CREA Journals (Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria)
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An outbreak of Fall Armyworm in Indian Subcontinent : A New Invasive Pest on Maize
Full text linkThe Fall armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda, J.E. Smith), an economically crucial polyphagous insect pest native totropical and subtropical regions of America has reached Asia and noticed first time in maize fields South Karnatakain the Indian subcontinent during May 2018, causing substantial damage to the crop. The pest has invaded mostof the maize growing area in India within a short period of two months posing a severe threat to maize growers,challenges to the scientific community and administrators. In the context of its economic importance and destructivenature, the identification, biology and life cycle, nature of damage and extent of yield loss, and managementof fall armyworm through cultural practices, mechanical and local controls, biological and synthetic pesticideshave been reviewed in detail in the present manuscript. Early planting and intercropping with non-host crops areessential cultural practices to reduce pest incidence. The crop which was monitored during the early vegetativestage showed a good response for synthetic pesticides, while crop damage was largest in late vegetative andpre-flowering stages. The pathways of the introduction of fall armyworm into Indian sub-continent are subjectto speculations, however considering the lack of diapause mechanisms, its high spreading ability, and wide hostplant range it is likely that the pest will soon be able to colonize most of tropical Asia. Hence, there is an urgentneed for developing ecologically sustainable, economically profitable, and socially acceptable integrated pestmanagement strategies to mitigate the impact of the fall armyworm in India and Asia
ACCIDENTAL INTRODUCTION IN ITALY OF THE PARASITOIDSPATHIUS VULNIFICUSWILKINSON (HYMENOPTERA BRACONIDAE DORYCTINAE)
Full text linkThis paper reports the finding of the Hymenoptera Doryctinae Spathius vulnificusWilkinson for the first time inEurope. This is an idiobiont ectoparasitoid attacking woodborer larvae of some Bostrichidae (Coleoptera) species. Suchexotic parasitoid, mainly spread in the Oriental and southeastern part of the Palaeartic Region, has been intercepted inassociation with the lesser auger beetle Heterobostrychusaequalis (Waterhouse)(Coleoptera, Bostrichidae), importedfrom the Asian Far East in wood packaging material. This report represents an updating on the worldwide distribution ofthe parasitoid
MANAGEMENT OF THE ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE MELOIDOGYNE INCOGNITAON TOMATO WITH DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF NEMATICIDESAND A RESISTANT ROOTSTOCK: PRELIMINARY DATA
Full text linkIn south Italy, tomato growers commonly face severe root-knot nematode infestations. Alternative methods ofcontrol are required because of the high toxicity of current pesticides. Therefore, the potential of an integrated pestmanagement strategy for the control of root-knot nematodes on tomato in greenhouse was investigated. The nematodesusceptible tomato cv. Ikram, non-grafted or grafted onto the tomato rootstock cv. Armstrong, with intermediate resistanceto the nematode, in combination with soil applications of the nematicides fosthiazate, oxamyl, and abamectin were tested.The resistant rootstock significantly reduced nematode soil population levels and root galling index until one month aftertransplanting, when soil temperature was below 28°C, but not by harvest due to increased soil temperature. Fosthiazate,abamectin and oxamyl increased tomato yield and reduced root galling caused by Meloidogyne incognita. The synergisticeffect of the rootstock resistant to root-knot nematodes and soil treatments of fosthiazate in combination with abamectin oroxamyl could successfully be employed in integrated pest management programs to control M. incognita in tomato
EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON THE PATHOGENICITY OF MEDITERRANEANNATIVE ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODES (STEINERNEMATIDAEAND HETERORHABDITIDAE) FROM NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS
Full text linkSeven strains of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) belonging to three species (Steinernema feltiae, S. ichnusaeandHeterorhabditis bacteriophora) naturally isolated from Mediterranean countries (Southern Italy and Lebanon) wereevaluated for their potential to infest greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) larvae at different temperatures underlaboratory conditions. The laboratory bioassay was conducted at six different temperatures ranging from 10°C to 35°C.Nematode Infective Juvenile (IJs) were put in contact with G. mellonellalarvae in Petri dishes and mortality rates wererecorded after 72 hours. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the temperature range in which the EPNs caused larvalmortality; higher mortalities were recorded at 15°C and 20°C. All species failed at lower temperatures except for S.ichnusaeItS-SAR4, which caused 7% mortality. At 35°C S. ichnusaemaintained its infectious activity (24%) along withH. bacteriophora ItH-LU1(38%); both were isolated from Italy and were more efficient at high temperatures than theremaining Lebanese isolates
NOTES ON THE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF LABIDOSTOMMA(ACARI PROSTIGMATA LABIDOSTOMMIDAE) IN POLAND
Full text linkThe current article is a brief summary of results obtained from long-term observations (for over 67 years) ofLabidostommatidae mites in Poland. The study is based on 21,470 samples collected in different environments anddifferent locations, and each of them had a different protection status. The analysis focuses on the frequency ofoccurrence and habitat preferencesof Labidostomma luteumKramer, 1879, Labidostomma denticulatum(Schrank,1776) and Labidostomma cornutum(G. Canestrini & Fanzago, 1878) in Poland. The results of the analysis show that L.luteumwas the most frequent species found in the analyzed material, whereas specimens of L. cornutumwere very rare.Moreover, the long-term research conducted in Poland since 1950 has allowed to analyze changes in the averageabundance of the examined species in this area. The results of the analysis has revealed a decrease in the abundance ofL. luteum, which is evident especially after 1990. Finally, the comparison of the abundance of Labidostommain legallyprotected areas and those without any legal protection shows that the mites definitely prefer areas with a lowanthropogenic pressure
Tembotrione- a post-emergence herbicide for control of diverse weed flora in maize (Zea mays L.) in North-West India
Full text linkAtrazine was the primary tool available for the control of weeds in maize. Being a pre-emergence, it provides effectivecontrol of some of the annual grasses and broadleaf weeds, but for complex weed flora, maize crop needssome post-emergence herbicide. The efficacy of tembotrione for post-emergence weed control in maize wasevaluated in a field study carried out during summer seasons in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and at farmers’ field in 2012.Tembotrione was applied at 100, 110 and 120 g a.i ha-1 along with 1000 ml ha-1 surfactant as post-emergence(20 days after sowing), atrazine 1000 g a.i ha-1 (standard) as PRE, weed free and unsprayed control were keptfor comparison. Tembotrione at 110 and 120 g ha-1 applied with surfactant 1000 ml ha-1 at 20 days after sowing,significantly reduced density and biomass of grasses and broadleaf weeds as compared to its lower dose of 100g ha-1, atrazine, and unsprayed control. Tembotrione showed reduced efficacy on *. POST application of tembotrione110-120 g ha-1 along with surfactant attained higher grain yields (7.33-7.40 t ha-1) than atrazine 1000 g ha-1,tembotrione 100 g ha-1 and unsprayed control and were at par with a weed-free chec
Genetic resources of maize (Zea mays L.): double purpose hybrids to generate grain and lignocellulosic biomass.
Full text linkMaize stover (Zea mays L.) can be converted into fermentable sugars to produce ethanol by fermentation processes,similar to those occurring to forage in the rumen. The efficiency of these processes depends on the stover cellwall structure. Some authors suggested that selection for grain yield and resistance to stalk lodging could reduceforage quality and, as a result, its potential ability to produce ethanol. Therefore, finding sources of maize geneticvariability appears to be a good alternative for lignocellulosic bioethanol production without compromising grainyield. During three years, 144 maize genotypes were evaluated to found favorable alleles to generate double purposehybrids for grain and lignocellulosic biomass. They included native Argentinean populations (landraces), commercialhybrids, maize composites, and experimental silage hybrids, differing in improvement level, cycle length,grain type, and presence of BMR genes. Selection indexes were constructed using a nonparametric rank-sum indexto select dual-purpose genotypes. Thus, indexes allowed to identify the superior genotypes for bio-energeticPotential and stability. Two native populations were selected for their good performance to produce grain andlignocellulosic biomass (ARZM03003, ARZM18022)
New tree monitoring systems: from Industry 4.0 to Nature 4.0
Full text linkRecently, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies have grown rapidly and represent now a unique opportunity to improve our environmental monitoring capabilities at extremely low costs. IoT is a new system of thinking in which objects, animals or people are equipped with unique identifiers and transfer data a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. IoT has evolved from the convergence of wireless technologies, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and the Internet. The development of these technologies in environmental monitoring domains allows real-time data transmission and numerous low-cost monitoring points. We have designed a new device, the TreeTalker©, which is capable of measuring water transport in trees, diametrical growth, spectral characteristics of the leaves and microclimatic parameters and transmit data in semi-real time. Here we introduce the device’s features, provide an example of monitored data from a field test site and discuss the application of this new technology to tree monitoring in various contexts, from forest to urban green infrastructures management and ecological research
Biomass Expansion Factors (BEFs) and Carbon Stock for Brant's Oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) Forests in West-Iran
Full text linkInvestigating a tree’s biomass can provide basic information about forest carbon stock. The Biomass Expansion Factor (BEF) is a variable for estimating carbon stock of forests. The aim of this study was to analyse the Above Ground Biomass (AGB) allocation, developing the BEF and carbon stock for two vegetation forms of Brant’s Oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) based on forest inventory data. BEF is defined as the ratio of AGB to crown volume variables. The study data were taken from 30 trees that include 16 individual trees with single stem and 14 coppice shoots located in West-Iran. The trees selected were felled and separated into different components including: bole, main branches, lateral branches, twigs and leaves. The fresh weight of the trees was obtained with a portable hanging scale and several samples were taken from each tree component. The results of this study showed significant differences between component biomass proportions of the two vegetation forms of Brant’s Oak trees and determined average biomass and carbon content of the forms studied. We also conclude that BEF of Brant’s Oak could be improved by applying crown variables. According to the results, BEFs are tree-size dependent variables. Finally, this study indicates that age-dependent BEFs cannot be applied to conditions where stand development deviates from the conditions that in which the BEFs were developed
POPULATION DYNAMICS AND SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF THAUMASTOCORISPEREGRINUSIN EUCALYPTUSPLANTATIONS IN SARDINIA (ITALY)
Full text linkThaumastocoris peregrinusis a eucalyptus pest native to Australia. It is currently the only species belonging to theThaumastocoridae family in Europe. In Italy, it was reported for the first time in Latium in 2011, whereas in Sardinia itwas detected in January 2015 on a Eucalyptus camaldulensis plantation located in the south of the island. Our researchteam carried out a monitoring program for two-years in order to verify its geographical distribution, the main periods ofinfestation, the flight peaks of the adults and to also detect the presence of unhatched eggs on leaves. During the firstyear, the occurrence of adults of T. peregrinuswas verified by yellow sticky traps placed in twelve areas distributedthroughout the island where Eucalyptus plantations were located. In the second year, the population dynamics and theoccurrence of eggs on leaves were evaluated only in three representative study areas, already included in the previousmonitoring program, located in the north, centre and south of the island, respectively. Field surveys showed thepresence of T. peregrinusin all the monitored locations. The highest adult population was observed from late summer toinitial autumn, with a significant increase in adults caught by yellow sticky traps from August, which reached its peakin September and gradually decreased in the following months. The presence of eggs of T. peregrinuson leaves fromJune to December also indicates that the insect is currently well established in the region