Dynamics of canopy-dwelling arthropods under different weed management options,including glyphosate,in conventional and genetically modified insect-resistant maize

The use of genetically modified varieties tolerant to herbicides (HT varieties) and resistant to insects (Bt varieties) in combination with application of a broad-spectrum herbicide such as glyphosate could be an effective option for the simultaneous control of weeds and pests in maize. Nevertheless, the possible impact of these tools on nontarget arthropods still needs to be evaluated. In a field study in central Spain, potential changes in populations of canopy-dwelling arthropods in Bt maize under different weed management options, including glyphosate application, were investigated. Canopy-dwelling arthropods were sampled by visual inspection and yellow sticky traps. The Bt variety had no effect on any group of studied arthropods, except for the expected case of corn borers—the target pests of Bt maize. Regarding the effects of herbicide regimes, the only observed difference was a lower abundance of Cicadellidae and Mymaridae on yellow sticky traps in plots not treated with pre-emergence herbicides. This effect was especially pronounced in a treatment involving two glyphosate applications. The decrease in Cicadellidae and Mymaridae populations was associated with a higher density of weeds in plots, which may have hindered colonization of the crop by leafhoppers. These differences, however, were only significant in the last year of the study. The low likelihood of the use of glyphosate- and herbicide-tolerant varieties for weed control triggering important effects on the nontarget arthropod fauna of the maize canopy is discussed.     

Isolation and characterization of endophytic bacteria from soybean (Glycine max) grown in soil treated with glyphosate herbicide

Endophytic bacteria are ubiquitous in most plant species influencing the host fitness by disease suppression, contaminant degradation, and plant growth promotion. This endophytic bacterial community may be affected by crop management such as the use of chemical compounds. For instance, application of glyphosate herbicide is common mainly due to the use of glyphosate-resistant transgenic plants. In this case, the bacterial equilibrium in plant–endophyte interaction could be shifted because some microbial groups are able to use glyphosate as a source of energy and nutrients, whereas this herbicide may be toxic to other groups. Therefore, the aim of this work was to study cultivable and noncultivable endophytic bacterial populations from soybean (Glycine max) plants cultivated in soil with and without glyphosate application (pre-planting). The cultivable endophytic bacterial community recovered from soybean leaves, stems, and roots included Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, A. junii, Burkholderiasp., B. gladioli, Enterobacter sakazaki, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas oryzihabitans, P. straminea, Ralstonia pickettii,and Sphingomonassp. The DGGE (Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis) analysis from soybean roots revealed some groups not observed by isolation that were exclusive for plants cultivated in soil with pre-planting glyphosate application, such as Herbaspirillum sp., and other groups in plants that were cultivated in soil without glyphosate, such as Xanthomonas sp. and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Furthermore, only two bacterial species were recovered from soybean plants by glyphosate enrichment isolation. They were Pseudomonas oryzihabitans and Burkholderia gladioliwhich showed different sensibility profiles to the glyphosate. These results suggest that the application at pre-planting of the glyphosate herbicide may interfere with the endophytic bacterial communitys equilibrium. This community is composed of different species with the capacity for plant growth promotion and biological control that may be affected. However, the evaluation of this treatment in plant production should be carried out by long-term experiments in field conditions.     

Concentric leaf spot of yam (Dioscorea spp) in South-western Nigeria

The etiology and epidemiology of concentric leaf spot and seedling blight diseases of yam (Dioscorea spp) was investigated at Jbadan, south western Nigeria, in the low land humid tropics. Sclerotium rolfsii was associated with the concentric leaf spot and seedling blight of yam. The pathogen was also harbored by weeds namely Mucuna pruriensis, Commelina erecta, ipomea triloba, I. involucrataand Ipomoea sp found growing within the yam plots. A high mean inoculum densities of 3.0 ± 0.5 × 10⁶ colony forming unit/g of soil was estimated in the soil samples obtained from the yam plots This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Habitat structure mediates top–down effects of spiders and ants on herbivores

Differences in structural complexity of habitats have been suggested to modify the extent of top–down forces in terrestrial food webs. In order to test this hypothesis, we manipulated densities of generalist invertebrate predators and the complexity of habitat structure in a two-factorial design. We conducted two field experiments in order to study predation effects of ants and spiders and, in particular, of the wasp spider Argiope bruennichi on herbivorous arthropods such as grasshoppers, plant- and leafhoppers in a grassland. Predator densities were manipulated by removal in habitats of higher and lower structural diversity, and the effects on herbivore densities were assessed by suction sampling. Habitat structure was changed by cutting the vegetation to half its height and removing leaf litter.We found a significant negative effect of this assemblage of generalist predators on plant- and leafhoppers, which were 1.6 times more abundant in predator removal plots. This effect was stronger in low-structured (cut) than in uncut vegetation. Densities of the most abundant planthopper Ribautodelphax pungens (Delphacidae) were 2.2 times higher in predator removal plots. Furthermore, adult plant- and leafhoppers responded more strongly than juveniles and epigeic species more strongly than hypergeic species. The presence of predators had a positive effect on plant- and leafhopper species diversity. In a second field experiment, we tested the exclusive impact of Argiope bruennichi on its prey, and found that its effect was also significant, although weaker than the effect of the predator assemblage. This effect was stronger in grass-dominated vegetation compared to structurally more complex mixed vegetation of grasses and herbs. We conclude that habitat structure and in particular vegetation height and architectural complexity strongly modify the strength of top–down forces and indirectly affect the diversity of herbivorous arthropods.     

How glyphosate altered the behaviour of agrobiont spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae) and beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Cultivation of herbicide-tolerant strain of GM corn involves applications of a non-selective herbicide. Mortality of arthropod natural enemies resulting from the application of herbicides is negligible. But nothing is known how herbicides affect the behaviour of natural enemies and thus alter their pest control efficacy. Aim of the study was to assess the effect of the Roundup residues on the predatory, defensive, locomotory and reproductive behaviour of epigeic spiders and carabid beetles. Specimens of Pardosa agricola (Araneae: Lycosidae) and Poecilus cupreus (Coleoptera: Carabidae) were exposed for 2 h to the fresh and 1-day old residues of Roundup Biaktiv (Monsanto, IPA 480 g/l). Predation rate was similar for all treatments in both spiders and beetles. Spiders did not avoid surface treated with herbicide residues more than the control surface, but beetles slightly avoided surface with fresh residues. The speed of locomotion of spiders was not altered by herbicide residues, but beetles exposed to residues crawled at significantly lower speed than the control group. Herbicide residues did not affect the escape efficacy of spiders from a predator. Residues had no detrimental effect on the courtship, mating frequency and duration in spiders. Roundup Bioaktiv thus appears to be harmless to lycosid spiders and only slightly harmful to carabid beetles. The biological control potential of both predators should not be reduced by the application of Roundup Bioaktiv.     

Transgenic Bt potato and conventional insecticides for Colorado potato beetle management: comparative efficacy and non-target impacts

Field studies were conducted in 1992 and 1993 in Hermiston, Oregon, to evaluate the efficacy of transgenic Bt potato (Newleaf^®, which expresses the insecticidal protein Cry3Aa) and conventional insecticide spray programs against the important potato pest, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), Colorado potato beetle (CPB), and their relative impact on non-target arthropods in potato ecosystems. Results from the two years of field trials demonstrated that Newleaf potato plants were highly effective in suppressing populations of CPB, and provided better CPB control than weekly sprays of a microbial Bt-based formulation containing Cry3Aa, bi-weekly applications of permethrin, or early- and mid-season applications of systemic insecticides (phorate and disulfoton). When compared with conventional potato plants not treated with any insecticides, the effective control of CPB by Newleaf potato plants or weekly sprays of a Bt-based formulation did not significantly impact the abundance of beneficial predators or secondary potato pests. In contrast to Newleaf potato plants or microbial Bt formulations, however, bi-weekly applications of permethrin significantly reduced the abundance of several major generalist predators such as spiders (Araneae), big-eyed bugs (Geocorus sp.), damsel bugs (Nabid sp.), and minute pirate bugs (Orius sp.), and resulted in significant increases in the abundance of green peach aphid (GPA), Myzus persicae (Sulzer) – vector of viral diseases, on the treated potato plots. While systemic insecticides appeared to have reduced the abundance of some plant sap-feeding insects such as GPA, lygus bugs, and leafhoppers, early and mid-season applications of these insecticides had no significant impact on populations of the major beneficial predators. Thus, transgenic Bt potato, Bt-based microbial formulations and systemic insecticides appeared to be compatible with the development of integrated pest management (IPM) against other potato pests such as GPA because these CPB control measures have little impact on major natural enemies. In contrast, the broad-spectrum pyrethroid insecticide (permethrin) is less compatible with IPM programs against GPA and the potato leafroll viral disease.     

Efficacy of inoculative releases of Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) against European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in field corn

We evaluated the egg parasitoid Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) to control European corn borer [Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner)] in field corn in 2001 and 2002. Inoculative releases of 75,000 T. ostriniae/ha occurred in New York and Virginia in 5–10 cornfields per state when corn was at mid-whorl. Incidence of egg mass parasitism, number of stalk tunnels, incidence of ear damage, and whole-plant yield were evaluated. Parasitism of European corn borer egg masses ranged from 0 to 75% in release plots and was greater in release plots than in control plots. Individual comparisons between paired release and control plots showed no reductions in either stalk or ear damage. However, when data were combined across both years and fields, stalk and ear damage were significantly reduced in New York. In Virginia, no significant differences were detected using data obtained from one year. There were no differences in yield between release and control plots. Low densities of European corn borer, drought conditions in 1 year, and a larger plant canopy in field corn are possible reasons why T. ostriniae releases provided less control than has been observed in previous trials in sweet corn. Additional research focused on improved timing and frequency and number of releases is warranted.     

Influence of herbicide tolerant soybean production systems on insect pest populations and pest-induced crop damage

Conventional soybean weed management and transgenic herbicide-tolerant management were examined to assess their effects on soybean insect pest populations in south Georgia in 1997 and 1998. Soybean variety had very little impact on the insect species observed, except that maturity group effects were observed for stink bug, primarily Nezara viridula (L.), population densities on some sampling dates. Stink bugs were more abundant on the early maturing varieties in mid-season. Velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris), and grasshoppers Melanoplus spp. were more numerous on either conventional or herbicide-tolerant varieties on certain dates, although these differences were not consistent throughout the season. Soybean looper, Pseudoplusia includens (Walker), threecornered alfalfa hopper, Spissistilus festinus (Say), and whitefringed beetles, Graphognathus spp , demonstrated no varietal preference in this study. Few weed treatment differences were observed, but if present on certain sampling dates, then pest numbers were higher in plots where weeds were reduced (either postemergence herbicides or preplant herbicide plus postemergence herbicide). The exception to this weed treatment effect was grasshoppers, which were more numerous in weedy plots when differences were present. In post emergence herbicide plots, there were no differences in insect pest densities between the conventional herbicides (e.g., Classic, Select, Cobra, and Storm) compared with specific gene-inserted herbicide-tolerant materials (i.e., Roundup and Liberty). Defoliation, primarily by velvetbean caterpillar, was different between soybean varieties at some test sites but not different between herbicide treatments. We did not observe differences in seasonal abundance of arthropod pests between conventional and transgenic herbicide-tolerant soybean.     

Colonization and predation of thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) by Orius spp. (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) in sweet pepper greenhouses in Northwest Italy

Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) and Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) are major pests of sweet pepper for direct damage and tospovirus transmission. To control their infestations, Orius laevigatus (Fieber) (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) is produced by many commercial insectaries and widely used on IPM vegetable crops of Europe. This predator is naturally widespread along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, and not in more continental areas, where other Orius spp. are more common. Research was conducted in a continental area of Northwest Italy in 2002–2003 to assess the natural presence of anthocorids on pepper, and to compare their colonization and predatory ability with those of the species artificially introduced. Experiments were conducted in 12 sweet pepper greenhouses, in six of which O. laevigatus release was made. From late May to early October, thrips and anthocorids were sampled on pepper by collecting flowers; Orius spp. were also collected on neighboring wild flora. Independently of the releases, Orius specimens were found in all surveyed greenhouses, but O. niger Wolff, also captured on various wild plants, was the most abundant species. It naturally colonized crops from late June and proved to be the most efficient predator on sweet pepper in the surveyed area, if not disturbed by pesticide application. Contrarily, O. laevigatus was rarely found and only in the greenhouses in which it had been released. However its introduction resulted in thrips control before natural colonization by the native species occurred.     

The impact of weed diversity on insect population dynamics and crop yield in collards, Brassica oleraceae (Brassicaceae)

Vegetational diversity within agricultural fields is often suggested as a means to reduce insect herbivore populations and to increase their natural enemies. In this paper we compare population densities of herbivores, predators, and parasitoids on collards in monocultures and on collards interplanted with two different groups of weeds, one with weed species from the same plant family as the collards (Brassicaceae) and one with weed species from unrelated plant families (non-Brassicaceae). The collards in the Brassicaceae weed polyculture had higher densities (number of herbivores/mean leaf area (cm²) per plant) of specialist herbivores than collards in the non-Brassicaceae weed polyculture and in collard monoculture. The “resource concentration” hypothesis is supported by the observation of higher populations of Phyllotreta spp., acting as facultative polyphages, in the Brassicaceae weed polyculture than in the non-Brassicaceae weed polyculture where Phyllotreta spp. are facultative monophages. Population densities of natural enemies (mostly coccinellids, carabids, and staphylinids) were higher in the polycultures than in the monoculture: carabid and staphylinid predators may be responsible for larval mortality in the imported cabbage worm, Pieris␣rapae, and in the diamondback larvae, Plutella xylostella. In spite of differences in densities of specialist herbivores across treatments, crop yield, leaf area (cm²), the proportion of leaf area damaged, and the number of leaves undamaged did not differ. These findings suggest that plant competition may interfere with attempts to reduce herbivore damage. We conclude that the use of weedy cultures can provide effective means of reducing herbivores if the crop and weed species are not related and plant competition is prevented. Received: 25 December 1995 / Accepted: 24 February 1997     

Seasonal abundance of hemipteran predators in relation to western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on weeds in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey

Generalist predators and the prey species Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) were periodically sampled from 64 weed species to determine their numerical interrelationships in three ecologically different locations in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey in 2002–2003. Adult and nymph stages of seven hemipteran predator species were recorded: Deraeocoris pallens Reuter, Geocoris arenarius (Jakovkev), Nabis punctatus Costa, Orius laevigatus Fieber, Orius majusculus (Reuter), Orius niger (Wolff) and Piocoris erythrocephalus (Peletie and Serville). The most common and abundant predator species was O. niger, which was found on 53 weed species in the winter–spring and summer–fall periods; the highest total numbers of O. niger adults per weed species were 139, 275, 266 and 325 on Urtica urens, Sinapis arvensis, Lamium amplexicaule and Mentha aquatica, respectively. Relatively higher numbers of Orius spp. nymphs were detected on the weed species Echium plantagineum, Cichorium intybus, Heliotropium europeum, Mentha aquatica and Polygonum aviculare. Orius spp. were attracted to flowers in significantly higher numbers than to leaves of the investigated weeds. No significant correlation was found between the numbers of Orius spp. and F. occidentalis on the major weed species, except E. plantagineum. These findings suggest that weeds may provide Orius spp. with resources other than prey, such as nectar and pollen, shelter, and breeding sites. The weed species on which relatively higher numbers of Orius adults and nymphs were found may be considered as candidates for studies aiming to include weeds to enhance integrated pest management of F. occidentalis on crops.     

Evaluation of airborne methyl salicylate for improved conservation biological control of two-spotted spider mite and hop aphid in Oregon hop yards

The use of synthetic herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPV) to attract natural enemies has received interest as a tool to enhance conservation biological control (CBC). Methyl salicylate (MeSA) is a HIPV that is attractive to several key predators of two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), and hop aphid, Phorodon humuli (Schrank) (Homoptera: Aphididae). A 2-year study was conducted to evaluate the recommended commercial use of MeSA in hop yards in Oregon. Slow-release MeSA dispensers were stapled to supporting poles in 0.5 ha plots and these plots were compared to a paired non-treated plot on each of three farms in 2008 and 2009. Across both years, there was a trend for reduced (range 40–91%) mean seasonal numbers of T. urticae in five of the six MeSA-baited plots. Stethorus spp., key spider mite predators, tended to be more numerous in MeSA-baited plots compared to control plots on a given farm. Mean seasonal densities of hop aphid and other natural enemies (e.g., Orius spp. and Anystis spp.) were similar between MeSA-treated and control plots. Variability among farms in suppression of two-spotted spider mites and attraction of Stethorus spp. suggests that the use of MeSA to enhance CBC of spider mites in commercial hop yards may be influenced by site-specific factors related to the agroecology of individual farms or seasonal effects that require further investigation. The current study also suggests that CBC of hop aphid with MeSA in this environment may be unsatisfactory.     

Responses of invertebrates to herbicide in Salix cinerea invaded wetlands: Restoration implications

The use of herbicides to control weeds, particularly large invasions, has now become an essential management tool in many ecological restoration projects. The herbicide glyphosate is routinely used to control the invasive weed, Grey Willow (Salix cinerea), within New Zealand wetlands. However, little is known about the effects of glyphosate on invertebrates. We determine the short‐term effects of glyphosate on the abundance and composition of the nontarget canopy invertebrate community in wetlands invaded by Grey Willow in New Zealand. Initially, the application of glyphosate and a surfactant showed no detectable effect on the canopy invertebrates examined in this study. However, 27 days after herbicide application, significant Grey Willow canopy loss caused dramatic decreases in the abundance of invertebrates in the glyphosate‐treated plots compared with the unsprayed plots. Invertebrates appeared to be sensitive to changes in vegetation structure, such as canopy loss. These results agree with previous studies that have shown that the negative impacts of glyphosate on invertebrate communities are related to indirect effects via habitat modification as the herbicide‐treated vegetation dies. From a terrestrial invertebrate perspective, this study suggests that the use of glyphosate herbicide is suitable for the control of invasive weeds within wetland restoration projects as it appears to have negligible impact on the canopy invertebrate assemblage.     

Long-Term Growth and Succession in Restored and Natural Mangrove Forests in Southwestern Florida

We compared colonization, growth and succession from 1989 to 2000 in a restored mangrove site and in gap and closed canopy sites in a natural mangrove forest. The restored site was created in 1982 and planted with Rhizophora mangle (≈2 m⁻²) propagules. By 1989, Laguncularia racemosa, with densities up to 12.9 tree m⁻², was a dominant in all plots, although densities were greater at edge plots relative to inner plots, and near open water (west plots) relative to further inland (east plots), and in tall mangrove plots relative to scrub plots. Rhizophora mangle (1989 tree densities about 2 m⁻²) was a codominant in inner and scrub plots, while Avicennia germinans had the lowest densities (<1 tree m⁻²) in all plots. From 1989 to 2000 L. racemosa experienced reduced recruitment and apparent density-dependent mortality of canopy individuals in plots with high initial densities. Scrub plots experienced high rates of colonization by R. mangle and L. racemosa, rapid growth in height of all species (1989–1996), followed by a dieoff of L. racemosa in later years (1997–2000) as the canopy came to resemble that of tall mangrove plots. Colonization and growth rates were lower in gap and closed canopy regions of the natural forest relative to rates in the restored site. After 11 years, densities of L. racemosa were 10–20× lower and R. mangle slightly less in the gap relative to densities in tall mangrove plots in the restored site at the same age. Although the restored stand had converged with the natural forest by 2000 in terms of some factors such as species richness, vegetation cover, litterfall, and light penetration, trees were still much smaller and stem densities much higher. Full development of mature structure and ecological function will likely require decades more development.     

草甘膦对入侵植物加拿大一枝黄花和伴生植物白茅光合特性的影响

入侵植物加拿大一枝黄花(Solidago canadensis)给许多地区带来了较大危害,目前常采用化学防除法进行防除,但除草剂防治入侵植物的同时难免会影响土著植物的生长。为探讨草甘膦对入侵植物与本地植物光合特性的影响,以加拿大一枝黄花及其伴生种白茅(Imperata cylindrica)为研究对象,采用盆栽控制试验方法,研究不同浓度草甘膦处理21后单种、混种加拿大一枝黄花和白茅的生长特征及光响应过程。结果表明:1)草甘膦显著抑制两种植物的生长。随处理浓度升高,加拿大一枝黄花的株高增长量不断减小、叶片枯萎率不断增加;白茅的分蘖死亡率、叶片枯萎率不断升高。白茅对草甘膦较敏感,0.6mL/L浓度下白茅先失绿,1.2mL/L下其分蘖死亡率、叶片枯萎率均超50%;1.8mL/L下加拿大一枝黄花叶片枯萎率超50%。施药后与单种相比,混种加拿大一枝黄花株高增长略快、叶片枯萎率略低,混种白茅分蘖死亡率及叶片枯萎率均较低,但单、混种之间差异不显著。种间关系显著影响白茅的分蘖数。2)随处理浓度递增,加拿大一枝黄花和白茅叶片净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(G_s)、蒸腾速率(T_r)均不断降低,白茅下降更快。两个物种胞间CO_2浓度(C_i)的变化不同,随着浓度升高,单种加拿大一枝黄花C_i先下降而后上升,而混种时的C_i则不断下降;单、混种白茅C_i均上升。3)草甘膦显著影响加拿大一枝黄花和白茅最大净光合速率(P_(nmax))、光饱和点(LSP)和光补偿点(LCP);对两个物种暗呼吸速率(R_d)的影响不显著,对加拿大一枝黄花表观量子效率(AQY)的影响同样不显著,但显著影响白茅AQY。种植方式显著影响两个物种P_(nmax)、LSP以及白茅R_d和AQY。0.6mL/L草甘膦对混种加拿大一枝黄花和白茅P_(nmax)的影响要大于对单种植株的影响,随处理浓度上升,对不同种植方式下两种植物P_(nmax)的影响趋近。与本地种白茅相比,入侵植物加拿大一枝黄花具有更高的光合速率和生长速率;草甘膦显著降低两个物种的生长和光合作用,白茅对草甘膦处理更敏感。     

Disturbance-mediated trophic interactions and plant performance

Disturbances, such as flooding, play important roles in determining community structure. Most studies of disturbances focus on the direct effects and, hence, the indirect effects of disturbances are poorly understood. Within terrestrial riparian areas, annual flooding leads to differences in the arthropod community as compared to non-flooded areas. In turn, these differences are likely to alter the survival, growth, and reproduction of plant species via an indirect effect of flooding (i.e., changes in herbivory patterns). To test for such effects, an experiment was conducted wherein arthropod predators and herbivores were excluded from plots in flooded and non-flooded areas and the impact on a common riparian plant, Mimulus guttatus was examined. In general, the direct effect of flooding on M. guttatus was positive. The indirect effects, however, significantly decreased plant survival for both years of the experiment, regardless of predator presence, because of an increased exposure to grasshoppers, the most abundant herbivore in the non-flooded sites. Leafhoppers, which were more abundant in the flooded sites, had much weaker and varying effects. During 2000, when the leafhopper herbivory was high, arthropod predators did not significantly reduce damage to plants. In 2001, the mean herbivory damage was lower and predators were able to significantly reduce overall leafhopper damage. The effects of predators on leafhoppers, however, did not increase plant survival, final weight, or the reproduction potential and, thus, did not initiate a species-level trophic cascade. Overall, it was the differences in the herbivore community that led to a significant decrease in plant survival. While flooding certainly alters riparian plant survival through direct abiotic effects, it also indirectly affects riparian plants by changing the arthropod community, in particular herbivores, and hence trophic interactions.     

Incidence of the introduced parasitoids Cotesia kazak and Microplitis croceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in tomatoes, sweet corn, and lucerne in New Zealand

Morphological defense traits of plants such as trichomes potentially compromise biological control in agroecosystems because they may hinder predation by natural enemies. To investigate whether plant trichomes hinder red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), as biological control agents in soybean, field and greenhouse experiments were conducted in which we manipulated fire ant density in plots of three soybean isolines varying in trichome density. Resulting treatment effects on the abundance of herbivores, other natural enemies, plant herbivory, and yield were assessed. Trichomes did not inhibit fire ants from foraging on plants in the field or in the greenhouse, and fire ant predation of herbivores in the field was actually greater on pubescent plants relative to glabrous plants. Consequently, fire ants more strongly reduced plant damage by herbivores on pubescent plants. This effect, however, did not translate into greater yield from pubescent plants at high fire ant densities. Intraguild predation by fire ants, in contrast, was weak, inconsistent, and did not vary with trichome density. Rather than hindering fire ant predation, therefore, soybean trichomes instead increased fire ant predation of herbivores resulting in enhanced tritrophic effects of fire ants on pubescent plants. This effect was likely the result of a functional response by fire ants to the greater abundance of caterpillar prey on pubescent plants. Given the ubiquity of lepidopteran herbivores and the functional response to prey shown by many generalist arthropod predators, a positive indirect effect of trichomes on predation by natural enemies might be more far more common than is currently appreciated.     

Hypothesis: Transgene establishment in wild relatives of wheat can be prevented by utilizing the Ph1 gene as a senso stricto chaperon to prevent homoeologous recombination

Durum and bread wheat need transgenic traits such as herbicide and disease resistance due to recent evolution of herbicide resistant grass weeds and an intractable new strain of stem rust. Transgenic wheat varieties have not been commercialized partly due to potential transgene movement to wild/weedy relatives, which occurs naturally to closely related Aegilops and other spp. Recombination does not occur in the F₁ hybrid between wheat and its relatives due to the presence of the Ph1 gene on wheat chromosome arm 5BL, which acts as a chaperone, preventing promiscuous homoeologous pairing to similar, but not homologous chromosomes of the wild/weedy species. Thus recombination must occur during backcrossing after the wheat Ph1 gene has been eliminated. Based on these findings, we speculate that Ph1 could be used to prevent gene introgression into weedy relatives. We propose two methods to prevent such transgene establishment: (1) link the transgene in proximity to the wheat Ph1 gene and (2) insert the transgene in tandem with the lethal barnase on any chromosome arm other than 5BL, and insert barstar, which suppresses barnase on chromosome arm 5BL in proximity to Ph1. The presence of Ph1 in backcross plants containing 5BL will prevent the homoeologous establishment of barnase coupled to the desired transgene in the wild population. 5BL itself will be eliminated during repeated backcrossing to the wild parent, and progeny bearing the desired transgene in tandem with barnase but without the Ph1-barstar complex will die.     

Experimental evaluation of the impacts of two ant species on banana weevil in Uganda

The banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar), is an important pest of bananas. Predatory ants are increasingly being viewed as possible biological control agents of this pest because they are capable of entering banana plants and soil in search of prey. We studied ant predation on banana weevil in Uganda in crop residues and live plants in both laboratory and field experiments. Field studies with live plants used chemical ant exclusion in some plots and ant enhancement via colony transfer in others to measure effects of Pheidole sp. 2 and Odontomachus troglodytes Santschi on plant damage and densities of immature banana weevils.In crop residues, an important pest breeding site, twice as many larvae were removed from ant-enhanced plots as in control plots. In young (2 month) potted suckers held in shade houses, ant ability to reduce densities of banana weevil life stages varied with the weevil inoculation rate. At the lowest density (2 female weevils per pot), densities of eggs, larvae, and pupae were reduced by ants. At higher rates there was no effect. In older suckers (5–11 months) grown in larger containers, banana weevil densities were not affected by ants, but damage levels were reduced. In a field trial lasting a full crop cycle (30 months), we found that the ants tested reduced the density of banana weevil eggs in suckers during the crop, but did not affect larval densities in the sampled suckers. However, most larvae occur in the main banana plants, rather than associated suckers. Nevertheless, levels of damage in mature plants at harvest did not differ between Amdro-treated and ant-enhanced plots, suggesting the ant species studied were not able to provide economic control of banana weevil under our test conditions.     

Impact of flowering buckwheat on Lepidopteran cabbage pests and their parasitoids at two spatial scales

We assessed the potential of annual buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum Moench, to lead to improved parasitism of lepidopteran cabbage pests over four years. Pest, parasitism, and hyperparasitism rates were monitored in replicated cabbage plots (12 × 20 m) with or without 3 m wide buckwheat borders from 2000 to 2003. Floral borders did not significantly increase egg, larval, or pupal densities of cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hübner), imported cabbageworm, Pieris rapae (L.), or diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.). Buckwheat increased parasitism rates by Voria ruralis (Fallen) on T. ni larvae and Cotesia rubecula (Marshall) on P. rapaelarvae over four years. Parasitism by Diadegma insulare (Cresson) on P. xylostella larvae was higher in buckwheat than control plots in the first year, and parasitism by Euplectrus plathypenae (Howard) on T. ni larvae was lower in buckwheat than control plots in the second year. The hyperparasitoid Conura side (Walker) attacked D. insulare all four years, but buckwheat did not affect hyperparasitism rates. The effect of spatial scale on pest densities and parasitism in 2001 was evaluated by comparing plots separated at least 67 m (nearby) versus 800 m apart (isolated). T. ni pupae and P. rapae eggs and pupae were more abundant in plots in closer proximity, whereas P. xylostella densities did not vary by the spatial separation of plots. Tachinids and Pteromalus puparum (L.) attacked more P. rapae in nearby plots. E. plathypenae responded to the treatment × scale interaction, parasitizing more in control than buckwheat when plots were isolated but not when plots were nearby.