Evaluation of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum as a potential mycotoxin producer on soybeans.

Solvent extracts of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum sclerotia were nontoxic to mice and chicken embryos; psoralens were not detected. Solvent extracts of soybeans inoculated with 10 strains of S. sclerotiorum were toxic on injection but nontoxic on per os administration to mice. The presence of chlorinated hydrocarbons in the soybeans may partially help explain toxicity by intraperitineal injection.     

Colonization of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum sclerotia by a biocontrol isolate of Trichoderma harzianum,and effects on myceliogenic germination

Sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum were incubated on cultures of Trichoderma harzianum. Myceliogenic germination decreased by 50% within 1 day and continued to decrease over time. Quantitative PCR showed a decrease in Sclerotinia DNA for older sclerotia, but not fresh sclerotia. Trichoderma DNA increased and persisted inside older sclerotia but not fresh sclerotia.     

Suppressive soil against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum as a source of potential biocontrol agents: selection and evaluation of Clonostachys rosea BAFC1646

The fungal diversity structures of soils that are suppressive and non-suppressive to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum were characterised and screened for fungal strains antagonistic to the S. sclerotiorum pathogen. Soil suppressiveness was associated with a particular fungal diversity structure. Principal component analysis showed that antagonism by fungal species in suppressive soils was associated with the occurrence of Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Talaromyces flavus var. flavus and Clonostachys rosea f. rosea. In particular, C. rosea f. rosea occurred exclusively in suppressive soil samples, suggesting that this morpho-species plays an important role in suppression of S. sclerotiorum diseases. One strain of C. rosea f. rosea (BAFC1646) was selected for further experiments. Dual-culture assays confirmed the antagonistic behaviour of C. rosea f. rosea BAFC1646 against three different S. sclerotiorum strains. Antifungal activity was corroborated by diffusion assays with metabolite extracts. Greenhouse assays with soybean plants showed that the selected C. rosea f. rosea strain reduced the percentage of dead plants when co-inoculated with S. sclerotiorum. In addition, inclusion of C. rosea f. rosea alone increased shoot lengths significantly. In this work, we established the involvement of fungal species in soil suppressiveness and in further assays confirmed that C. rosea f. rosea BAFC1646 exhibits a bioprotective effect against S. sclerotiorum in soybean plants.     

Efficacy of Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum combination on chickpea Fusarium wilt caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris

Fusarium wilt is caused by F. oxysporum Schlecht end. Fr. f. sp. ciceris (FOC) is a devastating disease of chickpea in Algeria. In this study, antagonistic effects of B. subtilis MF352017 (Bs1) and Trichoderma harzianum KX523899 (T5) isolated from the rhizosphere of chickpea were investigated separately and in combination for their efficacy in controlling the disease in vivo. The efficacy of the antagonistic biocontrol agents on Fusarium wilt was evaluated based on vegetative and root growth parameters of chickpea. Seed bacterisation with B. subtilis MF352017 (Bs1) and seed treatment with T. harzianum (T5) significantly protected chickpea seedlings from FOC as compared to untreated plants. Plant protection was more pronounced in T. harzianum-treated plants than in bacterised plants. The application of both antagonists effectively suppressed 93.67% of the disease and also enhanced plant growth leading to increased plant height, root length, fresh and dry weights of shoot and root. The mixture of antagonists increased the effectiveness of B. subtilis MF352017 (Bs1) isolate on Fusarium wilt and improved chickpea growth.     

Recolonization following past persecution questions the importance of persistent snow cover as a range limiting factor for wolverines

Globally, climate is changing rapidly, which causes shifts in many species' distributions, stressing the need to understand their response to changing environmental conditions to inform conservation and management. Northern latitudes are expected to experience strongest changes in climate, with milder winters and decreasing snow cover. The wolverine (Gulo gulo) is a circumpolar, threatened carnivore distributed in northern tundra, boreal, and subboreal habitats. Previous studies have suggested that wolverine distribution and reproduction are constrained by a strong association with persistent spring snow cover. We assess this hypothesis by relating spatial distribution of 1589 reproductive events, a fitness-related proxy for female reproduction and survival, to snow cover over two decades. Wolverine distribution has increased and number of reproductive events increased 20 times in areas lacking spring snow cover during our study period, despite low monitoring effort where snow is sparse. Thus, the relationship between reproductive events and persistent spring snow cover weakened during this period. These findings show that wolverine reproductive success and hence distribution are less dependent on spring snow cover than expected. This has important implications for projections of future habitat availability, and thus distribution, of this threatened species. Our study also illustrates how past persecution, or other factors, that have restricted species distribution to remote areas can mask actual effects of environmental parameters, whose importance reveals when populations expand beyond previously restricted ranges. Overwhelming evidence shows that climate change is affecting many species and ecological processes, but forecasting potential consequences on a given species requires longitudinal data to revisit hypotheses and reassess the direction and magnitude of climate effects with new data. This is especially important for conservation-oriented management of species inhabiting dynamic systems where environmental factors and human activities interact, a common scenario for many species in different ecosystems around the globe.     

Selection of natural isolates of Trichoderma spp. for biocontrol of Polymyxa betae as a vector of virus causing rhizomania in sugar beet

The soil fungus Polymyxa betae, Keskin, besides being a root parasite, plays a role of a vector in dissemination of Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) causing rhizomania in sugar beet. An alternative to its chemical control is the application of antagonistic microorganisms suppressing proliferation of the fungal vector. In the present work, 66 Trichoderma isolates have been obtained from sugar beet plantations from diverse locations in Slovakia. The ability of the selected isolates to grow at low temperature (10 °C) and to suppress the colonization of roots with P. betae and the multiplication of BNYVV in roots under glasshouse conditions were tested. The roots of sugar beet seedlings growing in the BNYVV-infested soil were analyzed by serological ELISA test using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies for the presence of BNYVV and checked microscopically for the occurrence of cystosori of P. betae. The efficacy of the selected strains to suppress the proliferation of BNYVV varied on the average between 21 and 68%. On the basis of these tests, candidate strains for practical application in biocontrol of sugar beet rhizomania were selected.     

The effect of soil moisture on the tolerance of Lupinus pilosus genotypes to a calcareous soil

Commercial narrow-leafed lupins (Lupinus angustifolius L.) grown on calcareous soils commonly display chlorotic symptoms resembling Fe deficiency. The severity of chlorosis increases with concurrent increases in soil moisture content. Our research has indicated that the rough-seeded lupin species, Lupinus pilosus Murr., has a range of adaptation to calcareous soils, from tolerant to intolerant. A pot experiment was conducted comparing a tolerant, a moderately tolerant and a moderately intolerant genotype of L. pilosus. Plants were grown for 35 days in a calcareous soil (50% CaCO₃) at three moisture contents (80%, 100% and 120% of field capacity); the growth was compared with that on a fertile black cracking clay control soil at 70% of field capacity. Visual chlorosis score, chlorophyll meter readings, number of leaves and shoot dry weights were recorded at 14, 21, 28 and 35 days after sowing. Concentrations of chlorophyll, active Fe and nutrients in the youngest fully expanded leaves were also measured. Results showed that increased soil moisture increased the severity of chlorotic symptoms (increased chlorosis score) in all genotypes. The tolerant genotype showed significantly less symptoms than other genotypes at all moisture contents. All genotypes were able to recover from chlorosis symptoms at 80% moisture in the calcareous soil. Chlorosis score negatively correlated with chlorophyll meter readings, chlorophyll concentration and foliar active and total Fe, and Mn concentrations. Visual chlorosis score appeared to be a cost effective, accurate and efficient method enabling classification of the tolerance of genotypes. The chlorotic symptoms were likely to be due to HCO₃ ^- induced nutrient deficiencies or a direct effect of HCO₃ ^- on chlorophyll synthesis. This study indicates that the most probable mechanism of tolerance is related to an ability to prevent uptake of HCO₃ ^- or efficiently sequester it once inside the root which prevents increases in internal pH and transport to the shoots.     

Biology and host range of Ophiomyia camarae Spencer (Diptera: Agromyzidae), a potential biocontrol agent for Lantana spp. (Verbenaceae) in Australia

The life history and host range of the herringbone leaf-mining fly Ophiomyia camarae, a potential biological control agent for Lantana spp., were investigated. Eggs were deposited singly on the underside of leaves. Although several eggs can be laid on a single leaf and a maximum of three individual mines were seen on a single leaf, only one pupa per leaf ever developed. The generation time (egg to adult) was about 38 days. Females (mean 14 days) lived longer than males (mean 9 days) and produced about 61 mines. Oviposition and larval development occurred on all five lantana phenotypes tested. Eleven plant species representing six families were tested to determine the host range. Oviposition and larval development occurred on only lantana and another nonnative plant Lippia alba (Verbenaceae), with both species supporting populations over several generations. A CLIMEX model showed that most of the coastal areas of eastern Australia south to 30°16′ S (Coffs Harbour) would be suitable for O. camarae. O. camarae was approved for release in Australia in October 2007 and mines have been observed on plants at numerous field sites along the coast following releases.     

Evaluation of Trichoderma spp. from central and northern regions of Turkey for suppression of Polymyxa betae as a vector of rhizomania disease

In the current study, 18 Trichoderma spp. isolates were obtained from different provinces in central and northern regions of Turkey. The ability of nine selected isolates to suppress the colonisation of roots by P. betae and the multiplication of BNYVV in sugar beet roots under controlled conditions were tested. Roots of seedlings growing in the P. betae-BNYVV-infested soil were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to test for the presence of BNYVV and checked microscopically for the density of cystosori of P. betae. The numbers of P. betae resting spores in cystosori for each treatment were counted using a light microscope. Except for isolates Tr-1 and Tr-5, the effect of selected Trichoderma isolates on suppressing multiplication of BNYVV varied between 4 and 53%. The total number of resting spores in the roots varied between 14.4 and 25.1 for the different Trichoderma spp. treatments. The lowest number of resting spores in clusters was recorded in T. harzianum Tr-8. In addition, the shapes of resting spores were not normal in the Tr-8 treatments. The cystosori from this treatment were also abnormally dark in colour and had deformed walls.     

The biology of two Eretmocerus spp. (Haldeman) and three Encarsia spp. Forster and their potential as biological control agents of Bemisia tabaci biotype B in Australia

The performance, as measured by daily rate of parasitism and total parasitism, of five aphelinid species found in Australia parasitising Bemisia tabaci were compared on cotton, hibiscus, rockmelon, soybean and tomato. Two Eretmocerusspp., both indigenous to Australia, gave the highest levels of parasitism on each of the plant host species tested. The tritrophic interactions between B. tabaci, host plant species and Eret. mundus(Australian parthenogenetic form) (APF) were also examined. In general, more whiteflies were parasitised when cotton was the source host or rockmelon the test host. Parasitism was always low when tomato was either the source or test host. When parasitoids were transferred from rockmelon to cotton, parasitism declined. In contrast, parasitism increased when parasitoids were transferred from cotton to rockmelon. Parasitism also increased when parasitoids were transferred from soybean to rockmelon, yet failed to do so when shifted from soybean to cotton despite cotton normally being a better host. However, when parasitoids were transferred from cotton to soybean there was a marked increase in parasitism. Possible causes are discussed. The field cage trial demonstrated that parasitism by both Eretmocerus spp. increased with increasing whitefly density. Further, the increase in parasitism was not due to the presence of more parasitoids as neither the parasitoid-whitefly ratio nor the total number of parasitoids present had a significant effect on parasitism. The combination of the two species, gave similar levels of parasitism to that achieved by Eret. mundus(APF) alone. Subsequent identification of the emerged individuals indicated that over 50% of the parasitism was due to this species suggesting that it out-competed Eret. queenslandensis. Despite this competition, there was no evidence that overall control was compromised.     

Isolation and selection of Bacillus spp. as potential biological agents for enhancement of water quality in culture of ornamental fish

AIMS: To isolate, select and evaluate Bacillus spp. as potential biological agents for enhancement of water quality in culture of ornamental fish. METHODS AND RESULTS: Natural isolates obtained from mud sediment and Cyprinus carpio were purified and assessed in vitro for efficacy based on the inhibition of growth of pathogenic Aeromonas hydrophila and the decrease in concentrations of ammonium, nitrite, nitrate and phosphate ions. Based on suitability to predefined characteristics, the isolates B001, B002 and B003 were selected and evaluated in vitro in the presence of Aer. hydrophila and in a preliminary in vivo trial with C. carpio. The inhibitory effect on pathogen growth and the decrease in concentrations of waste ions was demonstrated. Based on 16S RNA sequence homology, the isolates were identified as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus licheniformis, respectively. Isolate B002 did not contain the anthrax virulence plasmids pOX1, pOX2 or the B. cereus enterotoxin. CONCLUSIONS: Selected isolates effected synergistic reduction in pathogen load and the concentrations of waste ions in vitro and in vivo and are safe for use in ornamental aquaculture. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: A new approach for assessment of biological agents was demonstrated and has yielded putative isolates for development into aquaculture products.     

The potential of Isaria spp. as a bioinsecticide for the biological control of Nasutitermes corniger

The termite Nasutitermes corniger is a serious pest infesting urban areas of Brazil and many other countries. Control largely depends on synthetic pesticides whose indiscriminate use can impact the environment and the health of humans and other animals. Alternative strategies against insect pests, such as biological control by entomopathogenic fungi, could be effective while minimising these deleterious effects. We analysed the actions of the entomopathogenic fungi Isaria farinosa, Isaria fumosorosea, and Isaria javanica against the insect N. corniger. Our results indicated that the fungi examined were pathogenic against N. corniger, with I. farinosa ESALQ1355 being the most efficacious strain, resulting in the death of 95% of the workers (LC₅₀ 6.66?×?10⁴ conidia/mL) and 85% of the soldiers (LC₅₀ 6.81?×?10⁴ conidia/mL). This is the first report of the pathogenicity of Isaria spp. on N. corniger. These in vitro results suggest that I. farinosa ESALQ1355 demonstrates a significant biological potential for controlling N. corniger.     

Antagonistic potential of Trichoderma longibrachiatum and T. hamatum resident on maize (Zea mays) plant against Fusarium verticillioides (Nirenberg) isolated from rotting maize stem

Antagonistic potential of Trichoderma longibrachiatum and T. hamatum against the pathogen Fusarium verticillioides was examined in the laboratory. This was done by pairing each Trichoderma species with the pathogen on 9 cm Petri plates of acidified potato dextrose agar (APDA). Three pairing methods were employed and gradings were assigned to different radial growth suppression of F. verticillioides by each Trichoderma species. Analysis was done using the GLM procedure of the SAS package. Both Trichoderma species significantly inhibited radial growth of F. verticillioides (P = 0.01, R ² = 0.99) irrespective of pairing method. ‘Inoculating antagonist before pathogen’ supported the best growth inhibition of F. verticillioides by both Trichoderma species. Both Trichoderma species differed significantly (P > 0.0029) in inhibiting radial growth of F. verticillioides. Growth inhibition differed significantly within (P > 0.0059) and among (P > 0.0001) pairing methods. T. longibrachiatum was significantly better than T. hamatum in inhibiting radial growth of F. verticillioides, even at P = 0.01. T. hamatum and T. longibrachiatum could thus be said to show promising antagonistic potential against F. verticillioides with the latter showing better prospects.     

间作经济作物对黄土丘陵区旱作红枣土壤水分的调控效应

研究行间种植经济作物饲料油菜和黄花菜对黄土丘陵区旱作红枣林地土壤水分的调控效应.结果表明： 饲料油菜和黄花菜处理0～180 cm土层土壤含水量较无作物对照分别提高6.2%和10.1%;枣树生育期内土壤水分变化主要集中在0～60 cm土层,饲料油菜和黄花菜处理均明显增加了0～60 cm土层土壤含水量,保证枣树生育期内正常生长;持续干旱条件下,各处理土壤水分消耗主要在0～60 cm土层,其中0～20 cm土层土壤含水量与次降雨后干旱天数存在显著指数负相关,雨后18 d干旱期饲料油菜和黄花菜处理0～60 cm土层土壤水分含量均高于对照.该间作系统显著改善了红枣林土壤水分环境,是黄土丘陵区克服季节性干旱的有效措施.     

覆盖方式对旱地冬小麦土壤水分的影响

在黄土高原半干旱雨养条件下,研究了不同覆盖方式(夏季覆膜,T₁;秋季覆膜,T₂;小麦碎秆覆盖,T₃;小麦整秆覆盖,T₄;夏季覆膜+麦秆还田,T₅;旧膜二茬利用,T₆;无覆盖对照,CK)对旱地冬小麦土壤水分的影响.结果表明: T₆在各时期、各土层土壤含水量普遍高于CK,其他5个覆盖处理可明显改善开花前0～90 cm土壤墒情,但开花后0～90 cm土层以及全生育期90～200 cm土层含水量普遍低于CK.全生育期0～200 cm土层平均含水量T₆显著高于CK,两者差值为0.9%,其余处理均低于CK.0～200 cm土层平均含水量秸秆覆盖处理高于覆膜处理,旧膜二茬利用高于新覆膜.覆膜处理单位面积籽粒产量较CK提高20.3%～29.0%,秸秆覆盖处理较CK提高5.0%～16.7%,冬小麦产量与生育期耗水量呈显著正相关(r=0.77^*).     

The effect of interfacial tension on hydrocarbon entrapment and mobilization near a dynamic water table

The entrapment of residual hydrocarbon ganglia during water table fluctuations can produce a long‐term contamination threat to groundwater supplies that is difficult to remove. The mobilization of entrapped hydrocarbon ganglia depends on the balance between capillary and gravitational forces represented by the Bond number. The present work focuses on the influence of the interfacial tension between the hydrocarbon and the surrounding water on the entrapment and mobilization of the residual ganglia. Laboratory column tests using glass beads as the porous medium have been conducted to determine the residual saturation of a hydrocarbon (Soltrol 170) trapped during vertical displacements due to a rising water table and the necessary decrease in interfacial tension to mobilize these trapped ganglia. The interfacial tension was decreased by the addition of isopropyl alcohol to the water phase. Saturations of the three phases (water, hydrocarbon, and air) were measured with a dual‐beam y‐densitometer. The results for residual hydrocarbon saturation at various interfacial tensions were combined with previous results for different particle diameters to provide a general relationship between residual saturation and Bond number. The relationship is expressed in an empirical correlation valid for Bond numbers between 0.001 and 1.2.     

不同土层测墒补灌对冬小麦耗水特性与光合速率和产量的影响

于2012—2014年两个冬小麦生长季,在大田条件下设置：全生育期不灌水(W₀)处理,当地定量节水灌溉(拔节期和开花期均灌水60 mm,W₁)处理,依据0～20 cm (W₂)、0～40 cm (W₃)、0～60 cm (W₄)和0～140 cm (W₅)土层土壤含水量测墒补灌处理,于拔节期和开花期补灌至土壤相对含水量为田间持水量的65%和70%,研究依据不同土层土壤含水量测墒补灌对冬小麦耗水特性、光合速率和籽粒产量的影响.结果表明：各处理拔节期灌水量为W₁、W₄＞W₃＞W₂、W₅,开花期灌水量和总灌水量均为W₅＞W₁、W₄＞W₃＞W₂,W₃总耗水量显著高于W₂处理,与W₁、W₄和W₅处理无显著差异.W₃土壤贮水消耗量高于W₁、W₄和W₅处理,其中,W₃在拔节至开花阶段和开花至成熟阶段对40～140 cm和60～140 cm土层土壤贮水消耗量均显著高于其余灌水处理.灌浆中期W₃处理小麦旗叶光合速率、蒸腾速率和水分利用效率最高,W₁和W₄处理次之,W₀处理最低.W₃处理两个生长季的籽粒产量分别为9077和9260 kg·hm^-2,水分利用效率分别为20.7和20.9 kg·hm-2·mm^-1,均显著高于其余处理,灌溉水生产效率最高.综合考虑灌水量、籽粒产量和水分利用效率,小麦拔节期和开花期适宜进行测墒补灌的土层深度为0～40 cm.     

喀斯特坡地基岩起伏对土壤剖面水分格局的影响

研究了喀斯特地区典型坡地3条人工开挖样沟(投影长21 m、宽1 m)的岩土结构特征、土壤剖面平均含水量和土岩界面含水量沿坡面向下的变化趋势,探讨了喀斯特坡地基岩起伏对土壤水分格局的影响.结果表明: 喀斯特坡地地表地形与基岩地形不一致,基岩深度变异系数最大为82%,基岩起伏较大.基岩起伏程度明显影响到土壤剖面水分分布格局: 基岩起伏较小时,土壤含水量呈上坡位至下坡位逐渐增加的趋势,且土壤剖面平均含水量和土岩界面含水量与基岩深度相关性均不显著;基岩起伏越大,土壤含水量沿坡向下线性增加的趋势越不明显,土壤水分空间连续性越差,基岩凹陷、裂隙处土壤含水量较高,土壤剖面平均含水量和土岩界面含水量与基岩深度呈极显著正相关,但后者对基岩起伏的响应更明显.