The long-distance migration of Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Delphacidae) in China: radar observations of mass return flight in the autumn

Abstract.

• 1 A case study is presented of the autumn migration of the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), in the area of Nanjing in the People's Republic of China. The study was made using a high frequency (8 mm wavelength) radar and a net suspended from a kytoon.
• 2 The observations confirmed that long-distance return migrations occur in China in mid and late September, with N.lugens being carried on the prevailing north-easterly wind towards the autumn infestation and overwintering areas of the species.
• 3 After mass take-off in the late afternoon or at dusk, the migrants flew for several hours during the evening, often in a dense layer which formed at heights between about 400 and 1000m above ground. These layers often had well-defined ceilings corresponding to an air temperature of about 16°C. The migration height was above the top of the surface temperature inversion, i.e. the migrants did not fly at the height of the warmest air.
• 4 The dense layer concentrations overflying the radar were backtracked to source areas up to 240 km away in the north-east of Jiangsu Province. Planthoppers observed emigrating from the Nanjing area would reach areas in south Anhui Province or north Jiangxi Province if they flew for 12 h.
• 5 There was a second period of mass take-off at dawn. Insect layers sometimes formed but did not last longer than 1–2h.
• 6 The present results were strikingly different from those previously observed in the dry season in the Philippines, where migratory flight durations were largely confined to periods of about 30min at dusk and dawn.
• 7 Our observations are discussed in relation to the equator-wards return migrations undertaken in autumn by other insect species, and the importance of these migrations for the maintenance of long-flying genotypes in the overwintering populations is considered.

     

Dietary modulation of α-amylase activity in eight geographical strains of Sitophilus oryzae and Sitophilus zeamais

Rank transformation of specific activity values of -amylase across four strains of Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and four strains of S. zeamais Motschulsky indicates that levels of these predominant enzymes are highest in adults feeding on hulled barley or long-grain brown rice. Intermediate activity levels are found in weevils feeding on yellow corn (maize) and lowest levels are found in wheat-fed weevils. Although extracts prepared from barley contain inhibitory activity against two purified isoamylases from S. oryzae, levels of the naturally-occurring -amylase inhibitors against these two enzymes are about 2.2-fold and 6.1-fold, respectively, more concentrated in wheat. Ingestion of these amylase inhibitors and formation of an inactive enzyme:inhibitor complex with previously secreted amylase may account for the lower activity of amylase in weevils of both species feeding on wheat. Amylase levels across all strains feeding on a given diet are about 2-fold higher in S. oryzae than in S. zeamais. Significant differences in activity levels were also found between strains in both species. Since -amylase is a predominant digestive hydrolase in these species, the degree to which cereal diets affect amylase levels may indicate their suitability as potential hosts.

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Résumé La transformation de rang des valeur d'activité spécifique de l'-amylase de 4 souches de S. oryzae et de 4 souches de S. zeamais montre que les niveaux les plus élevés de ces enzymes prédominantes s'observent chez les adultes nourris d'orge mondé ou de riz brun á grains longs. Des niveaux intermédiaires d'activité ont été obtenus chez les insectes élevés sur maïs jaune, et les niveaux les plus faibles chez ceux élevés sur blé. Bien que les extraits préparés à partir d'orge présentent une activité inhibitrice de deux isoamylases purifiées de S. oryzae, les niveaux des inhibiteurs naturels -amylase de ces deux enzymes sont environ respectivement 2,2 et 6,1 fois plus concentrés dans le blé. L'ingestion de ces inhibiteurs d'amylase et la formation d'un complexe enzyme inactive/inhibiteur avec l'amylase secrétée antérieurement, peut rendre compte de la plus faible activité de l'amylase chez les charançons consommant du blé. Le niveau d'amylase de S. oryzae est 2 fois plus élevé que celui de S. zeamais pour toutes les souches élevées sur un régime donné. Des niveaux d'activité significativement différents ont été trouvés suivant les souches pour chacune des deux espèces. Puisque l'amylase est la principale hydrolase digestive de ces espèces, l'intensité de la modification des teneurs en amylase par la consommation de céréales peut indiquer leur adéquation comme hôtes potentiels.

     

Ecology of deepwater rice-fields in Bangladesh 5. Mineral composition of the rice plant and other aquatic macrophytes

The mineral composition of deepwater rice (cultivar Kartik Sail) was studied during 1986 in a field near Sonargaon, Bangladesh, which is flooded by water from R. Meghna. Samples were taken four times, once prior to flooding and three times during the flood season. On two of the latter days (10 August = end of first flood peak, 23 September = second flood peak) the study was extended to other components of the ecosystem (sediments + soil, water, other aquatic macrophytes). On 23 September, 32% of the mass of the plant was out of water, 65% in water and 3% in sediment/soil. There were marked differences between elements in their pattern of accumulation by deepwater rice through the season. In comparison with the final totals for each element, about 48% of N, but only 11% of P and 10% of Na had been accumulated by the time the floodwater had arrived. The aquatic roots doubled in mass between the times of the two flood peaks and it is suggested that much of the P taken up by the plant may reach the plant via its aquatic roots after having becoming mobilized and released to the water when sediments become anaerobic. In comparison with other parts of the plant, Na was always much higher in the stem and Zn in the basal roots.Other aquatic macrophytes (weeds) increased from 0.40% of the mass (dry weight) of deepwater rice on 10 August to 4.0% on 23 September. However their content of each element (% dry weight) was considerably higher than that in deepwater rice, so they may at times compete effectively with the rice for nutrients. During the flood period (to 23 September) weeds accumulated 16% of the N accumulated by rice during the same period.     

Linear dichroism and orientational studies of carotenoid Langmuir-Blodgett films

The linear dichroism of single monolayers of lutein, zeaxanthin and a mixture of lutein and synthetic phosphatidylcholine has been measured. The angle of orientation of the carotenoid molecules was found to lie between 45° and 51° relative to the plane of the solid support. Although the adsorbed monolayers were mostly in a monomeric state, microscopic observations, as well as the II-A isotherms, indicated the existence of crystalline islets. The results have been interpreted in connection with Haidinger's polarization brushes.     

Phosphate sorption isotherms for evaluating phosphorus requirement of wetland rice soils

Summary Phosphate sorption isotherms were developed for five Philippine wetland rice soils using the conventional technique and a modified one. In the conventional method, P requirements of soils varied between 280 and 810 g P/g soil. In the modified method, they varied from 160 to 540 g P/g soil at 0.2 ppm P in solution. Soils with high P-sorption capacities had vermiculite and halloysite as the dominant clay minerals. Soil reduction by flooding decreased P-sorption by 28–70 percent at 0.2 ppm P in solution. The decrease in P-sorption due to soil reduction was greatest in a crystalline soil with vermiculite and halloysite as the dominant clay minerals and least in a soil with dominant X-ray amorphous silicates in the clay fraction.Desorption of freshly adsorbed P under reduction was greater in HCO ₃ ^– solution than in CaCl₂ and it increased with level of applied P. Desorption patterns of freshly adsorbed P were similar to adsorption patterns but values of P in solution were lower at desorption. Soils varied with respect to desorption of freshly sorbed P. Desorption studies indicate that soils vary in intensity factor with respect to P and thus influence P availability to plants. Use of P-sorption and P-desorption data obtained under reduced soil condition was proposed for detecting P needs of submerged rice soils.Results of a pot study with IR36 at different levels of solution P (reduced) in one soil indicated a high degree of correlation between adjusted P levels and the measured growth parameters. About 0.12 ppm P in the soil solution or 0.46 ppm P desorbed in HCO ₃ ^– solution (equivalent to 100 mg P/kg soil) was adequate for near-maximum plant height, tiller production, total dry matter yield, plant P content, and total P uptake.     

光对水稻(Oryza sativa)幼苗乙醇酸氧化酶活性的影响

水稻黄化幼苗用白光照射3～5小时后可诱导出乙醇酸氧化酶活性。绿色水稻幼苗在黑暗中乙醇酸氧化酶活性逐渐下降以至消失,再给以照光又恢复酶活性。亚胺环己酮对光的诱导及再诱导均有抑制作用。在黑暗中真空渗入乙醇酸于黄化幼苗可诱导出乙醇酸氧化酶活性,渗入乙醇酸加FMN能使酶活性迅速增强。弱的白光以及红、绿,蓝光均有诱导作用。因此认为光的诱导作用是使黄化幼苗形成乙醇酸——作为诱导物,以诱导乙醇酸氧化酶的新合成。光也可以加速叶组织内FMN的合成,从而提高乙醇酸氧化酶的活性。     

杂交水稻及三系在发育过程中的酯酶同工酶比较研究

本文报道了利用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳技术,测定杂交水稻及三系亲本共50个组合的萌动胚、芽,不同发育时期的叶片、根、雄蕊等12个组织或器官的酯酶同工酶的结果。根据所测结果,可把杂交水稻的酯酶同工酶酶谱分为5种类型:互补型、偏父型、偏母型、同型和“杂种”酶谱。强优势组合以互补型酶谱居多,弱优势组合都是同型酶谱,“杂种”酶谱仅见于V优64的幼穗分化期叶片和V优63、汕优63的三叶期叶片中。不同器官的互补酶谱都可作为预测杂种比势,鉴定杂交稻种子的纯度和真实性以及选配新杂交组合的一个手段或依据,但以对萌动胚或幼芽的测定更有实践意义。     

水稻品种超氧物歧化酶(SOD)活性与氧抑光合的关系

O_2抑光合程度不同的水稻品种,SOD活性存在差异。在40％O_2下,SOD活性被诱导增加水平高、延续时间长的品种,表现O_2抑光合程度小,反之则O_2抑光合程度大。在自然条件下,强光、高温都是诱导SOD活性变化的因素。选择SOD活性高、O_2抑光合程度小的种质资源可能有利于适应对光合不利的逆境条件。     

水稻叶片衰老过程中氨肽酶活性的变化

水稻叶片中存在着氨肽酶,其最适反应pH和最适反应温度分别为8.2℃和40℃,酶促反应的产物量在最初30min内与时间呈直线相关。 水稻叶片衰老过程中叶绿素和蛋白质含量下降,而氨肽酶比活上升;用植物激素延缓或促进叶片衰老蛋白质降解的同时也抑制或促进了氨肽酶比活的上升,说明氨肽酶在水稻叶片衰老蛋白质降解过程中起一定的作用。根据水稻叶片衰老过程中大分子化合物和叶片外部形态的变化,可将叶片衰老过程划分为缓衰期、急衰期和竭衰期。