Host plant scents attract rolled-leaf beetles to Neotropical gingers in a Central American tropical rain forest

Leaf volatile chemicals are known to reduce herbivory rates by repelling or intoxicating insect herbivores and by attracting the predators and parasitoids of herbivores. However, leaf volatiles may also be used by insect herbivores as cues to locate their host plants. Leaf volatiles are suggested to be important host search cues for herbivores in structurally complex and diverse habitats, such as tropical rain forests. A group of insect herbivores, the rolled-leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Hispinae), have maintained a highly specialized interaction with Neotropical gingers (Zingiberales) for ca. 60 million years. In this study, we explored chemical attraction to host plants under controlled laboratory conditions, using four sympatric rolled-leaf beetle species, Cephaloleia dorsalis Baly, Cephaloleia erichsonii Baly, Cephaloleia fenestrata Weise, and Cephaloleia placida Baly. For each beetle species, we investigated (i) whether it was repelled or attracted by leaf scents produced by four host and four non-host plant species, including Neotropical gingers in the families Marantaceae, Costaceae, and Zingiberaceae; and (ii) its ability to use scents to detect its host plant. We found that rolled-leaf beetles can detect and are attracted by leaf volatiles from both host and non-host gingers. Additionally, when beetles were simultaneously exposed to leaf volatiles from host and non-host plants, three rolled-leaf beetle species were significantly more attracted by volatiles from their host plants than from non-hosts. Only one of the beetle species was not able to discriminate between host and non-host scents.     

Development of Meloidogyne arenaria on Peanut and Soybean under Two Temperature Cycles

Florunner peanut and three soybean cultivars, Centennial, Gasoy 17, and Wright, were inoculated with 48-hour age cohorts of Meloidogyne arenari race 1 second-stage juveniles and placed in a growth chamber set to simulate early season (low temperature) and midseason (high temperature) conditions. Percentages of the initial inoculum penetrating roots 4 and 8 days after inoculation were 2-3 times higher in soybean cultivars than in peanut; 25% on susceptible soybean and 9% on peanut. Penetration and early development of M. arenaria were greater in the higher temperature environment. Penetration percentages were expressed as a function of cumulative degree-days by regression models. Development of M. arenaria 10, 20, and 30 days after inoculation was more rapid on peanut than on soybean. The resistant soybean cultivar Wright had slower development rates than did the other two soybean cultivars. Nematode growth and development were dependent on temperature. In greenhouse experiments, production of eggs by M. arenaria was more than 10 times greater on peanut than on susceptible soybean. The reproductive factor for Wright soybean was less than one, but plant growth parameters indicated that this cultivar was intolerant of M. arenavia.     

Biology, herbivory, and host specificity of Antiblemma leucocyma (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Miconia calvescens DC. (Melastomataceae) in Brazil

Miconia calvescens DC. (Melastomataceae) is an invasive tree considered one of the greatest threats to natural ecosystems of Hawaii and other Pacific islands. The potential for using the defoliator Antiblemma leucocyma (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) as a biological control agent of M. calvescens was evaluated in the native habitat of the insect in Brazil. Impact assessment in the field showed that 37.2% of leaves presented damage by A. leucocyma, and among damaged leaves, 1.5-51.9% of the leaf area (16.3% on average) was affected. Damage was found in young to fully expanded leaves (28-915 cm² in area). Individual A. leucocyma developing as third through sixth instars in the laboratory consumed an average of 1348 cm² of M. calvescens leaf material in about 11 days. Populations of A. leucocyma in the field were heavily impacted (up to 83% parasitism) by a braconid parasitoid. Observations in the field and single- and two-host choice tests in the laboratory indicated that A. leucocyma has a narrow host range restricted to M. calvescens. Usefulness of this herbivore for biological control in Hawaii appears low, however, because of its probable susceptibility to generalist parasitoids.     

Circulating soluble CD4 directly prevents host resistance and delayed-type hypersensitivity response to Cryptococcus neoformans in mice

In the present study, we examined the effect of soluble CD4 (sCD4) on host resistance and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to Cryptococcus neoformans using a novel mutant mouse that exhibits a defect in the expression of membrane-bound CD4 but secretes high levels of sCD4 in the serum. In these mice, host resistance to this pathogen was impaired as indicated by an increased number of live pathogens in the lung. To elucidate the mechanism of immunodeficiency, three different sets of experiments were conducted. First, administration of anti-CD4 mAb restored the attenuated host defense. Second, in CD4 gene-disrupted (CD4KO) mice, host resistance was not attenuated compared to control mice. Third, implantation of sCD4 gene-transfected myeloma cells rendered the CD4KO mice susceptible to this infection, while similar treatment with mock-transfected cells did not show such an effect. These results indicated that immunodeficiency in the mutant mice was attributed to the circulating sCD4 rather than to the lack of CD4+ T cells. In addition, DTH response to C. neoformans evaluated by footpad swelling was reduced in the mutant mice compared to that in the control, and the reduced response was restored by the administration of anti-CD4 mAb. Finally, serum levels of IFN-gamma, IL-12 and IL-18 in the mutant mice were significantly reduced, while there was no difference in Th2 cytokines, such as IL-4 and IL-10. Considered collectively, our results demonstrated that sCD4 could directly prevent host resistance and DTH response to C. neoformans through interference with the production of Th1-type cytokines.     

柑橘大实蝇的产卵特性

通过田间调查,明确柑橘大实蝇Bactrocera (Tetradacus) minax (Enderlein)的产卵特性和在3种寄主植物上产卵的时间动态。柑橘大实蝇对杂柑为害率最高,3个寄主品种均以中层北面果实受害严重。柑橘大实蝇最喜在直径为(3.3±0.2)cm的果实上产卵。     

Phylogenetic evidence for an animal pathogen origin of ergot and the grass endophytes

Grass-associated fungi (grass symbionts) in the family Clavicipitaceae (Ascomycota, Hypocreales) are species whose host range is restricted to the plant family Poaceae and rarely Cyperaceae. The best-characterized species include Claviceps purpurea (ergot of rye) and Neotyphodium coenophialum (endophyte of tall fescue). They have been the focus of considerable research due to their importance in agricultural and grassland ecosystems and the diversity of their bioactive secondary metabolites. Here we show through multigene phylogenetic analyses and ancestral character state reconstruction that the grass symbionts in Clavicipitaceae are a derived group that originated from an animal pathogen through a dynamic process of interkingdom host jumping. The closest relatives of the grass symbionts include the genera Hypocrella, a pathogen of scale insects and white flies, and Metarhizium, a generalist arthropod pathogen. These data do not support the monophyly of Clavicipitaceae, but place it as part of a larger clade that includes Hypocreaceae, a family that contains mainly parasites of other fungi. A minimum of 5-8 independent and unidirectional interkingdom host jumps has occurred among clavicipitaceous fungi, including 3-5 to fungi, 1-2 to animals, and 1 to plants. These findings provide a new evolutionary context for studying the biology of the grass symbionts, their role in plant ecology, and the evolution of host affiliation in fungal symbioses.     

百合科寄主植物对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊的生物效应

室内分别用百合科韭菜、大葱、大蒜和圆葱饲喂韭菜迟眼蕈蚊Bradysia odoriphaga Yang et Zhang幼虫,研究了4种寄主植物对其生长发育和繁殖的影响;用气-质谱联用分析技术,检测了人工合成大蒜素及大蒜、圆葱和韭菜的乙醇提取物的主要化学成分。结果表明,4种供试寄主植物对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊生长发育和繁殖的影响存在差异,幼虫取食韭菜最有利于其生长发育和繁殖;取食大蒜和圆葱对其生长发育和繁殖表现出明显的不利性,主要表现为幼虫死亡率增加,幼虫期延长,蛹重减轻,单雌产卵量降低;而取食大葱的影响介于取食韭菜与取食大蒜和圆葱之间。大蒜、圆葱的乙醇提取物和人工合成的大蒜素均对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊1龄幼虫有不同程度的杀虫活性,大蒜和圆葱的乙醇提取物（干粉,2 g/mL）稀释100和200倍,处理后48 h对1龄幼虫的校正死亡率分别达54.7%、28.0%和49.4%、22.7%;10%大蒜素稀释500和1 000倍,处理后48 h校正死亡率达100%和80.0%。成分分析表明硫醚类化合物可能是大蒜和圆葱中含有的杀虫活性物质之一。     

CS3菌毛抗原和霍乱毒素B亚基在人伤寒菌中的表达

通过体内外重组的方法,构建了人伤寒菌流行株Ｔｙ２的△ａｒｏＡ,△ａｒｏＣ和ａｓｄ＾－基因缺失突变体（ＲＳ４１７）作为抗原载体菌：同时,构建包含ａｓｄ基因的表达质粒ｐＹＸ１０２,与ＲＳ４１７一起,构成宿主－载全平衡致死系统,用于在没有抗生素条件选择的情况下,稳定表达克隆在表达质粒上的外源抗原基因,将肠毒素性大肠杆菌的菌毛抗原ＩＩＩ（ＣＳ３）基因和霍乱弧菌毒素Ｂ亚基（ＣＴＢ）基因分别克隆至ｐＹＸ１０２     

棉花型和黄瓜型棉蚜对寄主植物的适合度

采用寄主转换建立生命表及触角电位 (EAG)方法比较了棉蚜两寄主专化型 (棉花型和黄瓜型 )对不同夏季作物的适合度。结果表明 ,棉花型蚜转到黄瓜上及黄瓜型蚜转接到棉花上均不能正常产仔繁殖和建立种群。两种蚜型均不能在茄子和苋菜上建立种群。黄瓜型蚜能在豇豆上建立种群 ,但棉花型蚜不能 ,表现出两种寄主型棉蚜对夏寄主利用上存在显著差异。受棉蚜为害 12～ 36 h后的黄瓜或棉花植株仍不适合于棉花型或黄瓜型蚜 ,表现出黄瓜型蚜不能在被棉花型蚜为害过的棉株上正常存活和繁殖 ,棉花型蚜也不能在被黄瓜型蚜为害过的黄瓜苗上存活和繁殖。两种寄主型蚜对不同寄主叶片丙酮提取物的触角电位表明 ,黄瓜型蚜对棉花、哈密瓜和马铃薯叶片提取物的反应显著强于棉花型蚜 ,而对黄瓜和甜瓜叶片提取物的反应上两种蚜型差异不显著。文中同时对棉花型和黄瓜型棉蚜产生的生态机制进行了讨论。