The Pitcairn Islands, South Pacific Ocean: plate tectonic and climatic contexts

The remote Pitcairn Group in the South Pacific Ocean comprises a volcanic island (Pitcairn Island), two low coral atolls (Oeno, Ducie) and a raised coralline island (Henderson Island). The geological history of these islands, on anomalously thin oceanic lithosphere, is related to the development of two subparallel island chains (Oeno-Henderson-Ducie; Pitcairn) associated with intra-Pacific plate 'hotspot' activity; the surface manifestation of this activity has been partly determined by structural lineations in the plate inherited from past plate history. The climate of the Pitcairn Islands is determined by the position of the subtropical high pressure system and the South Pacific Convergence Zone. Variations in the strength of this atmospheric circulation system, measured by changes in the Southern Oscillation index of pressure difference, provide a partial explanation of the long-term variability of mean annual rainfall at Pitcairn Island. Knowledge of past climates in the Pitcairn Group remains speculative. Maps of the Pitcairn Islands and a report of climate at Henderson Island (2/91-1/92) are included in the paper.     

The inheritance of a wingless character in the 2spot ladybird (Adalia bipunctata)

A viable wingless 2spot ladybirdAdalia bipunctata (L.) was found in the wild. Breeding through four generations revealed that the wingless trait was controlled by a recessive allele which displays variable levels of expression. The wingless ladybird is discussed in relation to its potential as a biocontrol agent. One ladybird also occurred in this stock which is suggestive of a supergene controlling the colour polymorphism in this species.     

Effect of intraperitoneal administration of granulocyte/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor in rats on omental milky-spot composition and tumoricidal activity in vivo and in vitro

 Milky spots in the greater omentum are small accumulations of leucocytes that consist mainly of macrophages and have recently shown to be a selective dissemination site of intraperitoneal (i. p.) inoculated tumour cells. However, milky-spot macrophages show tumoricidal activity and may, therefore, be an excellent source of effector cells suited for local immunotherapy. In the present study we first examined whether granulocyte/macrophage- colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) treatment of isolated milky-spot macrophages affects the cytotoxicity against syngeneic colon carcinoma cells (CC531) in vitro. Secondly, we studied the influence of intraperitoneal GM-CSF administration on the number and antitumour activity of milky-spot and peritoneal macrophages. All studies were performed in Wag/Rij rats in which a syngeneic colon carcinoma cell line (CC531) is available. The results of the in vitro study showed that GM-CSF treatment of the omental macrophages led to an increased cytotoxicity against the tumour cell line. Intraperitoneal administration of 1000 U GM-CSF daily for 7 consecutive days demonstrated both an enhanced antitumour activity of the milky-spot macrophages and an increase in the milky-spot macrophage population. An increase in the proliferative capacity, according to bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, was shown in the milky-spot macrophages. Taking into account both the enhanced macrophage number and their enhanced activity upon i. p. GM-CSF treatment, the milky-spot macrophages may provide a rationale for local intraperitoneal immunotherapy in the prevention of intra-abdominal tumour growth. Received: 11 April 1996 / Accepted: 21 May 1996     

Biological control of bacterial spot disease and plant growth-promoting effects of lactic acid bacteria on pepper

In our previous studies, we observed the biological control effect of lactic acid bacteria strains (LABs) KLF01, KLC02 and KPD03 against different plant pathogenic bacteria in vitro against Ralstonia solanacearum, and strains KLF01 and KLC02 against Pectobacterium carotovorum under greenhouse and field experiments, respectively. In this study, we observed the efficacy of these bacteria against bacterial spot pathogen (Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria) and their plant growth-promoting activities in pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. annuum), under greenhouse and field conditions. LABs significantly (P < 0.05) reduced bacterial spot on pepper plants in comparison to untreated plants in both the greenhouse and the field experiments. The plant growth-promoting effect of LABs on pepper varied; some strains had a significant effect on growth promotion (P < 0.05) compared with untreated plants, while some showed no significant effect in the greenhouse and field experiments. Additionally, LABs were able to colonise roots, produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), siderophores and solubilise phosphate. These findings indicate that application of LABs could provide a promising alternative for the management of bacterial spot disease in pepper plants and could therefore be used as a healthy plant growth-promoting agent.     

黄精褐斑病的病原生物学特性

为明确发生在贵州省施秉县的黄精叶斑类病害的病原菌,通过形态学和分子生物学方法对病原菌进行了鉴定,并对其生物学特性进行了初步研究。形态特征及rDNA-ITS、β-tubulin和tef1多基因序列分析表明,该病原菌为棕榈拟盘多毛孢Pestalotiopsis trachicarpicola。生物学特性研究结果表明,该菌菌丝体适宜生长温度为15-30℃,最适温度为28℃;最适pH值为5;以葡萄糖为碳源、酵母浸膏为氮源比较适合菌丝体的生长;菌丝体生长的最佳培养基为PDA;光照对菌丝体生长无明显影响;菌丝体致死温度为45℃。     

小麦与蚕豆间作系统施氮对蚕豆赤斑病发生和冠层微气候的影响

通过田间小区试验,设N₀(0 kg·hm^-2)、N₁(45 kg·hm^-2)、N₂(90 kg·hm^-2)、N₃(135 kg·hm^-2)4个施氮水平,研究不同施氮水平下小麦与蚕豆间作对蚕豆赤斑病发生和冠层微气候的影响,探讨间作系统氮肥调控下冠层微气候变化及其与蚕豆赤斑病发生的关系.结果表明: 施氮提高了蚕豆单、间作种植模式下蚕豆赤斑病发病盛期的病情指数,增幅27.2%～58.0%,增加了病情进展曲线下面积(AUDPC),增幅15.0%～101.8%,N₃水平下赤斑病病情指数和AUDPC最高.施氮使蚕豆冠层温度降低0.2～1.1 ℃,冠层透光率降低1.7%～29.7%,冠层相对湿度增加0.5%～28.7%.与单作相比,间作蚕豆赤斑病病情指数显著降低36.3%～48.1%,AUDPC显著降低44.0%～53.6%,冠层温度和透光率分别提高2.1%～8.7%和12.0%～53.8%,相对湿度降低11.6%～31.6%.相关分析表明,冠层温度和透光率与赤斑病病情指数呈显著负相关,而湿度与病情指数呈显著正相关.表明高氮恶化了冠层微气候环境,加重了蚕豆赤斑病的发生和危害,而间作对蚕豆冠层微气候的改善是控制蚕豆赤斑病发展的重要原因.