茶树花挥发物对叶蝉三棒缨小蜂的引诱增强效应

茶树(Camellia sinensis)是我国重要的经济作物。小贯小绿叶蝉(Empoasca onukii)是为害茶树的主要害虫之一。叶蝉三棒缨小蜂(Stethynium empoascae)是小贯小绿叶蝉的主要卵寄生蜂,但茶树花对叶蝉三棒缨小蜂的引诱机制尚不明确。基于析因设计的方差分析结果显示,茶树花可引诱天敌叶蝉...     

茶互利素和蚜性信息素及其组合调控大草蛉行为的效应

茶蚜群聚于茶梢上刺吸,而茶梢是加工名优茶的原料,不便施药治蚜。大草蛉虽是茶蚜主要天敌之一,但在自然情况下不足以控制茶蚜。遂探讨以茶梢互利素、蚜虫性信息素及其组合引诱大草蛉制约茶蚜的技术。使用顶空吸附法采集蚜害茶梢和健康茶梢挥发物,经GC-MS分析发现蚜害茶梢(E)-2-戊烯醛、苯甲醛和α-法尼烯的含量丰富。将蚜害茶梢挥发物中16种主要成分、蚜虫性信息素荆芥内酯和荆芥醇、以及α-法尼烯、苯甲醛和荆芥醇的2∶2∶6比例混合物分别制成味源,这19种味源的剂量都是200!g。经检测发现荆芥醇、荆芥内酯、α-法尼烯、(E)-2-戊烯醛和苯甲醛引起大草蛉的EAG值明显大于其它13种单组分引起的EAG值,而小于α-法尼烯、苯甲醛和荆芥醇混合物引起的EAG值。再将荆芥内酯和荆芥醇分别按7种比例配成7种味源,还把α-法尼烯、苯甲醛和荆芥醇的2∶2∶6比例混合物、以及(Z)-3-己烯-1-醇、(E)-2-戊烯醛、(E)-2-己烯醛、苯甲醛和α-法尼烯分别作为味源,用这13种味源分别制成的诱芯于秋季茶园中诱集大草蛉,每个诱芯含有信息物质总量是10 mg,结果表明:α-法尼烯、苯甲醛和荆芥醇混合物的诱效最强,称为大草蛉诱集剂;荆芥内酯和荆芥醇1∶9或0∶10比例的混合物诱效次之。深秋置大草蛉诱集剂诱芯于蚜群中,可诱来许多大草蛉成虫捕食茶蚜,并产卵于茶园中而增加大草蛉幼虫越冬基数,翌年春季就近捕食越冬蚜卵孵化的茶蚜。该诱集剂及其使用技术可作为一种治理茶蚜手段。     

Behavioral responses for evaluating the attractiveness of specific tea shoot volatiles to the tea green leafhopper,Empoaca vitis

Abstract The tea green leafhopper, Empoasca vitis Göthe, is one of the most serious insect pests of tea plantations in mainland China. Over the past decades, this pest has been controlled mainly by spraying pesticides. Insecticide applications not only have become less effective in controlling damage, but even more seriously, have caused high levels of toxic residues in teas, which ultimately threatens human health. Therefore, we should seek a safer biological control approach. In the present study, key components of tea shoot volatiles were identified and behaviorally tested as potential leafhopper attractants. The following 13 volatile compounds were identified from aeration samples of tea shoots using gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS): (E)‐2‐hexenal, (Z)‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol, (Z)‐3‐hexenyl acetate, 2‐ethyl‐1‐hexanol, (E)‐ocimene, linalool, nonanol, (Z)‐butanoic acid, 3‐hexenyl ester, decanal, tetradecane, β‐caryophyllene, geraniol and hexadecane. In Y‐tube olfactometer tests, the following individual compounds were identified: (E)‐2‐hexenal, (E)‐ocimene, (Z)‐3‐hexenyl acetate and linalool, as well as two synthetic mixtures (called blend 1 and blend 2) elicited significant taxis, with blend 2 being the most attractive. Blend 1 included linalool, (Z)‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol and (E)‐2‐hexenal at a 1 : 1 : 1 ratio, whereas blend 2 was a mixture of eight compounds at the same loading ratio: (E)‐2‐hexenal, (Z)‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol, (Z)‐3‐hexenyl acetate, 2‐penten‐1‐ol, (E)‐2‐pentenal, pentanol, hexanol and 1‐penten‐3‐ol. In tea fields, the bud‐green sticky board traps baited with blend 2, (E)‐2‐hexenal or hexane captured adults and nymphs of the leafhoppers, with blend 2 being the most attractive, followed by (E)‐2‐hexenal and hexane. Placing sticky traps baited with blend 2 or (E)‐2‐hexenal in the tea fields significantly reduced leafhopper populations. Our results indicate that the bud‐green sticky traps baited with tea shoot volatiles can provide a new tool for monitoring and managing the tea leafhopper.     

The role of host semiochemicals in parasitoid specificity: a case study with Trissolcus brochymenae and Trissolcus simoni on pentatomid bugs

The role of semiochemicals on host specificity of two egg parasitoid species, the European Trissolcus simoni and the American Trissolcus brochymenae (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), was studied in an olfactometer and in different arenas. Cues from two allopatric pests of cabbage, the European Eurydema ventrale and the American Murgantia histrionica (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), and from the polyphagous and cosmopolitan Nezara viridula were tested. Both T. simoni and T. brochymenae responded to volatile and contact cues from their co-evolved hosts E. ventrale and M. histrionica, respectively, thus confirming the role of host semiochemicals in host location and recognition. When cues of non-co-evolved hosts were presented, a partial “new association” was obtained, as T. simoni probed and oviposited in M. histrionica eggs and some adult emergence occurred. However, this association is unlikely to occur in the field because T. simoni did not respond to volatile cues of M. histrionica. Instead T. brochymenae partially responded to volatile and contact cues from E. ventrale, but eggs were rarely accepted and parasitoids did not develop in this host. When N. viridula was tested, T. simoni responded only to contact cues, whereas T. brochymenae partially responded to volatile and contact cues, but N. viridula eggs were not suitable for development. Therefore, the N. viridula–T. brochymenae association reported from the literature appears unreliable. Understanding the mechanisms that result in host specificity may help increase parasitoid safety and predict their efficacy in biological control with old or new associations.     

The responses of the cabbage seed weevil (Ceutorhynchus assimilis) to the odour of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and to some volatile isothiocyanates

The responses of the cabbage seed weevil,Ceutorhynchus assimilis Payk. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to volatiles from oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) were tested using a linear track olfactometer. Weevils were attracted towards the odour of rape during a short period before diapause and for most of their postdiapause life. Odours from both the flowering and green parts of the plant were attractive, but the odour of a non-host plant (Bellis perennis L.) was not. An entrainment extract of flowering rape volatiles in pentane was attractive, but significantly less so than the odour of flowering rape itself. Attraction was found to 3-butenyl and 4-pentenyl isothiocyanate (NCS), but not to 2-phenylethyl isothiocyanate. A mixture of the three NCSs was more attractive than the individual NCSs. However, the concentration required to produce a response was still relatively high. Isothiocyanates, along with other volatiles from rape, probably play a role in host plant recognition by the seed weevil.     

Xerophilic aflatoxigenic black tea fungi and their inhibition by Elettaria cardamomum and Syzygium aromaticum extracts

Black tea is consumed worldwide and is believed to play a role in cancer prevention. Xerophilic aflatoxigenic fungi are highly hazardous contaminants of tea since they are associated with tea quality impairment and human health risk. The present study reports isolation of such xerophilic and aflatoxigenic fungi associated with marketed tea. Twenty different tea samples collected from the local markets of Tamilnadu, India were investigated for fungal contamination. The results indicated contamination by 0.38% Aspergillus flavus. Other common contaminant fungi including Penicillium spp. (0.30%), Pacelomyces spp. (0.14%), and Mucor spp. (0.19%) were also isolated. Amongst the fungi isolated Aspergillus niger ML01 and A. flavus ML02 were found to be xerophilic aflatoxigenic mycoflora. Phylogenetic analysis based on 28S rRNA revealed their close ancestry. The chloroform and acetone extracts of spices Elettaria cardamomum and Syzygium aromaticum exhibited antifungal inhibitory activity on growth and toxin elaboration of both these xerophilic tea contaminants A. niger ML01 and A. flavus ML02. The results advocate the use of these spices plant or their extracts as novel antimicrobials which may add preservation and flavour in marketed tea.     

Adult experience modifies attraction of the leafminer parasitoidOpius dissitus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to volatile semiochemicals

Oviposition-experienced females of Opius dissitus Muesebeck, a braconid parasitoid of Liriomyza sativaeBlanchard, preferentially landed on leafminer-infested rather than uninfested lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) plants in a flight tunnel assay. Both naive and oviposition-experiencedparasitoids responded strongly to odors of infested lima bean plants in a four-arm olfactometer in comparison with odors of uninfested plants, suggesting that volatile semiochemicals are used in host location. Parasitoids with an oviposition experience on lima bean (lima-experienced) spent significantly more time in the infested odor than naive individuals, however, eggplant-experienced wasps did not spend significantly more time in the infested odor field than naive wasps. When parasitoids reared on leafminers in lima bean were provided a choice between the odor of infested lima bean and the odor of infested eggplant or cotton, naive and lima-experienced wasps preferred infested lima odor. An oviposition experience on the other plant species resulted in a dramatic shift in preference. It was concluded that the experience effect was due, at least in part, to associative learning, as has been reported for other parasitoids. The parasitoids may perceive unconditioned stimuli during host contact and oviposition on an infested leaf and may associate those stimuli with volatile semiochemicals emanating from the leaf or host. Subsequently, the volatiles associated with the presence of hosts are used in directing the search for hosts.     

Dominant fungi in the rhizosphere of established tea bushes and their interaction with the dominant bacteria under in situ conditions

Species of Penicillium and Trichoderma were found to dominate the rhizosphere of established tea bushes in a detailed study conducted from various tea growing locations in India. Penicillium erythromellis, P. janthinellum, P. raistrickii, Trichoderma pseudokoningii and T. koningii were found to be closely associated with tea roots. While seasonal fluctuation was observed in the case of Penicillium spp., the population of Trichoderma spp. showed less variation during the year. Both species were sensitive to low temperatures. In general, fungi associated with the tea rhizosphere were found to prefer a mesophillic temperature range (15 °C to 35 °C). The dominant species of Penicillium and Trichoderma also exhibited tolerance to lower temperatures, i.e., 5 to 10 °C on agar plates. Most fungi were able to grow in a wide range of pH (4 to 12). Lowering of soil pH in the rhizosphere of tea bushes was positively correlated with the age of the bush and may have affected the development of a specific microbial community in the rhizosphere.The populations of Penicillium and Trichoderma species were inversely correlated with the populations of two most dominant rhizosphere bacteria, Bacillus subtilis and B. mycoides. Both Bacillus species have been shown to have antagonistic activity against these two fungi under in vitro conditions. The present study demonstrates the existence of a similar antagonism under in situ conditions in the rhizosphere of established tea bushes.     

EAG and behavioral responses of the wingless tea aphid Toxoptera aurantii (Homoptera: Aphididae) to tea plant volatiles

Electrophysiological and behavioral responses of the wingless tea aphid, Toxoptera aurantii (Boyer), to 14 synthetic volatiles identified from tea shoots, their partial (GLV mixture) and full (ACB mixture) blends, and fresh young tea leaves, buds, tender stems, adult tea leaves and tea aphid-damaged young leaves (ADYL) were studied by using an electroantennography (EAG) and a four-arm olfactometer. ACB elicited the largest EAG responses. Major volatile components, Z-3-hexen-1-ol, E-2-hexenal, n-hexanol, methyl salicylate and benzylalcohol, from the tea shoots were strongly EAG active. All the 4 tested tea shoot tissues also elicited significant EAG responses, with the young tea leaves being the strongest, followed by buds, tender stems and adult tea leaves. Surprisingly, ADYL elicited a weakly negative EAG response. In the olfactory assays, the fresh and tender tea leaves, as well as the individual major volatile components, e.g. Z-3-hexenyl acetate, methyl salicylate, E-2-hexen-1-ol and Z-3-hexen-1-ol, from the tender shoots (EAG-active) were all attractive. This result might indicate that the wingless tea aphids may use tea shoot volatiles as kairomone to find their optimal feeding sites, e.g. fresh tender tea shoots.     

迷迭香挥发物不同组合对假眼小绿叶蝉行为的调控

为探讨茶园群落中非茶植物气味引诱或驱避重要茶树害虫假眼小绿叶蝉的效应,遂将茶园常见杂草迷迭香挥发物中樟脑、α-松油醇和石竹烯分别配成10-2g/m L剂量,再等量组成混合物,在每个橡皮头上载100#L制成诱芯,附于素馨黄粘板上,于茶园中诱捕假眼小绿叶蝉,发现这种三组分诱芯明显地驱避假眼小绿叶蝉。将行为反应中分别对假眼小绿叶蝉呈现显著引诱效应的10-2g/m L樟脑、10-4g/m L石竹烯、10-6g/m Lα-水芹烯、10-4g/m Lα-松油醇和10-8g/m L桉树脑等量配成五组分混合物,同法制成诱芯,附于素馨黄粘板,诱捕假眼小绿叶蝉。发现五组分诱芯:(1)显著引诱假眼小绿叶蝉,诱效稍强于现价段茶园中使用的源于茶梢挥发物的诱芯;(2)每日诱捕的假眼小绿叶蝉数与天数呈抛物线关系;(3)加入液体石蜡作为缓释剂,可将诱效的半衰期延长2.5—4.0d;(4)18:00—6:00诱得的假眼小绿叶蝉数量占全天的70%—75%。分析认为:非茶植物迷迭香的挥发物中含有显著引诱假眼小绿叶蝉信息物质,这类信息物质制成的五组分诱芯的诱效较强,可以作为一种防治假眼小绿叶蝉的手段,早晨和黄昏是最佳诱捕时分。     

无翅茶蚜对茶树挥发物的触角电生理和行为反应

分别使用昆虫触角电位仪(EAG)和四臂嗅觉仪,测定了无翅茶蚜Toxopteraaurantii Boyer对14种茶树挥发性化合物、14种挥发物中"绿叶气味"组成的混合物(GLV)、14种挥发物的混合物(ACB)、以及新鲜嫩叶、芽、嫩茎、成叶和茶蚜为害嫩叶(ADYL)的EAG反应和行为反应。ACB引出最大的EAG反应值,茶树挥发物主要组分Z-3-己烯-1-醇、E-2-己烯醛、n-己醇、水杨酸甲酯和苯甲醇也引起较大的EAG反应值。4种正常茶梢的器官也引出较大的EAG反应,以嫩叶最强、依次为芽、嫩茎和成叶。有趣的是ADYL引出弱的负的EAG值。用嗅觉仪进行的生物测定表明,嫩叶以及主要的茶梢挥发性成分乙酸-Z-3-己烯酯、水杨酸甲酯、E-2-己烯-1-醇和Z-3-己烯-1-醇等也具有较强引诱活性。研究显示无翅茶蚜可能利用茶梢挥发物作为利它素而寻觅适宜的取食场所,如茶树嫩梢。     

Antifungal activity of tea tree oil from Melaleuca alternifolia against Trichophyton equinum: An in vivo assay

Dermatophytes are a group of keratinophilic and keratinolytic molds, some of which are responsible for ringworm. Among them Trichophyton equinum, which mostly infects equids, can cause extensive outbreaks in stud farms. The conventional treatment of equine trichophytosis is topic, based upon medicated shampoos to reduce the spread of infection among the animals. Nevertheless the popularity of phytotherapy is at an all-time peak, and the interest for natural alternatives or complements to conventional drug therapy is challenging both in human and veterinary field. Among herbal remedia Tea Tree Oil (TTO) shows a wide range of antimicrobial activities. A randomized open clinical trial was carried out on 60 thoroughbred breeding horses affected by equine ringworm. The animals were randomly divided into 2 groups of 30 subjects. Diagnostic criteria were the presence of clinical signs and positive T. equinum culture. Specificity control using TTO mixture in 5 not dermatophyte affected animals was achieved also. The antimycotic activity against T. equinum of a mixture containing 25% TTO in sweet almond oil, was evaluated in vivo treating 30 subjects, the others were administered enilconazole 2% solution. The animals of both groups were topically treated twice a day for 15 days with a 25% mixture of TTO diluted in sweet almond oil and every 3 days, four times with enilconazole rinses, respectively. The clinical and mycological outcome were evaluated at day 30 from the start of the treatments. Data analysis was performed by chi square test. All the treated animals showed complete clinical and aetiological healing. Part of control subjects also, showed an improvement and none of them exacerbate the lesions. This therapeutic protocol appears to be effective and versatile, being applicable immediately after physical examination, prior to have the laboratory response. It could be an alternative for practitioners interested in herbal medicines, contributing to fulfill the gap existing between in vitro and clinical studies.