A Genetic Analysis of Mancozeb Resistance in Typhlodromus Pyri (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

A field population of Typhlodromus pyri (Acari: Phytoseiidae) tolerant to mancozeb was selected in the laboratory. After 10 mancozeb selections the LC₅₀ value for mancozeb was 73 times higher in the selected-10 strain compared to the standard susceptible strain. A genetic analysis using reciprocal crosses and backcrosses of female F₁ progeny found no maternal effect. Resistance in the selected-10 strain was codominant in expression, dominance value was about −0.1. Backcrosses between F₁ females and the susceptible strain indicate that the resistance to mancozeb could be principally conferred by a predominant gene, but additional factors would also be involved.     

Effects of the fungicides mancozed and dithianon on mortality and reproduction of the predatory miteAmblyseius andersoni

Laboratory studies using commercial formulations of mancozeb and dithianon at concentrations equivalent to recommended field rates of 200 and 80 g/hl, respectively, were conducted to evaluate toxic effects of these fungicides on the predatory miteAmblyseius andersoni Chant. In short-term tests where females were placed on apple-leaf disks and sprayed with mancozeb, no mortality of adults was observed; however, there was a 34% decrease in fecundity, a 7.1% decrease in egg hatch, and mortality of larvae and protonymphs was 6.7%. In long-term tests, a significant reduction in fecundity was also observed. A decrease in hatch that was dependent on age at time of treatment was found when eggs were treated directly with mancozeb. No effects on mite mortality or reproduction were observed in short-term tests with dithianon. These results suggest that dithianon might be considered as a potential alternative to mancozeb for scab control.     

Characterization of a strain of Serratia sp. with ixodicide activity against the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus

Cattle ticks are considered the most important ectoparasite in the livestock industry. Rhipicephalus microplus causes economic losses both through direct feeding on livestock and through disease transmission. Reports of the failure of chemical ixodicides to control this tick have led to a search for control alternatives, such as bacteria with ixodicide activity. The objective of this work was to select a bacterial strain with ixodicide activity against R. microplus. In total, 83 bacterial strains were isolated from soil and dead R. microplus specimens, and all strains were evaluated against larvae in a screening test. Bacteria with ixodicide activity were evaluated in larvae and engorged adult female ticks. The larvae were challenged using the larval immersion test (LIT) with 20 µg/mL total protein. The median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) for larvae was obtained by using nine total protein concentrations. Engorged adult female ticks were challenged using the adult immersion test (AIT) with six protein concentrations. We evaluated adult mortality on day 10, oviposition rate on day 14 and hatching rate on day 40 after challenge. Only one bacterial strain (EC-35) showed ixodicide activity against larvae and adult R. microplus. The highest larval mortality, 52.3%, occurred with a total protein concentration of 40 μg/mL, and the LC₅₀ was 13.9 µg/mL of protein. In adults, a total protein concentration of 10 µg/mL had the highest mortality (55%), oviposition inhibition (50.9%) and reproductive potential inhibition (52.5%). However, there was no significant effect on hatching. The 16S rRNA gene sequence showed 99% identity of EC-35 with Serratia sp.

     

Highly Toxic and Broad-Spectrum Insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis Engineered by Using the Transposon Tn917 and Protoplast Fusion

The chromosome of the Bacillus thuringiensis strain S184 that was toxic against the third instar larvae of Spodoptera litura with the LC₅₀ of 9.74 μg/ml was successfully integrated into two genes of cyt1Aa and cry11Aa using the transposon Tn917, yielding the primary engineered strain TnX. The strain TnX was highly toxic to the third instar larvae of Culex pipiens fatigans with the LC₅₀ of 5.12 ng/ml which was 1.82-fold higher than that of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, but lowly toxic to lepidopterous larvae. By the protoplast fusion of the strain TnX and the strain S184-Tet^r (resistance to tetracycline), the target engineered strain TnY was obtained. Against the third instar larvae of S. litura, the strain TnY LC₅₀ was of 4.68 μ g/ml and increased by 2.08-fold in comparison with the parent strain S184. Against the third instar larvae of C. pipiens fatigans, the strain TnY LC₅₀ was of 103.20 ng/ml. The two target genes of cyt1Aa and cry11Aa integrated into the chromosome were extremely stable and had little possibility of a second transposition. It was unclear whether some factors existing in the parent strain, S184, contributed to the high toxicity of the strains TnX and TnY. Received: 30 November 2000 / Accepted: 10 January 2001     

Monooxygenase Activity in Methidathion Resistant and Susceptible Populations of Amblyseius womersleyi (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase activities in methidathion resistant and susceptible strains of Amblyseius womersleyi Schicha. Artificial laboratory selections for resistance and susceptibility to methidathion were performed in an organophosphate resistant strain of A. womersleyi (Kanaya strain). Selections for susceptibility were also performed in a susceptible strain of this predaceous mite (Ishigaki Strain). After the selection process, the LC₅₀ of methidathion for the selected strains of A. womersleyi were 816 mg/l (Kanaya R), 4.61 mg/l (Kanaya S) and 1.59 mg/l (Ishigaki S). The monooxygenase activities were determined biochemically by the O-deethylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin (7-EC). The monooxygenase activity in adult females of Kanaya R strain (51.1 pmol/30 min/mg protein) was 3.60- and 5.42-fold higher than the activity observed for Kanaya S and Ishigaki S strains, respectively. Significant correlation between monooxygenase activity and LC₅₀ (mg/l) of methidathion was observed analyzing 16 populations of A. womersleyi with different susceptibilities to methidathion. Monooxygenase activity was also evaluated in different life stages (egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph and adult) of A. womersleyi. The lowest activity was observed for the larval stage, which presented the highest susceptibility to methidathion. Protonymph, deutonymph and adult presented the highest monooxygenase activities. These stages were the most tolerant to methidathion. Monooxygenase activities of the Kanaya R strain were higher than of the Kanaya S strain in all developmental stages. The present study can be helpful for the implementation of a program involving release of insecticide-resistant populations of A. womersleyi in the field. The monooxygenase activity determination is easier and quicker than the estimation of LC₅₀, requiring fewer mites.     

First report of amitraz and cypermethrin resistance in Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato infesting dogs in Mexico

Engorged female Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Ixodida: Ixodidae) were collected from dogs in the state of Yucatán, Mexico. Fourteen tick populations were collected from dogs at seven veterinary clinics, four residential homes and three cattle farms. The larval immersion test was used in the progeny of collected adult females to test susceptibility to amitraz and cypermethrin. Dose–mortality regressions, 50% lethal concentrations (LC₅₀), confidence intervals and slope were estimated by probit analysis. For amitraz, 12 tick populations (85.7%) were classified as resistant and low inter‐population variation in the phenotypic level of resistance was evident [resistance ratios (RRs) at LC₅₀: 1.0–13.0]. For cypermethrin, 12 tick populations (85.7%) were classified as resistant and substantial inter‐population variation in the phenotypic level of resistance was evident (RRs at LC₅₀: 1.0–104.0). Thus, amitraz resistance in R. sanguineus s.l. is common, but generally occurs at low levels; however, alarmingly high levels of cypermethrin resistance are present in R. sanguineus s.l. populations in dogs in Yucatán, Mexico. The intensive use of both acaricides to control ectoparasites on dogs is likely to lead to more serious resistance problems that may cause high levels of control failure in the future.     

三唑类杀菌剂对三种赤眼蜂成蜂的急性毒性及风险评估

【目的】明确三唑类杀菌剂对天敌赤眼蜂Trichogramma spp.的影响。【方法】在室内采用药膜法测定了其对稻螟赤眼蜂Trichogramma japonicum Ashmead、亚洲玉米螟赤眼蜂T. ostriniae Pang et Chen和拟澳洲赤眼蜂T. confusum Viggiani成蜂的急性毒性,并进行了风险评估。【结果】急性毒性测定结果表明,在测定的6种三唑类药剂中,氟环唑急性毒性最高,对稻螟赤眼蜂、拟澳洲赤眼蜂和亚洲玉米螟赤眼蜂的LC₅₀分别为12.38(11.34~13.60),12.34 (10.34~15.07) 和41.12 (37.75~45.05) mg a.i/L;其次为苯醚甲环唑和种菌唑,这两种药剂对上述3种赤眼蜂的LC₅₀在507.14 (464.79~556.48)~2 246.93 (1 866.65~2 755.12) mg a.i/L之间;而环丙唑醇、戊唑醇和己唑醇对3种赤眼蜂的毒性最低,其LC₅₀在5 970.03 (5 062.21~7 093.93)~11 712.34(9 941.23~14 026.12) mg a.i/L之间。氟环唑对3种赤眼蜂为低风险性,安全性系数为0.10~0.34。苯醚甲环唑对拟澳洲赤眼蜂为中等风险性,安全性系数为3.96;而该药剂对稻螟赤眼蜂和亚洲玉米螟赤眼蜂却均为低风险性,安全性系数分别为8.13和7.69。环丙唑醇、己唑醇、戊唑醇和种菌唑对测定的3种赤眼蜂成蜂均为低风险,其安全性系数在7.31~107.74之间。【结论】一些三唑类杀菌剂对赤眼蜂具有急性毒性潜力,在害虫综合治理中应谨慎使用三唑类杀菌剂,尤其是氟环唑,以免对赤眼蜂造成不良影响及危害。     

Lethal and sub‐lethal effects of spinosad on the life‐history traits of army worm,Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and its fitness cost of resistance

Spodoptera litura is one of the most destructive polyphagous insect pests, with more than 120 host‐plant species. In our present study, a field‐collected population of S. litura when selected with spinosad for 11 consecutive generations resulted in the development of 3921‐fold resistance to spinosad as compared to the susceptible strain. The spinosad‐resistant strain of S. litura had a relatively high fitness cost (0.17) as compared to the susceptible strain. Furthermore, the lethal and sub‐lethal effects of different concentrations of spinosad were checked on the susceptible strain at different levels; i.e., LC₄₀, LC₃₀, LC₂₀ and LC₁₀, which revealed that the impact of spinosad on the life‐history traits of S. litura increased with the increase in concentration of spinosad. A significant impact of spinosad was recorded on the larval duration, pre‐pupal weight, pupal duration, pupal weight, reproductive potential and adult emergence. The outcomes of the current research clearly indicate that fitness cost of spinosad and its sub‐lethal effects have a significant impact on population dynamics of S. litura, for which it can be incorporated in integrated pest management.     

Sublethal effects of buprofezin on development,reproduction, and chitin synthase 1 gene (SfCHS1) expression in the white-backed planthopper,Sogatella furcifera (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)

The white-backed planthopper, Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), is a major rice pest in some Asia-Pacific countries. Buprofezin is an insect growth regulator with relatively low mammalian toxicity but high efficacy to many rice pests. In this study, we estimated the toxicity of buprofezin against 3rd-instar nymphs of S. furcifera using the rice-stem dipping method. The results showed that the LC₅₀ of buprofezin to 3rd-instar nymphs were 0.89?mg/L. When 3rd-instar nymphs were exposed to the LC₁₀ and LC₂₅ (0.10 and 0.28?mg/L) of buprofezin, the duration of juvenile development was significantly prolonged in the F₀ and F₁ generations. The fecundity (eggs per female) of the F₁ females was reduced by 5.29% and 12.34%, respectively, in addition to the survival rate, emergence rate, copulation rate, and hatchability were decreased by treatment with buprofezin at LC₁₀ and LC₂₅, compared with the control group. The relative fitness of S. furcifera in LC₁₀ and LC₂₅ treatments was reduced by 47% and 63%, respectively. Furthermore, real-time quantitative PCR analyses revealed increased the expressions of SfCHS1 and its two variants following the exposure of nymphs to buprofezin. Increased these genes mRNA levels associated with reduced chitin biosynthesis may result from the inhibition of chitin synthase activity, and thereby leading to a higher mortality of S. furcifera. Overall, sublethal concentrations of buprofezin suppressed the population growth of S. furcifera.     

Resistance to chlorpyriphos in the predatory mite Kampimodromus aberrans

The predatory mite Kampimodromus aberrans (Oudemans) is a key biocontrol agent in vineyards in Italy and Southern Europe. Its susceptibility to common pesticides (e.g., organophosphates) has been considered an important factor in preventing successful biocontrol of phytophagous mites. Nevertheless, populations of K. aberrans apparently resistant to organophosphates (OPs) have been reported to occur in Northern Italian vineyards. The resistance of K. aberrans to fungicides (e.g., mancozeb) has been demonstrated in the laboratory in France, but little is known about the toxicity of insecticides towards K. aberrans. Of these pesticides, the OP chlorpyriphos is extensively used in viticulture to control lepidopterans and homopterans. The present study investigated the dose–response effect of chlorpyriphos in four K. aberrans strains characterized by different levels of exposure to OP insecticides in the past: from never to frequently exposed. Resistance to chlorpyriphos is demonstrated for populations collected from vineyards and apple orchards. Resistance factors exceeded 145,000× for the three strains collected in vineyards and orchard. LC₅₀ values for resistant strains were 1.85–6.83 times higher than the recommended field dose of chlorpyriphos for vineyards and orchards (525 mg a.i./l).     

Inheritance of dicrotophos resistance in greenhouse whitefly

We studied inheritance of resistance to dicrotophos in greenhouse whitefly,Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae). Compared with females from a field-collected susceptible strains (S), females from a resistant strain (R) ofT. vaporariorum derived from heavily treated cotton fields had a 28-fold greater LC₅₀ to dicrotophos in laboratory bioassays. Concentration-mortality lines obtained from female progeny of reciprocal F₁ crosses (R_♀ XS_♂ and S_♀ XR_♂) were similar, suggesting that inheritance of dicrotophos resistance was autosomal and not influenced by maternal effects. Responses of F₁ female progeny were similar to those of the parental S strain, indicating that the resistance was partially recessive (degree of dominance, D, was −0.61). Mortality observed in female progeny obtained from a backcross (F_1♀ XR_♂) corresponded more closely to expectations derived from polygenic models than to expectations from a monogenic model. The estimated number of effective factors (sensu Lande, 1981) contributing equally to resistance was three.     

Effect of ellagic acid on the larvae of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) and its parasitoid Bracon hebetor (Hymenoptera:Braconidae)

The present study was aimed at investigating the effect of plant based compound, ellagic acid on parasitoid Bracon hebetor (Say) through its host, the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius). The effect on S. litura was ascertained by feeding six days old larvae on artificial diet incorporated with different concentrations (5 ppm, 25 ppm, 125 ppm, 625 ppm, 3125 ppm) of ellagic acid and water as control. Its effect on B. hebetor was determined by allowing the adult B. hebetor to parasitize the treated host larvae. The mortality of S. litura larvae was increased whereas adult emergence declined with increasing concentration of ellagic acid. The developmental period was delayed significantly and all the nutritional indices were reduced with treatment. Ellagic acid at LC₃₀ (7.70 ppm) had not much influence on the growth of parasitoid B. hebetor but LC₅₀ (43.45 ppm) adversely influenced the development of the parasitoid, B. hebetor when reared on treated larvae of S. litura. This was evident from reduced parasitization, fecundity, egg laying, egg hatching, emergence, increased larval mortality, reduced pupation and prolonged development of the immature stages at LC₅₀. However, parasitization, egg hatching and larval mortality of the parasitoid were not significantly impacted at LC₃₀ indicating the possibility of its use in integrated pest management programmes.     

Resistance selection with cadmium and changes in the activities of antioxidases in Boettcherisca peregrina (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)

In order to establish a physiological link between antioxidases and the resistance level of insects to cadmium (Cd), natural populations of Boettcherisca peregrina (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) were maintained for 20 generations and reared either on an uncontaminated diet or on a diet contaminated with cadmium (Cd) at a concentration equivalent to the median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) as determined every five generations. A relatively susceptible strain (S) and a Cd-resistant strain (R) were selected. The metal accumulation, growth and development, reproduction, and antioxidant enzyme activities in these strains were analyzed. The results showed that R-strain organisms had enhanced juvenile survivorship, increased Cd accumulation, and increased adult female fecundity when compared with S-strain. The larval enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in R-strain larvae were higher than those in S-strain larvae when fed diets with or without Cd. This indicates that Cd resistance in B. peregrina larvae is mediated by SOD, CAT, GR, and GST.     

氯虫苯甲酰胺对白背飞虱实验种群的亚致死效应

为正确评估防治水稻鳞翅目害虫的新型杀虫剂氯虫苯甲酰胺对非靶标害虫白背飞虱Sogatella furcifera (Horváth)的影响, 本文采取稻茎浸渍法测定了氯虫苯甲酰胺对白背飞虱的毒力, 利用生命表技术研究了氯虫苯甲酰胺对白背飞虱的亚致死效应。结果表明： 氯虫苯甲酰胺对白背飞虱3龄若虫和成虫的LC₅₀分别为19.26 mg/L和19.69 mg/L。以氯虫苯甲酰胺LC₁₀和LC₂₅剂量分别处理白背飞虱3龄若虫后, F₀和F₁代雌虫产卵量及其寿命均降低, 尤其LC₂₅处理与对照间存在显著差异（P<0.05）, F₀和F₁代雌虫寿命分别缩短了1.80 d和2.62 d, F₀和F₁代雌虫产卵量分别减少了52.94粒和78.45粒。药剂处理对F1代各虫态发育历期也有一定影响。根据不同剂量处理后白背飞虱各发育阶段的存活率和成虫的繁殖力, 组建了生殖力生命表, 发现LC₁₀和LC₂₅剂量处理的种群内禀增长率rm分别降低了11.25%和34.41%, 净增殖率R0分别降低了36.56%和74.57%, 而世代平均历期T和种群加倍时间t均延长。结果说明, 氯虫苯甲酰胺LC₁₀和LC₂₅剂量可抑制白背飞虱种群的增长; 大田中使用氯虫苯甲酰胺防治鳞翅目害虫时, 可抑制同时发生的非靶标害虫白背飞虱田间种群增长。     

Genetics of resistance to Cry1C toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis in Spodoptera litura (Fab.)

The present study was undertaken to determine the genetics of Cry1C resistance in Spodoptera litura. Selection of S. litura (Fab.) with Cry1C was done for eight generations to develop resistance. Reciprocal crosses between resistant and susceptible populations were made to understand the population genetics of Cry1C resistance in S. litura. Generation wise selection with Cry1C was evaluated for resistance development in S. litura. The LC₅₀ of Cry1C was 0.14 µg/cm² for the first selected generation and it increased to 23.98 µg/cm² after eight selected generations, which is a 285.47-fold increase in resistance compared with the susceptible strain. The estimated realized heritability (h²) after eight generations of selection with Cry1C insecticidal protein was 0.44. The number of generations required for the tenfold increase in LC₅₀ (1/R) was estimated to be 3.33. Response to Cry1C selection in S. litura was 0.30, the estimated selection differential was 0.69 and the pheonotypic standard deviation (dP) was 0.24. Reciprocal crosses between Cry1C resistant and susceptible strain of S. litura showed autosomal resistance.     

八种杀虫剂对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊发育和繁殖的亚致死效应

用胃毒触杀法确定8种常用杀虫剂对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊Bradysiaodoriphaga 3龄幼虫的LC₂₀和LC₅₀剂量后,以其LC₂₀分别处理3龄幼虫,将存活幼虫正常饲养,测定该剂量药剂对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊化蛹率、蛹重、羽化率,成虫存活率、雌雄比、单雌产卵量及卵孵化率等指标的影响。结果表明:毒死蜱等4种药剂的影响较显著,其影响程度由高到低依次为毒死蜱＞辛硫磷＞阿维菌素溴虫腈;而另4种药剂丙硫克百威、灭多威、丁硫克百威和吡虫啉则影响不显著。此外也测定了用后4种药剂LC₅₀剂量处理的存活试虫的上述生物学指标,结果表明：除化蛹率和羽化率较对照降低且差异显著外,其他生物学指标与对照处理无明显变化。     

Effect of fenitrothion on Spodoptera exigua larval development and ultrastructure of follicle cells

The effect of four sublethal concentrations (from 0.01165 to 0.3025 μg per insect, responding to LC₁₀/10, LC₁₀, LC₃₀ and LC₅₀) of the organophosphorus insecticide, fenitrothion, on Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) larval development and ultrastructure of follicular cells of adult female moths was tested. The most prominent malformations were: breaks in the cuticle, increased mortality during larval/pupal molting, alterations of nuclear envelope, changed heterochromatin pattern and abnormalities in mitochondrial ultrastructure. Some of the alterations are dose-dependent, but the other ones, like organization of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), show non-linear response: cells exposed to lower concentrations (LC₁₀/10 and LC₁₀) of the insecticide possessed clusters of accumulated RER, which were absent within the cells exposed to higher ones (LC₃₀ and LC₅₀). Formation of the eggshell was also markedly postponed within the groups exposed to lower doses. These findings prove that even minute amounts of xenobiotics may cause significant changes within exposed populations.     

Resistance of sugarcane borer to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ab toxin

The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), strain (F52‐3‐R) was developed from F₃ survivors of a single‐pair mating on commercial Cry1Ab Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn plants in the greenhouse. The susceptibility of a Bt‐susceptible and the F52‐3‐R strain of D. saccharalis to trypsin‐activated Cry1Ab toxin was determined in a laboratory bioassay. Neonate‐stage larvae were fed a meridic diet incorporating Cry1Ab toxin at a concentration range of 0.0625 to 32 µg g^?1. Larval mortality, larval weight, and number of surviving larvae that did not gain significant weight (<0.1 mg per larva) were recorded on the 7th day after inoculation. The F52‐3‐R strain demonstrated a significant level of resistance to the activated Cry1Ab toxin. Larval mortality of the Bt‐susceptible strain increased in response to higher concentrations of Cry1Ab toxin, exceeding 75% at 32 µg g^?1, whereas mortality of the F52‐3‐R strain was below 8% across all Cry1Ab concentrations. Using a measure of practical mortality (larvae either died or gained no weight), the median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of the F52‐3‐R strain was 102‐fold greater than that of the Bt‐susceptible insects. Larval growth of both Bt‐susceptible and F52‐3‐R strains was inhibited on Cry1Ab‐treated diet, but the inhibition of the F52‐3‐R strain was significantly less than that of the Bt‐susceptible insects. These results confirm that the survival of the F52‐3‐R strain on commercial Bt corn plants was related to Cry1Ab protein resistance and suggest that this strain may have considerable value in studying resistance management strategies for Bt corn.     

Reduced insecticide susceptibility among populations of Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in strawberry production

Chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a major, economically important, and recent invasive pest of strawberries and other horticultural crops in United States. Several conventional insecticides are used for S. dorsalis management, and resistance development threatens loss of few available tools. Hence, our objectives were to: (1) determine the susceptibility of S. dorsalis to commonly used conventional insecticides: spinetoram, acetamiprid, cyantraniliprole and bifenthrin, and (2) establish LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ dosages for spinetoram against S. dorsalis. Sampling of S. dorsalis populations was conducted twice in seven strawberry fields in Florida during the strawberry field season between 2019 and 2020. Leaf-disc bioassays were performed with field collected populations along with a susceptible 2-year-old laboratory culture of S. dorsalis. Overall, at highest recommended rate the percent mortality of late season S. dorsalis populations from five out of seven collection sites was lower (~41%) than average mortality observed with early season populations (~72%). Populations from at least four out of seven sampling sites exhibited significantly lower mortality than the laboratory susceptible culture in late season. The LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values for spinetoram for the susceptible laboratory population were 0.026 and 8.64 ppm, respectively. On the other hand, LC₅₀ values of field collected populations to spinetoram varied with resistance ratios ranging from 6 to 269 fold as compared against the laboratory strain. Our results suggest that susceptibility of S. dorsalis to commonly used insecticides in strawberries varies significantly between early and late season populations within the same crop season. The efficacy of bifenthrin against S. dorsalis was particularly low (~ reduced to half in late season), especially among field collected populations. Our results indicate an urgent need to incorporate other pest management strategies, as well as effective rotation programs to reduce selection for resistance among populations of S. dorsalis in strawberry production.     

The control of apple canker (Nectria galligena) in a young orchard with established infections

In a factorial experiment on canker control the efficiency of phenylmercurie nitrate (PMN) applied at leaf fall, before bud burst or both was compared with the application of dodine, dithianon, triforine, thiabendazole, benomyl or carbendazim in May and June. Of the total number of cankers which developed in unsprayed trees 76–78% resulted from infections in April to August of each year of the experiment. Infection was reduced significantly by all of the fungicides applied in summer. Of these carbendazim was outstanding, controlling both summer and autumn infections. Sporulation throughout the summer was suppressed by carbendazim and to a lesser extent benomyl, but whereas the suppressant effect of carbendazim persisted until long after leaf fall that of benomyl was evident only until August. Dodine, dithianon, triforine and thiabendazole had no significant effect on spore production. Dithianon and dodine showed highest toxicity to the germination of Nectria galligena spores of all fungicides used in summer. All of the fungicides controlled apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) although thiabendazole was the least effective. Autumn applications of PMN reduced canker incidence but their value alone was not as great as carbendazim, dithianon, benomyl or dodine applied in summer. PMN applied in spring reduced the number of cankers in trees receiving no other fungicides but tended to increase the incidence of infections, particularly in autumn, when used in conjunction with fungicides applied in May and June. PMN applied before bud burst reduced sporulation of N. galligena for a few weeks, after which production resumed and in late summer and autumn actually exceeded the controls. None of the fungicides had any direct effect on leaf fall. Infection of the crotch and basal leaf scars was more common in summer than in autumn whereas infection of leaf scars above the basal region was more common in autumn than in summer. The rootstocks of many of the trees became infected via callus tissue associated with adventitious root development and this was controlled by the carbendazim treatment.