Evaluation of coumarin derivatives as anti-fungal agents against soil-borne fungal pathogens

Development of new and safer pesticides that are target-specific is backed by a strong Federal, public and commercial mandate. In order to generate a new generation of pesticides that are more ecologically friendly and safe, natural products are being evaluated for pesticidal activities. Many plant-derived chemicals have proven pesticidal properties, including compounds like sesamol (3,4-Methylenedioxyphenol), a lipid from sesame oil and coumarins (1,2-Benzopyrone) found in a variety of plants such as clover, sweet woodruff and grasses. Both of these plant-derived compounds have been shown to inhibit a range of fungi and bacteria and it is believed that these cyclic compounds behave as natural pesticidal defense molecules for plants. These compounds represent a starting point for the exploration of new derivative compounds possessing a range of antifungal activity and for use as seed protectants. Within this study, six derivatives of coumarin that resembled sesamol's structure were screened for their antifungal activity against a range of soil-bome plant pathogenic fungi. Fungi in this in vitro screen included Macrophomina phaseolina (causal agent of charcoal rot) and Pythium spp. (causal agent of seedling blight), two phylogenetically diverse and economically important plant pathogens. Preliminary studies indicate that many of these novel coumarin derivatives work very effectively in vitro to inhibit fungal growth and several coumarin derivatives have higher antifungal activity and stability as compared to either the original coumarin or sesamol compounds alone. Interestingly, several of these highly active coumarin derivatives are halogenated compounds with solubility in water, and they are relatively easy and inexpensive to synthesize. These halogenated coumarin derivatives remained active for extended periods of time displaying 100% inhibition of fungal growth for greater than 3 weeks in vitro. In addition to the in vitro fungal inhibition assays, preliminary phytotoxicity assays of these halogenated coumarin compounds show no obvious plant toxicity issues or interference in plant development. These results support additional research in this area of natural pesticide development.     

Impacts of thiamethoxam seed treatment and host plant resistance on the soybean aphid fungal pathogen, Pandora neoaphidis

Since the introduction of soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura, from Asia, insecticide use in soybean has increased substantially in the north central United States. Insecticide seed treatments and aphid resistant soybean varieties are management tactics that may reduce reliance on foliar applications of broad-spectrum insecticides. Exploring potential nontarget impacts of these technologies will be an important step in incorporating them into aphid management programs. We investigated impacts of thiamethoxam seed treatment and Rag1 aphid resistant soybean on a fungal pathogen of soybean aphid, Pandora neoaphidis (Remaudière & Hennebert) Humber, via open plot and cage studies. We found that although thiamethoxam seed treatment did significantly lower aphid pressure in open plots compared with an untreated control, this reduction in aphid density translated into nonsignificant decreases in fungal disease prevalence in aphids. Furthermore, when aphid densities were approximately equal in seed treated and untreated soybean, no impact on aphid fungal disease was observed. In open plots, Rag1 resistant soybean experienced lower aphid pressure and aphid disease prevalence compared with a nonresistant isoline. However, in cages when aphid densities were equivalent in both resistant and susceptible soybean, resistance had no impact on aphid disease prevalence. The addition of thiamethoxam seed treatment to resistant soybean yielded aphid densities and aphid disease prevalence similar to untreated, resistant soybean. These studies provide evidence that thiamethoxam seed treatments and Rag1 resistance can impact P. neoaphidis via decreased aphid densities; however, this impact is minimal, implying use of seed treatments and host plant resistance are compatible with P. neoaphidis.     

甘肃旱作大豆全膜双垄种植的土壤水热及产量效应

以晋豆23为材料,在甘肃省农业科学院镇原试验站进行田间试验,研究了全膜双垄沟播(FMRFC)、覆膜沟播(FMFC)、覆膜条播(FMSC)和露地条播(NMSC,CK)4个处理的水热及产量效应.结果表明: 在大豆生育期降水量为246.3 mm(干旱年)和407 mm(丰水年)两种年型下,各覆盖处理0～20 cm土层平均地温在24 h内呈“S”型变化,并随生育进程波动振幅缩小.各覆盖处理使大豆苗期(VE～V3)至鼓粒期(R6)0～20 cm土层平均土壤温度显著提高0.5～2.5 ℃,并使全生育期平均地温提高1.3～1.6 ℃.各覆盖处理分别加速了大豆植株对0～120 cm土层土壤水分的消耗,但使0～200 cm土层的平均含水量和贮水量分别提高了1.2%～1.4%和62.7～70.3 mm.与CK相比,FMRFC和FMFC在旱年增温增湿作用显著,改善了大豆株高、分枝数、单株荚数和百粒重等经济性状,使水分利用效率分别提高47.7%～56.3%和33.3%～35.4%,产量分别提高27.7%～51.1%和10.2%～25.2%,是旱作大豆优选的抗寒抗旱覆盖种植方式.     

一种枯草芽孢杆菌B29菌株拌种剂对大豆根腐病的田间防效研究

根腐病是黑龙江省主栽作物大豆的主要病害之一。生防枯草芽孢杆菌B29菌株对引起大豆根腐病的镰刀菌、腐霉菌和立枯丝核菌具有强拮抗作用。以枯草芽孢杆菌为主要成分的微生物拌种剂对大豆根腐病的田间防效结果: 播种后35 d调查, 4种不同处理的平均防效分别为50.2%、60.0%、48.3%、49.4%, 均高于30%多克福种衣剂的防效(44.9%)。第2次(50 d)调查, 处理4的防效(60.7%)明显好于化学种衣剂(48.6%), 处理3的防效与化学种衣剂的防效差异不显著。通过对生长期大豆出苗率、株高、鲜重和根瘤数等各项生理指标的调查, 结果表明枯草芽孢杆菌微生物拌种剂对大豆的生长和发育是安全的。经过黑龙江省6个不同县市的2年田间示范, 微生物拌种剂对大豆根腐病的田间防效达56.3%~89.1%, 增产率为9.4%~24.6%。     

Antagonistic effects of soybean viruses on soybean aphid performance

Although there is long-standing recognition that pest complexes require different management approaches than individual pests, relatively little research has explored how pests interact. In particular, little is known of how herbivorous insects and plant pathogens interact when sharing the same host plant. The soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Mastumura, a recently introduced pest of soybean in the upper midwestern United States, and a complex of plant viruses vectored to soybean by insects have become a major concern for growers in the region. Given the abundance of soybean aphid and the increase in virus incidence in recent years, soybean aphids often use soybean infected by plant viral pathogens. We tested the hypothesis that soybean aphid performance is affected by virus infection of soybean plants. We conducted a series of field and laboratory experiments that examined how infection of soybeans with the common plant viruses, alfalfa mosaic, soybean mosaic, and bean pod mottle viruses, influenced soybean aphid performance. Soybean plants (in the field and laboratory) were hand inoculated with individual viruses, and aphids were allowed to colonize plants naturally in field experiments or added to the plants in clip-cages or within mesh bags in laboratory assays. In the field, aphid density on uninfected control soybean plants was nearly double that on infected plants. In laboratory assays, aphid population growth rates were on average 20% lower for aphids on virus infected compared with uninfected plants. Life table analyses showed that increased mortality on virus-infected plants likely explain differences in aphid population growth. Although there was some heterogeneity in the significance of treatment effects among different experiments, when independent experiments are taken together, there is on average an overall negative effect of these viruses on soybean aphids.     

氮素营养与水分胁迫对大豆产量补偿效应的影响

在大豆营养生长期,对大豆进行不同程度的干旱锻炼,同时改变土壤中的施氮水平,研究大豆产量及其构成因子对干旱胁迫复水的反应机制,为大豆节水增产及抗旱机制的实践探索提供理论依据。水分胁迫强度、历时和氮素营养都对大豆产量及其构成因子的补偿效应产生明显影响,水分胁迫抑制了大豆单株粒数的增长,但可以显著提高百粒重;氮素营养会抑制大豆百粒重的增加,但在一定水分条件下可以显著提高单株籽粒的数量,然而随着水分胁迫程度的加重,单株粒数的增加幅度也会相应减少。虽然氮素营养和水分胁迫使大豆产量构成因子产生补偿效应的阈值范围不同,但二者具有一定的耦合区域,在耦合区域内(水分胁迫时间14d左右、土壤含水量为田间持水量的50%—55%、施氮量在97.5—225kg/hm2之间)单株粒数和百粒重都产生较强的补偿效应,二者的协同作用显著提高了大豆的经济产量,使大豆产量表现出较强的补偿效应。结果表明:氮素营养和适度水分胁迫可以通过不同途径提高大豆植株的生长能力,当二者结合后大豆的补偿生长机制更为复杂,最终表现为水分胁迫提高了大豆的百粒重,而氮素增加了大豆单株粒数,二者协同作用使大豆经济产量显著增加。     

Non-target impacts of soybean rust fungicides on the fungal entomopathogens of soybean aphid

Soybean aphid, Aphis glycines, has caused serious economic damage to soybean across the North Central US since its introduction to North America in 2000. The management of another invasive soybean pest, Asian soybean rust, Phakopsora pachyrhizi, using foliar fungicide applications has the potential to impact soybean aphid populations by suppressing beneficial fungal entomopathogens. In 2005 and 2006, we applied recommended soybean rust fungicide treatments, consisting of strobilurin and triazole fungicides, to small soybean plots in two locations to assess if such applications might suppress aphid fungal epizootics. In Lamberton, MN, in 2005, during the epizootic, fungicide-treated plots averaged 2.0 ± 0.7% (mean ± SE) disease prevalence while untreated plots averaged 14.2 ± 5.6%. In 2007, we applied strobilurin and strobilurin-triazole mix fungicides to single-plant microplots either before or after release of Pandora neoaphidis, the most commonly observed aphid pathogen in 2005 and 2006. Treatments that contained a mixture of two active ingredients significantly lowered peak and cumulative aphid disease prevalence in both early and late reproductive stage soybeans indicating that fungicide mixtures used to manage soybean rust can negatively impact an aphid-specific fungal pathogen. However, no consistent soybean aphid population response was observed in these studies of low levels of aphid fungal infection.     

Chitosan Treatment: An Emerging Strategy for Enhancing Resistance of Greenhouse Tomato Plants to Infection by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici

The potential of chitosan, a non-toxic and biodegradable polymer of beta -1,4-glucosamine, for controlling fusarium crown and root rot of greenhouse-grown tomato caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL) was investigated. The amendment of plant growth substratum with chitosan at concentrations of 12.5 or 37.5 mg l-1 significantly reduced plant mortality, root rot symptoms and yield loss attributed to FORL. Maximum disease control was achieved with chitosan at 37.5 mg l-1, when plant mortality was reduced by more than 90% and fruit yield was comparable with that of non-infected plants. In the absence of FORL, chitosan did not adversely affect plant growth and fruit yield. Cytological observations on root samples from FORL-inoculated plants revealed that the beneficial effect of chitosan in reducing disease was associated with increased plant resistance to fungal colonization. In chitosan-treated plants, fungal growth was restricted to the epidermis and the cortex. Invading hyphae showed marked cellular disorganization, characterized by increased vacuolation and even complete loss of the protoplast. The main host reactions included the formation of structural barriers at sites of attempted fungal penetration, the deposition of an opaque material (probably enriched with phenolics according to its electron density) in intercellular spaces and the occlusion of xylem vessels with tyloses, polymorphic bubbles and osmiophilic substances. Although chitosan may also have antifungal properties, the ultrastructural observations provide evidence that chitosan sensitizes tomato plants to respond more rapidly and efficiently to FORL attack. Chitosan has the potential to become a useful agent for controlling greenhouse diseases caused by soil-borne pathogens.     

两个生态区大豆光热资源利用率和产量的差异及对化控剂的响应

在黑龙江省黑河市九三管理局(第四积温带)和大庆市林甸县(第二积温带)进行大田试验, 以大豆品种‘垦丰41’为试验材料, 于初花期叶面喷施50 mg·L^-1烯效唑(S₃₃₀₇)和50 mg·L^-1 2-N, N-二乙氨基乙基己酸酯(DTA-6)调节剂, 通过灰关联分析方法, 研究了影响大豆产量的主要因素, 并对比分析了两种生态条件下大豆光热资源利用率和产量的差异, 探究了化控技术对大豆光热资源利用率的调控效应. 结果表明:与降雨量和日照时数相比, 地表总辐射和≥10 ℃有效积温是影响两个生态区大豆产量的主要因素. 播种到开花期的光热资源利用率与单株干物质积累量呈极显著正相关, 开花至结荚期的光热资源利用率与单株干物质积累量呈显著正相关. 产量与苗期至结荚期的干物质积累量、单株粒数、单株粒重和百粒重呈极显著正相关. S₃₃₀₇和DTA-6均可显著提高两个生态区大豆的光热资源利用率和产量. 其中, S₃₃₀₇对两个生态区大豆光热资源利用率和产量的调控效果较好. 在九三和林甸两个生态区, S₃₃₀₇大豆光能利用率分别提高了13.6%和17.1%, 热量利用效率分别提高了14.1%和17.2%, 较不施用对照分别增产14.1%和17.3%. 因此, 采用合理的化控技术是提高光热资源利用率、实现大豆高产的有效途径.     

连作障碍因素对大豆养分吸收和固氮作用的影响

采用分室装置,利用不同孔径的膜研究大豆连作条件下,化感物质、土壤有害生物和大豆胞囊线虫等因素不断累加对植株生长、生物固氮作用和矿质养分吸收和分配的影响。结果表明,随着各因素不断累加,植株的地上部、根系和根瘤干重逐渐降低;除Ca元素外,植株组织的P、K等矿质元素单位含量下降,吸收总量下降,地上部分配的养分比例下降。在化感物质和土壤有害生物因素的基础上接种线虫,对生物固氮和矿质养 分的吸收和分配影响明显。     

Larvicidal and antifeedant activity of some plant-derived compounds to Lymantria dispar L. (Lepidoptera: Limantriidae)

Ethanol solutions of essential oil of Ocimum basilicum and its main component, linalool (both isomer forms), all in three concentrations, as well as botanical standard Bioneem (0.5%), were tested for their toxicity and antifeedant activity against the second instar gypsy moth larvae in the laboratory bioassay. The essential oil of O. basilicum was subjected to gas chromatography analysis, and totally 37 compounds were detected, of which linalool was predominantly present. All tested solutions showed low to moderate larvicidal effect in both residual toxicity test and in chronic larval mortality bioassay. Chronic mortality tests showed that obtained mortality was a consequence of starving rather than ingestion of treated leaves. However, antifeedant index achieved by application of tested solutions in feeding choice assay was remarkable. Foliar application of all tested compounds deterred feeding by L2 in the same percent as Bioneem. Antifeedant index was relatively high at all tested treatments (85-94%); moreover, the larval desensitization to repelling volatiles has not occurred after five days of observation. Low toxic and high antifeedant properties make these plant-derived compounds suitable for incorporation in integrated pest management programs, especially in urban environments.     

Nitrogen input quality changes the biochemical composition of soil organic matter stabilized in the fine fraction: a long-term study

The chemical composition of soil organic matter (SOM) is a key determinant of its biological stability. Our objective in this study was to evaluate the effects of various sources of supplemental N on the chemical composition of SOM in the fine (<5 μm) mineral fraction. Treatments were fallow, maize/soybean in rotation, and continuous maize receiving no fertilizer (maize0N), synthetic fertilizer N (maize + N), or composted manure (maize + manure). The chemical structures in SOM associated with the fine fraction were determined using XANES spectroscopy at the C and N K-edges, which was assessed using multidimensional scaling. Analysis of amino sugar biomarkers were used to evaluate the fungal:bacterial contributions to the SOM. The addition of N to soils (i.e., maize + N, maize + manure, and maize/soybean treatments) resulted in the enrichment of proteinaceous compounds. Soils which did not receive supplemental N (i.e., fallow and maize0N treatments) were enriched in plant-derived compounds (e.g., aromatics, phenolics, carboxylic acids and aliphatic compounds), suggesting that decomposition of plant residues was constrained by N-limitation. Microbial populations assessed by amino sugar biomarker ratios showed that the highest contributions to SOM by bacteria occurred in the maize + manure treatment (high N input), and by fungi in the fallow treatment (low N input). The SOM in the maize + N and maize/soybean treatments was enriched in N-bonded aromatics; we attribute this enrichment to the abiotic reaction of inorganic N with organic C structures. The SOM in the maize + manure treatment was enriched in pyridinic-N, likely as a result of intense microbial processing and high SOM turnover. The presences of signals for ketone and pyrrole compounds in XANES spectra suggest their use as biomarkers for microbially transformed and stabilized SOM. The SOM in the maize + manure treatment was enriched in ketones which are likely microbial by-products of fatty acid catabolism. Pyrrole compounds, which may accumulate over the long term as by-products of protein transformations by an N-limited microbial community, were dominant in the fallow soil. A combination of molecular spectroscopy and biomarker analysis showed that the source of supplemental N to soil influences the stable C- and N-containing compounds of SOM in a long-term field study. Indeed, any increase in N availability allowed the microbial community to transform plant material into microbial by-products which occur as stable SOM compounds in the fine soil fraction.     

不同株行距配置对夏大豆群体结构及光截获的影响

以田间试验(2006—2007年)为基础,分析了地上部干物质、叶面积指数(LAI)、光合有效辐射(PAR)、光能利用率和植株形态指标变化特征,夏大豆‘鲁豆4号’(Glycine maxcv.Ludou 4)在同一密度(3.09×105株/hm2)下设5种株行距配置方式,即行距×株距分别为18 cm×18 cm(A)、27 cm×12 cm(B)、36 cm×9 cm(C)、45 cm×7.2 cm(D)、54 cm×6 cm(E)。结果表明,大豆在生育期间干物质变化因株行距不同而产生差异,2006和2007生长季的各处理干物质分别在播种后第70天和90天达到最高,播种后第80天和100天时,A处理比E处理分别高21.6%和34.0%;不同层次干物质积累重心随行距加大有上移趋势。各处理LAI随行距扩大、株距减少有下降趋势,其中,A和B处理LAI表现较稳定,LAI相对较高且时间较长。光能利用率随行距加大有降低趋势,A和B处理显著高于E处理(P0.05)。夏大豆在不同株行距配置下,株粒数、百粒重与产量相关系数分别为0.941*和0.926*(2006年),0.995*和0.892*(2007年),随行距变小PAR透射率降低、截获率和光能利用率上升而产量增加,A和B处理产量显著高于E处理(P0.05)。说明夏大豆在雨养农业条件下,植株相对均匀分布可改善群体结构和增强光截获,进而提高群体光能利用率和产量。     

Effects of the Sunscreen Oxybenzone on Field Efficacy and Persistence of Metarhizium flavoviride Conidia Against Kraussella amabile (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Mali,West Africa

A field trial was performed at Mourdiah, northwest Mali, to evaluate whether the performance of Metarhizium flavoviride conidia would improve if 2% oxybenzone, an oil-soluble ultraviolet light protectant, was used. Conidia were applied in an ultra-low volume formulation against nymphs of the grasshopper Kraussella amabile . Mortality was assessed by collecting grasshoppers directly from field plots (sweep net samples) or by exposing untreated nymphs to sprayed vegetation for 48 h (field cage samples). For sweep net samples, the mortalities in M. flavoviride treatments varied between 94.5 and 99.9% up to 7 days after treatment, while control mortalities were significantly lower (20.7-55.0%). There were no significant differences between M. flavoviride treatments with or without oxybenzone. The average survival times were found to be significantly lower for fungal treatments (4.9 days) compared with the control treatment (11.8 days). W ith field cage samples, the mortality in M. flavoviride treatments declined from > 95.0% for nymphs exposed just after application to < 30.0% for nymphs exposed to treated vegetation on the 10th day after application. The control mortalities varied between 5.1 and 37.2%, and were significantly lower than fungal treatments for samples placed just after application and 10 days after application. The overall average survival times were 10.9 and 10.7 days for M. flavoviride with and without oxybenzone respectively, and 13.9 days with the control treatment. An exponential regression was fitted using cage mortality data which indicated that the half-life for conidial infectivity was 4.3 days on treated vegetation.     

玉/豆和玉/薯模式下氮肥运筹对玉米氮素利用和土壤硝态氮残留的影响

过量施用氮肥造成的环境问题日益严重,氮肥合理使用已成为人们研究的热点.本文研究了西南玉米两种主要套作模式下氮肥运筹对玉米氮素利用和土壤硝态氮残留的影响.结果表明：连续分带轮作种植玉/豆模式后,玉米收获期植株中的氮素积累较玉/薯模式平均提高了6.1%,氮收获指数增加了5.4%,最终使氮肥利用效率提高4.3%,氮素同化量提高了15.1%,氮肥偏生产力提高了22.6%;玉米收获后硝态氮淋溶损失减少,60～120 cm土层中硝态氮残留玉/豆模式较玉/薯模式降低了10.3%,而0～60 cm土层中平均提高了12.9%,有利于培肥地力,两年产量平均较玉/薯模式高1249 kg·hm^-2,增产22%;增加施氮量提高了植株氮素积累,降低了氮肥利用率,显著提高了表层土壤中硝态氮的累积,60～100 cm土层中硝态氮的累积量在0～270 kg·hm^-2处理间差异不显著,继续增加施氮量会显著增加土壤硝态氮的淋溶;氮肥后移显著提高了土壤0～60 cm土层硝态氮的积累.两种模式下施氮量和底追比对玉米氮素吸收和硝态氮残留的影响结果不一致,玉/豆模式以施氮180～270 kg·hm^-2、按底肥∶拔节肥∶穗肥=3∶2∶5的施肥方式有利于提高玉米植株后期氮素积累、氮收获指数和氮肥利用效率,减少了氮肥损失,两年最高产量平均可达7757 kg·hm^-2;而玉/薯模式在180 kg·hm^-2、按底肥∶穗肥=5∶5的施肥方式下,氮素积累利用及产量均优于其他处理,两年平均产量为6572 kg·hm^-2,可实现两种模式下玉米高产、高效、安全的氮肥管理体系.
     

Field and laboratory evaluations of soybean lines against soybean aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is a major pest of soybean, Glycine max (L.). Merr., that significantly reduces yield in northern production areas of North America. Insecticides are widely used to control soybean aphid outbreaks, but efforts are underway to develop host plant resistance as an effective alternative management strategy. Here, previously identified resistant lines were evaluated in laboratory tests against field-collected populations of soybean aphid and in field-plot tests over 2 yr in South Dakota. Six lines previously identified with resistance to soybean aphid--Jackson, Dowling, K1639, Cobb, Palmetto and Sennari--were resistant in this study, but relatively high aphid counts on Tie-feng 8 in field plots contrasted with its previously reported resistance. Bhart-PI 165989 showed resistance in one of two laboratory tests, but it had relatively large aphid infestations in both years of field tests. Intermediate levels of soybean aphid occurred in field plots on lines previously shown to have strong (Sugao Zairai, PI 230977, and D75-10169) or moderate resistance to soybean aphid (G93-9223, Bragg, Braxton, and Tracy-M). Sugao Zairai also failed to have a significant proportion of resistant plants in two laboratory tests against aphids field-collected in 2008, but it was resistant in laboratory tests with aphids collected in 2002, 2005, and 2006. Overall, results showed that lines with Rag (i.e., Jackson) or Rag1 gene (i.e., Dowling) had low aphid numbers, whereas lines with Rag2 (i.e., Sugao Zairai, Sennari) had mixed results. Collectively, responses of soybean aphid populations in laboratory and field tests in 2008 resembled a virulence pattern reported previously for biotype 3 soybean aphids, but virulence in soybean aphid populations was variable and dynamic over years of the study. These results, coupled with previous reports of biotypes virulent to Rag1, suggest that deployment of lines with a single aphid-resistance gene is limited for soybean aphid management, and that deployment strategies relying on multiple resistance genes may be needed to effectively use plant resistance against soybean aphid.     

Resistance and resilience of root fungal communities to water limitation in a temperate agroecosystem

Understanding crop resilience to environmental stress is critical in predicting the consequences of global climate change for agricultural systems worldwide, but to date studies addressing crop resiliency have focused primarily on plant physiological and molecular responses. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form mutualisms with many crop species, and these relationships are key in mitigating the effects of abiotic stress in many agricultural systems. However, to date there is little research examining whether (1) fungal community structure in agroecosystems is resistant to changing environmental conditions, specifically water limitation and (2) resilience of fungal community structure is moderated by agricultural management systems, namely the integration of trees into cropping systems. Here, we address these uncertainties through a rainfall reduction field experiment that manipulated short‐term water availability in a soybean‐based (Glycine max L. Merr.) agroforest in Southern Ontario, Canada. We employed terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis to determine the molecular diversity of both general fungal and AMF communities in soybean roots under no stress, stress (rainfall shelters added), and poststress (rainfall shelters removed). We found that general fungal and AMF communities sampled from soybean roots were resistant to rainfall reduction in a monoculture, but not in an agroforest. While AMF communities were unchanged after stress removal, general fungal communities were significantly different poststress in the agroforest, indicating a capacity for resiliency. Our study indicates that generalist fungi and AMF are responsive to changes in environmental conditions and that agroecosystem management plays a key role in the resistance and resilience of fungal communities to water limitation.     

群体分布对夏大豆产量和水分利用效率的影响

在田间试验条件下研究了群体不同分布对夏大豆产量构成和水分利用的影响.夏大豆‘鲁豆4号'(Glycine max cv. Ludou 4)在同一群体密度(3.09×10~5株/hm~2)下设5种分布方式,即行距×株距分别为A:18 cm×18 cm,B:27 cm×12 cm,C:36 cm×9 cm,D:45 cm×7.2 cm,E:54 cm×6cm.结果表明,群体分布影响夏大豆的产量、叶片水分特征和水分利用效率(WUE).A、B处理的产量显著高于D、E处理(P<0.05),其他处理间均无显著差异;随着行距加大,单株有效荚数、粒数及百粒重呈下降趋势;叶片相对含水量(RWC)、水势(Ψw)和渗透势(Ψs)随生育进程的推进呈整体下降趋势,其中,A、B处理RWC、Ψw 和Ψs的平均值均显著高于D、E处理,E处理的Ψw在日变化的正午阶段明显低于其他处理;WUE与行距呈负相关(R=-0.935~*),与产量呈正相关(R=0.997~(**)),其中,A、B处理的WUE显著高于其他处理(P<0.05),D、E处理极显著低于B处理(P<0.01).夏大豆植株相对均匀分布的处理可改善产量构成因素及叶片水分状况,进而形成较高的产量,提高水分利用效率.     

低温茬口空闲期土壤强还原消毒对西瓜枯萎病的影响

为探明低温茬口空闲期土壤强还原消毒(RSD)对西瓜枯萎病的防控效果,设置对照(CK)、淹水对照(FCK)、淹水添加2%(w/w)苜蓿粉(AL)、0.25%(w/w)乙酸(AC)以及AL+AC的RSD处理进行西瓜盆栽试验,采用定量PCR和Illumina Miseq等测定真菌、尖孢镰刀菌数量及真菌群落组成,并统计发病率和产量。结果表明: 与CK相比,FCK和各RSD处理均能显著降低尖孢镰刀菌数量及其在真菌中的比例,杀菌效果达86.1%～94.6%;AL、AC以及AL+AC处理显著增加了西瓜产量,降低了枯萎病发病率,且枯萎病防控效果分别为63.2%、73.7%和94.7%,而FCK与CK无显著差异。与CK相比,AL和AC处理显著改变了土壤真菌群落组成,FCK处理对真菌群落无显著影响;RSD处理均显著增加了柄孢壳属、假散囊菌、地丝菌、粪盘菌、韦斯特壳属以及久浩酵母菌等优势属的相对丰度,且其中大部分与尖孢镰刀菌数量及其在真菌中的比例以及发病率呈显著负相关关系。综上,低温茬口空闲期的RSD处理可以通过重塑真菌群落组成有效防控西瓜枯萎病的发生。     

Efficacy of combined application of Trichoderma asperellum NG T158, Aloe vera leaf extract and poultry manure for the management of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum causing anthracnose disease on cowpea

Anthracnose disease is a major constraint for the production of cowpea, accounting for significant yield losses in Nigeria. Trials were conducted in 2016 and 2017 to evaluate an integrated approach in the management of anthracnose disease on cowpea. The experiment was conducted in a screenhouse with ten treatments and three replications in a completely randomised design using a susceptible cowpea variety IT07K-298-9. Ten varieties of cowpea were evaluated for seed-to-plant transmission of pathogen with respect to disease incidence, severity, and yield. The highest yield of 12–14 pods per plant was observed in treatment of Trichoderma asperellum and poultry manure combined. Seed treatments using T. asperellum and soil amendment with poultry manure had a significantly (P?=?0.05) lower disease incidence of 8.4–10.5%. This study showed the potential of combining naturally occurring organic products in the ecosystem that compete favourably with synthetic fungicides in the management of anthracnose disease of cowpea.