Type selective inhibition of microbial fatty acid synthases by thiolactomycin

The antibiotic, thiolactomycin, is known to selectively inhibit the Type II straight-chain fatty acid synthase (monofunctional enzyme system, e.g. Escherichia coli enzyme) but not Type I straight-chain fatty acid synthase (multifunctional enzyme system, e.g. Saccharomyces cerevisiae enzyme). We have studied the effect of thiolactomycin on the branched-chain fatty acid synthases from Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus insolitus. Fatty acid synthase from all three Bacilli was not inhibited or only slightly inhibited by thiolactomycin. E. coli synthase, as expected, was strongly inhibited by thiolactomycin. Branched-chain fatty acid synthase from Bacillus species is a monofunctional enzyme system but, unlike Type II E. coli synthase, it is largely insensitive to thiolactomycin.     

Metabolism of S-Benzyl O-Ethyl Phenylphosphonothioate (Inezin®) by Mycelial Cells of Pyricularia oryzae

Gas-liquid chromatographic study revealed that organophosphorus fungicide Inezin® (S-benzyl O-ethyl phenylphosphonothioate) was metabolized to O-ethyl hydrogen phenylphosphonothioate or ethyl hydrogen phenylphosphonate by mycelial cells of Pyricularia oryzae. Metabolic fate of the removed benzyl or benzylthio group was further studied by labeling benzene ring of benzyl radical of the fungicide with ¹⁴C, and dibenzyl disulfide, benzyl alcohol, toluene-α-sulfonic acid and benzoic acid were found as metabolites by ion exchange chromatography and thin-layer chromatography. Gas-liquid chromatographic study also ascertained that a part of Inezin was hydroxylated at m-position of the benzene ring of benzyl radical, but o- or p-hydroxylation of benzyl radical was not seemed to occur.

No significant difference was found in metabolism of the fungicide between susceptible and resistant clones of the fungi.     

Inhibition of mycorrhizal symbiosis in Leucaena leucocephala by chlorothalonil

The effect of the fungicide, chlorothalonil, on vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) symbiosis was studied in a greenhouse using Leucaena leucocephala as test plant. Chlorothalonil was applied to soil at 0, 50, 100 and 200 μg g⁻¹. The initial soil solution P levels were 0.003 μg mL⁻¹ (sub-optimal) and 0.026 μg mL⁻¹ (optimal). After 4 weeks, the sub-optimal P level was raised to 0.6 μg mL⁻¹ (high). The soil was either uninoculated or inoculated with the VAM fungus, Glomus aggregatum. The fungicide reduced mycorrhizal colonization of roots, development of mycorrhizal effectiveness, shoot P concentration and uptake and dry matter yields at all concentrations tested, although the highest inhibitory effect was noted as the concentration of the fungicide was increased from 50 to 100 μg g⁻¹. Phosphorus applied after four weeks tended to partially offset the deleterious effects of chlorothalonil in plants grown in the inoculated and uninoculated soil which suggests that the fungicide was interfering with plant P uptake. The results suggest that the use of chlorothalonil should be restricted to levels below 50 μg g⁻¹ if the benefits of mycorrhizal symbiosis are to be expected. Contribution from Hawaii Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Journal Series No. 3464. Contribution from Hawaii Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Journal Series No. 3464.     

Metabolism of O-Ethyl S,S-Diphenyl Phosphorodithioate (Hinosan®) by Mycelial Cells of Pyricularia oryzae

Metabolism of organophosphorus fungicide Hinosan^® (O-ethyl S, S-diphenyl phosphorodithioate) by mycelia of P. oryzae, rice blast fungus, was studied using ³²P–, ³⁵S– and non-labeled compounds, by ion exchange chromatography, paper chromatography, thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography, and identifying the metabolites and their derivatives with authentic compounds.

The main metabolic pathway is hydrolysis of one P-S linkage followed by the other P-S linkage or ethyl ester linkage and finally yielding phosphoric acid. A part of the fungicide metabolizes to hydroxylated intermediate metabolite, O-ethyl S-p-hydroxyphenyl S-phenyl phosphorodithioate. No significant difference in rate and mode of metabolism was found in this experiment between susceptible and resistant clones against the fungicide.     

Residual toxicity of soil-applied chlorothalonil on mycorrhizal symbiosis in Leucaena leucocephala

The residual effect of the fungicide chlorothalonil on the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) symbiosis was evaluated in a greenhouse experiment. The soil used was an oxisol (Tropeptic Eutrustox) treated with P to obtain target levels near-optimal for VAM activity or sufficient for nonmycorrhizal host growth. In the uninoculated soil treated with the former P level, the fungicide reduced VAM colonization of roots and completely suppressed symbiotic effectiveness measured in terms of pinnule P content. When this soil was inoculated with Glomus aggregatum, symbiotic effectiveness was significantly reduced but not eliminated by 50 mg of the fungicide kg⁻¹. At higher chlorothalonil levels, VAM effectiveness but not VAM colonization was completely suppressed in the inoculated soil. The pattern with which chlorothalonil influenced tissue P content and dry matter yield at the time of harvest closely paralleled its effect on VAM effectiveness. In the soil treated with P level sufficient for nonmycorrhizal host growth, the adverse effect of the fungicide on the above variables was appreciably milder than when the host relied on VAM fungi for its P supply. The toxic effect of the fungicide, therefore, was partly offset by P fertilization, suggesting that VAM fungi were more sensitive to chlorothalonil than the host. Our results demonstrate that although the toxic effect of chlorothalonil declined as a function of time, a significant level of toxicity persisted 12.5 weeks after the chemical was applied to soil. Contribution from Hawaii Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Journal Series No. 3625. Contribution from Hawaii Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Journal Series No. 3625.     

Antimicrobial activity ofo-carboranylalanine

Summary Functionalized polyhedral carboranes, including amino acid analogs, have unique physicochemical properties and are used as experimental anticancer agents. However, our current knowledge on their effect in nonmammalian biological systems is limited. We investigated the activity spectrumin vitro ofo-carboranylalanine (o-Cba), considered to be a highly lipophilic analog of phenylalanine, against representative plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi of various taxonomic position. The antibacterial effect ofo-Cba against some species was comparable to that of the widely used agricultural antibiotic, streptomycin. The sensitivity of individual bacterial species too-Cba within the same genus varied to a greater extent than the average sensitivity of various genera. In general, this carborane-containing amino acid was more toxic to Gram positive bacteria (Bacillus, Corynebacterium, Curtobacterium, Micrococcus, Rhodococcus, and Staphylococcus) than to Gram negative ones (Agrobacterium, Erwinia, Escherichia, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, and Xanthomonas). Compared to the commercial fungicide, prochloraz,o-Cba was weakly toxic against various fungi (Zygo- and Ascomycota). It was also inferior to the commercial fungicide metalaxyl in inhibiting the vegetative growth of oomyceteous plant pathogens (Pythium irregulare, Phytophthora cryptogea and Plasmopara halstedii). Against the asexual spores of P. halstedii,o-Cba, however, was over a thousandfold more active than tridemorph, a selective zoospore inhibitor fungicide. For all taxonomic groups, the observed antimicrobial effect ofo-Cba could be diminished with histidine, but not with phenylalanine. In studies on healthy and mildew-infected sunflower and tobacco plantso-Cba showed neither fungicidal nor phytotoxic effects at 500ppm. This is the first report on the biological activity spectrum of a carborane-containing amino acid.     

Biological control by Clonostachys rosea as a key component in the integrated management of strawberry gray mold

Gray mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea, is an important strawberry disease. As gray mold control is difficult, there is a need to evaluate integrated methods to successfully manage the disease. The efficiency of integrating Clonostachys rosea sprays, fungicide sprays, and crop debris removal to manage gray mold was evaluated in field experiments conducted in 2006 and 2007. Leaf colonization by C. rosea (LAC), average number of B. cinerea conidiophores (ANC), gray mold incidence in both flowers (Iflower) and fruits (Ifruit), and yield were evaluated weekly. In both years, LAC was higher in the treatments with no fungicide. When compared to the check, ANC, Iflower and Ifruit were most reduced in treatments that included C. rosea sprays. Maximal reductions were achieved with the combination of C. rosea sprays, fungicide sprays and debris removal (96.62%, 86.54% and 65.33% reductions of ANC, Iflower and Ifruit, respectively). Otherwise, maximal yield (103.14% increase as compared to the check) was achieved with the combination of the three treatments. With just C. rosea sprays, ANC, Iflower and Ifruit were reduced by 92.01%, 68.48% and 65.33%, respectively, whereas yield was increased by 75.15%. Considering the individual effects, application of C. rosea was the most efficient treatment. Chemical control was effective only in plots without debris removal. Elimination of crop debris was the least effective method in reducing gray mold incidence in both flowers and fruits. The integrated control approach enhanced the efficacy of the individual methods of gray mold control and provided high strawberry yield. An important component of this integrated approach it the biological control with C. rosea.     

Inactivation of type I polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aeromonas hydrophila</Emphasis> resulted in discovery of another potential PHA synthase

Aeromonas hydrophila CGMCC 0911 possessing type I polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase (PhaC) produced only PHBHHx from lauric acid but not from glucose. Medium-chain-length (mcl) PHA was produced from lauric acid or glucose only when PhaC of A. hydrophila was inactivated, indicating the existence of another PHA synthase in the wild type. Using PCR cloning strategy, the potential PHA synthase gene (phaC _mcl) was obtained from genomic DNA of the wild type and exhibited strong homology to type II PHA synthase genes of Pseudomonas strains. The phaC _mcl gene was PCR subcloned into plasmid pBBR1MCS2 and expressed in a PHA-negative mutant of Pseudomonas putida. Recombinant P. putida synthesized mcl PHA from gluconate or octanoate. This result proved that wild type A. hydrophila possessed another type II PHA synthase, which was responsible for the synthesis of mcl PHA, besides type I PHA synthase.     

鼠李糖乳杆菌碱性磷酸酶的提取条件优化及其降解有机磷农药作用

【背景】我国作为农业大国,对农药的大量使用是不可避免的,但是农药的超范围使用、超标及高检出率对于环境的污染与人体健康的威胁日趋严重。【目的】碱性磷酸酶(alkaline phosphatase,ALP)对有机磷农药具有积极的降解作用,因此,本文对鼠李糖乳杆菌(Lactobacillus rhamnosus) Z23(LGG Z23)所产碱性磷酸酶的提取条件进行优化,并研究其对有机磷农药的降解作用。【方法】使用单因素试验和正交试验优化ALP的提取条件;使用对硝基苯酚法测定酶活力;使用分级沉淀和层析法提纯ALP;使用乙酰胆碱酯酶抑制法测定ALP对有机磷农药的降解率。【结果】LGG Z23所产ALP的最优提取条件为：细胞破碎时间15 min,破碎功率450 W,料液比(质量体积比)1:6,提取液pH 10.0,此条件下酶活力为(4.95±0.26) U/mL,比优化前提高2.11倍;对6种有机磷农药的降解率效果为敌敌畏(95.79%±0.01%)>甲基对硫磷(90.69%±0.03%)>毒死蜱(88.90%±0.02%)>敌百虫(86.07%±0.03%)>马拉硫磷(85.31%±0.02%)>乐果(83.18%±0.03%),其中对敌敌畏和甲基对硫磷的降解效果最好,可达90%以上,并且降解作用差异显著(P<0.05)。【结论】本研究为LGG Z23所产ALP的应用研究提供了理论依据和实验数据。     

Effects of Selected Fungicides and the Timing of Fungicide Application on Beauveria bassiana-Induced Mortality of the Colorado Potato Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Four fungicides used for controlling foliar diseases of potato (Solanum tuberosum) were evaluated under field and laboratory conditions for their effects on the infectivity and sporulation of Beauveria bassiana when used as a control for the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (CPB). We investigated the direct effects of fungicides on B. bassiana-induced CPB mortality and the effect of time between fungicide and B. bassiana application. Effects of fungicide on conidial survival in the soil and on foliage were examined in the field. Significantly more larval mortality was observed when larvae were sprayed with B. bassiana than with the water control. Fungicide had no significant effect on larval mortality in the field. In the laboratory, survival of larvae was significantly lower among larvae fed fungicide-treated foliage. B. bassiana-induced mortality in the laboratory was observed only when larvae were fed foliage treated with copper hydroxide or water. Larvae fed mancozeb- or chlorothalonil-treated foliage experienced high mortality regardless of B. bassiana treatment. While there was no significant effect of fungicide on B. bassiana sporulation on cadavers in the field, a pattern emerged that indicated higher proportions of cadavers producing conidia in plots sprayed with water or copper hydroxide than in plots sprayed with chlorothalonil or mancozeb. Survival of B. bassiana conidia in the soil and on foliage was significantly greater in plots treated with copper hydroxide or water than in plots treated with mancozeb or chlorothalonil. Fungicides such as copper hydroxide may be less deleterious to the fungus than mancozeb and chlorothalonil.     

Isolation of Fenitrothion-degrading Strain Burkholderia sp. FDS-1 and Cloning of mpd Gene

A short rod shaped, gram-negative bacterium strain Burkholderia sp. FDS-1 was isolated from the sludge of the wastewater treating system of an organophosphorus pesticides manufacturer. The isolate was capable of using fenitrothion as the sole carbon source for its growth. FDS-1 first hydrolyzed fenitrothion to 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol, which was further metabolized to nitrite and methylhydroquinone. The addition of other carbon source and omitting phosphorus source had little effect on the hydrolysis of fenitrothion. The gene encoding the organophosphorus hydrolytic enzyme was cloned and sequenced. The sequence was similar to mpd, a gene previously shown to encode a parathion-methyl-hydrolyzing enzyme in Plesiomonas sp. M6. The inoculation of strain FDS-1 (10⁶ cells g⁻¹) to soil treated with 100 mg fenitrothion emulsion kg⁻¹ resulted in a higher degradation rate than in noninoculated soils regardless of the soil sterilized or nonsterilized. These results highlight the potential of this bacterium to be used in the cleanup of contaminated pesticide waste in the environment. Zhonghui Zhang, Qing Hong: Both authors contributed equally to this work     

小桐子低温诱导查耳酮合酶基因的克隆及其表达分析

为了解查耳酮合酶在小桐子(Jatropha curcas)抗冷性形成中的作用, 基于小桐子低温锻炼转录组和数字基因表达谱数据, 克隆了低温新诱导表达的小桐子查耳酮合酶基因(JcCHS), 并分析了该基因的表达特性和功能。结果表明, JcCHS 基因的cDNA全长为1386 bp, 包含完整开放阅读框(ORF) 1170 bp, 编码389个氨基酸, JcCHS的理论分子量为42.2 kDa、等电点为6.53, 与蓖麻CHS 蛋白序列的相似性高达93.6%, 具有III 型聚酮合酶家族保守的查耳酮合酶/ 对苯乙烯合酶结构域。半定量RTPCR分析表明, JcCHS 在小桐子各组织中都有表达, 其中根的表达量较高。JcCHS 基因的表达能在一定程度上提高重组酵母菌的低温抵抗能力, 这说明JcCHS 基因可能参与了小桐子的抗低温响应。     

Role of glucose and insulin in regulating glycogen synthase and phosphorylase activities in rainbow trout hepatocytes

This study, using ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed enrichment of glycogen carbon (C1) from ¹³C-labelled (C1) glucose indicating a direct pathway for glycogen synthesis from glucose in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatocytes. There was a direct relationship between hepatocyte glycogen content and total glycogen synthase, total glycogen phosphorylase and glycogen phosphorylase a activities, whereas the relationship was inverse between glycogen content and % glycogen synthase a and glycogen synthase a/glycogen phosphorylase a ratio. Incubation of hepatocytes with glucose (3 or 10 mmol·1^-1) did not modify either glycogen synthase or glycogen phosphorylase activities. Insulin (porcine, 10^-8 mol·1^-1) in the medium significantly decreased total glycogen phosphorylase and glycogen phosphorylase a activities, but had no significant effect on glycogen synthase activities when compared to the controls (absence of insulin). In the presence of 10 mmol·1^-1 glucose, insulin increased % glycogen synthase a and decreased % glycogen phosphorylase a activities in trout hepatocytes. Also, the effect of insulin on the activities of % glycogen synthase a and glycogen synthase a/glycogen phosphorylase a ratio were more pronounced at low than at high hepatocyte glycogen content. The results indicate that in trout hepatocytes both the glycogen synthetic and breakdown pathways are active concurrently in vitro and any subtle alterations in the phosphorylase to synthase ratio may determine the hepatic glycogen content. Insulin plays an important role in the regulation of glycogen metabolism in rainbow trout hepatocytes. The effect of insulin on hepatocyte glycogen content may be under the control of several factors, including plasma glucose concentration and hepatocyte glycogen content.     

Trichothecenes and Mycoflora in Wheat Harvested in Nine Locations in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

A total of 120 freshly harvested wheat samples from the 2004 season in nine locations from Northern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, were analysed for trichothecene natural occurrence and associated mycoflora, and for determining the influence of commonly used fungicide field treatment and the cultivar type on trichothecene contamination. The trichothecenes T-2 tetraol, T-2 triol, HT-2 and T-2 toxin (HT-2, T-2), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), nivalenol (NIV), deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON) and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON) were analysed by gas chromatography and electron capture detection. Detection limits ranged from 4 to 20 μg/kg. The isolation frequencies of species were calculated. Alternaria alternata, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium poae and Fusarium semitectum were the predominant fungal species identified as endogenous mycoflora. The type of cultivar and the fungicide field treatment did not affect significantly the trichothecene contamination. The trichothecenes type A detected were HT-2 and T-2 triol toxins and the type B were DON, NIV and 3-ADON. Based on 120 samples the incidences were 21.7% for 3-ADON, 22.5% for HT-2, 27.5% for T-2 triol and 85% for DON. NIV was confirmed in one sample. Mean levels of trichothecene positive samples were between 7 and 2788 μg/kg.     

Chemical induction of adventitious root formation in Taxus baccata cuttings

The effect of some auxins (IBA and NAA), phenolic compounds (phloroglucinol, gentisic acid and coumarin), a combination of auxins and phenolics, and a systemic fungicide (Bavistin) have been examined for stimulatory effects on adventitious root formation in stem cuttings (current season's growth) of Taxus baccata L. In general lower concentration (0.25 mM) of both IBA and NAA was more effective in inducing rooting of cuttings taken from both male and female trees. The combined treatment of IBA+NAA (0.25 mM each) showed some success in cuttings from male trees only (55%, compared to 15% rooting in cuttings from female trees). Generally, the callus formation was quite high (70%) in all auxin treatments (alone or in combination). Among the phenolics, 40% rooting success was achieved with phloroglucinol only, while coumarin and gentisic acid were ineffective. The combined treatment of auxins and phenolics also failed to promote rooting. On the other hand, Bavistin was extremely effective for callusing (90%) as well as rooting (80%). The effectiveness of various compounds tested for rooting of young stem cuttings declined in the order: 0.25 mM IBA>0.05% Bavistin>0.25 mM NAA>1.25 mM IBA>15 mM phloroglucinol>IBA+NAA (0.25 mM each). In addition to the auxins, IBA and NAA that are widely used for commercial propagation, the auxin-like properties of the fungicide Bavistin could be exploited for adventitious rooting in T. baccata, and in other plant species.     

Developmentally regulated expression of a sunflower 11S seed protein gene in transgenic tobacco

Summary The trifunctional TRP1 gene from Neurospora crassa (N-TRP1) was subcloned into the yeast-Escherichia coli shuttle vector YEp13 and expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The three activities of the N-TRP1 gene product were detected in yeast mutants that lacked either N-(5-phosphoribosyl) anthranilate (PRA) isomerase or both the glutamine amidotransferase function of anthranilate synthase and indole-3-glycerol phosphate (InGP) synthase. The protein was detected on immunoblots only as the full length 83 kda product indicating that the trifunctional gene product was expressed in yeast primarily in a fully active, undegraded form. By placing the subcloned N-TRP1 gene under the control of the inducible PHO5 promoter from yeast, the expression of all three activities was increased to more than ten fold that of wild-type yeast and the overproduced protein could be visualized by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of crude extract and Coomassie Blue staining. Using the expression system described the effect of selective deletion of regions of the coding sequence of the N-TRP1 gene on expression of the three activities was tested. Expression of either the F- or C-domains, catalyzing respectively the PRA isomerase or InGP synthase activities, did not depend on the presence of the other domain in the active polypeptide. Furthermore, normal dimer formation occurred with a protein active for InGP synthase in a deletion derivative lacking most of the PRA isomerase domain, ruling out the hypothesis that interaction between the active site regions for PRA isomerase and InGP synthase accounted for dimer formation in the trifunctional product.Abbreviations PRA N-(5'-phosphoribosyl)anthranilate - InGP indole-3-glycerol phosphate - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate     

Influence of Captan on some microorganisms and microbial processes related to the nitrogen cycle

Captan was applied to laboratory-incubated agricultural soil and to bacterial cultures to determine its effects on total counts of soil microorganisms, nitrification, ammonification of urea and asymbiotic dinitrogen fixation. In Captan-treated soils, total count of fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes decreased significantly only at a relatively high fungicide concentration (1000 μg.g⁻¹). Fungi and actinomycetes were more affected than bacteria. While oxidation of ammonia in an enriched, actively nitrifying culture was almost totally inhibited by Captan, ammonification of urea in incubated soil was only partly depressed. The depressing effect of Captan was more pronounced in cultures of Micrococcus than in those of Proteus. Asymbiotic dinitrogen fixation in nutrient-ammended soil was promoted during the first week and depressed on prolonged exposure to the fungicide depending on its first concentration. In autoclaved Azotobacter-inoculated soil a similar but less pronounced effect was noticed. Fixation by Azotobacter caltures was insensitive to Captan. In contrast, growth ofRhizobium phaseoli, R. leguminosarum andR. japonicum in yeast-extract-mannitol medium was adversly affected by Captan, particularly at 200 μg.ml⁻¹. Nodulation of pea and mung bean (1 month old potted plants) grown from surface-sterilized inoculated seeds in aptan-treated soil was also significantly depressed. Both total number of nodules decreased with increasing concentration of the fungicide, but the inhibitory effect was more pronounced in the number of effective nodules.     

Metabolic Transformation and Accumulation of O-Ethyl S,S-Diphenyl Phosphorodithiolate (Hinosan®) in Rice Plants

³²P-labeled organophosphorus fungicide Hinosan was sprayed on rice plants at various growth stages, and metabolic fate of the pesticide in the rice plants was studied. Identification of Hinosan and its metabolites in the n-hexane and water extracts was conducted by TLC and GLC (FPD).

The rate of hydrolysis of Hinosan in rice plants seemed to be slower than that of other organophosphorus pesticides. Hexane-soluble components, which were detected throughout the experimental period, consisted mainly of Hinosan. Among the water-soluble metabolites identified were O-ethyl S-phenyl phosphorothioic acid and S,S-diphenyl phosphoro- dithioic acid, which were detected one to four days after the application, and ethyl phosphate and phosphoric acid which increased with the lapse of time.

Upon examination of the radioactivity of Hinosan and its metabolites in rice grains, a certain level was detected in husk, but very little in hulled rice and polished rice.     

The effects of some commonly-used foliar fungicides on Collembola in winter barley: laboratory and field studies

Four commonly-used cereal foliar fungicides were screened for their laboratory toxicity against the symphypleone collembolan, Sminthurinus aureus. A proportional hazards analysis of time-survival curves following the fungicide treatments showed that carbendazim, propiconazole, pyrazophos and triadimenol significantly increased the laboratory mortality of S. aureus. The organophosphorus fungicide pyrazophos caused high levels of mortality of S. aureus in the laboratory so a field evaluation of the effects of this fungicide on a wider range of Collembola was undertaken in winter barley. Comparison of the effects of pyrazophos with those of the broad-spectrum insecticide dimethoate in the field revealed both compounds to have similar activity against some Collembola. Of the 11 species caught only the four symphypleone species exhibited these effects but the numbers of three symphypleone species were reduced to zero 4 wk after treatment with pyrazophos. The effects of pyrazophos and dimethoate were, however, not detectable in individual species after 11 wk.