Invasive Australian populations of redlegged earth mite, Halotydeus destructor (Tucker), are evolving increasing organophosphate resistance. In addition to the canonical ace gene, the target gene of organophosphates, the H. destructor genome contains many radiated ace-like genes that vary in copy number and amino acid sequence. In this work, we characterise copy number and target-site mutation variation at the canonical ace and ace-like genes and test for potential associations with organophosphate insensitivity. This was achieved through comparisons of whole-genome pool-seq data from alive and dead mites following organophosphate exposure.
Results
A combination of increased copy number and target-site mutations at the canonical ace was associated with organophosphate insensitivity in H. destructor. Resistant populations were segregating for G119S, A201S, F331Y at the canonical ace. A subset of populations also had copy numbers of canonical ace > 2, which potentially helps overexpress proteins carrying these target-site mutations. Haplotypes possessing different copy numbers and target-site mutations of the canonical ace gene may be under selection across H. destructor populations. We also detected some evidence that increases in copy number of radiated ace-like genes are associated with organophosphate insensitivity, which might suggest potential roles in sequestration or breakdown of organophosphates.
Exotic slugs have become serious pests of canola, at establishment, in Southern Australian high-rainfall cropping zones. Slugs were monitored using relatively inexpensive 300 mm x 300 mm terracotta tiles acting as refuges. An investigation was made of the effects of the time of application of chelated iron baits on the slug species Deroceras reticulatum Müller and Lehmannia nyctelia Bourguignat. Baits reduced the number of surface-active slug species. A single application at sowing provided greater efficacy than one application before sowing, and efficacy was comparable with that of two applications. Canola seedling densities showed a negative response to D. reticulatum numbers; the presence of even one individual per refuge trap reduced seedling numbers below optimum densities. Thistles and other vegetation were associated with increased numbers of slugs. European guidelines for slug monitoring and damage appear to be at least partly applicable to Australian conditions. 相似文献
Control of invertebrate pests in broad-acre agriculture largely relies on the application of broad-spectrum pesticides, however resistance problems and environmental concerns are driving a search for alternatives including more selective products. Here we explore the feasibility of using novel chemical groupings in the control of problematic pests that attack germinating pastures and grain crops in Australia. A modified laboratory bioassay is described for testing the response of several invertebrate pests to pesticides that have contact and systemic/translaminar properties. Two contact pesticides (fenitrothion and gamma-cyhalothrin) and three pesticides with strong systemic/translaminar properties (lambda-cyhalothrin, abamectin and diafenthiuron) showed promise for control of the collembolan Sminthurus viridis and four mite pests (Halotydeus destructor, Balaustium medicagoense, Penthaleus falcatus and Bryobia sp.). No single pesticide emerged as the most efficacious against all these pests, highlighting the need for correct pest identification before making control recommendations. Incorporating these new chemical options into pest control programs may help to control emerging pests and counter pesticide resistance issues. Selective pesticides in particular are likely to be compatible with integrated control programs that promote the establishment and maintenance of beneficial natural enemies. 相似文献
Niche separation between competing species is a central issue in ecology. As two of the most important pests worldwide of cereal production, Rhopalosiphum padi primarily dominates stems and basal leaves of wheat plants, whereas Sitobion avenae is common on the upper leaves and ears. Here, we investigated this microniche separation by considering effects of food resources and microclimates on the behavior and performance of R. padi and S. avenae on tissues from individual wheat seedlings. Wheat leaves provided favorable food for both aphid species and this tissue had high free amino acid and low soluble sugar compared with wheat stems. Both species preferred microclimates in the lower area of the seedlings where humidity was relatively higher and temperatures were relatively lower. In terms of performance, R. padi was more sensitive to microclimate effects than S. avenae, while the latter species was relatively more sensitive to limiting food resources. These factors may help explain why R. padi is relatively more common on lower microhabitats of seedlings, in contrast to S. avenae, contributing to the microspatial distribution of these species more generally. This information contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between these aphids and their host plants, which may assist in control strategies targeting these aphids.
Contents A new experimental model was applied to study calcium involvement in the mechanisms of action of the pituitary hormones on porcine granulosa cells (GC) on single cells in culture and in a time-dependent manner. The model involved laser cytometry with calcium-sensitive dye fluo-3AM. This study describes pituitary hormone-mediated changes of calcium (Ca2+) concentrations in cultured porcine GC, at the single cell level. Cells were isolated from medium sized follicles of cycling mature gilts (day 16–19 post-oestrus) and were cultured at a concentration of 50–100 × 103 cells/Petri dish in 2 ml of enriched M199 medium for 2–3 days. Image scans were performed on individual cells that had been loaded with calcium-sensitive dye, acetoxymethyl ester of fluo-3 (fluo-3 AM; 488ex/526em nm). In Experiment A (nexp = 6), cell response was measured after treatment with porcine luteinizing hormone (pLH) or prolactin (pPrl) (doses of 0, 1, 10 and 100 ng/ml in pH indicator-free HBSS containing 2 m m of Ca2+). In cultures treated with 1, 10 and 100 ng of pLH (Ncells = 329), increases in relative fluorescence were observed in 37.1, 80.0 and 72.9% of cells scanned, respectively. In cultures treated with similar dosages of pPrl (Ncells = 259), responses were noted in 41.8, 57.3 and 47.2% of cells scanned, respectively. In control cultures treated with medium alone (Ncells = 85) the fluorescence increases were not observed. Fluorescence intensity was increased in the hormone-treated cells only (p < 0.05). Seven-fold and five-fold relative fluorescence increases were observed for cells exposed to 100 ng of pLH or 10 ng of pPrl, respectively. In Experiment B, the effects of the Ca2+ ionophore (A23187) and Ca2+ chelator (EGTA) on the changes of calcium concentrations in GC-treated with both pLH (100 ng/ml) and pPrl (10 ng/ml) were examined. In the presence of A23187 (10 μm ), fluorescence of the cells increased two-fold (p < 0.05) within 400 s in cultures treated with combination of both pLH and pPrl. However, EGTA (2.5 m m ) completely abolished the responses of GC to both pLH and pPrl (Ncells = 168, nexp = 16) and the fluorescence decreased to levels similar to the control group (Ncells = 159, nexp = 5). The studies clearly demonstrated that intracellular free calcium changes occur in porcine GC when they are exposed to pLH or pPrl. The present study has provided a useful technique for studying the role of calcium in regulation of porcine GC by different factors at the single porcine cell level in culture and in a time-dependent manner. 相似文献
To determine the dietary β‐glucan and vitamin C levels that would enable the fish to cope with different stress, 252 tilapia (16.86 ± 0.24 g) were distributed in thirty six 250‐L aquaria and fed experimental diets for 60 d. Diets were supplemented with β‐glucan (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8%) and vitamin C (400 and 600 mg/kg diet) and distributed in a factorial design that included a control diet (0 β‐glucan/125 mg vitamin C/kg). After growth performance analyses, a group of 108 fish were subjected to cold‐induced stress and another to Aeromonas hydrophila infection. Hematological and immunological parameters were determined before and after the stress. Growth performance was not affected. Red blood cells, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, total plasma protein, albumin : globulin ratio and leukocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes were affected (P < 0.05) by stress and/or diets. The control diet resulted in higher post‐infection cortisol (P < 0.05). Liver vitamin C was directly proportional to dietary vitamin C (P < 0.05). The production of hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide was also affected by diets and/or bacterial challenge (P < 0.05). In total, 0.1–0.2% β‐glucan and 600 mg/kg vitamin C increased fish resistance to stress and 0.8% β‐glucan resulted in reduced immune responses regardless of the vitamin C supplementation level. 相似文献
Spodoptera frugiperda has been reported in China since the beginning of 2019, threatening maize production and raising questions about interactions with indigenous pests on maize. Spodoptera frugiperda is in the same feeding guild as the indigenous species Ostrinia furnacalis, with both pests attacking maize plant tissues such as whorls and tassels. In this study, the interaction of these species was assessed under laboratory and field conditions by examining the survival and predation rate of larvae in maize whorls and tassels. Intraspecific and interspecific interactions of larvae were assessed to characterize movements in arenas in the presence and absence of food. When S. frugiperda and O. furnacalis were present at an equal ratio, S. frugiperda prevailed over O. furnacalis with a high survival rate (over 90%) and predation rate of O. furnacalis (over 40%) under most scenarios in both laboratory and field conditions. When both species occurred at different ratios in the field, S. frugiperda had on average almost 16 times the number of survivors as O. furnacalis on whorls, and 8.3 times the number on tassels, highlighting a substantial advantage in these environments. Spodoptera frugiperda larvae undertook a low frequency of lethal attacks (strikes) and showed a higher incidence of defensive movements compared to O. furnacalis. A field survey showed that S. frugiperda larvae can colonize vegetative plant stages in maize, but it remains to be seen if competitive interactions can be linked to population dynamics of both species though they are expected to favor S. frugiperda.
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