Variability in thermal responses among Furia gastropachae isolates from different geographic origins

The effect of temperature ranging from 5-30 degrees C on in vitro vegetative growth and conidial germination of isolates of the entomophthoralean fungus Furia gastropachae was investigated. Eleven isolates were used for growth studies; two from Maryland, six from New York, and three from Ontario. A subset of four isolates, one each from Maryland and New York and two from Ontario, were used in conidial germination experiments. Growth and germination were significantly associated with temperature for all isolates, occurring throughout the range 5-30 degrees C, though both processes were inhibited to varying degrees at upper and lower extremes. Temperature optima for growth ranged from 20 to 27 degrees C, and for germination from 20 to 25 degrees C. Although significant variability was observed among isolates in growth at temperatures above 13 degrees C, temperature optima were not significantly different among isolates, and variability did not appear to relate to the geoclimatic origins of the isolates. In contrast, germination responses to temperature did appear to be related to geographic origin. Furia gastropachae isolates from New York and Maryland germinated more slowly at 10 degrees C than did Ontario isolates, although the percentage of conidia ultimately germinating at each temperature was the same for all isolates. The New York and Maryland isolates performed much better at 30 degrees C, with significantly greater overall germination and secondary conidial discharge, than the Ontario isolates. Compared with other isolates at 30 degrees C, Ontario isolates were the least active, often failing to successfully discharge any secondary conidia.     

飞虱虫疠霉继发性感染对桃蚜数量增长的控制作用

用飞虱虫疠霉（Pandora delphaics)“孢子浴”接种的桃蚜(Myzus persicae)无翅成蚜在离体甘蓝菜叶片（65cm^2)上建立蚜群,在不同温度（10－30℃）和湿度（74％－100％RH）的组合条件下任其繁衍,发病和交互感染,以评价该菌的控蚜效果。在25个温,湿度组合处理（8次重复,每重复含3头接种成蚜)中,蚜群均不同程度的发病死亡,在历时30d的观察中,以高温（20－30℃）,高湿（95％RH）组合条件下的蚜群发病快且死亡率高,蚜尸上产生的孢子有效地引起若蚜继发性感染。与相同温度下不带菌的对照蚜群相比,次于30℃下,各湿度除个别例外,第8d的控蚜率达30％以上,第20d达80％以上。在10℃和15℃下,控蚜效果一般不如上述较高温度下,且与湿度的关联程度相对较低,但最大控蚜效果均发生在100％RH处理中。结果表明,飞虱虫疠霉用于蚜虫防治的潜力很大,值得深入研究和开发利用。     

Effects of fluctuating moisture and temperature regimes on the infection potential of Beauveria bassiana for Rhodnius prolixus

The effect of both moisture and temperature on the infective potential of Beauveria bassiana to the Chagas' disease vector, Rhodnius prolixus, was studied under fluctuating regimes. At constant 25 degrees C, contaminated first-instar nymphs exposed to increasing daily periods of initial exposure to 97% RH, followed by transfer to reduced humidity (43, 53, 75, and 86% RH), showed a significant reduction in mortality when the 97% RH exposure time declined from 12 to 8 h per day. The duration of disease incubation depended on the daily 97% RH exposure time. Under fluctuating regimes of both humidity (97% RH versus 75% RH) and temperature (15/28, 20/25, 25/28, and 25/35 degrees C), first-instar mortality was affected by weather conditions, daily 97% RH exposure time (8, 12, and 16 h per day), and number of temperature and humidity fluctuations before transferring tested insects to constant unfavorable conditions. In most cases, at 12/12 h alternating cycles, high and rapid mortality required five cycles. Under these fluctuating regimes, fungus-induced mortality and mortality time were similarly affected in third- and fifth-instar nymphs by the daily 97% RH exposure time. Despite a lower susceptibility of older larval stages, mortality rates in insects exposed for at least 12 h per day at 97% RH remained very high except at 15 degrees C. Moisture and temperature regimes at 12/12 h cycling significantly affected the dose-mortality response in first-instar nymphs. The most favorable conditions consisted of 97%-20 degrees C combined with either 75%-25 degrees C or 43%-25 degrees C. Under less favorable alternating conditions (lower and higher temperatures) the amounts of inoculum required for killing 50% of first-instar nymphs were 10 or 20 times higher. From a vector control standpoint, daily high humidity appears to be the most crucial climatic constraint. B. bassiana has the potential to control R. prolixus populations with applications made during the rainy seasons when humidity is high.     

Development, survivorship, and reproduction of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under constant and alternating temperatures

Laboratory studies were conducted to assess the effect of temperature on the survival, development, fecundity, and longevity of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) at 11 constant temperatures ranging from 12.5 to 40 degrees C, as well as at five alternating temperature regimes (25-10, 30-15, 32.5-17.5, 35-20, and 35-27.5 degrees C) and under a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. H. armigera reared at constant temperatures did not develop from egg to adult (emergence) outside the temperature range of 17.5-32.5 degrees C. The alternating conditions expanded this range from 10 to 35 degrees C. The lowest developmental thresholds of the immature stages were estimated by a linear model and ranged from 10.17 (pupal stage) to 11.95 degrees C (egg stage) at constant temperature regimes and from 1.1 to 5.5 degrees C, respectively at alternating temperatures. The values of developmental thresholds estimated using the nonlinear (Lactin-2) model were lower than those estimated by the linear model for constant and alternating temperature regimes except for larval and pupal stages at constant temperatures. Mean adult longevity fluctuated from 34.4 d at 15 degrees C to 7.6 d at 35 degrees C. Females reared under all alternating temperature regimes laid more eggs than females reared at any, except the 25 degrees C, constant temperature treatment. The intrinsic rate of increase was highest at 27.5 degrees C, at both the constant and the corresponding alternating temperature regimes (0.147 and 0.139, respectively). Extreme temperatures had a negative effect on life table parameters.     

Genetic variation in carbon isotope discrimination in six European populations of Castanea sativa Mill. originating from contrasting localities

The objective of this study was to evaluate the variability of physiological performances of Castanea sativa Mill. in relation to drought tolerance, among and within European populations coming from contrasting environmental conditions. Forty-eight open-pollinated families from a stratified sample (temperature/precipitation) of six naturalized populations from Spain, Italy and Greece were grown for one growth period under two temperature regimes (25 and 32 degrees C), in combination with two watering regimes in growth chambers. Complementary to growth traits analysed in a previous study, carbon isotope discrimination (Delta), a complex physiological trait involved in acclimation and adaptive processes, was studied. anova indicated significant Delta variability for C. sativa populations across Europe and, thereby, variation in adaptedness to drought. The European pattern of Delta variability matches the previously reported one for the centre of origin of C. sativa (Ponto-Caucasian region). This suggests that common mechanisms of drought adaptedness, involving both genetic and physiological determinants, give C. sativa the capacity to colonize a wide range of site conditions. The highest Delta values, indicating the lowest water-use efficiency (WUE), were found within each treatment for populations originating from Mediterranean drought-prone sites. These populations also had the highest phenotypic plasticity of Delta. Significant among-family genetic variation in Delta was found. The heritability based on the joint anova was estimated at 0.31 +/- 0.07. The estimates of the coefficients for the additive variance varied in the range 2.6-4.0%, suggesting possibilities for selection on WUE and adaptedness to drought. The genetic correlations between Delta and growth traits were generally strong and negative, especially in the two high temperature treatments.     

Effect of high temperature and water stress on in vitro germination and growth in isolates of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuillemin

In non-irrigated agricultural fields in tropical zones, high temperature and water stress prevail during the main cropping season. Natural epizootics of Beauveria bassiana on lepidopteran pests occur during winter. Application of B. bassiana during hot months when pest populations are at their climax may prove an effective management strategy. Therefore, 29 isolates of B. bassiana were tested for their ability to germinate and grow in temperature and water availability conditions prevailing during the pest season in these fields. The effect of temperature cycles with 8 h duration of high temperature fluctuating with 16 h duration of lower temperature (similar to field conditions); low water availability; and a combination of these two stress conditions was studied. Germination and growth assays were done at fluctuating temperature cycles of 32, 35, 38, and 42+/-1 degrees C (8 h)/25+/-1 degrees C (16 h) and in media with water stress created by 10, 20, 30, and 40% polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000). Assays set at a continuous temperature of 25+/-1 degrees C with no PEG in the medium served as controls. Stress was assessed as percentage germination or as growth relative to control. Isolates showing 90% growth relative to the control at temperature cycles including high temperatures of 35 and 38+/-1 degrees C were identified. One isolate (ARSEF 2860) had a thermal threshold above 43 degrees C. At 25 degrees C, all but one isolate of B. bassiana showed >90% growth relative to the control in 10% PEG (-0.45 MPa). Some isolates were found with >90% growth relative to control in medium having 30% PEG with water availability (1.33 MPa), nearly equivalent to that in soils which induce permanent wilting point of plants. When isolates that showed >90% growth relative to the control at both stress conditions, were stressed simultaneously, a decrease in growth was observed. Growth was reduced by approximately 20% at 35+/-1 degrees C (8 h)/25+/-1 degrees C (16 h) and 10% PEG and was affected to a greater degree in combinations of harsher stress conditions. The isolate ARSEF 2860 with a thermal threshold of >43 degrees C showed approximately 80% relative growth at a combined stress of 38+/-1 degrees C (8 h)/25+/-1 degrees C (16 h) and 10% PEG. These findings will aid the selection of isolates for use in field trials in hot or dry agricultural climates.     

Effects of Fluctuating Moisture and Temperature Regimes on Sporulation of Beauveria bassiana on Cadavers of Rhodnius prolixus

The effects of both moisture and temperature on the sporulation of an isolate of Beauveria bassiana , highly virulent to the Chagas' disease vector, Rhodnius prolixus , were studied in the laboratory under fluctuating regimes. Quantitative assays for conidial production from funguskilled cadavers from 10-day-old tests showed that recycling was highly dependent on the duration of exposure to high relative humidity (RH). On first-instar larval cadavers, sporulation reached more than 10 5 conidia/nymph under most regimes with a favourable phase combining high humidity (97% RH) and temperatures of 20 or 25 C for at least 12 h/day. Sporulation on third- and fifth-instar nymphs required a longer period (16 h/day or more) of favourable conditions (97% RH and 25 C) per day. The intensity of the conidial production from Rhodnius cadavers was enhanced when diurnal temperatures were high (28 and 35 C). From a vector control standpoint, daily high humidity requirements appear to be a crucial constraint. The recycling ability of B. bassiana on fungus-killed R. prolixus is most likely to contribute to the regulation of this triatomine vector if applications are made during the rainy seasons and in the most favourable habitats.     

Sprays of emulsifiable Beauveria bassiana formulation are ovicidal towards Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) at various regimes of temperature and humidity

Aerial conidia of Beauveria bassiana in an emulsifiable formulation germinated by >95% after 24 h exposure to the regimes of 20, 25 and 30 degrees C with 51%, 74% and 95% RH. Ovicidal activities of the formulation towards two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, were assayed at the concentrations of 0, 18, 160 and 693 conidia mm(-2) sprayed separately onto fava bean leaves including 39 (25-76) eggs per capita. All the sprayed eggs on the leaves were directly exposed to the different regimes for hatch after 24 h maintenance in covered Petri dishes. Generally, hatched proportions increased over post-spray days and decreased with the elevated fungal concentrations; no more eggs hatched from day 9 or 10 onwards. Based on the counts of the hatched/non-hatched eggs in the different regimes, the final egg mortalities were 15.0-40.4%, 48.9-66.6% and 62.9-87.5% at the low, medium and high concentrations, respectively, but only 5.6-11.3% in blank controls. The RH effect on the fungal action was significant at 20 and 25 degrees C but not at 30 degrees C whereas the effect of temperature was significant at 51% and 74% RH but not at 95% RH. Probit analysis of the egg mortalities versus the fungal sprays generated median lethal concentrations (LC(50)) of 65-320 conidia mm(-2) at all the regimes, and of only 65-78 conidia mm(-2) at 25-30 degrees C with 74-95% RH. The results highlight ovicidal activities of the emulsifiable formulation against the mite species at the tested regimes and its potential use in spider mite control.     

Influence of temperature on the hygropreference of the Collembolan, Cryptopygus antarcticus, and the mite, Alaskozetes antarcticus from the maritime Antarctic

The hygropreference of adult Cryptopygus antarcticus and Alaskozetes antarcticus was investigated over 2 h at 5, 10 and 20 degrees C, along humidity gradients (9-98% RH) established by means of different salt solutions. Two chamber arrangements were employed, linear and grid, to determine any influence of thigmotactic behaviour on distribution within the RH gradient. The humidity preference of both species varied with temperature. At 5 and 10 degrees C, C. antarcticus distributed homogeneously showing no clear RH preference. At 20 degrees C, this species preferred the highest humidity (98% RH). A. antarcticus demonstrated a preference for the lowest humidity (9% RH) at 5 degrees C, but at 10 degrees C its distribution differed between the two arena types. At 20 degrees C, A. antarcticus showed no clear humidity preference. Assays to control for experimental asymmetries along the gradient; thigmotactic behaviour; and aggregative behaviour exclude these factors as explanations for the observed results. The mean initial water content of samples did not differ significantly between temperature regimes (C. antarcticus: 68.6, 71.1 and 74.3%; A. antarcticus: 68.1, 70.1 and 68.6% at 5, 10 and 20 degrees C respectively), but the level of water loss increased significantly with temperature. The influence of desiccation tolerance and the ecological significance of the observed humidity preferences are discussed.     

The Biology of the Acaropathogenic Fungus Hirsutella kirchneri

The acaropathogenic fungus Hirsutella kirchneri (Rostrup) Minter , Brady and Hall grew best and produced most mycelia on a medium containing yeast extract , dextrose and agar; conidial production , however , was maximal or potato dextrose agar (PDA) . The best growth on both media was at 25 C and conidial germination was high within a wide range of temperatures (10 - 35 C) . Colony growth , mycelial mass production and conidial yield were best under alternating dark and light regimes . Maximal germination occurred under dark conditions . When grown in continuous light the fungus produced synnemata (compacted conidiophores) which remained viable for 22 weeks . Of six species of phytophagous mites assayed , three spider mites and a rust mite became infected by the fungus , as did , to a limited degree , a parasitic mite . Another four mites , including two pests , a scavenger and a predator , were unaffected . The fungus grew on and sporulated from heat - killed cadavers of a dead mealybug (Homoptera) . Conidial germination and penetration into live mites , under saturation condi tions , were affected little by temperatures . Intra - host growth was temperature dependent , with mite death beginning on the second or third day post - infection . Maximal sporulation from infected mites took place at 25 C . Mortality was quickest at 25 C when mites were held under saturation conditions , but some death also occurred at lower relative humidities . These data are discussed with a view to using H. kirchneri in the biological control of plant mites .     

Effect of temperature on stability of marker constituents in Echinacea purpurea root formulations.

Stability of an alkamide and a phenolic phytochemical marker in a hydro-alcoholic extract of Echinacea purpurea root and a dried powder prepared by evaporation of the extract was assessed in storage for 7 months at three temperature regimes: -20, 25 and 40 degrees Celsius. In the extract, the major alkamide, dodeca-2E, 4E, 8Z, 10E/Z-tetraenoic acid isobutyl amide, was not significantly affected by storage at any of the temperatures, but cichoric acid content declined as significantly (P = 0.05) at both 25 degrees C and 40 degrees C as compared to low-temperature storage. In the powder, the major alkamide showed a significantly reduced level at 25 degrees C and 40 degrees C while cichoric acid did not decline significantly. These results suggest that more attention should be given to the effect of formulation and temperature on storage of Echinacea products.     

Molecular genecology of temperature response in Lolium perenne: 1. preliminary analysis to reduce false positives

Molecular genecology is the study of geographical clines in frequencies of molecular markers and their relationship to ecological clines in environmental conditions. This study outlines the principles underlying the selection of populations, focusing on avoiding 'false positives'- noncausal correlations between allele frequency and the environment. The principles are illustrated by identifying a set of populations of Lolium perenne for the study of temperature responses. The selected set of populations encompasses a 20 degrees C range in mean January temperature. Their freezing tolerance shows a linear trend with winter temperature, LT50 decreasing by 0.25 degrees C for each 1 degrees C reduction in mean January temperature.     

信阳桃花水母对几种生态因子胁迫的耐受反应

在不同温度、盐度、pH等因子胁迫条件下,研究观察了信阳桃花水母(Craspedacusta sowerbyi xinyangensis)的生活状态、形态变化及存活等耐受反应,并测定了信阳桃花水母在不同温度下的耗氧率和最低耐氧能力.结果表明,信阳桃花水母的最适生活温度范围为15 ℃～25 ℃,pH为6.0～8.2.信阳桃花水母对盐度耐受力差,盐度为2时,仅能存活96 h;但具有较强的耐低氧能力,20 ℃时窒息点为026 mg·L^-1,平均耗氧量和平均耗氧率随温度的升高而升高.     

Effects of temperature and relative humidity on sporulation of Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum in mycosed cadavers of Schistocerca gregaria.

The effects of relative humidity (RH) and temperature on the sporulation of Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum on mycosed cadavers of desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, were assessed in the laboratory. Quantitative assessments of conidial production over 10 days under constant conditions showed that sporulation was optimized at RH > 96% and at temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees C. Under both these conditions >10(9) conidia/cadaver were produced. At 25 degrees C, conidial yield was maximized under conditions in which cadavers remained in contact with damp substrate. Relatively little sporulation occurred at 15 degrees C (< 3 x 10(7) conidia/cadaver) and 40 degrees C (< 4 x 10(6) conidia/cadaver) and no sporulation occurred at 10 or 45 degrees C. Following incubation, conidial yield was closely related to the water content of locust cadavers. In separate tests, locust cadavers were incubated for 10 days under diurnally fluctuating temperature and RH that comprised favorable (25 degrees C/100% RH) alternating with unfavorable (40 degrees C/80% RH) conditions for sporulation. In this case, fewer conidia were produced compared with cadavers that were incubated under the favorable conditions for an equal period cumulatively but were not periodically exposed to unfavorable conditions. However, this reduced sporulation observed with the fluctuating condition was not observed when cadavers were similarly incubated under favorable/unfavorable conditions of temperature but were not periodically exposed to the low RH condition. This result implies that sporulation is a dynamic process, dependent not only on periodic exposure to favorable RH but also on the interrelation of this with low RH. Associated tests and the monitoring of changes in cadaver weights imply that the mechanism driving the reduced sporulation under fluctuating RH is the net water balance of cadavers, i.e. the cumulative ability of the fungus/cadaver to adsorb water necessary for sporulation at high RH is restricted by water loss associated with intermittent exposure to a low RH. The duration of daily exposure to high humidity appears to be a crucial constraint to the recycling ability of M. anisopliae var. acridum.     

Fertility of Drosophila melanogaster females affected by mutation l(2)M167DTS

We studied the fertility of D. melanogaster females heterozygous for the dominant temperature sensitive mutation l(2)M167DTS, which exerts a recessive lethal effect at 25 degrees C, under the conditions of stable temperature regimes 25, 28, and 29 degrees C and changing regimes 25-->29 degrees C and 29-->25 degrees C. It was shown that inhibition of total activity of oogenesis due to a decreased number of functioning ovarioles is one of the mechanisms underlying the decreased fertility of l(2)M167DTS /+ females. Analysis of individual fertility of each female confirmed also the role of sterility as a component of fertility of the females. Sterilization was realized due both to full depletion of functioning ovarioles and disturbed mechanism of laying the mature eggs onto a substrate as a result of violation of the feedback blocking normal ovulation, which led to the breakdown of ovarioles and filling of the abdominal cavity with mature oocytes. A significant polymorphism of heterozygous females by their fertility was observed. The intensity of sterilization and mortality of l(2)M167DTS/+ females sharply increased at an elevated temperature (29 degrees C), especially at the pupal stage.     

玫烟色拟青霉适温性及抗多菌灵特性的种内变异

在15 ℃～35 ℃的温度范围内比较测定了玫烟色拟青霉(Paecilomyces fumosoroseus) 6株野生菌的菌落生长、产孢量及孢子活力.结果显示,3个指标均以25 ℃左右最好,但同一温度下菌株间或同一菌株在不同温度下的差异显著, 菌株Pfr116和Pfr6206具有相对稳定优良的生长、产孢及活孢率性状.对不同浓度多菌灵对6株野生菌的菌落生长和单孢菌落形成的影响测定表明,菌株间存在较大差异.不同多菌灵浓度对单孢菌落形成的抑制率观察值可用逻辑斯蒂模型较好地拟合(r²≥0.90).用所获参数估计的最低禁菌浓度MIC值显示,Pfr4205和Pfr116对多菌灵表现为低抗性（MIC≤20.0 μg·ml^-1）;Pfr153、Pfr612和Pfr2175属于低水平中抗,MIC值仅略大于20 μg·ml^-1;而Pfr6206的MIC值高达93.5 μg·ml^-1,接近MIC>100 μg·ml^-1的高抗标准.因此,Pfr6206为适温性和抗多菌灵特性俱佳的菌株,可作为抗多菌灵和适应不同季节或地区的害虫生防菌剂的候选菌株.     

Characterization of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae isolates for management of tarnished plant bug,Lygus lineolaris (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Selected morphological and physiological characteristics of four Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin isolates and one Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin isolate, which are highly pathogenic to Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) (Hemiptera: Miridae), were determined. There were significant differences in conidial size, viability, spore production, speed of germination, relative hyphal growth, and temperature sensitivity. Spore viability after incubation for 24h at 20 degrees C ranged from 91.4 to 98.6% for the five isolates tested. Spore production on quarter-strength Sabouraud dextrose agar plus 0.25% (w/v) yeast extract after 10 days incubation at 20 degrees C ranged from 1.6x10(6) to 15.5x10(6)conidia/cm(2). One B. bassiana isolate (ARSEF 1394) produced significantly more conidia than the others. Spore germination was temperature-dependant for both B. bassiana and M. anisopliae. The time required for 50% germination (TG(50)) ranged from 25.0 to 30.9, 14.0 to 16.6, and 14.8 to 18.0h at 15, 22, and 28 degrees C, respectively. Only the M. anisopliae isolate (ARSEF 3540) had significant spore germination at 35 degrees C with a TG(50) of 11.8h. A destructive sampling method was used to measure the relative hyphal growth rate among isolates. Exposure to high temperature (40-50 degrees C) for 10min had a negative effect on conidial viability. The importance of these characteristics in selecting fungal isolates for management of L. lineolaris is discussed.     

Rapid cold hardening in the predatory mite Euseius (Amblyseius) finlandicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

A rapid cold hardening response was studied in diapause and non-diapause females of the predatory mite Euseius finlandicus. When laboratory reared diapause and non-diapause females were transferred and maintained from the rearing temperature of 20 degrees C for 2 h to -11.5 degrees C and -10 degrees C, 10 to 20% survived respectively. However, conditioning of diapause females for 4 h at a range of temperatures from 0 to 10 degrees C before their exposure for 2 h to -11.5 degrees C, increased survival to approximately 90%. Similarly, conditioning of non-diapause females for 4 h at 5 degrees C before their exposure for 2 h to -10 degrees C increased survival to 90%. A similar rapid cold hardening response in both diapause and non-diapause females was also induced through gradual cooling of the mites, at a rate of approximately 0.4 degrees C per min. The rapid increase in cold tolerance after prior conditioning of the mites to low temperatures, was rapidly lost when they returned to a higher temperature of 20 degrees C. Rapid cold hardening extended the survival time of diapause and non-diapause females at sub-zero temperatures. The cost of rapid cold hardening in reproductive potential after diapause termination was negligible. In non-diapause females, however, the increase in cold tolerance gained through gradual cooling could not prevent cold shock injuries, as both fecundity and survival were reduced.     

Effects of cooling ovaries before oocyte aspiration on meiotic competence of porcine oocytes and of exposing in vitro matured oocytes to ambient temperature on in vitro fertilization and development of the oocytes

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of cooling porcine ovaries to low temperature (4 degrees C, 15 degrees C, 20 degrees C, 25 degrees C or 30 degrees C) for 1 h on the meiotic competence of their oocytes. Moreover, it was determined whether or not the exposure of in vitro matured oocytes to ambient temperature (20 degrees C, 25 degrees C or 30 degrees C) for 1 h affects the fertilization and developmental competence of the oocytes. There was no difference between the proportions of oocytes that underwent maturation to metaphase II when isolated from control ovaries held at 35 degrees C and ovaries exposed to 30 degrees C. However, the percentages of oocytes from ovaries exposed to 25 degrees C or less were significantly lower than those of oocytes from ovaries exposed to 30 degrees C and control ovaries. The proportions of total and normal fertilization of oocytes that had been exposed to 20 degrees C before in vitro fertilization (IVF) were significantly lower than those of control oocytes maintained at 38.5 degrees C. However, cooling in vitro matured oocytes had no effects on their cleavage and development to blastocysts after IVF. These data suggest that exposing porcine ovaries to a low temperature of 25 degrees C or less before aspiration of oocytes may adversely affect their subsequent in vitro maturation. It may be necessary to maintain the oocytes at a temperature of more than 25 degrees C during manipulation of oocytes for retaining the fertilizability of the oocytes.     

温湿度对安徽虫瘟霉在桃蚜居群中流行的影响

用安徽虫瘟霉(Zoopphthoraanhuiensis)接种桃蚜(Myzuspersicae)无翅成蚜3头和健蚜3头组成新的蚜群若干,在不同温湿组合条件下任其繁殖、发病和传染,以评价温湿度对该菌在蚜群中流行的影响.持续26d观察,在偏低温与各湿度(90～100%RH)的组合中均成功诱发了蚜病流行,其程度受湿度影响较小.在10℃与各湿度组合中,最终感病死亡率为72.9%～98.2%,15℃下为78.7%～94.4%,流行强度极大.而20℃下仅100%RH诱发了高强度流行病,其余湿度下感病死亡率仅为5.1%～12.8%.在25℃,100%RH下死亡率仅27.2%.与所有湿度组合中的对照蚜群相比,10℃下流行病控蚜效果为89.5%～96.9%,15℃下为96.1%～98.2%,20℃下为45.9%～85.7%,25℃下为56.4%～69.7%.逐步回归分析表明,安徽虫瘟霉引发的蚜病流行与温度及其相对湿度和蚜群带菌后天数的互作项密切相关(r2=0.82,a＜0.01),这些变量在很大程度上决定了安徽虫瘟霉是否在蚜群中流行.