Feeding responses to solanaceous allelochemicals by larvae of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Feeding responses of the oligophagous tobacco hornworm to allelochemicals prevalent in their host plants were determined in food choice-tests using filter paper discs laced with a test solution or water (control). Six solanaceous alkaloids, tomatine, tomatidine, solanine, solanocapsine, atropine and nicotine, were tested and only tomatine and solanocapsine were found to influence preference behavior. Solanocapsine (5 mM) deters feeding whereas tomatine (1 mM) stimulates feeding slightly. No synergistic effect of either tomatine or tomatidine with sucrose was found.The responses to tomatine are affected by previous feeding experience. Tomatine slightly stimulates feeding in larvae reared on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), but slightly deters feeding in larvae reared on Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum). Such induced preference is absent for the other alkaloids tested, which indicates that these alkaloids do not by themselves induce preferences for the plants containing them.The non-alkaloid allelochemicals, chlorogenic acid, rutin, and 2-tridecanone also influenced food choice behavior. Chlorogenic acid is slightly stimulatory at its natural concentration (1mM), but strongly deterrent at higher concentrations. Rutin stimulates feeding in a concentration-dependent manner. Its activity must be due to the glycosylated structure, because both the aglycone (quercetin) and the sugar moiety (rutinose) are neutral. Removal of the glucose part of rutin, as in quercitrin, results in feeding deterrent activity. 2-Tridecanone is neutral at its concentration in cultivated tomato (1 mM), but strongly deterrent and toxic at higher concentrations. Preference behavior is not affected by solanesol, GABA, and a mixture of host plant compounds stimulatory for anothe solanaceous-specific feeder, the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata).We conclude that the prevalent solanaceous alkaloids and other allelochemicals tested do not play important roles in food selection of the tobacco hornworm, although some may make small contributions.

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Résumé Des experiences de choix de chenilles oligophages de M. sexta ont été réalisees avec des disques de papier filtre imbiles d'eau ou de solutions des substances allélochimiques dominantes dans les plantes consommées. Sur les six alcaloïdes de solanées examinés: tomatine, tomatidine, solanine, solanocapsine, atropine et nicotine, seuls la tomatine et la solanocapsine ont influé sur le choix; la solanocapsine (5 mM) empêche la prise de nourriture, tandis que la tomatine (1 mM) la stimule légèrement. Aucun effet synergique de la tomatine ou de la tomatidine n'a été observé en présence de sucrose.La réponse à la tomatine est modifiée par la prise de nourriture antérieure. Elle stimule légèrement l'alimentation de chenilles élevées sur tomates (Lycopersicon esculentum), mais dissuade légèrement les chenilles élevées sur Solanum pseudocapsicum. II n'y a pas d'action induite semblable avec les autres alcalïdes examinés, ce qui indique que ces alcaloïdes ne peuvent pas induire par eux-mêmes de préférences pour les plantes qui les contiennent.Des substances allélochimiques non-alcaloïdes: acide chlorogénique, rutine, et 2-tridécanone, influent aussi sur le comportement de choix alimentaire. L'acide chlorogénique est légèrement stimulant à sa concentration naturelle (1 mM), mais fortement dissuasif aux concentrations supérieures. La rutine stimule la prise de nourriture en fonction de sa concentration. Son activité doit être due à sa structure glucosylate, puisqu'aussi bien l'aglycone (quercitine) que la moiteé sucrée (rutinose) sont neutres. La suppression de la partie glucose de la rutine, comme dans le cas de la quercitine, a un effet dissuasif. A sa concentration dans la tomate cultivée (1 mM), le 2-tridécanone est neutre, mais il est fortement dissuasif et toxique à des concentrations supérieures.Le comportement de choix n'est pas modifié par le solanésol, le GABA, et par un mélange de composés végétaux stimulant un consommateur spécifique de solanées, comme le doryphore (Leptinotarsa decemlineata).Nous pouvons conclure que les principaux alcaloïdes et autres substances allélochimiques des solanées que nous avons examinés n'interviennent pas d'une façon importante, mais peuvent avoir une influence secondaire, dans les choix alimentaires de Manduca sexta.

     

Host plant recognition in monophagous weevils: specificity in feeding responses of Ceutorhynchus constrictus and the variable effect of sinigrin

Host plant relations of the monophagous weevil Ceutorhynchus constrictus Marsh. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Ceutorhynchinae) feeding on garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata (Bieb.) Cavara & Grande (Cruciferae) were studied in the laboratory. Most other crucifers were rejected in choice tests using garlic mustard as a reference plant, but Brassica nigra, Sinapis alba and Thlaspi arvense were as acceptable as the host plant. Flowering plants of Descurainia sophia were acceptable while young plants of this species were not. The most important feeding stimulants in extracts of garlic mustard were uncharged, water soluble compounds. The most abundant glucosinolate in garlic mustard, sinigrin, was a feeding stimulant, too. However, the feeding stimulatory activity of sinigrin was only expressed in the presence of still unidentified uncharged compounds from garlic mustard leaves. Host plant relations in monophagous crucifer-feeding insects is discussed in relation to the distinctness of glucosinolate patterns found in their host plants.

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Zusammenfassung Ceutorhynchus constrictus Marsh. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Ceutorhynchinae) ist ein monophager Rüsselkäfer, der an Knoblauchhederich frisst. Das Wirtswahl-Verhalten dieses Käfers ist im Labor untersucht worden. Die meisten Crucifiren waren im Wahlversuche nicht akzeptiert, wenn Knoblauchhederich als Vergleichspflanze vorhanden war. Von Brassica nigra, Sinapis alba, und Thlaspi arvense wurden im Vergleich gleiche Mengen verzehrt wie von der Wirtspflanze. Blühende Descurainia sophia Pflanzen wurden, im Gegensatz zu Jungpflanzen der gleichen Art, angenommen. Die wichtichsten Phagostimulanten in Extrakten von Knoblauchhederich-Blättern waren ungeladene, wasserlösliche Substanzen. Das häufigste Glukosinolat im Knoblauchhederich, Sinigrin, war auch ein Phagostimulant. Doch war die phagostimulierende Wirkung von Sinigrin nur in Kombinationen mit noch nicht identifizierten, ungeladenen Substanzen aus Knoblauchhederich-Blätter nachweisbar. Wirtspfanzen-Beziehungen von monophagen Insekten werden diskutiert im Zusammenhang mit der Eigenart des Glukosinolat-Inhaltes ihrer Wirtspflanzen.

     

微藻源生物刺激剂的制备及在设施农业中的应用

化肥和农药的过量使用导致的农业面源污染已经成为我国环境污染的重要组成部分,对农业绿色高效安全生产及设施农业带来了巨大挑战。寻找新型的传统化肥替代品、提高化肥使用效率及保护生态环境是亟待解决的重大问题。生物刺激剂是具有调控植物生长作用的成分和(或)微生物的统称,用于农业生产,可改善土壤理化性质与群落微生物,能促进作物的代谢与生长,增强对营养物质的吸收和利用,提升作物抗逆能力及提高作物产量与产品品质。微藻体内具有结构新颖、功能独特的天然活性物质,是制备新型生物刺激剂的理想来源。微藻用于环境治理的同时,可获得足量的微藻生物质来制备生物刺激剂,从而达到治理环境、降低成本及提质增效的目的。就微藻源生物刺激剂的定义及功能、微藻全细胞和天然活性物质生物刺激剂的制备、应用效果及对植物和土壤的作用原理进行综述,以期为微藻源强效生物刺激剂的规模化制备及农业生产应用奠定理论基础和提供生产实践指导。     

Risk Associated with the Use of Selected Ingredients in Food Supplements

This review focuses on four new product categories of food supplements: pre-workout, fat burner/thermogenic, brain/cognitive booster, and hormone/testosterone booster. Many food supplements have been shown to be contaminated with unauthorized substances. In some cases, the ingredients in the new categories of dietary supplements were medicinal products or new synthetic compounds added without performing clinical trials. Some of the new ingredients in dietary supplements are plant materials that are registered in the pharmacopoeia as herbal medicines. In other cases, dietary supplements may contain plant materials that have no history of human use and are often used as materials to ‘camouflage’ stimulants. In the European Union, new ingredients of dietary supplements, according to European Food Safety Authority or unauthorized novel food. Furthermore, selected ingredients in dietary supplements may be prohibited in sports and are recognized as doping agents by World Anti-Doping Agency.     

Sleep,Sleepiness, and Neurobehavioral Performance While on Watch in a Simulated 4 Hours on/8 Hours off Maritime Watch System

Seafarer sleepiness jeopardizes safety at sea and has been documented as a direct or contributing factor in many maritime accidents. This study investigates sleep, sleepiness, and neurobehavioral performance in a simulated 4?h on/8?h off watch system as well as the effects of a single free watch disturbance, simulating a condition of overtime work, resulting in 16?h of work in a row and a missed sleep opportunity. Thirty bridge officers (age 30?±?6 yrs; 29 men) participated in bridge simulator trials on an identical 1-wk voyage in the North Sea and English Channel. The three watch teams started respectively with the 00–04, the 04–08, and the 08–12 watches. Participants rated their sleepiness every hour (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale [KSS]) and carried out a 5-min psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) test at the start and end of every watch. Polysomnography (PSG) was recorded during 6 watches in the first and the second half of the week. KSS was higher during the first (mean?±?SD: 4.0?±?0.2) compared with the second (3.3?±?0.2) watch of the day (p?<?0.001). In addition, it increased with hours on watch (p?<?0.001), peaking at the end of watch (4.1?±?0.2). The free watch disturbance increased KSS profoundly (p?<?0.001): from 4.2?±?0.2 to 6.5?±?0.3. PVT reaction times were slower during the first (290?±?6?ms) compared with the second (280?±?6?ms) watch of the day (p?<?0.001) as well as at the end of the watch (289?±?6?ms) compared with the start (281?±?6?ms; p?=?0.001). The free watch disturbance increased reaction times (p?<?0.001) from 283?±?5 to 306?±?7?ms. Similar effects were observed for PVT lapses. One third of all participants slept during at least one of the PSG watches. Sleep on watch was most abundant in the team working 00–04 and it increased following the free watch disturbance. This study reveals that—within a 4?h on/8?h off shift system—subjective and objective sleepiness peak during the night and early morning watches, coinciding with a time frame in which relatively many maritime accidents occur. In addition, we showed that overtime work strongly increases sleepiness. Finally, a striking amount of participants fell asleep while on duty.     

Detection of hatching inhibitors and hatching factor stimulants for golden potato cyst nematode, Globodera rostochiensis, in potato root leachate

In a comparison of four potato varieties, in-soil hatch of the golden potato cyst nematode (Globodera rostochiensis) was positively correlated to in vitro hatch in response to potato root leachate (PRL). The in-soil hatch of cysts of G. rostochiensis to two of the four varieties was significantly less than that of the control (cysts in gravel without potato plants) in the first 2 wk after plant emergence, suggesting the production of hatching inhibitors (HIs) by young potato plants. The hatching factor: hatching inhibitor ratio of PRL was positively associated with the net hatching activity of the PRL. Four zones of HI activity were resolved following gel permeation chromatography of PRL on Sephadex G-10. Hatch-inactive chemicals, which stimulated the activity of hatching factors (HFs) in PRL (hatching factor stimulants, HSs), were also isolated from PRL, hatch levels induced by individual HFs responding differently to the same HS preparation. The complex interactions between individual HFs and other hatching chemicals in PRL was illustrated when addition of the hatch-active potato glycoalkaloid α-solanine caused both inhibition and stimulation of PRL-induced hatch, depending on the α-solanine concentration.     

Oviposition-stimulatory activity of phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids of host-plant origin to a danaid butterfly, Ideopsis similis

Oviposition response of Ideopsis similis (L.) (Lepidoptera: Danaidae) was examined for 12 phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids present in its host plant, Tylophora tanakae (Maxim.) (Asclepiadaceae). At least five alkaloids, i.e. (+)‐isotylocrebrine (3,4,6,7‐tetramethoxyphenanthroindolizidine; l ), (+)‐3‐demethyliso‐ tylocrebrine ( 3 ), (+)‐isotylocrebrine N‐oxide ( 5 ), (+)‐6‐demethyltylocrebrine ( 8 ) and (–)‐7‐demethyltylophorine ( 10 ), were found to individually stimulate oviposition by females. Of these, compounds 1, 3 and 10 were regarded as key components most responsible for host recognition or preference. However, female egg‐laying was much higher in response to a mixture of the five alkaloids. In two‐choice bioassays, more eggs were deposited on samples comprising the five alkaloids than on samples consisting of a single alkaloid. This suggests strongly that host selection by the butterfly is mediated by the synergistic action of several phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids present in the host plant.     

The use of auditory stimulants during swim encounters with Hector's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori hectori) in Akaroa Harbour,New Zealand

The coastal distribution of Hector's dolphins and their attraction to vessels make them easily accessible to commercial tour operations. For over 25 yr, tour operators have been undertaking view and swim‐with‐dolphin trips in Akaroa Harbour, New Zealand. Since 2003, auditory stimulants, in particular stones, have been provided during such swim encounters. The potential effects associated with such stimulants have not, until now, been examined. Here, we investigate the effects of stones and other human‐induced noise on Hector's dolphin behavior. The use of stones significantly affected how dolphins interacted with swimmers. Specifically, swimmers who used stones had a greater probability of close approaches by dolphins than those who sang or simply floated on the surface of the water. The number of close and sustained approaches was also significantly higher for swimmers using stones. Dolphins were more interactive with active swimmers, approaching closer and engaging for longer than with nonactive swimmers. Dolphins socializing had a tendency to be engaged longer with swimmers. The use of stones as an auditory stimulant to sustain or enhance interactions with dolphins by artificial means may not be in the best interest of an endangered species, which already faces a range of challenges due to human activity.     

The role of glucosinolates and their hydrolysis products in oviposition and host-plant finding by cabbage webworm, Hellula undalis

The cabbage webworm, Hellula undalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a tropical pest on crucifers (Brassicaceae), differentiated among host‐plant species for oviposition in laboratory and field tests. White mustard, Sinapis alba (L.) var. Selinda, was the preferred host‐plant, followed by Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. et. Coss var. Canadian brown mustard, and pak‐choi, Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis var. Joi Choi, Black Behi and Bai Tsai. Glucosinolates (GS), secondary plant compounds characteristic to the Cruciferae plant family, and their breakdown products were analyzed by using HPLC and GC‐MS‐techniques. Species differed in GS composition and concentration. Content of GS was highest in S. alba with progressively lower contents detected in B. juncea and B. chinensis. The aromatic GS, 4‐hydroxybenzyl‐GS and benzyl‐GS, were detected in S. alba. In B. juncea the alkenyl GS, allyl‐GS, dominated, whereas in varieties of B. chinensis indolyl and alkenyl GS predominated. Oviposition of H. undalis females on the non‐host‐plant Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis (L.) Fruwirth was stimulated by application of GS extracts from the crucifer species; the extract from S. alba was preferred, followed by extracts from B. juncea and B. chinensis. Hydrolysis of GS in the plant extract from B. chinensis causes loss of the oviposition stimulatory effect of the extract. Application of the GS, allyl‐GS, and benzyl‐GS also stimulated oviposition by H. undalis. Significantly more eggs were laid on leaves treated with the aromatic GS, benzyl‐GS, than with the alkenyl GS, allyl‐GS. Host‐plant odor attracted H. undalis females but not males, in behavioral assays conducted in a Y‐tube olfactometer. Low concentrations of the GS hydrolysis product, allyl‐isothiocyanate, induced anemotaxis of females, but a high concentration of allyl‐isothiocyanate was repellent. Oviposition by H. undalis females was not stimulated by host‐plant volatiles. Females laid eggs on inserted traps and the walls of the Y‐tube regardless of presence or absence of host‐plant odor. The relevance of these results in the context of crucifer‐insect interactions is discussed.