CREA Journals (Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria)
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LEPIDOPTERA TORTRICIDAE FROM CALABRIA(SOUTHERN ITALY)
Get PDFA list of 181 species of Lepidoptera Tortricidae recorded during several expeditions realized in Calabria(southern Italy) is reported. Fifty-nine species are mentioned for the first time in Calabria. Of particular interest are 23species that have as a southern limit of their distribution area the Calabria territory
Effects of bacterial seed inoculation on microbiological soil status and maize grain yield
Get PDFRhizosphere microorganisms are essential for plant growth and development. Many factors, including environmental conditions, genotype, seed inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and plant growth stages, influence rhizosphere microbiology. In this study, the dynamics of nitrogen and microbiological soil status at different growth stages of two maize hybrids, as well as their grain yield were analyzed, under the influence of seed inoculation with inoculant containing Azotobacter chroococum, Azotobacter vinelandii, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus licheniformis on during three experimental years. Higher nitrogen amount (NA), total number of microorganisms (TNM), number of azotobacters (NAZ), number of aminoheterotrophs (NAM), total number of sporogenic bacteria (NS), number of actinomycetes (NAC), number of oligotrophic (NO) and grain yield, as well as lower number of fungi (NF) were obtained under favorable environmental conditions. The hybrid NS 6010 had higher values of NA, TNM, NAZ, NAM, NO, and grain yield than hybrid Dijamant 6.What is more, higher NA, TNM, NAZ, NAM, NO, and grain yield were obtained under inoculation treatment, demonstrating that the microorganisms improve maize production and microbial abundance in the rhizosphere.The highest TNM, NAM, NF and NO were determined at stage 6-7 leaves, while the most top NA and NAC were at silking stage and NAZ at wax ripeness stage. Accordingly, hybrid choice and seed inoculation could serve as a good management practice for an increase in maize grain yield, and improved microbial population and nitrogen amount in the rhizosphere
Breeding Doubled Haploid Maize Inbred Lines for Methionine and Lysine Amino Acid Composition
Get PDFMaize protein quality is deficient due to lower lysine and methionine essential amino acid content. Therefore, developinghigh methionine and lysine hybrids is of importance in maize. In this study, 64 maize source populationswere crossed to RWS x RWK-76 haploid inducer genotype in Sakarya, Turkey to produce haploids in 2016 and2017. Putative haploids were planted in a greenhouse in 2017-2018 winter season in Antalya, Turkey to produceD0 lines. 115 D1 lines were selected and planted in 2018 summer field season in Sakarya for further investigation. Atotal of 65 D1 doubled haploid (DH) inbred lines were developed after final evaluations. While the majority of thedeveloped lines gave higher values for methionine and lysine content, Ant-QPMDH-39 and Ant-QPMDH-42 lineswere observed to have higher amino acid content when compared to parental lines. Statistics related to haploidinduction rate, germination rate, misclassification rate and doubled haploid line rate revealed that effect of sourcepopulations cannot be ignored in DH line development. Our results showed that DH technology is efficient in linedevelopment in terms of special traits in maize in a short breeding time
Interference and estimation of economic threshold level of Alternanthera philoxeroides in maize (Zea mays L.)
Get PDFKnowledge of economic threshold of emerging invasive weed Alternanthera philoxeroides (alligatorweed) is important to implement timely, efficientand economical weed control method for profitable maize production. Two-year field study consisting fivedensity levels of A. philoxeroides viz. 0, 1, 2, 4 and 8 plants m-2 was conducted to estimate the maize grain yield losses at different density levels and to determine economic threshold level (ETL) of A. philoxeroides . Maximum weed dry biomass (44.28 g m-2), N (9.02 kg ha-1), P (7.91-6.86 kg ha-1) and K (7.99 kg ha-1) were observed at 8 plants m-2 A. philoxeroides density. The same weed density caused highest reduction maize plant height, number of grains per cob, 100 grain weight, grain weight per cob and biological yield of maize. Higher A. philoxeroides density also caused up to 62% reduction in maize grain yield and 21% reduction in grain protein contents as compared to weed free. ETL of A. philoxeroides was estimated to be 0.47 plants m-2, if this weed controlled chemically. Based on current finings complete control of this weed using chemical weed control is suggested to tackle yield losses in grain maize
The biotic adversities of poplar in Italy: a reasoned analysis of factors determining the current state and future perspectives
Get PDFPoplar cultivation in Italy since its early stages has been conditioned and orientated by biotic and abiotic adversities. Spontaneous hybrids between European black poplar (Populus nigra L.) and Eastern cottonwood (Populous deltoides W. Bartram (Marshall)) were empirically introduced into cultivation for their suitable characters of branchiness, rooting and tolerance to root rots; nevertheless, the first true scientific programme of genetic improvement began after leaf and shoot blight epidemics from Venturia populina during the second and third decades of the twentieth century. The resulting selection of resistant ‘I-214’ clone fostered poplar cultivation in Italy, but at the same time «crystallised» it in a condition of delay with respect to other European countries. With the arrival of leaf spot disease from Marssonina brunnea in the Sixties, phytoiatric treatments were introduced rather than diversifying with more resistant genotypes. Similarly, the increased virulence of leaf rusts from Melampsora spp. starting from about twenty years later, did not succeed in undermining the near monopolisation of ‘I-214’. At present, Marssonina leaf spot and leaf rusts are the most incident diseases: fungicide treatments are carried out mainly on the plantation against the former and mainly in the nursery against the latter. The woolly aphid (Phloeomyzus passerinii) is the most constant and incident pest in plantations. Besides, persisting problems are associated with new pests mainly of exotic origin, especially with the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys).Experiences in other important European poplar cultivation systems highlight the suitability of genetic control, together with a diversification of planted material and efficient agronomic practices. It is advisable to undertake research programmes for vertical and horizontal or quantitative (QTL) resistances, recurring to molecular markers, associated with studies on epigenetics and on microbial communities of various tissues through the new approach offered by metagenomics. The complexity of poplar agrosystems should be increased promoting a homeostatic control of pathogens and pests through antibiotic or competitive features triggered by other microbiota components
ENDOSYMBIONTS OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODES FROM SOUTH ITALY:A PHENOTYPIC STUDY
Get PDFWe examined different Xenorhabdusstrains (five of X. bovieniiand two of X. kozodoii), obtained from EPNisolates belonging to the genus Steinernema(S. feltiae, S. ichnusae, S. apuliae, S. vulcanicum) of different geographicorigin by both genotypic and phenotypic analysis. Common laboratory assays were done for traits such as antibioticresistance, haemolytic activity, lactose utilisation, biofilm production, chosen as the least selectable traits for EPN life-cycle, and thus as (presumably) neutral traits. As selective marker, the activity of the endosymbiont’s toxins was verified inan in vivoassay on G. mellonellalarvae. Genotyping done by 16S partial sequencing was used for identification purposes.Xenorhabdusbovieniiisolates showed a broad phenotypic spectrum; on the other hand, X. kozodoiishowed a less degreeof phenotypic variation, reduced ability of biofilm production and conspicuous β-galactosidase activity. However, all thestrains were able to kill G. mellonellalarvae with high efficiency
Line × Tester Analysis of Stomatal Conductance, Chlorophyll Content, Photosynthetic Efficiency, and Transpiration Rate Traits in Maize
Get PDFThis study evaluated seven inbred lines of maize (Zea mays L.), three testers and 21 hybrids produced by line ×tester mating design. Stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic efficiency, and transpirationrate traits of parents and progenies were observed. The study was conducted in Konya, in the mid-Anatolianregion of Turkey. The mean values of the stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic efficiency,and transpiration rate measurements were evaluated using Duncan’s multiple range test for grouping parent andoffspring groups. The variance for general combining ability, the variance for specific combining ability, the relativevariance, additive variance, dominance variance, √D / A, narrow-sense heritability and broad-sense heritabilityparameters of the population, along with the heterosis rates of the progenies, were calculated for each trait.The parental general combining abilities and specific combining abilities of the progenies were determined. Weobserved parents with significant and positive general combining abilities [3.4 (stomatal conductance, transpirationrate); 14.20 (photosynthetic efficiency, transpiration rate)] and their progenies with significant and positivespecific combining abilities [3.4 × FRMo 17 (stomatal conductance, transpiration rate); 3.4 × ADK 451 (transpirationrate); 14.20 × FRMo 17 (transpiration rate)]. Results of the study showed the possibility of using physiologicalproperties as selection criteria
EFFECTIVENESS OF SPINOSAD AND MINERAL OIL BASED COMMERCIAL PRODUCTSON OVIPOSITION AND EGG HATCHING OFGRAPHOLITA FUNEBRANATREITSCHKE
Get PDFLaboratory trials were performed to evaluate the actionof spinosad and mineral oil on eggs of GrapholitafunebranaTreitschke, the key pest in plum orchards. Fruits of cultivars Angeleno, President and Stanley were used in thetrials. The first set of tests was carried out by introducing two mated females of G. funebranainto a cage together withfruits of a single cultivar. The second set of trials tested the three cultivars simultaneously. In all trials, one third of thefruits of each cultivar was treated with mineral oil, another third with spinosad and the final third was left untreated.Treatments were carried out before introducing mated females into the cages. The number of fruits with eggs, the numberof eggs laid on each fruit and the number of hatched eggs were recorded. The number of eggs per fruit recorded in all trialswas the same, indicating that plum moth females, after choosing the fruits for oviposition on the basis of the cultivar or theapplied product, tend to use all suitable fruits in the same way. Oviposition in terms of number of fruits was significantlylower in mineral oil and spinosad treatments in all trials, compared to the control. Differences between the two productswere found in trials carried out with Angeleno alone and with the three cultivars together. The percentage of egg hatchingon the fruits was always significantly lower with spinosad treatment compared to the mineral-oil treatment and the control.In the trials carried out using the three cultivars, the number of infested fruits was significantly higher for Angeleno and nodifferences in the hatching percentages were found among the cultivars. The ovicidal and antiovideponent activities ofcommercial products containing mineral oils orspinosad could represent an interesting tool to reduce G. funebranadamage, both in organic and conventional plum orchards
Maize inbreds for multiple resistance breeding against major foliar, ear and stalk rot diseases
Get PDFResistance breeding is considered the most effective and eco-friendly method to manage most of the crop diseases, but it can be challenging to find sources of resistance in maize for short growing season regions. In this study, 218 maize inbreds were evaluated in order to select those, which possess resistance to one or more of the following diseases: Northern Corn Leaf Blight (NCLB), common rust, eyespot, grey leaf spot (GLS), goss’s bacterial wilt and leaf blight (goss’s wilt), Gibberella (fusarium) ear and stalk rot, and common smut. Significant variation in disease resistance was detected in the inbreds evaluated. Twenty-six inbreds, most of them of Canadian origin, were found to possess excellent resistance to multiple diseases. Three inbreds (CO428, CO470 and CO471) exhibited resistance to five foliar diseases (NCLB, common rust, eyespot, GLS, and goss’s wilt), while another seven inbreds had a resistant reaction to four diseases (CO452, CO466 and CO468 to common rust, eyespot, GLS and goss’s wilt; C0473 to NCLB, common rust, GLS and goss’s wilt; CO464 to NCLB, eyespot, GLS, and goss’s wilt, and PHZ51 to eyespot, ERSC, common smut, and goss’s wilt). Five of these inbreds also had intermediate resistance against stalk and ear rot. Forty-five inbreds were found to have resistance against two to three diseases. Inbreds CO457, CO458, CO459 and CO460 released as highly resistance to common rust were also found to have good resistance against eyespot, and GLS or goss’s wilt. CO450 released for eyespot resistance had good resistance against common rust and GLS, and moderate resistance against goss’s wilt. Three inbreds CO387, CO441, and CO449 were found to have resistance for gibberellic ear rot both by silk and kernel inoculation methods and common smut. Most of these inbreds found resistant in this study were from the Stiff Stalk (BSSS), Lancaster and Iodent maize heterotic groups. Many of the resistant inbreds identified in this study are excellent sources of resistance to leaf, ear and stalk rot diseases, and could be utilized in maize breeding programs for developing new hybrids with multiple disease resistance
NEW DATA ON THE XANTHOLININI FROM THE ORIENTAL REGION.43. NEW SPECIES AND NEW RECORDS (COLEOPTERA STAPHYLINIDAE) 273thContribution to the knowledge of the Staphylinidae
Get PDFThe following new species for the listed countries are described and their diagnostic structures are figured:Pachycorynus insularissp. n. (Sri Lanka), Metolinus sibayaksp. n. (Sumatra), Erymus tujuh sp. n. (Sumatra), Atopolinustanaratasp. n. (Malaysia), and Atopolinus nigellussp. n. (Vietnam). The following species are new records for the namedcountries: Zeteotomus bedugulensis Bordoni, 2002 (Java), Spaniolinus rubidusBordoni, 2002 (Malaysia),Thyreocephalus annulatus (Fauvel, 1895) (Tioman Isl., Malaysia), Phacophallus japonicus(Cameron, 1933)(Cambodia), Emathidis humerosa(Bernhauer, 1923) (Vietnam), and Atopolinus ovaliceps(Scheerpeltz, 1965) (Vietnam).New distribution records are given for several species