EXPERIMENTS ON THE CONTROL OF BOTRYTIS DISEASE OF LETTUCE

Experiments were made during 1955-57 on the fungicidal control of Botrytis attack on lettuce, cv. May Queen, matured in frames from November to April, and cv. Trocadero Improved, grown as seedlings in frames from November to March and then matured in the field from March to June. The frame lettuce were treated during their whole period of growth and the field lettuce in the seedling stage only.
On both types, 0.33% thiram sprays applied on up to five occasions gave the best control of disease: 5% tecnazene dust was effective on the frame crop, in 2 out of 3 years when applied to the plants and also when incorporated in the top soil at the rate of 15 g. per sq.yd. Tecnazene applications did not give a good control of the disease on the field crop. Sprays with 0.25% captan were almost as effective as the thiram treatments on the field lettuce but not on the frame crop.     

二代褐飞虱对粳稻危害损失及防治指标研究

不同水稻生育期．褐飞虱的不同虫口密度的增长倍数不同;同一生育期．以低密度的增殖倍数大于高密度．但总虫量仍以高密度处理极显地高于低密度处理。水稻产量损失与二代褐飞虱百丛虫量间呈显正相关(r=0．9557^ ),两关系式为：Y=-16．3732 9．437tg(x);防治指标为150-200头／百丛。当二代楫飞虱早发、中等以上发生程度时．必须施药防治。     

STUDIES ON OSCINELLA FRIT LINN.

Data, collected in Sweden during the year 1927, indicate the existence of considerable variation in extent of infestation of the grain of different varieties, sown at the same time. Also they suggest that sterility or "blindness" of grain may be a varietal character.     

THE USE OF SOIL INSECTICIDES TO CONTROL POTATO APHIDS AND VIRUS DISEASES

A replicated trial was done to find whether the insecticides Thimet and Rogor applied in the soil affected the spread of aphid-transmitted viruses from infected to healthy plants with potato crops. The insecticides were applied at planting as activated carbon formulations at rates equal in cost to three sprays with DDT emulsion at 2 lb. DDT per acre. The infected plants were removed (rogued) in late June.
Thimet applied along the furrows with the fertilizer, and Rogor applied in individual doses beneath each tuber, kept the plants free from aphids from a week after the plants emerged until early August. Thimet in individual doses was less effective but greatly decreased the aphid infestation. All treatments prevented or greatly decreased the spread of leaf-roll virus, but they only slightly decreased the spread of virus Y. No treatment damaged the plants or depressed yields significantly.
Tubers harvested from the plots treated with insecticides contained only very small quantities of the insecticides, but shoots from them, when infested with adult Myzus persicae (Sulz.), carried fewer aphids a week after infestation than did shoots from control tubers. Shoots of tubers from treated plots also grew more slowly than those from the controls.
The aphicidal efficiency of Thimet applied as individual doses separated from the tubers by distances of up to 6 in., decreased as the distance increased, but the effect of distance became less as time passed.
Reasons for the differences in the behaviour of the insecticides are discussed, and the possibilities that the method offers to control virus diseases. The application of insecticides to soil promises to be a useful way of controlling the spread of viruses, provided the harvested crop is free from toxic residues.     

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

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

THE INFESTATION OF WINTER LETTUCE BY APHIDS AND ITS CONTROL

Observations have been made on the infestation by aphids of winter lettuce at Imperial College Field Station, Slough, for the seasons 1947–8 and 1949–54. The effects of transplanting and of the use of insecticides have been studied.
Plants drilled in September where they were to mature were ready for cutting a little earlier than those transplanted in November, but in years when aphids were numerous the drilled lettuces were heavily infested and very few of them hearted.
The infestation of young crops varied from year to year; in some winters it fell to a low level, in others it increased rapidly and persisted with serious effect on the crop. In some years lettuce mosaic virus was also prevalent. The dominant aphid species was Nusonovia ribis-nigri (Mosley).
An early and persistent attack, even in the absence of virus disease, much reduced the number of hearted plants and their average weight. A late attack by winged aphids in early spring sometimes spoilt fully hearted lettuces.
Dipping the plants in nicotine solution at the time of transplanting in November reduced aphid infestation; dusting with benzene hexachloride proved more effective.
If transplanting was delayed until February or March a relatively clean crop could be produced by insecticide treatment, but losses from fungal disease were usually high.     

Effects of Delaying Transplanting on Agronomic Traits and Grain Yield of Rice under Mechanical Transplantation Pattern

A delay in the mechanical transplantation (MT) of rice seedlings frequently occurs in Huanghuai wheat-rice rotation cropping districts of China, due to the late harvest of wheat, the poor weather conditions and the insufficiency of transplanters, missing the optimum transplanting time and causing seedlings to age. To identify how delaying transplanting rice affects the agronomic characteristics including the growth duration, photosynthetic productivity and dry matter remobilization efficiency and the grain yield under mechanical transplanting pattern, an experiment with a split-plot design was conducted over two consecutive years. The main plot includes two types of cultivation: mechanical transplanting and artificial transplanting (AT). The subplot comprises four japonica rice cultivars. The results indicate that the rice jointing, booting, heading and maturity stages were postponed under MT when using AT as a control. The tiller occurrence number, dry matter weight per tiller, accumulative dry matter for the population, leaf area index, crop growth rate, photosynthetic potential, and dry matter remobilization efficiency of the leaf under MT significantly decreased compared to those under AT. In contrast, the reduction rate of the leaf area during the heading-maturity stage was markedly enhanced under MT. The numbers of effective panicles and filled grains per panicle and the grain yield significantly decreased under MT. A significant correlation was observed between the dry matter production, remobilization and distribution characteristics and the grain yield. We infer that, as with rice from old seedlings, the decrease in the tiller occurrence, the photosynthetic productivity and the assimilate remobilization efficiency may be important agronomic traits that are responsible for the reduced grain yield under MT.     

Effect of the Duration of the Vegetative Phase on Shoot Growth, Development and Yield in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke)

Craufurd, P. Q. and Bidinger, F. R. 1988. Effect of the durationof the vegetative phase on shoot growth, development and yieldin pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke).–J.exp. Bot. 38: 124–139 The duration of the vegetative phase (DVP) in millet, whichis the major cause of variation in the crop duration, has markedeffects on the number of productive tillers per plant and onmainshoot (MS) and tiller grain yield. Daylength extensionswere used to vary the DVP and the effect on factors affectingpanicle (tiller) number per plant and panicle yield examinedin millet hybrid 841A x J104, grown in the field at Hyderabad,India. Tiller appearance, shoot leaf appearance and leaf area,and stem and panicle growth, in both MS and primary tillers(PTs), were monitored at frequent intervals over the season.At maturity grain yield per shoot was measured The concept of thermal time was used to describe shoot development.The rates of tiller appearance and shoot leaf appearance werelinearly related to thermal time and were not affected by DVPtreatments. The duration of the growth phase from panicle initiationto flowering (GS2) and from flowering to maturity (GS3) was320 and 390 degree days (°Cd), respectively. There was nodifference in rates of leaf or tiller appearance or developmentbetween MS and PTs. Tiller appearance, tiller leaf appearanceand tiller apical development all ceased at the same time inthe later initiated PTs, approximately 550 °Cd from sowing,shortly after rapid stem growth had begun. Tillers that didnot survive were all vegetative or in the early stages of reproductivedevelopment at this time The rate of accumulation of dry matter per plant was similarin all DVP treatments, but in the longer DVP treatments a greaterproportion of the dry matter was partitioned to the MS. Mainshootstem and panicle growth rates were increased by a longer DVP,as was grain yield on the MS, and these were related to increasedMS leaf area. Concurrently, growth rates and yields in laterinitiated tillers were reduced in relation to their leaf areas.Stem growth rate was proportionately increased more than paniclegrowth rate in the longer DVP treatments and this, combinedwith a longer duration of stem growth, resulted in greater stemdry matter at maturity and, therefore, in reduced harvest index.     

两个特用稻的营养供应水平与~(32)P、~(14)C分布和谷产量的关系

香稻(竹香粘)的分蘖数多,其分蘖期根系吸收~(32)P和~(32)P分布到分蘖,以高、中肥和高N,高K肥处理的为高;~(14)C-葡萄糖同化物分布在分蘖比黑米稻(黑优粘)和常规稻“双桂36”的高,但灌浆期和黄熟期~(14)C分布在稻穗较少.低肥处理的稻谷产量较高.而在高、中肥条件下结实率降低,实粒数减少,成穗率稍低,谷产量也比“黑优粘”和“双桂36”低. “黑优粘”在高肥、高N条件下的分蘖多,成穗率高、结实粒数也较多,稻谷产量比“竹香粘”高,在高、中肥、高 N高 P条件下,~(32)P分布于分蘖多,分蘖的~(14)C分布则以高 N,高 K肥条件下的多;开花和灌浆用稻穗的~(14)C分布皆以高 K肥水平的为高。“黑优粘”是耐肥和需钾肥品种,高肥、高K可提高其稻谷产量,但仍比“双桂36”低.     

Managing the pepper maggot (Diptera: Tephritidae) using perimeter trap cropping

A perimeter trap crop barrier of hot cherry peppers, border-row insecticide applications, and a combination of the two management strategies were evaluated to see if they could protect a centrally located main crop of bell peppers from oviposition and infestation by the pepper maggot, Zonosemata electa (Say). In large plots, the main cash crop of bell peppers was protected from the majority of the oviposition and infestation by all three barriers. The combination sprayed/trap crop barrier provided the best protection against both oviposition and infestation and resulted in over 98% pest-free fruit at harvest. Maggots infested only 1.7% of the main crop fruit when protected by a sprayed or unsprayed trap crop barrier, compared with 15.4% in control plots. The perimeter sprayed/trap crop strategy was employed in three commercial fields in 2000 and 2001. The combination barrier resulted in superior insect control and reduced insecticide use at all commercial locations, compared with the same farms' past history or to farms using conventional and integrated pest management (IPM) methods. Economic analysis showed that the technique is more cost effective and profitable than relying on whole-field insecticide applications to control the pepper maggot. Farmer users were surveyed and found the perimeter trap crop technique simple to use, with many hard-to-measure benefits associated with worker protection issues, marketing, personnel/management relations, pest control and the environment. Use of the perimeter trap crop technique as part of an IPM or organic program can help improve crop quality and overall farm profitability, while reducing pesticide use and the possibility of secondary pest outbreaks.     

Agro-ecology of onion couch (Arrhenathemm elatius var. bulbosum (Willd.)).

This study investigates the performance of vegetative propagules of onion couch (Arrhenatherum elatius var. bulbosum) of varying sizes during the crop growth cycle; especially trends in tiller and bulb production and crop yield loss. The results suggest that the earlier the crop canopy closes the more suppression it will exert on the bulb formation stage of onion couch and hence its future reproductive potential. The closed canopy provided by a dense crop cut short the bulb formation phase and forced onion couch to invest more in aerial tillers in order to compete and coexist with the taller tillers of the crop. An additive experimental design used here to predict the crop losses indicated that natural infestation of onion couch caused greater crop yield loss compared to artificially planted plots. It was found that, although the regrowth from large aggregates with densely packed bulb chains is reduced by correlative dominance and density dependent mortality, presence of such large aggregates can affect crop yield by interfering with the establishment of crop. The competitiveness and development pattern of onion couch suggests that the recent spread of the weed and the reported variable results of control measures is due to the recent shift in agricultural practices.     

Evaluation of border sprays for managing the codling moth (Tortricidae: Lepidoptera) and the apple maggot (Tephritidae: Diptera) in Ontario apple orchards

The efficacy of two insecticide control programs for managing the codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), and the apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh), were compared in the Georgian Bay, London, Niagara, and Quinte apple production areas of Ontario during 1995, 1996, and 1997. In the border spray program, an initial cover spray of organophosphorus insecticide was applied to eradicate codling moths that may have colonized a test plot during the previous growing season. Subsequent sprays were applied only to a four-tree-wide zone (approximately 20 wide) around the perimeter of the plot to control immigrating codling moths or apple maggots. In the cover spray program, all sprays of organophosphorus insecticide were applied to the entire plot. Apple maggot injury was significantly greater in border spray program plots than in cover spray program plots only during 1995 in the London production area. There was no significant difference in codling moth injury between border spray and cover spray plots in the four production areas during the three-year study. The elimination of cover sprays from border spray plots during July and August may have left the apple crop more susceptible to damage by second generation larvae of the obliquebanded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris), in the London production area during 1995. There was a trend of increasing codling moth injury from 1995 to 1997 in two border spray plots, and apple maggot injury was detected in these plots during the third year of the study.     

开放式空气二氧化碳浓度增高对小麦产量形成的影响

利用农田开放式空气CO₂浓度增高(FACE)系统平台,以弱筋小麦宁麦9号为供试品种,研究大气CO₂浓度增高和不同施氮水平对小麦生育期、株高、产量和产量构成因素的影响.结果表明：FACE处理的小麦播种至抽穗期、抽穗至成熟期及全生育期天数分别比对照缩短1.3、1.3和2.6 d,但均未达到显著水平;FACE处理的小麦穗长、穗下第1和第2节间长度显著变长,成熟期株高显著增加,比对照增加4.0%;低、中、高氮条件下,FACE处理小麦的籽粒产量分别比对照提高15.2%、21.4%和35.4%,平均增产24.6%,均达极显著水平;FACE处理小麦的单位面积穗数极显著增加,比对照增加17.8%,使穗粒数和粒重显著增加,分别比对照增加了2.9%和4.8%.FACE处理使小麦显著增产主要是由于单位面积穗数显著增加,而单位面积穗数的增加主要是由于小麦的分蘖能力明显增强所致.     

Some factors influencing the performance of spray programmes for the control of coffee berry disease

In 1968 in a field trial at Kamundu, Kenya, early-season (Jan.-Mar.) sprays of copper, captafol and Tuzet failed to control coffee berry disease (CBD), in the late (main) crop of cultivars S.L.28 and S.L.34. Copper and captafol caused some delay in disease development but eventually infection reached over 50 % in all treatments and final yields of sprayed plots were below those from unsprayed plots. In a similar trial in 1969 at Yara on the cultivar French Mission a similar spray programme achieved significant benefits: copper and captafol kept the level of disease below 20% and gave improved yields compared with unsprayed plots. A continuation of the sprays until June increased yields still further. In a second trial in 1968 at Kiamara on the cultivar French Mission substantial quantities of early crop were present and disease in this was effectively controlled by early-season sprays of captafol, although the late crop on the same trees became severely affected. Removal of this overlapping early crop in January caused only a limited delay in disease development in the late crop, despite the fact that with some treatments this stripping resulted in the removal of a large source of potential inoculum from the tree. The results are considered in relation to differences between seasons and fungicides and it is concluded that further evidence has been provided for the importance of the protective role of fungicides against CBD. It is considered that stripping of the early crop is never likely to be a necessary management practice.     

Reduction of shoot fly damage in irrigated post-rainy season sorghum by manipulating irrigation

Soil moisture was manipulated in an attempt to control shoot fly (Atherigona soccata Rondani) incidence in irrigated post-rainy season sorghum grown under a rainout shelter (ROS) and in field conditions. After uniform irrigation at sowing, the plants were subjected to water stress at young seedling stage (7–28 days after emergence, DAE) for different lengths of time. Soil water had profound effects on the production of water droplets on the surface of the central whorl leaf of seedlings (leaf surface wetness, LSW) of sorghum genotypes. LSW, which facilitates movement of the larvae, was more drastically affected in susceptible (CSH 5) than in moderately resistant (IS 1054) sorghum genotypes. Shoot fly oviposition (infestation) and deadhearts (crop damage) were much higher in treatments with full irrigation (control) than in treatments to which less water was applied during the first 3 wk after seedling emergence. This resulted in higher plant biomass and overall grain yield in the latter treatments than in the control. Using insecticides to control shoot fly infestation, it was shown that a simple cultural practice of inducing plant stress by reduced soil moisture content during early plant growth gave the same or better control of shoot fly damage and the same or higher grain yield than insecticide-protected plots with full irrigation. Thus the costs associated with irrigation requirement and insecticide can be greatly reduced in the former management option compared with the latter. It is suggested that manipulation of soil water content during the vulnerable early stages of crop growth can reduce shoot fly damage in irrigated post-rainy season sorghum.     

Tolerance and compensatory response of rice to sugarcane borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) injury

A 3-yr field experiment was conducted to evaluate the tolerance and compensatory response of rice (Oryza sativa L.) to injury caused by sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.), as affected by cultivar (Cocodrie, Francis, and Jefferson), stage of crop growth during which the injury occurred (third tiller stage, panicle differentiation stage, and heading stage), and sugarcane borer density. The proportion of rice tillers with sugarcane borer injury (leaf and leaf sheath injury and/or stem injury) was lower when injury occurred at the third tiller stage (0.05) than at panicle differentiation (0.19) and heading (0.18). When injury occurred at the two latter stages, both the proportion of tillers with injury and the proportion of tillers with stem injury were negatively correlated with rainfall. Rainfall resulted in dislodgement and mortality of sugarcane borer eggs and larvae before the larvae entered the stems. Rice plant density in this study (111.1 plants/m2) was higher than recorded for previous research on rice compensation using potted rice or conducted in low-density hill production systems (26.7-51.3 plants/m2). Two mechanisms of within-plant tolerance/compensation were observed. Stem injured plants produced approximately 0.69 more tillers than uninjured plants, whereas tillers with leaf and leaf sheath injury produced larger panicles, up to 39.5 and 21.0% heavier than uninjured tillers, when injury occurred at third tiller stage and at panicle differentiation, respectively. Rice yield was not reduced with up to 23% injured tiller and up to 10% injured stems at the third tiller stage, 42% injured tillers and 17% injured stems at panicle differentiation, and 28% injured tillers and 14% injured stems at heading. Significant between-plant compensation was not detected, suggesting competition between adjacent plants is not significantly reduced by injury. Our results suggest that rice can tolerate and/or compensate for a level of stem borer injury previously considered to be economically damaging.     

Hormonal regulation of tiller dynamics in differentially-tillering rice cultivars

Tiller number can contribute significantly to yield potential of rice, but little knowledge is available on hormonal regulation of tillering and tiller dynamics. In the present study, Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), kinetin (6-furfuryl amino purine) and Gibberellic acid (GA₃) treatments have been applied at the early tillering stage to two rice cultivars that contrast for tiller number. The responses of the hormones were studied on growth, development, grain yield, senescence patterns, assimilate concentration of the panicle and ethylene production in different classes of tillers. The leaf area, panicle grain number, fertility percentage and grain yield of tillers were higher in the low-tillering cultivar than that of high-tillering cultivar; the treatment of kinetin was more effective in the latter than in the former. High ethylene production was responsible for reduction of growth duration and grain yield of the tillers. Kinetin application reduced ethylene production of the late-tillers significantly for the benefit of grain yield.     

He－Ne激光照射糙米种胚对水稻当代生长发育的影响

Ｈｅ－Ｎｅ激光处理水稻去壳种子可以促进分蘖,提高成秧率和成穗率,增加有效穗数和每穗总粒数、千粒重及单株产量。但结实率降低、生育期延长。株高、穗长虽略有增加,但不明显。     

The influence of straw disposal and cultivation regime on the population dynamics ofBromus sterilis

The effects of straw-burning and cultivation regime upon the population dynamics of a naturally-occurring infestation of Bromus sterilis were investigated over a period of 11 months. Both grain and straw of the original crop were seriously contaminated with seeds of this species. An initial population of 12 635 seeds m^-2 declined by 85% between July and late August in uncultivated stubble without straw-burning, but only 44% of seeds gave rise to seedlings. A further 10% had produced seedlings by late December and another 5% emerged between February and April. By April no viable seed remained. Straw-burning destroyed 97% of the ungerminated seeds on the soil surface and reduced seedling numbers by 94%. However, those seedlings which did survive formed many tillers and produced considerable quantities of seed. Shallow cultivation reduced the seed population by 34% and in April there were 47% fewer seedlings on these plots than on direct drilled ones. Ploughing to a depth of 20 cm eradicated the weed; and although buried seeds germinated, they failed to emerge. Seedlings emerging in spring failed to flower before harvest. Detailed laboratory investigation showed that although B. sterilis does not have a pronounced requirement for vernalisation, chilling did accelerate flowering, while long-day photoperiods were required for panicle extension. Only germinated seeds responded to the vernalisation stimulus.     

Interactions between panicle size, insect density, and environment for genotypic resistance in sorghum to head bug,Calocoris angustatus

Studies were undertaken on interactions between panicle size, insect density, host plant, and the environment for sorghum head bug,Calocoris angustatus Lethiery on five sorghum genotypes in terms of bug population increase, grain damage and loss in grain mass across four panicle sizes (5, 10 or 20 branches/panicle and whole panicle), and three infestation levels (5, 10 and 15 pairs of bugs/panicle). Head bug numbers increased and grain damage decreased with an increase in panicle size in the head bug susceptible cultivars, CSH 1 and CSH 5. However, the increase in bug numbers or decrease in grain damage was not significant in head bug resistant genotypes, IS 17610 and IS 17645. Head bug numbers increased with an increase in infestation level in CSH 1 and CSH 5, however, such an increase was not substantial in IS 17610 and IS 17645. Grain damage was significantly lower in IS 17610 and IS 17645 compared with CSH 1 and CSH 5 across infestation levels. Head bug population increased at a greater rate during the rainy season compared with the dry season. Panicle size and infestation levels accounted for greater variation in grain damage and percentage loss in grain mass during the rainy season than in the dry season. To identify reliable sources of resistance to insects, it is important to study insect host plant-interactions across panicle sizes (levels of food availability), infestation levels and seasons.