Mycolytic effect of fluorescent Pseudomonas in biocontrolling of fungal phytopathogenic Curvularia lunata,Fusarium oxysporum,Alternaria padwickii and Rhizoctonia solani

About 50 bacterial strains, each of Pseudomonas fluorescens, from different rhizospheric soil of different plants were screened for antagonistic activity against Curvularia lunata, Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria padwickii, Rhizoctonia solani causing black kernel, kernel spotting, root rots, stackburn and sheath blight diseases of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Out of the 50 isolates, 15 isolates were found to be effective in lysing the cell wall of the above-mentioned putative pathogens tested in vitro. These Pseudomonas isolates produced mycolytic enzymes, viz. β-1,3-glucanases, β-1,4-glucanases and lipases. P. fluorescens PAK1 and PAK12 among the strains were more effective for the production of these enzymes while PAK12 produce good level of β-1,3-glucanases, β-1,4-glucanases and lipases against tested fungal pathogens. These findings demonstrate a mechanism of antagonism by P. fluorescens against different fungal plant pathogens.     

Phytochemical and toxicological studies of Artemisia L. (Compositae) essential oil against some insect pests

Abstract

Artemisia herba-alba (Asso) and Artemisia monosperma (Delile) essential oils were tested against three sucking insect pests under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. These pests included Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), Aphis gossypii (Glover) and Thrips tabaci (Lindman). Laboratory results showed that the LC₅₀ of A. herba-alba and A. monosperma were 0.042, 0.186% for eggs and 0.074, 0.075% for immature stages of B. tabaci. Also, both oils gave a high toxicity on A. gossypii with LC₅₀ 0.023 and 0.085%. Artemisia herba-alba and A. monosperma were more toxic on T. tabaci and A. gossypii than B. tabaci in the laboratory test. In contrast T. tabaci was sensitive for both oils (LC₅₀ 0.011 and 0.038%). These oils were efficient for controlling tested insects on cucumber plants at greenhouses. This treatment caused 85.41, 83.57% reduction in the population of B. tabaci, 90.44, 88.00% for Aphis gossypii and 87.45, 84.45% for T. tabaci. Chemical analysis of A. herba-alba and A. monosperma oils detected the presence of hydrocarbon terpenes, oxygenated terpenes, hydrocarbon sesquiterpenes and oxygenated sesquiterpenes represented about 16.38%, 58.91%, 21.61%, 2.74% and 21.53%, 57.17%, 19.32%, 1.70%, of the oil content, respectively.     

Biotoxic effects of Sumisclex and Carbomar fungicides on four Aspergillus species isolated from the rhizosphere of some Taif plants

Abstract

The antifungal activities of two systemic fungicides (Sumisclex and Carbomar) on four rhizospheric Aspergillus species (A. candidus, A. sydawi, A. niger1 and A. niger2) were studied. Also the phytotoxicity against some saudian seeds was analysed. Results indicated that Sumisclex fungicide was more effective on the growth of A. candidus and A. sydawi under laboratory conditions (the IC₅₀ of 3 and 4 ppm were recorded, respectively) than Carbomar where an IC₅₀ of 11 ppm for A. candidus and 35 ppm for A. sydawi were observed. The growth of the two strains of A. niger was completely inhibited by Carbomar even at the lowest 10 ppm concentration. On the other hand results revealed that phytotoxicity was apparently linked with the type of the fungicide and its concentration. However, the root system was more sensitive to the tested fungicides especially at higher concentrations.     

四种杀菌剂对玉米螟赤眼蜂酚氧化酶活性的影响

为明确杀菌剂对玉米螟赤眼蜂Trichogramma ostriniae Pang et Chen毒性大小及其成蜂体内酚氧化酶（phenoloxidase, PO）活性影响, 本实验通过测定三唑酮（triadimefon）、 肟菌脂（trifloxystrobin）、 咪鲜胺（prochloraz）、 申嗪霉素（phenazino-1-carboxylic acid）4种杀菌剂对玉米螟赤眼蜂的急性毒性, 并分别测定活体和离体条件下各杀菌剂处理后酚氧化酶的比活性。结果表明, 各药剂对赤眼蜂的急性毒性大小为： 三唑酮＞咪鲜胺＞肟菌酯＞申嗪霉素, 其LC₅₀值分别为3.27, 6.46, 4.06和 9.72 mg/L, 其安全系数依次为0.07, 0.10, 0.20和1.47, 其中申嗪霉素为中等风险性, 其余3种药剂为高风险性, 且杀菌剂明显激活了PO的活性。活体条件下亚致死剂量处理得到的PO比活力高于离体处理, 且三唑酮处理组具有明显的剂量效应。本实验为研究杀菌剂对赤眼蜂的毒性及对PO的影响作了初步的探索, 为进一步研究赤眼蜂对杀菌剂的抗性及免疫能力奠定基础。     

Resveratrol inhibits genistein-induced multi-drug resistance protein 2 (MRP2) expression in HepG2 cells

The interactions between various dietary cancer chemopreventive phytochemicals in drug transporter functions are not well studied. In this study, the effects of genistein and resveratrol on the multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2) expression and the underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated using HepG2-C3 cells that are stably transfected with a construct containing human MRP2 promoter region conjugated with luciferase reporter gene. A 3-fold induction of MRP2 luciferase activity was observed after genistein (50 μM) treatment to HepG2-C3 cells, but was diminished by the resveratrol (50 μM) cotreatment. This observation was further validated by Western blot analysis and RT-PCR analysis as resveratrol also inhibited genistein-induced MRP2 protein synthesis and mRNA expression. Immunofluorescence study revealed that genistein-induced formation of MRP2 vacuoles was dramatically reduced by resveratrol. The binding affinity between retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRα) and MRP2 promoter was examined by DNA–protein pull-down assay. The results showed that resveratrol inhibited the genistein-induced binding of RXRα to the promoter sequence of MRP2 gene, and this mechanism could potentially contribute to the inhibition of genistein-induced MRP2 expression by resveratrol. Taken together, our present study suggests that naturally occurring phytochemicals can potentially interfere with each other’s regulatory function on the cancer chemoprevention-related genes through a competitive mechanism.     

桔梗新病害——匍柄霉叶斑病的病原生物学特性及药剂敏感性分析

桔梗匍柄霉叶斑病是近年来发现的新病害,病原菌为桔梗匍柄霉Stemphylium platycodontis。为了更好地了解病害的发生规律,本研究对该病原菌的生物学特性及药剂敏感性进行了分析。结果表明：25℃为该病原菌的最适生长温度和产孢温度;菌丝生长最适pH值为4,而最适合产孢的pH值为8;24h黑暗处理,对病原菌的菌丝生长和产孢都最有利;PCA培养基对菌丝生长最有利,而桔梗汁液培养基对病原菌产孢最有利;可溶性淀粉对菌丝生长最有利,而蔗糖最利于病原菌产孢;乙酰铵对病原菌生长及产孢都最有利;26.8μg/mL氟硅唑对桔梗匍柄霉的抑制效果最好,毒力持效性最强。     

Relationship between Late Soybean Diseases Complex and Rain in Determining Grain Yield Responses to Fungicide Applications

Wide distribution of soybean monoculture associated with no tillage has contributed to enhance damages caused by late diseases complex (LDC) in Argentina. LDC is a complex of diseases where Septoria glycines and Cercospora kikuchii are regarded as the major problem. Even though the use of foliar fungicides has increased, there is no rational and economic guide for their use. This is the main reason why the response to foliar fungicide applications is unpredictable. One of the main factors that contribute to the development of LDC is rainfall. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of rainfall during several growing seasons and different soybean growth stages on LDC severity and yield. We carried out 18 field experiments during three growing seasons (2004–2006) at several locations in the Argentine Pampas Region, to examine the relationship between rain and yield response to single fungicide applications (quinone outside inhibitors and demethylation inhibitors) at growing stages R3 and R5. The strongest associations (R² = 0.81–0.84; P < 0.001) were observed between accumulated rainfall from R3 to R5 and yield response to fungicides applied in R3 or R5. Our results suggest that a minimum of 65–90 mm rainfall during R3–R5 is required to justify fungicide application, with high probability that the use of fungicide will increase soybean yield as a consequence of disease control. These findings could lead to a simple model, useful as decision support system for use in planning and scheduling spray applications for LDC management in soybean crops.     

Combined application of Pseudomonas fluorescens strain LRB3W1 with a low dosage of benomyl for control of cabbage yellows caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans

An antagonistic bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens strain LRB3W1, inhibited the fungal growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans in vitro and suppressed cabbage yellows caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans. Under glasshouse conditions, the bacterium survived at ca. 10⁶-10⁷ CFU g^-1 in the cabbage rhizosphere for 4 weeks after the initial application. The chemical fungicide, benomyl, did not suppress the disease severity at low concentration (1 or 10 µg mL^-1). However, the disease severity was decreased by the combined application of a low dosage of benomyl with strain LRB3W1. Combined application of a low dosage of benomyl with strain LRB3W1 was more effective than treatment with the bacterium alone. The survival of strain LRB3W1 was not influenced by the presence of benomyl. This combined use of the biocontrol agent, strain LRB3W1, and a fungicide, benomyl, should be an attractive approach for suppressing cabbage yellows in sustainable agriculture because of the reduced chemical dosages needed for disease management.     

13种植物源化合物对南方根结线虫的毒力比较

利用离体生物测定法比较了13种植物源化合物对南方根结线虫(Meloidogyne incognita Chitwood)的毒力,并探讨了紫外光照射对这些化合物杀虫活性的影响。结果表明,对苯二酚、DL-薄荷醇、丁子香酚和苦豆碱对南方根结线虫的毒杀活性最强,邻苯二酚等6种化合物的毒杀活性次之,野靛碱、毒扁豆碱和间苯二酚的毒力较低。紫外光照射可明显降低苦豆碱和柠檬酸对南方根结线虫的毒杀活性,而其他11种化合物的毒杀活性则基本不受紫外光照射的影响。     

3种本地植物与入侵植物紫茎泽兰的竞争

为筛选替代控制紫茎泽兰的本地植物及探讨提高替代控制效率的方法,通过盆栽实验并利用相对产量(RY)和竞争攻击力系数(A)衡量了3种本地植物与紫茎泽兰的竞争关系,同时评估了活性炭(AC)、杀真菌剂(FC)和二者联合(AC+FC)对它们竞争的影响。结果表明：(1)不添加任何物质条件下：紫茎泽兰与南酸枣混种时,紫茎泽兰的生物量明显高于单种(P<0.05),其RY和A分别显著大于1和0(P<0.05);紫茎泽兰分别与假地豆和狗尾草混种时,紫茎泽兰的株高和生物量均明显低于单种(P<0.05),其RY和A均分别显著小于1和0(P<0.05)。说明紫茎泽兰的竞争力强于南酸枣而弱于假地豆和狗尾草,假地豆和狗尾草可以在一定区域作为替代控制紫茎泽兰的潜在目标植物。(2)与不添加任何物质相比,紫茎泽兰与南酸枣混种时,AC、FC及AC+FC处理增加了紫茎泽兰的根冠比,降低了其地上生物量比,也降低了南酸枣的生物量(P<0.05);紫茎泽兰与假地豆混种时,AC和AC+FC处理增加了假地豆的株高和生物量,FC处理增加了紫茎泽兰的株高(P<0.05);紫茎泽兰与狗尾草混种时,AC和A...