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Biocontrol of collar rot disease of betelvine (Piper betle L.) caused by Sclerotium rolfsii by using rhizosphere-competent Pseudomonas fluorescens NBRI-N6 and P. fluorescens NBRI-N.

Collar rot disease of betelvine (Piper betle L.) caused by Sclerotium rolfsii is difficult to control by conventional means by use of chemicals; therefore, use of biocontrol agents is desirable. In the present study, 186 bacterial strains of different morphological types were screened for their biocontrol activity against S. rolfsii under in vitro conditions. Two strains, Pseudomonas fluorescens NBRI-N6 and P. fluorescens NBRI-N, were selected for further studies because of their ability to inhibit the mycelial growth of the pathogen significantly. Spontaneous rifampicin-resistant (Rif) derivatives of P. fluorescens NBRI-N6 and P. fluorescens NBRI-N showing growth rate and membrane protein composition comparable to the wild type were selected to facilitate their monitoring in the rhizosphere. Field trials demonstrated that strain P. fluorescens NBRI-N6 was better than P. fluorescens NBRI-N in increasing the yield of betelvine significantly, whereas a consortium of the two strains controlled the disease more than either of the strains. The screening method should prove useful in identifying rhizosphere bacteria with the greatest potential for controlling diseases caused by phytopathogenic fungi.

Ascomycota↗

Effects of Cina on root-knot disease of mulberry.

Root-knot disease of mulberry is caused by the nematode Meloidogyne incognita. It has important economic implications for sericulture. The homeopathic medicines, Cina mother tincture (MT) and potentised Cina 200C, prepared from the flowering meristems of Artemisia nilagirica (Clarke) Pamp, were applied by foliar spray on mulberry (Morus alba L.) infected with M. incognita juveniles (J2). Pretreatment (ending 6 days before inoculation) and post-treatment (starting 6 days after inoculation) schedules were tested. The two uninoculated control batches were treated with the same procedure with Cina MT and Cina 200C. Both pre- and post-treatment significantly reduced nematode infection in terms of root gall number and nematode population in root. All the treated plants showed improved growth in terms of fresh biomass of shoot and root, length of shoot and root, number of leaves, leaf surface area, root and leaf-protein content. Cina 200C is more effective than Cina MT in all respects of nematode control as well as growth of the test plants. Pretreatments show slightly better effects than the post-treatments. It is interesting that inoculated and treated plants not only are less affected by nematodes but also have a better growth than uninoculated, untreated control.

Animals↗

Integrated control of nematode infections in cattle: a reality? A need? A future?

Helminth infections are a major cause of production loss in cattle. Great progress has been achieved in the design of control strategies for these infections. Control is based mainly on the use of anthelmintics, and these have become more potent and easier to administer. However, the most effective control is possible only through the integration of different approaches. Moreover, an increasing number of disadvantages of chemotherapy/prophylaxis--biological, economical and environmental--have been suggested. In sheep, the high incidence of anthelmintic resistance has simply forced veterinarians/producers to adopt alternative control strategies; in cattle, no real need for deviation from the actual control programmes seems to exist. Therefore, the following questions are discussed: (1) Based on the distribution of cattle worldwide, what are the target parasites? (2) Can we continue to rely on control based mainly on the use of (highly effective) anthelmintics? (3) What are the prospects for non-chemical control? (4) Who will develop and implement integrated control systems? (5) In the case of parasite control in Western Europe, has it been efficient and can/need it be changed? (6) How can we integrate helminth control in the general design of herd disease control?

Animal Husbandry↗

Ectoparasite control in small ruminants.

Ectoparasites are a common problem in small ruminants of North America. Management of ectoparasites in small ruminants can be challenging for producers and veterinarians. It is important for the veterinarian to make an accurate diagnosis of the type of ectoparasite that is infesting the animal, then to develop a plan that most effectively and economically controls the ectoparasite. Effective and economic control of an ectoparasite infestation begins with an understanding of the ectoparasite's life cycle and how that life cycle affects the animal. It should be noted that climate and geographical area can affect the life cycle of specific ectoparasites, so it is important for veterinarians to educate themselves about their specific environment. Once the life cycle has been addressed, then the veterinarian should decide which intervention will provide the best control. Intervention possibilities may range from insecticides to environmental management or a combination of several methods. The veterinarian should provide the producer with realistic goals that define specific limitations of ectoparasite control.

Animals↗

Tuberculina-Thanatophytum/Rhizoctonia crocorum-Helicobasidium: a unique mycoparasitic-phytoparasitic life strategy.

Tuberculina species are mitosporic parasites of rust fungi. Phylogenetically they belong to the Urediniomycetidae, therefore being closely related to their rust fungal hosts. We reveal by means of molecular analyses, ultrastructural and morphological features, observations in the field, and infection experiments that species of the genus Tuberculina and the violet root rot (Helicobasidium/Rhizoctonia crocorum) are stages of the life-cycle of one holomorph. This opens up new perspectives on parasitic life strategies as the resulting life-cycle is based on interkingdom host jumping between rusts and spermatophytes. In addition, we point at the consequences for any practical application dealing with Helicobasidium as an economically important plant pathogen and Tuberculina as a biological agent in rust control.

Basidiomycota↗

Some effects of pre-release host-plant on the biological control of Panonychus ulmi by the predatory mite Amblyseius fallacis.

Amblyseius fallacis Garman has been selected for pyrethroid resistance and mass reared for experimental release as a biological control agent for tetranychid mites on a number of crops in Canada. Several releases of this predator onto apple and peach trees have failed to result in the establishment of A. fallacis, or in the biological control of Panonychus ulmi Koch. Here, we test the hypothesis that the change of host-plant at the time of release is a critical factor in the establishment of A. fallacis for biological control of P. ulmi. Functional and numerical response studies were undertaken on two populations of A. fallacis: a wild strain collected from the canopy foliage of an apple orchard near Vineland, Ontario; and a second strain reared on bean plants in a commercial insectary with Tetranychus urticae as prey. Each population consumed significantly more P. ulmi and produced significantly more eggs when on leaf disks from the plant species they were reared on, than on leaf disks from the novel host plant. A further experiment was conducted to determine if establishment and biological control of mass-reared A. fallacis could be affected by rearing a population for a short term on apple leaves prior to release on apple trees. Three release treatments were made into potted apple trees in a glasshouse, using predators commercially mass-reared on bean and T. urticae: A. fallacis released directly; A. fallacis reared in the laboratory for four weeks on bean and T. urticae; A. fallacis reared on apple leaves and T. urticae for four weeks. They were compared with a control treatment lacking predator release. Contrary to results of the functional and numerical response studies, no difference was observed between release treatments. All release treatments adding A. fallacis resulted in a similar, if limited, degree of biological control of P. ulmi. These results indicated that there may be short-term effects of host plant on the establishment of A. fallacis and biological control of P. ulmi, which in our study were observed as an initial reduction of the predatory response. However, in a test, the predators appeared to overcome these short-term effects and successfully established on the new host-plant to control P. ulmi.

Animals↗

Acarine regulators of water hyacinth in Kerala (India).

Screening of the mite fauna on water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes, at 25 localities throughout Kerala (India) yielded a list of 21 phytophagous species from nine families. Distribution of mites at these localities and type of injury produced suggested that Oligonychus biharensis and Orthogalumna terebrantis warrant further study. In an experimental set-up the injury caused by these mites was quantified. Infestation by Ol. biharensis lead to reduced photosynthesis by the host (significant loss in chlorophyll content). Injurious effects of Or. terebrantis involved leaf mining by the developing instars leading to wilting of the leaves resulting in reduced dry weight. The relative merits of the two species as potential control agents of water hyacinth are discussed.

Acari↗

The effect of chrysanthemum leaf trichome density and prey spatial distribution on predation of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) by Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae).

The effect of plant architecture, in terms of leaf hairiness, and prey spatial arrangement, on predation rate of eggs of the spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, by the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot was examined on cut stems of chrysanthemums. Three levels of leaf hairiness (trichome density) were obtained using two different chrysanthemum cultivars and two ages within one of the cultivars. The number of prey consumed by P. persimilis was inversely related to trichome density. At low prey densities (less than ten eggs per stem), prey consumption did not differ in a biologically meaningful way between treatments. The effect of prey spatial arrangement on the predation rate of P. persimilis was also examined. Predation rates were higher in prey patches on leaves adjacent to the release point of P. persimilis, but significantly greater numbers of prey were consumed in higher density prey patches compared to low density patches. The predators exhibited non-random searching behaviour, spending more time on leaves closest to the release point. The implications of these findings for biological control and predator-prey dynamics are discussed.

Animals↗

Toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis to adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

Adult female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were killed by the parasporal crystals of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (ONR-60A) when the crystals were introduced into the insect midgut as an enema. The 50% lethal dose for intact parasporal crystals was 0.21 microgram/mg of mosquito (wet weight), and for solubilized crystals the 50% lethal dose was 0.04 microgram/mg. These values were compared with 50% lethal concentrations in a free-feeding larval mosquito bioassay of 0.018 and 1.28 microgram/ml for intact and solubilized crystals, respectively. Preparations from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki were ineffective against both adult and larval mosquitoes. An adult mosquito bioassay is suggested as a direct means of screening potential mosquito control agents.

Aedes↗

Using chimeric hypoviruses to fine-tune the interaction between a pathogenic fungus and its plant host.

Infectious cDNA clones of mild (CHV1-Euro7) and severe (CHV1-EP713) hypovirus strains responsible for virulence attenuation (hypovirulence) of the chestnut blight fungus Cryphonectria parasitica were used to construct viable chimeric viruses. Differences in virus-mediated alterations of fungal colony morphology, growth rate, and canker morphology were mapped to a region of open reading frame B extending from nucleotides 2,363 to 9, 904. By swapping domains within this region, it was possible to generate chimeric hypovirus-infected C. parasitica isolates that exhibited a spectrum of defined colony and canker morphologies. Several severe strain traits were observed to be dominant. It was also possible to uncouple the severe strain traits of small canker size and suppression of asexual sporulation. For example, fungal isolates infected with a chimera containing nucleotides 2363 through 5310 from CHV1-Euro7 in a CHV1-713 background formed small cankers that were similar in size to that caused by CHV1-EP713-infected isolates but with the capacity for producing asexual spores at levels approaching that observed for fungal isolates infected with the mild strain. These results demonstrate that hypoviruses can be engineered to fine-tune the interaction between a pathogenic fungus and its plant host. The identification of specific hypovirus domains that differentially contribute to canker morphology and sporulation levels also provides considerable utility for continuing efforts to enhance biological control potential by balancing hypovirulence and ecological fitness.

Ascomycota↗

Influence of disease-suppressive strains of Streptomyces on the native Streptomyces community in soil as determined by the analysis of cellular fatty acids.

Analysis of cellular fatty acid profiles was used to distinguish among introduced pathogen- suppressive strains and indigenous strains of Streptomyces spp. isolated from soil of field plots established to test the efficacy of Streptomyces strains PonSSII and PonR in the biological control of potato scab. Reference libraries of fatty acid profiles were developed for a collection of known pathogenic strains and the introduced suppressive strains. Population densities of pathogen-related, suppressive, and saprophytic Streptomyces strains were determined from the relationship of field isolates to mean library profiles using cluster analysis and the unweighted pair-group method using arithmetic averages. Community diversity was similarly determined. Streptomyces strains PonSSII and PonR were distinguished from each other and from the pathogen group (which clustered together) based on fatty acid profiles. The introduced, suppressive strains successfully colonized the soil and represented 2-19% of the isolates sampled over 2 years. The introduction of the suppressive strains inhibited the population of strains related to the pathogen library at each sample date; the pathogen population was substantially lower in soil from treatments where the suppressive strains were introduced compared with the nonamended control. At harvest, the pathogen-related population was suppressed 85-93 and 36-44% in 1991 and 1992, respectively, in treatments with the suppressive strains compared with the nonamended control. Diversity of the community was not affected by the introduced strains, and diversity and equitability indices were similar among treatments at any sample time. The inhibition of the pathogen-related population was correlated with a reduction of scab symptoms observed in the field plots into which the suppressive strains were introduced. Implications of a fundamental shift in the pathogen-related population in response to the introduction of the suppressive strains for long-term biological control of potato scab are encouraging.

Fatty Acids↗

Serratia entomophila bacteriophages: host range determination and preliminary characterization.

Eight bacteriophages specific to Serratia entomophila, a commercially available bacterial pathogen of the New Zealand grass grub (Costelytra zealandica), were characterized by host range determination, morphology and restriction endonuclease patterns of DNA. Phages were originally isolated from grass grub larvae and fermenter broth where phages had disrupted large-scale production of S. entomophila. Seven of the phages (CW1-CW5, BC, and BT) had heads similar in size (approximately 60 x 60 nm) and long noncontractile tails (185 x 10 nm). Phage AgRP8 (P8) had a smaller head and a short tail structure. Restriction endonuclease analysis divided the phages into four groups: CW2, CW4, CW5, BC, and BT gave identical patterns, white CW1, CW3, and P8 each gave different patterns. Six distinct phage groups were distinguished by host range determination, after screening phages against 70 bacterial isolates: CW1, CW2/CW4, CW3, CW5, BC/BT, and P8. While confirming the indicated groupings by DNA analysis, it was possible to distinguish between some of the phages in the largest group: CW2/4 could be distinguished from CW5 and BC/BT. Screening of soil bacterial isolates of S. entomophila against nondiluted phages will aid in monitoring the establishment and persistence of strains applied for biological control of the grass grub.

Bacteriophages↗

[Evaluation of Trichoderma spp. as antagonist of Rhizoctonia solani in vitro and as biocontrol of greenhouse tomato plants].

Five Trichoderma isolates were compared in their ability for controlling Rhizoctonia solani attack to tomato plants in greenhouse and as antagonists of this pathogen in three independent laboratory assays. Four out of five isolates showed biocontrol ability and decreased pathogen growth and survival of its sclerotia in soil. Results suggest that dual cultures in Petri dishes and mycoparasitism assays against R. solani sclerotia may be useful for detecting isolates effective as biological control agents against this pathogen in tomato plants.

Agriculture↗

Laboratory evaluation of Melia azedarach L. and Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Extracts in order to control Ocneridia volxemi Bolivar (Orthoptera, Pamphaginae) hoppers.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of Melia azedarach L. (Meliaceae) dry fruit extracts (oil and water) and Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (Myrtaceae) dry leaves extracts (water) on Oneridia volxemi hoppers (fifth-instar) feeding on cereals leaves (Triticum durum) under laboratory conditions. Larva feeding reduced and mortality was significatly (p < 0.05) on cereals leaves sprayed with three concentrations 0, 5, 1 and 2% of oil extracted from Melia azederach. In addition, O. volxemi feeding and mortality was significantly (p < 0.05) on cereals leaves sprayed with two concentrations 50 g/l and 80 g/l of water extracts from Melia azedarach dry fruits soaked for 24 hours. the water extract solution of 80 g/l significantly reduced feeding than the other concentrations 50 and 25 g/l. This study showed also the water extract solution from Eucalyptus globulus dry leaves reduced also feeding and induced the mortality of O. volxemi but not better than Melia azedarach dry fruit extracts water at the same concentration (80 g/l). The aim of this study is in an integrated management program for control of O.

Animals↗

Impact of the entomophilic digenean Plagiorchis noblei (Trematoda: Plagiorchiidae) on the survival of Aedes provocans under field conditions.

Under field conditions, exposure of Aedes provocans to Plagiorchis noblei cercariae reduced the number of pupae produced to about one-third of control values. Larvae bearing more than 2 metacercariae rarely survived, and pupal mortality was almost 3 times higher among exposed individuals than controls. Adult females exposed to cercariae as pre-imagos experienced a 32% reduction in longevity. The life span of males was not affected. The potential of entomophilic digeneans as biological agents in the control of mosquitoes is discussed.

Aedes↗

The future of insect growth regulators in vector control.

Insect growth regulators (IGRs) are diverse groups of chemical compounds that are highly active against larvae of mosquitoes and other insects. The IGRs in general have a good margin of safety to most nontarget biota including invertebrates, fish, birds, and other wildlife. They are also relatively safe to man and domestic animals. The IGR compounds do not induce quick mortality in the preimaginal stages treated. Mortality occurs many days later after treatment. This is indeed a desirable feature of a control agent because larvae of mosquitoes and other vectors are an important source of food for fish and wildlife. On account of these advantages of IGRs and the high level of activity against target species, it is likely that IGRs will play an important role in vector control programs in the future.

Animals↗

Effects of two insect growth regulators on the susceptibility of Aedes aegypti (Diptera:Culicidae) to Molinema dessetae (Nematoda:Filarioidea).

The effects of 2 growth regulators, diflubenzuron (DFB) and OMS 2017, on the ability of females Aedes aegypti to become infected with Molinema dessetae was studied under laboratory conditions. OMS 2017 and DFB had no effect on either the amount of blood ingested or the microfilarial load. The infective potential of females that survived DFB treatment was significantly greater than untreated females, but there was no difference between OMS 2017-treated and control females. The percentage of infective larvae in the head after OMS 2017 and DFB treatments was significantly greater than for control females. Insect growth regulators appear to affect the vectorial competence of mosquitoes, and these results indicate the need for preliminary studies before these compounds are used in large-scale control programs.

Aedes↗

[The concept of medical entomology: the management of the influence of arthropods on human health].

The tasks of medical entomology are analyzed with special reference to the development of methods of protection against the harmful influence of arthropods on human health and the use of these animals in health sciences. Special attention is paid to the following problems: characterization of individual and group features of humans and their relationship with arthropods, elucidation of the properties of arthropods, determination of the state of their populations, estimation of the efficiency of controlling measures, their ecological consequences, etc.

Animals↗