Proximal traits and mechanisms for biasing paternity in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

A comprehensive understanding of sexual selection requires knowledge of the traits and mechanisms responsible for increasing a male’s paternity share (proportion of progeny sired) relative to that of other males mating with the same female. In this study we manipulated by starvation the expression of traits that might influence male paternity share in Tribolium castaneum. We then conducted experiments to examine how male starvation affects male performance during sequential episodes of sexual selection from mating to progeny production, and investigated female control over specific stages by using live vs dead females. Comparison of starved vs fed males revealed that T. castaneum females have control over spermatophore transfer during mating, as live females rejected inseminations by starved (“low quality”) males. None of the measured male copulatory behaviors (leg-rubbing frequency, asymmetry, and percent of time spent rubbing) affected the probability of successful insemination, but the last two were positively associated with male paternity share. Spermatophore positioning within the female reproductive tract was not affected by male treatment (starved/fed), by female treatment (live/dead), or by male copulatory behaviors. Starvation, however, had a dramatic effect on male reproductive physiology, decreasing both accessory gland size and total number of sperms transferred (but not sperm viability in seminal vesicles). In addition, females who mated to starved males stored fewer sperms in their spermathecae, which, together with decreased ejaculate size, may explain the reduced paternity share of starved males compared to fed males. This study elucidates some cryptic mechanisms influencing male reproductive success and aids our understanding of trait evolution through sexual selection.     

Insecticidal and growth-reducing activity of foliar extracts from Meliaceae

Summary Thirty-one species in twenty genera of the plant family Meliaceae were assayed for the production of growth-inhibiting phytochemicals, using the generalist herbivorePeridroma saucia. Most species were inhibitory when methanolic extracts were incorporated into artificial diets at concentrations at or below those occurring naturally. In general members of the subfamily Melioideae were more inhibitory than members of the Swietenioideae. Extracts of deciduous species with short leaf lifetimes were significantly more inhibitory than those of evergreen species with longer leaf lifetimes. In a smaller sample of species, evergreen species showed a trend towards having tougher leaves than deciduous species. These results support the resource availability hypothesis of Coleyet al. (1985), and suggest that life history attributes may be of some value in selecting plants for phytochemical prospecting.     

Modulating effect of Phyllanthus fruit extract against lead genotoxicity in germ cells of mice

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of Phyllanthus emblica against clastogenicity induced by lead nitrate on the incidence of sperm head abnormalities in the germ cells of mice. At higher concentration of lead, a significant increase in the percentage of sperm head abnormalities was noted but when animals primed with Phyllanthus fruit extract (PFE), a reduction in the frequency of sperm head abnormalities was observed. It can be suggested from the above study that Phyllanthus emblica plays a key role in inhibition of heavy metal mutagenesis in mammals.     

Insecticidal activity of metallic nanopesticides synthesized from natural resources: A review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Insects are a major source of human diseases and agricultural loss, but actual insecticides are highly toxic for humans, thus calling for advanced pesticides. For...     

Bacterial colonization of the phyllosphere of nineteen plant species and antimicrobial activity of their leaf secondary metabolites against leaf associated bacteria

Summary. The scope of this work was to examine whether leaf constitutive secondary metabolites play a role in determining bacterial colonization of the phyllosphere. To this aim, we surveyed nineteen native or cultivated plant species that share a common bacterial pool in a North Mediterranean area, and estimated the size of total and ice nucleation active (INA) bacterial populations on their leaves. Large differences in the colonization of their phyllosphere were found; the population size of epiphytic bacteria ranged from 7.5 × 10² to 1 × 10⁶ CFU/g fresh weight, in eucalypt and celery, respectively. Species native in Mediterranean-type climate areas, particularly those belonging to the group of aromatic plants, are characterized by scarce presence of INA bacteria. The antibacterial activity of essential oils, surface phenolics and leaf tissue extracts was also estimated against the INA strains P. syringae and E. herbicola, isolated from two of these plant species. E. herbicola proved more sensitive than P. syringae. Of the species examined, oregano [Origanum vulgare L. subsp. hirtum (Link.) Ietswaart], an aromatic plant, had the highest antimicrobial activity, whereas six species showed no activity at all. Further experiments were performed with oregano and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) that represent two extremes in their secondary metabolite content. Both plants were inoculated with P. syringae. By the end of incubation, the bacterial population on bean plants was about 100 times higher than that on oregano leaves. Scanning electron micrographs showed that bacterial growth on oregano leaves was confined to sites away from glandular hairs. Results from the bacterial colonization survey together with those from the toxicity tests showed that all species rich in antibacterial secondary metabolites harbored low leaf bacterial populations. These results provide substantial evidence that leaf secondary metabolites function as constitutive defense chemicals against microbial invasions. However, the fact that species with non- or moderately active leaf secondary metabolites are not always highly colonized suggests mediation of other unknown factors, the contribution of which requires further investigation.     

非寄主植物乙醇提取物对褐飞虱若虫的驱避与触杀活性

为了评估非寄主植物次生物质对褐飞虱3~4龄若虫的驱避与触杀活性,本文用乙醇浸提了11种在华南地区分布广泛的植物获得其乙醇提取物。分析了这11种植物乙醇提取物对褐飞虱3~4龄若虫的驱避作用,采用药膜法测定了其对褐飞虱3~4龄若虫的触杀作用。结果表明,10 mg·mL-1的质量浓度下,花椒（Zanthoxylum bungeanum）和小茴香（Foeniculum vulgare）提取物对褐飞虱若虫有显著地拒避作用,24 h的拒避率分别为53.3%和43.3%;塞楝（Khaya senegalensis）、胜红蓟（Ageratum conyzoides）、桉树（Eucalyptus exsetrta）和毛麻楝（Chukrasia tabularis）提取物对褐飞虱若虫有显著地引诱作用,24 h着落率分别为75.0%、73.3%、73.3%和71.7%。花椒和小茴香提取物对褐飞虱若虫的拒避作用随着质量浓度的上升而增加,在10~40 mg·mL-1的质量浓度下均对褐飞虱3~4龄若虫有显著地拒避活性,40 mg·mL-1时拒避作用最明显,24 h拒避率分别为66.7%和60.0%。塞楝、胜红蓟、桉树和毛麻楝提取物对褐飞虱若虫的引诱作用均随着质量浓度的上升先增加后降低。塞楝和毛麻楝乙醇提取物对褐飞虱若虫的拒避与引诱活性因其质量浓度的不同而有差异,当质量浓度小时（10 mg·mL1）对褐飞虱若虫有显著地引诱作用;当质量浓度大时（40 mg·mL1）对褐飞虱若虫有显著地拒避作用,24 h后,拒避率分别为50.0%和40.0%。胜红蓟乙醇提取物在5和10 mg·mL-1的质量浓度下对褐飞虱若虫具有显著地引诱作用,24 h后,着落率分别为71.7%和73.3%;桉树乙醇提取物在10和20 mg·mL-1的质量浓度下对褐飞虱若虫具有显著地引诱作用,24 h后,着落率分别为73.3%和71.7%。辣椒（Capsicum annuum）、小茴香、花椒、胜红蓟和鬼针草（Bidens pilosa）乙醇提取物对褐飞虱若虫的触杀活性效果显著,在95.69μg·cm-2的剂量下,24 h校正死亡率达到85%以上,LD50值依次为15.46,25.66,33.61,33.57和37.85μg·cm-2。塞楝和蟛蜞菊（Wedelia chinensis）提取物对褐飞虱若虫也具有较好地触杀活性,在95.69μg·cm-2的剂量下,24 h校正死亡率达到50%以上。研究所选11种不同科属非寄主植物的乙醇提取物在一定质量浓度下,对褐飞虱均会产生不同程度的拒避作用。其中辣椒、小茴香、花椒、胜红蓟和鬼针草5种植物乙醇提取物对褐飞虱若虫的触杀效果明显。辣椒、小茴香、花椒属于经济作物,本研究表明,这3种作物还具有开发为生物农药的价值。胜红蓟和鬼针草在华南地区分布广泛,易采集,植物资源丰富,具有开发成植物源杀虫剂的巨大潜力。     

Inhibitory effect of the plant Boerhavia diffusa l. against the dermatophytic fungus Microsporum fulvum

Antifungal activity (reduction in colony diameter) of various extracts (pt. ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethyl alcohol and aqueous) of aerial and root parts of Boerhavia diffusa (Nictaginaceae) was screened against dermatophytic fungi Microsporum fulvum. Statistically significant increase has been recorded in the % inhibition of the target fungal species with increasing test concentrations (1000-5000 ppm) of chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethyl alcohol extracts of the root. The maximum % inhibition observed in various solvent extracts of root was about 26% (chloroform), 46% (ethyl alcohol) and 57% (ethyl acetate) at 5000 ppm concentration with time exposure of 10 days. The colony diameter of the target mycelial colony decreased with increasing supplementation of the phytoextract, showing the presence of significant amount of some antifungal phytochemical moiety.     

Antifeedant activity of plant extracts to an insect Helopeltis theivora

The different solvent extracts (viz Petroleum ether Ethyl acetate and Methanol) obtained from leaves and flowers of Heliotropium indicum and Spilanthes calva were screened for antifeedant activity against Helopeltis theivora. All the six different extracts showed antifeedant activity at four different concentrations. The methanolic extracts of leaves of Heliotropium indicum and Spilanthes calva exhibited significant activity at 4% concentration. The numbers of spots produced were only 18.67 and 22.67 respectively which are significantly less than the numberof spots produced in control (104.00 and 93.33 respectively). The treatment with methanolic extracts of flowers of both the plants significantly reduced the number of feeding spots to 22.33 and 23.67 respectively in comparison to the control values of 101.33. All the activities are dose dependent. The mean results with SEM (mean +/- SE) were statistically significant at 1% level (p<0.01) for three observations.     

Population and individual consequences of breeding resource availability in the European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus)

Resource availability may affect both individual fitness and population demography and the effects can interact. We used two experiments to test how breeding resource abundance and its spatial distribution, combined with female abundance, affected male reproductive behavior, population spawning rate, and embryo development and recruitment in the European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus), a small cyprinid fish that lays its eggs in living unionid mussels. In the first experiment, we found that at the population level the abundance of breeding resources (freshwater mussels) was more important for bitterling recruitment than resource spatial distribution (clumped or regular). In contrast at the individual level, (variability in reproductive success) the spatial distribution of resources was more important, but only when resource abundance was not limiting. Territorial males obtained almost exclusive access to fertilizations when resources were abundant and distributed regularly, but were unable to defend large clusters of resources (when rival abundance was always high) and abandoned territoriality. Surprisingly, territorial males remained aggressive and successfully defended their territories when resources were grouped into a single cluster, but at a low abundance. In the second experiment, more rapid embryo development and larger juvenile body size at the end of the growing season was detected at high resource abundance and low female abundance, indicating that early hatched juveniles survived better and hence investment in offspring production early in the season yields a higher fitness pay-offs. The abundance of females in spawning condition was the best overall predictor of the intensity of male reproductive behavior in both experiments.     

Antagonistic and plant growth activity of Trichoderma isolates of Western Himalayas

The genus Trichoderma is rapidly growing colonies bearing tufted or postulate, repeatedly branched conidiophores with lageniform phialides and hyaline or green conidia born in slimy heads. 62 isolates of Trichoderma species were isolated from different rhizospheric soil samples collected from different places located in Western Himalayas region. Out of these only two species were found i.e. Trichoderma hazianum and Trichoderma viride. Their efficacy against soil borne plant pathogens like Sclerotium rolfsii, Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum revealed that only three isolates amounting to 5% of the total collected isolates of this region were found highly antagonist. Among them 5% isolates were found against S. rolfsii, 13% isolates against R. solani, 10% against sclerotium caused above 80% inhibition of mycelial growth respectively. 6% isolates out of twenty seven utilized chitin by more than 80 and 16% isolates consumed cellulose by above 80% and therefore are producers of chitinase and cellulases. 58% isolates produced colonies having cottony texture and 41% produced dark green colonies. Pigmentation as observed from reverse side of the colony revealed that 70% of them did not produced pigment in the medium. Plant growth promotion measured as root and shoot lengths were significantly higher than in control. The maximum root length and shoot length were recorded when seeds were treated with isolates were recorded at Srinagar Garhwal was 4.70 and 4.75 cm out of all the isolates in which isolate recorded from Srinagar no 3 caused maximum percent seed germination which was significantly higher 79.49%.     

Comparative larvicidal potential of different plant parts of Withania somnifera against vector mosquitoes in the semi-arid region of Rajasthan

Larvicidal potential of the extracts from different parts viz. green and red fruits, seeds, fruit without seeds, leaves and roots of Withania somnifera in different solvents was evaluated against larvae of Anopheles stephensi, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus, the important disease vectors prevalent in the semi-arid region. Experiments were carried out on late 3rd or early 4th instar larvae of these mosquitoes using standard WHO technique. 24 and 48 hr LC50 values along with their 95% confidence limits, regression equation, chi-square (chi2)/heterogeneity of the response have been determined by log probit regression analysis. The 24 hr LC50 values as observed for whole green fruits in water, methanol and petroleum ether were 350.9, 372.4, 576.9; 115.0, 197.1, 554.6; 154.9, 312.0, 1085.0 while corresponding values for red fruits were 473.5, 406.4,445.2; 94.7, 94.5, 1013.0; 241.8, 535.0, 893.3 mg l(-1) for An. stephensi, Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus respectively showing that methanol extracts were more effective against anophelines as compared to culicines when whole fruits were taken. The 24 hr LC50 values as observed for seeds in acetone, methanol and petroleum ether were 188.1, 777.5, 822.5; 245.5, 769.0, 1169.0; 140.3, 822.9, 778.4 and for fruit without seeds were 80.2, 97.6, 146.6; 88.4, 404.4, 1030.0; 30.0, 44.5, 54.2 mg l(-1) for the above mosquito species respectively showing that extract of fruit without seeds were most effective in petroleum ether followed by acetone and methanol extracts. However, experiments conducted with methanol extracts of leaves and roots of this plant species did not show any appreciable larvicidal activity and a 20-40% mortality was observed up to 500 mg l(-1) of the extracts. Overall larvae of anophelines were found more susceptible as compared to culicines to all the extracts tested. Petroleum ether extract of fruit without seeds was found most effective against all the mosquito species showing that active ingredient might be present in this part of the plant species. The study would be of great importance while planning vector control strategy based on alternative plant derived insecticides.     

In vitro antimicrobial activity and antagonistic effect of essential oils from plant species

Kahramanmaras, is a developing city located in the southern part of Turkey Thymus eigii (M. Zohary and RH. Davis) Jalas, Pinus nigraAm. sub sp pallasiana and Cupressus sempervirens L. are the useful plants of the Kahramanmaras province and have been understudy since 2004 for the traditional uses of plants empiric drug, spice, herbal tea industry herbal gum and fuel. The study was designed to examine the antimicrobial activities of essential oils of these plants by the disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) methods. In addition, antimicrobial activity of Thymus eigii was researched by effects when it was used together with antibiotics and even when it was combined with other essential oils. When the results of this study were compared with vancomycin (30 mcg) and erytromycin (15 mcg) standards, it was found that Thymus eigii essential oil was particularly found to possess strongerantimicrobial activity whereas other essential oils showed susceptible or moderate activity However, antimicrobial activity changed also by in vitro interactions between antibiotics and Thymus eigii essential oil, also between essential oils of these plants and that of Thymus eigii causing synergic, additive, antagonist effect.     

Ecologically neglected tannins and their biologically relevant activity: chemical structures of plant ellagitannins reveal their in vitro oxidative activity at high pH

Summary.  Chemical structures of 27 ellagitannins were systemically compared in respect of their in vitro oxidative activity at high pH found e.g. in lepidopteran insects. The analysis revealed over six-fold differences in the oxidative activities of individual ellagitannins which could be explained by the chemical divergences of the ellagitannins. These findings allowed the formulation of a simple equation that can be used to estimate the oxidative activities of other ellagitannins with known structures. The results suggest that, in future studies of plant-herbivore interactions, ellagitannins should be (1) taken into account as possible oxidative stress -based defences of plants against herbivores, (2) chemically characterized from the study plants, and (3) quantified individually, not as chemically ill-defined group. These actions together with the utilization of the created equation would allow the clarification of the role of ellagitannins in plant-herbivore interactions as natural pro-oxidants.     

Evaluation of antifouling activity of eight commercially available organic chemicals against the early foulers marine bacteria and Ulva spores

Environmental impacts caused by tin and copper based commercial antifouling (AF) paints were proved to be detrimental to aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, a search of environmental friendly AF compounds to be used in marine paint to protect the surface of maritime developmental structures from the unwanted biofouling is a burning issue of the present time. Commercially available eight organic chemicals--allyl isothiocyanate, beta-myrecene, cis-3-hexenyl acetate, citral, ethyl heptanoate, eugenol, methyl caproate, and octyl alcohol were evaluated forAF activities using both laboratory and field assays. The test chemicals were found to repel the target motile marine bacteria--Alteromonas marina, Bacillus atrophaeus, Roseobactergallaeciensis and Shewanella oneidensis and motile spores of the green alga, Ulva pertusa. The bacterial and Ulva spore repulsion activities of the test chemicals were measured by chemotaxis and agar diffusion methods respectively interestingly these test chemicals were less toxic to the test fouling species. The toxicity of the test chemicals was measured by using antibiotic assay disks against the bacteria and motility test against Ulva spores. Moreover, in field assay, all test chemicals showed a perfect performance ofAF activity showing no fouling during the experimental period of one year Such results and commercial as well as technical feasibility of the test chemicals firmly showed the possibility of using as alternatives of the existing toxic AF agents.     

Evaluation of chelating and cytoprotective activity of vanillin against the toxic action of mercuric chloride as an alternative for phytoremediation

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Mercury is widely found in nature, however, in low concentrations, but anthropological activities have increased its concentration considerably. This causes...     

四川土荆芥精油对植物病原真菌的抗菌活性

以植物病原真菌玉米纹枯病菌Rhizoctonia solani Kuha、玉米弯胞病菌Curvularia lunata（walk）Boed、水稻稻瘟病菌Pyricularia oryzae Cav.、小麦赤霉病菌Gibberellezeae（Schw.）Petch和松赤枯病菌Pestalotia funerea为实验菌,检测了四川土荆芥Chenopodium ambrosioidesL.精油的抑菌活性和抑菌机理。结果表明：培养基给药时,土荆芥精油对5种植物病原真菌均具有抑制作用,IC50分别为：0.734μL·mL-1,0.342μL·mL-1,0.435μL·mL-1,0.370μL·mL-1和0.332μL·mL-1;熏蒸给药时,精油剂量为1μL,土荆芥精油对松赤枯病菌、水稻稻瘟病菌、玉米纹枯病菌和玉米弯胞病菌具有促进作用,高剂量给药对菌丝生长具有抑制作用。半抑制体积分数的土荆芥精油作用于植物病原真菌,菌丝DNA不发生改变,菌丝体结构被破坏,原生质体聚集,蛋白质缺失或增加。     

Antimicrobial activity of tissue and associated bacteria from benthic sea anemone Stichodactyla haddoni against microbial pathogens

Associated bacteria from Stichodactyla haddoni are found maximum in tentacle tissues than the body tissue. There are eight associated bacterial species viz., Alcaligenes sp, Corynebacterium sp, Aeromonas sp, Sporosarcina sp, Renibacterium sp, Camobacterium sp1, Camobacterium sp2 and Salinococcus sp were recorded. The culture extracts from the associated bacterial species showed sensitivity against human bacterial and fungalpathogens. However, the hexane tissue extract of sea anemone showed maximum sensitivity (24 mm dia.) against the fish bacterial pathogen Aeromonas hydrophila than the other chosen pathogens. Comparatively the tissue extracts showed promising antimicrobial sensitivity than the cell free extracts of associated bacteria, and hence, the tissue samples from the sea anemone Stichodactyla haddoni is recommended for further exploration of novel antimicrobial drugs than the associated bacteria.     

黄土高原植被破坏与重建过程中土壤侵蚀强度变化

运用137Cs示踪方法,通过采集不同利用方式的坡面土壤,研究了黄土高原典型丘陵区流域植被破坏与重建过程中土壤侵蚀强度的变化情况.研究结果表明:植被破坏耕垦后使137Cs遭受了大量流失,坡耕地耕垦时间越长,土壤侵蚀愈严重;植被恢复重建有效地减轻了侵蚀强度;通过比较刺槐林、果园及封禁自然恢复的撂荒地三种植被建造方式的土壤侵蚀模数,发现以封禁自然恢复的撂荒地土壤保持效果最好,其次是刺槐林,最差的是果园,其原因与果园的管理方式有关.立地条件不同的同种植被建造方式.土壤侵蚀强度差异较大,表现为峁坡阳坡此槐林地侵蚀模数远远大于谷坡阴坡刺槐林地.根据退耕时间不同的坡地土壤侵蚀强度的变化及流域土地利用类型的变化等方面对燕沟流域土壤侵蚀变化趋势作了进一步预测.     

增温对荒漠草原植物群落组成及物种多样性的影响

以短花针茅荒漠草原为研究对象,通过采用远红外线辐射器模拟增温的方法,探讨了增温对荒漠草原植物群落结构及生物量和物种多样性的影响。结果表明：由于远红外线辐射器的增温作用,在2012年整个生长季内,增温样地10、20、30 cm土壤平均温度与对照样地相比,平均增加了0.39、0.38、0.31℃;各土层土壤含水量较对照平均减少0.76%、0.73%、0.60%。受温度升高及土壤含水量减少的影响,模拟增温6个生长季后,与对照样地相比,群落的高度整体增加,密度、盖度、频度表现为部分物种增加和部分物种减少的趋势,冷蒿（Artemisia frigida）等物种的重要值下降,阿氏旋花（Convolvulus ammanii）等物种的重要值上升,但是增温没有明显改变植物群落的组成。同时,增温处理使荒漠草原禾草的盖度减少,杂类草的盖度增加,半灌木和一两年生植物分盖度未发生明显变化;增温使地上地下生物量出现了不同程度的减少,在0~30 cm土壤深度地下生物量分配中,增温样地0~10 cm分配比例（81.23%）小于对照（86.07%）,10~20 cm分配比例（11.55%）大于对照（9.16%）;20~30 cm 分配比例（7.22%）大于对照（4.77%）,增温使得地下生物量分配格局向深层转移。增温后,增温样地植物Shnnon-Winener指数降低,Pielou均匀度指数升高,温度升高使荒漠草原植物群落的均匀度增加,但并没有提高草地植物的物种多样性。     

Impact of hydroxylated and non-hydroxylated aliphatic glucosinolates in Arabidopsis thaliana crosses on plant resistance against a generalist and a specialist herbivore

Glucosinolates (GSs) are part of a two-component defence system, characteristic for the Brassicales, including the model species Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. The defence activity of GSs is associated with different side chain structures. The AOP genes are central in side-chain modification. AOP2 mediates formation of alkenyl GS from a methylsulfinyl precursor, whereas AOP3 catalyzes production of hydroxy-alkyl GSs from the same precursor. Although several studies have assessed the role of GSs in plant defence, the function of specific aliphatic GSs in plant defence is still not clarified. Structural different GSs may influence insect herbivores differentially. We created a set of plant lines derived of a cross between two A. thaliana accessions, Gie-0 × Sap-0, which dominantly accumulate either 3-methylsulfinylpropyl GS or 3-hydroxypropyl GS. The generalist Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and the crucifer-specialist Pieris brassicae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) were used as model insects, to study effects of individual aliphatic GSs on lepidopteran herbivores with a different feeding specialization. However, the experiments revealed that weight gain of S. exigua and P. brassicae third and fourth-larval instars was similar on both chemotypes. But leaf consumption of the generalist was higher on 3-methylsulfinylpropyl-producing lines with low GS levels (23.2 μmol g⁻¹) than on 3-hydroxypropyl-producing lines that contained a more than twofold higher amount of GSs (60 μmol g⁻¹). In contrast, no differential effects of non-hydroxylated and hydroxylated GSs were found on the specialist P. brassicae. Our study indicates that there is no simple relationship between GS content and insect responses.