Using physical barriers to prevent carrot fly (Psila rosae (Fabricius)) damage in domestic production

A field experiment was used to assess the effectiveness of different barriers in protecting garden‐scale carrot production from carrot fly (Psila rosae (Fabricius)) damage. Some of the vertical barriers tested were found to provide a useful method of protecting early season carrots from carrot fly in terms of the percentage of carrots free from damage but, under cumulative pest pressure of several generations of carrot fly, such barriers were found to provide insufficient protection. Gardeners should therefore completely cover their carrot crop to attain an acceptable level of control, and this was found to be especially important for carrots harvested later in the season. There were positive effects of some barrier types on yield which may be due, at least in part, to the protection given by the barriers to carrot seedlings.     

Further studies relating chlorogenic acid concentration in carrots to carrot fly damage

The effects of first generation carrot fly larval damage on chlorogenic acid concentration in carrots was investigated in a field experiment at Wellesbourne in 1985. In a separate experiment carrots grown in the absence of a resident population of carrot fly were also analysed for chlorogenic acid; these carrots maintained low concentrations of chlorogenic acid through the summer and autumn until low ground temperatures occurred from November to January. The relationship between chlorogenic acid concentration and damage by the first generation of carrot fly was described by a similar model to the one derived previously for late-generation damage but without the cultivar dependence. This may have been because first generation damage takes place in mid-summer when soil temperature is not sufficiently low for differential chlorogenic acid production by carrot cultivars. The model supports the hypothesis that carrot fly damage increases chlorogenic acid production which subsequently encourages further attack. The increase in acid production due to the low winter temperature may be the mechanism which, in turn, induced a differential cultivar response in carrots harvested during the winter.     

The biological evaluation of Zato 50 WG in protection of carrot against Alternaria blight

Effectiveness of new fungicide Zato 50 WG (biologically active substances BAS - trifloxystrobin 50%) in the control of Alternaria blight on carrot was studied. Field experiments were carried out in the years 2003-2004 on carrot cv. Koral. As the standard fungicide Amistar 250 SC (BAS - azoxystrobin 250 g/dm3) was used. The results of health status of carrot leaves analysis in first and second year of experiment showed, that development of disease symptoms was lower on leaves of chemical protected plants than on leaves of control plants. The last estimation of infestation degree of carrot leaves made immediately before harvest showed, that standard fungicide Amistar had longer systemic influence on plants. This was confirmed the lower (statistically significant) infestation index of protected carrot in combination with Amistar. The estimations of health status of carrot roots were made directly after digging up indicate, that there wasn't difference of value of infestation index between protected combination and control. Experiment showed, significant effect of tested fungicides on crop quantity of carrot roots per 1 m2. Especially in the second year of study the crop of carrot roots in combination with Zato was higher - statistically significant - than in the rest combinations.     

The consistency of the resistance of eight carrot cultivars to carrot fly attack at several centres in Europe

Eight carrot cultivars representing the range of resistance to carrot fly damage as assessed in England were grown at 12 sites in five European countries in 1977 and in 1978. The trials provided evidence of agreement with the findings in England for both years in the ranking of cultivars with respect to their resistance to carrot fly damage. The Nantes cultivar Clause's Sytan Original was the most resistant cultivar tested. Consistent results were obtained from sites where carrots were assessed at harvest and carrot fly attack was severe. A significant interaction between sites and cultivars was largely due to sites where carrots were stored prior to assessment.     

Relationship between the concentration of chlorogenic acid in carrot roots and the incidence of carrot fly larval damage

Chlorogenic acid (1·24-3·36 mg/g) was identified as the main phenolic component in the peel of carrots by hplc analysis. The higher the concentration of chlorogenic acid in different cultivars the greater the susceptibility to carrot fly larval damage. Increases in concentration were found both after carrot fly damage and after carrots had overwintered in the field. The presence and location of chlorogenic acid was confirmed in sections of carrot tissues, mounted in 0·05 M ammonia solution by viewing them using a u.v.-epifluorescent microscope. The importance of phenolic compounds and their function in the production of insect cuticle is discussed in relation to the different concentrations of chlorogenic acid and resistance to carrot fly in carrots.     

Preliminary studies of carrot susceptibility to carrot fly attack

Eleven carrot cultivars were tested to compare their susceptibility to carrot fly attack at Wellesbourne and at Mepal, Cambridgeshire in 1969. Significant differences in the percentages of unattacked roots were observed but not all the cultivars behaved consistently in this respect at the two sites. Foliage height and the percentage unattacked roots were not significantly correlated for these cultivars. Four of the cultivars representing the different levels of susceptibility were retested in fen and in mineral soil in microplots at Wellesbourne in 1970. Soil type significantly affected plant growth but not the relative susceptibilities of the cultivars to carrot fly attack. Plant size was positively correlated with insect attack and accounted for most, but not all, of the differences in susceptibility between the cultivars. In 1971 also, cv. Royal Chantenay was significantly less attacked than Speed's Norfolk Giant from August to December even after allowing for the large differences between the two cultivars in plant size. The experiments demonstrated a consistent difference in the relative susceptibilities of cvs Royal Chantenay and Speed's Norfolk Giant. The difference was correlated with plant size but allowances for foliage and root size failed to account for all of the difference. The results suggested a more fundamental basis for part of the difference in the susceptibility of the cultivars to carrot fly attack.     

Plastid-expressed betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase gene in carrot cultured cells, roots, and leaves confers enhanced salt tolerance

Salinity is one of the major factors that limits geographical distribution of plants and adversely affects crop productivity and quality. We report here high-level expression of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) in cultured cells, roots, and leaves of carrot (Daucus carota) via plastid genetic engineering. Homoplasmic transgenic plants exhibiting high levels of salt tolerance were regenerated from bombarded cell cultures via somatic embryogenesis. Transformation efficiency of carrot somatic embryos was very high, with one transgenic event per approximately seven bombarded plates under optimal conditions. In vitro transgenic carrot cells transformed with the badh transgene were visually green in color when compared to untransformed carrot cells, and this offered a visual selection for transgenic lines. BADH enzyme activity was enhanced 8-fold in transgenic carrot cell cultures, grew 7-fold more, and accumulated 50- to 54-fold more betaine (93-101 micromol g(-1) dry weight of beta-Ala betaine and Gly betaine) than untransformed cells grown in liquid medium containing 100 mm NaCl. Transgenic carrot plants expressing BADH grew in the presence of high concentrations of NaCl (up to 400 mm), the highest level of salt tolerance reported so far among genetically modified crop plants. BADH expression was 74.8% in non-green edible parts (carrots) containing chromoplasts, and 53% in proplastids of cultured cells when compared to chloroplasts (100%) in leaves. Demonstration of plastid transformation via somatic embryogenesis utilizing non-green tissues as recipients of foreign DNA for the first time overcomes two of the major obstacles in extending this technology to important crop plants.     

Differences in the relative resistance of two carrot cultivars to carrot fly attack over five seasons

A comparison was made over five seasons of carrot fly (Psila rosae) damage on two carrot cultivars, Sytan and Danvers, which represented the extremes of resistance discovered in screening trials at Wellesbourne. Plants were harvested regularly during the seasons and at each harvest the number and weight of roots was recorded and carrot fly damage was assessed using various techniques; in 1979-80 the numbers of carrot fly larvae and pupae in and around root samples were counted. The experiments confirmed repeatedly the relative resistance of cv. Sytan compared with Danvers. The estimated reduction in carrot fly larvae on Sytan relative to Danvers in early November in four seasons ranged from 40% to 67%. When tested against first generation carrot fly attack the reduction in larvae on Sytan was 54%. There were 45% fewer mines per root on Sytan resulting in less damage at each harvest in all seasons. Larvae took longer to develop on Sytan than Danvers and 18% more plants of Sytan survived carrot fly attack. Differences in seedstock, season, sowing time, generation of carrot fly, plant size and density did not account for observed differences in damage between the two cultivars. The studies indicated satisfactory practical techniques for assessing carrot fly damage in cultivar screening trials.     

The colonization by Cavariella aegopodii Scop, of carrot plants of different sizes

During a study of the biology of Cavariella aegopodii Scop. (Dunn, 1965) aspects of the role of this aphid as a virus vector have been investigated each year by briefly exposing a succession of potted carrot plants in the field to the incoming winged forms of the aphid (Dunn & Kempton, 1966). Generally fifty plants of each of two different heights, within a range of 1–5 in, have been exposed simultaneously and when the alate C. aegopodii on these have been counted 3–4 days later, the aphid appeared always to have been differentially attracted to the larger plants. This seemed unlikely to be true, however, because as a crop young carrots suffer more severely from this pest than carrots which are a few weeks older, but for some years the aphid was not abundant enough for the situation to be investigated.     

Effects of carrot psyllid (Trioza apicalis) feeding on carrot yield and content of sugars and phenolic compounds

Carrot psyllid, Trioza apicalis, is a serious pest of carrot in Northern Europe, as it can significantly damage young carrot seedlings in a period as short as 3 days. This study was conducted to investigate effects of carrot psyllid feeding at different plant growth stages on carrot yield and to assess changes in content of sugars, phenolics and related compounds in carrot roots resulting from the psyllid feeding. In addition, reflectance of carrot leaves was measured to assess the intensity of discolouration in damaged leaves. Results showed that carrot yield was significantly reduced by a 3‐day carrot psyllid feeding period when the seedlings were exposed to psyllids at 1‐ or 2‐leaf stage. However, at 4‐leaf stage feeding by one carrot psyllid did not reduce yield. Sucrose concentration in the damaged roots was significantly decreased, whereas concentrations of some phenolic compounds were significantly increased. The reflectance of leaves of damaged carrots differed significantly from those of undamaged control leaves. These observations indicate that carrot psyllid damage has potential to lower not only the carrot yield, but also the carrot crop quality. No phytoplasma was detected in the carrots exposed to psyllids, but recently, T. apicalis has been associated with ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’. The role of carrot psyllid feeding and the psyllid‐associated bacterium in the damage formation are discussed.     

The effects of time of sowing and harvest on carrot biochemistry and the resistance of carrots to carrot fly

Two carrot cultivars which represented contrasting levels of resistance to carrot fly, Psila rosae, were grown in a replicated field experiment at Wellesbourne in 1984–85. Seed was sown on five occasions between April and August 1984 and the crop harvested after a minimum growth in the field of 16 wk on seven occasions between August 1984 and February 1985. A highly significant correlation (r = -0.78; P > 0.001) between the levels of carrot fly damage and the concentration of chlorogenic acid in the roots enabled a model to be formulated to predict the relative predisposition to carrot fly larval damage; high levels of chlorogenic acid early in the season predisposed roots to severe attack when they were older.     

A method of using the proportions of undamaged carrots or parsnips to estimate the relative population densities of carrot fly (Psila rosae) larvae, and its practical applications

The plant-to-plant distribution of carrot fly damage was studied on carrots and parsnips in field and microplot experiments. The observed data were well-fitted by the relationship In (–In q) = In L+ constant, where q is the proportion of undamaged roots and L is the number of larval mines in a sample and is proportional to the number of associated larvae, N. Hence, if N₁ and N₂ are the numbers of larvae at two levels of infestation on one occasion, the relative numbers present, N₂:N₁ are estimated by In q₂: In q₁ In this way the relative efficiencies of insecticide treatments can be determined within an experiment from only q₁ and q₂ and compared between occasions. A nomogram relating q₁, q₂ and treatment efficiency is provided. The method can also probably be used to compare the relative susceptibilities of host-plant cultivars to carrot fly attack. Guidance is given on the sample sizes needed to estimate q within 95% confidence limits and constraints on the application of the method are stated. An appropriate statistical procedure for analysing data sets on carrot fly infestations is by analysis of deviance and an example is given in an Appendix. The principles described can probably be adapted to other crop/pest problems.     

Bionomics of the carrot fly (Psila rosae Fab.): II. Soil populations of carrot fly during autumn, winter and spring

The behaviour of the carrot-fly population in the soil during autumn and winter has been investigated in East Anglia over the three seasons 1943-5. The results show that the pest overwinters in both the larval and pupal conditions, and that the proportion of the individuals in each stage varies from crop to crop and from season to season. Samples taken from a May (1943) sown plot showed that pupation, which was 452% complete in October, rose to 742% in March and was not complete until late April. From a June (1944) sown plot of carrots samples showed a rise in percentage pupation from 8-6% in October to 935% in March, the process probably being complete by early April. The changes in proportion of the soil larvae, carrot larvae and puparia in both the May and June plots were followed and are shown graphically. The changes in the size groups of the soil larvae and in the carrot larvae were also traced. The immature larvae persist longer in the carrots than in the soil. The size composition of the larvae from the soil of the June (1944) plot was recorded over the period September to April and the results are given graphically. Samples taken in October 1945 contained highly organized puparia from which flies emerged in a few days. These flies (third generation) gave rise to progeny which overwintered in the larval condition. The population in December 1945, composed chiefly of second generation puparia and third generation larvae, was very similar to that occuring in the previous two years. Mortality in the overwintering carrot-fly larvae and puparia varied considerably but was frequently heavy. The principal agencies concerned were an hymenopterous insect, Dacnusa gracilis Nees., and fungus and bacterial diseases. Other insect parasites occasionally important were Loxotropa tritoma Thorns, and Aleochara sparsa Heer. Nematode parasites were also recorded.     

Guilty by association: an evaluation of millipedes as pests of carrot and sweet potato

An evaluation of the pest potential of millipede species occurring in Ontario sweet potato and carrot fields was conducted in response to recent grower concerns about the presence of millipedes in close proximity to damaged vegetables. This study is the first North American survey of millipedes on arable soils and the first evaluation of North American millipede damage to sweet potatoes and carrots. Through field surveys, Cylindroiulus caeruleocinctus was found to be the dominant millipede species in Ontario sweet potatoes and carrots. Fields were surveyed over the growing season, and the factors important to each species’ abundance were evaluated using Minimum AIC Estimation (MAICE). Post‐harvest damage assessments were performed, and MAICE analysis was used to determine which arthropod and environmental parameters were most important in explaining damage to sweet potatoes and carrots. Wireworm (Elateridae) abundance was consistently found to explain root damage better than C. caeruleocinctus abundance, and it is concluded that the majority of field‐observed damage was caused by wireworms. C. caeruleocinctus was negatively correlated with both wireworms and damage in carrot fields and is not likely to be a pest of that vegetable. However, abundance of C. caeruleocinctus in sweet potatoes was positively correlated with both wireworms and damage. This species may cause some damage to sweet potato tubers under field conditions, but management tactics should focus on wireworms as the primary source of damage.     

THE RELATION BETWEEN INFESTATION BY THE STALK BORER, BUSSEOLA FUSCA, AND YIELD OF MAIZE IN EAST AFRICA

The relation between yield and infestation by the maize stalk borer, Busseola fusca Fuller, is expressed as a series of regression lines for crops of different potential yields. The reasons are given for assuming that the regression is rectilinear, and that the regression coefficient b , or rate of fall in yield, is proportional to the maximum expected yield of the crop, that is that b
For the crops examined, the formula for a general regression line of yield, as hundreds of pounds of dry grain per acre, on infestation, as the percentage of plants attacked transformed to angles, is y = 45.1–0.55 x for a high-yielding area, and y = 14.55–0.23 x for a lower yielding crop. This is equivalent to a 35 lb./acre increase in grain yield for every 1% decrease in infestation for the higher yielding group, and 17 lb. increase per 1% decrease for the lower.
The applications of the relationship are discussed, in particular to studies of the economics of control by insecticides, and of the accuracy of methods of sampling infestations.     

Optimization of metam sodium application by rotary spading injection

In The Netherlands the only chemical alternative for methyl bromide permitted is an application of metam-sodium (MS) with the active ingredient methyl isothiocyanate (MIT). After introduction of a new application method with 'rotary spading injection' legislation restricted the application of MS in 1993 to once in four years and since 2001 once in five years. Efficacy after injection of metam sodium at 10 cm depth and rotary spading a 25 cm soil layer was much better than with shank injection at 19 cm depth with a poor efficacy in the top soil layer. Legislation for arable crops allows a dosage of 300 l Monam (510 g MS/l) per ha. For vegetables, fruits, bulbs and weeds dosages permitted are 600 to 750 l Monam per ha. For an optimal disinfestation result the combination of required dosage and injection depth and rotovation depth had to be established. In a field experiment two dosages Monam were tested for efficacy against Meloidogyne fallax with rotary spading injection at varying injection depths. 300 l Monam per ha was compared with 600 l Monam per ha, both applied at 14 cm injection depth and distributed over a 28 cm soil layer. Another treatment was the application of 600 l Monam per ha, injected at 20 cm depth and rotovated through 40 cm of soil. A carrot crop was sown three weeks after disinfestation and quantity and quality of carrot yield was assessed. Three weeks after application Meloidogyne fallax population was reduced in the furrow with 99% and at 30-50 cm depth with 96% by both applications of 600 l Monam. Efficacy of 300 l Monam was significantly less than 600 l. Nematode population levels after carrot crop stayed lower in the furrow after 600 l in comparison with 300 l Monam. Gross carrot yield was significantly higher after 600 l than after 300 l Monam application at 14 cm depth. Although on this heavy infested field it was not possible to grow carrots without symptoms, after 600 l Monam the percentage of carrots without root-knot symptoms (net yield) was statistically higher than after 300 l Monam.     

Damage and Management of Meloidogyne hapla Using Oxamyl on Carrot in New York

The northern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne hapla) is a major pathogen of processing carrot in New York, significantly reducing marketable yield and profitability. Severely infected carrots are stubby, galled and forked and therefore unmarketable. In field microplot trials in 1996 and 1998, the incidence and severity of root-galling increased and the marketable yield of carrot decreased as the initial inoculum density of M. hapla was increased from 0 to 8 eggs/cm³ soil, in mineral or organic soils. The application of oxamyl at planting was effective against M. hapla and its damage to carrots grown in mineral and organic soils. Oxamyl application reduced root-galling severity and increased marketable yield. In commercial fields, the cost-effectiveness of oxamyl application was related to the level of soil infestation with M. hapla.     

An eco-metabolomic study of host plant resistance to Western flower thrips in cultivated,biofortified and wild carrots

Domestication of plants and selection for agronomic traits may reduce plant secondary defence metabolites relative to their ancestors. Carrot (Daucus carota L.) is an economically important vegetable. Recently, carrot was developed as a functional food with additional health-promoting functions. Biofortified carrots contain increased concentrations of chlorogenic acid as an antioxidant. Chlorogenic acid is involved in host plant resistance to Western Flower Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), one of the key agri- and horticultural pests worldwide. The objective of this study was to investigate quantitative host plant resistance to thrips in carrot and to identify candidate compounds for constitutive resistance. As such we explored whether cultivated carrot is more vulnerable to herbivore attack compared to wild carrot. We subjected a set of 14 biofortified, cultivated and wild carrot genotypes to thrips infestation. We compared morphological traits and leaf metabolic profiles of the three most resistant and susceptible carrots using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). In contrast to our expectation, wild carrots were not more resistant to thrips than cultivated ones. The most thrips resistant carrot was the cultivar Ingot which is known to be tolerant against carrot root fly (Psila rosae). Biofortified carrots were not resistant to thrips. Plant size, leaf area and number of leaf hairs did not differ between resistant and susceptible carrots. The metabolic profiles of the leaves of resistant carrots were significantly different from those of susceptible carrots. The leaves of resistant carrots contained higher amounts of the flavanoid luteolin, the phenylpropanoid sinapic acid and the amino acid β-alanine. The negative effect of these compounds on thrips was confirmed using in-vitro bioassays. Our results have potential implications for carrot breeders. The natural variation of metabolites present in cultivated carrots can be used for improvement of thrips resistance. This is especially promising in view of the candidate compounds we identified since they do not only confer a negative effect on thrips but as antioxidants also play an important role in the improvement of human health.     

Dau c 1.01 and Dau c 1.02-silenced transgenic carrot plants show reduced allergenicity to patients with carrot allergy

Pathogenesis-related protein-10 (PR10) is a ubiquitous small plant protein induced by microbial pathogens and abiotic stress that adversely contributes to the allergenic potency of many fruits and vegetables, including carrot. In this plant, two highly similar genes encoding PR10 isoforms have been isolated and designated as allergen Dau c 1.01 and Dau c 1.02. The aim of the study was to generate PR10-reduced hypoallergenic carrots by silencing either one of these genes in transgenic carrots by means of RNA interference (RNAi). The efficiency of gene silencing by stably expressed hairpin RNA (hnRNA) was documented by means of quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR) and immunoblotting. Quantification of the residual protein revealed that PR10 accumulation was strongly decreased compared with untransformed controls. Treatment of carrot plants with the PR protein-inducing chemical salicylic acid resulted in an increase of PR10 isoforms only in wild-type but not in Dau c 1-silenced mutants. The decrease of the allergenic potential in Dau c 1-silenced plants was sufficient to cause a reduced allergenic reactivity in patients with carrot allergy, as determined with skin prick tests (SPT). However, simultaneous silencing of multiple allergens will be required to design hypoallergenic carrots for the market. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of creating low-allergenic food by using RNAi. This constitutes a reasonable approach to allergen avoidance.