Validation of the effects of a single one second hypochlorite floral dip on Botrytis cinerea incidence following long-term shipment of cut roses

The effect of a pre-shipment hypochlorite treatment on botrytis incidence was evaluated in a large number of rose cultivars and under different long-term storage conditions. Application parameters, stability and sources of hypochlorite were investigated. Irrespective of the type of packaging and shipment conditions, roses that received a pre-shipment treatment with 100 to 150 mg/L hypochlorite showed a significantly decreased botrytis incidence compared to non-hypochlorite treated roses. The hypochlorite treatment generally was more effective than a comparable treatment with commercial fungicides. Dipping the flower heads for approximately one second in a hypochlorite solution was more effective than spraying the heads. In few cases minor hypochlorite-induced damage on the petal tips was observed at higher concentrations (>200 mg/L). Apart from the effect on botrytis incidence, the treatment resulted in reduced water loss that may have an additional beneficial effect on the eventual flower quality. It is concluded that, apart from other obvious measures to reduce botrytis incidence (prevention of high humidity at the flower heads) a pre-shipment floral dip in 100 to 150 mg/L hypochlorite from commercial household bleach is an easy and cost effective way to reduce botrytis incidence following long term storage/transportation of roses. © 2015, International Society for Horticultural Science. All rights reserved.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of solvent fractions of Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less leaf extract.

Background: Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less is used in folk medicine as a remedy for various diseases. Objectives: The present study reports antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of solvent fractions of Vernonia cinerea. Methods: The antioxidant properties of solvent fractions of V. cinerea were evaluated by determining radicals scavenging activity, total flavonoid and phenolic contents measured with the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) test, the aluminum chloride and the Folin-ciocalteau methods, respectively. Antimicrobial activities were tested against human pathogenic microorganisms using agar diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of each active extract were determined. Results: The ethyl acetate fraction having the IC50 value of 6.50 μg/mL demonstrated comparable DPPH radical-scavenging activity with standard antioxidants, gallic acid and quercetin included in the study. All fractions displayed moderate antimicrobial potential against the tested pathogens with the zone of inhibition that ranged from 9.0 to 13.5 mm. The MIC (1.56 mg/mL) and MBC (3.13 mg/mL) indicated highest susceptibility of Candida albicans in all fractions. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the solvent fractions of V. cinerea possess antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, hence justifying the folkloric use of the plant for the treatment of various ailments in traditional medicine.

Antagonismo de Sporidiobolus pararoseus a Botrytis cinerea em discos de folha de lírio originária de produção integrada.

2009

Efeito de extratos vegetais e óleos essenciais sobre Botrytis cinerea e o agente de biocontrole Clonostachys rosea.

2008

Influência de extratos de folhas de Tagetes minuta e Vernonia polyanthes no crescimento micelial de Colletrotrichum gloeosporioides, Botrytis cinerea e Trichoderma sp.

Foram avaliados os efeitos dos extratos clorofórmico de folhas de T. minuta e hexânico de folhas de V. polyanthes, na concentração de 1% em BDA, incorporados ao meio antes e após a autoclavagem sobre o crescimento micelial de C. gloesporioides, B. cinera, e Trichoderma sp., inoculados sob condições ambientais em temperatura de aproximadamente 26 .C. O extrato de V. polyanthes, incorporado antes e após a autoclavagem inibiu o crescimento micelial de C. gloesporioides em 36,3 e 54,3% e de B. cinerea em 23,3 e 38,5%, respectivamente. O extrato de T. minuta inibiu em 38,0 e 48,0% o crescimento micelial de C. gloesporioides e 18,3 e 14,7% o de B. cinerea, respectivamente. Os extratos na concentração estudada não inibiram o crescimento micelial de Trichoderma sp.

Ocorrência de resistência a fungicidas em linhagens de Botrytis cinerea.

Isolados de Botrytis cinerea foram avaliados quanto a sensibilidade a benomyl, ipridione e propiconazol, através do método do fungicida incorporado ao meio de cultura de BDA. Os isolados de B. cinerea foram coletados em cultivos comerciais de cebola, berinjela, morango, crisântemo, batata, e roseira, em diversas localidades do estado de São Paulo. Em cultivos em estufa, foram obtidos isolados de roseira, ciclame, violeta, begonia, pimentão e cultivo hidropônico de tomate cereja. Os resultados demonstraram que esta ocorrendo uma reducao na sensibilidade aos fungicidas testados, especialmente ao benomyl e ipridione, em condições de estufa, quando analisados os valores de ED50 (dose de fungicida suficiente para inibir 50% do crescimento micelial) e MIC (concentracao mínima inibitória. De modo geral, esta ocorrendo uma redução na adaptabilidade das linhagens avaliadas através da taxa diária de crescimento micelial.

Austropleospora osteospermi gen. et sp nov and its host specificity and distribution on Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp rotundata in Australia.

Hendersonia osteospermi was found for the first time in Australia on leaf spots of the introduced invasive plant Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. rotundata (bitou bush) in coastal regions of New South Wales. Pathogenicity tests on species from 11 tribes in the family Asteraceae, demonstrated that H. osteospermi caused severe necrosis on leaves and stems of C. monilifera ssp. rotundata and its congener C. monilifera ssp. monilifera (boneseed). Small necrotic spots also developed on Osteospermum fruticosum and Dimorphotheca cuneata in the Calenduleae and on Helianthus annuus (sunflower) in the Heliantheae. None of the other plant species tested developed leaf spots, although H. osteospermi was re-isolated from senescent leaves of Cynara scolymus (globe artichoke) in the Cynareae and Vernonia cinerea in the Vernonieae. Single ascospores from ascomata of a Pleospora-like fungus found on diseased stems of bitou bush produced H. osteospermi in culture, which proved the anamorph/teleomorph connection. The ITS region of both a single-ascospore isolate and a single-conidium isolate were sequenced and found to be identical. The taxonomic status of H. osteospermi is re-examined and Austropleospora osteospermi gen. et sp. nov. is described as its teleomorph based on morphology, host range tests and DNA sequence analysis. The potential of A. osteospermi for the biological control of bitou bush and boneseed in Australia is discussed.

Hardwood Plantation P&D Semiochemistry

Insects can cause considerable damage in hardwood plantations and because pesticide use is controversial, future pest management may rely on manipulating insect behaviour. Insects use infochemical cues to identify and locate mates and host plants and this can be used to manipulate their behaviour and reduce pest impacts in plantations. Infochemicals include chemical signals produced by insects, such as pheromones and kairomones, or those produced by host plants as odours or volatiles that are attractive to insects. This research is learning how insects perceive and interact with chemical cues or infochemicals in their environment and how these interactions can be manipulated for monitoring and control. Pest species being investigated include the giant wood moth (Endoxyla cinerea), Culama wood moths, the eucalypt leaf beetle (Paropsis atomaria), red cedar tip moth (Hypsipyla robusta) and several longicorn wood borers. The project will contribute to new strategies for minimising damage and controlling pest densities in Queensland's hardwood plantations.

The Productivity of Strawberry Plants Growing Under Plastic High Tunnels in a Wet Subtropical Environment

The effect of plastic high tunnels on the performance of two strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) cultivars (Festival and Rubygem) and two breeding lines was studied in southeastern Queensland, Australia, over 2 years. Production in this area is affected by rain, with direct damage to the fruit and the development of fruit disease before harvest. The main objective of the study was to determine whether plants growing under tunnels had less rain damage, a lower incidence of disease, and higher yields than plants growing outdoors. Plants growing under the tunnels or outdoors had at best only small differences in leaf, crown, root, and flower and immature fruit dry weight. These responses were associated with relatively similar temperatures and relative humidities in the two growing environments. Marketable yields were 38% higher under the tunnels compared with yields outdoors in year 1, and 24% higher in year 2, mainly due to less rain damage. There were only small differences in the incidences of grey mold (Botrytis cinerea) and small and misshaped fruit in the plants growing under the tunnels and outdoors. There were also only small differences in postharvest quality, total soluble solids, and titratable acidity between the two environments. These results highlight the potential of plastic high tunnels for strawberry plants growing in subtropical areas that receive significant rainfall during the production season.

Sources of vase life variation in cut roses: A review

n determining vase life (VL), it is often not considered that the measured VL in a particular experiment may greatly depend on both the preharvest and evaluation environmental conditions. This makes the comparison between studies difficult and may lead to erroneous interpretation of results. In this review, we critically discuss the effect of the growth environment on the VL of cut roses. This effect is mainly related to changes in stomatal responsiveness, regulating water loss, whereas cut flower carbohydrate status appears less critical. When comparing cultivars, postharvest water loss and VL often show no correlation, indicating that components such as variation in the tissue resistance to cavitate and/or collapse at low water potential play an important role in the incidence of water stress symptoms. The effect of the growth environment on these components remains unknown. Botrytis cinerea sporulation and infection, as well as cut rose susceptibility to the pathogen are also affected by the growth environment, with the latter being largely unexplored. A huge variability in the choices made with respect to the experimental setup (harvest/conditioning methods, test room conditions and VL terminating symptoms) is reported. We highlight that these decisions, though frequently overlooked, influence the outcome of the study. Specifications for each of these factors are proposed as necessary to achieve a common VL protocol. Documentation of both preharvest conditions and a number of postharvest factors, including the test room conditions, is recommended not only for assisting comparisons between studies, but also to identify factors with major effects on VL.

Mehiläisten (Apis mellifera) kukkavierailut mansikalla (Fragaria x ananassa) ja vadelmalla (Rubus idaeus) sekä kukkavierailuihin vaikuttavat tekijät

Hyönteispölytys lisää monien ristipölytteisten viljelykasvien siemensatoa sekä parantaa sadon laatua. Marjakasveilla, kuten mansikalla ja vadelmalla marjojen koko suurenee sekä niiden laatu paranee onnistuneen pölytyksen seurauksena. Aiempien havaintojen mukaan mansikan kukat eivät pääsääntöisesti houkuttele mehiläisiä, kun taas vadelma on yksi mehiläisten pääsatokasveista. Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää, miten tehokkaasti mehiläiset vierailevat mansikalla sekä vadelmalla, keskittyen kukkakohtaisiin käynteihin tuntia kohti. Mehiläisiä voidaan käyttää Gliocladium catenulatum-vektoreina torjuttaessa mansikan ja vadelman harmaahometta (Botrytis cinerea). Kukkavierailujen perusteella arvioidaan, onko vektorilevitys riittävän tehokas torjumaan harmaahometta ja miten hyvin mehiläisiä voidaan käyttää pölytyspalveluihin, etenkin mansikalla. Havainnot kerättiin kuudelta eri tilalta Sisä-Savosta kesällä 2007. Kukkavierailuja laskettiin mansikan ja vadelman kukinnan aikana erilaisissa sääolosuhteissa, eri kellonaikoina ja eri etäisyyksillä mehiläispesistä. Kukat valittiin satunnaisesti, ja valintaperusteena oli kukan avonaisuus. Tarkkailuaika riippui mehiläisten lentoaktiivisuudesta. Mansikan koko havaintojakson keskiarvoksi tuli 1,75 käyntiä kukkaa kohti tunnissa. Vadelmalla vastaava luku oli 4,27, joten keskiarvojen perusteella vadelma oli houkuttelevampi kuin mansikka. Kasvukauden vaiheella ei ollut eroja vierailuihin kummallakaan kasvilla, mutta vuorokaudenajan suhteen vierailuja oli enemmän aamupäivällä kuin iltapäivällä. Lämpötila korreloi positiivisesti vierailutiheyden kanssa kummallakin kasvilla. Sääolosuhteet rajoittivat havaintojen keräämistä ja kesä oli erittäin sateinen. Mehiläiset vierailivat kukissa riittävästi haastavissakin sääolosuhteissa niin, että harmaahometorjunta onnistui. Vektorilevitystä suunnitellessa, etenkin mansikalla, tulee ottaa huomioon pesien sijoittelu sekä riittävä lukumäärä. Pesien ravinnontarpeen tulee olla suuri, jotta mehiläiset keräisivät ravintoa kukista mahdollisimman tehokkaasti. Pesiin voidaan lisätä tarvittaessa avosikiöitä tai poistaa siitepölyvarastoja ravinnonkeruuaktiivisuuden lisäämiseksi. Lisätutkimusta tarvitaan pesien sijoittelun, kilpailevien kasvien sekä mansikkalajikkeiden houkuttelevuuden vaikutuksesta vierailutiheyteen. Suomalaisten mansikkalajikkeiden meden sekä siitepölyneritystä olisi myös hyvä selvittää.

Diagnóstico y dinámica de enfermedades en tres genotipos de fresa (Fragaria spp) en la comunidad El Castillito, Las Sabanas, departamento de Madriz

Los Pequeños productores del municipio Las Sabanas, departamento de Madriz, han adoptad o el cultivo de fresa ( Fragaria spp.) como una alternativa para mejorar su nivel de vida. Una dificultad que enfrentan es la presencia y manejo de enfermedades que afectan negativamente el desarrollo del cultivo. El estudio se estableció con el fin de iden tificar las principales enfermedades en el cultivo de fresa en el municipio Las Sabanas, así como su dinámica de desarrollo, lo cual sería la base para estudios posteriores sobre manejo agronómico. El experimento fue establecido en la finca del Sr. Cristia n Hernández, en la comunidad El Castillito, Municipio Las Sabanas, departamento de Madriz, en el periodo julio del 2005 a marzo del 2006. La zona se ubica a 1400 msnm, con precipitaciones anuales de 1200 mm. Los genotipos Festival, Britget y Chandler fuero n plantados en un diseño de Bloques Completos al Azar con cuatro réplicas. Las parcelas experimentales estuvieron constituidas por bancales de 1.0 m de ancho por 5.0 m de largo (5.0 m 2 ) evaluándose la severidad de enfermedades identificadas y graficadas en curvas de desarrollo. Nueve enfermedades fueron identificadas, 3 de ellas foliares, 1 radicular y 5 de frutos. La principal enfermedad observada fue la mancha café ( Marssonina fragariae ) la cual se presentó con mayor severidad en las variedades Festival y Britget. En relación a viruela ( Mycosphaerella fragariae ) y tizón foliar ( Phomopsis obscurans ), los genotipos mostraron similar comportamiento. Las principales enfermedades observadas en los frutos en los diferentes estados de desarrollo fueron el moho gris ( Botrytis cinerea ) y antracnosis ( Colletotrichum spp.) Se puede concluir que los materiales evaluados son susceptibles a la mayoría de las enfermedades; sin embargo, la variedad Chandler mostró menor grado de infección por mancha café y por enfermeda des en los frutos.

Diagnósis y comportamiento de enfermedades en tres genotipos de fresa (Fragaria spp.) en Las Sabanas, Madriz

Los Pequeños productores del municipio Las Sabanas departamento de Madríz han adoptado el cultivo de fresa ( Fragaria spp.) como una alternativa para mejorar su nivel de vida. Una dificultad que enfrentan es la presencia y manejo de enfermedades que afectan negativamente el desarrollo del cultivo. El presente estudio se estableció con el fin de identificar las principales enfermedades en el cultivo de fresa en el municipio Las Sabanas, así como su dinámica de desarrollo, lo cual podría considerarse como el primer paso para iniciar estudios posteriores de manejo. El experimento fue establecido en la finca del Sr. Cristian Hernández, en la comunidad El Castillito, Munici- pio Las Sabanas, departamento de Madriz, en el periodo julio del 2005 a marzo del 2006. La zona se ubica a 1400 msnm, con preci pitaciones anuales de 1200 mm. Los genotipos Festival, Britget y Chandler fueron plantados en un diseño de bloques completos al azar con cuatro réplicas. Las parcelas experimentales estuvieron consti tuidas por bancales de 1.0 m de ancho por 5.0 m de largo (5.0 m 2 ) evaluándose la severidad de enfermedades identificadas y graficadas en curvas de desarrollo. Nueve enfermedades fueron identificadas, tres de ellas foliares, una radicular y cinco de frutos. La principal enfermedad observada fue la mancha café ( Marssonina fragariae ) la cual se presentó con mayor severidad en las variedades Festival y Britget. En relación a viruela ( Mycosphaerella fragariae ) y tizón foliar ( Phomopsis obscurans ), los genotipos mostraron similar com- portamiento. Las principales enfermedades observadas en los frutos en los diferentes estados de desarrollo fueron el moho gris ( Botrytis cinerea ) y antracnosis ( Colletotrichum spp.) Se puede concluir que los materiales evaluados son susceptibles a la mayoría de las enfer medades; sin embargo, la variedad Chandler mostró menor grado de infección por mancha café y por enfermedades en los frutos.

Creation of temporary ponds for amphibians in northern and central Europe

More than 4000 ponds have been created or restored in Denmark since 1985 as part of a large-scale pond-digging programme to protect endangered amphibians in particular and pond flora and fauna in general. Most ponds are created on private land with public financing. The programme was triggered by, among other factors, a drastic decline in amphibian populations in Denmark between 1940 and 1980. However, in recent years there has been an increased awareness in Denmark that temporary ponds are important for the conservation of some of the most rare amphibian species, such as fire-bellied toad Bombina bombina, natterjack toad Bufo calamita and green toad Bufo viridis. Other rare species such as moor frog Rana arvalis and European tree frog Hyla arborea also benefit from temporary ponds. The last 15 years of work on the conservation of endangered species and their habitats has resulted in a last-minute rescue and a subsequent growth in the size of most Danish populations of fire-bellied toad and green toad; some populations of the relatively more common natterjack toad have also increased. The creation of temporary ponds plays an important role in the success of these three species. The creation of ponds to help restore viable populations of the most rare amphibians has not been easy. To study the conditions that may need to be created, Danish herpetologists searched for areas with temporary ponds that had good water quality, natural hydrological conditions and a management regime influenced by traditional agricultural methods. The paper gives an overview of pond creation and restoration projects in Denmark and Poland and their significance for amphibian diversity.