Phenological observations on shrubs to predict weed emergence in turf

Phenology is the study of periodic biological events. If we can find easily recognizable events in common plants that precede or coincide with weed emergences, these plants could be used as indicators. Weed seedlings are usually difficult to detect in turf, so the use of phenological indicators may provide an alternative approach to predict the time when a weed appears and consequently guide management decisions. A study was undertaken to determine whether the phenological phases of some plants could serve as reliable indicators of time of weed emergence in turf. The phenology of six shrubs (Crataegus monogyna Jacq., Forsythia viridissima Lindl., Sambucus nigra L., Syringa vulgaris L., Rosa multiflora Thunb., Ziziphus jujuba Miller) and a perennial herbaceous plant [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] was observed and the emergence dynamics of four annual weed species [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop., Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertner, Setaria glauca (L.) Beauv., Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv.] were studied from 1999 to 2004 in northern Italy. A correlation between certain events and weed emergence was verified. S. vulgaris and F. viridissima appear to be the best indicators: there is a quite close correspondence between the appearance of D. sanguinalis and lilac flowering and between the beginning of emergence of E. indica and the end of lilac flowering; emergences of S. glauca and S. viridis were predicted well in relation to the end of forsythia flowering. Base temperatures and starting dates required to calculate the heat unit sums to reach and complete the flowering phase of the indicators were calculated using two different methods and the resultant cumulative growing degree days were compared.     

Effects of host desiccation on development, survival, and infectivity of entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae

This study investigates the effect of host desiccation on entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) development, emergence, infectivity, and cross-protection against secondary environmental stress. Galleria mellonella hosts infected with the EPN Steinernema carpocapsae A10 were allowed to dehydrate in an environmental chamber for up to 56 days at 23 degrees C achieving a weight loss of approximately 86% by day 44 post-infection. Host carcasses were rehydrated on water-saturated filter paper in White traps to collect emergent infective juveniles (IJ) at specific time intervals. Populations were counted with an apparent peak coinciding with desiccated hosts rehydrated at 24-day post-infection. Desiccation-stressed IJ populations from each time interval were tested for infectivity, and cross-resistance to secondary temperature and pH stresses and were found to have significant increases in both infectivity and protection from extremes of temperature and pH compared with controls. Total aqueous soluble protein profiles from control and desiccation-stressed IJs were analyzed using 10% SDS Laemmli gels. Several novel proteins were over-expressed in EPN from hosts subjected to desiccation suggesting the induction and expression of stress response genes.     

Application of a marking-and-recapture method for the analysis of larval-adult populations of an insect,Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Difficulty arises in applying marking-and-recapture methods to insects when the probability of recapture of marked individuals is changed with advancing age, either due to detachment of the mark by moulting (in the case of larvae) or to changes in their survival rate or their behaviour. A modification of the re-recapture method (Leslie et al., 1953) has been devised to analyze the capture-recapture data of the 5th-instar larvae and adults of Nezara viridula L. Estimation of the rate of moulting to the adult stage is made with the aid of additional information on larval survival. Migration rates of the larvae between the two halves of the census field is estimated byIwao's (1963) method. Through these analyses, the dynamic feature of the population during transition from the 5th instar to, adult is revealed. Several problems involved in the application of marking-and-recapture methods to insect populations are discussed.     

Predicting early spring emergence and late season overwintering movement of Calepitrimerus vitis (Nalepa) (Acari: Eriophyidae) in grapevine

The grape rust mite, Calepitrimerus vitis (Nalepa), is an important grapevine pest worldwide. During the period of early spring emergence and movement to the overwintering refuge in the late season, growers need to control C. vitis properly. We developed forecasting models of early spring emergence and late summer overwintering movement of C. vitis in vineyards for control time. Their activation in the early spring was estimated by changes in density between upper bud and the whole bud. The density of C. vitis on buds was estimated using a washing out method. The proportion of C. vitis on the upper bud was increased as accumulated degree-day (DD) was increased. This relationship was well described by a linear regression model. Based on the model, 153 DD with a base temperature of 10.51?°C, at which emergence rate of C. vitis deutogynes was 70%, was proposed as the control time for C. vitis. Movement of deutogynes in the late summer was observed. The ratio of C. vitis movement for hibernation was increased as the relative night length was getting longer. This relationship was well described by a two-parameter Weibull function. Proportion of migrant deutogynes was low in August. It increased sharply when relative night length was 0.499 (11.97?h, middle September). Therefore, control should be conducted before autumnal equinox in late summer at the latest.     

No-substrate and low-moisture conditions during pupating adversely affect Ectropis grisescens (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) adults

Ectropis grisescens Warren (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) is an important defoliator pest of the tea plant, Camellia sinensis L. Our previous studies showed that E. grisescens pupae had significantly lower body water content when they pupated in the dry soil (20%-moisture) than those that pupated in the wetter soil (50%- or 80%-moisture). However, it is still unclear whether low-moisture conditions during pupating would further influence the physiological and fitness traits of adults. In the present study, E. grisescens individuals were allowed to pupate in 20%-, 50%- or 80%-moisture soil (silt loam), or in containers without soil (no-substrate conditions) in the laboratory. No significant difference in emergence was detected among different pupating conditions. However, female moths that emerged from 20%-moisture soil had significantly lower body water content compared to 80%-moisture soil, whereas the body water content of males was similar among the four treatments. The paired moths that emerged from 20%-moisture soil laid significantly fewer eggs than those that emerged from 50%-moisture soil. In addition, the number of hatched offerings (larvae) were significantly less when the adults previously pupated in no-soil containers compared to 50%-moisture soil. The longevity of adults was shortest when they emerged from 20%-moisture soil. Our study showed that the no-substrate and low-moisture conditions during pupating adversely affected E. grisescens adults.     

Adult populations of the sugi bark borer,Semanotus japonicus Lacordaire (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), in Japanese cedar stands: Population parameters,dispersal, and spatial distribution

Population Ecology - Adult populations of the sugi bark borer,Semanotus japonicus Lacordaire, which attacks the trunks of Japanese cedar and cypress, were studied in two cedar stands in 1981 and...     

蓝斑区去甲肾上腺素能神经元在Orexin 促麻醉觉醒中的作用研究

目的：探讨蓝斑区(LC)去甲肾上腺素能神经元在orexin 促麻醉觉醒中作用。方法：应用异氟烷对成年SD 大鼠进行麻醉,15 分钟后,将SD 大鼠随机分为6 组,分别注射orexin-A/B (100pmol/0.3 滋L) 及其溶剂saline (0.3 滋L);orexin I 型受体拮抗剂 SB334867/ II型受体拮抗剂TCS-OX2-29(20 滋g/0.3 滋L及其溶剂DMSO(0.3 滋L),通过观察大鼠翻正反射的消失和恢复时间,研究 蓝斑区微注射orexin 及其拮抗剂对异氟烷麻醉的诱导和觉醒的影响。结果：蓝斑区(LC)微注射四种试剂或其溶剂均对SD 大鼠异 氟烷麻醉的诱导时间无明显影响;蓝斑区(LC)微注射orexin-A 能缩短SD 大鼠异氟烷麻醉觉醒时间(P<0.001),而微注射orexinI 型拮抗剂SB334867 能延长觉醒时间(P<0.001);orexin-B、orexin II型受体拮抗剂TCS-OX2-29 对大鼠异氟烷麻醉的觉醒无明显影 响。结论：蓝斑区(LC)的去甲肾上腺素能神经元介导了orexin 的促麻醉觉醒作用。