In vitro assessment of fungicidal activity of Ageratum conyzoides and Cybopogon flexuosus weed extracts against some phytopathogenic fungi associated with fruit rot of water melon (Citrullus lunatus (Thunb.))

The ethanolic extracts of Cybopogon flexuosus and Ageratum conyzoides were tested at concentrations of 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120?mg/ml for their in vitro fungicidal activities against five phytopathogenic fungi isolated from diseased watermelon fruits. The pathogens were Fusarium verticillioides, Aspergillus flavus, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Curvularia lunata and Alternaria cucumeria – Amans as confirmed by pathogenicity tests. All isolated pathogenic fungi were significantly (p?≥?0.05) highly pathogenic with the exception of A. cucumeria which had the least significant (p?≥?0.05) pathogenicity. The inhibitory effects of the extracts increased significantly (p?≥?0.05) with increase in concentrations. Some of the concentrations reduced the mycelial growth of the pathogens to a significant (p?≥?0.05) level. Very strong fungicidal activity was produced by extracts of A. conyzoides at 100?mg/ml against all the fungi. The inhibitory effects of C. flexuosus extracts at 20, 40 and 60?mg/ml were greater than those of C. flexuosus on A. flavus, F. verticillioides and A. cucumeria. The results of the investigation indicated that plant extracts possess antifungal activity that can be exploited as an ideal treatment for future plant disease management in the control of rot of water melon.     

橘小实蝇对五个芒果品种的产卵偏好及清理落果防治效果研究

在2011年6—8月调查了橘小实蝇Bactrocera dorsalis(Hendel)对云南省元江县5个主要芒果品种的产卵为害情况,评估了清理落果对橘小实蝇的防治效果。结果表明树上果实和成熟落果受害率最高、产卵孔数量最多的品种是三年芒和红象牙芒;单位面积落果量(X)和监测雄虫数量(Y)显著相关(r1=0.884**,显著性P1=0.000),其回归方程为Y=-1.675+449.701X-204.933X2+27.046X3(R2=0.966,显著性水平P=0.000);累加虫量(X)与树上果实被害率(Y)的回归方程为Y=0.003X0.721(R2=0.953,P=0.000)。采拾落果可降低树上果实受害率约20%,减少田间虫口数44%左右。因此,清理落果对控制橘小实蝇田间种群数量、减少树上果实被害率有显著作用。     

Fruit misshapen in strawberry cultivars (Fragaria×ananassa) is related to achenes functionality

Fruit deformation is a phenomenon commonly observed in commercial strawberry cultivars (Fragaria×ananassa) with a negative impact on the economic benefit of crop production. To better understand this physiopathy, we evaluated fruit size and the relative amount of ‘small’ (<0.4 mm) and ‘big’ achenes (>0.6 mm) in misshapen (MF) and well‐formed (WF) fruits from ‘Camarosa’, ‘Ventana’ and ‘Medina’ strawberry cultivars growing in the field. In ‘Camarosa’, size‐dependent achenes functionality was assessed by analysing achenes germinability and differences in time to ripening between MF and WF. We found that the occurrence of fruit deformation was not only strongly dependent on the cultivar (i.e. genetic factor) but also was promoted by low temperatures (i.e. environmental factor). Regardless of the cultivar, MF showed higher percentage of ‘small’ non‐functional achenes than WF, indicating a failure in achene development, which could be related to the functional integrity of reproductive structures. To test this hypothesis, we performed an experiment by pollinating strawberry flowers with pollen developed under low and mild temperatures. Low temperatures reduced pollen viability, and flowers pollinated with low quality pollen led to a higher amount of MF. However, fruit deformation was not completely explained by differences in pollen quality, neither by differences in pistil maturity and receptivity nor ovule viability, suggesting that non‐functional achenes might result from a disruption in postfertilisation processes such as embryo abortion as a consequence of low temperatures.     

A comparison of various mating disruption technologies for control of two internally feeding Lepidoptera in apples

Sex pheromone mating disruption (MD) is an approach used to control several moth pest species of pome fruit by disrupting the ability of the males to find females and consequently prevent mating. The following experiments were performed to determine the effectiveness of several new and experimental sex pheromone MD technologies, and dispenser densities for simultaneous control of the codling moth (CM), Cydia pomonella (L.), and the oriental fruit moth (OFM), Grapholita molesta (Busck) (both Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), in Pennsylvania apple orchards. In one study, three MD approaches to control CM and oriental fruit moth – CM and OFM Disrupt Micro‐Flakes, Isomate CM/OFM TT, and both a CideTrak OFM and a CideTrak CM dispenser containing both codlemone and pear ester – and an insecticides‐only treatment were compared over the course of 2 years. In the other studies, the efficacy of several CheckMate Duel dispenser densities (i.e., 250, 375, 425, and 500 dispensers ha^?1) were compared against Isomate CM/OFM TT, and an insecticides‐only treatment. The CideTrak CM/pear ester combination and Isomate CM/OFM TT treatments both substantially reduced CM captures in traps in 2007 and 2008. Meanwhile, OFM trap shutdown was highest in the CheckMate Duel densities of 375 (99.9 ± 0.08%) and 500 dispensers ha^?1 (98.9 ± 0.07%) and the Isomate CM/OFM TT treatment (98.0 ± 1.13%), and lowest in the 250 dispensers ha^?1 density treatment (94.3 ± 3.23%). In orchards where OFM is the dominant pest species, a CheckMate Duel dispenser density of 375 ha^?1 is necessary for effective control, whereas higher densities are needed to control CM.     

Female presence enhances sexual performance of sterile Anastrepha ludens males of the Tapachula-7 GSS strain

The sterile insect technique (SIT), used for the control of many tephritid fly pests, is based on the rearing and release of large numbers of sexually competitive sterile insects into a wild population. In the interest of reducing expenses and increasing SIT effectiveness, genetic sexing strains (GSS) have been developed. These strains allow the production and release of only males. The objective of our study was to assess the effects of pre-release adult exposure to methoprene and to females on the mating propensity and mating competitiveness of GSS sterile males of Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae). GSS sterile males were kept on a protein-sugar (protein-fed) or a protein-sugar-methoprene diet and were exposed to different proportions of females for the normal pre-release period of 5 days. Using laboratory and field-cage bioassays, we examined the influence of methoprene and female presence on the mating success of sterile males of 3–9 days old, in competition for wild females with untreated males and with wild males. Methoprene and female exposure had no significant effects on male mating success in the laboratory, whereas age had a positive relationship with the number of copulations observed. However, in field-cage bioassays, males exposed to females obtained a higher number of copulations than unexposed control males. Possible implications of these findings for programs that use GSS and especially for the campaign against Mexican fruit flies are discussed.     

Evaluation of a pelleted diet for larval mass-rearing of Anastrepha ludens and Anastrepha obliqua

Most artificial diets used for mass-rearing of fruit fly larvae involve the purchase and independent weighing of each ingredient of the formulation, followed by mixing and diet preparation process. A ready-to-use formulation would avoid this time-consuming task and simplify the preparation procedure, leading to a more standardized diet. In this work, we compared life-history traits and survival and developmental parameters of Anastrepha ludens Loew and Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritidae) reared on two formulations of an artificial diet. Two experiments were performed; first, a conventional non-pelleted diet was compared to a newly developed pelleted diet, which was mixed with water before being given to the larvae. The second experiment consisted of a comparison between the pelleted diet which was stirred in a mixer with water and dissolved preservatives and a pelleted diet which was only soaked in water with dissolved preservatives. We found that the pelleted diet allowed the mass-rearing of A. ludens and A. obliqua. Moreover, feeding larvae with pelleted diet led to increased weight of the larva by 7.4 and 11.8%, and of the pupa by 9.5 and 16.7% for A. ludens and A. obliqua, respectively, compared to conventional diet. For process evaluation, the number of activities, handling time, reception, storage, and larval diet preparation were recorded. The pelleted diet only needed soaking in water containing preservatives, thereby simplifying the mass-rearing process and saving time, space, and labour. Pelletizing is a versatile technology that can be adjusted for better physicochemical quality and reduced microbiological risk. This diet should be of particular interest for the mass-rearing process in ‘sterile insect technique’ applications.     

伊犁河谷退化野果林中新疆野苹果茎的水力结构

为揭示伊犁河谷退化野果林中新疆野苹果植株个体的死亡机理,对比研究3种长势(Ⅰ级,20%枯枝率;Ⅱ级,40%~60%枯枝率;Ⅲ级,>80%枯枝率)新疆野苹果茎的水力结构特征的差异以及水分运输有效性和安全性及其影响因素。结果表明: 随野果林退化程度的增加,3种长势的新疆野苹果茎的边材比导水率和叶比导水率呈下降趋势,但差异不显著;傍晚时的栓塞程度、栓塞脆弱性呈显著增加的趋势,其中Ⅰ、Ⅱ和Ⅲ级长势个体的导水率损失50%时木质部水势分别为-1.87、-1.35和-0.53 MPa;黎明前和正午叶水势、水力安全边际均为Ⅰ级>Ⅱ级>Ⅲ级;与水力学相关的木质部解剖结构以及枝叶性状在3种长势个体之间存在显著差异。相关性分析表明,新疆野苹果茎木质部水分运输的有效性和安全性之间存在弱的权衡关系。新疆野苹果茎的水力结构变化伴随着新疆野果林的衰退过程。野果林的退化会加剧新疆野苹果木质部导管的栓塞化程度,降低其抵抗空穴化栓塞的能力,新疆野苹果面临水力失衡的威胁更大。     

极小种群野生植物梓叶槭的种实表型变异特征

表型变异是植物遗传变异与环境异质性相互作用的结果, 是植物适应和进化的具体表现。为揭示极小种群植物梓叶槭(Acer catalpifolium)的种实表型在其适应环境过程中的变异特征, 明确梓叶槭优质种源地, 为该物种的保护提供基础数据, 本研究以天然分布的5个小种群的11个种实性状为研究对象, 采用巢式方差、变异系数、表型分化系数等多种指标, 探讨了其种群间和种群内的表型变异。结果表明: 梓叶槭种实表型性状在种群间和种群内均存在着显著的差异, 种群内的变异(63.11%)大于种群间的变异(23.61%), 种群间平均分化系数为27.23%, 分化程度在槭树科植物中相对较大。种子厚度的平均变异系数最高(40.64%), 其次是果柄长。翅果千粒重的平均变异系数最小(1.57%), 是最稳定的种实性状。都江堰种群的表型多样性最丰富, 平武种群的则最低; 气象因子对梓叶槭种实表型性状的影响不显著。就种实表型性状而言, 虽然雷波种群的翅果最大, 平武种群的种子最大, 同时两者均具有最大的种子厚度和质量均一度。故平武和雷波种群均可作为梓叶槭优质种质资源的候选地。     

遮荫对峦大杉1年生苗木生长的影响及动态优化

以当年播种的峦大杉(Cunninghamia konishii)幼苗为材料,采用单因素试验设计3个遮荫处理(50%、75%、100%光照),每隔7 d监测地径、苗高等生长进程;应用Logistic方程拟合苗高、地径生长过程并分析其生长节律。结果表明,遮荫显著促进峦大杉幼苗全生长季的苗高、地径生长,以50%光照表现最好;不同生长阶段遮荫对峦大杉苗高、地径生长量的影响有所不同,进行动态优化十分必要。Logistic方程能较好地拟合峦大杉苗木生长动态。50%光照处理显著提高峦大杉苗高、地径的线性生长速率、最大线性生长速率和线性生长量,显著提前苗高线性生长终期、缩短线性生长持续时间,显著推迟地径线性生长始期。峦大杉苗期光照强度动态优化方案：在t≤133 d前阶段宜采用50%光照,在t＞133 d期间宜采用100%光照。