First report of Garella musculana (Erschov, 1874) (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) in Italy with insights into its identity

The Asian walnut moth, Garella musculana (Erschov, 1874) (Lepidoptera: Nolidae), is a major pest of walnut. Native to Central Asia, it was found to be invasive in 2008 in Sevastopol (Crimea) and nowadays widespread in Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania and Russia. Here, we account for the finding of G. musculana in NE Italy (Veneto region) in 2021, where adults were found in a light lamp, representing the first record of the Asian walnut moth for this country and Western Europe. Adult specimens were identified morphologically on both external characters and genitalia features. G. musculana larvae and damage were also observed on a plantation of Juglans regia L. (Fagales: Juglandaceae) located in Veneto in October 2021. A COI-barcoding analysis was performed to attain a molecular characterization of our specimens and probate our morphological identification. However, because no sequence of G. musculana was present in major gene databases and the similarity of our sequences with those attributed to Garella ruficirra (Hampson, 1905) (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) made clear that these taxa deserved further scrutiny regarding their specific distinction. Some subtle differences in the male terminalia could be found between them and their vast geographic distributions, but the strong similarity in most features calls for further morphological and genetical insights on a broad set of samples to assess whether they represent two closely related, substantially parapatric species, or a unique, geographically varying entity. Solving this issue may turn out crucial in the identification and proper management of walnut moths of the genus Garella.     

Phytochemical Study of Juglans regia L. Pericarps from Greece with a Chemotaxonomic Approach

Phytochemical research of different polarity extracts from green Juglans regia L. pericarps from Greece afforded 32 compounds: four pentacyclic triterpenes (1 – 4), three sesquiterpenes (5 – 7), four tetralones (8 – 11), two naphthoquinones (12 and 13), seven phenolic acids (14 – 20), one diarylheptanoid (21), one neo‐lignan (22), seven flavonoids (23 – 29), two phenylethanoids (30 and 31) and one hydrolysed tannin (32). Compounds 4 and 29 are isolated for the first time from the species, while compounds 3, 7, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30 are reported for the first time in Juglandaceae. Chemotaxonomic significance of isolated compounds into Junglandaceae family is thoroughly discussed.     

Climate change effects on walnut pests in California

Increasing temperatures are likely to impact ectothermic pests of fruits and nuts. This paper aims to assess changes to pest pressure in California's US$0.7 billion walnut industry due to recent historic and projected future temperature changes. For two past (1950 and 2000) and 18 future climate scenarios (2041–2060 and 2080–2099; each for three General Circulation Models and three greenhouse gas emissions scenarios), 100 years of hourly temperature were generated for 205 locations. Degree‐day models were used to project mean generation numbers for codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.), navel orangeworm (Amyelois transitella Walker), two‐spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch), and European red mite (Panonychus ulmi Koch). In the Central Valley, the number of codling moth generations predicted for degree days accumulated between April 1 and October 1 rose from 2–4 in 1950 to 3–5 among all future scenarios. Generation numbers increased from 10–18 to 14–24 for two‐spotted spider mite, from 9–14 to 14–20 for European red mite, and from 2–4 to up to 5 for navel orangeworm. Overall pest pressure can thus be expected to increase substantially. Our study did not include the possibility of higher winter survival rates, leading to higher initial pest counts in spring, or of extended pest development times in the summer, factors that are likely to exacerbate future pest pressure. On the other hand, initiation of diapause may prevent an extension of the season length for arthropods, and higher incidence of heat death in summer may constrain pest population sizes. More information on the impact of climate change on complex agroecological food webs and on the response of pests to high temperatures is needed for improving the reliability of projections.     

核桃JrNPR1基因的克隆与抗病响应潜力

病程相关基因非表达子NPR1（Nonexpressor of pathogenesis-related gene 1）基因,在植物抗病过程中起核心调控作用。核桃（Juglans regia）是我国乡村振兴的重要经济油料树种,其生长和产量严重受病虫害制约。为探索核桃抗病生理机制,筛选抗病基因,以‘香玲’核桃为试材,克隆获得JrNPR1基因,对其基本生物信息和病害响应进行分析,预测JrNPR1响应病害的功能。结果显示：JrNPR1基因开放读码框（ORF）长1 782 bp,包含593个氨基酸,理论等电点为6.40;与杨梅（Morella rubra）、蓖麻（Ricinus communis）等同源蛋白进行多序列比对,发现均有NPR1-like-C保守结构域,且JrNPR1与杨梅和欧洲栓皮栎（Quercus suber）等的同源蛋白具有较近的进化关系。其上游1 233 bp启动子中含有多种与植物抗病相关的顺式作用元件,如,WRKY71OS。在胶孢炭疽菌（Colletotrichum gloeosporioides）、矩圆黑盘孢菌（Melanconium oblongum）、黄单胞菌（Xanthomonas campestris）等病原处理下,JrNPR1被显著诱导,且其表达在水杨酸（Salicylic acid,SA）存在下高出单一病原处理的1.31~178.89倍。表明JrNPR1基因可能是抵抗核桃炭疽病、枝枯病、细菌性黑斑病的重要基因,且涉及SA信号通路。     

核桃凋落叶分解对小麦生长及生理特性的影响

采用盆栽试验,研究了核桃(Juglans regia)凋落叶分解对小麦(Triticum aestivum)生长及抗氧化酶系统、渗透调节物质含量的影响。试验设置A1(30 g/盆)、A2(60 g/盆)、A3(90 g/盆)和对照(CK)4个凋落叶水平,将各处理的凋落叶分别与8 kg土壤混合后装盆。同时设置补充试验,将称好的核桃凋落叶蒸煮12 h,先后用80%丙酮和乙醇充分浸泡24 h,再蒸煮12 h,其他处理方法和条件相同,观测分析浸提蒸煮后的核桃凋落叶在施入土壤后对受体植物的影响。结果表明:核桃凋落叶分解(0—160 d)明显抑制了小麦茎秆地径、茎高、株高、地上部分干重,并随凋落叶量的增加抑制作用增强;随凋落叶量的增加,75—115 d小麦叶片超氧化物歧化酶SOD活性增强,但过氧化氢酶CAT和过氧化物酶POD活性显著低于CK但各凋落叶处理之间变化不明显;75—95 d小麦叶片丙二醛MDA含量变化不明显,115 d时随凋落叶量增加MDA含量显著增加;75—115 d随凋落叶量的增加可溶性糖含量显著增加,但可溶性蛋白含量呈现出下降的趋势;各处理凋落叶对小麦的化感综合效应CE均表现为抑制效应,0—115 d抑制效应增强,115 d后抑制效应减弱,这是由于核桃凋落叶在土壤中分解释放的有害次生代谢物质已明显减少;在补充试验中,各处理间无明显形态差别,CK、B1(30 g/盆)和B2(60 g/盆)水平下各生长指标差异不显著(P0.05),B3(90 g/盆)水平下化感效应指数RI的绝对值与A3相比明显减小,表明在一定的凋落叶施入量范围内,其对土壤物理性质的影响和对小麦根系生长的物理阻隔不会显著抑制小麦的生长。综合各项指标,表明核桃凋落叶分解过程中释放的次生代谢物质显著抑制了小麦生长和生理特性。     

三线钩蛾的生物学初步观察

三线钩蛾Pseudalbara parvula(Leech)是胡桃科和壳斗科树木的食叶害虫,核桃树受害很普遍。该虫1年发生2代,以蛹越冬。越冬代和第1代成虫于4月下旬和7月下旬开始羽化。文章报道其分布、寄主、生物学特性和天敌情况及防治方法。     

新疆野核桃自然保护区不同坡向丛生野核桃年龄结构及数量动态

通过对新疆野核桃自然保护区丛生野核桃(Juglans regia)进行普查,以径级结构代替年龄结构,采用匀滑技术编制种群静态生命表,并运用时间序列模型预测种群数量动态,从而获得丛生野核桃树的龄级结构与动态。结果表明,不同坡向丛生野核桃以中龄级为主,年龄结构呈两头小中间大的纺锤型;4个坡向种群年龄结构的动态指数Vpi虽大于0,但最大仅为19.10%,且Vpi’极低,最大为1.12%,阳坡种群增长趋势最高,抗干扰能力最强,种群稳定性最好,半阳坡种群增长趋势最弱,抗干扰能力最弱,种群稳定性最差;各坡向种群均存在多个死亡高峰,阳坡最高峰在15龄级,半阳坡在15和18龄级,阴坡和半阴坡均在9龄级,存活曲线更接近Deevey-Ⅱ型;在未来2、5、10龄级后,中龄级个体数量减少,老龄个体呈增加趋势,丛生野核桃种群稳定性难以长期维持。因此对丛生野核桃幼苗的保护非常关键。     

Spatial distribution of leaf water-use efficiency and carbon isotope discrimination within an isolated tree crown

The spatial variations in the stable carbon isotope composition (δ¹³C) of air and leaves (total matter and soluble sugars) were quantified within the crown of a well‐watered, 20‐year‐old walnut tree growing in a low‐density orchard. The observed leaf carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) was compared with that computed by a three‐dimensional model simulating the intracanopy distribution of irradiance, transpiration and photosynthesis (previously parameterized and tested for the same tree canopy) coupled to a biophysically based model of carbon isotope discrimination. The importance of discrimination associated with CO₂ gradients encountered from the substomatal sites to the carboxylation sites was evaluated. We also assessed by simulation the effect of current irradiance on leaf gas exchange and the effect of long‐term acclimation of photosynthetic capacity and stomatal and internal conductances to light regime on intracanopy gradients in Δ. The main conclusions of this study are: (i) leaf Δ can exhibit important variations (5 and 8‰ in total leaf material and soluble sugars, respectively) along light gradients within the foliage of an isolated tree; (ii) internal conductance must be taken into account to adequately predict leaf Δ, and (iii) the spatial variations in Δ and water‐use efficiency resulted from the short‐term response of leaf gas exchange to variations in local irradiance and, to a much lesser extent, from the long‐term acclimation of leaf characteristics to the local light regime.     

核桃JrCBF基因的克隆与表达和单核苷酸多态性分析

根据CBF基因氨基酸保守序列设计简并引物,运用cDNA末端快速扩增(RACE)技术克隆核桃JrCBF基因cDNA全长序列。用实时荧光定量PCR分析JrCBF基因在低温胁迫下的表达模式,并分析JrCBF基因的单核苷酸多态性。结果获得长度为879 bp的CBF基因cDNA全长序列,编码214个氨基酸,命名为JrCBF;低温能诱导JrCBF基因的表达,4℃处理2 h后表达量开始增加,8 h后达到最大值;自然越冬条件下,JrCBF基因在花芽中表达量呈现先上升后下降的趋势,在寒冬时期(1月份)表达量最高;单核苷酸多态性分析JrCBF基因序列中有28个SNPs位点和7个Indels标记,存在2个突变热点区;单倍型分析显示15份材料可分为9个单倍型,单倍型多样性为0.9238。本研究为通过基因工程手段培育抗寒核桃品种和分子标记辅助育种提供了帮助。