Inferring Invasion Paths Into Cotton by Creontiades dilutus (Hemiptera: Miridae) From Arid Zone and Agricultural Sources

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
J K Cappadonna ◽  
J P Hereward ◽  
G H Walter
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Host Use ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Agricultural Pests ◽  
Cotton Production ◽  
Multiple Host Plant Species

Abstract Managing agricultural pests that use multiple host plant species is a challenge when individuals move between host plants in natural vegetation and agricultural environments. The green mirid (Creontiades dilutus) Stål (Hemiptera: Miridae) is endemic to Australia and routinely invades cotton from local uncultivated vegetation, but may also originate from remote locations in the arid continental interior. This bug is polyphagous and highly mobile, which contributes to its pest status in cotton L. (Malvaceae) systems as well as its persistence in arid environments with sparsely distributed ephemeral host plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate how C. dilutus individuals use a variety of host species across remote arid regions and highly managed agricultural landscapes. Structured field surveys spanning vast areas across the Simpson Desert in the arid heart of Australia, as well as subcoastal cotton production systems, were designed to evaluate host use across environments that share few plant species. High numbers of C. dilutus were collected from Cullen australasicum (Schltdl.) J.W.Grimes (Fabaceae) (perennial hosts) and Goodenia cycloptera R.Br. (Goodeniaceae) (ephemeral hosts) in the desert following rain. In agricultural environments, C. dilutus bugs were mostly found on irrigated Medicago sativa L. (Fabaceae) (lucerne), and to a lesser extent Melilotus indicus (L.) All. (Fabaceae) near rivers. Significantly, bugs were on these plants prior to the planting of cotton across all environments surveyed. These data allow inferences relating host use, host abundance, and insect migration to one another to understand the connection that C. dilutus bugs have between arid and agricultural environments.

Three new vagrant eriophyoid species (Acari: Trombidiformes: Eriophyoidea) associated to Rosaceae species from South Khorasan province, East Iran

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (10) ◽  
pp. 1841-1850
Author(s):  
Arash Honarmand ◽  
Hussein Sadeghi Namaghi ◽  
Enrico De Lillo
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Rosa Canina ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Rosaceae Species ◽  
Eriophyoid Mites ◽  
Rosaceae Family ◽  
South Khorasan ◽  
Semi Arid

During the field surveys on eriophyoid mites associated with plant species of the Rosaceae family in semi-arid and arid environments in East Iran (Birjand, South Khorasan, Iran 2016-2017), three new vagrant species (Acari: Eriophyoidea) were found. They are Epitrimerus vulgarubi sp. nov. on Rubus vulgaris Weihe & Nees, Phyllocoptes trilobos sp. nov. on Rosa persica Michx. ex Juss., Rhyncaphytoptus birrosa sp. nov. on Rosa canina L. which are described and illustrated herein. No symptom was observed on their infested host plants.

Lost in time and space: re-assessment of conservation status in an arid-zone flora through targeted field survey

2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (8) ◽  
pp. 674 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Silcock ◽  
A. J. Healy ◽  
R. J. Fensham
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Arid Zones ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
The Status ◽  
Conservation Assessments

Lack of basic data to assess plant species against IUCN Red List criteria is a major impediment to assigning accurate conservation status throughout large areas of the world. Erroneous assessments will be most prevalent in vast poorly surveyed areas where herbarium collections are sparse. In arid environments, assessments are further confounded by extreme temporal variability and poor understanding of the nature and magnitude of threats. We systematically re-assess the conservation status of an arid-zone flora. The status of all 1781 vascular plant species occurring across 635 300 km2 of inland eastern Australia was initially assessed through herbarium records and expert interviews. This process generated a list of apparently rare and potentially threatened species, which guided a targeted survey program over 4 years. Search effort and key data on populations of candidate species found were recorded and used to assess 91 species against IUCN criteria. One-third of species were widespread and abundant at least in certain seasons, but had been deemed rare due to sparse collections. The conservation status of 20, mostly newly recognised species from restricted habitats, was upgraded and 14 remained listed because of having restricted areas of occupancy. With the exception of 12 artesian spring species, continuing declines were documented for just six species. The criterion that allows for listing of species because of extreme fluctuations (in combination with restricted and fragmented populations) needs to be carefully interpreted in arid zones, where these fluctuations may be apparent rather than real, and may actually confer resilience to grazing for some species. Our approach facilitates robust conservation assessments across vast and poorly known arid regions, distinguishing species that have merely been lost in space and time from those that are at risk of extinction.

scholarly journals Lower dormancy with rapid germination is an important strategy for seeds in an arid zone with unpredictable rainfall

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corrine Duncan ◽  
Nick Schultz ◽  
Wolfgang Lewandrowski ◽  
Megan Good ◽  
Simon Cook
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Seed Viability ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Adult Plant ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Seed Traits ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Diurnal Temperatures

AbstractSeed germination traits are key drivers of population dynamics, yet they are under-represented in community ecology studies, which have predominately focussed on adult plant and seed morphological traits. We studied the seed traits and germination strategy of eight woody plant species to investigate regeneration strategies in the arid zone of eastern Australia. To cope with stochastic and minimal rainfall, we predict that arid seeds will either have rapid germination across a wide range of temperatures, improved germination under cooler temperatures, or dormancy and/or longevity traits to delay or stagger germination across time. To understand how temperature affects germination responses, seeds of eight keystone arid species were germinated under laboratory conditions, and under three diurnal temperatures (30/20°C, 25/15°C and 17/7°C) for 30 days. Seeds of species in this study are currently stored for minesite restoration projects, hence we tested for decline in seed viability across 24 months in dry storage at similar storage conditions (≈20°C). Six of the eight arid species studied had non-dormant, rapidly germinating seeds, and only two species had physiological dormancy traits. Seed longevity differed widely between species, from one recalcitrant species surviving only months in storage (P50 = <3 months) and one serotinous species surviving for many years (P50 = 84 months). Our results highlight the importance of understanding the reproductive strategies of plant species in arid environments. Rapid germination, the dominant seed trait of species included in this study, allows arid species to capitalise on sporadic rainfall. However, some species also exhibit dormancy and delayed germination; this an alternative strategy which spreads the risk of germination failure over time. We highlight important seed traits and germination strategies of plants from an arid zone with stochastic rainfall and discuss the implications for their restoration.

Plasticity in host utilization by two host-associated populations of Aphis gossypii Glover

2017 ◽  
Vol 108 (3) ◽  
pp. 360-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.K. Barman ◽  
K.R. Gadhave ◽  
B. Dutta ◽  
R. Srinivasan
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Aphis Gossypii ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Host Specialization ◽  
Intrinsic Rate Of Increase ◽  
Fitness Parameters ◽  
Aphid Populations ◽  
Host Utilization

AbstractBiological and morphological plasticity in polyphagous insect herbivores allow them to exploit diverse host plant species. Geographical differences in resource availability can lead to preferential host exploitation and result in inconsistent host specialization. Biological and molecular data provide insights into specialization and plasticity of such herbivore populations. In agricultural landscapes, Aphis gossypii encounters several crop and non-crop hosts, which exist in temporal and spatial proximity. We investigated the host-specialization of two A. gossypii host-associated populations (HAPs), which were field collected from cotton and squash (cotton-associated population and melon-associated population), and later maintained separately in the greenhouse. The two aphid populations were exposed to seven plant species (cotton, okra, watermelon, squash, cucumber, pigweed, and morning glory), and evaluated for their host utilization plasticity by estimating aphid's fitness parameters (nymphal period, adult period, fecundity, and intrinsic rate of increase). Four phenotypical characters (body length, head capsule width, hind tibia length and cornicle length) were also measured from the resulting 14 different HAP × host plant combinations. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial COI sequences showed no genetic variation between the two HAPs. Fitness parameters indicated a significant variation between the two aphid populations, and the variation was influenced by host plants. The performance of melon-aphids was poor (up to 89% reduction in fecundity) on malvaceous hosts, cotton and okra. However, cotton-aphids performed better on cucurbitaceous hosts, squash and watermelon (up to 66% increased fecundity) compared with the natal host, cotton. Both HAPs were able to reproduce on two weed hosts. Cotton-aphids were smaller than melon-aphids irrespective of their host plants. Results from this study suggest that the two HAPs in the study area do not have strict host specialization; rather they exhibit plasticity in utilizing several hosts. In this scenario, it is unlikely that host-associated A. gossypii populations would evolve into host-specific biotypes.

Two new species and an additional record of eriophyoids (Acari: Trombidiformes: Eriophyidae) from semi-arid and arid environments in East Iran

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 998-1005
Author(s):  
Arash Honarmand ◽  
Hussein Sadeghi Namaghi ◽  
Enrico De Lillo
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Previous Record ◽  
Eriophyid Mites ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
Semi Arid

Two new species and an additional record of eriophyid mites from semi-arid and arid environments in East Iran are reported. Aculops ammodendris sp. nov. from Ammodendron persicum Bunge ex Boiss. (Leguminosae) and Aceria launaeae sp. nov. from Launaea acanthodes (Boiss.) Kuntze (Asteraceae) are described and illustrated. No symptoms were observed on the infested host plants. These two new species are the first eriophyid mites on plant species within the genera Ammodendron and Launaea. Geographical distribution of Aceria angustifoliae Denizhan, Monfreda, de Lillo & Çobanoglu, 2008, extended also into the currently studied Iranian area in addition to a previous record from Turkey and Northern Khorasan.

scholarly journals ALTERNATE HOST PLANTS OF THE PINK BOLLWORM, PECTINOPHORA GOSSYPIELLA (SAUND.), IN PUERTO RICO

1969 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 483-492
Author(s):  
L. Courtney Fife
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Pink Bollworm ◽  
Cotton Production ◽  
San Jose ◽  
Alternate Host ◽  
Thespesia Populnea ◽  
Important Host

The seed pods of three malvaceous plants, Montezuma speciosissima (maga), Thespesia populnea (emajagüilla), and Abelmoschus esculentus (okra, or guingambó) were found to be important host plants of the pink bollworm in that they provide a continuous food supply for breeding during the dead season of cotton production. Several other plant species were attacked, namely. Abeloschus abelmoschus (algalia), Hibiscus sabidariffa (vina), Hibiscus trilobus, Hibiscus bifurcatus (buenas tardes), Abutilon hirtum (buenos días), and Althaea rosea (hollyhock, or varilla de San José). None of these species, however, is sufficiently numerous to be of any importance.

scholarly journals Effects of Plant Age and Root Damage on Internalization of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Leafy Vegetables and Herbs

Horticulturae ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 68
Author(s):  
Yi-Ju Wang ◽  
Amanda J. Deering ◽  
Hye-Ji Kim
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Plant Age ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Root Damage ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Hydroponic Systems ◽  
Stx1 Gene

Our previous study reported that fresh produce grown in aquaponic and hydroponic systems can pose potential food safety hazards due to an accidental introduction of contaminated fish and cross-contamination between the systems. In this study, we examined the effects of plant species and age on the likelihood and level of internalization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in aquaponic and hydroponic systems. Four plant species, basil (Ocimum basilicum L. cv. Genovese), cilantro (Coriandrum Sativum L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa cv. Cherokee), and kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica), received root damage treatment as seedlings before transplanting or mature plants at three weeks after transplanting by cutting off 1-cm tips of one-third of the roots. Enrichments and selective media were used for the isolation, and presumptive positive colonies were confirmed by PCR for the presence of stx1 gene in plant tissues, recirculating water, and fish feces collected at four weeks after transplanting. In hydroponic systems, STEC was found neither in the solution nor in the roots and leaves of all four plant species, possibly through improved sanitation and hygiene practices. However, consistent with our previous findings, STEC was found in the water, on the plant roots, and in the fish feces in aquaponic systems, even after thorough sanitation prior to the study. Regardless of plant age, STEC was internalized in the roots of all plant species when the roots were damaged, but there was no difference in the degree of internalization with STEC among plant species. STEC was present in the leaves only when seedlings received root damage treatment and were grown to maturity, indicating that root damage allows STEC to internalize in the roots within a week, but a longer period is required for STEC to internalize into the leaves. We concluded that root damage on seedlings can cause the internalization of E. coli O157:H7 in the edible parts of leafy vegetables and herbs in soilless production systems.

scholarly journals Family graveyards form underappreciated local plant diversity hotspots in China's agricultural landscapes

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng Gong ◽  
Liangtao Li ◽  
Jan C. Axmarcher ◽  
Zhenrong Yu ◽  
Yunhui Liu
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Landscape Features ◽  
Habitat Islands ◽  
Local Plant ◽  
Ecological Functioning

AbstractIn the intensively farmed, homogenous agricultural landscape of the North China Plain, family graveyards form distinct cultural landscape features. In addition to their cultural value, these graveyards represent semi-natural habitat islands whose potential roles in biodiversity conservation and ecological functioning has remained poorly understood. In this study, we investigated plant species richness on 199 family graveyards of different ages and sizes. In accordance with biogeography theory, both overall and insect-pollinated plant species richness increased with area and age of graveyards. Even small graveyards show a strong potential for conserving local plant richness, and a mosaic of both large and small family graveyards could play an important role in the conservation of farmland biodiversity and related ecosystem functions. The launch of agri-environmental measures that conserve and create semi-natural habitats, in turn benefitting agricultural biodiversity and ecological functioning, has proven difficult in China due to the shortage of dispensable arable land. Given the great value of family graveyards as semi-natural habitats reflected in our study, we propose to focus preliminary efforts on conserving these landscape features as existing, widespread and culturally important semi-natural habitat islands. This would represent an effective, complementary policy to a subsequent re-establishment of other semi-natural habitats for the conservation of biodiversity and ecological functioning in agricultural landscapes.

scholarly journals Effect of host plant on the life history of the carnation tortrix moth Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Marcin W. Zielonka ◽  
Tom W. Pope ◽  
Simon R. Leather
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Pupal Weight ◽  
Production Environment ◽  
Host Plant Species ◽  
The Uk

Abstract The carnation tortrix moth, Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Hübner, [1799]) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is one of the most economically important insect species affecting the horticultural industry in the UK. The larvae consume foliage, flowers or fruits, and/or rolls leaves together with silken threads, negatively affecting the growth and/or aesthetics of the crop. In order to understand the polyphagous behaviour of this species within an ornamental crop habitat, we hypothesized that different host plant species affect its life history traits differently. This study investigated the effects of the host plant species on larval and pupal durations and sizes, and fecundity (the number of eggs and the number and size of egg clutches). At 20°C, 60% RH and a 16L:8D photoperiod larvae developed 10, 14, 20 and 36 days faster when reared on Christmas berry, Photinia (Rosaceae), than on cherry laurel, Prunus laurocerasus (Rosaceae), New Zealand broadleaf, Griselinia littoralis (Griseliniaceae), Mexican orange, Choisya ternata (Rutaceae), and firethorn, Pyracantha angustifolia (Rosaceae), respectively. Female pupae were 23.8 mg heavier than male pupae, and pupal weight was significantly correlated with the duration of larval development. The lowest and the highest mean numbers of eggs were produced by females reared on Pyracantha (41) and Photinia (202), respectively. Clutch size differed significantly among moths reared on different host plants, although the total number of eggs did not differ. This study showed that different ornamental host plants affect the development of C. pronubana differently. Improved understanding of the influence of host plant on the moth's life history parameters measured here will help in determining the economic impact that this species may have within the ornamental plant production environment, and may be used in developing more accurate crop protection methodologies within integrated pest management of this insect.

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