麦长管蚜和禾谷缢管蚜对吡虫啉敏感性的比较研究

采用麦穗浸渍法在室内测定了麦长管蚜Macrosiphumavenae(Fabricius)和禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphumpadi(L .)对吡虫啉可湿性粉剂和乳油的敏感度。结果表明 ,禾谷缢管蚜对吡虫啉的敏感度是麦长管蚜的 3～ 4倍 (基于LC50 的比较 )。在北京、河南、江苏、湖北、四川等地同浓度的吡虫啉对禾谷缢管蚜的防治效果要好于麦长管蚜 (特别是在低浓度时尤为明显 )。依据我国不同省份小麦穗蚜的优势种不同 ,建议用吡虫啉防治小麦穗蚜时 ,在南方麦区 ,禾谷缢管蚜为优势种的麦田 ,吡虫啉用药量为 15～ 3 0g(a.i) hm2 ;北方麦区 ,以麦长管蚜为优势种的麦田 ,吡虫啉的用药量应大于 3 0g(a.i) hm2 。     

麦长管蚜和禾谷缢管蚜对小麦植株挥发物及蚜害诱导挥发物的行为反应

用四臂嗅觉计测定了麦长管蚜Macrosiphum avenae和禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi对小麦植株挥发物及麦蚜取食诱导挥发物的行为反应,揭示了2种麦蚜的嗅觉及小麦植株的诱导防御反应特点.在所选的13种小麦植株挥发物及蚜害诱导挥发物组分中,6-甲基-5-庚烯-2-酮、6-甲基-5-庚烯-2-醇和水杨酸甲酯对这2种蚜虫表现出强的驱拒作用;反-2-己烯醛对麦长管蚜的有翅和无翅蚜的吸引作用最强;反-2-己烯醇对禾谷缢管蚜的无翅蚜吸引作用最强,反-3-己酰醋酸酯对禾谷缢管蚜有翅蚜的吸引作用最强.说明麦蚜取食能诱导小麦植株的防御反应,麦长管蚜和禾谷缢管蚜及其不同蚜型间嗅觉反应的特点不同.     

基于EPG的麦长管蚜、麦二叉蚜和禾谷缢管蚜取食行为比较

麦长管蚜Sitobion avenae (Fabricius),麦二叉蚜Schizaphis graminum (Rondani)和禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi (Linnaeus)虽然都取食小麦,但其取食部位、传毒能力均有差异。利用EPG研究了3种麦蚜在同一寄主植物上的取食行为,结果显示:(1)禾谷缢管蚜在取食过程中G波出现的时间最早,G波总的持续时间和每次刺探G波的平均持续时间都明显长于麦长管蚜和麦二叉蚜。麦长管蚜第1次E1波的时间、E1波总的持续时间和每次刺探E1波的平均持续时间都明显比麦二叉蚜和禾谷缢管蚜要长。麦二叉蚜E2波总的持续时间和每次刺探E2波的平均持续时间都明显长于麦长管蚜和禾谷缢管蚜。表明3种蚜虫各自拥有不同取食策略。禾谷缢管蚜比其它两种蚜虫需要更多的水分和无机盐,麦长管蚜通过分泌大量唾液增大对食物的利用率,麦二叉蚜通过增加韧皮部取食时间以满足对营养的需要。(2)刺探过程中麦二叉蚜pd波出现的次数为(51.97±7.82)次,高于麦长管蚜的(44.73±4.52)次和禾谷缢管蚜的(32.99±4.22)次。麦二叉蚜pd波Ⅱ-2和Ⅱ-3亚波的时间最长,禾谷缢管蚜最短,三者之间差异达显著水平。表明与其它两种麦蚜相比,麦二叉蚜在取食过程中口针与细胞间的接触频率更高,与细胞内获毒和传毒相关的Ⅱ-3波和Ⅱ-2波持续时间更长,增加了获毒和传毒的几率,是其传毒能力最强的机理。     

吡虫啉亚致死剂量对禾谷缢管蚜生长和繁殖的影响

室内测定了吡虫啉亚致死剂量对禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi(Linnaeus)连续两个世代实验种群生长和繁殖的影响。结果发现,吡虫啉LC10剂量处理禾谷缢管蚜成蚜后,可导致亲代成蚜种群的存活率、平均寿命和产蚜量均低于对照种群,但差异不显著;F1世代吡虫啉处理组与对照组禾谷缢管蚜种群的存活率、寿命和繁殖水平无显著差异。结果表明,吡虫啉亚致死剂量对禾谷缢管蚜连续两个世代实验种群的生长和存活无明显影响,未发现亚致死剂量刺激禾谷缢管蚜当代和子代成蚜的增殖现象。     

麦长管蚜和禾谷缢管蚜对小麦挥发物的触角电位反应

采用活体蚜虫测定法,利用EAG技术比较分析了麦长管蚜Sitobion avenae和禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi有翅及无翅成蚜对小麦挥发物及麦蚜取食诱导挥发物组分的嗅觉反应,揭示了两种麦蚜的嗅觉变异特点。结果表明：麦长管蚜对水杨酸甲酯、反-2-己烯醛、反-2-己烯醇、-6-甲基-5-庚烯-2-酮和-6-甲基-5-庚烯-2醇的反应较强,禾谷缢管蚜对水杨酸甲酯、反-3-己烯乙酸酯、-6-甲基-5-庚烯-2-酮和-6-甲基-5-庚烯-2-醇的反应较强,并得到了剂量反应曲线。麦长管蚜的有翅和无翅成蚜对6-甲基-5-庚烯-2-酮、反-2-己烯醇和水杨酸甲酯的反应差异显著;禾谷缢管蚜的有翅和无翅成蚜对反-2-己烯醇、辛醛、里那醇、水杨酸甲酯和反-3-己烯乙酸酯的EAG反应差异显著,其原因与禾谷缢管蚜迁移及转主为害的生物学特性有关。     

七星瓢虫对麦长管蚜,禾谷缢管蚜捕食选择性研究

本文报导了七星瓢虫对两种猎物捕食选择性研究成果,这对以瓢治蚜工作提供了理论依据。主要结果为:1.七星瓢虫对麦长管蚜有明显的正喜好性,对禾谷缢管蚜有明显的负喜好性。2.瓢虫对两种蚜虫的喜好性与麦长管蚜密度呈显著负相关,与禾谷缢管蚜密度呈正相关。3.当两种猎物共存时,瓢虫对每种猎物的功能反应有所变化。两猎物总密度增加,瓢虫对每种猎物的功能反应越来越趋向Hollink Ⅲ型,一种猎物密度恒定,另一种猎物密度变化时,瓢虫对猎物的功能反应趋向Holling Ⅲ型。而且随猎物恒定的密度增加,HoUing Ⅲ型典型性增加。4.麦长管蚜和禾谷缢管蚜密度增加均降低瓢虫的捕食作用率。但是,禾谷缢管蚜所引起捕食作用率更为严重的减少。     

小麦品种对麦蚜主要生命参数影响的研究

选用经田间鉴定抗蚜性表现不同的１０个小麦品种,在室内外较系统地研究了其对禾谷缢管蚜和麦长管蚜存活、生长发育和生殖的影响,分析了室内外试验结果的相关性．结果表明,小麦品种的抗生性并不能造成若蚜个体的直接死亡,但对若蚜发育历期、成蚜寿命和产仔数影响显著,差异均达极显著水平或显著水平．其中对两种蚜虫若蚜发育历期的影响室内外表现了较好的一致性,可作为小麦品种抗蚜性鉴定的主要指标;其次是对成蚜产仔数的影响,禾谷缢管蚜室内外试验结果比较的吻合性也较好     

拌种吡虫啉残留对麦长管蚜实验种群的影响

为探明吡虫啉拌种后在下一代小麦籽粒中的吡虫啉残留对麦长管蚜Sitobion avenae (Fabricius)实验种群的影响, 用60%吡虫啉悬浮种衣剂与小麦籽粒按照2, 4, 6和8 g/kg的比例进行处理, 在室内条件下采用超高效液相色谱-串联四级杆液质联用法对收获后的小麦籽粒进行残留分析; 并通过室内生命表方法, 研究麦长管蚜取食上述剂量吡虫啉拌种处理收获后的小麦籽粒所长幼苗后的各项生命参数。结果表明： 收获的小麦籽粒中吡虫啉残留量随拌种剂量的增加而增加, 以8 g/kg处理后收获的籽粒中残留量最高, 为0.0290 mg/kg。随着吡虫啉残留量的增加, 麦长管蚜发育历期缩短, 有翅蚜率和产仔量增加, 但与对照相比均未达到显著差异(P=0.392＞0.05); 不同剂量吡虫啉拌种处理的麦长管蚜净生殖率、 内禀增长率、 周限增长率比对照偏高, 而种群加倍时间、 平均世代周期比对照偏低, 但均未达到显著性差异（P=0.406）。结果说明小麦籽粒中的吡虫啉微量残留对麦长管蚜生长发育无显著不利影响, 但对其生殖能力具有一定的促进作用。     

禾谷缢管蚜和麦长管蚜玻璃管药膜法敏感毒力基线的建立

【目的】建立禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi（Linnaeus）和麦长管蚜Sitobion avenae（Fabricius）对常用杀虫剂的相对敏感基线。【方法】从田间采集麦蚜在实验室内饲养30代以上,利用玻璃管药膜法测定其对杀虫剂的敏感度,每条毒力基线为2次以上独立测定数据合并后的计算结果。【结果】用玻璃管药膜法建立了包括新烟碱类、吡啶类、氨基甲酸酯类、有机磷类和拟除虫菊酯类共22个药剂品种对禾谷缢管蚜和麦长管蚜3 h的敏感毒力基线。禾谷缢管蚜对新烟碱类药剂吡虫啉和啶虫脒的LC₅₀值分别为0.02和0.007 μg/cm²;对吡啶类药剂吡蚜酮的LC₅₀值为0.124 μg/cm²;对氨基甲酸酯类药剂丁硫克百威、硫双灭多威、灭多威、抗蚜威、西维因的LC₅₀值为0.0026~0.70 μg/cm²;对有机磷类药剂三唑磷、丙溴磷、氧乐果、乐果、马拉硫磷、辛硫磷、敌敌畏、毒死蜱的LC₅₀值为0.005~0.065 μg/cm²;对拟除虫菊酯类药剂三氟氯氰菊酯、高效氯氰菊酯、溴氰菊酯、联苯菊酯、氰戊菊酯、氯氰菊酯的LC₅₀值为0.033~0.240 μg/cm²。麦长管蚜对新烟碱类药剂吡虫啉和啶虫脒的LC₅₀值分别为0.15和0.12 μg/cm²;对吡啶类药剂吡蚜酮的LC₅₀值为0.41 μg/cm²;对氨基甲酸酯类药剂丁硫克百威、硫双灭多威、灭多威、抗蚜威、西维因的LC50值为0.005~0.76 μg/cm²;对有机磷类药剂三唑磷、丙溴磷、氧乐果、乐果、马拉硫磷、辛硫磷、敌敌畏、毒死蜱的LC₅₀值为0.018~0.36 μg/cm²;对拟除虫菊酯类药剂三氟氯氰菊酯、高效氯氰菊酯、溴氰菊酯、联苯菊酯、氰戊菊酯、氯氰菊酯的LC50值为0.20~2.94 μg/cm²。【结论】建立的两种麦蚜对22种杀虫药剂的相对敏感基线,包括当前所有可能用于防治麦蚜的药剂,可以用于以后麦蚜抗药性监测或其他相关研究的参照;禾谷缢管蚜对药剂的敏感度高于麦长管蚜。     

小麦蚜虫对六种杀虫剂的抗药性及田间药效评价

【目的】为了掌握山东小麦蚜虫对常用杀虫剂的抗药性及田间防治效果,进一步筛选出对小麦蚜虫高效、低毒的药剂品种。【方法】2013-2014年,采用玻璃管药膜法测定了山东省阳谷县和汶上县小麦蚜虫对6种杀虫剂(吡虫啉、高效氯氰菊酯、氧乐果、溴氰菊酯、抗蚜威和氟啶虫胺腈)的抗药性,并于2015年采用田间小区试验的方法在汶上县对8种杀虫剂防治蚜虫田间效果进行了评价。【结果】除了2014年阳谷县禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi种群对高效氯氰菊酯已经产生低水平抗性外,两地区禾谷缢管蚜其他种群和麦长管蚜Sitobion avenae对这6种杀虫剂的敏感性均较高,处于敏感水平。田间防治试验结果表明,50%氟啶虫胺腈WG、20%啶虫脒WP、10%吡虫啉WP和50%抗蚜威WP速效性好,药后3 d对麦蚜的防治效果达76.9%~85.6%;50%氟啶虫胺腈WG、20%啶虫脒WP、10%吡虫啉WP、40%氧乐果EC、25%吡蚜酮WP、50%抗蚜威WP和40%毒死蜱EC持效性好,药后7 d对麦蚜的防治效果达80.0%~97.5%;25 g/L高效氯氟氰菊酯EC药后7 d对麦蚜的防效仅为74.8%,极显著低于其他药剂。【结论】在小麦生产中,可选用高效低毒的氟啶虫胺腈、啶虫脒、吡虫啉、抗蚜威和吡蚜酮对小麦蚜虫进行防治,注意不同类型药剂之间的轮换和交替使用。     

三种生物源农药对桃树蚜虫的防治效果研究

为筛选生产上防治桃树蚜虫的生物源农药,开展了1.5%除虫菊素水剂、0.3%苦参碱水剂和5%桉油精可溶液剂对桃树蚜虫的田间防效试验。结果表明,3种生物源农药中以0.3%苦参碱水剂防治效果最好,药后1 d防效为70.12%,药后7 d防效为91.96%,与对照药剂70% 吡虫啉水分散粒剂防效相当,具有较好的速效性和持效性。苦参碱对桃树安全,是防治桃蚜的理想药剂,生产上推荐使用浓度为1 000倍液。     

Using a Hazard Quotient to Evaluate Pesticide Residues Detected in Pollen Trapped from Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) in Connecticut

Analysis of pollen trapped from honey bees as they return to their hives provides a method of monitoring fluctuations in one route of pesticide exposure over location and time. We collected pollen from apiaries in five locations in Connecticut, including urban, rural, and mixed agricultural sites, for periods from two to five years. Pollen was analyzed for pesticide residues using a standard extraction method widely used for pesticides (QuEChERS) and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometric analysis. Sixty pesticides or metabolites were detected. Because the dose lethal to 50% of adult worker honey bees (LD₅₀) is the only toxicity parameter available for a wide range of pesticides, and among our pesticides there were contact LD₅₀ values ranging from 0.006 to >1000 μg per bee (range 166,000X), and even among insecticides LD₅₀ values ranged from 0.006 to 59.8 μg/bee (10,000X); therefore we propose that in studies of honey bee exposure to pesticides that concentrations be reported as Hazard Quotients as well as in standard concentrations such as parts per billion. We used both contact and oral LD₅₀ values to calculate Pollen Hazard Quotients (PHQ = concentration in ppb ÷ LD₅₀ as μg/bee) when both were available. In this study, pesticide Pollen Hazard Quotients ranged from over 75,000 to 0.01. The pesticides with the greatest Pollen Hazard Quotients at the maximum concentrations found in our study were (in descending order): phosmet, Imidacloprid, indoxacarb, chlorpyrifos, fipronil, thiamethoxam, azinphos-methyl, and fenthion, all with at least one Pollen Hazard Quotient (using contact or oral LD₅₀) over 500. At the maximum rate of pollen consumption by nurse bees, a Pollen Hazard Quotient of 500 would be approximately equivalent to consuming 0.5% of the LD₅₀ per day. We also present an example of a Nectar Hazard Quotient and the percentage of LD₅₀ per day at the maximum nectar consumption rate.     

Selection of DNA aptamers that bind to four organophosphorus pesticides

Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) aptamers against four organophosphorus pesticides (phorate, profenofos, isocarbophos and omethoate) were simultaneously isolated from an immobilized random ssDNA library by systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) technique. After 12 rounds of in vitro selection, five ssDNA aptamer candidates were selected and their binding affinities were identified by a novel method using a molecular beacon. Two of the five ssDNA sequences, SS2-55 and SS4-54, demonstrated higher affinities and specificities to the four organophosphorus pesticides. They were defined as broad-spectrum aptamers binding to four different targets and their simulated secondary structures showed highly distinct features with typical stem and loop structures. The dissociation constant of SS2-55 and SS4-54 binding to the four organophosphorus pesticides ranged from 0.8 to 2.5?μM. These aptamers offered application potential in the analysis and/or neutralization of the residues of the four organophosphorus pesticides.     

Comparison of Pesticide Sorption by Physicochemically Modified Soils with Natural Soils as a Function of Soil Properties and Pesticide Hydrophobicity

The objectives of this paper were to determine the efficiency of physicochemically modified soils with a surfactant in the sorption of pesticides, the stability against washing of the pesticides sorbed, and the effective sorption capacity of surfactant adsorbed by soils as a function of pesticide hydrophobicity and soil characteristics. Five soils of different characteristics and five pesticides (penconazole, linuron, alachlor, atrazine and metalaxyl) with different Kow values were selected and octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (ODTMA) was chosen as model of cationic surfactants. Sorption-desorption isotherms were obtained and constants Kf and Kfd for natural soils (from Freundlich equation) and K and Kd for ODTMA-soils (from linear equation) were determined. Sorption on ODTMA-soils was higher than on natural soils. K increased 27–165 times for penconazole, 22–77 times for linuron, 7–14 times for alachlor, 9–23 times for atrazine, and 21–333 times for metalaxyl in relation to Kf. Sorption coefficients normalized to 100% of total organic matter (TOM) from organo soils K_OM (K 100/%TOM), were always higher than those from natural soils Kf_OM (Kf 100/%OM), indicating that the organic matter (OM) derived from the ODTMA (OM_ODTMA) had a greater sorption capacity than the OM of the natural soil. K_OM values were also higher than the Kow (octanol/water distribution coefficient) value for each pesticide. The similarity of the high K_OM values for the sorption of each pesticide by the five soils and the linearity of isotherms point to a partitioning of the pesticides between surfactant and water. The use in this work of different soils and various pesticides, unusual in this type of investigation, allowed us to obtain equations to know the sorbed amount of a given pesticide by the surfactant-modified soils as a function of the OM content derived from the cation and the Kow of the pesticide. The results obtained are of interest when it becomes necessary to increase the sorption capacity of soils with low OM contents with a view to delaying pesticide mobility in soils from pollution point sources (high concentration in small area), and preventing the pollution of waters.     

In vitro effect of pesticides on the germination, vegetative growth, and conidial production of two strains of Metarhizium anisopliae

Entomopathogenic fungi are widely used as biological control agents against a broad range of insect and arachnid pests. However, the control efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi is variable because of unfavourable and fluctuating environmental conditions and intrinsic factors. One strategy to enhance entomopathogenic fungi efficacy is a combined use of entomopathogenic fungi and low dosages of pesticides. These sub-lethal dosages of chemicals can increase the control efficiency of entomopathogenic fungi but only if they do not affect the fungi. Adverse effects could include the inhibition of germination and/or vegetative growth as well as conidiogenesis. The present study investigated the in vitro effects of different concentrations of fipronil, permethrin, imidacloprid, NeemAzal, and amitraz as potential candidates for combined applications on two strains of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (MA). MA was inoculated on a medium amended with five different concentrations (0.32-200 ppm) of the abovementioned pesticides. The germination, vegetative growth, and sporulation were evaluated. The results showed, according to a physiology parameter compatibility classification, that all pesticides were compatible with both tested MA strains. Only fipronil in the higher dose rates of 40 and 200 ppm was close to moderately toxic to MA-7. Furthermore, only higher concentrations of the pesticides caused a slight inhibition (about 15%) of conidial germination and a reduction in colony size. Sporulation was reduced at most by approximately 50% by 40 or 200 ppm of fipronil or amitraz, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to use the tested pesticides in combination with either strain of MA for an integrated pest management approach. Studies on the effect of these combinations on target organisms are in progress.     

有机磷农药对韭菜虫害的防治效果及农药的微生物降解

采用3．00kg(a．i)·hm^-2辛硫磷和2．63kg(a．i)·hm^-2甲基对硫磷来防治韭菜蓟马。3d后与不施农药的对照相比,虫口减退率分别达到98．28％和98．39％;20d后虫口减退率分别达到89．94％和94．04％．用浓度分别为15．00、18．00和21．00kg(a．i)·hm^-2的辛硫磷来防治韭蛆,3d后与不施农药的对照相比,虫口减退率分别达到了80．77％、93．10％和96．98％;35d后虫口减退率分别达到了92．44％、95．0596和96．81％．施用降解菌剂对防治蓟马和韭蛆没有不良影响,但可显著降低韭菜中的农药含量．蓟马施药防治后3d喷施45．00L·hm^-2的降解菌剂,3d后与不施菌对照相比,辛硫磷和甲基对硫磷的降解率分别为99．52％和98．83％;20d后韭菜(苔)中农药含量均检测不出．韭蛆施药防治后3d灌施75．00L·hm^-2降解菌剂,35d后不同辛硫磷施用量的降解率分别为100％、100％和99．69％．     

七种杀虫剂对小麦吸浆虫和麦蚜防治效果研究

【目的】明确25%吡蚜酮SC、3%甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐ME、25%噻虫嗪WG、14%氯虫·高氯氟ZC、15%高氯·毒死蜱EC、2.5%高效氯氟氰菊酯EW和40%毒死蜱EC 7种杀虫剂对小麦吸浆虫和蚜虫的防治效果,为科学、合理用药防治小麦害虫提供参考。【方法】采用喷雾法和剥穗调查法,研究它们对小麦吸浆虫成虫和麦蚜的防效,及防后对小麦吸浆虫幼虫危害损失的影响。【结果】参试药剂药后1 d对小麦吸浆虫成虫防效均高于90%,药后3~5 d防效为84.81%~93.93%,防后挽回损失76%以上;对麦蚜药后1、3、5 d防效分别高于75%、80%和85%。在供试的7种药剂中,15%高氯·毒死蜱EC药后3~5 d对两种害虫防效、挽回吸浆虫危害均超过90%,应用效果最好;其次为25%噻虫嗪WG和40%毒死蜱EC,药后3~5 d对吸浆虫防效高于90%、对麦蚜防效分别高于86%和90%,挽回吸浆虫危害损失88%以上。【结论】供试药剂对小麦吸浆虫和麦蚜防效存在显著差异,15%高氯·毒死蜱EC对两种害虫防治效果最好。     

橄榄星室木虱的种群动态及药剂防治

橄榄星室木虱在福建省莆田地区 1年发生 8代 ,世代重叠 ,以成虫越冬 ,1年中有 6个发生高峰期 ,以橄榄秋梢期为全年雌成虫产卵、若虫发生最高峰 ,夏梢期是成虫羽化全年最高峰。田间药效试验结果表明 ,1 5种杀虫剂对橄榄星室木虱都有较好的防效 ,持效期可长达 7d以上 ,药后 7d的防效都在90 %以上 ,但速效性差异较大。其中 ,以 1 %威宝乳油 2 0 0 0倍、2 5 %功夫菊酯乳油 2 0 0 0倍、2 5 %功夫菊酯 +1 0 %吡虫啉 ( 1 2 5∶1 ) 2 0 0 0倍和 2 5 %功夫菊酯 +1 0 %吡虫啉 ( 1∶2 ) 2 0 0 0倍对橄榄星室木虱效果最好 ,速效性好 ,药后 1d的防效均达 91 5 8%以上。     

Pesticide tolerant Azotobacter isolates from paddy growing areas of northern Karnataka, India

A total of 14 Azotobacter strains were isolated from different paddy cultivating soils with pH ranging from 6.5 to 9.5 by using serial dilution agar plate method. The strains were Gram negative, rod shaped, cyst forming and developed brown to black colored colonies, which were glistening, smooth, slimy on Ashby’s agar plates. Biochemically they were positive for biochemical tests namely, indole production, citrate, catalase, carbohydrate fermentation and Voges–Proskauer test. Further, sequence analysis of PCR amplicons obtained from these cultures revealed the presence of five different Azotobacter species viz., Azotobacter vinelandii, Azotobacter salinestris, Azotobacter sp., Azotobacter nigricans subsp. nigricans and Azotobacter tropicalis. Phylogenetically these strains were grouped into two distinct clusters. These strains were tested for their ability to grow on a media containing four different pesticides such as pendimethalin, glyphosate, chloropyrifos and phorate, which are commonly used for the paddy. Out of 14 strains tested, 13 strains were able to grow on a media containing herbicides such as pendimethalin, glyphosate and insecticides like chloropyrifos and phorate. However, five Azotobacter strains were able to grow at higher concentration of 5 % pesticides, without affecting their growth rate. Further, the effect of pesticides on the indole acetic acid (IAA) production by Azotobacter strains was also estimated. Azotobacter-16 strain was found to produce 34.4 μg ml^?l of IAA in a media supplemented with 1,000 mg of tryptophan and 5 % of pendimethalin. Present study reveals that species of Azotobacter are able to grow and survive in the presence of pesticides and no significant effects were observed on the metabolic activities of Azotobacter species.     

Toxicity of a dichlorvos containing insecticide formulation and an atrazine containing herbicide formulation in chicken embryos after individual administration

A 50% dichlorvos containing insecticide formulation (Unifosz 50 EC) and a 50% atrazine containing herbicide formulation (Hungazin PK 50 WP) were studied in chicken embryos after administration as single compounds. Applied concentrations of dichlorvos were 0.1% (corresponding to the plant protection practice), 0.05%, 0.02%, 0.01%. Applied concentrations of atrazine were 0.66% (corresponding to the plant protection practice), 0.33%, 0.132%, 0.066%. The test materials were injected directly into the air-chamber of eggs on day 0 of the hatching period and evaulation was carried out on day 19 of incubation. The chicken embryos were examined for the following: rate of embryo mortality, body mass, type of developmental anomalies. After the single administrations of dichlorvos containing insecticide formulation and atrazine containing herbicide formulation on day 0 of incubation, the average body weight of chicken embryos significantly did not decrease as compared to the control. After the individual administrations of pesticides the incidence of developmental anomalies was sporadic. The embryonic mortality markedly increased at the highest concentrations of pesticides. The rate of embrio mortality were 61% (dichlorvos insecticide containing formulation) and 52% (atrazine containing herbicide formulation). In summary, the 50% dichlorvos containing insecide formulation (Unifosz 50 EC) and the 50% atrazine containing herbicide formulation (Hungazin PK 50 WP) were toxic to the developing chicken embryos at the highest concentration in our study. The toxic effect was expressed in the high rate of embrio mortality.