L.)

Ethyl formate (EF) is becoming an insecticide of choice for protecting stored commodities. Along with EF, methyl salicylate (MS) is also naturally occurring, and both are generally regarded as safe fumigants for their higher threshold limit values (TLV) and residual status below minimum residue limit (MRL). Sub-lethal doses of EF and MS were evaluated to determine if there was a synergistic effect on fumigation against life stages of the adzuki bean beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) infesting adzuki bean grains. Based on lethal dose (LD) values, the C. chinensis eggs and adults were equally susceptible to EF followed by larvae and pupae. Adults were the most MS-sensitive followed by eggs and larvae, and pupae were the most tolerant stage. The mortalities of all the life stages of C. chinensis by combined fumigation with sub-lethal EF and MS doses were significantly higher compared to the sum of their separate fumigations revealing a notable synergistic effect. Moreover, the maximum doses of EF and MS tested for synergistic fumigation test did not hamper the germination potential of adzuki been seeds. The synergistic effect between EF and MS can significantly reduce the dose rate of flammable EF against C. chinensis thereby offering a good prospect for EF + MS formulation as an alternative to safeguard stored adzuki bean.