Evaluating legume species as alternative trap crops to chickpea for management of Helicoverpa spp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in central Queensland cotton cropping systems

Mounting levels of insecticide resistance within Australian Helicoverpa spp. populations have resulted in the adoption of non-chemical IPM control practices such as trap cropping with chickpea, Cicer arietinum (L.). However, a new leaf blight disease affecting chickpea in Australia has the potential to limit its use as a trap crop. Therefore this paper evaluates the potential of a variety of winter-active legume crops for use as an alternative spring trap crop to chickpea as part of an effort to improve the area-wide management strategy for Helicoverpa spp. in central Queensland’s cotton production region. The densities of Helicoverpa eggs and larvae were compared over three seasons on replicated plantings of chickpea, Cicer arietinum (L.), field pea Pisum sativum (L), vetch, Vicia sativa (L.) and faba bean, Vicia faba (L.). Of these treatments, field pea was found to harbour the highest densities of eggs. A partial life table study of the fate of eggs oviposited on field pea and chickpea suggested that large proportions of the eggs laid on field pea suffered mortality due to dislodgment from the plants after oviposition. Plantings of field pea as a replacement trap crop for chickpea under commercial conditions confirmed the high level of attractiveness of this crop to ovipositing moths. The use of field pea as a trap crop as part of an areawide management programme for Helicoverpa spp. is discussed.

Sustaining productivity of a Vertosol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes. 9. Production and nitrogen benefits from mixed grass and legume pastures in rotation with wheat

Reduced supplies of nitrogen (N) in many soils of southern Queensland that were cropped exhaustively with cereals over many decades have been the focus of much research to avoid declines in profitability and sustainability of farming systems. A 45-month period of mixed grass (purple pigeon grass, Setaria incrassata Stapf; Rhodes grass, Chloris gayana Kunth.) and legume (lucerne, Medicago sativa L.; annual medics, M. scutellata L. Mill. and M. truncatula Gaertn.) pasture was one of several options that were compared at a fertility-depleted Vertosol at Warra, southern Queensland, to improve grain yields or increase grain protein concentration of subsequent wheat crops. Objectives of the study were to measure the productivity of a mixed grass and legume pasture grown over 45 months (cut and removed over 36 months) and its effects on yield and protein concentrations of the following wheat crops. Pasture production (DM t/ha) and aboveground plant N yield (kg/ha) for grass, legume (including a small amount of weeds) and total components of pasture responded linearly to total rainfall over the duration of each of 3 pastures sown in 1986, 1987 and 1988. Averaged over the 3 pastures, each 100 mm of rainfall resulted in 0.52 t/ha of grass, 0.44 t/ha of legume and 0.97 t/ha of total pasture DM, there being little variation between the 3 pastures. Aboveground plant N yield of the 3 pastures ranged from 17.2 to 20.5 kg/ha per 100 mm rainfall. Aboveground legume N in response to total rainfall was similar (10.6 - 13.2 kg/ha. 100 mm rainfall) across the 3 pastures in spite of very different populations of legumes and grasses at establishment. Aboveground grass N yield was 5.2 - 7.0 kg/ha per 100mm rainfall. In most wheat crops following pasture, wheat yields were similar to that of unfertilised wheat except in 1990 and 1994, when grain yields were significantly higher but similar to that for continuous wheat fertilised with 75 kg N/ha. In contrast, grain protein concentrations of most wheat crops following pasture responded positively, being substantially higher than unfertilised wheat but similar to that of wheat fertilised with 75 kg N/ha. Grain protein averaged over all years of assay was increased by 25 - 40% compared with that of unfertilised wheat. Stored water supplies after pasture were < 134mm (< 55% of plant available water capacity); for most assay crops water storages were 67 - 110 mm, an equivalent wet soil depth of only 0.3 - 0.45 m. Thus, the crop assays of pasture benefits were limited by low water supply to wheat crops. Moreover, the severity of common root rot in wheat crop was not reduced by pasture - wheat rotation.

A comparison of alternative plant mixes for conservation bio-control by native beneficial arthropods in vegetable cropping systems in Queensland Australia.

Cucurbit crops host a range of serious sap-sucking insect pests, including silverleaf whitefly (SLW) and aphids, which potentially represent considerable risk to the Australian horticulture industry. These pests are extremely polyphagous with a wide host range. Chemical control is made difficult due to resistance and pollution, and other side-effects are associated with insecticide use. Consequently, there is much interest in maximising the role of biological control in the management of these sap-sucking insect pests. This study aimed to evaluate companion cropping alongside cucurbit crops in a tropical setting as a means to increase the populations of beneficial insects and spiders so as to control the major sap-sucking insect pests. The Population of beneficial and harmful insects, with a focus on SLW and aphids, and other invertebrates were sampled weekly oil four different crops which could be used for habitat manipulation: Goodbug Mix (GBM; a proprietary seed Mixture including self-sowing annual and perennial herbaceous flower species); lablab (Lablab purpureus L. Sweet); lucerne (Medicago sativa L.); and niger (Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass.). Lablab hosted the highest numbers of beneficial insects (larvae and adults of lacewing (Mallada signata (Schneider)), ladybird beetles (Coccinella transversalis Fabricius) and spiders) while GBM hosted the highest numbers of European bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus) and spiders. Lucerne and niger showed little promise in hosting beneficial insects, but lucerne hosted significantly more spiders (double the numbers) than niger. Lucerne hosted significantly more of the harmful insect species of aphids (Aphis gossypii (Glover)) and Myzus persicae (Sulzer)) and heliothis (Heliothis armigera Hubner). Niger hosted significantly more vegetable weevils (Listroderes difficillis (Germar)) than the other three species. Therefore, lablab and GBM appear to be viable options to grow within cucurbits or as field boundary crops to attract and increase beneficial insects and spiders for the control of sap-sucking insect pests. Use of these bio-control strategies affords the opportunity to minimise pesticide usage and the risks associated with pollution.

Analysis and Modelling of the Effects of Water Stress on Maize Growth and Yield in Dryland Conditions.

It is essential to provide experimental evidence and reliable predictions of the effects of water stress on crop production in the drier, less predictable environments. A field experiment undertaken in southeast Queensland, Australia with three water regimes (fully irrigated, rainfed and irrigated until late canopy expansion followed by rainfed) was used to compare effects of water stress on crop production in two maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars (Pioneer 34N43 and Pioneer 31H50). Water stress affected growth and yield more in Pioneer 34N43 than in Pioneer 31H50. A crop model APSIM-Maize, after having been calibrated for the two cultivars, was used to simulate maize growth and development under water stress. The predictions on leaf area index (LAI) dynamics, biomass growth and grain yield under rain fed and irrigated followed by rain fed treatments was reasonable, indicating that stress indices used by APSIM-Maize produced appropriate adjustments to crop growth and development in response to water stress. This study shows that Pioneer 31H50 is less sensitive to water stress and thus a preferred cultivar in dryland conditions, and that it is feasible to provide sound predictions and risk assessment for crop production in drier, more variable conditions using the APSIM-Maize model.

Environmentally benign Fe chelates in plant nutrition

The low solubility of iron (Fe) depresses plant growth in calcareous soils. In order to improve Fe availability, calcareous soils are treated with synthetic ligands, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and ethylenediimi-nobis(2-hydroxyphenyl)acetic acid (EDDHA). However, high expenses may hinder their use (EDDHA), and the recalcitrance of EDTA against biodegra-dation may increase the potential of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) leaching. This study evaluated the ability of biodegradable ligands, i.e. different stereo-isomers of ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS), to provide Fe for lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. Prego), their effects on uptake of other elements and solubility in soils and their subsequent effects on the activity of oxygen-scavenging enzymes in lettuce. Both EDTA and EDDHA were used as reference ligands. In unlimed and limed quartz sand both FeEDDS(S,S) and a mixture of stereo-isomers of FeEDDS (25% [S,S]-EDDS, 25% [R,R]-EDDS and 50% [S,R]/[R,S]-EDDS), FeEDDS(mix), were as efficient as FeEDTA and FeEDDHA in providing lettuce with Fe. However, in calcareous soils only FeEDDS(mix) was comparable to FeEDDHA when Fe was applied twice a week to mimic drip irrigation. The Fe deficiency increased the manganese (Mn) concentration in lettuce in both acidic and alkaline growth media, whereas Fe chelates depressed it. The same was observed with zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in acidic growth media. EDDHA probably affected the hormonal status of lettuce as well and thus depressed the uptake of Zn and Mn even more. The nutrient concentrations of ryegrass were only slightly affected by the Fe availability. After Fe chelate splitting in calcareous soils, EDDS and EDTA increased the solubility of Zn and Cu most, but only the Zn concentration was increased in lettuce. The availability of Fe increased the activity of oxygen-scavenging enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase, catalase). The activity of Cu/ZnSOD (Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase) and MnSOD in lettuce leaves followed the concentrations of Zn and Mn. In acidic quartz sand low avail-ability of Fe increased the cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) concentrations in let-tuce, but Fe chelates decreased them. EDTA increased the solubility of Cd and Pb in calcareous soils, but not their uptake. The biodegradation of EDDS was not affected by the complexed element, and [S,S]-EDDS was biodegraded within 28 days in calcareous soils. EDDS(mix) was more recalcitrant, and after 56 days of incubation water-soluble elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, Ni, Cd and Pb) corresponded to 10% of the added EDDS(mix) concentration.

Curvularia tsudae comb. nov. et nom. nov., formerly Pseudocochliobolus australiensis, and a revised synonymy for Curvularia australiensis

Cultures originally identified as Drechslera australiensis, from seeds of Chloris gayana in Japan, were the basis for Tsuda and Ueyama's new combination, Bipolaris australiensis, and its associated sexual morph Pseudocochliobolus australiensis. By studying ex-type materials of both Drechslera australiensis, which was originally isolated from seeds of Oryza sativa in Australia, and Pseudocochliobolus australiensis, we show by morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis that these two specimens represent different species. Taxonomic confusion is resolved by the transfer of Pseudocochliobolus australiensis to Curvularia tsudae comb. nov. et nom. nov., together with a revised synonymy for Curvularia australiensis. © 2014 The Mycological Society of Japan.

Curvularia tsudae comb. nov. et nom. nov., formerly Pseudocochliobolus australiensis, and a revised synonymy for Curvularia australiensis

Cultures originally identified as Drechslera australiensis, from seeds of Chloris gayana in Japan, were the basis for Tsuda and Ueyama's new combination, Bipolaris australiensis, and its associated sexual morph Pseudocochliobolus australiensis. By studying ex-type materials of both Drechslera australiensis, which was originally isolated from seeds of Oryza sativa in Australia, and Pseudocochliobolus australiensis, we show by morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis that these two specimens represent different species. Taxonomic confusion is resolved by the transfer of Pseudocochliobolus australiensis to Curvularia tsudae comb. nov. et nom. nov., together with a revised synonymy for Curvularia australiensis.

Effect of added nitrogen on plant litter decomposition depends on initial soil carbon and nitrogen stoichiometry

Increasing organic carbon inputs to agricultural soils through the use of pastures or crop residues has been suggested as a means of restoring soil organic carbon lost via anthropogenic activities, such as land use change. However, the decomposition and retention of different plant residues in soil, and how these processes are affected by soil properties and nitrogen fertiliser application, is not fully understood. We evaluated the rate and extent of decomposition of 13C-pulse labelled plant material in response to nitrogen addition in four pasture soils of varying physico-chemical characteristics. Microbial respiration of buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) residues was monitored over 365-days. A double exponential model fitted to the data suggested that microbial respiration occurred as an early rapid and a late slow stage. A weighted three-compartment mixing model estimated the decomposition of both soluble and insoluble plant 13C (mg C kg−1 soil). Total plant material decomposition followed the alkyl C: O-alkyl C ratio of plant material, as determined by solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Urea-N addition increased the decomposition of insoluble plant 13C in some soils (≤0.1% total nitrogen) but not others (0.3% total nitrogen). Principal components regression analysis indicated that 26% of the variability of plant material decomposition was explained by soil physico-chemical characteristics (P = 0.001), which was primarily described by the C:N ratio. We conclude that plant species with increasing alkyl C: O-alkyl C ratio are better retained as soil organic matter, and that the C:N stoichiometry of soils determines whether N addition leads to increases in soil organic carbon stocks.

Efectividad de un método de control químico contra Sigmodon hispidus Say y Ord. en una área comercial de arroz, Malacatoya, Región IV

Este trabajo se realizó en cultivo de arroz (oriza sativa l.) en una área comercial de 200 manzanas, ubicado en la finca arrocera la trinidad, malacatoya, departamento de granada, reg.lV. En la investigación se evaluó un método de lucha químico contra la rata de campo sigmodon hispidus say y ord., empleándose la metodología del pre-cebada y post-cebada. Los materiales utilizados como pre-cebo fueron pedazos de tubérculos de papa sosteniendo en palillos. En la evaluación inicial se obtuvo un índice de actividad de ratas (T.A.R) promedio de 0.30. Quince días después de la aplicación química de brodifacoum, el T.A.R. se redujo a 0.09, siendo el `porcentaje de mortalidad de 68.2%, también se evaluó las perdida causada por la plaga en lotes sin aplicación y con aplicación, siendo los resultado de 18.75% y 3.88% respectivamente. El rendimiento promedio obteniendo en lotes sin aplicación fue de 49qq/mz. Y en lotes aplicado de 73.8qq/mz., observándose una diferencia de 24.8qq/mz. A favor del control químico.

O uso de fosfatos associado à fitorremediação em solos de Santo Amaro (BA) contaminados por metais tóxicos

A contaminação do solo no município de Santo Amaro (BA) por metais tóxicos provocada pelas atividades da empresa Plumbum Mineração tem gerado impactos sobre a saúde ambiental e humana. O objetivo da presente pesquisa foi avaliar a viabilidade da remediação deste solo contaminado por chumbo e cádmio, utilizando diferentes fontes de fosfatos e fitorremediação com o capim vetiver [Vetiveria zizanioides (L.)]. O estudo foi realizado em colunas de PVC onde amostras de solo foram colocadas com a aplicação de fosfato dihidrogênio de potássio (KH2PO4) (T1); fertilizante fosfato natural reativo (FNR) (T2) e; uma mistura do KH2PO4 e de fertilizante FNR (T3). Amostras de solo contaminado sem tratamento (T0) foram utilizadas como controle. Após 60, 120 e 180 dias, al��quotas do solo foram retiradas das colunas para análises. Ao final de cada período, mudas de capim vetiver [(Vetiveria zizanioides (L.)] foram plantadas em vasos com as amostras de solo: T0, T1, T2 e T3 em triplicata. Para a determinação das concentrações de chumbo e cádmio no solo e tecidos vegetais foi utilizado o ICP-OES. A partir das análises física e química constatou-se que o solo possui textura argilosa e capacidade de troca catiônica (CTC) elevadas. As extrações com solução de ácido dietilenotriaminopentaacético (DTPA) e Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) mostraram que o tratamento T1 seguido do T3 foram os mais eficientes na imobilização de Pb e Cd. Entretanto, todos os tratamentos resultaram em concentrações de metais ainda disponíveis no solo que excediam os limites estabelecidos pela USEPA, sendo o solo, portanto, considerado tóxico mesmo após o tratamento. Com base nas concentrações de metais extraídos através da extração sequencial pelo método BCR após a remediação e a fitorremediação do solo, foi verificado que todos os três tratamentos com fosfatos foram eficientes em imobilizar o Pb e Cd nas formas menos sol��veis, porém, o Cd permaneceu mais sol��vel e com maior mobilidade do que o Pb. Os ensaios de letalidade utilizando minhoca Eisenia andrei mostraram que a mortalidade observada no solo após 60 dias de tratamento foi significativamente reduzida após 120 e 180 dias de tratamento. A perda de biomassa pelas minhocas também foi reduzida de acordo com o tempo de tratamento. O teste de germinação com alfaces (Lactuca sativa L.) indicou que as amostras de solo tratadas continuam bastante tóxicas, apesar da disponibilidade reduzida do Pb e do Cd como visto nos resultados da extração por TCLP e por BCR. A avaliação de risco ecol��gico potencial indicou que os tratamentos do solo com fosfatos associado à fitorremediação reduziram a mobilidade do Pb, principalmente nos tratamentos T1 e T3. Para o Cd o risco ecol��gico potencial aumenta consideravelmente quando comparado com o Pb demonstrando que esse elemento, apesar dos tratamentos com fosfatos mais a fitorremediação continua móvel. O tratamento com KH2PO4 (T1) foi o mais eficiente na redução da mobilidade, disponibilidade e da toxicidade dos metais, seguido pelo T3 e T2 para o Pb e o T3 seguido pelo T1 e T2 para o Cd.

水稻Phi类谷胱甘肽转移酶基因家族的功能分化研究

在植物中大多数功能基因是以基因家族的形式存在的，而基因重复则是基因家族的一种重要的进化方式。很多基因往往是由重复事件产生形成不同的拷贝，进而分化形成基因家族。谷胱甘肽转移酶（GSTs）是一类古老、庞大、行使解毒、抗逆、信号转导等多种功能的一个基因家族。本研究以栽培水稻（Oryza sativa ssp. japonica c.v. Nipponbare）为研究材料，以栽培水稻的Phi类GST的5个基因（OsGSTF3、OsGSTF6、OsGSTF14、OsGSTF15、OsGSTF16）为研究对象，分析了它们的系统发生和起源历史、不同组织的差异性表达、编码蛋白质的功能差异等问题，探讨了基因重复后5个基因的功能变化，主要结果如下： 1. OsGSTF3、OsGSTF14、OsGSTF15、OsGSTF16由串联重复产生，而OsGSTF6则由DNA转座产生;它们起源时间早在稻属（Oryza）分化之前。 2. 对水稻不同部位组织的RT-PCR结果表明这5个基因在水稻中的特异性表达组织部位有较大差异：OsGSTF3基因在叶、叶鞘、茎、根4个部位均有大量表达;OsGSTF6基因仅在叶中有表达;OsGSTF14基因在叶鞘、茎2个部位中有表达;OsGSTF15基因在茎、根2个部位中有表达;OsGSTF16则在叶、茎、根3个部位中有表达。 3. 将这5个基因连接原核表达载体PET30a并转化大肠杆菌BL21（DE3），获得了高表达菌株。将表达菌株进行大量表达，表达形式分析显示OsGSTF3蛋白是可溶性表达，而其余4个蛋白以包涵体的形式表达。通过亲和层析获得了纯化的OsGSTF3融合蛋白，OsGSTF3融合蛋白对底物CDNB和NBD-Cl���有高活性，酶动力学分析显示OsGSTF3融合蛋白对GSH与NBD-Cl���较高的亲和力，热力学分析显示该蛋白在40℃以下是热稳定的。通过对包涵体进行洗涤、亲和层析获得了纯化的OsGSTF6、OsGSTF14、OsGSTF15、OsGSTF16的融合蛋白，OsGSTF14融合蛋白对NBD-Cl���微弱活性，OsGSTF15融合蛋白对NBC有较高的活性，而没有检测到OsGSTF6与OsGSTF16融合蛋白的活性。

苜蓿核基因组文库的构建及豆血红蛋白基因的分离

苜蓿（Medicago Sativa L���是在共生固氮研究中常用的豆科植物之一。为了研究共生固氮的机理，尤其是对宿主植物豆血红蛋白基因和其它结瘤素基因的结构、表达和调控进行探讨。我们以λ系列噬菌体EMBL4作载体，用苜蓿核DNA10-20Kb片段作供体，构建了苜宿核基因组文库，共得到8.75×105pfu重组噬菌体，达到了建库的容量。用EcoR I对10个随机选择的重组子DNA进行酶切检查，证明其插入片段大小分布在10-22Kb之间，与预期的相同。用苜蓿豆血红蛋白CDNA作探针，经三轮噬菌斑原位杂交和点杂交，成功地从基因文库中分离出四个含豆血红蛋白基因同源顺序的重组噬菌体克隆。对其中之一用EcoR I Bgl II、 Hind III作了酶谱分析。

CO2倍增对禾本科植物幼苗形态结构的影响

本论文为国家自然科学基金重大项目“中国陆地生态系统对全球变化的反应模式研究”的部分研究内容。 本文对C02正常浓度(350ppm)和C02倍增(700ppm)条件下，小麦（Triticum, aestivum）、半野生小麦(Triticum aestivum spp．tibeticumShao)、大麦（Hordeum vulgare）、野大麦（Hordeum brevisubulalum）、水稻（Oryza sativa,）、野生稻（Or7za sativa ssp．）、谷子（Setaria italica）、狗尾草（Setaria viridis）、高粱（Sorghum vulgare）、玉米（Zea mays）、旱雀麦（Bromus tectorum）、旱麦草（Eremopyrum triticeum）等12种禾本科植物幼苗的叶片厚度、叶肉细胞密度、维管束鞘细胞中的叶绿体数、叶肉细胞中的叶绿体数、表皮细胞密度、气孔密度、气孔指数、气孔长度、气孔阻抗及平均株高、鲜重、茎秆直径、根的直径、种子的萌发率及叶绿体超微结构等进行了比较研究。 结果表明，C02倍增使不同种类、不同测试项目反应不一。总体上看，CO2浓度倍增，使10种禾本科植物（野大麦、玉米外）的吐片厚度普遍增加。除个别种类外，C4种类的平均株高、鲜重、根直径倍增组比对照组减小;气孔平均密度增加，而C3种类则呈相反趋势o C4种类比C3种类的叶片气孔开度对C02倍增反应更为敏感。在高浓度C02条件下，C4种类的叶绿体超微结构变化较明显，淀粉粒显著增加。野生种类的表皮细胞密度，叶肉细胞密度，维管束鞘细胞中的叶绿体数及茎秆直径，C02倍增组比对照组减少，栽培种类则显著增加。气孔密度与气孔指数基本呈正相关;而气孔长度与气孔密度则大体上呈负相关。 文中对高浓度C02条件下，供试植物形态结构的变化和规律，及全球大气变化对未来农业可能产生的影响进行了讨论。

用共聚焦扫描显微镜检术和酶法分离技术观测观察水稻胚囊发育

本文中以水稻为实验材料，用共聚焦扫描显微镜检术(CLSM)和酶法分离技术观察其胚囊取得好的效果，主要实验结果如下： 1.水稻子房分别用FAA和4%戊二醛固定液固定，经乙醇脱水，然后用冬青油整体透明及丁香油封片。在共聚焦扫描显微镜下，发育中的水稻胚囊显示自发荧光，可分辨出胚囊内部结构。FAA和4%戊二醛两种固定液效果不同，后者效果更佳。用上述实验程序进一步观察拟南芥菜胚囊及水稻和拟南芥菜花粉表明，CLSM可用于快速观察分析水稻和拟南芥菜胚囊发育过程以及水稻胚囊败育情况，但不适用于观察分析其花粉发育过程。 2.水稻子房用FAA、FPA或卡诺氏固定液固定，经乙醇转至蒸镏水，然后置于由纤维素酶和果胶酶组成的酶液中，在37℃保温条件下进行连续振荡酶解，在振荡过程中辅以手工显微操作，由此即可分离出水稻固定胚珠的胚囊。用相差显微镜观察分离的胚囊表明，胚囊整体性及立体感强，观察效果好。在成功分离水稻固定材料胚囊的基础上，初步尝试了水稻新鲜材料胚囊的分离。