Fungal volatiles associated with moldy grain in ventilated and non-ventilated bin-stored wheat

The fungal odor compounds 3-methyl-l-butanol, l-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone were monitored in nine experimental bins in Winnipeg, Manitoba containing a hard red spring wheat during the autumn, winter and summer seasons of 1984–85. Quality changes were associated with seed-borne microflora and moisture content in both ventilated and non-ventilated bins containing wheat of 15.6 and 18.2% initial moisture content. All three odor compounds occurred in considerably greater amounts in bulk wheat in non-ventilated than in ventilated bins, particularly in those with wheat having 18.2% moisture content. The presence of these compounds usually coincided with infection of the seeds by the fungi Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler, Aspergillus repens DeBarry, A. versicolor (Vuill.) Tiraboschi, Penicillium crustosum Thom, P. oxalicum Currie and Thom, P. aurantiogriseum Dierckx, and P. citrinum Thom. High production of all three odor compounds in damp wheat stored in non-ventilated bins was associated with heavy fungal infection of the seeds and reduction in seed germinability. High initial moisture content of the harvested grain accelerated the production of all three fungal volatiles in non-ventilated bins.     

Analysis of Microdochium nivale isolates from wheat in the UK during 1993

A total of 144 isolates of Microdochium nivale from stem bases of winter wheat were taken from 30 sites and 91 isolates from grain were taken from seven sites throughout the UK. Identification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region followed by restriction enzyme digestion of the PCR product revealed that 70% of stem base isolates were M. nivale var. majus and 30% var. nivale while 93% grain isolates were var. majus and 7% var. nivale. Almost all isolates were resistant to the benzimidazole fungicide benomyl. Perithecial production in vitro was more common in var. majus isolates and occurred in almost all grain isolates, but was less common in stem base isolates. The implications of the findings in terms of epidemiology and chemical control of this important cereal pathogen are discussed.     

Biodelignification of wheat straw by different fungal associations

Seven strains of fungi were tested individually as well as in different combinations to determine their lignin degrading ability using wheat straw as natural substrate. When tested individuallyPhanerochaete chrysosporium caused a maximum loss in total organic matter (26.45%) as well as in the lignin component (28.93%). The associations between different groups: white-rot plus white-rot, white-rot plus brown-rot and white-rot plus soft-rot fungi revealed that in certain combinations the ligninolysis was enhanced to variable extent.Deadalea flavida plusP. chrysosporium was the best association to bring about a lignin loss of 36.27%.     

Inferring the contribution of sexual reproduction,migration and off‐season survival to the temporal maintenance of microbial populations: a case study on the wheat fungal pathogen Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici

Understanding the mode of temporal maintenance of plant pathogens is an important domain of microbial ecology research. Due to the inconspicuous nature of microbes, their temporal maintenance cannot be studied directly through tracking individuals and their progeny. Here, we suggest a series of population genetic analyses on molecular marker variation in temporally spaced samples to infer about the relative contribution of sexual reproduction, off‐season survival and migration to the temporal maintenance of pathogen populations. We used the proposed approach to investigate the temporal maintenance of wheat yellow rust pathogen, Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici (PST), in the Himalayan region of Pakistan. Multilocus microsatellite genotyping of PST isolates revealed high genotypic diversity and recombinant population structure across all locations, confirming the existence of sexual reproduction in this region. The genotypes were assigned to four genetic groups, revealing a clear differentiation between zones with and without Berberis spp., the alternate host of PST, with an additional subdivision within the Berberis zone. The lack of any differentiation between samples across two sampling years, and the very infrequent resampling of multilocus genotypes over years at a given location was consistent with limited over‐year clonal survival, and a limited genetic drift. The off‐season oversummering population in the Berberis zone, likely to be maintained locally, served as a source of migrants contributing to the temporal maintenance in the non‐Berberis zone. Our study hence demonstrated the contribution of both sexual recombination and off‐season oversummering survival to the temporal maintenance of the pathogen. These new insights into the population biology of PST highlight the general usefulness of the analytical approach proposed.     

灰翅麦茎蜂的生物学及其防治对策

针对近年来在青海省和甘肃省春小麦生产中灰翅麦茎蜂CephusfumpennisEversmann的危害造成春小麦千粒重下降 8～ 1 0g,严重减产 ,籽粒品质变差 ,麦秆失去使用价值等问题 ,介绍了麦茎蜂的分布、主要生物学特征 (形态特征和生活习性等 )和目前的主要防治对策 ,包括耕作措施 (深翻、轮作倒茬 )、药剂、生物防治及选育抗虫小麦新品种     

小麦品种群体的细胞学研究

对９个小麦品种群体进行了细胞学观察。结果表明,４．５３％的细胞含有至少一对不配对的染色体,２．３１％的细胞里,染色体偏离正常的数目。显然,这种自然的不规则性可能导致非整倍体后代的产生。３．５７％的细胞发生了易位,群体的２．２２％为单体植株。     

Partial characterization of peroxidase isoenzymes from rust-affected wheat leaves

Four anodic peroxidase isoenzymes from wheat leaves were purified by column chromatography and their kinetic behavior with common substrates were examined. One isoenzyme is more active in wheat resistant to stem rust fungi and differed from the others in carbohydrate content and also by a specific activity 2–4-fold higher with non-physiological electron donors. As a substrate, eugenol exhibited kinetic behavior different from p-phenylenediamine, guaiacol or o-dianisidine with all isoenzymes. All four isoenzymes showed similar pH and temperature optima and kinetic behavior and apparent K_m values for both H₂O₂ and non-physiological electron donors.     

Studies on seed-borne fungi of wheat in seed health testing programme

Seed mycoflora associated with wheat was studied on different media with a particular reference to Blotter and potato dextrose agar (PDA) procedures of ISTA. Seed-borne fungi, viz. Fusarium moniliforme, Rhizopus spp., Mucor spp., Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Curvularia lunata, Drechslera spp, Alternaria spp. and Penicillium spp., were isolated from the variety HD264. Blotter method was found to be the best media for the isolation of mycoflora whether borne externally or internally. Total number and frequency of occurrence of fungi were recorded. The effect of seed treatment with different chemicals and eco-friendly botanicals was analysed on germination, and growth, better percentage of seed germination and reduction in fungal pathogen were due to biochemical seed treatment.     

Behavioural responses of wheat stem sawflies to wheat volatiles

1 Adult wheat stem sawflies Cephus cinctus, pests of cultivated cereals that also infests wild grasses, migrate into wheat fields where they oviposit in elongating, succulent stems.
2 Volatiles released by wheat plants at susceptible stages were analyzed to determine potential semiochemical compounds. Seven major compounds were identified and quantified.
3 A Y-tube bioassay was developed to evaluate upwind orientation of adult sawflies in response to an airstream that passed over elongated wheat plants. The bioassay was also conducted with synthetic volatile compounds. The compounds were tested using a range of concentrations spanning those identified in the airstream passing over wheat plants.
4 A significant number of adult females were attracted to wheat plants when given a choice of either purified air or the air passing over plants.
5 A significant number of female C. cinctus were attracted to ( Z )-3-hexenyl acetate, β-ocimene, and ( Z )-3-hexen-1-ol, but were repelled by 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one. Females did not respond to ( E )-2-hexenal, or ( E )-2-hexenyl acetate. The behavioural responses were concentration dependent; the highest tested concentration of ( Z )-3-hexenyl acetate was repellent to females of this species.
6 Adult males did not discriminate between air passing over wheat plants and air from a purified airstream. Males did not respond to any tested synthetic compound at any concentration.
7 The present study demonstrates for the first time that adult females of wheat stem sawfly display innate behaviours in response to synthetic volatiles. These results provide a basis for the potential development of resistant wheat varieties and for the development of semiochemically-based pest management.     

Fungal communities and health status of roots of winter wheat cultivated after oats and oats mixed with other crops

Health status of winter wheat roots and thecomposition of wheat root fungi were studiedover 1996-1999 following the cultivation ofoats in a pure stand and mixed with otherplants as forecrops. The infection of wheatroots by >Gaeumannomyces graminis wasobserved to be largely dependent on the kind offorecrop; the best being oats in a pure stand,and then oats with pea or lupin mixtures. Inthe emergence and shooting phases, saprophyticfungi were dominant, while in the stage of harddough stage mainly pathogenic fungi, especially>G. graminis were common. The pathogenicfungi were mostly represented by >G.graminis and >Fusarium spp., while >Rhizoctonia spp. were much less frequent.The composition of the fungal communitydepended considerably on the forecrop anddevelopment phase of the plant. The kind offorecrop significantly affected the frequencyof infection by >G. graminis. The highestnumber of isolates was obtained from wheat rootsof crops grown after a mixture of oats andbarley.     

In vitro degradation of wheat straw by anaerobic fungi from small ruminants

Abstract

Anaerobic ruminal fungi may play an active role in fibre degradation as evidenced by the production of different fibrolytic enzymes in culture filtrate. In the present study, 16 anaerobic fungal strains were isolated from ruminal and faecal samples of sheep and goats. Based on their morphological characteristics they were identified as species of Anaeromyces, Orpinomyces, Piromyces and Neocallimastix. Isolated Neocallimastix sp. from goat rumen showed a maximum activity of CMCase (47.9 mIU ml^?1) and filter paper cellulase (48.3 mIU ml^?1), while Anaeromyces sp. from sheep rumen showed a maximum xylanolytic activity (48.3 mIU ml^?1). The cellobiase activity for all the isolates ranged from 178.0 – 182.7 mIU ml^?1. Based on the enzymatic activities, isolated Anaeromyces sp. from sheep rumen and Neocallimastix sp. from goat rumen were selected for their potential of in vitro fibre degradation. The highest in vitro digestibility of NDF (23.2%) and DM (34.4%) was shown for Neocallimastix sp. from goat rumen, as compared to the digestibility of NDF and DM in the control group of 17.5 and 25.0%, respectively.     

区域农田景观格局对麦蚜种群数量的影响

明确农田景观格局对麦田蚜虫种群的影响,是开展区域性害虫生态调控的重要理论依据之一。以区域性小麦种植区为研究对象,基于遥感影像与土地覆盖分类数据以及田间调查的蚜虫种群数据,计算景观格局指数,使用负二项分布的广义线性模型从农田景观、非作物生境景观和区域景观3个方面分析了区域农田景观格局对麦田蚜虫种群的影响。结果表明,蚜虫种群的数量与草地的平均斑块面积和最大斑块指数显著正相关,与县域的平均几何最邻近距离和面积加权平均斑块面积显著负相关,与耕地的面积加权平均斑块面积显著负相关,与耕地的斑块密度显著正相关。草地斑块面积的增大、区域景观与耕地的破碎化、区域景观的聚集会促进蚜虫种群数量的增加。使用草地的斑块面积和最大斑块指数、区域景观的平均几何最邻近距离可以预测蚜虫种群的发生量。非作物生境草地的斑块面积、耕地的破碎化、区域景观的空间分布及破碎化是影响麦田蚜虫种群发生的重要景观因素。     

丛枝菌根真菌对小麦生长的影响

为了促进经济作物小麦的生长,提高土壤氮磷循环与转化效率,选择两种优良丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)——摩西球囊霉(GM,Glomus mosseae)、根内球囊霉(GI,Glomus intraradices),研究AMF在小麦整个营养生长阶段中对其生长以及对土壤中植物生长需求的大量元素——氮、磷的作用及影响。结果表明:人工施加菌剂可显著提高AMF对小麦的侵染率,施加GM菌剂时,小麦侵染率提高24.54%,同时,株高提高14.08%,小麦地上生物量提高24.05%。GM效果优于GI。施加菌剂后,小麦侵染率与土壤中水解性氮呈显著正相关;植物地上生物量与土壤中总氮,水解性氮呈显著负相关。表明AMF可活化土壤中的氮元素,同时促进作物生长,强化对土壤中氮元素的利用。     

施氮量及底追比例对小麦产量、土壤硝态氮含量和氮平衡的影响

研究了高产麦田中施氮量和底追比例对冬小麦籽粒产量、土壤硝态氮含量和氮素平衡的影响。田间试验在山东省龙口市中村进行,试验区小麦各生育阶段的降雨量和零度以上的积温分别为:82.9mm,649.8℃(播种~冬前)、33.3mm,578.7℃(冬前~拔节)2、8mm,359℃(拔节~开花)、84.3mm,837.6℃(开花~成熟)。试验设3个施氮量:0kg.hm-2(CK)、168kg.hm-2(A)、240kg.hm-2(B);在施氮量168kg.hm-2和240kg.hm-2条件下分别设3个底追比例:1/2∶1/2(A1和B1)、1/3∶2/3(A2和B2)、0∶1(A3和B3)。结果表明:不同施氮处理之间植株氮积累量无显著差异;与不施氮处理相比,施氮可显著提高籽粒产量和蛋白质含量,施氮量为168kg.hm-2、底追比例为1/3∶2/3的处理A2与处理B2、B3差异不显著,但处理A2显著提高了氮肥利用率,降低了土壤残留量和氮素表观损失量;施氮量相同,适当增加追施氮肥的比例可显著提高籽粒产量、蛋白质含量和氮肥利用率。试验还表明,在拔节期,底施氮量为84kg.hm-2和120kg.hm-2的处理A1、B1,在80~100cm和100~160cm土层分别出现硝态氮的累积;而底施氮量为56kg.hm-2的处理A2,在0~200cm土层硝态氮含量和累积量与不施氮处理无显著差异。在成熟期,追施氮量大于160kg.hm-2的处理B3、A3和B2,硝态氮在120~180cm土层出现累积高峰,已下移到小麦根系可吸收范围之外,易于造成淋溶损失;而追氮量为112kg.hm-2的处理A2,在100~200cm土层硝态氮累积量与对照无显著差异。试验中,施氮量为168kg.hm-2底追比例为1/3∶2/3的处理A2的籽粒产量、蛋白质含量、地上部植株氮肥吸收利用率、氮肥农学利用率和籽粒氮肥吸收利用率均较高,100~200cm土层未出现硝态氮的明显累积,氮素表观损失量最少,为最佳氮肥运筹方式。     

Fungal diversity on dung of tropical animals in temperate environments: Implications for reconstructing past megafaunal populations

Coprophilous fungal spores from sedimentary sequences are increasingly used to reconstruct past herbivore presence and abundance. To provide a modern analogue for extinct megaherbivores in temperate environments, the coprophilous fungal communities on dung of exotic megaherbivores in a temperate environment were compared with those of (semi-)native wild, feral and domesticated herbivores. Six zygomycete, 32 ascomycete and one basidiomycete taxa were identified. A large overlap in community composition was observed between samples from different geographical locations. Dung fungal diversity was influenced primarily by the range size of the herbivore and season of collection. Diet and digestive system were not significant determinants of dung fungal diversity. The dung of exotic megaherbivores is characterised by a dung fungal community similar to that of (semi-)native herbivores, and therefore provides a good analogue for the dung of closely related but now extinct temperate megaherbivores.     

施氮量及底追比例对小麦产量、土壤硝态氮含量和氮平衡的影响

研究了高产麦田中施氮量和底追比例对冬小麦籽粒产量、土壤硝态氮含量和氮素平衡的影响。田间试验在山东省龙口市中村进行,试验区小麦各生育阶段的降雨量和零度以上的积温分别为：82.9mm, 649.8℃ (播种～冬前)、33.3mm, 578.7℃(冬前～拔节)、28mm, 359℃(拔节～开花)、84.3mm, 837.6℃(开花～成熟)。试验设3个施氮量：0kg•hm^－2(CK)、168kg•hm^－2(A)、240kg•hm^－2(B);在施氮量168kg•hm^－2和240kg•hm^－2条件下分别设3个底追比例：1/2∶1/2(A1和B1)、1/3∶2/3(A2和B2)、0∶1(A3和B3)。结果表明：不同施氮处理之间植株氮积累量无显著差异;与不施氮处理相比,施氮可显著提高籽粒产量和蛋白质含量,施氮量为168kg•hm^－2、底追比例为1/3∶2/3的处理A2与处理B2、B3差异不显著,但处理A2显著提高了氮肥利用率,降低了土壤残留量和氮素表观损失量;施氮量相同,适当增加追施氮肥的比例可显著提高籽粒产量、蛋白质含量和氮肥利用率。试验还表明,在拔节期,底施氮量为84kg•hm^－2和120kg•hm^－2的处理A1、B1,在80～100cm和100～160cm土层分别出现硝态氮的累积;而底施氮量为56kg•hm^－2的处理A2,在0～200cm土层硝态氮含量和累积量与不施氮处理无显著差异。在成熟期,追施氮量大于160kg•hm^－2的处理B3、A3和B2,硝态氮在120～180cm土层出现累积高峰,已下移到小麦根系可吸收范围之外,易于造成淋溶损失;而追氮量为112kg•hm^－2的处理A2,在100～200cm土层硝态氮累积量与对照无显著差异。试验中,施氮量为168kg•hm^－2底追比例为1/3∶2/3的处理A2的籽粒产量、蛋白质含量、地上部植株氮肥吸收利用率、氮肥农学利用率和籽粒氮肥吸收利用率均较高,100～200cm土层未出现硝态氮的明显累积,氮素表观损失量最少,为最佳氮肥运筹方式。     

Effects of mycorrhizal infection on drought tolerance and recovery in safflower and wheat

The influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on drought tolerance and recovery was studied in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Plants were grown with and without the mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus etunicatum Becker & Gerd., in nutrient-amended soil under environmentally-controlled conditions to yield mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal with similar leaf areas, root length densities, dry weights, and adequate tissue phosphorus. When drought stress was induced, mycorrhizal infection did not affect changes in leaf water, osmotic or pressure potentials, or osmotic potentials of leaf tissue rehydrated to full turgor in either safflower or wheat. Furthermore, in safflower, infection had little effect on drought tolerance as indicated by the level of leaf necrosis. Mycorrhizal wheat plants, however, had less necrotic leaf tissue than uninfected plants at moderate levels of drought stress (but not at severe levels) probably due to enhanced phosphorus nutrition. To determine the effects of infection on drought recovery, plants were rewatered at a range of soil water potentials from –1 to –4 MPa. We found that although safflower tended to recover more slowly from drought after rewatering than wheat, mycorrhizal infection did not directly affect drought recovery in either plant species. Daily water use after rewatering was reduced and was correlated to the extent that leaves were damaged by drought stress in both plant species, but was not directly influenced by the mycorrhizal status of the plants.     

Fungal density in the sands of the Mediterranean coast beaches

The fungal density of one hundred and forty-eight samples of sands obtained from forty-two Spanish Mediterranean littoral beaches are investigated. The CFU/g number ranged from 15 and 76×10⁵. The most commonly isolated genera were: Penicillium, Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Acremonium, Alternaria, Fusarium. The keratinophilic capacity of all the isolated fungal strains was also determined.     

Antagonism of the yeast‐like phylloplane fungus Sporothrix flocculosa against Erysiphe graminis var tritici

Microscopic studies of the interaction between the yeast‐like fungus Sporothrix flocculosa and the wheat powdery mildew pathogen, Erysiphe graminis var. tritici (Egt) were undertaken in an attempt to determine the potential antagonistic activity of Sp. flocculosa against Egt and to gain a better insight into events underlying this interaction. On detached leaf segments infected with Egt, application of a spore suspension of Sp. flocculosa resulted in a rapid degeneration of Egt mycelium and conidia. Scanning electron microscope observations revealed that the antagonist colonized and developed profusely on Egt within 12 h and induced a general collapse of conidial chains within 24 h. Under transmission electron microscopy, first consistent reactions were observed 12 h following application of the antagonist. These reactions were characterized by a sequence of ultrastructrural changes beginning with retraction of the plasmalemma followed by complete disintegration of the cytoplasm and death of host cells after 24 h. The basis of this antagonistic process appeared to be antibiosis‐dependent since no evidence of cell wall erosion or penetration was observed while death of the pathogen occurred rapidly. This study presents the first report of the potential of Sp. flocculosa as a biocontrol agent of Egt.