Use of statistical tools in the study of the conditions of predation of Duddingtonia flagrans versus Panagrellus sp

The objective of the present work was to study the conditions of predation of Duddingtonia flagrans conidia versus Panagrellus sp using response surface methodology. Conidia of D. flagrans (AC001) isolate were transferred into water-agar (WA) culture media at different pHs and different concentrations defined according to Central Composite Design (CCD). Five different concentrations of D. flagrans conidia: (1292, 500, 1000, 1500 and 1707) were used. For 2%WA media were used the following pHs were used: 6.29, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5 and 7.71. The response of the design corresponded to the number of larvae (transformed to square root scale) observed at the end of the experiment (10 days). At the tenth day, the non predated larvae were recovered in the Petri dishes. The results showed that 2%WA media at pH 7.0 contributed to improve the predatory activity of conidia of D. flagrans, and therefore this tool may be used in future studies under laboratory and natural conditions.     

Formulation development of the biocontrol agent Bacillus subtilis strain CPA-8 by spray-drying

Aims: To prepare commercially acceptable formulations of Bacillus subtilis CPA‐8 by spray‐drying with long storage life and retained efficacy to control peach and nectarine brown rot caused by Monilinia spp. Methods and Results: CPA‐8 24‐h‐ and 72‐h‐old cultures were spray dried using 10% skimmed milk, 10% skimmed milk plus 10% MgSO₄, 10% MgSO₄ and 20% MgSO₄ as carriers/protectants. All carriers/protectants gave good percentages of powder recovery (28–38%) and moisture content (7–13%). CPA‐8 survival varied considerably among spray‐dried 24‐h‐ and 72‐h‐old cultures. Seventy‐two hours culture spray dried formulations showed the highest survival (28–32%) with final concentration products of 1·6–3·3 × 10⁹ CFU g^?1, while viability of 24‐h‐old formulations was lower than 1%. Spray‐dried 72‐h‐old formulations were selected to subsequent evaluation. Rehydration of cells with water provided a good recovery of CPA‐8 dried cells, similar to other complex rehydration media tested. Spray‐dried formulations stored at 4 ± 1 and 20 ± 1°C showed good shelf life during 6 months, and viability was maintained or slightly decreased by 0·2–0·3‐log. CPA‐8 formulations after 4‐ and 6 months storage were effective in controlling brown rot caused by Monilinia spp. on nectarines and peaches resulting in a 90–100% reduction in disease incidence. Conclusions: Stable and effective formulations of biocontrol agent B. subtilis CPA‐8 could be obtained by spray‐drying. Significance and Impact of the Study: New shelf‐stable and effective formulations of a biocontrol agent have been obtained by spray‐drying to control brown rot on peach.     

Identification of Botrytis spp. on Plants Grown in Iran

A total of 363 isolates were collected from all over Iran. They were isolated from apple, arum lily, briar rose, bride wort, broad bean, camellia, canola, carnation, cucumber, egg plant, feijoa, geranium, gerbera, gladiolus, grape, guilder rose, hibiscus, iris, kiwifruit, oleander, onion, orange, pear, pomegranate, primrose, quince, redbud, robinia, rose, rubber plant, sow thiste, spathe flower, strawberry, tomato, violet, wall flower and wheat. To identify the species, morphological characters such as conidiophore length, conidial and sclerotial dimensions were measured. According to morphological and cultural characters, eight Botrytis species were identified: B. aclada sensu lato, B. cinerea, B. fabae, B. convoluta, B. gladiolorum, B. paeoniae, B. pelargonii and B. porri. As far as we are aware, this is the first report of the last five species from Iran. These species were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using necrosis and ethylene‐inducing protein (NEP2) and C729 primers. A 835 bp band was amplified in B. cinerea, B. fabae and B. pelargonii, using NEP2, but not in others. However, C729 primers amplified a 700 bp band in B. cinerea and B. pelargonii and a 600 bp in B. fabae.     

Efficacy of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. against the tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris L., in strawberries

Beauveria bassiana has a high insecticidal potential to control the tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris, a significant pest of strawberries. Screening experiments showed that L. lineolaris adults were susceptible to several B. bassiana isolates. Another screening test with Coleomegilla maculata, a natural enemy found in strawberries, was also performed in order to select the isolate having lower entomopathogenic impact on this insect. Based on data obtained from both insect species and on the ecozone origin of the B. bassiana isolates, INRS‐IP and INRS‐CFL isolates were selected for further experiments. The LC₅₀ values of these two isolates against L. lineolaris adults were 7.8 × 10⁵ and 5.3 × 10⁵ conidia/ml, and average survival time (AST) values were 4.46 and 4.37 days at a concentration of 1 × 10⁸ conidia/ml respectively. Results also indicated that L. lineolaris nymphs are susceptible to the selected isolates. During field experiments, using a randomized block design with four replicates, INRS‐IP and INRS‐CFL isolates were applied at two rates (1 × 10¹¹ and 1 × 10¹³ conidia/ha) weekly during a period of 4 weeks. These multiple applications triggered a significant reduction of L. lineolaris nymphal populations in strawberries. Twenty‐four days after the first application, a significant difference was observed between the mean population densities of surviving nymphs in all B. bassiana‐treated plots (less than one insect per five plants) compared with those in control plots (four insects per five plants). During the field experiment, persistence of insecticidal activity and viability of B. bassiana conidia were also monitored. The results showed the presence of viable and infective conidia up to 6 days after each application on strawberry foliage. Moreover, the multiple applications of B. bassiana at the rate of 1 × 10¹³ conidia/ha triggered a significant reduction in strawberry fruit injuries induced by L. lineolaris feeding behaviour compared with the control plots.     

Evaluation of lignins and particle films as solar protectants for the granulovirus of the codling moth,Cydia pomonella

The identification of effective solar protectants for field application of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), granulovirus (CpGV) is of interest to improve its efficacy and commercial viability as a biological pesticide. We evaluated several materials as potential adjuvants to protect CpGV from ultraviolet degradation. In laboratory tests with a solar simulator (9.36×10⁶ J/m²), the addition of kaolin clay (Surround® WP at 3 and 6%, w/v), a paraffin wax-based emulsion (SPLAT? at 5%, v/v), and a bark extract trans-cinnamaldehyde combined with a film agent (both at 1%, v/v) did not significantly reduce larval entries or increase larval mortality in irradiated apples that were treated with a commercial CpGV product (Cyd-X). In semi-field tests in an apple orchard, a spray-dried lignin formulation containing CpGV (6.57×10¹² OBs/ha) and a lignin-based adjuvant used with Cyd-X (both applied at 4.7–5.6 kg lignin/ha) significantly improved residual activity of CpGV compared with Cyd-X alone applied at the same rate. However, the benefits were short lived and could not be detected after 7 days. In orchard tests, we evaluated two additional refined lignin-products (Lignosulfonate and Vanisperse? CB at 5.61 kg/ha) and two particle film materials (kaolin clay, ‘Cocoon?’, and calcium with boron ‘Eclipse?’) as adjuvants for UV protection of Cyd-X (6.57×10¹² OBs/ha) in tests against a dense codling moth infestation. Although all virus treatments were highly effective (causing ≥90% larval mortality), no significant effects of the adjuvant treatments could be detected. In these latter tests, the use of a silicone based wetting agent at 0.025% (v/v) may have been beneficial at increasing mortality among older larvae inside the fruit.     

Effects of media composition on submerged culture spores of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum, Part 1: Comparison of cell wall characteristics and drying stability among three spore types

Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum (IMI 330189) can produce at least three spore types in vitro; blastospores, submerged conidia, and aerial conidia, as defined by culturing conditions, sporogenesis, and spore morphology. This study compares morphological characteristics (dimensions and cell wall structure), chemical properties of cell wall surfaces (charge, hydrophobicity, and lectin binding), and performance (germination rate and drying stability) among these three spore types. Submerged conidia and aerial conidia both possessed thick, double-layered cell walls, with hydrophobic regions on their surfaces. However, in contrast to aerial conidia, submerged conidia have: (1) a greater affinity for the lectin concanavalin-A; (2) more anionic net surface charge; and (3) a less distinct outer rodlet layer. Blastospores were longer and more variable in length than both submerged conidia and aerial conidia, and had thinner single-layered cell walls that lacked an outer rodlet layer. Also, blastospores had a greater affinity than either conidia type for the lectin, wheat germ agglutinin. Blastaspores lacked hydrophobic regions on their surface, and had a lower anionic net surface charge than submerged conidia. In culture, blastospores germinated the fastest followed by submerged conidia, and then aerial conidia. Survival of submerged conidia and aerial conidia were similar after drying on silica gel, and was greater than that for blastospores. We provide corroborating information for differentiating spore types previously based on method of production, sporogenesis, and appearance of spores. These physical characteristics may have practical application for predicting spore-performance characteristics relevant to production and efficacy of mycoinsecticides.     

药物制剂技术在基因药物研制中的应用

基因药物是未来药物的发展方向,必须研究适宜的给药系统以促进基因药物的吸收和控制药效。基因药物的给药途径主要包括注射、口服、肺靶向、脑靶向和心血管基因转换等。所采用的剂型主要包括微球、脂质体、微乳等。本文就基因药物给药途径、所采用的主要剂型及各自所具备的优势作一综述。另外,简要介绍了基因药物给药系统的纳米技术。     

Planning Transboundary Ecological Risk Assessments at Military Installations

Ecological risk assessments at military installations that are performed to support natural resources management objectives rely on information from the surrounding region. Stressors such as noise, ozone, and ozone precursors cross installation boundaries, and effects of urbanization and highway development are regional in scale. Ecological populations are not limited to one side of the installation boundary. Therefore, a framework for transboundary ecological risk assessment at military installations is under development. This article summarizes the problem formulation stage. Components include: (1) regional management goals such as installation Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans and land acquisition, (2) involvement of multiple stressors, and (3) large-scale assessment endpoint entities. Challenges of selecting measures of exposure include: quantifying exposure to aggregate stressors, describing land cover consistently in the region, describing rates of land-cover transition, scaling local measurements to a region, and aggregating or isolating exposures from within and outside of the installation. Measures of effect that are important to transboundary or regional ecological risk assessments at military installations are those that represent: effects at a distance from the stressor, large-scale effects, effects of habitat change or fragmentation, spatial extrapolations of localized effects, and integrated effects of multiple stressors. These factors are reflected in conceptual models.     

哈氏木霉分生孢子发育的超微结构和细胞化学

通过电子显微镜和细胞化学标记研究了哈氏木霉分生孢子发育的超微结构和细胞化学。分生孢子发育的超微结构研究表明,分生孢子壁的发育是有个由薄而光滑到厚而有疣的过程;期间脂肪体在分生孢子和产孢细胞中不断累积,最后脂肪体沿着内壁排列成一层。免疫金标记结果显示,幼嫩的分生孢子壁中缺乏几丁质和纤维素,只有在成熟的分生孢子壁中含有几丁质;出乎意料的是在成熟分生孢子中发现有少量纤维素的存在。     

害虫防治用玫烟色拟青霉分生孢子粉的干燥工艺优化*

用液—固两相法生产的玫烟色拟青霉Paecilomyces fumosoroseus Pfr116菌株的分生孢子粉,在高真空冷冻干燥、高真空室温抽干、35℃下烘干和低真空低热干燥条件下进行不同程序的干燥处理,以筛选适合该菌孢子粉生产的干燥工艺条件。结果表明,低真空(0.1 MPa)低热(30℃)抽干20~24 h的干燥方法最适合用于该菌孢子粉的干燥,既能保证含水量在9.0%以下,又能保证87%以上的活孢率和1130亿~1310亿/g的含孢量,而且操作简便,成本较低,可作为高纯度孢子粉生产的首选干燥工艺。高真空(15.86 Pa)条件下无论冻干还是室温抽干,虽然孢子粉的含水量(2.2%~8.7%)和含孢量(1270亿~1360亿/g)指标符合生产要求,但活孢率仅62%,说明该菌孢子不适合在高真空条件下干燥。在35℃下烘干24 h所获孢子粉含水量、24 h萌发率和含孢量分别为9.6%、82.8%和1200亿/g,该方法也可在生产中应用,但其活孢率显著低于(P<0.05)低真空低热抽干24 h的孢子粉。