Escaping an ecological dead-end: asexual overwintering and morph determination in the lettuce root aphid Pemphigus bursarius L.

1. Pemphigus bursarius exhibits a host-alternating life-cycle, overwintering as eggs on the primary host plant (poplar) before migrating in summer to the secondary host plant (mainly annual Compositae). A proportion of the population does not produce return migrants (sexuparae) in the autumn but remains in the soil and overwinters as asexual apterae, even after the annual plants have died in early winter. Laboratory and field experiments investigated the biology and overwintering success of these asexual apterae. 2. Both temperature and photoperiod are important in morph determination. The highest number of apterae (approximately 50% of progeny) was produced in a 20 °C, LD 18 : 6 h regime. Very few apterae were produced in an alatae-inducing environment (15 °C, LD 12 : 12 h), but the proportion increased over successive generations. 3. Apterae remaining in the soil in the autumn overwintered successfully in large numbers and were able to reinfest directly the root systems of newly planted lettuce grown in the same field in the following growing season. 4. Overwintered asexual populations also produced alates in July, which were able to colonise other lettuce plants, indicating that they were not sexuparae. Hence, P. bursarius can avoid the ecological dead-end that would occur through local patch extinction. Clones can therefore persist indefinitely as both asexual apterae and alatae without the need to return to poplar and undergo the sexual phase of the life-cycle.     

The cost of ant attendance and melezitose secretion in the black bean aphid Aphis fabae

1. The aphid Aphis fabae (Scopoli) is facultatively tended by Lasius niger (Linnaeus) ants. Previously, we found that A. fabae colonies can be made up of several clones, and that clones display significant differences in the composition of their honeydew sugars, especially in the amount of the ant attractant sugar melezitose that they produce. 2. These clonal differences could greatly impact the strength of the mutualistic interaction with ants as well as the aphids' fitness. 3. Hence, the aim of this study was to compare the fitness of different A. fabae clones that differed in their melezitose secretion, and whether or not they were tended by ants. 4. Individual fitness indices, colony growth, and alate production of single‐clone aphid colonies were analysed. 5. The results demonstrate that the fitness consequences of ant attendance critically depend on an interaction between levels of melezitose production. In particular, we show that high‐melezitose secreting clones produce fewer alates and hence might have a lower dispersal ability in the presence of ants. 6. Furthermore, these data confirm previous evidence that ant attendance is costly and results in the production of fewer apterae.     

Rate of Loss of Infectivity of Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus by Schizaphis graminum Rondani After Different Acquisition Access Periods

The rate of loss of infectivity for greenbugs, Schizaphis graminum Rondani, carrying maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) was similar for adult apterae and alates regardless of the acquisition access period (AAP) given. The rate was rapid during the first 2 h post-acquisition and then decreased. Weighted least squares linear regression of log % transmission were plotted against retention-time intervals to obtain regression slopes for each of the AAP groups tested (1, 3, 17, and 30 min). There were no significant differences among the regression slopes using F-test comparisons. In serial transmission trials, transmission frequencies among aphids allowed 1-min or 30-min timed acquisition probes followed by 30-see or 1-min timed inoculation probes were not significantly different when statistical tests that quantify categorical data were applied. This suggests little difference in the amount of virus obtained by these groups of aphids. Transmission and retention data are discussed in relation to the two principal theories of the mechanism of non-persistent virus transmission by aphids. Transmission of MDMV by the greenbug by a two mechanism process (stylet-borne and ingestion-egestion) is not confirmed.     

Differential fragment regeneration in Syntrichia caninervis Mitt. from the Gurbantunggut Desert of China

Fragments of the desert moss Syntrichia caninervis Mitt. were grown on the surface of moistened sand to assess their regeneration capacity. The plant material was collected in two different years (2014 and 2015) and divided into five fragment classifications (stem apices, green leaves, yellow-green leaves, brown leaves and stems). All fragments of the stem apices, green leaves and stems regenerated within 10 days of culture while some fragments of yellow-green leaves (two 2014 fragments and one 2015 fragment) and brown leaves (three 2014 fragments and three 2015 fragments) died. Fragments of stem, stem apices and green leaves regenerated more quickly, produced longer protonemata and more shoots as compared to fragments of yellow-green and brown leaves. These differences were statistically significant but there was no difference in regeneration between the fragments from 2014 and 2015. Differential regeneration and proliferation of different plant fragments has important implications for the clonal propagation of S. caninervis in the Gurbantunggut Desert.     

Alkaloid level in narrow-leafed lupin, Lupinus angustifolius, influences green peach aphid reproductive performance

Two viviparous parthenogenetic clones of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), one collected from Rydalmere, New South Wales (NSW), and the other from South Perth (SP), Western Australia, were reared on radish, Raphanus sativus L. cv. Scarlet Globe, under controlled conditions. The NSW clone was fed on simple artificial diets containing alkaloid extracted from narrow-leafed lupin, Lupinus angustifolius L. cv. Fest., and its reproductive performance monitored over 112 h. Forty (40) h into the experiment and thereafter, aphids on the control diet (sucrose solution) produced significantly more offspring (P<0.05) than those on diets containing alkaloid. In a separate experiment, apterae of each clone were caged on three lines (cv. Yorrel, cv. Danja and 84L:441) of narrow-leafed lupin, and allowed to reproduce. The first three offspring were retained, and all developed to 3rd or 4th instar stage. Two nymphs were removed, and the remaining nymph reared through. All three lines produced adults. The number of young produced were counted over 11 days. Fecundity of the SP clone was lower on line 84L:441, but there was no difference in the fecundity of the NSW clone. Phloem exudate and green tissue was concomitantly collected from all lines, and analysed by GC-MS for the alkaloids lupanine and 13-hydroxylupanine. Line 84L:441 contained the highest level of total alkaloids in both phloem and tissue. All experiments indicate that alkaloid level may suppress fecundity of green peach aphids.     

中国烟蚜不同地理种群的核型多态性研究(英文)

对中国不同地区 (湖南郴州、吉林长春、河南宜阳和江苏南京 )取食烟草的不同生活史的烟蚜Myzuspersicae (Sulzer)核型研究结果表明 :在红色型和褐色型中发现 4种染色体组型 ,即 2n =12 ,A1 与A3易位 ;3n =18,A1 与A3易位 ;3n =18,正常 ;2n =11。在黄绿色型中仅发现 2种染色体组型 ,即 2n =12 ,正常和 2n =12 ,A1 与A3易位。在 2n =12核型中 ,不同地区不同体色的烟蚜其染色体相对长度差异不显著 (α =0 .0 5)。     

High gene flow between populations of Macrotermes michaelseni (Isoptera, Termitidae)

Termite alates are thought to be poor active flyers, and this should lead to considerable genetic differentiation on small spatial scales. However, using four microsatellite loci for the termite Macrotermes michaelseni we found low values of genetic differentiation (F_ST) across a spatial scale of even more than 50 km. Genetic differentiation between populations increased with spatial distance up to 50 km. Furthermore, up to this distance, the scatter around the linear regression of genetic differentiation versus spatial distance increased with spatial distance. This suggests that across such spatial distances gene flow and genetic drift are of about equal importance, and near equilibrium. Using a regional F_ST as well as the distance between populations with non-significant F_ST-values (up to 25 km), gene flow is sufficiently high so that populations may be regarded as panmictic on spatial scales of 25 to 50 km. The apparent contradiction between dispersal distances observed in the field and estimates of gene flow from genetic markers may be due to the masses of swarming alates. Assuming a leptokurtic distribution of dispersal distances, atleast some alates are expected to travel considerable distances, most likely by passive drift. Received 25 January 2005; revised 11 April 2005; accepted 26 April 2005.     

Clones of Aedes albopictus cells resistant to methylmercaptopurine riboside

Four clones of A. albopictus cells resistant to 6-methylmercaptopurine riboside (MMPR) (MMPR-10, -11, -12, and -21) were isolated after mutagenesis of the parental LT C-7 cells. As assayed by plating efficiencies these clones were from ten- to 20-fold more resistant to MMPR than the LT C-7 cells. Resistance was also demonstrated by the fact that concentrations of MMPR, which reduced the levels of ATP and GTP in LT C-7 cells, had no such effect in the MMPR-resistant cells. When de novo purine biosynthesis was measured by the incorporation of [14C]formate into ATP and GTP, MMPR had little effect on the MMPR-10 cells (15% inhibition) but did depress synthesis considerably in the MMPR-11 cells (80% inhibition) although not as severely as in the LT C-7 cells (95% inhibition). Three of the resistant clones which were tested also showed considerable resistance to guanosine. Although the mechanism of resistance to MMPR in these cells is not clear it likely involves some alteration in one of the early enzymes involved in purine biosynthesis. Resistant as well as sensitive cells showed a new high-performance liquid chromatography peak after treatment with MMPR suggesting that there was no defect in the uptake of MMPR. The conversion of labeled adenosine to AMP, ADP, and ATP in the resistant cells indicated that these cells were not deficient in adenosine kinase, another possible mechanism of resistance to MMPR. All clones showed a reduction in GTP following treatment with ribavirin; however, they varied considerably with respect to the amount of ribavirin triphosphate which they formed. In the case of the MMPR-11 cells the amount of ribavirin triphosphate formed was markedly sensitive to cultural conditions. The fact that the various MMPR-resistant cells responded differently to ribavirin, and that quantitative differences were also seen in their responses to MMPR (as measured by [14C]formate incorporation) and to guanosine, suggests that there are significant phenotypic differences among these resistant clones.     

Chromatophores and adaptation to coloured backgrounds in two colour types of the edible frog, Rana esculenta

The adaptation to coloured backgrounds of green and permanentiy brown specimens of Rana esculenta, and the anatomical and physical bases for their difference in colour were studied by means of reflectance microspectrophotometry and electron microscopy.
Adaptation to the lightness of the background took place in the green type, but not in the brown, whereas adaptation to hue and purity in both types seems negligible.
The iridophores of this species probably represent a λ/4-system. The colour difference between the two types seems mainly to be caused by a difference in the selective reflectivity of the iridophores because of a difference in thickness of the platelets and the cytoplasmic interspaces. Furthermore there is a difference in the amount and, probably, composition of the xanthophore pigment.     

Comparison of bioassay techniques for determining baseline susceptibilities to imidacloprid for green apple aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae)

The susceptibility of a clone of green apple aphid, Aphis pomi (De Geer), to the neonicotinyl insecticide imidacloprid was determined by direct and indirect bioassay techniques. Aphid numbers were assessed on potted apple seedlings treated with various concentrations of imidacloprid, adults were dipped in test solutions as per the Food and Agriculture Organization protocol, or nymphs and adults were reared on treated apple leaf disks. Effective concentrations required to kill half of the test population (EC50) varied depending on the bioassay technique, ranging from as low as 0.064 ppm for first instars reared for 3 d on treated leaf disks to 1.79 ppm for adult apterae dipped in solutions of imidacloprid and held for 24 h on clean leaf disks. When imidacloprid was directly applied to aphids, mortality continued to increase over 3 d, but the difference was not statistically significant between day 2 (1.36 ppm) and day 3 (1.19 ppm). Toxicity of neonicotinyls to aphids is expressed rather slowly and primarily after oral ingestion. The effect of imidacloprid on reproduction of green apple aphid was also assessed for adult apterae reared on treated leaf disks. Contrary to previous reports, our results demonstrated that imidacloprid does not have a direct negative effect on the reproductive physiology of this species. Negative effects can mostly be attributed to the antifeedant activity of this compound and the protracted time to death. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of the most suitable techniques for assessing aphid mortality after exposure to these new insecticides and provides a baseline susceptibility to imidacloprid for green apple aphid.     

Temperature dependence of the survival of human erythrocytes frozen slowly in various concentrations of glycerol.

One widely accepted explanation of injury from slow freezing is that damage results when the concentration of electrolyte reaches a critical level in partly frozen solutions during freezing. We have conducted experiments on human red cells to further test this hypothesis. Cells were suspended in phosphate-buffered saline containing 0-3 M glycerol, held for 30 min at 20 degrees C to permit solute permeation, and frozen at 0.5 or 1.7 degrees C/min to various temperatures between -2 and -100 degrees C. Upon reaching the desired minimum temperature, the samples were warmed at rates ranging from 1 to 550 degrees C/min and the percent hemolysis was determined. The results for a cooling rate of 1.7 degrees C/min indicate the following: (a) Between 0.5 and 1.85 M glycerol, the temperature yielding 50% hemolysis (LT50) drops slowly from -18 to -35 degrees C. (b) The LT50's over this range of concentrations are relatively independent of warming rate. (c) With glycerol concentrations of 1.95 and 2.0 M, the LT50 drops abruptly to -60 degrees C and to below -100 degrees C, respectively, and becomes dependent on warming rate. The LT50 is lower with slow warming at 1 degree C/min than with rapid. With still higher concentrations (2.5 and 3.0 M), there is no LT50, i.e., more than 50% of the cells survive freezing to-100 degrees C. Results for cooling at 0.5 degrees C/min in 2 M glycerol were similar except that the LT50s were some 10-20 degrees C higher. A companion paper (Rall et al., Biophys. J. 23:101-120, 1978) examines the relation between survival and the concentrations of salts produced during freezing.     

Physiological integration for salinity stress alleviation in stoloniferous turfgrass,Zoysia matrella in heterogeneous saline environments

To clarify physiological integration for salinity stress alleviation in Zoysia matrella, interconnected clonal stolon ramets were grown in three separate pots [basal (BR), intermediate (IR), and apical ramets (AR)]. Once ramets were well established, two experimental groups were set up: stolons connected with other ramets (Intact) and stolons cut between ramets (Severed). NaCl solution was used for IR, while tap water was used for BR and AR for 49 days. For BR and AR, there was no significant difference in NaCl content in any plant part (green leaves, brown leaves, stolons, and roots) in both groups. Therefore, we concluded that no NaCl translocation in interconnected ramets occurred for both basal and apical directions. For the IR in Intact group, water content in stolons was 1.2 times higher, and NaCl content in green and brown leaves was 16 and 29% lower, respectively than in Severed group. Dry weight of both above ground and below ground parts in Intact groups were 1.3 times higher as compared to that in Severed group. It was considered that tap water treated ramets (BR or AR) translocated water to IR and decreased the amount of NaCl in the body, thereby alleviating salt stress. For the IR in both groups, NaCl content in brown leaves was 2–3 times higher than in other parts. We conclude that Zoysia matrella does not translocate toxic component, such as NaCl between ramets, and does not distribute it to other ramets; however, ramet accumulates NaCl in brown leaves under salt stress condition.

     

Longevity, fecundity, change in degree of gravidity and lipid content with adult age, and lipid utilisation during tethered flight of alates of the corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis

The longevity, daily fecundity, degree of gravidity and lipid content of alates of varied ages, and lipid utilisation during sustained tethered flight of the corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis, were studied. Alates had a mean longevity of 9.7 days and a mean fecundity of 14.9 nymphs. A significant increase in the lipid content of alates before emerging as adults was observed. Newly emerged and half-day-old alates had more lipid reserve and embryos than 1-, 2-, 4-, 8-, and 16-day-old specimens. The lipid content of alates decreased significantly with age. The alates' degree of gravidity and lipid content had a low but significant correlation. Half- to 1-day-old alates flew readily and could fly for much longer durations than 2- and 4-day-old. Eight-day-old alates were not capable of flight. R. maidis utilised lipid during prolonged tethered flight. Our data suggest that there is a threshold point when alates cease utilising stored lipid as the energy source and start utilising non-lipid sources as flight fuel energy.     

Studies on the aphid, Cavariella aegopodii Scop: On secondary hosts other than carrot

Of the eleven cultivated species of Umbelliferae heavily attacked in the field by Cavariella aegopodii Scop., chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) attracted so many alates that it was killed before a population of alienicolae developed. Carrot was next in order of alate preference and coriander (Coriandrum sativum) and caraway (Carum carvi) were last. Despite its lack of attraction, caraway proved more lastingly suitable as a host and eventually supported the largest population of alienicolae. Of the wild umbellifers tested, wild carrot, Daucus carota ssp. carota, was the species most preferred by the incoming alates and hemlock (Conium maculatum) the least. On hemlock, also, there was little colonization. Although a sequence of wild umbellifers supported C. aegopodii through most of the year, few were suitable winter hosts; the apterae hibernated largely on carrot crops. In spring, cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) was one of the hosts first colonized by immigrant C. aegopodii and carried winged alienicolae before the end of June. The main development of winged alienicolae on Anthriscus and other wild Umbelliferae, however, was in July. The possible role of the wild umbelliferous hosts of C. aegopodii in the spread of motley dwarf virus to carrots is discussed.     

Impact of acute exercise intensity on pulsatile growth hormone release in men.

To investigate the effects of exercise intensity on growth hormone (GH) release, 10 male subjects were tested on 6 randomly ordered occasions [1 control condition (C), 5 exercise conditions (Ex)]. Serum GH concentrations were measured in samples obtained at 10-min intervals between 0700 and 0900 (baseline) and 0900 and 1300 (exercise+ recovery). Integrated GH concentrations (IGHC) were calculated by trapezoidal reconstruction. During Ex subjects exercised for 30 min (0900-0930) at one of the following intensities [normalized to the lactate threshold (LT)]: 25 and 75% of the difference between LT and rest (0.25LT and 0.75LT, respectively), at LT, and at 25 and 75% of the difference between LT and peak (1.25LT and 1.75LT, respectively). No differences were observed among conditions for baseline IGHC. Exercise+recovery IGHC (mean +/- SE: C = 250 +/- 60; 0.25LT = 203 +/- 69; 0.75LT = 448 +/- 125; LT = 452 +/- 119; 1.25LT = 512 +/- 121; 1.75LT = 713 +/- 115 microg x l(-1) x min(-1)) increased linearly with increasing exercise intensity (P < 0.05). Deconvolution analysis revealed that increasing exercise intensity resulted in a linear increase in the mass of GH secreted per pulse and GH production rate [production rate increased from 16. 5 +/- 4.5 (C) to 32.1 +/- 5.2 microg x distribution volume(-1) x min(-1) (1.75LT), P < 0.05], with no changes in GH pulse frequency or half-life of elimination. We conclude that the GH secretory response to exercise is related to exercise intensity in a linear dose-response pattern in young men.     

Role of host fruit color in the behavior of the walnut fly Rhagoletis juglandis

Observations and sticky-trap tests were used to assess the effect of fruit color on the behavior of adult male and female Rhagoletis juglandis Cresson (Diptera: Tephritidae), a tephritid that infests husks of Arizona walnut in southeastern Arizona. In the first experiment, during which flies were observed foraging among walnut models suspended from small walnut trees, models were painted green to appear ripe and uninfested or yellow with brown patches to appear ripe and infested. Flies used for this first experiment were also of two types: prior to observations, one group of flies had access to real walnuts for 1.5 days (prior experience) while the other group of flies was held without real walnut fruits (no prior experience). Regardless of prior experience with real walnut fruits, female flies landed on green models more than yellow/brown models. Experienced males also were more likely to land on green models than on yellow/brown models. More interactions also occurred on green models, because there were more landings.In the field behavioral assay, flies from a natural population given a choice of green, yellow, and yellow/brown models landed most often on green models, and all interactions and oviposition attempts occurred on green models. Flies also distinguished models by color in field sticky trap assays.These results suggest that female response to ripeness cues is innate, while males develop a preference for green based on their encounter rate with females.     

Male production by apterous viviparae of the aphid Myzus persicae temporarily exposed to different scotoperiods

Male production by apterous viviparae of a holocyclic biotype of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, was induced by pre-natal and/or post-natal exposures to a long-night regime of 15 h dark per diem. When the apterae were exposed to three or more long nights immediately after birth and they subsequently developed under a short-night regime of 8 h dark per diem, they produced females (mostly alate viviparae) during the first 8–10 days of reproduction and a high proportion of males thereafter. When the apterae were exposed to two long nights immediately before their birth and to short nights thereafter, they produced relatively few females (mostly alate viviparae), and males were deposited already after 4–6 days of reproduction, i.e. 16–18 days after the first exposure to the long nights. The proportion of males among the progeny of these apterae was highest when the two prenatal exposures comprised scotophases of 11–15 h; under such long-night regimes many aphids switched to producing males exclusively. To achieve this effect, the two long scotophases had to be separated by a photophase of more than 1–2 h. Fewer males were produced and most of the apterae reverted to the production of females (apterous viviparae) when the duration of the two prenatal scotophases was 9 h 45 min-10 h 30 min, or 18 h and longer.One long night of 15–39 h could also induce temporary male production if the aphids were exposed to it late in the 4th larval instar or as teneral adults.     

The cowpea aphid, shape Aphis craccivora, host plant odours and pheromones

Olfactometer experiments were conducted with apterae and alatae of the cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora, Koch (Hom.:Aphidoidea). The occurrence of density dependent related pheromones and odour response to their host plant Vigna unguiculata was studied. Apterae responded with positive anemotaxis to air passed over both small groups of apterae and alatae (10 individuals) but negatively to air that passed over a bigger group (20 individuals). Alatae responded in the same way to groups of apterae but were repelled by alatae independent of the size of the group applied as odour source in the olfactometer, except when exposed to air passing ten alatae feeding on cowpea leaves. This may be due to interaction between aphid pheromones and host plant odour. Both apterae and alatae showed a general attraction to green plants and were also able to distinguish between other host plants and cowpea, which was the original host of the aphid clone used in the experiments. When attacked by aphids, the cowpea plant responded with a temporal increase in attractivity that reached a maximum after 48 h and had disappeared after one week.     

Resistance of rape (Brassica napus) to attack by the cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.)

Resistance to Brevicoryne brassicae L. attacks in a New Zealand variety of forage rape resulted from a combination of host non–preference and antibiosis. Using clonal plant material obtained from cuttings, only half the numbers of immigrant alate cabbage aphids that settled to reproduce on the susceptible rape were to be found on the resistant rape. The reproduction rate of these alates was about 12 % slower on the resistant plants than on the susceptibles and the young took about 13% longer to mature. Antibiosis then shortened the reproductive life of the apterae by one-third, reduced their fecundity by nearly 50 % and caused 40% mortality in their progeny. The over-all effect of this was considerable and under conditions specified in the text could result in the population on the resistant plants being about one-eighth that on the susceptible plants in under 1 month. The resistant plants lost their resistance on flowering and became normally susceptible to cabbage aphid attack. With maturity, however, the B. brassicae-resistant plants became slightly resistant to Myzus persicae.