A laboratory evaluation of a regulated airflow through wheat at four combinations of temperature and humidity on the productivity of three species of stored product mites

Aeration is a promising alternative to the use of pesticides for the control of storage insects by cooling bulk grain, but its effectiveness against mite pests is neither fully understood nor optimised. For this reason, the productivity of three species of storage mites, Acarus siro, Lepidoglyphus destructor and Tyrophagus longior, was studied in a laboratory-based experiment at four combinations of temperature and humidity (10°C and 70% RH, 10°C and 80% RH, 20°C and 70% RH, 20°C and 80% RH) with and without an airflow (at 10 m³/h/tonne, equalling 2.5 l/s/tonne, in tubes containing 15 g of grain). This is the first time that a study has examined the three principal components of aeration separately from each other. The effect of these factors was different for each species. For A. siro, temperature was the most important factor, while airflow and humidity were of similar but lesser importance. For T. longior, temperature was more important than humidity, while the reverse was true for L. destructor. For these two species, airflow was the least important factor. The airflow decreased the productivity of L. destructor and T. longior but increased the productivity of A. siro. This increase in productivity confirms that, in practice, prevention of mite infestations, in particular A. siro, will require storage of grain at low temperature, relative humidity and moisture content. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Pirimiphos-methyl resistance in two stored product mites, Acarus siro and Acarus farris, as detected by impregnated paper bioassay and esterase activity assays

The response to pirimiphos-methyl, in one strain of Acarus farris and two strains of Acarus siro, was assessed using an impregnated filter paper bioassay and by the selection of adults following exposure to pirimiphos-methyl. It was concluded that one of the strains of A. siro was resistant to pirimiphos-methyl and that a major resistance mechanism was involved. The second strain of A. siro gave a response similar to that of a laboratory strain unexposed to organophosphates and was considered to be susceptible. The A. farris strain responded to selection at the ED50 but not at the ED99, and it was concluded that a minor resistance mechanism is present in this strain. Assays of esterase activity were used to attempt to identify the biochemical mechanisms involved in the resistance detected by the bioassays. The A. farris and susceptible A. siro strains showed similar levels of esterase activity but the esterase activity of the resistant A. siro strain was significantly greater. An increase in esterase activity followed selection of both the A. farris strain and the resistant A. siro strain. An acetylcholinesterase assay showed no significant difference between the susceptible and pirimiphos-methyl selected strains of A. siro. The results suggest that esterases are involved in the resistance to pirimiphos-methyl found in A. siro and A. farris but that in A. siro, at least, other mechanisms may also be present.     

储粮环境挥发性化合物与储粮害虫的关系研究进展

每种粮食的储粮环境中都存在有其特征性挥发物,储粮害虫的发生对储粮环境中挥发物具有重要影响。本文简述了顶空式固相微萃取法、浸入式固相微萃取法、电子鼻检测法等储粮挥发物的提取方法及其优缺点,对小麦 Triticum aestivum L.、稻谷 Olyza sativa L.、玉米 Zea mays L.和燕麦 Avena sativa L.等主要储藏粮食种类的挥发性化合物成分、粮食挥发物对昆虫行为反应的影响、主要储粮害虫(赤拟谷盗 Tribolium castaneum、锈赤扁谷盗 Cryptolestes ferrugineus 和象虫 Sitophilus spp.)发生与粮食挥发物的关系等研究进展进行综述,探讨了储粮环境挥发性化合物与储粮害虫关系未来的研究方向,以期对今后储粮害虫生态防治研究与应用提供参考信息。     

厌氧真菌纤维降解酶及其应用潜力的研究进展

反刍动物的瘤胃是已知的纤维降解能力最强的天然发酵罐,其发酵粗纤维的能力很大程度上依赖于其中栖息的各类微生物的功能。厌氧真菌作为瘤胃内的一类低丰度菌群,最先定殖到宿主动物摄入的纤维质饲料上,并通过分泌大量高效的碳水化合物活性酶降解粗纤维。然而,由于缺乏足够的基因组信息和有效的厌氧真菌遗传操作系统,目前国内外对厌氧真菌分泌的纤维降解酶及其降解机制的研究进展有限。本文对厌氧真菌的分类及已发表的基因组信息进行概述,介绍了各类纤维降解酶及纤维小体的组成结构和催化机制特点,并对纤维降解酶在生物质能、饲料处理、纺织造纸及食品加工等方面的应用进行总结。研究厌氧真菌纤维降解酶的作用特性,将有助于完善其在瘤胃环境中有效竞争资源并降解粗纤维的知识体系,也将进一步了解其生物技术应用潜力,为工业生产中应用酶制剂提供新思路。     

稻田水生昆虫的采样技术方法与应用

稻田水生昆虫在稻田生态系统功能实现中发挥着重要的作用。本文基于作者对稻田生态系统中水生昆虫多样性研究,系统地介绍了稻田水生昆虫的生态位分布、定量研究与定性研究的采集技术方法与流程,为更好地开展稻田水生昆虫研究提供技术支撑。     

黑松三种菌根苗根系构型差异及其与生长的关系

为探讨林木不同菌根根系亚宏观结构对植物生长的影响,将黑松(Pinus thunbergii)分别接种黄色须腹菌(Rhizopogen luteous,简称Rl)、彩色豆马勃(Pisolithus tinctorius,简称 Pt2)和美味牛肝菌(Boletus edulis,简称Be)3种外生菌根菌,研究了不同菌根苗根系构型的差异及其与黑松生长的关系.结果表明,黑松3种菌根苗的根系参数(主根长、侧根总级数、一级侧根数量及直径、吸收根分布的范围、吸收根的数量及比表面积等)均比对照有不同程度的增加,且与黑松生长呈一定的正相关性;黑松不同处理菌根苗的根系整体构型差异显著:在生长最好的Rl菌根苗根系中,主根与侧根间具不同夹角的一级侧根分布均衡,且横向生长(80～90°)的侧根较多,其它角度(60～80°和<60°)的一级侧根依次递减,使整个根系呈""型,有效扩大了根系吸收的空间范围;生长相对较差的Be菌根苗其根系不同角度的一级侧根分布不均或80～90°的侧根较少;Pt2菌根苗生长较好,其根系构型界于前二者之间;而生长差的对照苗根最少,几乎没有80～90°的一级侧根.由此可见,不同菌根菌可通过影响根系的结构发育而影响黑松苗木的生长.     

Interaction of treatment of both adult and immature Coleoptera with a chitin synthesis inhibitor affects mortality and development time of their progeny

Chitin synthesis inhibitors, like many other insect growth regulating insecticides, do not kill adult insects but cause mortality of the immature stages. Pre-exposure of adult stored grain Coleoptera, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Bostrichidae) and Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Curculionidae) and development of their progeny in grain treated with the chitin synthesis inhibitor, chlorfluazuron, influenced the mortality and development rate of the progeny. Hatch rate of eggs from R. dominica adults that had both developed and laid on wheat treated with 0.75 mg kg–1 chlorfluazuron was reduced by almost 50% compared with untreated eggs, with an LC50 of 0.84 mg kg–1 . Eggs laid on treated wheat by R. dominica adults that had been exposed only to treated wheat for 2 weeks before oviposition showed greater reduction in hatch: 75% reduction of normal hatch rate at 0.25 mg kg–1 and almost 100% reduction at 2 mg kg–1 chlorfluazuron, with an LC50 of 0.19 mg kg–1 chlorfluazuron. X-rays were used to monitor the development and mortality of the immature stages of S. oryzae that developed within the wheat grains. Numbers of eggs laid were not affected by chlorfluazuron treatment. The combination of pre-exposure of adults and chlorfluazuron concentration had an additive effect on mortality of immature S. oryzae. Pre-exposure of adults caused most mortality in the first three weeks of development (eggs and larvae), whereas development in treated wheat caused mortality from weeks 3 to 8 (pupae and adults); higher concentrations of chlorfluazuron caused higher mortality. Development in wheat treated with 1 mg kg–1 chlorfluazuron caused 12% corrected overall mortality of progeny while pre-exposure to the same concentration and development in untreated wheat caused 29% corrected mortality. Pre-exposure combined with development in wheat treated with 1 mg kg–1 caused 30% corrected mortality. Thus, pre-exposure of adults appears to have a greater effect on mortality of S. oryzae progeny than development of immature stages in treated grain. Development on treated grain had no effect on development rate. Pre-exposure of adults did not appear to affect the rate of immature development, as assessed by X-rays, but did slow the emergence of adults, lengthening development time by about 2 days. This significant, additive effect of pre-exposure of adults on the mortality of their progeny will enhance the toxicity of chitin synthesis inhibitors such as chlorfluazuron, since most adults receive treatment when the immature stages are treated in crops either before they are harvested or in storage. Assessing the proportion of eggs that hatch from pre-exposed adults would be a simpler bioassay for CSIs.     

The effects of insects,nutrients, and plant invasion on community structure and function above‐ and belowground

Soil nutrient availability, invasive plants, and insect presence can directly alter ecosystem structure and function, but less is known about how these factors may interact. In this 6‐year study in an old‐field ecosystem, we manipulated insect abundance (reduced and control), the propagule pressure of an invasive nitrogen‐fixing plant (propagules added and control), and soil nutrient availability (nitrogen added, nitrogen reduced and control) in a fully crossed, completely randomized plot design. We found that nutrient amendment and, occasionally, insect abundance interacted with the propagule pressure of an invasive plant to alter above‐ and belowground structure and function at our site. Not surprisingly, nutrient amendment had a direct effect on aboveground biomass and soil nutrient mineralization. The introduction of invasive nitrogen‐fixing plant propagules interacted with nutrient amendment and insect presence to alter soil bacterial abundance and the activity of the microbial community. While the larger‐scale, longer‐term bulk measurements such as biomass production and nutrient mineralization responded to the direct effects of our treatments, the shorter‐term and dynamic microbial communities tended to respond to interactions among our treatments. Our results indicate that soil nutrients, invasive plants, and insect herbivores determine both above‐ and belowground responses, but whether such effects are independent versus interdependent varies with scale.     

Treatment of adult Coleoptera with a chitin synthesis inhibitor affects mortality and development time of their progeny

A group of insect growth regulators, the chitin synthesis inhibitors (CSIs), are being more widely used as many insects have become resistant to broad-spectrum insecticides. This study investigated the mode of action of one CSI, particularly looking at the delayed effect of treating adult insects on the survival and development of their progeny. The study describes the responses of adult stored grain beetles Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Curculionidae) and Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Bostrichidae) to wheat treated with chlorfluazuron. For both species, wheat treated with chlorfluazuron reduced progeny survival at a constant rate from 1 day to 8 weeks after it had been treated. There was a direct, negative concentration-time relationship between the treatment of the adults with chlorfluazuron-treated wheat and the survival and developmental rate of their progeny. Adults that were pre-exposed for one or more weeks before oviposition to wheat treated with chlorfluazuron had significantly lower progeny survival than adults that were not pre-exposed. The EC₉₅ values were 16-fold higher for R. dominica and 40-fold higher for S. oryzae from assays without pre-exposure, than with pre-exposure. Pre-exposure of R. dominica with 0.1 mg kg^-1 and of S. oryzae with 0.4 mg kg^-1 of chlorfluazuron reduced progeny survival by 95%. Higher concentrations of chlorfluazuron produced a reduction in mean population developmental time of several days. These findings have important implications for bioassays of CSIs, since pre-exposure of the adults can significantly reduce the numbers of F1 progeny. Therefore standard bioassays may seriously underestimate the efficacy of the CSI being assayed.     

福建茶树害螨发生动态及其与茶树品种理化特性的相关性分析

用5点采叶取样法调查了茶树害螨发生特点。结果表明:各茶树品种的害螨盛发高峰期一般都出现在8月底到9月初;对2005年5品种茶树上害螨螨情指数高峰期进行方差分析,结果表明均达到极显著差异(F=4.141,P=0.0054)。对不同茶树品种的叶片理化指标与螨情指数进行相关分析,结果表明:叶片厚度与相应品种的螨情指数之间呈一定的负相关关系(F=0.3903,r=-0.4040);不同茶树品种的叶片下表皮及其角质层厚度和相应品种的螨情指数之间呈一定的正相关关系(F=2.40,r=0.7389);不同茶树品种叶片的咖啡因和GC含量与害螨螨情指数呈负相关,相关关系接近显著水平(F=3.44,r=-0.7309和F=5.96,r=-0.8156)。     

Adaptations to water gradient in three Rorippa plant species correspond with plant resistance against insect herbivory under drought and waterlogged conditions

1. Plants live in environments where they are constantly, and often simultaneously, exposed to different types of biotic and abiotic stress, such as insect herbivory and water availability. How plants are adapted to abiotic conditions may determine how a surplus or shortage of water affects plant resistance to insect herbivory. Moreover, this effect may vary depending on the feeding mode of the herbivore.
2. We explored how three closely related Rorippa plant species that vary in adaptations to different water levels, resist herbivory by four different insects (aphids: Myzus persicae, Lipaphis erysimi, and caterpillars: Pieris brassicae, Plutella xylostella) under waterlogging or drought conditions. We hypothesized that plants that are differently adapted to water availability will be disparately affected by water availability in their resistance to insect herbivory.
3. On the semi-aquatic plant species Rorippa amphibia, both aphid species reached a larger colony size under drought conditions. This indicates that R. amphibia was compromised in resistance to aphid feeding when under drought conditions, to which it is less well adapted. Water conditions did not affect aphid performance on the flood-plain species Rorippa palustris. On the terrestrial plant species Rorippa sylvestris, aphids performed worse on waterlogged than drought-treated plants. Neither caterpillar species was significantly affected by the water availability of their food plant.
4. Our findings suggest that water availability can have distinct effects on plant–insect interactions. We propose that plant adaptations to water conditions can be a major predictor towards explaining the variation of effects that water availability can have on plant–insect interactions.

     

Characterization of Xenorhabdus isolates from La Rioja (Northern Spain) and virulence with and without their symbiotic entomopathogenic nematodes (Nematoda: Steinernematidae)

Eighteen Xenorhabdus isolates associated with Spanish entomopathogenic nematodes of the genus Steinernema were characterized using a polyphasic approach including phenotypic and molecular methods. Two isolates were classified as Xenorhabdus nematophila and were associated with Steinernema carpocapsae. Sixteen isolates were classified as Xenorhabdus bovienii, of which fifteen were associated with Steinernema feltiae and one with Steinernema kraussei. Two X. bovienii Phase II were also isolated, one instable phase isolated from S. feltiae strain Rioja and one stable phase from S. feltiae strain BZ. Four representative bacterial isolates were chosen to study their pathogenicity against Spodoptera littoralis with and without the presence of their nematode host. The four bacterial isolates were pathogenic for S. littoralis leading to septicemia 24 h post-injection and killing around 90% of the insect larvae 36 h post-injection, except for that isolated from S. kraussei. After 48 h of injection, this latter isolate showed a lower final population in the larval hemolymph (10⁷ instead of 10⁸ CFU per larvae) and a lower larval mortality (70% instead of 95-100%). The virulence of the nematode-bacteria complexes against S. littoralis showed similar traits with a significant insect larvae mortality (80-90%) 5 days post-infection except for S. kraussei, although this strain reached similar of larval mortality at 7 days after infection.     

Nitrogen allocation,partitioning and use efficiency in three invasive plant species in comparison with their native congeners

In this study, we hypothesized that invasive species may allocate a higher fraction of leaf nitrogen (N) to photosynthesis than phylogenetically related native species. To test this hypothesis, we determined N allocation and other ecophysiological traits of three invasive species in comparison with their respective native congeners by measuring response curves of photosynthesis to intercellular CO₂ concentration. The invasive species of Peperomia and Piper indeed allocated a higher fraction of leaf N to photosynthesis and were more efficient in photosynthetic N (N _P) partitioning than their native congeners. The two invasive species partitioned a higher fraction of N _P to carboxylation and showed a higher use efficiency of N _P, while their native congeners partitioned a higher fraction of N _P to light-harvesting components. The higher N allocation to photosynthesis and the higher N _P partitioning to carboxylation in the two invaders were associated with their higher specific leaf area. Nitrogen allocation and partitioning were the most important factors in explaining the differences in light-saturated photosynthetic rate and photosynthetic N use efficiency (PNUE) between the two invasive species and their native congeners. The differences in N allocation-related variables between the invasive and native species of Amaranthus could not be evaluated in this study due to the method. Except PNUE, resource capture- and use-related traits were not always higher in all three invasive species compared to their native congeners, indicating that different invasive species may have different syndrome of traits associated with its invasiveness.     

Contributions to the knowledge of oribatid mites (Acari,Oribatida) of Indonesia. 3. The genus Galumna (Galumnidae) with description of a new subgenus and seven new species

Seven new species of oribatid mites of the genus Galumna are described from litter and soil materials of Sumatra, Indonesia. A new subgenus, Galumna (Atypicogalumna) subgen. n., is proposed; it differs from all galumnid genera and subgenera by the simultaneous presence of porose areas and sacculi on the notogaster (vs. either porose areas or sacculi present). Galumna (Galumna) calva Starý, 1997 is recorded for the first time in the Oriental region, and Galumna (Galumna) sabahna Mahunka, 1995 is recorded for the first time in the Indonesian fauna.     

Natural and released inoculum levels of entomopathogenic fungal biocontrol agents in soil in relation to risk assessment and in accordance with EU regulations

Entomopathogenic fungi being developed as biological control agents (BCAs) may have the potential to spread and become established in the environment. For registration purposes, the risks concerning their persistence have to be evaluated according to EU legislation which requires the decline of BCAs to acceptable background levels unless related risks are acceptable. In order to deal with this requirement, applicants of a BCA need to give information on its persistence and natural background levels. For risk assessors and registration authorities guidance on how to evaluate data on natural background levels of indigenously occurring species (=same species as the introduced BCA) is needed. For this purpose, an overview is presented on background levels of some indigenous fungi as well as persistence data of some applied fungal BCAs. Data were restricted to commerical species. It was found that for the species Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana and Beauveria brongniartii natural densities were relatively low and introduced strains of these fungi decreased gradually in time. Many factors were found in the literature, such as intrinsic, edaphic, biotic, climatic, and cultural factors, that could explain this decline.