Use of Stem Implanted Bioherbicide Capsules to Manage an Infestation of Parkinsonia aculeata in Northern Australia

An infestation of parkinsonia (Parkinsonia aculeata) located on Alexandria Station, Northern Territory, Australia was successfully treated with a bioherbicide using stem implanted capsules. The bioherbicide containing three endemic endophytic fungi (Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae, Macrophomina phaseolina and Neoscytalidium novaehollan-diae) is the first Australian registered woody weed bioherbicide. The product was effectively administered to the plant stems using a mechanical device, resulting in subsequent development of a dieback event, which, after a period of establishment, has moved through the adjacent untreated plant population resulting in significant decline in infestation vigour and reduced recruitment. This is the first report of large-scale management of parkinsonia by this method.

Biology and the Statistic Demographic of Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on the Soybean with Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) Treatment

Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) applied to different plants may suppress pests population developments. This research was to study the capability of a commercial PGPR product contained Bacillus polymyxa and Pseudomonas fluorescens in suppressing population developments of Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae). The biology and demographic statistics of A. glycines reared on soybean with and without the PGPR applications were compared. The PGPR suspensions of 5 g formulation per liter water were used to soak soybean seed for 15 minutes and to water soybean plant 2 weeks after transplanting. Cohorts of 65 first instar A. glycines of each treatment were observed daily and individual mortality, molting, and fecundity were recorded until the last individual dead. Second instar stadium of A. glycines reared on treated plant lasted longer than those reared on untreated plant, i.e. 1.4 and 1.1 days, respectively. These resulted on a longer life cycle for A. glycines reared on treated plant than on untreated plant, i.e. 4.9 and 4.5 days, respectively. In turn, it caused the A. glycines population to experienceslower growth on treated plants than on untreated plants. The values of A. glycines GRR, Ro, rm, T and DT on treated plants were 71.834, 57.780, 0.557, 7.287 and 1.245, consecutively; whilst that of untreated plants were 104.861, 63.326, 0.586, 7.084 and 1.184, respectively.

Gender-Specific Acaricidal Properties and Sexual Transmission of Spirotetramat in Two-Spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychidae: Acariformes)

Two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Tetranychidae: Acariformes), is one of the most important agricultural pests in the world. Their populations have a tendency of rapidly developing resistance to acaricides, making it necessary to have a variety of active ingredients for sustainable chemical control of this pest. We investigated acaricidal properties of a relatively new insecticide spirotetramat using its commercial formulation, Movento Energy. Spirotetramat applied at concentrations equivalent to the field rates of 78 and 90 g ai/ha had a strong negative effect on the survival of the treated T. urticae, with ca. 95% of females and ca. 65% of males dying after the treatment. Spirotetramat appeared to interfere with female reproductive system. Many of the dead treated females had eggs stuck in the oviduct and protruding from their bodies. Surviving treated females did not lay eggs. Furthermore, untreated females that mated with treated males did not produce female offspring and displayed the symptoms of spirotetramat poisoning. Toxic effects continued manifesting themselves after female mites were transferred from treated onto untreated plant culture. Contrary to previous studies, contact toxicity was also detected. None of the treated immature stages survived to adulthood. Based on these results, spirotetramat may be a good option for integrated pest management in crops that are simultaneously affected by sucking insects and spider mites and in pesticide rotation sequences that are a part of integrated resistance management programs.

UTILIZATION OF ARBUSCULAR MICORRHIZAL FUNGI TO CONTROL FUSARIUM WILT OF TOMATOES (PEMANFAATAN JAMUR MIKORIZA ARBUSKULAR UNTUK MENGENDALIKAN LAYU FUSARIUM PADA TOMAT)

ABSTRACTTomato is a vegetable crop which is preferred by the Indonesian people. The problem encountered in tomato production is Fusarium wilt which is known as devastating disease. Studies have been done to solve the problem but effective and inexpensive control technique is still questioned. This study aimed to ascertain the ability of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi as biological control agent in reducing tomato Fusarium wilt. Research was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of 5 treatments and 10 replications. The treatments were untreated plants, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici inoculated plants, AM fungi inoculated plants, AM fungi + F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici inoculated plants, F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici + benomyl inoculated plants. The results showed that plants which were inoculated with AM fungi had better growth compared to those which were not inoculated with AM fungi. Moreover, plants which were inoculated with AM fungi showed lower disease intensity compared to untreated plant and inoculated plant with F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici + benomyl application. Orthogonal contrast analysis showed plants treated with AM fungi significantly perform better growth and resistance towards infection compared with other treatments. Thus, it concluded that AM fungi had the potency as biological control agent.Keywords: AM fungi, disease intensity, Fusarium wilt, tomato INTISARITomat merupakan tanaman sayuran yang banyak digemari masyarakat Indonesia. Salah satu pengganggu utama pada tomat adalah penyakit layu Fusarium yang disebabkan oleh Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici dan menimbulkan masalah yang serius. Kerugian yang ditimbulkan oleh penyakit tersebut sangat besar sehingga perlu dicari cara pengendalian yang murah, efektif, dan aman. Penelitian yang bertujuan untuk mengetahui kemampuan jamur mikoriza arbuskular (JMA) sebagai agens pengendali hayati dalam menekan penyakit layu Fusarium pada tomat ini dilakukan dengan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) yang terdiri atas 5 perlakuan dan 10 ulangan. Perlakuan meliputi kontrol, inokulasi F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici, inokulasi JMA, inokulasi JMA dan F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici, inokulasi F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici dan aplikasi fungisida benomil. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa tomat yang diinokulasi JMA memiliki pertumbuhan yang lebih baik dibandingkan yang tidak diinokulasi JMA. Intensitas penyakit pada tomat yang diinokulasi JMA lebih rendah, baik dibandingkan dengan kontrol maupun dengan perlakuan F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici dan aplikasi fungisida. Hasil analisis kontras orthogonal menunjukkan bahwa tomat bermikoriza berbeda nyata bila dibandingkan dengan yang tidak diinokulasi JMA maupun yang diaplikasi benomil. Terjadi peningkatan pertumbuhan tomat dan penekanan intensitas penyakit layu Fusarium, sehingga JMA berpotensi sebagai agens pengendali hayati (APH).Kata kunci: intensitas penyakit, JMA, layu Fusarium, tomat

Impact of Biostimulant and Synthetic Hormone Gibberellic acid on Molecular Structure of Solanum melongena L.

<p class="1Body">A comparison study between the application of gibberellic acid (GA3) and <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> as a biostimulant on the growth and molecular structures of Eggplant (<em>Solanum melongena</em> L.) has been carried out through a pot experiment. Growth of <em>Solanum melongena</em> L. increased with exogenous application of GA3 followed by yeast. Chlorophyll contents of plant were enhanced with yeast treatment compared with GA3 application and control. Activitiy of antioxidant enzymes, catalase and peroxidase was increased with increasing concentration of GA3 and <em>S. cerevisiae</em> application particularly with using GA3. HPLC analysis showed the highest concentration of salicylic acid in plant treated with GA3 (104.20 mg) followed by <em>S. cerevisiae</em> (70.00 mg) application compared with the untreated plant (57.86 mg). Six common polypeptide bands were observed in treated and untreated <em>S. melongena</em> plants, their molecular weights were 16, 17, 34, 90, 120 and 150 KDa. While the untreated <em>S. melongena</em> plant is characterized by the presence of 8 polypeptide bands, their molecular weights were 19, 24, 32, 33, 36, 50, 109 and 133 KDa. Yeast treatment increased the number of protein bands to 12 instead of 8 in the control plant with molecular weights 18, 125, 74, 69, 62, 31, 30, 27, 25, 23, 20 and 18 KDa. Three polypeptide bands with molecular weights 25, 72 and 125 KDa were detected in <em>S. cerevisiae</em> and GA3 treated plants. PCR analysis showed that total of 16 amplified fragments was visualized in the tested samples. Eight fragments with different molecular weights, four of them are monomorphic bands while the others are polymorphic unique bands. Plant sample sprayed with yeast showed 5 fragments range in molecular weight between 426 to 1766 bp. Only one of these fragments was unique polymorphic fragment. Four monomorphic fragments range in molecular weight from 426 to 1213 bp were showed up in plant sample sprayed with gibberellic acid.</p>

Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Fibigia Triquetra (DC.) Boiss. to Osmotic Stress

Water deficit in the soil leads to osmotic stress in plants. The type of stress affects plant water relations, osmolyte accumulation and oxidative stress balance. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of osmotic stress on the Croatian perennial species Fibigia triquetra (DC.) Boiss, adapted to a hot and dry habitat. Plants grown in culture conditions were subjected to isoosmotic concentrations of mannitol and polyethylene glycol (PEG) and certain physiological and oxidative stress parameters were analyzed during a period of 14 days. Dry weight and proline content in Fibigia triquetra shoots increased in response to osmotic stress while the relative water content decreased. After an initial rise, chlorophyll and carotenoid levels in treated plants dropped to untreated plant levels. Oxidative damage to proteins and especially to lipids was evident upon PEG-induced osmotic stress. Superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase appear to play an essential protective role in stressed plants. Regardless of the osmotic agent, accumulation of heat-shock proteins of 70 kDa was noticed under osmotic stress. The tolerance of the plant species to osmotic stress seems to be associated with increased capacity of the antioxidative system and efficient photoprotective system.

Bffects of foliar fungicides on the mycoflora of glumes of Triticum aestivum

In the years 1983-1984. the effect of three foliar fungicides, i.e.. Bayleton 25 WP. Dithane M-45 and Funaben K on the mycoflora associated with glumus of spring <i>Tritieum aestivum</i> cv. Kolibri cultivated in the field was investigated. During each vegetative period, glumes were collected in the milky ripe of seeds. Fungi species associated with glumes were determined based of colonies isolated from glumes incubated in Petri dishes with potato glucose agar. The fungicide which reduced the most the overall number of fungal isolates was Bayleton 25 WP. The number of species was most reduced following Dithane M-45 application. The mycoflora of glumes which had been untreated and treated with fungicides was compared with fungicides-treated and fungicide-untreated seeds and leaves. The highest similarity in the mycoflora of fungicide-untreated plant parts was found when glumes and seeds were compared. The mycoflora of fungicide-treated glumes, leaves, and seeds varied. depending on the year and fungicide applied.

Classification of ‘Anaerocellum thermophilum’ strain DSM 6725 as Caldicellulosiruptor bescii sp. nov.

The thermophilic, cellulolytic, anaerobic bacterium ‘Anaerocellum thermophilum’ strain Z-1320 was isolated from a hot spring almost two decades ago and deposited in the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ) as DSM 6725. The organism was classified as representing a new genus, ‘Anaerocellum’, primarily on its growth physiology, cell-wall type and morphology. The results of recent physiological studies and of phylogenetic and genome sequence analyses of strain DSM 6725 of ‘A. thermophilum’ obtained from the DSMZ showed that its properties differed from those originally described for strain Z-1320. In particular, when compared with strain Z-1320, strain DSM 6725 grew at higher temperatures and had an expanded range of growth substrates. Moreover, the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain DSM 6725 fell within the Caldicellulosiruptor clade. It is therefore suggested that ‘Anaerocellum thermophilum’ should be classified as a member of the genus Caldicellulosiruptor, for which the name Caldicellulosiruptor bescii sp. nov. is proposed (type strain DSM 6725T=ATCC BAA-1888T). C. bescii sp. nov. DSM 6725T is the most thermophilic cellulose-degrading organism known. The strain was able to grow up to 90 °C (pH 7.2) and degraded crystalline cellulose and xylan as well as untreated plant biomass, including potential bioenergy plants such as poplar and switchgrass.