Effects of Application Strategies of Fumigant and Nonfumigant Nematicides on Cantaloupe Grown in Deep Sand Soils in Florida

A 2-year study was conducted in which three treatment tactics of oxamyl (at planting application, application every 2 weeks, and rescue applications, as determined by crop symptoms) were compared to fumigant treatments with methyl bromide, 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D), and 1,3-D plus chloropicrin for management of Meloidogyne spp. In 2002, treatments that included 1,3-D produced higher yields as determined both by number and weight of marketable fruit. All treatment tactics relying solely on oxamyl, at planting, scheduled treatments, and rescue, were not different from untreated controls for both marketable yield and number of fruit. Gall ratings in 2002 were lowest for 1,3-D at the 112-liters/ha rate, followed by 1,3-D at 84 liters/ha with and without oxamyl. All treatments of oxamyl, except when combined with 1,3-D, had gall ratings not different from untreated plots. In 2004, treatments of methyl bromide and 1,3-D plus chloropicrin had the highest total number of both marketable fruit and highest marketable yields. All treatment strategies relying solely on oxamyl had yields equivalent to the untreated controls. Mean root-gall ratings were lowest for methyl bromide plus chloropicrin and 1,3-D plus chloropicrin treatments. Root-gall ratings for all treatment tactics relying solely on oxamyl were not different from untreated controls.     

Influence of Glomus intraradices and Soil Phosphorus on Meloidogyne incognita Infecting Cucumis melo

The interaction among Glomus intraradices, Meloidogyne incognita, and cantaloupe was studied at three soil phosphorus (P) levels in a greenhouse. All plants grew poorly in soil not amended with P, regardless of mycorrhizal or nematode status. In soil amended with 50 μg P /g soil, M. incognita suppressed the growth of nonmycorrhizal plants by 84%. In contrast, growth of mycorrhizal plants inoculated with M. incognita was retarded by only 21%. A similar trend occurred in plants grown in soil with 100 μg P /g soil. Mycorrhizal infection had no effect on the degree of root-knot gall formation and did not affect the number of nematode eggs per egg mass. Mineral levels in plant shoots generally declined as soil P levels increased and were not significantly influenced by G. intraradices or M. incognita.     

瓜类细菌性果斑病菌拮抗细菌的筛选及其抑菌作用

从土壤中筛选出抑制哈密瓜细菌性果斑病的拮抗菌株,明确其分类地位,测定其生长条件及防病效果。采用梯度稀释法及平板对峙法进行菌株的分离及筛选,综合形态学观察、生理生化测定以及分子鉴定等多方面对菌株进行鉴定,确定生防菌种属,并测定其最适生长条件,利用平板对峙法测定其抑菌作用,并分别采用针刺接种法、叶面喷施法对生防菌的离体叶片和盆栽防病试验进行测定。本研究从土样中共分离出196株细菌,经对峙筛选发现有20株细菌具有抑菌效果,其中编号为131、791的两株细菌对哈密瓜细菌性果斑病病原菌具有较好的平板拮抗效果,抑菌圈直径分别为（19.03±0.13）mm,（17.55±0.29）mm。经鉴定菌株131为沙福芽孢杆菌（Bacillus safensis）,菌株791为贝莱斯芽孢杆菌（B. velezensis）。菌株131的最适生长条件为NB培养基,培养18 h,温度37℃,pH 7,接种量为2%。菌株791的最适生长条件为KB培养基,培养18 h,温度37℃,pH 6,接种量为1%。菌株131和791对哈密瓜细菌性果斑病的离体叶片防效分别为83.33%和87.53%,室内盆栽防效分别为69.86%和77.99%,同时也对多种病原真菌具有抑制作用。菌株131和791均为对哈密瓜细菌性果斑病具有较好防效的芽孢杆菌（Bacillus）,对瓜类作物细菌性果斑病的防治提供了理论补充,奠定了果斑病害生物防治的基础。     

Regeneration of Cucumis sativus var. sativus and C. sativus var. hardwickii,C. melo,and C. metuliferus from explants through somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis

Regeneration in six inbred lines or F₁ hybrids of Cucumis sativus was achieved on Murashige & Skoog's medium containing various concentrations of 2,4-D/BA, NAA/BA, NAA/Z or NAA/K. The range of regeneration frequency for cotyledon, leaf and petiole explants was 0–38, 0–75 and 14–96%, respectively, after 6–8 weeks in culture. Only one subculture of calli to growth regulator-free medium was required for regeneration. Preincubation of explants in the dark for 2–3 weeks was essential to achieve optimal regeneration. Highest frequency of plantlet formation occurred with petiole explants incubated on NAA/BA (5.0/2.5 M), NAA/Z (5.0/5.0 M) or 2,4-D/BA (5.0/5.0 M). Approximately 80% of these plantlets survived after transplanting to greenhouse soil, and they flowered and set fruit. The F₁ hybrid, Endeavor, gave the highest regeneration frequency of 91% on 2,4-D/BA at 5.0/5.0 M. Formation of somatic embryos was observed on 2,4-D/BA, while organogenesis and embryogenesis both were evident on NAA/BA and NAA/Z. Cotyledonary explants yielded the lowest frequency (ca. 7%) of plantlet formation in this study. Plantlets of C. sativus var. hardwickii and an F₁ hybrid of C. sativus x C. s. var hardwickii were regenerated on NAA/Z and NAA/K at frequencies of 15–65%, predominantly by the formation of somatic embryos. Shoots were obtained from cotyledon and leaf explants of C. metuliferus on IAA/BA (7.5/5.0 M) and from leaf and petiole explants of C. melo on NAA/BA (5.0/2.5 M), but plantlets were recovered only in C. melo.Abbreviations BA benzyladenine - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid - IAA indoleacetic acid - K kinetin - MS Murashige & Skoog's medium - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - Z zeatindihydroside     

Simplified construction and performance of a device for particle bombardment

A modified particle inflow gun (PIG), that utilized a plastic vacuum chamber, was compared with a conventional PIG by bombarding cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.) cotyledon basal quarters with plasmid pBI221 (Clontech Inc.) containing a -glucuronidase (GUS) gene adsorbed onto tungsten particles. Both guns produced an equivalent number of transient GUS foci when tested at 410 kPa (60 psi), 620 kPa (90 psi) or 830 kPa (120 psi) helium and at a 10, 15 or 20 cm gap between the specimen and DNA/particle holder screen. For both guns, treatments utilizing the lower pressure and/or the greater distance generally produced significantly fewer GUS-positive foci. The plastic PIG was convenient to operate and could be built with simple hand tools in less than 40 minutes, using readily available parts.     

Effects of chicken manure and summer ploughing on root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) management in cantaloupe (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis)

Abstract

A 2-year trial was performed in two regions of Ardestan (Iran, Isfahan province) to investigate effects of chicken manure and summer ploughing on root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) in two infested cantaloupe fields. Before planting cantaloupe, summer ploughing and chicken manure (3, 6 and 9?T/ha) separately and combination of these treatments were applied in nematode-infested fields. At the harvest time, the number of galls, egg masses, gall and egg mass indices and multiplication rate were determined. Also, quantitative and qualitative parameters of cantaloupes in different treatments were evaluated. The results revealed that double summer ploughing in combination with 6?T/ha chicken manure treatments had the best effects on the control of M. javanica. By applying this treatment, reduction of the egg mass number, gall number, total population in root and soil and reproduction factor were observed 17, 6.75, 8591?g/root and 3.37?g/root, respectively (compared to control: 132.5, 36.87, 45037?g/root and 23.13, respectively). It also had positive effect on fruit weigh (28 vs. 18.25?kg) and root dry weight (3.8 vs. 2.08?g). According to the results, it seems that decrease in growth parameters and yield reduction due to root-knot nematode could be overcome by incorporation of summer ploughing and applying the chicken manure with the most efficacy in increasing the quantity and quality of the yield.     

Hypovirulence of Didymella bryoniae Associated with dsRNA

Didymella bryoniae, isolate 98–18, recovered from watermelon seedlings with symptoms of gummy stem blight, showed abnormal growth, mycelial lysis, sectoring, barrage and limited production of fruiting bodies in culture. A dsRNA (approximately 6.5 kbp) was associated with isolate 98–18 and other isolates showing abnormal mycelial growth. Transfer of dsRNA from 98–18 to virulent isolates Tk659 and TK671 via hyphal anastamosis was achieved only by consecutive exposure to 98–18, but not to virulent isolates RJ1 and RJ2. Transfer of dsRNA via infiltration through growth media to virulent isolates RJ1, RJ2, TK659 and TK671 was unsuccessful. The disease severity index of isolate 98–18 was reduced 53% on watermelon, 32% on cataloupe and 26% on yellow squash compared with isolate RJ2, suggesting that the presence of the dsRNA is associated with reduced virulence of D. bryoniae isolate 98–18. Zucchini and yellow squash were resistant to both isolates when tested.