TY - JOUR TI - The Nature of Unnatural Insects Infrastructure of Insect Rearing AU - Cohen, Allen Carson T2 - American Entomologist DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1093/ae/tmz021 VL - 65 IS - 2 SP - 122-135 LA - en OP - SN - 1046-2821 2155-9902 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ae/tmz021 DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Improved transgenic sexing strains for genetic control of the Australian sheep blow fly Lucilia cuprina using embryo-specific gene promoters AU - Yan, Ying AU - Williamson, Megan E. AU - Davis, Rebecca J. AU - Andere, Anne A. AU - Picard, Christine J. AU - Scott, Maxwell J. T2 - Molecular Genetics and Genomics DA - 2019/11/12/ PY - 2019/11/12/ DO - 10.1007/s00438-019-01622-3 VL - 295 IS - 2 SP - 287-298 J2 - Mol Genet Genomics LA - en OP - SN - 1617-4615 1617-4623 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00438-019-01622-3 DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Phylogeny and taxonomy of Podosphaera cerasi, sp. nov., and Podosphaera prunicola sensu lato AU - Moparthi, Swarnalatha AU - Grove, Gary G. AU - Pandey, Binod AU - Bradshaw, Michael AU - Latham, Suzanne Rooney AU - Braun, Uwe AU - Meeboon, Jamjan AU - Romberg, Megan T2 - Mycologia AB - Powdery mildew of Prunus spp. is a significant disease in most cherry growing regions of Washington, USA. Powdery mildews on Prunus virginiana and Pr. avium were previously assigned to Podosphaera clandestina s. lat. (= Po. oxyacanthae) or Po. prunicola. In this report, we confirm the presence of two distinct Podosphaera species on these hosts. Phylogenetic analyses of nuc rDNA sequences from the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) and 28S subunit confirmed the presence of two distinct species. A morphological comparison with type material of Po. prunicola and additional collections demonstrated that the powdery mildew on Pr. virginiana (including var. demissa and var. melanocarpa) is in fact Po. prunicola. The powdery mildew on Pr. avium is genetically, morphologically, and biologically distinct from Po. prunicola and is described here as the new species Po. cerasi. Cross-inoculation experiments confirmed that these two species are host specific. Podosphaera prunicola was unable to colonize Pr. avium, whereas Po. cerasi was unable to colonize Pr. virginiana. Morphological reexamination of numerous specimens identified as Po. prunicola on a broad range of Prunus species suggests that Po. prunicola is probably confined to species in Prunus subgen.Padus (= Prunus subgen. Cerasus sect. Laurocerasus, including sect. Padus), with Pr. virginiana as the principal host. Podosphaera cerasi occurs on hosts in Prunus subgen. Cerasus, and our work confirms a newly described species of powdery mildew on Pr. avium. This work also includes the first documented and genetically proven European record of Po. prunicola on Pr. serotina and its widespread occurrence in the United States. DA - 2019/6/4/ PY - 2019/6/4/ DO - 10.1080/00275514.2019.1611316 VL - 111 IS - 4 SP - 647-659 J2 - Mycologia LA - en OP - SN - 0027-5514 1557-2536 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00275514.2019.1611316 DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - The beetle fauna associated with the peduncle of Sabal mexicana (Arecaceae) in southern Texas AU - Schnepp, Kyle E. AU - McElrath, Thomas C. AU - Powell, Gareth S. T2 - Journal of Natural History AB - Six families of beetles; Corylophidae, Curculionidae, Monotomidae, Mycetophagidae, Nitidulidae, and Zopheridae, were found in association with bracts of Sabal mexicana Mart., the Texas sabal palm (Arecaceae). For two of the species, Brachypeplus habecki Cline and Skelley (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea: Nitidulidae: Cillinae) and Hesperobaenus constricticollis Bousquet (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea: Monotomidae: Monotominae), this represents the first collecting event since the holotypes. Along with seven species of Coleoptera, the scale Comstockiella sabalis (Comstock) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) was also found. Description of the larval stage is provided for B. habecki, as well as notes on the male genitalia and comparison of the sexes. A redescription of H. constricticollis with details on variation is also offered. DA - 2019/9/25/ PY - 2019/9/25/ DO - 10.1080/00222933.2019.1694183 VL - 53 IS - 35-36 SP - 2183-2193 J2 - Journal of Natural History LA - en OP - SN - 0022-2933 1464-5262 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2019.1694183 DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Natural history and ecological niche modelling of coastal Atyphella Olliff Larvae (Lampyridae: Luciolinae) in Vanuatu AU - Saxton, Natalie A. AU - Powell, Gareth S. AU - Serrano, Stephen J. AU - Monson, Anna K. AU - Bybee, Seth M. T2 - Journal of Natural History AB - The genus Atyphella Olliff includes several coastal species with larvae that were collected on coastal rock within the intertidal zone. Recent fieldwork in Vanuatu has expanded the distribution of these insects and begun to provide insight into how they are able to survive in such a unique environment. An ecological niche model is produced using Maxent to predict additional locations of coastal Atyphella in the South Pacific. Larval instars for the two species of Atyphella in Vanuatu are estimated using protergum shield width measurements. Additionally, submersion tests were performed on larvae to determine survivability in saltwater and freshwater environments. These data provide evidence for previously unknown aspects of their natural history that strongly suggest the species are multivoltine and spend a large portion of their larval stage in the intertidal zone. DA - 2019/12/10/ PY - 2019/12/10/ DO - 10.1080/00222933.2020.1749955 VL - 53 IS - 45-46 SP - 2771-2780 J2 - Journal of Natural History LA - en OP - SN - 0022-2933 1464-5262 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2020.1749955 DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Notes on the Carpophilus Stephens (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) of Australia, with a new species from Victoria  AU - Powell, Gareth S. AU - Hamilton, Maiya L. T2 - Zootaxa AB - A new species of the genus Carpophilus Stephens is described from Australia. This species is currently placed in the subgenus Myothorax Murray, although the group is in need of formal revision. A diagnosis is given to distinguish the new species from all other species of Myothorax in Australia. Additionally, a discussion of type material from Carpophilus described by MacLeay is added with formal lectotype designations for Carpophilus aterrimus MacLeay and Carpophilus pilipennis MacLeay. Taxonomic notes are also given for Carpophilus aterrimus MacLeay, while Carpophilus planatus Murray is removed from synonymy and treated as a valid taxon. DA - 2019/11/27/ PY - 2019/11/27/ DO - 10.11646/zootaxa.4701.2.6 VL - 4701 IS - 2 J2 - Zootaxa OP - SN - 1175-5334 1175-5326 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4701.2.6 DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Provisional checklist of terrestrial heterotrophic protists from Antarctica AU - Thompson, Andrew R. AU - Powell, Gareth S. AU - Adams, Byron J. T2 - Antarctic Science AB - Abstract Heterotrophic soil protists encompass lineages that are both evolutionarily ancient and highly diverse, providing an untapped wealth of scientific insight. Yet the diversity of free-living heterotrophic terrestrial protists is still largely unknown. To contribute to our understanding of this diversity, we present a checklist of heterotrophic protists currently reported from terrestrial Antarctica, for which no comprehensive evaluation currently exists. As a polar continent, Antarctica is especially susceptible to rising temperatures caused by anthropogenic climate change. Establishing a baseline for future conservation efforts of Antarctic protists is therefore important. We performed a literature search and found 236 taxa identified to species and an additional 303 taxa identified to higher taxonomic levels in 54 studies spanning over 100 years of research. Isolated by distance, climate and the circumpolar vortex, Antarctica is the most extreme continent on Earth: it is not unreasonable to think that it may host physiologically and evolutionarily unique species of protists, yet currently most species discovered in Antarctica are considered cosmopolitan. Additional sampling of the more extreme intra-continental zones will probably result in the discovery of more novel and unique taxa. DA - 2019/11/7/ PY - 2019/11/7/ DO - 10.1017/s0954102019000361 VL - 31 IS - 6 SP - 287-303 J2 - Antarctic Science LA - en OP - SN - 0954-1020 1365-2079 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102019000361 DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Type designations for sap beetles in the subfamily Carpophilinae Erichson (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) housed in the Natural History Museum, London AU - Powell, Gareth S. AU - Martin, Gavin J. T2 - Zootaxa AB - The subfamily Carpophilinae, in particular the genus Carpophilus Stephens, represents one of the most speciose lineages within Nitidulidae. The subfamily was first recognized by Erichson (1843) in a much broader sense, including what is now the Cillaeinae. According to Kirejtshuk (2008), there are seven genera and 13 subgenera within Carpophilinae. To date, however, no comprehensive tribal or generic phylogenetic reconstructions have been published for the subfamily. This work constitutes a preliminary stage of a larger project that will address the subfamily in a rigorous taxonomic and systematic framework. A stable taxonomic foundation for Carpophilus species and other Carpophilinae taxa is needed to ensure the validity of future work in the subfamily. Herein we designate lectotypes and paralectotypes and confirm holotypes for 14 species of carpophiline sap beetles following ICZN (1999) articles 73.1 and 74.1. DA - 2019/4/26/ PY - 2019/4/26/ DO - 10.11646/zootaxa.4590.2.8 VL - 4590 IS - 2 J2 - Zootaxa OP - SN - 1175-5334 1175-5326 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4590.2.8 DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Decanal as a major component of larval aggregation pheromone of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella AU - Kwadha, Charles A. AU - Mutunga, Jacqueline M. AU - Irungu, Janet AU - Ongamo, George AU - Ndegwa, Paul AU - Raina, Suresh AU - Fombong, Ayuka T. T2 - Journal of Applied Entomology AB - Abstract Larvae of the greater wax moth (GWM), Galleria mellonella, a destructive pest of the honeybee ( Apis mellifera) , have been observed to display aggregation behaviours. However, the underlying mechanism by which these larvae come together remains unknown. We hypothesized that the GWM larvae detect, orient towards and utilize conspecific larval chemical cues to aggregate in groups. We used dual‐choice olfactometer assays to investigate the involvement of conspecific larval odours in their aggregation amongst 3–5th instar and 8th instar larvae. The assays revealed that only 8th instar larvae were significantly attracted to their odours and those emanating from newly spun cocoons. Coupled gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) of larval head space odours analysis revealed the presence of four compounds: nonanal, decanal, tridecane and tetradecane in pupal and mature larval odour extracts. However, using synthetic compounds, behavioural assays showed that only decanal induced significant attraction, therefore, suggesting its role as a major component of the larval aggregation pheromone of GWM. Our findings reveal the involvement of volatile organic compounds in the aggregation behaviour of mature wax moth larvae and thereby offer prospects for the development of an odour‐baited in‐hive trapping management tool for wax moth larva. DA - 2019/5// PY - 2019/5// DO - 10.1111/jen.12617 UR - https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.12617 ER - TY - ER - TY - TI - The Bees of North Carolina: An Identification Guide AU - Levenson, H. AU - Youngsteadt, E. DA - 2019/12/16/ PY - 2019/12/16/ UR - https://uncpress.org/book/9781469659022/the-bees-of-north-carolina/ ER - TY - JOUR TI - Local adaptation drives the diversification of effectors in the fungal wheat pathogen Parastagonospora nodorum in the United States AU - Richards, Jonathan K. AU - Stukenbrock, Eva H. AU - Carpenter, Jessica AU - Liu, Zhaohui AU - Cowger, Christina AU - Faris, Justin D. AU - Friesen, Timothy L. T2 - PLOS Genetics AB - Filamentous fungi rapidly evolve in response to environmental selection pressures in part due to their genomic plasticity. Parastagonospora nodorum, a fungal pathogen of wheat and causal agent of septoria nodorum blotch, responds to selection pressure exerted by its host, influencing the gain, loss, or functional diversification of virulence determinants, known as effector genes. Whole genome resequencing of 197 P. nodorum isolates collected from spring, durum, and winter wheat production regions of the United States enabled the examination of effector diversity and genomic regions under selection specific to geographically discrete populations. 1,026,859 SNPs/InDels were used to identify novel loci, as well as SnToxA and SnTox3 as factors in disease. Genes displaying presence/absence variation, predicted effector genes, and genes localized on an accessory chromosome had significantly higher pN/pS ratios, indicating a higher rate of sequence evolution. Population structure analyses indicated two P. nodorum populations corresponding to the Upper Midwest (Population 1) and Southern/Eastern United States (Population 2). Prevalence of SnToxA varied greatly between the two populations which correlated with presence of the host sensitivity gene Tsn1 in the most prevalent cultivars in the corresponding regions. Additionally, 12 and 5 candidate effector genes were observed to be under diversifying selection among isolates from Population 1 and 2, respectively, but under purifying selection or neutrally evolving in the opposite population. Selective sweep analysis revealed 10 and 19 regions that had recently undergone positive selection in Population 1 and 2, respectively, involving 92 genes in total. When comparing genes with and without presence/absence variation, those genes exhibiting this variation were significantly closer to transposable elements. Taken together, these results indicate that P. nodorum is rapidly adapting to distinct selection pressures unique to spring and winter wheat production regions by rapid adaptive evolution and various routes of genomic diversification, potentially facilitated through transposable element activity. DA - 2019/10/18/ PY - 2019/10/18/ DO - 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008223 VL - 15 IS - 10 SP - e1008223 UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1008223 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Local adaptation drives the diversification of effectors in the fungal wheat pathogen Parastagonospora nodorum in the United States AU - Richards, Jonathan K. AU - Stukenbrock, Eva H. AU - Carpenter, Jessica AU - Liu, Zhaohui AU - Cowger, Christina AU - Faris, Justin D. AU - Friesen, Timothy L. AB - Abstract Filamentous fungi rapidly evolve in response to environmental selection pressures, exemplified by their genomic plasticity. Parastagonospora nodorum , a fungal pathogen of wheat and causal agent of septoria nodorum blotch, responds to selection pressure exerted by its host, influencing the gain, loss, or functional diversification of putative effector genes. Whole genome resequencing of 197 P. nodorum isolates collected from spring, durum, and winter wheat production regions of the United States enabled the examination of effector diversity and genomic regions under selection specific to geographically discrete populations. A total of 1,026,859 quality SNPs/InDels were identified within the natural population. Implementation of GWAS identified novel loci, as well as SnToxA and SnTox3 as major factors in disease. Genes displaying presence/absence variation and predicted effector genes, as well as genes localized on an accessory chromosome, had significantly higher pN/pS ratios, indicating a greater level of diversifying selection. Population structure analyses indicated two major P. nodorum populations corresponding to the Upper Midwest (Population 1) and Southern/Eastern United States (Population 2). Prevalence of SnToxA varied greatly between the two populations which correlated with presence of the host sensitivity gene Tsn1 . Additionally, 12 and 5 candidate effector genes were observed to be diversifying among isolates from Population 1 and Population 2, respectively, but under purifying or neutral selection in the opposite population. Selective sweep analysis revealed 10 and 19 regions of positive selection from Population 1 and Population 2, respectively, with 92 genes underlying population-specific selective sweeps. Also, genes exhibiting presence/absence variation were significantly closer to transposable elements. Taken together, these results indicate that P. nodorum is rapidly adapting to distinct selection pressures unique to spring and winter wheat production regions by various routes of genomic diversification, potentially facilitated through transposable element activity. Author Summary Parastagonospora nodorum is an economically important pathogen of wheat, employing proteinaceous effector molecules to cause disease. Recognition of effectors by host susceptibility genes often leads to the elicitation of programmed cell death. However, little is known on the correlation between effector diversity and the spatial distribution of host resistance/susceptibility or the genomic mechanisms of diversification. This research presents the genome resequencing of 197 P. nodorum isolates collected from spring, winter, and durum wheat production regions of the United States, enabling the investigation of genome dynamics and evolution. Results illustrate local adaptation to host resistance or susceptibility, as evidenced by population-specific evolution of predicted effector genes and positively selected selective sweeps. Predicted effector genes, genes exhibiting presence/absence variation, and genes residing on an accessory chromosome, were found to be diversifying more rapidly. Additionally, transposable elements were predicted to play a role in the maintenance or elimination of genes. A GWAS approach identified the previously reported SnToxA and SnTox3 as well as novel virulence candidates, as major elicitors of disease on winter wheat. These results highlight the flexibility of the P. nodorum genome in response to population-specific selection pressures and illustrates the utility of whole genome resequencing for the identification of putative virulence mechanisms. DA - 2019/5/31/ PY - 2019/5/31/ DO - 10.1101/657007 VL - 5 UR - https://doi.org/10.1101/657007 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Disease Management and Estimated Effects on DON (Deoxynivalenol) Contamination in Fusarium Infested Barley AU - McKee, Gregory AU - Cowger, Christina AU - Dill-Macky, Ruth AU - Friskop, Andrew AU - Gautam, Pravin AU - Ransom, Joel AU - Wilson, William T2 - Agriculture AB - Fusarium head blight (FHB or scab) economically devastates barley production. FHB is predominantly caused by Fusarium graminearum and has resulted in major reductions in the quality of barley in the United States. The most common source of economic loss is through development of potent mycotoxins in the grain, the most prominent of which, in the United States, is deoxynivalenol (DON). DON levels can be managed through a variety of techniques. This study presents the estimate of the statistical relationship among DON contamination in barley, FHB incidence and severity, and a variety of disease management techniques. Data from 22 field studies and a survey of barley producers are used to estimate the relationship. Fungicide applications reduce DON in barley in general and via complementary interactions with the barley cultivar. Genetic FHB resistance in barley varieties is an important determinant of DON levels, as well as previous crop and factors related to time and location. Taking care to avoid rotations with FHB host crops immediately prior to barley is also important to reduce DON levels in barley. These become key inputs into barley producer decisions for evaluating the economic value of adopting FHB management techniques. DA - 2019/7/13/ PY - 2019/7/13/ DO - 10.3390/agriculture9070155 VL - 9 IS - 7 SP - 155 UR - https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9070155 ER - TY - RPRT TI - Choosing an insecticidal seed treatment or in-furrow for thrips in cotton AU - Reisig, D.D. AU - Collins, G. AU - Huseth, A.S. A3 - North Carolina Cooperative Extension DA - 2019/2/14/ PY - 2019/2/14/ PB - North Carolina Cooperative Extension UR - https://cotton.ces.ncsu.edu/2019/02/choosing-an-insecticidal-seed-treatment-or-in-furrow-for-thrips-in-cotton-reisig-collins-huseth/ ER - TY - CHAP TI - Crop Production Management - Sweetpotatoes AU - Jennings, K. AU - Quesada-Ocampo, L. AU - Schultheis, J. AU - Woodley, A. AU - Yencho, C. AU - Pecota, K. AU - Huseth, A. AU - Smith, S.C. AU - Boyette, M. T2 - North Carolina Organic Commodities Production Guide PY - 2019/// UR - https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/north-carolina-organic-commodities-production-guide/chapter-8-crop-production-management-sweetpotatoes ER - TY - CHAP TI - Insect control in vegetable crops AU - Walgenbach, J.F. AU - Kennedy, G.G. AU - Huseth, A.S. T2 - 2019 North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual PY - 2019/// PB - North Carolina State Cooperative Extension UR - https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/north-carolina-agricultural-chemicals-manual/insect-control ER - TY - RPRT TI - Detection of Cotton Leafroll Dwarf Virus (CLRDV) in North Carolina AU - Huseth, A.S. AU - Thiessen, L. AU - Collins, G. AU - Reisig, D.D. A3 - North Carolina Cooperative Extension DA - 2019/12/6/ PY - 2019/12/6/ PB - North Carolina Cooperative Extension UR - https://cotton.ces.ncsu.edu/2019/12/detection-of-cotton-leafroll-dwarf-virus-clrdv-in-north-carolina/ ER - TY - RPRT TI - Fall armyworm infestations widespread in southeastern North Carolina AU - Reisig, Dd AU - Huseth, As A3 - North Carolina Cooperative Extension DA - 2019/5/20/ PY - 2019/5/20/ PB - North Carolina Cooperative Extension UR - https://soybeans.ces.ncsu.edu/2019/10/fall-armyworm-infestations-widespread-in-southeastern-north-carolina/ ER - TY - RPRT TI - Update on thrips damage in cotton: insecticide resistance or reduced neonicotinoid protection? AU - Huseth, As AU - Reisig, Dd A3 - North Carolina Cooperative Extension DA - 2019/5/20/ PY - 2019/5/20/ PB - North Carolina Cooperative Extension UR - https://cotton.ces.ncsu.edu/2019/05/update-on-thrips-damage-in-cotton-insecticide-resistance-or-reduced-neonicotinoid-protection-huseth-reisig-collins/ ER - TY - RPRT TI - Planning for thrips infestations in 2019 cotton AU - Huseth, As AU - Reisig, Dd A3 - North Carolina Cooperative Extension DA - 2019/4/26/ PY - 2019/4/26/ PB - North Carolina Cooperative Extension UR - https://cotton.ces.ncsu.edu/2019/04/planning-for-thrips-infestations-in-2019-cotton-huseth-reisig/ ER - TY - JOUR TI - Evaluation of Soil-Applied Insecticides for Control of the Wireworm Complex in Sweet Potato, 2018 AU - Huseth, Anders S AU - D’Ambrosio, Damon A AU - Lafferty, Amanda J T2 - Arthropod Management Tests DA - 2019/1/1/ PY - 2019/1/1/ DO - 10.1093/amt/tsz019 VL - 44 IS - 1 LA - en OP - SN - 2155-9856 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsz019 DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Novel mechanism of thrips suppression by Cry51Aa2.834_16 Bt toxin expressed in cotton AU - Huseth, Anders S AU - D′Ambrosio, Damon A AU - Yorke, Benjamin T AU - Head, Graham P AU - Kennedy, George G T2 - Pest Management Science AB - Genetically engineered (GE) crops that express insecticidal traits have improved the sustainability of insect pest management worldwide, but many important pest orders are not controlled by commercially available toxins. Development of the first transgenic thysanopteran- and hemipteran-active Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry51Aa2.834_16 toxin expressed in MON 88702 cotton will significantly expand the diversity of pests controlled in the crop. Here, we examined MON 88702 cotton activity against two thrips species within the same genera, Frankliniella fusca and Frankliniella occidentalis. We used a multi-component cotton tissue assay approach to understand effects on adult longevity, fecundity, and larval development.We found that in no-choice assays, cotton plants expressing MON 88702 suppress oviposition, when compared to a non-Bt cotton. MON 88702 did not kill a large proportion of F. fusca larvae or adults but killed most F. occidentalis larvae. Time series experiments with F. occidentalis larvae documented significant developmental lags for MON 88702 exposed individuals. We also found that female thrips preferred to oviposit on non-Bt cotton when provided a choice.Together these results describe the activity of MON 88702 against thrips. They document clear differences in toxin performance between different thrips species and throughout the insects' life cycle. Most importantly, we show that MON 88702 was associated with reduced oviposition via behavioral avoidance to the toxin. This is a novel mechanism of action for pest control for a Bt crop plant. Together, these results provide a basis to describe the mechanism of population control for MON 88702 cotton. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry. DA - 2019/11/23/ PY - 2019/11/23/ DO - 10.1002/ps.5664 VL - 76 IS - 4 SP - 1492-1499 J2 - Pest Management Science LA - en OP - SN - 1526-498X 1526-4998 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ps.5664 DB - Crossref ER - TY - CONF TI - Arthropods of our homes goes global: Data from homes across the world AU - Bertone, Matthew AU - Leong, Misha AU - Trautwein, Michelle T2 - ESA C2 - 2019/// C3 - Entomology 2019 DA - 2019/// ER - TY - CONF TI - Organized Meeting: North American Dipterists Society (NADS) Meeting AU - Dikow, Torsten AU - Bertone, Matthew T2 - ESA C2 - 2019/// C3 - Entomology 2019 DA - 2019/// ER - TY - JOUR TI - Manual of Afrotropical Diptera, Volume 1: Introductory Chapters and Keys to Diptera Families AU - Bertone, Matthew A T2 - American Entomologist DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// ER - TY - JOUR TI - First description of the sexual stage of Venturia effusa, causal agent of pecan scab AU - Charlton, Nikki D. AU - Yi, Mihwa AU - Bock, Clive H. AU - Zhang, Minling AU - Young, Carolyn A. AB - ABSTRACT Venturia effusa , cause of pecan scab, is the most prevalent disease of pecan in the southeastern USA; epidemics of the disease regularly result in economic losses to the pecan industry. Recent characterization of the mating type distribution revealed the frequency of the MAT idiomorphs are in equilibrium at various spatial scales, indicative of regular sexual recombination. However, the occurrence of the sexual stage of V. effusa has never been observed, and the pathogen was previously believed to rely entirely on asexual reproduction. To explore the existence of a sexual cycle, we paired opposite mating types on oatmeal culture media. In initial experiments, cultures were incubated at 24 C for 2 mo for hyphal interactions to occur between mating types and then maintained at 4 C for 4 mo. Immature pseudothecia were initially observed but following exposure to a 12 h photoperiod for 2 weeks at 24 C, asci and ascospores developed. Further experiments explored the effect of time on pseudothecial development with 4 mo at 4 C as the optimal requirement. The results of this study demonstrate the heterothallic nature of V. effusa. Following experiments investigated progeny from a sexual cross of an albino and a wild-type isolate. Evaluation of isolate pigmentation, mating type, and multilocus genotyping of single ascospore progeny provided evidence that recombination occurred within the sexual crosses. The impact of determining the source of the overwintering ascostroma will aid in management decisions to reduce the primary inoculum in the disease cycle. DA - 2019/9/30/ PY - 2019/9/30/ DO - 10.1101/785790 VL - 9 UR - https://doi.org/10.1101/785790 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Chromosome-level genome reference of Venturia effusa, causative agent of pecan scab AU - Winter, David J. AU - Charlton, Nikki D. AU - Krom, Nick AU - Shiller, Jason AU - Bock, Clive H. AU - Cox, Murray P. AU - Young, Carolyn A. AB - Abstract Pecan scab, caused by Venturia effusa , is a devastating disease of pecan ( Carya illinoinensis ), which results in economic losses on susceptible cultivars throughout the southeastern U.S. To enhance our understanding of pathogenicity in V. effusa , we have generated a complete telomere-to-telomere genome reference of V. effusa isolate FRT5LL7-Albino. By combining Illumina MiSeq and Oxford Nanopore MinION data, we assembled a 45.2 Mb genome represented by 20 chromosomes and containing 10,820 genes, of which 7,619 have at least one functional annotation. The likely causative mutation of the albino phenotype was identified as a single base insertion and a resulting frameshift in the gene encoding the polyketide synthase ALM1 . This genome represents the first full chromosome level assembly of any Venturia species. DA - 2019/8/24/ PY - 2019/8/24/ DO - 10.1101/746198 VL - 8 UR - https://doi.org/10.1101/746198 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Infection Rates and Alkaloid Patterns of Different Grass Species with Systemic Epichloë Endophytes AU - Vikuk, Veronika AU - Young, Carolyn A. AU - Lee, Stephen T. AU - Nagabhyru, Padmaja AU - Krischke, Markus AU - Mueller, Martin J. AU - Krauss, Jochen T2 - Applied and Environmental Microbiology AB - Symbiotic Epichloë species are fungal endophytes of cool-season grasses that can produce alkaloids with toxicity to vertebrates and/or invertebrates. Monitoring infections and presence of alkaloids in grasses infected with Epichloë species can provide an estimate of possible intoxication risks for livestock. We sampled 3,046 individuals of 13 different grass species in three regions on 150 study sites in Germany. We determined infection rates and used PCR to identify Epichloë species diversity based on the presence of different alkaloid biosynthesis genes, then confirmed the possible chemotypes with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) measurements. Infections of Epichloë spp. were found in Festuca pratensis Huds. (81%), Festuca ovina L. aggregate (agg.) (73%), Lolium perenne L. (15%), Festuca rubra L. (15%) and Dactylis glomerata L. (8%). The other eight grass species did not appear to be infected. For the majority of Epichloë-infected L. perenne samples (98%), the alkaloids lolitrem B and peramine were present, but ergovaline was not detected, which was consistent with the genetic evaluation, as dmaW, the gene encoding the first step of the ergot alkaloid biosynthesis pathway, was absent. Epichloë uncinata in F. pratensis produced anti-insect loline compounds. The Epichloë spp. observed in the F. ovina agg. samples showed the greatest level of diversity, and different intermediates of the indole-diterpene pathway could be detected. Epichloë infection rates alone are insufficient to estimate intoxication risks for livestock, as other factors, like the ability of the endophyte to produce the alkaloids, also need to be assessed.IMPORTANCE Severe problems of livestock intoxication from Epichloë-infected forage grasses have been reported from New Zealand, Australia, and the United States, but much less frequently from Europe, and particularly not from Germany. Nevertheless, it is important to monitor infection rates and alkaloids of grasses with Epichloë fungi to estimate possible intoxication risks. Most studies focus on agricultural grass species like Lolium perenne and Festuca arundinacea, but other cool-season grass species can also be infected. We show that in Germany, infection rates and alkaloids differ between grass species and that some of the alkaloids can be toxic to livestock. Changes in grassland management due to changing climate, especially with a shift toward grasslands dominated with Epichloë-infected species such as Lolium perenne, may result in greater numbers of intoxicated livestock in the near future. We therefore suggest regular monitoring of grass species for infections and alkaloids and call for maintaining heterogenous grasslands for livestock. DA - 2019/9// PY - 2019/9// DO - 10.1128/AEM.00465-19 VL - 85 IS - 17 UR - https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00465-19 KW - Epichloe spp. KW - alkaloid pathway genes KW - chemical diversity KW - cool-season grass species KW - grass endophytes KW - infection rates ER - TY - JOUR TI - Epichloe novae-zelandiae, a new endophyte from the endemic New Zealand grass Poa matthewsii AU - Leuchtmann, Adrian AU - Young, Carolyn A. AU - Stewart, Alan V. AU - Simpson, Wayne R. AU - Hume, David E. AU - Scott, Barry T2 - New Zealand Journal of Botany AB - Epichloe endophytes (Clavicipitaceae) infect pooid grass genera worldwide but predominantly in the Northern Hemisphere, but appear to be rare in native grasses of the Southern Hemisphere. Because of benefits that hosts may receive from the symbiosis, Epichloe endophytes have been extensively studied and are considered important components of sustainable agriculture. There are only a few studies available on the incidence of endophyte infection in grasses of the Southern Hemisphere and most grass species have never been examined. Here we report on a survey of native grasses of New Zealand including 25 endemic or indigenous species. We sampled up to 10 plants per species at different sites from both the North and South Island of New Zealand and examined tissues microscopically for endophyte infection. Overall, only two species were found to be infected, Poa matthewsii (Matthew's bluegrass) and Dichelachne micrantha (short-hair plume grass). Based on analyses of tefA and tubB genes, both endophytes were found to be interspecific hybrids. The endophyte of the new host D. micrantha was previously described as Epichloe australiensis, while the endophyte of P. matthewsii is a new species named here E. novae-zelandiae. The new species is a hybrid derived from E. amarillans, E. bromicola and E. typhina subsp. poae. Alkaloid analyses in planta suggested that E. novae-zelandiae can produce small amounts of peramine, early pathway indole-diterpenes and ergot alkaloids, but no lolines or lolitrems. Target specific primers suggested the presence of genes for ergot alkaloids and peramine, but genes of only early pathway steps for the other alkaloids. Furthermore, genes for both mating type idiomorphs (MTA and MTB) were present, a single copy of MTA and two copies of MTB. Endophytes of native grasses may provide a genetic resource that could be exploited for developing pasture grass cultivars with improved performance. DA - 2019/10/2/ PY - 2019/10/2/ DO - 10.1080/0028825X.2019.1651344 VL - 8 SP - 1-18 UR - https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2019.1651344 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Orthologous peramine and pyrrolopyrazine‐producing biosynthetic gene clusters in Metarhizium rileyi, Metarhizium majus and Cladonia grayi AU - Berry, Daniel AU - Mace, Wade AU - Rehner, Stephen A. AU - Grage, Katrin AU - Dijkwel, Paul P. AU - Young, Carolyn A. AU - Scott, Barry T2 - Environmental Microbiology AB - Summary Peramine is a non‐ribosomal peptide‐derived pyrrolopyrazine (PPZ)‐containing molecule with anti‐insect properties. Peramine is known to be produced by fungi from genus Epichloë , which form mutualistic endophytic associations with cool‐season grass hosts. Peramine biosynthesis has been proposed to require only the two‐module non‐ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) peramine synthetase (PerA), which is encoded by the 8.3 kb gene perA , though this has not been conclusively proven. Until recently, both peramine and perA were thought to be exclusive to fungi of genus Epichloë ; however, a putative perA homologue was recently identified in the genome of the insect‐pathogenic fungus Metarhizium rileyi . We use a heterologous expression system and a hydrophilic interaction chromatography‐based analysis method to confirm that PerA is the only pathway‐specific protein required for peramine biosynthesis. The perA homologue from M. rileyi ( MR_perA ) is shown to encode a functional peramine synthetase, establishing a precedent for distribution of perA orthologs beyond genus Epichloë . Furthermore, perA is part of a larger seven‐gene PPZ cluster in M. rileyi , Metarhizium majus and the stalked‐cup lichen fungus Cladonia grayi . These PPZ genes encode proteins predicted to derivatize peramine into more complex PPZ metabolites, with the orphaned perA gene of Epichloë spp. representing an example of reductive evolution. DA - 2019/3// PY - 2019/3// DO - 10.1111/1462-2920.14483 UR - https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.14483 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Digital Imaging to Evaluate Root System Architectural Changes Associated with Soil Biotic Factors AU - Mattupalli, Chakradhar AU - Seethepalli, Anand AU - York, Larry M. AU - Young, Carolyn A. T2 - Phytobiomes Journal AB - Root system architecture is critical for plant growth, which is influenced by several edaphic, environmental, genetic, and biotic factors including beneficial and pathogenic microbes. Studying root system architecture and the dynamic changes that occur during a plant’s lifespan, especially for perennial crops growing over multiple growing seasons, is still a challenge because of the nature of their growing environment. We describe the utility of an imaging platform called RhizoVision Crown to study root system architecture of alfalfa, a perennial forage crop threatened by Phymatotrichopsis root rot (PRR) disease. Phymatotrichopsis omnivora is the causal agent of PRR disease that reduces alfalfa stand longevity. During the lifetime of the stand, PRR disease rings enlarge and the field can be categorized into three zones based upon plant status: asymptomatic, disease front and survivor. To study root system architectural changes associated with PRR, a 4-year-old 25.6-ha alfalfa stand infested with PRR was selected at the Red River Farm, Burneyville, OK during October 2017. Line transect sampling was conducted from four actively growing PRR disease rings. At each disease ring, six line transects were positioned spanning 15 m on either side of the disease front with one alfalfa root crown sampled at every 3 m interval. Each alfalfa root crown was imaged with the RhizoVision Crown platform using a backlight and a high-resolution monochrome CMOS camera enabling preservation of the natural root system integrity. The platform’s image analysis software, RhizoVision Analyzer, automatically segmented images, skeletonized, and extracted a suite of features. Data indicated that the survivor plants compensated for damage or loss to the taproot through the development of more lateral and crown roots, and that a suite of multivariate features could be used to automatically classify roots as from survivor or asymptomatic zones. Root growth is a dynamic process adapting to ever changing interactions among various phytobiome components. By utilizing the low-cost, efficient, and high-throughput RhizoVision Crown platform, we quantified these changes in a mature perennial forage crop. DA - 2019/1// PY - 2019/1// DO - 10.1094/PBIOMES-12-18-0062-R VL - 3 IS - 2 SP - 102-111 UR - https://doi.org/10.1094/PBIOMES-12-18-0062-R KW - agriculture KW - cotton root rot KW - Lucerne KW - Medicago sativa KW - microorganism KW - mycology KW - phenotyping KW - plant pathology ER - TY - JOUR TI - Variation Among Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata) Germplasm for Choke Prevalence Caused by Epichloë typhina AU - Bushman, B. Shaun AU - Singh, Devesh AU - Lamp, Robin AU - Young, Carolyn A. AU - Charlton, Nikki D. AU - Robins, Joseph G. AU - Anderson, Nicole T2 - Plant Disease AB - Orchardgrass, or cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), is a cool-season forage grass susceptible to the choke disease caused by Epichloë typhina. Choke has been reported in orchardgrass seed production fields across the temperate regions of the world, but fungicides have not been efficacious in reducing choke incidence or prevalence. To assess the potential for genetic resistance or tolerance of orchardgrass to choke, we evaluated the variation in orchardgrass cultivars and accessions for choke prevalence and characterized infected plants for endophyte secondary metabolite and mating type gene presence. Significant variation was detected across years and locations. Choke prevalence did not always increase with the age of the stand, nor did choke prevalence correlate with flowering time or swathing time of the entries. Both mating types of E. typhina were detected in approximately equal proportions, and no evidence for loline, ergot alkaloid, or indole-diterpene biosynthesis was found. Plants with multiple infected tillers often showed more than one mating type present in the plant, indicating multiple infection events rather than a single infection event that spread to multiple tillers. Both accessions and cultivars with significant choke, and no choke, were detected, which constitute sources of germplasm for further testing and breeding. DA - 2019/2// PY - 2019/2// DO - 10.1094/PDIS-05-18-0867-RE VL - 103 IS - 2 SP - 324-330 UR - https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-18-0867-RE ER - TY - JOUR TI - Grazing simplifies soil micro-food webs and decouples their relationships with ecosystem functions in grasslands AU - Wang, Bing AU - Wu, Liji AU - Chen, Dima AU - Wu, Ying AU - Hu, Shuijin AU - Li, Linghao AU - Bai, Yongfei T2 - GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY AB - Abstract Livestock grazing often alters aboveground and belowground communities of grasslands and their mediated carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling processes at the local scale. Yet, few have examined whether grazing‐induced changes in soil food webs and their ecosystem functions can be extrapolated to a regional scale. We investigated how large herbivore grazing affects soil micro‐food webs (microbes and nematodes) and ecosystem functions (soil C and N mineralization), using paired grazed and ungrazed plots at 10 locations across the Mongolian Plateau. Our results showed that grazing not only affected plant variables (e.g., biomass and C and N concentrations), but also altered soil substrates (e.g., C and N contents) and soil environment (e.g., soil pH and bulk density). Grazing had strong bottom‐up effects on soil micro‐food webs, leading to more pronounced decreases at higher trophic levels (nematodes) than at lower trophic levels (microbes). Structural equation modeling showed that changes in plant biomass and soil environment dominated grazing effects on microbes, while nematodes were mainly influenced by changes in plant biomass and soil C and N contents; the grazing effects, however, differed greatly among functional groups in the soil micro‐food webs. Grazing reduced soil C and N mineralization rates via changes in plant biomass, soil C and N contents, and soil environment across grasslands on the Mongolian Plateau. Spearman's rank correlation analysis also showed that grazing reduced the correlations between functional groups in soil micro‐food webs and then weakened the correlation between soil micro‐food webs and soil C and N mineralization. These results suggest that changes in soil micro‐food webs resulting from livestock grazing are poor predictors of soil C and N processes at regional scale, and that the relationships between soil food webs and ecosystem functions depend on spatial scales and land‐use changes. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1111/gcb.14841 KW - functional groups KW - livestock grazing KW - Mongolian Plateau KW - soil carbon mineralization KW - soil environment KW - soil nitrogen mineralization KW - soil substrates KW - trophic levels ER - TY - JOUR TI - Distinct fine-root responses to precipitation changes in herbaceous and woody plants: a meta-analysis AU - Wang, Peng AU - Huang, Kailing AU - Hu, Shuijin T2 - NEW PHYTOLOGIST AB - Summary Precipitation is one of the most important factors that determine productivity of terrestrial ecosystems. Precipitation across the globe is predicted to change more intensively under future climate change scenarios, but the resulting impact on plant roots remains unclear. Based on 154 observations from experiments in which precipitation was manipulated in the field and root biomass was measured, we investigated responses in fine‐root biomass of herbaceous and woody plants to alterations in precipitation. We found that root biomass of herbaceous and woody plants responded differently to precipitation change. In particular, precipitation increase consistently enhanced fine‐root biomass of woody plants but had variable effects on herb roots in arid and semi‐arid ecosystems. In contrast, precipitation decrease reduced root biomass of herbaceous plants but not woody plants. In addition, with precipitation alteration, the magnitude of root responses was greater in dry areas than in wet areas. Together, these results indicate that herbaceous and woody plants have different rooting strategies to cope with altered precipitation regimes, particularly in water‐limited ecosystems. These findings suggest that root responses to precipitation change may critically influence root productivity and soil carbon dynamics under future climate change scenarios. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1111/nph.16266 KW - drought KW - fine roots KW - plant functional type KW - precipitation increase KW - rainfall KW - root biomass KW - root production ER - TY - JOUR TI - Contrasting the Pb (II) and Cd (II) tolerance of Enterobacter sp. via its cellular stress responses AU - Jiang, Zhongquan AU - Jiang, Liu AU - Zhang, Lin AU - Su, Mu AU - Tian, Da AU - Wang, Tong AU - Sun, Yalin AU - Nong, Ying AU - Hu, Shuijin AU - Wang, Shimei AU - Li, Zhen T2 - ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY AB - Summary Successful application of microorganisms to heavy metal remediation depends on their resistance to toxic metals. This study contrasted the differences of tolerant mechanisms between Pb 2+ and Cd 2+ in Enterobacter sp. Microbial respiration and production of formic acid showed that Enterobacter sp. had a higher tolerant concentration of Pb (>1000 mg l −1 ) than Cd (about 200 mg l −1 ). Additionally, SEM confirmed that most of Pb and Cd nanoparticles (NPs) were adsorbed onto cell membrane. The Cd stress, even at low concentration (50 mg l −1 ), significantly enlarged the sizes of cells. The cellular size raised from 0.4 × 1.0 to 0.9 × 1.6 μm on average, inducing a platelet‐like shape. In contrast, Pb cations did not stimulate such enlargement even up to 1000 mg l −1 . Moreover, Cd NPs were adsorbed homogeneously by almost all the bacterial cells under TEM. However, only a few cells work as ‘hot spots’ on the sorption of Pb NPs. The heterogeneous sorption might result from a ‘self‐sacrifice’ mechanism, i.e., some cells at a special life stage contributed mostly to Pb sorption. This mechanism, together with the lower mobility of Pb cations, caused higher microbial tolerance and removal efficiency towards Pb 2+ . This study sheds evident contrasts of bacterial resistance to the two most common heavy metals. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1111/1462-2920.14719 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Biological controls over the abundances of terrestrial ammonia oxidizers AU - Xiao, Rui AU - Qiu, Yunpeng AU - Tao, Jinjin AU - Zhang, Xuelin AU - Chen, Huaihai AU - Reberg-Horton, S. Chris AU - Shi, Wei AU - Shew, H. David AU - Zhang, Yi AU - Hu, Shuijin T2 - GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY AB - Abstract Aim Ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) are the primary agents for nitrification, converting ammonia (NH 4 + ) into nitrate (NO 3 − ) and modulating plant nitrogen (N) utilization and terrestrial N retention. However, there is still lack of a unifying framework describing the patterns of global AOA and AOB distribution. In particular, biotic interactions are rarely integrated into any of the conceptual models. Location World‐wide. Time period 2005–2016. Major taxa studied Ammonia‐oxidizing archaea and ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria. Methods A meta‐analysis and synthesis were conducted to obtain a general picture of global AOA and AOB distribution and identify the primary driving factors. A microcosm experiment was then conducted to assess effects of relative carbon to nitrogen availability for heterotrophic microbes on AOA and AOB in two distinct soils. A mesocosm experiment was further carried out to characterize the effects of plant roots and their arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on AOA and AOB abundances using hyphae‐ or root‐ingrowth techniques. Results Our meta‐analysis showed that soil carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratios explained the most variance in AOA and AOB abundances, although soil pH had a significant effect. Experimental results demonstrated that high cellulose and mineral N inputs increased total microbial biomass and microbial activities, but inhibited AOA and AOB, suggesting microbial inhibition of AOA and AOB. Also, AMF and roots suppressed AOA and AOB, respectively. Main conclusions Our study provides convincing evidence illustrating that relative carbon to nitrogen availability can predominantly affect the abundances of AOA and AOB. Our experimental results further validate that biotic competition among plants, heterotrophic microbes and ammonia oxidizers for substrate N is the predominant control upon AOA and AOB abundances. Together, these findings provide new insights into the role of abiotic and biotic factors in modulating terrestrial AOA and AOB abundances and their potential applications for management of nitrification in an increasing reactive N world. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1111/geb.13030 KW - ammonia-oxidizing archaea KW - ammonia-oxidizing bacteria KW - competition KW - meta-analysis KW - nitrification KW - soil C KW - N ratio ER - TY - BOOK TI - The bees of North Carolina : an identification guide AU - Levenson, Hannah AU - Youngsteadt, Elsa DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// M3 - NC State Extension Service Publication PB - NC State Extension ER - TY - JOUR TI - Environmental decomposition of cuticular hydrocarbons generates a volatile pheromone that guides insect social behavior AU - Hatano, E. AU - Wada-Katsumata, A. AU - Schal, C. T2 - bioRxiv AB - Abstract Once emitted, semiochemicals are exposed to reactive environmental factors that may alter them, thus disrupting chemical communication. Some species, however, might have adapted to detect environmentally mediated breakdown products of their natural chemicals as semiochemicals. We demonstrate that air, water vapor, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation break down unsaturated cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) of Periplaneta americana (American cockroach), resulting in the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In behavioral assays, nymphs strongly avoided aggregating in shelters exposed to the breakdown VOCs from cuticular alkenes. The three treatments (air, water vapor, UV) produced the same VOCs, but at different time-courses and ratios. Fourteen VOCs from UV-exposed CHCs elicited electrophysiological responses in nymph antennae; 10 were identified as 1-pentanol, 1-octanol, 1-nonanol, tetradecanal, acetic acid, propanoic acid, butanoic acid, pentanoic acid and hexanoic acid. When short-chain fatty acids were tested as a mix and a blend of the alcohols and aldehyde was tested as a second mix, nymphs exhibited no preference for control or treated shelters. However, nymphs avoided shelters that were exposed to VOCs from the complete 10-compound mix. Conditioned shelters (occupied by cockroaches with feces and CHCs deposited on the shelters), which are normally highly attractive to nymphs, were also avoided after UV-exposure, confirming that breakdown products from deposited metabolites, including CHCs, mediate this behavior. Our results demonstrate that common environmental and anthropogenic agents degrade CHCs into volatile semiochemicals that may serve as necromones or epideictic pheromones, mediating group formation and dissolution. Significance Statement Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) cover the outer surface of insects, where they prevent water loss and serve as sex pheromones and in nest-mate recognition in social insects. Although CHCs are not volatile, they can be broken into volatile fragments by reacting with environmental agents. We demonstrate that volatile breakdown products of CHCs affect the social behavior of the American cockroach. A synthetic mix of volatiles dispersed cockroaches away from shelters, signaling an unsuitable shelter. These results highlight that some insect species have evolved communication strategies that exploit environmental and anthropogenic agents to produce bioactive compounds that mediate ecological interactions. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1101/773937 UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85095643670&partnerID=MN8TOARS ER - TY - JOUR TI - Hemimetabolous insects elucidate the origin of sexual development via alternative splicing AU - Wexler, J. AU - Delaney, E.K. AU - Belles, X. AU - Schal, C. AU - Wada-Katsumata, A. AU - Amicucci, M. AU - Kopp, A. T2 - bioRxiv AB - ABSTRACT Insects are the only animals in which sexual differentiation is controlled by sex-specific RNA splicing. The doublesex ( dsx ) transcription factor produces distinct male and female protein isoforms (DsxM and DsxF) under the control of the RNA splicing factor transformer ( tra ). tra itself is also alternatively spliced so that a functional Tra protein is only present in females; thus, DsxM is produced by default, while DsxF expression requires Tra. The sex-specific Dsx isoforms are essential for both male and female sexual differentiation. This pathway is profoundly different from the molecular mechanisms that control sex-specific development in other animal groups. In animals as different as vertebrates, nematodes, and crustaceans, sexual differentiation involves male-specific transcription of dsx -related transcription factors that are not alternatively spliced and play no role in female sexual development. To understand how the unique splicing-based mode of sexual differentiation found in insects evolved from a more ancestral transcription-based mechanism, we examined dsx and tra expression in three basal, hemimetabolous insect orders. We find that functional Tra protein is limited to females in the kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera), but is present in both sexes in the louse Pediculus humanus (Phthiraptera) and the cockroach Blattella germanica (Blattodea). Although alternatively spliced dsx isoforms are seen in all these insects, they are sex-specific in the cockroach and the kissing bug but not in the louse. In B. germanica , RNAi experiments show that dsx is necessary for male, but not female, sexual differentiation, while tra controls female development via a dsx- independent pathway. Our results suggest that the distinctive insect mechanism based on the tra-dsx splicing cascade evolved in a gradual, mosaic process: sex-specific splicing of dsx predates its role in female sexual differentiation, while the role of tra in regulating dsx splicing and in sexual development more generally predates sex-specific expression of the Tra protein. We present a model where the canonical tra - dsx axis originated via merger between expanding dsx function (from males to both sexes) and narrowing tra function (from a general splicing factor to the dedicated regulator of dsx ). DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1101/587964 UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85095617834&partnerID=MN8TOARS ER - TY - JOUR TI - First microsatellite markers developed and applied for the genetic diversity study and population structure of Didymella pisi associated with ascochyta blight of dry pea in Montana. AU - Owati, A AU - Agindotan, B AU - Burrows, M T2 - Fungal biology AB - Didymella pisi is the predominant causal pathogen of ascochyta blight of dry pea causing yield losses in Montana, where 415 000 acres were planted to dry pea in 2018. Thirty-three microsatellite markers were developed for dry pea pathogenic fungus, Didymella pisi, these markers were used to analyze genetic diversity and population structure of 205 isolates from four different geographical regions of Montana. These loci produced a total of 216 alleles with an average of 1.63 alleles per microsatellite marker. The polymorphic information content values ranged from 0.020 to 0.990 with an average of 0.323. The average observed heterozygosity across all loci varied from 0.000 to 0.018. The gene diversity among the loci ranged from 0.003 to 0.461. Unweighted Neighbor-joining and population structure analysis grouped these 205 isolates into two major sub-groups. The clusters did not match the geographic origin of the isolates. Analysis of molecular variance showed 85 % of the total variation within populations and only 15 % among populations. There was moderate genetic variation in the total populations (PhiPT = 0.153). Information obtained from this study could be useful as a base to design strategies for improved management such as breeding for resistance to ascochyta blight of dry pea in Montana. DA - 2019/2// PY - 2019/2// DO - 10.1016/j.funbio.2019.02.004 VL - 5 UR - http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/31053327 KW - Field crop KW - Fungi KW - Genetics KW - Polymorphism ER - TY - JOUR TI - Development and Application of Real-Time and Conventional SSR-PCR Assays for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Didymella pisi Associated with Ascochyta Blight of Dry Pea AU - Owati, Ayodeji AU - Agindotan, Bright AU - Burrows, Mary T2 - Plant Disease AB - Didymella pisi is the primary causal pathogen of Ascochyta blight (AB) of dry pea in Montana. Diagnosis of AB is challenging because there are six different species that cause AB worldwide and that can co-occur. Additionally, agar plate identification of D. pisi is challenging due to its slow growth rate. Currently, there are no PCR-based assays developed for specific detection of D. pisi or any fungal pathogen in the AB complex of dry pea. In this study, we evaluated simple sequence repeat (SSR) primer pairs for their specificity and sensitivity in real-time and conventional SSR-PCR both in vitro and in planta. The specificity of the assay was determined by testing DNA of 10 dry pea varieties, fungal species in the AB complex, and fungal species associated with dry pea. To avoid false-negative results, plant and fungal DNA markers were included as controls in a conventional multiplex SSR-PCR, to amplify any plant or fungal DNA in the absence of the D. pisi SSR target. SYBR Green SSR-quantitative PCR (qPCR) detection was conducted using the same primer pairs but in a uniplex format. D. pisi was specifically amplified, whereas other fungi and host DNA were not. Also, sensitivity experiments showed that the detection limit was 0.01 ng of DNA of D. pisi for both assays and 100 conidia in SSR-qPCR. These assays are valuable diagnostic tools for the detection of D. pisi. DA - 2019/11// PY - 2019/11// DO - 10.1094/PDIS-02-19-0381-RE VL - 103 IS - 11 SP - 2751-2758 UR - https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-02-19-0381-RE KW - field crops KW - fungi KW - pathogen detection KW - techniques ER - TY - JOUR TI - A Response to the Letter to the Editor from Ortega-Beltran and Bandyopadhyay AU - Molo, M. AU - Heiniger, R. AU - Boerema, L. AU - Carbone, I. T2 - Agronomy Journal DA - 2019/9// PY - 2019/9// VL - 111 IS - 5 SP - 2629-2631 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Cover Image AU - Yang, Fei AU - Niu, Kechang AU - Collins, Courtney G. AU - Yan, Xuebin AU - Ji, Yangguang AU - Ling, Ning AU - Zhou, Xianhui AU - Du, Guozhen AU - Guo, Hui AU - Hu, Shuijin T2 - Land Degradation & Development AB - The cover image is based on the Research Article Grazing practices affect the soil microbial community composition in a Tibetan alpine meadow, by Fei Yang et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3189. DA - 2019/1/15/ PY - 2019/1/15/ DO - 10.1002/LDR.3244 VL - 30 IS - 1 SP - i-i SN - 1085-3278 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/LDR.3244 ER - TY - BOOK TI - Science Breakthroughs to Advance Food and Agricultural Research by 2030 DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.17226/25059 SE - 1-228 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Genetic diversity of laboratory strains and implications for research: The case of Aedes aegypti AU - Gloria-Soria, Andrea AU - Soghigian, John AU - Kellner, David AU - Powell, Jeffrey R. T2 - PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES AB - The yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti), is the primary vector of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya fever, among other arboviral diseases. It is also a popular laboratory model in vector biology due to its ease of rearing and manipulation in the lab. Established laboratory strains have been used worldwide in thousands of studies for decades. Laboratory evolution of reference strains and contamination among strains are potential severe problems that could dramatically change experimental outcomes and thus is a concern in vector biology. We analyzed laboratory and field colonies of Ae. aegypti and an Ae. aegypti-derived cell line (Aag2) using 12 microsatellites and ~20,000 SNPs to determine the extent of divergence among laboratory strains and relationships to their wild relatives. We found that 1) laboratory populations are less genetically variable than their field counterparts; 2) colonies bearing the same name obtained from different laboratories may be highly divergent; 3) present genetic composition of the LVP strain used as the genome reference is incompatible with its presumed origin; 4) we document changes in two wild caught colonies over ~16 generations of colonization; and 5) the Aag2 Ae. aegypti cell line has experienced minimal genetic changes within and across laboratories. These results illustrate the degree of variability within and among strains of Ae. aegypti, with implications for cross-study comparisons, and highlight the need of a common mosquito repository and the implementation of strain validation tools. DA - 2019/12// PY - 2019/12// DO - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007930 VL - 13 IS - 12 SP - SN - 1935-2735 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers as Seed Coatings for Crop Protection AU - Farias, Barbara V. AU - Pirzada, Tahira AU - Mathew, Reny AU - Sit, Tim L. AU - Opperman, Charles AU - Khan, Saad A. T2 - ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering AB - Ineffective delivery of pesticides leads to multiple application cycles of active ingredients (AIs), resulting in increased cost while endangering the environment via soil, water, and air contamination. Herein, we present a facile approach for localized delivery of pesticides by coating seeds with electrospun cellulose diacetate (CDA) nanofibers containing abamectin or fluopyram as model AIs. CDA is used as the polymer of choice because of its good electrospinnability, low water solubility, and eventual biodegradability. Nanofibrous coatings are directly electrospun onto soybean seeds and show no deleterious effects on seed germination regardless of coating thickness and uniformity. Water dissolution studies show that nanofibers maintain their integrity for over 2 weeks, a necessary characteristic to make this approach effective. AI release studies display a slow and sustained release of both abamectin and fluopyram from the nanofibers, with abamectin exhibiting a slower release because of its more hydrophobic nature and possibly stronger interaction with CDA. Functional performance, tested using fluopyram-loaded nanofibers in an in vitro fungal assay against the plant pathogen Alternaria lineariae, consistently inhibits fungal growth. The sustained release profile taken together with moisture stability suggests that nanofibrous seed coatings have a strong potential as an alternative platform to control plant pathogens such as nematodes and fungi. DA - 2019/11/6/ PY - 2019/11/6/ DO - 10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b05200 VL - 7 IS - 24 SP - 19848-19856 UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85075621824&partnerID=MN8TOARS KW - electrospinning KW - seed coating KW - cellulose KW - fluopyram KW - abamectin KW - controlled release ER - TY - JOUR TI - Optimizing disease management in fruit cultivation AU - Villani, Sara M. AU - Cox, Kerik D. AU - Sundin, George W. T2 - ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE CULTIVATION OF TEMPERATE ZONE TREE FRUITS AND BERRIES, VOL 1: PHYSIOLOGY, GENETICS AND CULTIVATION DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.19103/AS.2018.0040.12 VL - 53 SP - 401-431 SN - 2059-6944 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Advances in understanding insect pests of vegetables: a case study of sweetpotato weevil AU - Sorensen, Kenneth T2 - ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.19103/AS.2019.0045.11 VL - 59 SP - 293-341 SN - 2059-6944 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Phylogenomic analysis of Calyptratae: resolving the phylogenetic relationships within a major radiation of Diptera AU - Kutty, Sujatha Narayanan AU - Meusemann, Karen AU - Bayless, Keith M. AU - Marinho, Marco A. T. AU - Pont, Adrian C. AU - Zhou, Xin AU - Misof, Bernhard AU - Wiegmann, Brian M. AU - Yeates, David AU - Cerretti, Pierfilippo AU - Meier, Rudolf AU - Pape, Thomas T2 - CLADISTICS AB - Abstract The Calyptratae, one of the most species‐rich fly clades, only originated and diversified after the Cretaceous–Palaeogene extinction event and yet exhibit high species diversity and a diverse array of life history strategies including predation, phytophagy, saprophagy, haematophagy and parasitism. We present the first phylogenomic analysis of calyptrate relationships. The analysis is based on 40 species representing all calyptrate families and on nucleotide and amino acid data for 1456 single‐copy protein‐coding genes obtained from shotgun sequencing of transcriptomes. Topologies are overall well resolved, robust and largely congruent across trees obtained with different approaches (maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, coalescent‐based species tree, four‐cluster likelihood mapping). Many nodes have 100% bootstrap and jackknife support, but the true support varies by more than one order of magnitude [Bremer support from 3 to 3427; random addition concatenation analysis ( RADICAL ) gene concatenation size from 10 to 1456]. Analyses of a Dayhoff‐6 recoded amino acid dataset also support the robustness of many clades. The backbone topology Hippoboscoidea+(Fanniidae+(Muscidae+((Anthomyiidae–Scathophagidae)+Oestroidea))) is strongly supported and most families are monophyletic (exceptions: Anthomyiidae and Calliphoridae). The monotypic Ulurumyiidae is either alone or together with Mesembrinellidae as the sister group to the rest of Oestroidea. The Sarcophagidae are sister to Mystacinobiidae+Oestridae. Polleniinae emerge as sister group to Tachinidae and the monophyly of the clade Calliphorinae+Luciliinae is well supported, but the phylogenomic data cannot confidently place the remaining blowfly subfamilies (Helicoboscinae, Ameniinae, Chrysomyinae). Compared to hypotheses from the Sanger sequencing era, many clades within the muscoid grade are congruent but now have much higher support. Within much of Oestroidea, Sanger era and phylogenomic data struggle equally with regard to finding well‐supported hypotheses. DA - 2019/12// PY - 2019/12// DO - 10.1111/cla.12375 VL - 35 IS - 6 SP - 605-622 SN - 1096-0031 ER - TY - JOUR TI - The genome of the migratory nematode, Radopholus similis, reveals signatures of close association to the sedentary cyst nematodes AU - Mathew, Reny AU - Opperman, Charles H. T2 - PLOS ONE AB - Radopholus similis, commonly known as the burrowing nematode, is an important pest of myriad crops and ornamentals including banana (Musa spp.) and Citrus spp. In order to characterize the potential role of putative effectors encoded by R. similis genes we compared predicted proteins from a draft R. similis genome with other plant-parasitic nematodes in order to define the suite of excreted/secreted proteins that enable it to function as a parasite and to ascertain the phylogenetic position of R. similis in the Tylenchida order. Identification and analysis of candidate genes encoding for key plant cell-wall degrading enzymes including GH5 cellulases, PL3 pectate lyases and GH28 polygalactouranase revealed a pattern of occurrence similar to other PPNs, although with closest phylogenetic associations to the sedentary cyst nematodes. We also observed the absence of a suite of effectors essential for feeding site formation in the cyst nematodes. Clustering of various orthologous genes shared by R. similis with other nematodes showed higher overlap with the cyst nematodes than with the root-knot or other migratory endoparasitic nematodes. The data presented here support the hypothesis that R. similis is evolutionarily closer to the cyst nematodes, however, differences in the effector repertoire delineate ancient divergence of parasitism, probably as a consequence of niche specialization. These similarities and differences further underscore distinct evolutionary relationships during the evolution of parasitism in this group of nematodes. DA - 2019/10/25/ PY - 2019/10/25/ DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0224391 VL - 14 IS - 10 SP - SN - 1932-6203 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Identification and Characterization of the Core Rice Seed Microbiome AU - Eyre, Alexander W. AU - Wang, Mengying AU - Oh, Yeonyee AU - Dean, Ralph A. T2 - PHYTOBIOMES JOURNAL AB - The use of microbes in agriculture for enhancing crop production is an emerging alternative to chemical fertilizers and pesticides; however, their effectiveness is often limited by factors such as host genotype and variability in geographic location. To address this issue, the microbiomes of six different rice (Oryza sativa) seeds, sourced from two locations in Arkansas, U.S.A. of two different genotypes and two harvest years, were characterized. The bacterial and fungal communities were identified in each of four seed compartments (grain, outer grain, husk, and outer husk) using high throughput Illumina MiSeq sequencing. More unique amplicon sequence variants were identified in the outer seed husk and least in the grain compartment for both the fungal and bacterial microbiomes, however this only resulted in a decrease in diversity for the fungal communities. Principal component analysis indicated that each tissue compartment harbored relatively distinct bacterial and fungal communities for the three innermost compartments. A bacterial and fungal core microbiome shared among the six seed types for each compartment was identified. Key bacterial genera in the core across all compartments were Sphingomonas, Methylobacterium, and taxa in the family Enterobacteriaceae, members of which have been reported to support rice growth. Compared with the bacterial core, more fungal taxa were identified, possibly resulting from the more abundant reads after filtering, and key genera identified were Alternaria, Hannaella, and members of the order Pleosporales. These core members represent valuable candidates for manipulating the rice microbiome, decreasing the use of chemicals while increasing plant performance. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1094/PBIOMES-01-19-0009-R VL - 3 IS - 2 SP - 148-157 SN - 2471-2906 KW - endophytes KW - metagenomics KW - microbiome KW - microorganism ER - TY - JOUR TI - Genome Sequencing and Transcriptome Analysis of the Hop Downy Mildew Pathogen Pseudoperonospora humuli Reveal Species-Specific Genes for Molecular Detection AU - Rahman, A. AU - Gongora-Castillo, E. AU - Bowman, M. J. AU - Childs, K. L. AU - Gent, D. H. AU - Martin, F. N. AU - Quesada-Ocampo, L. M. T2 - PHYTOPATHOLOGY AB - Pseudoperonospora humuli is an obligate oomycete pathogen of hop (Humulus lupulus) that causes downy mildew, an important disease in most production regions in the Northern Hemisphere. The pathogen can cause a systemic infection in hop, overwinter in the root system, and infect propagation material. Substantial yield loss may occur owing to P. humuli infection of strobiles (seed cones), shoots, and cone-bearing branches. Fungicide application and cultural practices are the primary methods to manage hop downy mildew. However, effective, sustainable, and cost-effective management of downy mildew can be improved by developing early detection systems to inform on disease risk and timely fungicide application. However, no species-specific diagnostic assays or genomic resources are available for P. humuli. The genome of the P. humuli OR502AA isolate was partially sequenced using Illumina technology and assembled with ABySS. The assembly had a minimum scaffold length of 500 bp and an N50 (median scaffold length of the assembled genome) of 19.2 kbp. A total number of 18,656 genes were identified using MAKER standard gene predictions. Additionally, transcriptome assemblies were generated using RNA-seq and Trinity for seven additional P. humuli isolates. Bioinformatics analyses of next generation sequencing reads of P. humuli and P. cubensis (a closely related sister species) identified 242 candidate species-specific P. humuli genes that could be used as diagnostic molecular markers. These candidate genes were validated using polymerase chain reaction against a diverse collection of isolates from P. humuli, P. cubensis, and other oomycetes. Overall, four diagnostic markers were found to be uniquely present in P. humuli. These candidate markers identified through comparative genomics can be used for pathogen diagnostics in propagation material, such as rhizomes and vegetative cuttings, or adapted for biosurveillance of airborne sporangia, an important source of inoculum in hop downy mildew epidemics. DA - 2019/8// PY - 2019/8// DO - 10.1094/PHYTO-11-18-0431-R VL - 109 IS - 8 SP - 1354-1366 SN - 1943-7684 UR - https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-11-18-0431-R ER - TY - JOUR TI - Occurrence and Distribution of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes on Muscadine Grapes in Georgia and North Carolina AU - Jagdale, Ganpati B. AU - Severns, Paul M. AU - Brannen, Phillip M. AU - Cline, William O. T2 - PLANT HEALTH PROGRESS AB - Muscadine grape, Vitis rotundifolia, is native to the southeastern United States, but Georgia (GA) and North Carolina (NC) are the largest North American producers. Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) have become a significant factor affecting the health, quality, production, and maintenance of bunch grapes (V. labrusca, V. vinifera), but little is known about muscadine PPNs. A systematic survey was conducted of PPNs infesting eight and 11 muscadine grape vineyards in GA and NC in August and October 2018, respectively. The most frequently detected PPNs across all samples from both states were Helicotylenchus (90%), Mesocriconema (72%), and Xiphinema (58%). However, 5 Hemicycliophora and 710 Scutellonema nematodes/100 cm 3 of soil were found only in GA, whereas only 1 Belonolaimus nematode/100 cm 3 of soil was found only in NC. Ordination of the nematode communities from the samples collected in GA and NC yielded groupings that aligned with the state of origin. Multivariate tests for group membership indicated that several genera were statistically associated with either NC or GA muscadines, and the PPN communities distinctly differed between states. Because muscadine grapes do not have established nematode thresholds, it is not known whether these nematode species are negatively impacting mature grapes. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1094/PHP-06-19-0042-S VL - 20 IS - 3 SP - 194-199 SN - 1535-1025 KW - nematology KW - small fruits KW - Helicotylenchus KW - Mesocriconema KW - Xiphinema ER - TY - JOUR TI - Characterizing Sources of Resistance to Phytophthora Blight of Pepper Caused by Phytophthora capsici in North Carolina AU - Parada-Rojas, Camilo H. AU - Quesada-Ocampo, Lina M. T2 - PLANT HEALTH PROGRESS AB - Phytophthora blight, caused by Phytophthora capsici, is an important disease of peppers in the United States and worldwide. P. capsici causes crown, root, and fruit rot as well as foliar lesions in peppers. Field trials were conducted in 2015 and 2016 to evaluate 32 commercial and experimental pepper cultivars against a mixed-isolate inoculum in North Carolina. Cultivars Martha-R and Meeting were classified as highly resistant to P. capsici, and Paladin was classified as resistant. Intermediate resistance to P. capsici in the field was observed with Fabuloso, Revolution, Vanguard, Archimedes, Aristotle, Ebano-R, and Declaration. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the response of 48 pepper cultivars when inoculated individually with two isolates from North Carolina and an isolate from Michigan. Isolates exhibited different levels of virulence in pepper cultivars screened for resistance. Landraces CM334 and Fidel as well as the cultivars Martha-R, Meeting, and Intruder were categorized as highly resistant or resistant to the three isolates tested. Overall, highly resistant cultivars tended to respond similarly to field mix inoculations and greenhouse single isolate inoculations. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1094/PHP-09-18-0054-RS VL - 20 IS - 2 SP - 112-119 SN - 1535-1025 KW - pepper KW - host resistance KW - Phytophthora KW - field and greenhouse vegetables ER - TY - JOUR TI - Ralstonia solanacearum Species Complex: A Quick Diagnostic Guide AU - Garcia, Raymond O. AU - Kerns, Jim P. AU - Thiessen, Lindsey T2 - PLANT HEALTH PROGRESS AB - Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith 1896) Yabuuchi et al. 1996 is ranked second among the top 10 most economically important plant pathogenic bacteria. The soil-borne bacterium affects over 200 plant species worldwide, including economically and nutritionally important crops, such as potato (Solanum tuberosum), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and bananas (Musa spp.). R. solanacearum is a species complex, meaning that the species is composed of strains with differential characteristics, including different metabolic requirements, centers of origin, host range, and ideal environmental conditions for infection. Its nature and the fact that it is a species complex can make R. solanacearum a difficult bacterium to work with, especially when lacking experience. Inappropriate isolation or storage of the pathogen can lead to inaccurate diagnostics or misleading conclusions. Thus, the objectives of this diagnostic guide are to provide adequate methods for isolation, storage, and identification and to discuss other relevant aspects related to this important plant pathogenic bacterium. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1094/PHP-04-18-0015-DG VL - 20 IS - 1 SP - 7-13 SN - 1535-1025 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Black Rot of Sweetpotato: A Comprehensive Diagnostic Guide AU - Stahr, Madison N. AU - Quesada-Ocampo, Lina M. T2 - PLANT HEALTH PROGRESS AB - Black rot of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) has been considered one of the most historically devastating diseases of the crop. The pathogen, Ceratocystis fimbriata (Ellis and Halst), is able to infect a variety of hosts including morning glory (Ipomoea sp.), coffee (Coffea sp.), and mango (Mangifera indica) over a wide geographic range. The slow-growing nature of the pathogen can lead to difficulty in isolating and maintaining cultures of the fungus. Thus, the objective for this diagnostic guide is to provide information about effective techniques for pathogen isolation, identification, storage, and pathogenicity testing as well as describe the host and geographic range, taxonomy, and disease in sweetpotato. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1094/PHP-08-19-0052-DG VL - 20 IS - 4 SP - 255-260 SN - 1535-1025 KW - mycology KW - Ipomoea batatas KW - Ceratocystis fimbriata KW - pathogenicity testing ER - TY - JOUR TI - Arthropod carrion influences plant choice, oviposition, and cannibalism by a specialist predator on a sticky plant AU - Nelson, Peter N. AU - Burrack, Hannah AU - Sorenson, Clyde E. T2 - ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY AB - 1. Dead arthropods, entrapped by trichomes on plant surfaces, are an underappreciated form of plant‐provided food. Specialist predatory arthropods able to manoeuvre on plants covered in trichomes facultatively scavenge on the alternative food resource, increasing their abundance and reducing plant damage by herbivores. 2. This protective mutualism dependent on arthropod carrion has been demonstrated in several plant species, but the mechanisms driving the increase in predator abundance have not been identified. Through a series of greenhouse and laboratory experiments, the effect of arthropod carrion on predator behaviour was assessed. 3. The predator Jalysus wickhami preferred Nicotiana tabacum plants augmented with arthropod carrion, spending significantly more time and laying more eggs on those plants than plants without arthropod carrion. 4. Under low J. wickhami densities, arthropod carrion did not reduce egg cannibalism by adults. Under high densities, egg cannibalism by J. wickhami adults was reduced in the presence of arthropod carrion, but cannibalism by fifth instars was not. 5. Arthropod carrion may be utilised by a wide range of predatory arthropods that facultatively scavenge, and this research demonstrates its potential for influencing arthropod–plant and arthropod–arthropod interactions. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1111/een.12787 KW - Arthropod-plant interactions KW - necrophagy KW - phylloplane resource KW - plant-provided food KW - scavenging KW - trichomes ER - TY - JOUR TI - Diversity and structure of the bacterial microbiome of the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, is dominated by the endosymbiont Francisella AU - Travanty, Nicholas V. AU - Ponnusamy, Loganathan AU - Kakumanu, Madhavi L. AU - Nicholson, William L. AU - Apperson, Charles S. T2 - SYMBIOSIS DA - 2019/11// PY - 2019/11// DO - 10.1007/s13199-019-00642-2 VL - 79 IS - 3 SP - 239-250 SN - 1878-7665 UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-019-00642-2 KW - Dermacentor variabilis KW - American dog tick KW - Microbiome KW - 16S rDNA KW - QIIME 2 analysis KW - Francisella endosymbiont ER - TY - JOUR TI - Exogenous and endogenous microbiomes of wild-caught Phormia regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) flies from a suburban farm by 16S rRNA gene sequencing AU - Deguenon, Jean M. AU - Travanty, Nicholas AU - Zhu, Jiwei AU - Carr, Ann AU - Denning, Steven AU - Reiskind, Michael H. AU - Watson, David W. AU - Roe, R. Michael AU - Ponnusamy, Loganathan T2 - SCIENTIFIC REPORTS AB - Abstract The black blow fly, Phormia regina (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) is one of the most abundant carrion flies in North America. Calliphorids are important in agriculture and animal production, veterinary sciences, forensics and medical entomology. While the role of flies in the epidemiology of human and animal diseases is an active area of research, little is known about the microorganisms associated with these insects. We examined the diversity of wild-caught black blow fly endogenous (internal body) and exogenous (external body) microbial communities using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Overall, 27 phyla, 171 families and 533 genera were detected, and diversity was significantly higher ( P < 0.05) on external body surfaces. At the genus level, Dysgonomonas , Ignatzschineria , Acinetobacter , Vagococcus , Myroides , and Wohlfahrtiimonas were predominant. Cloning and sequencing of nearly full-length fragments of the 16S rRNA gene showed that some of the species identified are known to be pathogenic to humans, animals, and plants. Myroides odoratimimus and Acinetobacter radioresistens are well-known, multi-drug resistant bacteria. These results provide a snapshot of the microbial communities harbored by adult black blow flies and call for more comprehensive studies to better characterize the role these flies may play in the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms. DA - 2019/12/30/ PY - 2019/12/30/ DO - 10.1038/s41598-019-56733-z VL - 9 SP - SN - 2045-2322 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-56733-z ER - TY - JOUR TI - The distribution and spread of naturally occurring Medea selfish genetic elements in the United States AU - Cash, Sarah A. AU - Lorenzen, Marce D. AU - Gould, Fred T2 - Ecology and Evolution AB - Selfish genetic elements (SGEs) are DNA sequences that are transmitted to viable offspring in greater than Mendelian frequencies. Medea SGEs occur naturally in some populations of red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) and are expected to increase in frequency within populations and spread among populations. The large-scale U.S. distributions of Medea-4 (M4) had been mapped based on samples from 1993 to 1995. We sampled beetles in 2011-2014 and show that the distribution of M4 in the United States is dynamic and has shifted southward. By using a genetic marker of Medea-1 (M1), we found five unique geographic clusters with high and low M1 frequencies in a pattern not predicted by microsatellite-based analysis of population structure. Our results indicate the absence of rigid barriers to Medea spread in the United States, so assessment of what factors have limited its current distribution requires further investigation. There is great interest in using synthetic SGEs, including synthetic Medea, to alter or suppress pest populations, but there is concern about unpredicted spread of these SGEs and potential for populations to become resistant to them. The finding of patchy distributions of Medea elements suggests that released synthetic SGEs cannot always be expected to spread uniformly, especially in target species with limited dispersal. DA - 2019/11/27/ PY - 2019/11/27/ DO - 10.1002/ece3.5876 VL - 9 IS - 24 SP - 14407-14416 J2 - Ecology and Evolution LA - en OP - SN - 2045-7758 2045-7758 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5876 DB - Crossref KW - maternal effect KW - Medea KW - red flour beetle KW - selfish genetic element ER - TY - JOUR TI - Laboratory and Field Evaluation of Host-Related Foraging Odor-Cue Combinations to Attract Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) AU - Cloonan, Kevin R. AU - Hernandez-Cumplido, Johnattan AU - De Sousa, Ana Luiza Viana AU - Ramalho, Dagmara Gomes AU - Burrack, Hannah J. AU - Della Rosa, Linda AU - Diepenbrock, Lauren M. AU - Ballman, Elissa AU - Drummond, Francis A. AU - Gut, Larry J. AU - Hesler, Stephen AU - Isaacs, Rufus AU - Leach, Heather AU - Loeb, Gregory M. AU - Nielsen, Anne L. AU - Nitzsche, Peter AU - Park, Kyoo R. AU - Syed, Zainulabeuddin AU - Van Timmeren, Steven AU - Wallingford, Anna K. AU - Walton, Vaughn M. AU - Rodriguez-Saona, Cesar T2 - JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY AB - Abstract The invasive spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), is a major pest of soft-skinned fruits. Since its introduction into North America and Europe, significant progress has been made in understanding the volatile cues used by this fly during food, oviposition site, and mate finding. Despite this progress, commercially available lures are non-selective. Here, we tested two Hanseniaspora uvarum (Niehaus) yeast compounds (isoamyl acetate and isobutyl acetate) and a leaf compound β-cyclocitral alone and in combination with a blend of four fermentation compounds (‘Fermentation lure’: acetic acid, ethanol, methionol, and acetoin) to improve D. suzukii attraction and selectivity. In laboratory assays, males and females were attracted to all seven individual compounds, although in electrophysiological assays, their antennae exhibited a dose-dependent response to only four of these compounds. In two-choice cage studies, the Fermentation lure was more attractive to D. suzukii than water controls, whereas β-cyclocitral and the mixture of isoamyl acetate and isobutyl acetate were not attractive in this larger-cage study. Moreover, adding the two-component H. uvarum compound blend to the Fermentation lure reduced D. suzukii attraction to the Fermentation blend. When these experiments were repeated in blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, and cherry orchards across several states in the United States over 2 yr, similar outcomes were observed: β-cyclocitral or the mixture of the H. uvarum blend did not improve the attractiveness of the Fermentation lure or its selectivity. This study demonstrates that cues from different sources may interfere with each other and reduce D. suzukii attraction to otherwise attractive odor combinations. DA - 2019/12// PY - 2019/12// DO - 10.1093/jee/toz224 VL - 112 IS - 6 SP - 2850-2860 SN - 1938-291X KW - spotted-wing drosophila KW - invasive pest KW - attractant KW - yeast KW - behavior-based strategy ER - TY - JOUR TI - The Corn–Cotton Agroecosystem in the Mid-Southern United States: What Insecticidal Event Pyramids Should be Used in Each Crop to Extend Vip3A Durability AU - Caprio, Michael A AU - Kurtz, Ryan AU - Catchot, Angus AU - Kerns, David AU - Reisig, Dominic AU - Gore, Jeff AU - Reay-Jones, Francis P F T2 - Journal of Economic Entomology AB - Recent studies suggest that resistance in Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) to Cry1A(b/c) and Cry2Ab2 toxins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bacillales: Bacillaceae) has increased and field efficacy is impacted in transgenic corn and cotton expressing these toxins. A third toxin, Vip3A, is available in pyramids expressing two or more Bt toxins in corn hybrids and cotton varieties, but uncertainty exists regarding deployment strategies. During a growing season, H. zea infests corn and cotton, and debate arises over use of Vip3A toxin in corn where H. zea is not an economic pest. We used a three-locus, spatially explicit simulation model to evaluate when using Vip3A in corn might hasten evolution of resistance to Vip3A, with implications in cotton where H. zea is a key pest. When using a conventional refuge in corn and initial resistance allele frequencies of Cry1A and Cry2A were 10%, transforming corn with Vip3A slowed resistance to these toxins and delayed resistance evolution to the three-toxin pyramid as a whole. When Cry resistance allele frequencies exceeded 30%, transforming corn with Vip3A hastened the evolution of resistance to the three-toxin pyramid in cotton. When using a seed blend refuge strategy, resistance was delayed longest when Vip3A was not incorporated into corn and used only in cotton. Simulations of conventional refuges were generally more durable than seed blends, even when 75% of the required refuge was not planted. Extended durability of conventional refuges compared to other models of resistance evolution are discussed as well as causes for unusual survivorship in seed blends. DA - 2019/8/3/ PY - 2019/8/3/ DO - 10.1093/jee/toz208 VL - 112 IS - 6 SP - 2894-2906 LA - en OP - SN - 0022-0493 1938-291X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jee/toz208 DB - Crossref KW - resistance management KW - genetics KW - crop protection KW - Bt corn KW - Helicoverpa ER - TY - JOUR TI - Chronology of Gloomy Scale (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) Infestations on Urban Trees AU - Backe, Kristi M. AU - Frank, Steven D. T2 - ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY AB - Abstract Pest abundance on urban trees often increases with surrounding impervious surface. Gloomy scale (Melanaspis tenebricosa Comstock; Hemiptera: Diaspididae), a pest of red maples (Acer rubrum L.; Sapindales: Sapindaceae) in the southeast United States, reaches injurious levels in cities and reduces tree condition. Here, we use a chronosequence field study in Raleigh, NC, to investigate patterns in gloomy scale densities over time from the nursery to 13 yr after tree planting, with a goal of informing more efficient management of gloomy scale on urban trees. We examine how impervious surfaces affect the progression of infestations and how infestations affect tree condition. We find that gloomy scale densities remain low on trees until at least seven seasons after tree planting, providing a key timepoint for starting scouting efforts. Scouting should focus on tree branches, not tree trunks. Scale density on tree branches increases with impervious surface across the entire studied tree age range and increases faster on individual trees that are planted in areas with high impervious surface cover. There is a lag between the onset of pest infestations and a decline in tree condition, indicating that gloomy scale management should begin prior to a visible decline in tree condition. Our results inform management of gloomy scale in cities. DA - 2019/10// PY - 2019/10// DO - 10.1093/ee/nvz094 VL - 48 IS - 5 SP - 1113-1120 SN - 1938-2936 KW - scale insect KW - urban tree KW - pest management KW - maple (Acer) KW - herbivory ER - TY - JOUR TI - Effects of Carrion Relocation on the Succession of Newly Arriving Adult Necrophilous Insects AU - Cruise, Angela AU - Kakumanu, Madhavi L AU - Watson, David W AU - Schal, Coby T2 - Journal of Medical Entomology AB - Ecological succession of necrophilous insects follows a predictable sequence, related to their differential attraction to changing odor profiles associated with carrion and colonizing insects. However, the dependency of insect arrival on the duration of the carrion's residency at a location has not been investigated. To assess the fidelity of necrophilous insects to carrion of specific decomposition ages, independent of its location, we monitored the decomposition of neonate pigs in one field and then simultaneously relocated carcasses of different decomposition ages to an ecologically similar but remote field. We examined the effects of decomposition age and relocation on the assembly of the necrophilous insect community, using a novel vented-chamber trap, which excluded all sensory cues except odors. Community composition differed over a 4-d decomposition period, showing that insects were differentially attracted to pigs of different decomposition ages. There was overall concordance between respective decomposition ages in the two fields, with similar relative abundances of taxa before and after transfer. Although different decomposition ages continued to attract different insects, differentiation of the necrophilous insect communities relative to the age of decomposition was less pronounced after transfer. The results of this study demonstrate that translocating a decomposing body to a new, but geographically and ecologically similar location continues the predicted insect succession, albeit with greater variance, based on olfactory cues alone. Several rare taxa were sampled only prior to relocation, including the first documentation of the invasive hairy maggot blow fly, Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), in central North Carolina. DA - 2019/9/27/ PY - 2019/9/27/ DO - 10.1093/jme/tjz164 VL - 9 LA - en OP - SN - 0022-2585 1938-2928 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjz164 DB - Crossref KW - sampling KW - biodiversity KW - ecology and behavior KW - forensic entomology ER - TY - JOUR TI - The impact of local population genetic background on the spread of the selfish element Medea‐1 in red flour beetles AU - Cash, Sarah A. AU - Robert, Michael A. AU - Lorenzen, Marcé D. AU - Gould, Fred T2 - Ecology and Evolution AB - Selfish genetic elements have been found in the genomes of many species, yet our understanding of their evolutionary dynamics is only partially understood. A number of distinct selfish Medea elements are naturally present in many populations of the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum). Although these Medea elements are predicted by models to increase in frequency within populations because any offspring of a Medea-bearing mother that do not inherit at least one Medea allele will die, experiments demonstrating an increase in a naturally occurring Medea element are lacking. Our survey of the specific Medea element, M1, in the United States showed that it had a patchy geographic distribution. From the survey, it could not be determined if this distribution was caused by a slow process of M1 colonization of discrete populations or if some populations lacked M1 because they had genetic factors conferring resistance to the Medea mechanism. We show that populations with naturally low to intermediate M1 frequencies likely represent transient states during the process of Medea spread. Furthermore, we find no evidence that genetic factors are excluding M1 from US populations where the element is not presently found. We also show how a known suppressor of Medea can impair the increase of M1 in populations and discuss the implications of our findings for pest-management applications of Medea elements. DA - 2019/12/19/ PY - 2019/12/19/ DO - 10.1002/ece3.5946 VL - 10 IS - 2 SP - 863-874 J2 - Ecology and Evolution LA - en OP - SN - 2045-7758 2045-7758 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5946 DB - Crossref KW - gene drive KW - maternal effect KW - Medea KW - selfish genetic element ER - TY - JOUR TI - BITES, CAMERA, ACTION ... AU - Smith, Adrian T2 - NATURE AB - By making videos about the first steps of his research, Adrian Smith has realized the production value of his science. By making videos about the first steps of his research, Adrian Smith has realized the production value of his science. DA - 2019/12/12/ PY - 2019/12/12/ DO - 10.1038/d41586-019-03555-8 VL - 576 IS - 7786 SP - 327-328 SN - 1476-4687 ER - TY - JOUR TI - FIRST RECORD OF MANSONIA DYARI FROM SAINT CROIX, UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS AU - Seger, Krystal R. AU - Drummond, Aubrey, II AU - Delgado, David AU - Day, Corey A. AU - Sither, Charles B. AU - Soghigian, John AU - Wiegmann, Brian M. AU - Reiskind, Michael H. AU - Ellis, Brett R. AU - Byrd, Brian D. T2 - JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION AB - The first report of Mansonia dyari on Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands (USVI), is confirmed. Adult and larval specimens were collected in 2018 and 2019 through adult surveillance and larval collections. Specimens were identified by microscopic methods, and a representative specimen was confirmed by DNA sequencing (mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I). Morphological features are reviewed and compared with Mansonia flaveola, a species previously reported in the USVI. Notes are provided on the locations, collection methods, and mosquito associates found with Ma. dyari in the USVI. DA - 2019/9// PY - 2019/9// DO - 10.2987/19-6859.1 VL - 35 IS - 3 SP - 214-216 SN - 1943-6270 KW - Caribbean KW - distribution KW - Mansonia dyari KW - surveillance ER - TY - JOUR TI - SureSelect targeted enrichment, a new cost effective method for the whole genome sequencing of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus AU - Cai, Weili AU - Nunziata, Schyler AU - Rascoe, John AU - Stulberg, Michael J. T2 - SCIENTIFIC REPORTS AB - Abstract Huanglongbing (HLB) is a worldwide deadly citrus disease caused by the phloem-limited bacteria ‘ Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ ( C Las) vectored by Asian citrus psyllids. In order to effectively manage this disease, it is crucial to understand the relationship among the bacterial isolates from different geographical locations. Whole genome sequencing approaches will provide more precise molecular characterization of the diversity among populations. Due to the lack of in vitro culture, obtaining the whole genome sequence of C Las is still a challenge, especially for medium to low titer samples. Hundreds of millions of sequencing reads are needed to get good coverage of C Las from an HLB positive citrus sample. In order to overcome this limitation, we present here a new method, Agilent SureSelect XT HS target enrichment, which can specifically enrich C Las from a metagenomic sample while greatly reducing cost and increasing whole genome coverage of the pathogen. In this study, the C Las genome was successfully sequenced with 99.3% genome coverage and over 72X sequencing coverage from low titer tissue samples (equivalent to 28.52 Cq using Li 16 S qPCR). More importantly, this method also effectively captures regions of diversity in the C Las genome, which provides precise molecular characterization of different strains. DA - 2019/12/12/ PY - 2019/12/12/ DO - 10.1038/s41598-019-55144-4 VL - 9 SP - SN - 2045-2322 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Spread of the famine lineage of Phytophthora infestans into the African and Asian continents AU - Saville, Amanda C AU - Ristaino, Jean T2 - Plant Health 2019 DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// ER - TY - CONF TI - Noninvasive diagnosis of tomato late blight via smartphone fingerprinting of leaf volatiles AU - Li, Zheng AU - Paul, Rajesh AU - Tis, Taleb Ba AU - Saville, Amanda AU - Hansel, Jeana AU - Ristaino, Jean AU - Wei, Qingshan T2 - AMER CHEMICAL SOC 1155 16TH ST, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036 USA C2 - 2019/// C3 - ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY DA - 2019/// VL - 257 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Non-invasive plant disease diagnostics enabled by smartphone-based fingerprinting of leaf volatiles AU - Li, Zheng AU - Paul, Rajesh AU - Tis, Taleb Ba AU - Saville, Amanda C AU - Hansel, Jeana C AU - Yu, Tao AU - Ristaino, Jean B AU - Wei, Qingshan T2 - Nature plants DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// VL - 5 IS - 8 SP - 856-866 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Phytophthora acaciae sp. nov., a new species causing gummosis of black wattle in Brazil AU - Alves, Tatiane C Albuquerque AU - Tessmann, Dauri J AU - Ivors, Kelly L AU - Ristaino, Jean B AU - Santos, Álvaro F T2 - Mycologia DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// SP - 1-11 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Genomic microsatellites evidence species diversity and origin of Peronospora tabacina, an important pathogen of tobacco AU - Nowicki, Marcin AU - Hadziabdic, Denita AU - Boggess, Sarah L AU - Runge, Fabian AU - Thines, Marco AU - Ristaino, Jean AU - Spring, Otmar AU - Trigiano, Robert N T2 - Plant Health 2019 DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// ER - TY - JOUR TI - Evaluation of a strain of Bacillus subtilis for management of Phytophthora blight of bell pepper AU - Hansel, Jeana AU - Ristaino, Jean T2 - Plant Health 2019 DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// ER - TY - JOUR TI - Detection of Phytophthora infestans by LAMP, real-time LAMP and droplet digital PCR AU - Ristaino, Jean Beagle AU - Saville, Amanda AU - Paul, Rajesh AU - Cooper, Donald AU - Wei, Qingshan T2 - Plant Disease DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// IS - ja ER - TY - JOUR TI - A Smartphone-Based Volatile Sensor Platform for Noninvasive Detection of Plant Pathogens AU - Li, Zheng AU - Paul, Rajesh AU - Tis, Taleb Ba AU - Saville, Amanda C AU - Hansel, Jeana AU - Ristaino, Jean AU - Wei, Qingshan T2 - Plant Health 2019 DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// ER - TY - CONF TI - Minimally Invasive Extraction of Plant DNA Via a Polymeric Microneedle Patch for on-Site Detection of Plant Pathogens AU - Paul, Rajesh AU - Saville, Amanda AU - Hansel, Jeana AU - Ye, Yanqi AU - Ball, Carmin AU - Williams, Alyssa AU - Chang, Xinyuan AU - Chen, Guojun AU - Gu, Zhen AU - Ristaino, Jean AU - others T2 - AIChE C2 - 2019/// C3 - 2019 AIChE Annual Meeting DA - 2019/// ER - TY - JOUR TI - Microneedle-based Rapid Plant DNA Extraction: Towards In-Field Detection of Plant Pathogens AU - Paul, Rajesh AU - Saville, Amanda C AU - Hansel, Jeana AU - Ye, Yanqi AU - Ball, Carmin AU - Williams, Alyssa AU - Xinyuan, Xinyuan AU - Chen, Guojun AU - Gu, Zhen AU - Ristaino, Jean AU - others T2 - Plant Health 2019 DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// ER - TY - JOUR TI - Spread of Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin accumulation in postharvested maize treated with biocontrol products AU - Kinyungu, Sharon AU - Isakeit, Tom AU - Ojiambo, Peter S. AU - Woloshuk, Charles P. T2 - Journal of Stored Products Research AB - Maize is a major staple crop and calorie source for many people living in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this region, Aspergillus flavus causes ear rot in maize, contributing to food insecurity due to aflatoxin contamination. The biological control principle of competitive exclusion has been applied in both the United States and Africa to reduce aflatoxin levels in maize grain at harvest by introducing atoxigenic strains that out-compete toxigenic strains. The goal of this study was to determine if the efficacy of preharvest biocontrol treatments carry over into the postharvest drying period, the time between harvest and the point when grain moisture is safe for storage. In Sub-Sahara Africa, this period often is extended by weather and the complexities of postharvest drying practices. Maize grain was collected from fields in Texas and North Carolina that were treated with commercial biocontrol products and untreated control fields. To simulate moisture conditions similar to those experienced by farmers during drying in Sub-Sahara Africa, we adjusted the grain to 20% moisture content and incubated it at 28 °C for 6 days. Although the initial number of kernels infected by fungal species was high in most samples, less than 24% of kernels were infected with Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin levels were low (<4 ppb). Both toxigenic and atoxigenic strains grew and spread through the grain over the incubation period, and aflatoxin levels increased, even in samples from biocontrol-treated fields. Our molecular analysis suggests that applied biocontrol strains from treated fields may have migrated to untreated fields. These results also indicate that the population of toxigenic A. flavus in the harvested grain will increase and produce aflatoxin during the drying period when moisture is high. Therefore, we conclude that preharvest biocontrol applications will not replace the need for better postharvest practices that reduce the drying time between harvest and storage. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1016/j.jspr.2019.101519 VL - 84 SP - 101519 KW - Aspergillus flavus KW - Aflatoxin KW - Afla-guard KW - AF36 KW - Aflasafe KW - Postharvest KW - Maize ER - TY - JOUR TI - Interplay between Developmental Flexibility and Determinism in the Evolution of Mimetic Heliconius Wing Patterns AU - Concha, Carolina AU - Wallbank, Richard W.R. AU - Hanly, Joseph J. AU - Fenner, Jennifer AU - Livraghi, Luca AU - Rivera, Edgardo Santiago AU - Paulo, Daniel F. AU - Arias, Carlos AU - Vargas, Marta AU - Sanjeev, Manu AU - Morrison, Colin AU - Tian, David AU - Aguirre, Paola AU - Ferrara, Sabrina AU - Foley, Jessica AU - Pardo-Diaz, Carolina AU - Salazar, Camilo AU - Linares, Mauricio AU - Massardo, Darli AU - Counterman, Brian A. AU - Scott, Maxwell J. AU - Jiggins, Chris D. AU - Papa, Riccardo AU - Martin, Arnaud AU - McMillan, W. Owen T2 - Current Biology AB - To what extent can we predict how evolution occurs? Do genetic architectures and developmental processes canalize the evolution of similar outcomes in a predictable manner? Or do historical contingencies impose alternative pathways to answer the same challenge? Examples of Müllerian mimicry between distantly related butterfly species provide natural replicates of evolution, allowing us to test whether identical wing patterns followed parallel or novel trajectories. Here, we explore the role that the signaling ligand WntA plays in generating mimetic wing patterns in Heliconius butterflies, a group with extraordinary mimicry-related wing pattern diversity. The radiation is relatively young, and numerous cases of wing pattern mimicry have evolved within the last 2.5-4.5 Ma. WntA is an important target of natural selection and is one of four major effect loci that underlie much of the pattern variation in the group. We used CRISPR/Cas9 targeted mutagenesis to generate WntA-deficient wings in 12 species and a further 10 intraspecific variants, including three co-mimetic pairs. In all tested butterflies, WntA knockouts affect pattern broadly and cause a shift among every possible scale cell type. Interestingly, the co-mimics lacking WntA were very different, suggesting that the gene networks that pattern a wing have diverged considerably among different lineages. Thus, although natural selection channeled phenotypic convergence, divergent developmental contexts between the two major Heliconius lineages opened different developmental routes to evolve resemblance. Consequently, even under very deterministic evolutionary scenarios, our results underscore a surprising unpredictability in the developmental paths underlying convergence in a recent radiation. DA - 2019/12// PY - 2019/12// DO - 10.1016/j.cub.2019.10.010 VL - 29 IS - 23 SP - 3996-4009.e4 J2 - Current Biology LA - en OP - SN - 0960-9822 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.10.010 DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Stand age and species traits alter the effects of understory removal on litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics in subtropical Eucalyptus plantations AU - Chen, Yuanqi AU - Zhang, Yanju AU - Cao, Jianbo AU - Fu, Shenglei AU - Hu, Shuijin AU - Wu, Jianping AU - Zhao, Jie AU - Liu, Zhanfeng T2 - GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION AB - Litter decomposition is a crucial ecological process that regulates nutrient cycling. However, the effects of understory plants and overstory trees on litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics are still poorly understood. We conducted understory plants removal and/or overstory trees removal to examine the resulting effects on litter decomposition and nutrient mineralization in two Eucalyptus plantations with contrasting ages (8-yr-old, 29-yr-old) in subtropical China. Litter bags containing naturally senesced leaves of either overstory Eucalyptus urophylla or understory Dicranopteris dichotoma were placed in field and periodically collected for analyses of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and calculation of mass loss. Our results showed that understory plants removal significantly reduced litter decomposition of E. urophylla in both plantations, but N and P mineralization were reduced only in the 8-yr-old plantation. In contrast, it reduced litter decomposition of D. dichotoma only in the 29-yr-old plantation, but had no effects on N and P mineralization in either plantation. In comparison, overstory tree removal did not have any effects on decomposition or mineralization of N and P of E. urophylla and D. dichotoma litters. These results indicate that the role of understory plants in mediating litter decomposition and nutrient mineralization is more important than overstory trees, and it can be altered by stand age and plant species. Our findings could facilitate the understanding of ecological processes of litter decomposition and nutrient mineralization in subtropical forest ecosystems. DA - 2019/10// PY - 2019/10// DO - 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00693 VL - 20 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Survey of Practices by Growers in the Virginia-Carolina Region Regarding Digging and Harvesting Peanut AU - Jordan, David L. AU - Hare, Andrew T. AU - Roberson, Gary T. AU - Ward, Jason AU - Shew, Barbara B. AU - Brandenburg, Rick L. AU - Anco, Dan AU - Thomas, James AU - Balota, Maria AU - Mehl, Hillary AU - Taylor, Sally T2 - CROP FORAGE & TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT AB - Core Ideas Harvesting peanut requires approximately twice as much time to complete as the time required for digging peanut. Fifty-six percent of growers predicted when optimum yield would occur based on the sample provided within the recommended timeframe. Reported yield was positively correlated with the use of prohexadione calcium. DA - 2019/11/27/ PY - 2019/11/27/ DO - 10.2134/cftm2019.07.0057 VL - 5 IS - 1 SP - SN - 2374-3832 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Structural and functional insights into the Diabrotica virgifera virgifera ATP-binding cassette transporter gene family AU - Adedipe, Folukemi AU - Grubbs, Nathaniel AU - Coates, Brad AU - Wiegmman, Brian AU - Lorenzen, Marcé T2 - BMC Genomics AB - Abstract Background The western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera , is a pervasive pest of maize in North America and Europe, which has adapted to current pest management strategies. In advance of an assembled and annotated D. v. virgifera genome, we developed transcriptomic resources to use in identifying candidate genes likely to be involved in the evolution of resistance, starting with members of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter family. Results In this study, 65 putative D. v. virgifera ABC ( Dvv ABC) transporters were identified within a combined transcriptome assembly generated from embryonic, larval, adult male, and adult female RNA-sequence libraries. Phylogenetic analysis placed the deduced amino-acid sequences of the Dvv ABC transporters into eight subfamilies (A to H). To supplement our sequence data with functional analysis, we identified orthologs of Tribolium castaneum ABC genes which had previously been shown to exhibit overt RNA interference (RNAi) phenotypes. We identified eight such D. v. virgifera genes, and found that they were functionally similar to their T. castaneum counterparts. Interestingly, depletion of DvvABCB_39715 and DvvABCG_3712 transcripts in adult females produced detrimental reproductive and developmental phenotypes, demonstrating the potential of these genes as targets for RNAi-mediated insect control tactics. Conclusions By combining sequence data from four libraries covering three distinct life stages, we have produced a relatively comprehensive de novo transcriptome assembly for D. v. virgifera . Moreover, we have identified 65 members of the ABC transporter family and provided the first insights into the developmental and physiological roles of ABC transporters in this pest species. DA - 2019/11/27/ PY - 2019/11/27/ DO - 10.1186/s12864-019-6218-8 VL - 20 IS - 1 SP - J2 - BMC Genomics LA - en OP - SN - 1471-2164 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12864-019-6218-8 DB - Crossref KW - ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter KW - Phylogenetic KW - Transcriptome KW - RNA interference (RNAi) KW - Corn rootworm ER - TY - JOUR TI - Sensitivity of the US Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici Population to Demethylation Inhibitor Fungicides AU - Meyers, Emily AU - Arellano, Consuelo AU - Cowger, Christina T2 - PLANT DISEASE AB - Wheat powdery mildew, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, is managed in the United States with cultivar resistance and foliar fungicides. Despite high levels of fungicide sensitivity in other cereal mildew populations, fungicide sensitivity of U.S. B. graminis f. sp. tritici has never been evaluated. Almost 400 B. graminis f. sp. tritici isolates were collected from 15 U.S. states over 2 years and phenotyped for sensitivity to two widely used demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides, tebuconazole and prothioconazole. A large range of sensitivity to both DMIs was observed, with more insensitive isolates originating from the eastern United States (Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast regions) and more sensitive isolates from central states (Plains region, Arkansas, and Missouri). Cross-resistance was indicated by a positive although weak association between tebuconazole and prothioconazole sensitivities at all levels of analysis (EC 50 values, P < 0.0001). A possible fitness cost was also associated with prothioconazole insensitivity (P = 0.0307) when analyzed at the state population level. This is the first assessment of fungicide sensitivity in the U.S. B. graminis f. sp. tritici population, and it produced evidence of regional selection for reduced DMI efficacy. The observation of reduced sensitivity to DMI fungicides in the eastern United States underlines the importance of rotating between chemistry classes to maintain the effectiveness of DMIs in U.S. wheat production. Although cross-resistance was demonstrated, variability in the relationship of EC 50 values for tebuconazole and prothioconazole also suggests that multiple mechanisms influence B. graminis f. sp. tritici isolate responses to these two DMI fungicides. DA - 2019/12// PY - 2019/12// DO - 10.1094/PDIS-04-19-0715-RE VL - 103 IS - 12 SP - 3108-3116 UR - https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-04-19-0715-RE ER - TY - JOUR TI - A thrips vector of tomato spotted wilt virus responds to tomato acylsugar chemical diversity with reduced oviposition and virus inoculation AU - Ben-Mahmoud, Sulley AU - Anderson, Taylor AU - Chappell, Thomas M. AU - Smeda, John R. AU - Mutschler, Martha A. AU - Kennedy, George G. AU - De Jong, Darlene M. AU - Ullman, Diane E. T2 - Scientific Reports AB - Abstract There is increasing evidence that acylsugars deter insect pests and plant virus vectors, including the western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), vector of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). Acylsugars are sugar-polyesters composed of saturated, un-saturated, and variously branched short and long chain fatty acids (FAs) esterified to a glucose (acylglucose) or sucrose (acylsucrose) moiety. We sought to understand how acylsucrose amount and composition of associated FA profiles interacted to mediate resistance to WFT oviposition and TSWV inoculation on tomato leaves. Towards this goal, we examined WFT oviposition and TSWV inoculation behavior on tomato lines bred to exude varying amounts of acylsucrose in association with diverse FA profiles. Our data show that as acylsucrose amounts increased, WFT egg-laying (oviposition) decreased and TSWV inoculation was suppressed. Western flower thrips also responded to FA profiles that included iC4, iC11, nC12 and nC10 FA. These findings support improving acylsugar-mediated resistance against WFT by breeding tomatoes exuding greater amounts of acylsucrose associated with specific FA profiles. We show that increasing acylsucrose amount output by type IV trichomes and selecting for particular FA profiles through advanced breeding profoundly affects WFT behavior in ways that benefit management of WFT as direct pests and as TSWV vectors. DA - 2019/11/20/ PY - 2019/11/20/ DO - 10.1038/s41598-019-53473-y VL - 9 IS - 1 SP - J2 - Sci Rep LA - en OP - SN - 2045-2322 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-53473-y DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Diet is not the primary driver of bacterial community structure in the gut of litter-feeding cockroaches AU - Lampert, Niclas AU - Mikaelyan, Aram AU - Brune, Andreas T2 - BMC MICROBIOLOGY AB - Diet is a major determinant of bacterial community structure in termite guts, but evidence of its importance in the closely related cockroaches is conflicting. Here, we investigated the ecological drivers of the bacterial gut microbiota in cockroaches that feed on lignocellulosic leaf litter.The physicochemical conditions determined with microsensors in the guts of Ergaula capucina, Pycnoscelus surinamensis, and Byrsotria rothi were similar to those reported for both wood-feeding and omnivorous cockroaches. All gut compartments were anoxic at the center and showed a slightly acidic to neutral pH and variable but slightly reducing conditions. Hydrogen accumulated only in the crop of B. rothi. High-throughput amplicon sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes documented that community structure in individual gut compartments correlated strongly with the respective microenvironmental conditions. A comparison of the hindgut microbiota of cockroaches and termites from different feeding groups revealed that the vast majority of the core taxa in cockroaches with a lignocellulosic diet were present also in omnivorous cockroaches but absent in wood-feeding higher termites.Our results indicate that diet is not the primary driver of bacterial community structure in the gut of wood- and litter-feeding cockroaches. The high similarity to the gut microbiota of omnivorous cockroaches suggests that the dietary components that are actually digested do not differ fundamentally between feeding groups. DA - 2019/10/30/ PY - 2019/10/30/ DO - 10.1186/s12866-019-1601-9 VL - 19 IS - 1 SP - SN - 1471-2180 UR - https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6864750 KW - Insects KW - Gut microbiota KW - Deep sequencing KW - Cockroaches KW - Lignocellulose ER - TY - JOUR TI - Electropermeabilization-based fluorescence in situ hybridization of whole-mount plant parasitic nematode specimens AU - Ruark-Seward, Casey L. AU - Davis, Eric L. AU - Sit, Tim L. T2 - METHODSX AB - A fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) protocol was developed for nematodes in which nucleic acid probes are introduced within the organism via electroporation. This modification of existing FISH protocols removes numerous chemical wash steps, and thus, reduces protocol time and specimen loss while improving hybridization sensitivity. The presented work is optimized for juveniles of soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines) and has been used to identify both host and associated-microbial (viral) targets. Moreover, through the use of two different long wavelength fluorophores, two probes can be colocalized within one individual. This protocol may be adapted to identify targets-of-interest within other life stages and nematode species.This protocol improves:•Hands-on protocol time (by approximately 1.5 h).•Specimen loss (fewer aspiration steps).•Hybridization (allows colocalization with two nucleic acid probes and increases sensitivity). DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1016/j.mex.2019.11.009 VL - 6 SP - 2720-2728 SN - 2215-0161 UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85075266069&partnerID=MN8TOARS KW - Nematode KW - RNA KW - FISH KW - Localization KW - Fluorescence KW - Gene expression KW - Virus ER - TY - JOUR TI - Identification of QTL for Target Leaf Spot resistance in Sorghum bicolor and investigation of relationships between disease resistance and variation in the MAMP response AU - Kimball, Jennifer AU - Cui, Yaya AU - Chen, Dongqin AU - Brown, Pat AU - Rooney, William L. AU - Stacey, Gary AU - Balint-Kurti, Peter J. T2 - Scientific Reports AB - Target leaf spot (TLS) of sorghum, a foliar disease caused by the necrotrophic fungus Bipolaris cookei (also known as Bipolaris sorghicola), can affect grain yield in sorghum by causing premature drying of leaves and defoliation. Two sorghum recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations, BTx623/BTx642 and BTx623/SC155-14E, were assessed for TLS resistance in replicated trials. Using least square mean trait data, four TLS resistance QTL were identified, two in each population. Of these, three were previously unidentified while a major QTL on chromosome 5 in the BTx623/BTx642 RIL population corresponded to the previously identified TLS resistance gene ds1. A set of sorghum lines were assessed for production of reactive oxygen species induced by treatment with the microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP) flg22 (a derivative of flagellin). Flg22-induced ROS production varied between lines in a consistent fashion. One QTL associated with variation in the flg22 response was detected in the RIL populations. No evidence was found to link variation in the MAMP response to variation in TLS resistance. DA - 2019/12/4/ PY - 2019/12/4/ DO - 10.1038/s41598-019-54802-x VL - 9 IS - 1 J2 - Sci Rep LA - en OP - SN - 2045-2322 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-54802-x DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Effects of global change factors and living roots on root litter decomposition in a Qinghai-Tibet alpine meadow AU - Shu, Meng AU - Zhao, Qingzhou AU - Li, Zhen AU - Zhang, Lin AU - Wang, Peng AU - Hu, Shuijin T2 - SCIENTIFIC REPORTS AB - Roots account for a major part of plant biomass in Tibetan alpine meadows. Understanding root decomposition with global change is key to predict carbon (C) and nutrient dynamics on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Yet, few experiments have carefully examined root decomposition as influenced by global change. We conducted a field study to investigate the effects of nitrogen (N) addition, air warming, precipitation change, and the presence/absence of living roots on root decomposition in a Tibetan alpine meadow. Our results showed that N addition increased the mass and C remaining, and induced N accumulation in the litter. Increased precipitation significantly amplified the positive effect of N addition on litter mass remaining. The presence of alive roots in the litterbags decreased root litter C remaining but significantly increased N and phosphorus remaining of the litter. However, we did not find any significant effects of air warming on the litter decomposition. In the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, N deposition is predicted to increase and precipitation regime is predicted to change. Our results suggest that the interaction between increased N and precipitation may reduce root decomposition in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the future, and that the large stock of living roots exert a dominant impact on nutrient dynamics of root decomposition in the Tibetan alpine systems. DA - 2019/11/15/ PY - 2019/11/15/ DO - 10.1038/s41598-019-53450-5 VL - 9 SP - SN - 2045-2322 ER - TY - JOUR TI - A Plethora of Fungi: Teaching a Middle School Unit on Fungi AU - Green, K.E. AU - Roller, C. AU - Cubeta, M.A. T2 - Science Activities AB - While fungi play a vital role in Earth's ecosystems, they are not highlighted in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). This article contains a unit plan to introduce students to the fungal kingdom, characteristics of fungi, and their role as decomposers. The unit plan is written in a 5E model format and can be adjusted for any type of lesson planning format. Students explore fungi through hands-on activities, a jigsaw activity that makes use of collaborative learning, and analysis of case studies. Teachers can use this unit without a strong background in mycology, the study of fungi, or costly materials. A summative assessment is included at the end of the unit plan. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1080/00368121.2019.1682961 VL - 56 IS - 2 SP - 52-62 SN - 1940-1302 UR - https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/vsca20. KW - Fungi KW - case study KW - middle school science ER - TY - JOUR TI - Locally Fixed Alleles: A method to localize gene drive to island populations AU - Sudweeks, Jaye AU - Hollingsworth, Brandon AU - Blondel, Dimitri V AU - Campbell, Karl J. AU - Dhole, Sumit AU - Eisemann, John D. AU - Edwards, Owain AU - Godwin, John AU - Howald, Gregg R. AU - Oh, Kevin P. AU - Piaggio, Antoinette J. AU - Prowse, Thomas A. A. AU - Ross, Joshua V AU - Saah, J. Royden AU - Shiels, Aaron B. AU - Thomas, Paul Q. AU - Threadgill, David W. AU - Vella, Michael R. AU - Gould, Fred AU - Lloyd, Alun L. T2 - SCIENTIFIC REPORTS AB - Abstract Invasive species pose a major threat to biodiversity on islands. While successes have been achieved using traditional removal methods, such as toxicants aimed at rodents, these approaches have limitations and various off-target effects on island ecosystems. Gene drive technologies designed to eliminate a population provide an alternative approach, but the potential for drive-bearing individuals to escape from the target release area and impact populations elsewhere is a major concern. Here we propose the “Locally Fixed Alleles” approach as a novel means for localizing elimination by a drive to an island population that exhibits significant genetic isolation from neighboring populations. Our approach is based on the assumption that in small island populations of rodents, genetic drift will lead to alleles at multiple genomic loci becoming fixed. In contrast, multiple alleles are likely to be maintained in larger populations on mainlands. Utilizing the high degree of genetic specificity achievable using homing drives, for example based on the CRISPR/Cas9 system, our approach aims at employing one or more locally fixed alleles as the target for a gene drive on a particular island. Using mathematical modeling, we explore the feasibility of this approach and the degree of localization that can be achieved. We show that across a wide range of parameter values, escape of the drive to a neighboring population in which the target allele is not fixed will at most lead to modest transient suppression of the non-target population. While the main focus of this paper is on elimination of a rodent pest from an island, we also discuss the utility of the locally fixed allele approach for the goals of population suppression or population replacement. Our analysis also provides a threshold condition for the ability of a gene drive to invade a partially resistant population. DA - 2019/11/1/ PY - 2019/11/1/ DO - 10.1038/s41598-019-51994-0 VL - 9 SP - SN - 2045-2322 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Estimating Epidemic Incidence and Prevalence from Genomic Data AU - Vaughan, Timothy G. AU - Leventhal, Gabriel E. AU - Rasmussen, David A. AU - Drummond, Alexei J. AU - Welch, David AU - Stadler, Tanja T2 - MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION AB - Abstract Modern phylodynamic methods interpret an inferred phylogenetic tree as a partial transmission chain providing information about the dynamic process of transmission and removal (where removal may be due to recovery, death, or behavior change). Birth–death and coalescent processes have been introduced to model the stochastic dynamics of epidemic spread under common epidemiological models such as the SIS and SIR models and are successfully used to infer phylogenetic trees together with transmission (birth) and removal (death) rates. These methods either integrate analytically over past incidence and prevalence to infer rate parameters, and thus cannot explicitly infer past incidence or prevalence, or allow such inference only in the coalescent limit of large population size. Here, we introduce a particle filtering framework to explicitly infer prevalence and incidence trajectories along with phylogenies and epidemiological model parameters from genomic sequences and case count data in a manner consistent with the underlying birth–death model. After demonstrating the accuracy of this method on simulated data, we use it to assess the prevalence through time of the early 2014 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. DA - 2019/8// PY - 2019/8// DO - 10.1093/molbev/msz106 VL - 36 IS - 8 SP - 1804-1816 SN - 1537-1719 KW - phylodynamics KW - particle filter KW - epidemiology KW - Bayesian phylogenetics ER - TY - JOUR TI - Control of Filth Flies, Cochliomyia macellaria (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae), and Sarcophaga bullata (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), Using Novel Plant-Derived Methyl Ketones AU - Deguenon, Jean M AU - Zhu, Jiwei AU - Denning, Steven AU - Reiskind, Michael H AU - Watson, David W AU - Roe, R Michael T2 - Journal of Medical Entomology AB - Abstract Filth flies live in close proximity to humans and livestock and transmit pathogens. Current control relies on chemical insecticides, and flies can develop resistance to these insecticides. The public is also interested in natural and safer insecticides. Therefore, alternative pesticides compatible with the synanthropic nature of flies are needed. Four plant aliphatic methyl ketones were evaluated for control of adult house flies, Musca domestica L., blow flies, Cochliomyia macellaria (F.), and gray flesh flies, Sarcophaga bullata (Parker). In sealed petri dish assays, 2-heptanone, 2-octanone, 2-nonanone, and 2-undecanone exhibited fumigant activity against house flies with 24-h LC50s of 6.9, 7.5, 8.0, and 9.2 µg/cm3, respectively. Further research focused on undecanone (a U.S. EPA-registered biopesticide). When tested in larger enclosures at 1.7, 2.3, and 2.8 µg/cm3, undecanone provided 60.4, 82.2, and 94.4% house fly mortality; 56.9, 75.6, and 92.5% flesh fly mortality; and 62.1, 84.5, and 97.9% blow fly mortality, respectively, after a 2-h exposure. In a two-choice behavioral assay with 194.6 µg/cm2 of the test compound on the treatment versus an untreated surface of the same area, the overall mean repellencies for blow flies were 84.7% for undecanone versus 87.6% for N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET). For house flies, mean repellencies were 80.7% for undecanone and 84.9% for DEET. The house fly topical LD50 for undecanone was 58.1 µg per fly. Undecanone was far less expensive for filth fly control than the gold standard for insect fumigation, methyl bromide. DA - 2019/6/26/ PY - 2019/6/26/ DO - 10.1093/jme/tjz107 VL - 56 IS - 6 SP - 1704-1714 LA - en OP - SN - 0022-2585 1938-2928 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjz107 DB - Crossref KW - fumigant KW - repellent KW - methyl ketone KW - 2-undecanone KW - methyl bromide ER - TY - JOUR TI - Comparative Vector Efficiency of Two Prevalent Mosquito Species for Dog Heartworm in North Carolina AU - Spence Beaulieu, Meredith R AU - Reiskind, Michael H T2 - Journal of Medical Entomology AB - Abstract The dog heartworm, Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy) (Spirurida: Onchocercidae), is a devastating parasite of domestic and wild canines vectored by a multitude of mosquito species. Although many species are implicated as vectors, not all contribute equally to disease transmission, with demonstrated variation in vector efficiency between and within species. We investigated the vector efficiency of mosquitoes derived from wild-caught North Carolina populations of two known heartworm vectors: a native species, Aedes triseriatus (Say) (Diptera: Culicidae), and an invasive species, Aedes albopictus (Skuse). We compared the parasite developmental times within the mosquito, mosquito longevity and fecundity, and the vector efficiency index between the two species. We found that the tested composite North Carolina population of Ae. triseriatus was an efficient vector of D. immitis under laboratory conditions, whereas the local composite population of Ae. albopictus was a competent but relatively poor vector. Compared with Ae. triseriatus, Ae. albopictus showed a longer time for parasite development, lower infection rates, and lower vector efficiency. Additionally, Ae. albopictus was the sole species to exhibit significant parasite-induced mortality. These results are in contrast to prior studies of populations of Ae. albopictus from locations outside of North Carolina, which have implicated the species as a highly competent heartworm vector. The variation seen for different strains of the same species emphasizes the heritable nature of D. immitis vector competence and highlights the need for local infection studies for accurate transmission risk assessment in a particular locale. DA - 2019/11/5/ PY - 2019/11/5/ DO - 10.1093/jme/tjz190 VL - 11 LA - en OP - SN - 0022-2585 1938-2928 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjz190 DB - Crossref KW - Aedes albopictus KW - Aedes triseriatus KW - parasite-induced mortality KW - vector competence KW - Dirofilaria immitis ER - TY - JOUR TI - Quantifying MAMP-induced Production of Reactive Oxygen Species in Sorghum and Maize AU - Samira, Rozalynne AU - Zhang, Xinye AU - Kimball, Jennifer AU - Cui, Yaya AU - Stacey, Gary AU - Balint-Kurti, Peter T2 - BIO-PROTOCOL DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.21769/bioprotoc.3304 VL - 9 IS - 14 J2 - BIO-PROTOCOL LA - en OP - SN - 2331-8325 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.21769/BioProtoc.3304 DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Analysis of leaf microbiome composition of near‐isogenic maize lines differing in broad‐spectrum disease resistance AU - Wagner, Maggie R. AU - Busby, Posy E. AU - Balint‐Kurti, Peter T2 - New Phytologist AB - Summary Plant genotype strongly affects disease resistance, and also influences the composition of the leaf microbiome. However, these processes have not been studied and linked in the microevolutionary context of breeding for improved disease resistance. We hypothesised that broad‐spectrum disease resistance alleles also affect colonisation by nonpathogenic symbionts. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring resistance to multiple fungal pathogens were introgressed into a disease‐susceptible maize inbred line. Bacterial and fungal leaf microbiomes of the resulting near‐isogenic lines were compared with the microbiome of the disease‐susceptible parent line at two time points in multiple fields. Introgression of QTL from disease‐resistant lines strongly shifted the relative abundance of diverse fungal and bacterial taxa in both 3‐wk‐old and 7‐wk‐old plants. Nevertheless, the effects on overall community structure and diversity were minor and varied among fields and years. Contrary to our expectations, host genotype effects were not any stronger in fields with high disease pressure than in uninfected fields, and microbiome succession over time was similar in heavily infected and uninfected plants. These results show that introgressed QTL can greatly improve broad‐spectrum disease resistance while having only limited and inconsistent pleiotropic effects on the leaf microbiome in maize. DA - 2019/11/26/ PY - 2019/11/26/ DO - 10.1111/nph.16284 VL - 225 IS - 5 SP - 2152-2165 J2 - New Phytol LA - en OP - SN - 0028-646X 1469-8137 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nph.16284 DB - Crossref KW - breeding KW - disease ecology KW - disease resistance KW - introgression KW - maize KW - microbiome KW - pathology KW - phyllosphere ER - TY - JOUR TI - Effectiveness of Fungicides and Their Application Timing for the Management of Sorghum Foliar Anthracnose in the Mid-Atlantic United States AU - Acharya, Bhupendra AU - Thomas N. O'Quinn, AU - Everman, Wesley AU - Mehl, Hillary L. T2 - PLANT DISEASE AB - Sorghum anthracnose (Colletotrichum sublineola) reduces grain yield up to 50% but suggested management tactics have not yet been developed for the mid-Atlantic United States, where warm, wet conditions favor disease. Under factorial arrangement, five fungicides plus a nontreated control and four application timings were compared for foliar anthracnose control, yield, and profitability of fungicide use in grain sorghum over eight site-years in Virginia and North Carolina. Anthracnose severity was rated at the hard dough stage, and grain yield was determined at harvest. Every percent increase in disease severity resulted in yield losses of 27 to 85 kg/ha. Pyraclostrobin and pyraclostrobin plus fluxapyroxad reduced anthracnose (P < 0.01), and three applications resulted in less disease and greater yield compared with single applications (P < 0.01). However, three applications exceed the labeled maximum application for the fungicides and are not economical. Among single applications, boot or flowering timings reduced disease, and flowering applications resulted in the overall greatest yield. Results suggest that when disease onset occurs at or prior to boot, a single application of pyraclostrobin-containing fungicide at or just prior to flowering reduces anthracnose, protects yield, and increases income. However, when disease is absent or severity is low prior to flowering, fungicide application may not be profitable. DA - 2019/11// PY - 2019/11// DO - 10.1094/PDIS-10-18-1867-RE VL - 103 IS - 11 SP - 2804-2811 SN - 1943-7692 KW - chemical KW - economic impacts KW - field crops KW - fungi ER - TY - JOUR TI - Dominant, Heritable Resistance to Stewart’s Wilt in Maize Is Associated with an Enhanced Vascular Defense Response to Infection with Pantoea stewartii AU - Doblas-Ibáñez, Paula AU - Deng, Kaiyue AU - Vasquez, Miguel F. AU - Giese, Laura AU - Cobine, Paul A. AU - Kolkman, Judith M. AU - King, Helen AU - Jamann, Tiffany M. AU - Balint-Kurti, Peter AU - De La Fuente, Leonardo AU - Nelson, Rebecca J. AU - Mackey, David AU - Smith, Laurie G. T2 - Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® AB - Vascular wilt bacteria such as Pantoea stewartii, the causal agent of Stewart’s bacterial wilt of maize (SW), are destructive pathogens that are difficult to control. These bacteria colonize the xylem, where they form biofilms that block sap flow leading to characteristic wilting symptoms. Heritable forms of SW resistance exist and are used in maize breeding programs but the underlying genes and mechanisms are mostly unknown. Here, we show that seedlings of maize inbred lines with pan1 mutations are highly resistant to SW. However, current evidence suggests that other genes introgressed along with pan1 are responsible for resistance. Genomic analyses of pan1 lines were used to identify candidate resistance genes. In-depth comparison of P. stewartii interaction with susceptible and resistant maize lines revealed an enhanced vascular defense response in pan1 lines characterized by accumulation of electron-dense materials in xylem conduits visible by electron microscopy. We propose that this vascular defense response restricts P. stewartii spread through the vasculature, reducing both systemic bacterial colonization of the xylem network and consequent wilting. Though apparently unrelated to the resistance phenotype of pan1 lines, we also demonstrate that the effector WtsE is essential for P. stewartii xylem dissemination, show evidence for a nutritional immunity response to P. stewartii that alters xylem sap composition, and present the first analysis of maize transcriptional responses to P. stewartii infection. DA - 2019/12// PY - 2019/12// DO - 10.1094/MPMI-05-19-0129-R VL - 32 IS - 12 SP - 1581-1597 J2 - MPMI LA - en OP - SN - 0894-0282 1943-7706 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-05-19-0129-R DB - Crossref KW - bacterial pathogenesis KW - electron-dense materials KW - maize KW - Pantoea stewartii KW - plant responses to pathogens KW - secretion and cell wall changes KW - Stewart's bacterial wilt KW - type-3 secretion KW - vascular defense response KW - WtsE KW - xylem-dwelling bacteria ER - TY - JOUR TI - Aspartic acid racemization constrains long-term viability and longevity of endospores AU - Liang, Renxing AU - Lau, Maggie C Y AU - Baars, Oliver AU - Robb, Frank T AU - Onstott, Tullis C T2 - FEMS Microbiology Ecology AB - Certain microorganisms survive long periods of time as endospores to cope with adverse conditions. Since endospores are metabolically inactive, the extent of aspartic acid (Asp) racemization will increase over time and might kill the spores by preventing their germination. Therefore, understanding the relationship between endospore survivability and Asp racemization is important for constraining the long-term survivability and global dispersion of spore-forming bacteria in nature. Geobacillus stearothermophilus was selected as a model organism to investigate racemization kinetics and survivability of its endospores at 65°C, 75°C and 98°C. This study found that the Asp racemization rates of spores and autoclaved spores were similar at all temperatures. The Asp racemization rate of spores was not significantly different from that of vegetative cells at 65°C. The Asp racemization rate of G. stearothermophilus spores was not significantly different from that of Bacillus subtilis spores at 98°C. The viability of spores and vegetative cells decreased dramatically over time, and the mortality of spores correlated exponentially with the degree of racemization (R2 = 0.9). This latter correlation predicts spore half-lives on the order of hundreds of years for temperatures typical of shallow marine sediments, a result consistent with studies about the survivability of thermophilic spores found in these environments. DA - 2019/8/22/ PY - 2019/8/22/ DO - 10.1093/femsec/fiz132 VL - 95 IS - 10 SP - LA - en OP - SN - 0168-6496 1574-6941 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiz132 DB - Crossref KW - endospores KW - Geobacillus stearothermophilus KW - aspartic acid KW - racemization kinetics KW - survivability KW - vegetative cells ER - TY - JOUR TI - Phenotypic and Genetic Diversity of Xanthomonas perforans Populations from Tomato in North Carolina AU - Adhikari, Pragya AU - Adhikari, Tika B. AU - Timilsina, Sujan AU - Meadows, Inga AU - Jones, Jeffrey B. AU - Panthee, Dilip R. AU - Louws, Frank J. T2 - PHYTOPATHOLOGY AB - Bacterial spot caused by Xanthomonas spp. is one of the most devastating diseases of tomato in North Carolina (NC). In total, 290 strains of Xanthomonas spp. from tomato in NC collected over 2 years (2015 and 2016) were analyzed for phenotypic and genetic diversity. In vitro copper and streptomycin sensitivity assays revealed that >95% (n = 290) of the strains were copper tolerant in both years, whereas 25% (n = 127) and 46% (n = 163) were streptomycin tolerant in 2016 and 2015, respectively. Using BOX repetitive element PCR assay, fingerprint patterns showed four haplotypes (H1, H2, H3, and H4) among the strains analyzed. The multiplex real-time quantitative PCR on a subset of representative strains (n = 45) targeting the highly conserved hrcN gene identified Xanthomonas strains from tomato in NC that belonged to X. perforans. Race profiling of the representative strains (n = 45) on tomato and pepper differentials confirmed that ∼9 and 91% of strains are tomato races T3 and T4, respectively. Additionally, PCR assays and sequence alignments confirmed that the copL, copA, copB (copLAB copper tolerance gene cluster), and avrXv4 genes are present in the strains analyzed. Phylogenetic and comparative sequence analyses of six genomic regions (elongation factor G [fusA], glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase A [gapA], citrate synthase [gltA], gyrase subunit B [gyrB], ABC transporter sugar permease [lacF], and GTP binding protein [lepA]) suggested that 13 and 74% of X. perforans strains from NC were genetically similar to races T3 and T4 from Florida, respectively. Our results provide insights that bacterial spot management practices in tomato should focus on deploying resistance genes to combat emerging pathogenic races of X. perforans and overcome the challenges currently posed by intense use of copper-based bactericides. DA - 2019/9// PY - 2019/9// DO - 10.1094/PHYTO-01-19-0019-R VL - 109 IS - 9 SP - 1533-1543 SN - 1943-7684 KW - population biology ER - TY - JOUR TI - Registration of USDA-N6003LP Soybean Germplasm with Low Seed Phytate AU - Lee, Sungwoo AU - Sung, Mikyung AU - Locke, Anna AU - Taliercio, Earl AU - Whetten, Rebecca AU - Zhang, Bo AU - Carter, Thomas E., Jr. AU - Burton, Joseph W. AU - Mian, M. A. Rouf T2 - JOURNAL OF PLANT REGISTRATIONS AB - Soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] meal is the main source of protein in poultry and swine rations worldwide. Phytate, the main storage form of phosphorous in soybean meal, is largely indigestible by monogastric animals and, thus, a major concern both for nutrition and for environmental pollution. USDA‐N6003LP (Reg. no. GP‐435, PI 689999) is a low‐phytate (LP) determinate, lodging‐resistant early maturity group (MG) VI soybean germplasm developed and released jointly by the USDA‐ARS and the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service. USDA‐N6003LP is derived from a backcross (BC1) between recurrent parent ‘NC‐Roy’ and LP donor line USDA CX1834. NC‐Roy is a high‐yielding MG VI cultivar adapted to the southern United States. USDA‐N6003LP has 60% lower phytate and 4.8 times higher inorganic phosphorus (Pi) contents in its seed than the seed of NC‐Roy. It matures approximately 5 d earlier and has larger seed size and better lodging resistance ( P < 0.05) compared with NC‐Roy. Across 17 environments in the USDA Uniform Soybean Tests, Southern States and over four local yield trials in North Carolina, USDA‐N6003LP yielded 91 and 97% of NC‐Roy, respectively. Field emergences of this line in four tests in NC were 79 to 80% compared with 89 to 90% for NC‐Roy. USDA‐N6003LP is the first early MG VI LP germplasm release with good agronomic performance and relatively normal field emergence. It will be useful as parental stock for soybean breeders interested in developing LP soybean cultivars. DA - 2019/9// PY - 2019/9// DO - 10.3198/jpr2018.09.0064crg VL - 13 IS - 3 SP - 427-432 SN - 1940-3496 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Discovery of Novel Thrips Vector Proteins That Bind to the Viral Attachment Protein of the Plant Bunyavirus Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus AU - Badillo-Vargas, I.E. AU - Chen, Y. AU - Martin, K.M. AU - Rotenberg, D. AU - Whitfield, A.E. T2 - Journal of Virology AB - The plant-pathogenic virus tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) encodes a structural glycoprotein (GN) that, like with other bunyavirus/vector interactions, serves a role in viral attachment and possibly in entry into arthropod vector host cells. It is well documented that Frankliniella occidentalis is one of nine competent thrips vectors of TSWV transmission to plant hosts. However, the insect molecules that interact with viral proteins, such as GN, during infection and dissemination in thrips vector tissues are unknown. The goals of this project were to identify TSWV-interacting proteins (TIPs) that interact directly with TSWV GN and to localize the expression of these proteins in relation to virus in thrips tissues of principal importance along the route of dissemination. We report here the identification of six TIPs from first-instar larvae (L1), the most acquisition-efficient developmental stage of the thrips vector. Sequence analyses of these TIPs revealed homology to proteins associated with the infection cycle of other vector-borne viruses. Immunolocalization of the TIPs in L1 revealed robust expression in the midgut and salivary glands of F. occidentalis, the tissues most important during virus infection, replication, and plant inoculation. The TIPs and GN interactions were validated using protein-protein interaction assays. Two of the thrips proteins, endocuticle structural glycoprotein and cyclophilin, were found to be consistent interactors with GN These newly discovered thrips protein-GN interactions are important for a better understanding of the transmission mechanism of persistent propagative plant viruses by their vectors, as well as for developing new strategies of insect pest management and virus resistance in plants.IMPORTANCE Thrips-transmitted viruses cause devastating losses to numerous food crops worldwide. For negative-sense RNA viruses that infect plants, the arthropod serves as a host as well by supporting virus replication in specific tissues and organs of the vector. The goal of this work was to identify thrips proteins that bind directly to the viral attachment protein and thus may play a role in the infection cycle in the insect. Using the model plant bunyavirus tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), and the most efficient thrips vector, we identified and validated six TSWV-interacting proteins from Frankliniella occidentalis first-instar larvae. Two proteins, an endocuticle structural glycoprotein and cyclophilin, were able to interact directly with the TSWV attachment protein, GN, in insect cells. The TSWV GN-interacting proteins provide new targets for disrupting the viral disease cycle in the arthropod vector and could be putative determinants of vector competence. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1128/JVI.00699-19 VL - 93 IS - 21 SP - e00699-19 SN - 1098-5514 UR - https://doi.org/10.1101/416560 KW - Bunyavirales KW - insect vector KW - orthotospovirus KW - plant virology KW - thrips KW - vector biology KW - virus-vector interactions ER - TY - JOUR TI - Estimation of Lower Developmental Threshold and Degree Days for Pupal Development of Different Geographical Populations of Chinese Citrus Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in China AU - Ma, X. L. AU - Suiter, K. A. AU - Chen, Z. Z. AU - Niu, C. Y. T2 - JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY AB - The lower developmental threshold (LDT) and the number of developmental degree days (DDs) are fundamental parameters used to build phenology models that can be used to predict the timing of biological events during insect development. The Chinese citrus fly, Bactrocera minax (Enderlein) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is one of the most destructive citrus pest in China and Bhutan. This species overwinters as diapausing pupae in the soil before emerging as adults in the spring. In this study, B. minax collected from three representative geographical populations in China (Guizhou, Hubei, and Shaanxi) was used to conduct LDT experiments under laboratory conditions. Emergence data collected from pupae exposed to 10 constant temperatures was used to estimate the LDT and DDs required to complete pupal development for the three populations. The results show that LDT and DDs values for the Hubei and Shaanxi population are 11.9°C, 447.3 DDs and 11.5°C, 511.3 DDs, respectively. However, the geographic variation in pupal developmental rates was not statistically significant between the two populations. In addition, the Guizhou population was identified as a mixture of B. minax and B. tsuneonis (Miyake). The LDT and DDs values for the Hubei and Shaanxi populations obtained in this study can be used to predict adult emergence of naturally occurring field populations of B. minax within the majority of the citrus-growing production areas of China. These data can also be used in models to predict the risk of establishment of this species in the United States or other citrus-growing regions. DA - 2019/6// PY - 2019/6// DO - 10.1093/jee/toz040 VL - 112 IS - 3 SP - 1162-1166 SN - 1938-291X KW - Bactrocera minax KW - pupal development KW - lower developmental threshold KW - degree day ER - TY - JOUR TI - Effects of Temperature During Package Transportation on Queen Establishment and Survival in Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) AU - Withrow, James M. AU - Pettis, Jeffery S. AU - Tarpy, David R. T2 - JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY AB - Honey bee (Apis mellifera) (Linnaeus) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) queens, the reproductive female caste, are crucial for colony success, and many management problems that beekeepers face are related to their diminished reproductive quality and premature failure. Previous research has suggested that temperature extremes may affect the viability of stored sperm in queens’ spermathecae, thus the abiotic conditions of queens during transport may be germane to these problems. We recorded the temperatures experienced by queens during 2 yr of package transportation and tracked the newly installed colonies through establishment and buildup. During this critical 6–8 wk period, we observed typically high rates of queen failure (~25%) but found no indication that these postinstallation queen events were driven by temperature-related damage to stored sperm (an essential component of queen quality) incurred during transportation. We also found no indication of significant hot or cold zones across the truckloads of packages that would suggest a problem in how packages are insulated during transportation. However, we did observe significantly higher temperatures (31.2 vs. 29.9°C) and lower temperature variance (8.8 vs. 12.2) in queens that ultimately failed during the observation period, indicating that workers may respond differently to these queens in a way that manifests as more insulating clusters around queen cages. If so, then the collective process by which workers accept or reject a foreign queen may already be detectable even if it does not ultimately conclude until some weeks later. Nevertheless, it remains unclear why large numbers of otherwise high-quality queens are failing in newly installed packages. DA - 2019/6// PY - 2019/6// DO - 10.1093/jee/toz003 VL - 112 IS - 3 SP - 1043-1049 SN - 1938-291X KW - honey bee KW - queen failure KW - package KW - transportation ER - TY - JOUR TI - Evaluating Optimal Spray Timing, Planting Date, and Current Thresholds for Lygus lineolaris (Hemiptera: Miridae) in Virginia and North Carolina Cotton AU - Aghaee, Mohammad-Amir AU - Dorman, Seth J AU - Taylor, Sally V AU - Reisig, Dominic D T2 - Journal of Economic Entomology AB - Economically damaging infestations of Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) (Hemiptera: Miridae), the tarnished plant bug, have been increasing in North Carolina and Virginia cotton since 2009. We conducted experiments to compare prophylactically timed sprays based on cotton phenology and current action thresholds based on sweep net and drop cloth sampling. In the second year of the study, we included planting date as a factor, with early and late-planted cotton. We found L. lineolaris nymph densities were reduced by at least 60% in North Carolina and 74% in Virginia in threshold plots when compared with the untreated control. Protecting the crop from first square through the fourth week of bloom afforded at least 30% control across planting dates in Virginia and at least 40% control in North Carolina. Economic returns were two to three times greater in early-planted cotton than in late-planted cotton. Treating cotton at action threshold or using prophylactic sprays from first square until the sixth week of bloom in early-planted cotton yielded over $500/ha in net returns in both North Carolina and Virginia. This study supports previous research that shows controlling L. lineolaris infestations during squaring and early weeks of flowering is critical for maximizing yield potential. Our findings also suggest that prebloom and bloom thresholds based on adult and nymphal density devised in the Mid-South may need revision in North Carolina and Virginia. DA - 2019/1/5/ PY - 2019/1/5/ DO - 10.1093/jee/toy407 VL - 112 IS - 3 SP - 1207-1216 LA - en OP - SN - 0022-0493 1938-291X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jee/toy407 DB - Crossref KW - plant bug KW - cotton KW - planting date KW - integrated pest management KW - sampling method ER - TY - JOUR TI - Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Oviposition and Larval Vertical Distribution in Bt Cotton Under Different Levels of Nitrogen and Irrigation AU - Braswell, Lewis R AU - Reisig, Dominic D AU - Sorenson, Clyde E AU - Collins, Guy D T2 - Journal of Economic Entomology AB - In some Bt cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) varieties, bollworm (Helicoverpa zea Boddie) larval behavior differs from non-Bt varieties. Laboratory assays indicate bollworm larvae can detect Bt proteins, which may cause behavioral differences. Plant stress from factors including fertility and water availability causes changes in plant physiology and Bt expression. Our objective was to determine whether nitrogen and irrigation influenced bollworm behavior in Bt cotton by recording the vertical distribution of eggs and larvae over time. We conducted small plot experiments with Cry1Ac + Cry1F cotton in 2016 and 2017 with three nitrogen rates, along with irrigated and nonirrigated treatments during 2017. Bollworm locations were determined by in-field examination of 10-20 cotton plants per plot over 6-8 wk. The location of each egg and larva was recorded by node, with instar estimation of each larva. Oviposition was higher in in plots receiving nitrogen; first and second instars were also more common in plots receiving nitrogen or irrigation, whereas older instars had similar numbers among treatments. Oviposition was more evenly distributed throughout the canopy earlier in the sampling period than during later weeks, with more eggs in the top third of the canopy in only three of 14-wk. Early instars were also evenly distributed throughout the canopy. Later, instars moved to the middle portions of the canopy, away from bottom nodes, and did not move toward the terminal. Understanding bollworm behavior can inform both crop scouting and resistance management decisions. DA - 2019/2/15/ PY - 2019/2/15/ DO - 10.1093/jee/toz023 VL - 112 IS - 3 SP - 1237-1250 LA - en OP - SN - 0022-0493 1938-291X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jee/toz023 DB - Crossref KW - insect behavior KW - behavioral resistance KW - Bacillus thuringiensis KW - sampling KW - bollworm ER - TY - JOUR TI - Genetic Structure and Subclonal Variation of Extant and Recent U.S. Lineages of Phytophthora infestans AU - Saville, Amanda AU - Ristaino, Jean Beagle T2 - Phytopathology AB - The oomycete Phytophthora infestans is an important plant pathogen on potato and tomato crops. We examined the genetic structure of extant 20th and 21st century U.S. lineages of P. infestans and compared them with populations from South America and Mexico to examine genetic relationships and potential sources of lineages. US-23, currently the most prevalent lineage detected in the United States, shared genetic similarity primarily with the BR-1 lineage identified in the 1990s from Bolivia and Brazil. Lineages US-8, US-14, and US-24, predominantly virulent on potato, formed a cluster distinct from other U.S. lineages. Many of the other U.S. lineages shared significant genetic similarity with Mexican populations. The US-1 lineage, dominant in the mid-20th century, clustered with US-1 lineages from Peru. A survey of the presence of RXLR effector PiAVR2 revealed that some lineages carried PiAVR2, its resistance-breaking variant PiAVR2-like, or both. Minimum spanning networks developed from simple sequence repeat genotype datasets from USABlight outbreaks clearly showed the expansion of US-23 over a 6-year time period and geographic substructuring of some lineages in the western United States. Many clonal lineages of P. infestans in the United States have come from introductions from Mexico, but the US-23 and US-1 lineages were most likely introduced from other sources. DA - 2019/9// PY - 2019/9// DO - 10.1094/PHYTO-09-18-0357-R VL - 109 IS - 9 SP - 1614-1627 J2 - Phytopathology LA - en OP - SN - 0031-949X 1943-7684 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-09-18-0357-R DB - Crossref KW - ecology KW - epidemiology ER - TY - JOUR TI - Host availability drives distributions of fungal endophytes in the imperilled boreal realm AU - U’Ren, Jana M. AU - Lutzoni, François AU - Miadlikowska, Jolanta AU - Zimmerman, Naupaka B. AU - Carbone, Ignazio AU - May, Georgiana AU - Arnold, A. Elizabeth T2 - Nature Ecology & Evolution AB - Boreal forests represent the world's largest terrestrial biome and provide ecosystem services of global importance. Highly imperilled by climate change, these forests host Earth's greatest phylogenetic diversity of endophytes, a hyperdiverse group of symbionts that are defined by their occurrence within living, symptomless plant and lichen tissues. Endophytes shape the ecological and evolutionary trajectories of plants and are therefore key to the function and resilience of terrestrial ecosystems. A critical step in linking the ecological functions of endophytes with those of their hosts is to understand the distributions of these symbionts at the global scale; however, turnover in host taxa with geography and climate can confound insights into endophyte biogeography. As a result, global drivers of endophyte diversity and distributions are not known. Here, we leverage sampling from phylogenetically diverse boreal plants and lichens across North America and Eurasia to show that host filtering in distinctive environments, rather than turnover with geographical or environmental distance, is the main determinant of the community composition and diversity of endophytes. We reveal the distinctiveness of boreal endophytes relative to soil fungi worldwide and endophytes from diverse temperate biomes, highlighting a high degree of global endemism. Overall, the distributions of endophytes are directly linked to the availability of compatible hosts, highlighting the role of biotic interactions in shaping fungal communities across large spatial scales, and the threat that climate change poses to biological diversity and function in the imperilled boreal realm. DA - 2019/9/23/ PY - 2019/9/23/ DO - 10.1038/s41559-019-0975-2 VL - 3 IS - 10 SP - 1430-1437 J2 - Nat Ecol Evol LA - en OP - SN - 2397-334X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41559-019-0975-2 DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Pervasive Resistance to Pyrethroids in German Cockroaches (Blattodea: Ectobiidae) Related to Lack of Efficacy of Total Release Foggers AU - DeVries, Zachary C AU - Santangelo, Richard G AU - Crissman, Jonathan AU - Suazo, Alonso AU - Kakumanu, Madhavi L AU - Schal, Coby T2 - Journal of Economic Entomology AB - Despite limited efficacy data, do-it-yourself (DIY) insecticide products often promise low-cost alternatives to professional pest control. Total release foggers (TRFs, 'bug bombs'), which are prominent DIY products, were recently shown to be ineffective at reducing German cockroach (Blattella germanica L.) infestations, in contrast to highly effective baits. However, the reason(s) for TRF failure remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated insecticide resistance of apartment-collected cockroaches from homes where TRFs failed. In topical (direct) application assays, resistance to cypermethrin (a common active ingredient in TRFs) was 202 ± 33 times that of a laboratory insecticide-susceptible population (based on LD50 ratios), while resistance to fipronil, a common bait active ingredient, was considerably lower at 14 ± 2 times that of the laboratory insecticide-susceptible population. The addition of PBO, a P450 inhibitor that synergizes pyrethroids, enhanced the efficacy of cypermethrin, but only at high doses of cypermethrin. Additionally, >96% of screened cockroaches possessed at least one copy of the L993F mutation in the voltage-gated sodium channel, known to confer resistance to pyrethroids (knockdown resistance, kdr). Because TRF treatments killed insecticide-susceptible sentinel cockroaches but failed to kill apartment-collected cockroaches, these results suggest that pyrethroid resistance is a major factor contributing to the failure of TRFs. Multiple mechanisms of resistance, including metabolic detoxification of the pyrethroids and kdr mutations that confer target-site insensitivity, suggest that TRFs would lack efficacy against German cockroaches in residential settings, where high levels of pyrethroid resistance have been documented globally. DA - 2019/5/23/ PY - 2019/5/23/ DO - 10.1093/jee/toz120 VL - 112 IS - 5 SP - 2295-2301 LA - en OP - SN - 0022-0493 1938-291X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jee/toz120 DB - Crossref KW - cypermethrin KW - do-it-yourself pest control KW - kdr KW - topical application ER - TY - JOUR TI - Susceptibility of Corn Earworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Cry1A.105 and Cry2Ab2 in North and South Carolina AU - Bilbo, Tom R AU - Reay-Jones, Francis P F AU - Reisig, Dominic D AU - Greene, Jeremy K T2 - Journal of Economic Entomology AB - Abstract The corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), is managed in corn and cotton in the United States primarily using transgenic cultivars that produce insecticidal proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). However, increasing reports of resistance to one or more Bt proteins threaten the continued efficacy of Bt traits. To better understand the development of resistance of H. zea to Bt corn and cotton in the southeastern United States, we monitored for resistance to Cry1A.105 and Cry2Ab2 among 22 field populations of H. zea collected in non-Bt and Bt corn expressing Cry1A.105 + Cry2Ab2 during 2017 and 2018. Colonies were established in the laboratory and progeny were screened in diet-overlay bioassays to purified Cry1A.105 and Cry2Ab2 proteins. Compared with two susceptible laboratory colonies, all 14 field colonies tested with Cry1A.105 were highly resistant, with resistance ratios (RRs) ranging from 13.5 to >4,000. For Cry2Ab2, 19 colonies were tested and RRs ranged from 0.26 to 33.7. Field populations were significantly more susceptible to Cry2Ab2 than Cry1A.105. We documented variability in F0 and F1 pupal weight and developmental rates of natural populations of H. zea, but observed no significant correlation with susceptibility to either Cry1A.105 or Cry2Ab2. Our results expand on the recent reports of H. zea resistance to Cry1A and Cry2A proteins and will aid in the design and deployment of future pyramided crops in the United States. DA - 2019/3/29/ PY - 2019/3/29/ DO - 10.1093/jee/toz062 VL - 112 IS - 4 SP - 1845-1857 LA - en OP - SN - 0022-0493 1938-291X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jee/toz062 DB - Crossref KW - Helicoverpa zea KW - corn KW - cotton KW - resistance ER - TY - JOUR TI - Entry of bunyaviruses into plants and vectors AU - Chen, Yuting AU - Dessau, Moshe AU - Rotenberg, Dorith AU - Rasmussen, David A. AU - Whitfield, Anna E. T2 - VIRUS ENTRY AB - The majority of plant-infecting viruses are transmitted by arthropod vectors that deliver them directly into a living plant cell. There are diverse mechanisms of transmission ranging from direct binding to the insect stylet (non-persistent transmission) to persistent-propagative transmission in which the virus replicates in the insect vector. Despite this diversity in interactions, most arthropods that serve as efficient vectors have feeding strategies that enable them to deliver the virus into the plant cell without extensive damage to the plant and thus effectively inoculate the plant. As such, the primary virus entry mechanism for plant viruses is mediated by the biological vector. Remarkably, viruses that are transmitted in a propagative manner (bunyaviruses, rhabdoviruses, and reoviruses) have developed an ability to replicate in hosts from two kingdoms. Viruses in the order Bunyavirales are of emerging importance and with the advent of new sequencing technologies, we are getting unprecedented glimpses into the diversity of these viruses. Plant-infecting bunyaviruses are transmitted in a persistent, propagative manner must enter two unique types of host cells, plant and insect. In the insect phase of the virus life cycle, the propagative viruses likely use typical cellular entry strategies to traverse cell membranes. In this review, we highlight the transmission and entry strategies of three genera of plant-infecting bunyaviruses: orthotospoviruses, tenuiviruses, and emaraviruses. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1016/bs.aivir.2019.07.001 VL - 104 SP - 65-96 SN - 1557-8399 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Preference for Plant Structures, and Their Location, Within Bt Cotton Under Different Nitrogen and Irrigation Regimes AU - Braswell, Lewis R AU - Reisig, Dominic D AU - Sorenson, Clyde E AU - Collins, Guy D T2 - Journal of Economic Entomology AB - Helicoverpa zea Boddie is a common economic pest of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), including transgenic cotton varieties that express Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Helicoverpa zea oviposition is similar in Bt and non-Bt cotton, but behavior of H. zea larvae can be different in the presence of Bt, with neonates moving away from terminals faster in single-toxin Bt than non-Bt cotton or avoiding Bt-treated diet in the lab. We quantified H. zea oviposition and larval distribution on structures within cotton plants in small plot experiments of Cry1Ac + Cry1F cotton for 2 yr under different irrigation and nitrogen treatments. More eggs were oviposited on plants receiving nitrogen application during 2016 and on leaves in the top section of irrigated plants during 2017, but other treatment effects on eggs or larvae were minimal. Helicoverpa zea eggs were most common on leaves in the top third of plants at position zero and middle section of cotton plants throughout the season, but some oviposition occurred on fruiting structures as well. First and second instars were more common on squares in the top section of plants during 2016 and bolls in the middle and lower sections during 2017 due to oviposition lower in the canopy during 2017. During both years, third through fifth instars were more common on bolls in the middle and lower section of plants closer to the main stem. These findings have resistance management implications as extended larval feeding on bolls could optimize nutrition, decrease Bt susceptibility, and potentially influence behavioral resistance. DA - 2019/4/26/ PY - 2019/4/26/ DO - 10.1093/jee/toz105 VL - 112 IS - 4 SP - 1741-1751 LA - en OP - SN - 0022-0493 1938-291X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jee/toz105 DB - Crossref KW - insect behavior KW - behavioral resistance KW - Bacillus thuringiensis KW - sampling KW - bollworm ER - TY - JOUR TI - Tethered homing gene drives: A new design for spatially restricted population replacement and suppression AU - Dhole, Sumit AU - Lloyd, Alun L. AU - Gould, Fred T2 - EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS AB - Optimism regarding potential epidemiological and conservation applications of modern gene drives is tempered by concern about the possibility of unintended spread of engineered organisms beyond the target population. In response, several novel gene drive approaches have been proposed that can, under certain conditions, locally alter characteristics of a population. One challenge for these gene drives is the difficulty of achieving high levels of localized population suppression without very large releases in the face of gene flow. We present a new gene drive system, tethered homing (TH), with improved capacity for both localization and population suppression. The TH drive is based on driving a payload gene using a homing construct that is anchored to a spatially restricted gene drive. We use a proof-of-concept mathematical model to show the dynamics of a TH drive that uses engineered underdominance as an anchor. This system is composed of a split homing drive and a two-locus engineered underdominance drive linked to one part of the split drive (the Cas endonuclease). We use simple population genetic simulations to show that the tethered homing technique can offer improved localized spread of costly transgenic payload genes. Additionally, the TH system offers the ability to gradually adjust the genetic load in a population after the initial alteration, with minimal additional release effort. We discuss potential solutions for improving localization and the feasibility of creating TH drive systems. Further research with models that include additional biological details will be needed to better understand how TH drives would behave in natural populations, but the preliminary results shown here suggest that tethered homing drives can be a useful addition to the repertoire of localized gene drives. DA - 2019/9// PY - 2019/9// DO - 10.1111/eva.12827 VL - 12 IS - 8 SP - 1688-1702 SN - 1752-4571 KW - Cas KW - CRISPR KW - gene drive KW - genetic engineering KW - population alteration KW - underdominance ER - TY - JOUR TI - Seasonal dispersal of Lygus lineolaris (Hemiptera: Miridae) from weedy hosts into differently fragmented cotton landscapes in North Carolina AU - D'Ambrosio, Damon A. AU - Peele, William AU - Hubers, Allen AU - Huseth, Anders S. T2 - Crop Protection AB - The timing and location of Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) dispersal into cotton is important to accurate and effective scouting and management. In the spring, L. lineolaris populations develop on non-crop weeds surrounding cotton fields. As weeds senesce, L. lineolaris migrate into susceptible cotton at the squaring stage. Given this predictable temporal colonization pattern, scouting efforts to inform insecticide interventions may be improved with a spatiotemporally targeted sampling recommendation. Using a geospatial approach, we tracked L. lineolaris populations at 352 unique sites along transects located in commercial North Carolina cotton fields over two consecutive years. Standardized sweep samples of L. lineolaris adults and nymphs were taken at each site. To relate the abundance of L. lineolaris to the spatial structure of cotton fields, the distance of the sample from the field edge and the edge-to-area ratio of each field were analyzed using GIS. All counts were related to accumulated degree days at each sample time to document seasonal progression of L. lineolaris abundance and temporal host utilization (i.e., weeds vs. cotton). Counts were also related to spatially structured scouting recommendations used in North Carolina. Nymph counts were significantly affected by accumulated degree days and distance from field edge. Higher adult counts were found in fragmented fields with greater edge-to-area ratios. Our results show that L. lineolaris nymphs were more spatiotemporally variable than adults, thereby being more likely to affect scouting accuracy when using sweep samples alone. We found that samples closer to the field edge likely increase the probability of being over the North Carolina L. lineolaris threshold. DA - 2019/11// PY - 2019/11// DO - 10.1016/j.cropro.2019.104898 VL - 125 SP - 104898 J2 - Crop Protection LA - en OP - SN - 0261-2194 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2019.104898 DB - Crossref KW - Tarnished plant bug KW - Sampling KW - Transect KW - Gossypium hirsutum ER - TY - JOUR TI - Neonicotinoid seed treatments of soybean provide negligible benefits to US farmers AU - Mourtzinis, Spyridon AU - Krupke, Christian H. AU - Esker, Paul D. AU - Varenhorst, Adam AU - Arneson, Nicholas J. AU - Bradley, Carl A. AU - Byrne, Adam M. AU - Chilvers, Martin I. AU - Giesler, Loren J. AU - Herbert, Ames AU - Kandel, Yuba R. AU - Kazula, Maciej J. AU - Hunt, Catherine AU - Lindsey, Laura E. AU - Malone, Sean AU - Mueller, Daren S. AU - Naeve, Seth AU - Nafziger, Emerson AU - Reisig, Dominic D. AU - Ross, William J. AU - Rossman, Devon R. AU - Taylor, Sally AU - Conley, Shawn P. T2 - Scientific Reports AB - Abstract Neonicotinoids are the most widely used insecticides worldwide and are typically deployed as seed treatments (hereafter NST) in many grain and oilseed crops, including soybeans. However, there is a surprising dearth of information regarding NST effectiveness in increasing soybean seed yield, and most published data suggest weak, or inconsistent yield benefit. The US is the key soybean-producing nation worldwide and this work includes soybean yield data from 194 randomized and replicated field studies conducted specifically to evaluate the effect of NSTs on soybean seed yield at sites within 14 states from 2006 through 2017. Here we show that across the principal soybean-growing region of the country, there are negligible and management-specific yield benefits attributed to NSTs. Across the entire region, the maximum observed yield benefits due to fungicide (FST = fungicide seed treatment) + neonicotinoid use (FST + NST) reached 0.13 Mg/ha. Across the entire region, combinations of management practices affected the effectiveness of FST + NST to increase yield but benefits were minimal ranging between 0.01 to 0.22 Mg/ha. Despite widespread use, this practice appears to have little benefit for most of soybean producers; across the entire region, a partial economic analysis further showed inconsistent evidence of a break-even cost of FST or FST + NST. These results demonstrate that the current widespread prophylactic use of NST in the key soybean-producing areas of the US should be re-evaluated by producers and regulators alike. DA - 2019/9/9/ PY - 2019/9/9/ DO - 10.1038/s41598-019-47442-8 VL - 9 IS - 1 SP - 11207 SN - 2045-2322 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-47442-8 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Yield Data from the Uniform Southern Soft Red Winter Wheat Nursery Emphasize Importance of Selection Location and Environment for Cultivar Development AU - Boyles, Richard E. AU - Marshall, David S. AU - Bockelman, Harold E. T2 - CROP SCIENCE AB - Yield and agronomic data from a regional soft red winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) nursery—consisting of 604 advanced breeding lines (ABLs) and 36 testing locations over a 21‐yr period—were evaluated to understand recent genetic gains in wheat and determine the impact of selection location and environment on cultivar performance and adaptation. Relative mean yield improvement of ABLs with respect to historical cultivar AGS 2000 was 106 kg ha −1 yr −1 (1.58 bu acre −1 yr −1 ), equating to an annual genetic gain of 1.6%. Yield gains for wheat during this timespan were attributed to an increase in both yield potential and stability across environments. However, a strong tradeoff ( r = −0.36, p < 2.2 × 10 −16 ) was observed between yield potential and stability. Additionally, distance between selection and evaluation environments was significantly correlated with yield, with yield decreasing as distance between locations increased. Advanced breeding lines had a +221, +126, and −29.6 kg ha −1 yr −1 (+3.29, +1.88, and −0.44 bu acre −1 ) yield difference over the location mean when the selection location was within, adjacent, and nonadjacent to the trial location zone, respectively. Advanced breeding lines in general performed poorly in production environments west of their selection site. Based on data analyzed, elevation and latitude are significant geographic parameters to consider when determining optimal selection location for a production environment. Meanwhile, change in growing degree days between selection and evaluation location had a stronger influence on yield than precipitation. Findings demonstrate the importance and benefits of breeder collaborations and multienvironment testing on crop improvement, which will be needed to maximize yield gains in the 21st century. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.2135/cropsci2018.11.0685 VL - 59 IS - 5 SP - 1887-1898 SN - 1435-0653 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Development, survival, and feeding behavior of Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) relative to Bt protein concentrations in corn ear tissues AU - Bilbo, Tom R. AU - Reay-Jones, Francis P. F. AU - Reisig, Dominic D. AU - Greene, Jeremy K. AU - Turnbull, Matthew W. T2 - PLOS ONE AB - The corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), preferentially oviposits and feeds on ears of corn (Zea mays L.) and can be managed using transgenic hybrids that produce insecticidal proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Concentrations of Bt proteins can vary spatially and temporally in plant tissues, creating a heterogeneous environment that can increase the risk of resistance development. We planted small-plot trials of nine Bt and non-Bt corn hybrids in South Carolina in 2016 and 2017 and investigated the development, survival, feeding injury, and feeding behavior in corn ear tissues. ELISA was used to quantify the concentrations of Cry1F and Cry2Ab2 in young silk, old silk, maternal tip tissue, kernels, and husk. Cry1F and Cry2Ab2 significantly varied with silk age and both proteins were generally highest in the silk and tip tissue. Hybrids with pyramided proteins significantly reduced feeding injury to the silk, tip, and kernel ear tissues, which was less apparent with single Bt protein hybrids. The pyramided hybrid expressing Vip3A incurred no injury to either the ear tip or kernels, and only eight 1st instar larvae were collected in the silk of 520 sampled ears. Age of larvae significantly varied among ear tissues but not between hybrids. Depending on hybrid family, mean larval instar in the silk, tip, and kernels was 1st or 2nd, 3rd, and 5th, respectively. Instar-specific feeding penetrance into corn ears increased with age but did not differ between hybrids. We characterized the instar- and tissue-specific feeding behavior of H. zea larvae but did not detect differences in feeding behavior between Bt and non-Bt hybrids. Implications for resistance management strategies such as seed mixtures are discussed. DA - 2019/8/19/ PY - 2019/8/19/ DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0221343 VL - 14 IS - 8 SP - e0221343 J2 - PLoS ONE LA - en OP - SN - 1932-6203 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0221343 DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Lack of influence by endosymbiont Wolbachia on virus titer in the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius AU - Fisher, Michael L. AU - Levine, Jay F. AU - Guy, James S. AU - Mochizuki, Hiroyuki AU - Breen, Matthew AU - Schal, Coby AU - Watson, David W. T2 - Parasites & Vectors AB - Abstract Background The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius , is an obligatory blood-feeding ectoparasite that requires a blood meal to molt and produce eggs. Their frequent biting to obtain blood meals and intimate association with humans increase the potential for disease transmission. However, despite more than 100 years of inquiry into bed bugs as potential disease vectors, they still have not been conclusively linked to any pathogen or disease. This ecological niche is extraordinarily rare, given that nearly every other blood-feeding arthropod is associated with some type of human or zoonotic disease. Bed bugs rely on the bacteria Wolbachia as an obligate endosymbiont to biosynthesize B vitamins, since they acquire a nutritionally deficient diet, but it is unknown if Wolbachia confers additional benefits to its bed bug host. In some insects, Wolbachia induces resistance to viruses such as Dengue, Chikungunya, West Nile, Drosophila C and Zika, and primes the insect immune system in other blood-feeding insects. Wolbachia might have evolved a similar role in its mutualistic association with the bed bug. In this study, we evaluated the influence of Wolbachia on virus replication within C. lectularius . Methods We used feline calicivirus as a model pathogen. We fed 40 bed bugs from an established line of Wolbachia -cured and a line of Wolbachia -positive C. lectularius a virus-laden blood meal, and quantified the amount of virus over five time intervals post-feeding. The antibiotic rifampicin was used to cure bed bugs of Wolbachia . Results There was a significant effect of time post-feeding, as the amount of virus declined by ~90% over 10 days in both groups, but no significant difference in virus titer was observed between the Wolbachia -positive and Wolbachia -cured groups. Conclusions These findings suggest that other mechanisms are involved in virus suppression within bed bugs, independent of the influence of Wolbachia , and our conclusions underscore the need for future research. DA - 2019/9/9/ PY - 2019/9/9/ DO - 10.1186/s13071-019-3694-2 VL - 12 IS - 1 SP - J2 - Parasites Vectors LA - en OP - SN - 1756-3305 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13071-019-3694-2 DB - Crossref KW - Cimex lectularius KW - Wolbachia KW - Endosymbiont KW - Cimicidae KW - Virus suppression KW - ssRNA ER - TY - JOUR TI - Genome Editing, Gene Drives, and Synthetic Biology: Will They Contribute to Disease-Resistant Crops, and Who Will Benefit? AU - Pixley, Kevin V. AU - Falck-Zepeda, Jose B. AU - Giller, Ken E. AU - Glenna, Leland L. AU - Gould, Fred AU - Mallory-Smith, Carol A. AU - Stelly, David M. AU - Stewart, C. Neal, Jr. T2 - ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, VOL 57, 2019 AB - Genetically engineered crops have been grown for more than 20 years, resulting in widespread albeit variable benefits for farmers and consumers. We review current, likely, and potential genetic engineering (GE) applications for the development of disease-resistant crop cultivars. Gene editing, gene drives, and synthetic biology offer novel opportunities to control viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens, parasitic weeds, and insect vectors of plant pathogens. We conclude that there will be no shortage of GE applications to tackle disease resistance and other farmer and consumer priorities for agricultural crops. Beyond reviewing scientific prospects for genetically engineered crops, we address the social institutional forces that are commonly overlooked by biological scientists. Intellectual property regimes, technology regulatory frameworks, the balance of funding between public- and private-sector research, and advocacy by concerned civil society groups interact to define who uses which GE technologies, on which crops, and for the benefit of whom. Ensuring equitable access to the benefits of genetically engineered crops requires affirmative policies, targeted investments, and excellent science. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1146/annurev-phyto-080417-045954 VL - 57 SP - 165-188 SN - 1545-2107 KW - gene drives KW - gene editing KW - genetically engineered crops KW - science and society KW - social equity KW - synthetic biology ER - TY - JOUR TI - Hemimetabolous insects elucidate the origin of sexual development via alternative splicing AU - Wexler, Judith AU - Delaney, Emily Kay AU - Belles, Xavier AU - Schal, Coby AU - Wada-Katsumata, Ayako AU - Amicucci, Matthew J AU - Kopp, Artyom T2 - eLife AB - Insects are the only known animals in which sexual differentiation is controlled by sex-specific splicing. The doublesex transcription factor produces distinct male and female isoforms, which are both essential for sex-specific development. dsx splicing depends on transformer, which is also alternatively spliced such that functional Tra is only present in females. This pathway has evolved from an ancestral mechanism where dsx was independent of tra and expressed and required only in males. To reconstruct this transition, we examined three basal, hemimetabolous insect orders: Hemiptera, Phthiraptera, and Blattodea. We show that tra and dsx have distinct functions in these insects, reflecting different stages in the changeover from a transcription-based to a splicing-based mode of sexual differentiation. We propose that the canonical insect tra-dsx pathway evolved via merger between expanding dsx function (from males to both sexes) and narrowing tra function (from a general splicing factor to dedicated regulator of dsx). DA - 2019/9/3/ PY - 2019/9/3/ DO - 10.7554/eLife.47490 VL - 8 SP - LA - en OP - SN - 2050-084X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.47490 DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Specific Gene Disruption in the Major Livestock PestsCochliomyia hominivoraxandLucilia cuprinaUsing CRISPR/Cas9 AU - Paulo, Daniel F AU - Williamson, Megan E AU - Arp, Alex P AU - Li, Fang AU - Sagel, Agustin AU - Skoda, Steven R AU - Sanchez-Gallego, Joel AU - Vasquez, Mario AU - Quintero, Gladys AU - Pérez de León, Adalberto A AU - Belikoff, Esther J AU - Azeredo-Espin, Ana M L AU - McMillan, W Owen AU - Concha, Carolina AU - Scott, Maxwell J T2 - G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics AB - Abstract Cochliomyia hominivorax and Lucilia cuprina are major pests of livestock. Their larvae infest warm-blooded vertebrates and feed on host’s tissues, resulting in severe industry losses. As they are serious pests, considerable effort has been made to develop genomic resources and functional tools aiming to improve their management and control. Here, we report a significant addition to the pool of genome manipulation tools through the establishment of efficient CRISPR/Cas9 protocols for the generation of directed and inheritable modifications in the genome of these flies. Site-directed mutations were introduced in the C. hominivorax and L. cuprina yellow genes (ChY and LcY) producing lightly pigmented adults. High rates of somatic mosaicism were induced when embryos were injected with Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs) pre-assembled with guide RNAs (sgRNAs) at high concentrations. Adult flies carrying disrupted yellow alleles lacked normal pigmentation (brown body phenotype) and efficiently transmitted the mutated alleles to the subsequent generation, allowing the rapid creation of homozygous strains for reverse genetics of candidate loci. We next used our established CRISPR protocol to disrupt the C. hominivorax transformer gene (Chtra). Surviving females carrying mutations in the Chtra locus developed mosaic phenotypes of transformed ovipositors with characteristics of male genitalia while exhibiting abnormal reproductive tissues. The CRISPR protocol described here is a significant improvement on the existing toolkit of molecular methods in calliphorids. Our results also suggest that Cas9-based systems targeting Chtra and Lctra could be an effective means for controlling natural populations of these important pests. DA - 2019/9/1/ PY - 2019/9/1/ DO - 10.1534/g3.119.400544 VL - 9 IS - 9 SP - 3045-3055 LA - en OP - SN - 2160-1836 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1534/g3.119.400544 DB - Crossref KW - Functional genomics KW - reverse genetics KW - myiasis KW - New World Screwworm fly KW - Australian Sheep Blowfly KW - gene drive KW - CRISPR KW - Cas9 KW - brown body KW - yellow KW - transformer ER - TY - JOUR TI - Validation and Characterization of Maize Multiple Disease Resistance QTL AU - Martins, Lais B AU - Rucker, Elizabeth AU - Thomason, Wade AU - Wisser, Randall J AU - Holland, James B AU - Balint-Kurti, Peter T2 - G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics AB - Abstract Southern Leaf Blight, Northern Leaf Blight, and Gray Leaf Spot, caused by ascomycete fungi, are among the most important foliar diseases of maize worldwide. Previously, disease resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL) for all three diseases were identified in a connected set of chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) populations designed for the identification of disease resistance QTL. Some QTL for different diseases co-localized, indicating the presence of multiple disease resistance (MDR) QTL. The goal of this study was to perform an independent test of several of the MDR QTL identified to confirm their existence and derive a more precise estimate of allele additive and dominance effects. Twelve F2:3 family populations were produced, in which selected QTL were segregating in an otherwise uniform genetic background. The populations were assessed for each of the three diseases in replicated trials and genotyped with markers previously associated with disease resistance. Pairwise phenotypic correlations across all the populations for resistance to the three diseases ranged from 0.2 to 0.3 and were all significant at the alpha level of 0.01. Of the 44 QTL tested, 16 were validated (identified at the same genomic location for the same disease or diseases) and several novel QTL/disease associations were found. Two MDR QTL were associated with resistance to all three diseases. This study identifies several potentially important MDR QTL and demonstrates the importance of independently evaluating QTL effects following their initial identification. DA - 2019/9/1/ PY - 2019/9/1/ DO - 10.1534/g3.119.400195 VL - 9 IS - 9 SP - 2905-2912 LA - en OP - SN - 2160-1836 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1534/g3.119.400195 DB - Crossref KW - Disease KW - Maize KW - QTL KW - Resistance KW - Genetics of Immunity ER - TY - JOUR TI - Coupling adaptive molecular evolution to phylodynamics using fittness-dependent birth-death models AU - Rasmussen, David A. AU - Stadler, Tanja T2 - ELIFE AB - Beneficial and deleterious mutations cause the fitness of lineages to vary across a phylogeny and thereby shape its branching structure. While standard phylogenetic models do not allow mutations to feedback and shape trees, birth-death models can account for this feedback by letting the fitness of lineages depend on their type. To date, these multi-type birth-death models have only been applied to cases where a lineage's fitness is determined by a single character state. We extend these models to track sequence evolution at multiple sites. This approach remains computationally tractable by tracking the genotype and fitness of lineages probabilistically in an approximate manner. Although approximate, we show that we can accurately estimate the fitness of lineages and site-specific mutational fitness effects from phylogenies. We apply this approach to estimate the population-level fitness effects of mutations in Ebola and influenza virus, and compare our estimates with in vitro fitness measurements for these mutations. DA - 2019/8/15/ PY - 2019/8/15/ DO - 10.7554/eLife.45562 VL - 8 SP - SN - 2050-084X ER - TY - JOUR TI - Durability of Quantitative Resistance in Crops: Greater Than We Know? AU - Cowger, Christina AU - Brown, James K. M. T2 - ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, VOL 57, 2019 AB - Quantitative resistance (QR) to crop diseases has usually been much more durable than major-gene, effector-triggered resistance. It has been observed that the effectiveness of some QR has eroded as pathogens adapt to it, especially when deployment is extensive and epidemics occur regularly, but it generally declines more slowly than effector-triggered resistance. Changes in aggressiveness and specificity of diverse pathogens on cultivars with QR have been recorded, along with experimental data on fitness costs of pathogen adaptation to QR, but there is little information about molecular mechanisms of adaptation. Some QR has correlated or antagonistic effects on multiple diseases. Longitudinal data on cultivars’ disease ratings in trials over several years can be used to assess the significance of QR for durable resistance in crops. It is argued that published data likely underreport the durability of QR, owing to publication bias. The implications of research on QR for plant breeding are discussed. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1146/annurev-phyto-082718-100016 VL - 57 SP - 253-277 SN - 1545-2107 KW - quantitative resistance KW - effector-triggered resistance KW - fitness penalty KW - publication bias KW - filing cabinet effect ER - TY - JOUR TI - Influence of Nitrogen Rate and Timing, Fungicide Application Method, and Simulated Rainfall after Fungicide Application on Brown Patch Severity in Tall Fescue AU - Butler, E. Lee AU - Galle, Glenn H. AU - Kerns, James P. T2 - CROP FORAGE & TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT AB - Core Ideas Tall fescue lawns can be fertilized during the summer months at modest N rates without affecting brown patch severity. When an appropriate fungicide such as Heritage was used for brown patch management, the method of fungicide delivery did not affect brown patch suppression. Simulated rainfall up to 0.5 inches within 15 min of fungicide application did not compromise fungicide efficacy. In North Carolina, tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is widely grown throughout the Mountain and Piedmont regions. North Carolina is in the transition zone, which is subject to hot, humid summers that predispose tall fescue to brown patch (Rhizoctonia solani Kühn). Field trials were conducted over a 2-year period (2015–2016) to evaluate the effects of nitrogen rate and timing, application method of a fungicide, and rainfall following fungicide application on brown patch severity on lawn height tall fescue. Seven rates of urea providing 0 to 6 lb N 1000 ft-2 year-1 were initiated each year in March with repeat applications monthly at 1 lb N 1000 ft-2. In a separate study, various timings of urea were conducted throughout the year for a total of 3 lb N 1000 ft-2 yr-1. In 2015, no significant differences in disease severity or turfgrass quality were observed among the seven N rates. Only the application of 6 lb N 1000 ft-2 yr-1 resulted in significantly higher brown patch compared with the non-treated control in 2016. No significant differences in disease severity or turfgrass quality were observed in the timing study in both years. Azoxystrobin was applied with a ride-on spreader/sprayer (11 gal water-carrier acre-1), a commercial applicator gun (130 gal water-carrier acre-1), and a research spray boom (88 gal water-carrier acre-1). No differences were detected among application methods. A rainfall event of 0.5 inches was simulated with overhead irrigation 30 min after application of fungicides. No differences were detected among the fungicide treatments, and all provided excellent control of brown patch. DA - 2019/9/5/ PY - 2019/9/5/ DO - 10.2134/cftm2019.03.0018 VL - 5 IS - 1 SP - SN - 2374-3832 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Eco-efficiency as a strategy for optimizing the sustainability of pest management AU - Magarey, Roger D. AU - Klammer, Sarah S. H. AU - Chappell, Thomas M. AU - Trexler, Christina M. AU - Pallipparambil, Godshen R. AU - Hain, Ernie F. T2 - PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE AB - Abstract Agricultural industrialization and the subsequent reliance on pesticides has resulted in numerous unintended consequences, such as impacts upon the environment and by extension human health. Eco‐efficiency is a strategy for sustainably increasing production, while simultaneously decreasing these externalities on ecological systems. Eco‐efficiency is defined as the ratio of production to environmental impacts. It has been widely adopted to improve chemical production, but we investigate the challenges of applying eco‐efficiency to pesticide use. Eco‐efficiency strategies include technological innovation, investment in research and development, improvement of business processes, and accounting for market forces. These components are often part of integrated pest management (IPM) systems that include alternatives to pesticides, but its implementation is often thwarted by commercial realities and technical challenges. We propose the creation and adoption of an eco‐efficiency index for pesticide use so that the broad benefits of eco‐efficient strategies such as IPM can be more readily quantified. We propose an index based upon the ratio of crop yield to a risk quotient (RQ) calculated from pesticide toxicity. Eco‐efficiency is an operational basis for optimizing pest management for sustainability. It naturally favors adoption of IPM and should be considered by regulators, researchers, and practitioners involved in pest management. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry DA - 2019/12// PY - 2019/12// DO - 10.1002/ps.5560 VL - 75 IS - 12 SP - 3129-3134 SN - 1526-4998 KW - pesticides KW - risk KW - IPM KW - sustainability KW - externalities ER - TY - JOUR TI - Evaluation of Insecticide Resistance in Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in North Carolina, 2017 AU - Richards, Stephanie L. AU - White, Avian V. AU - Byrd, Brian D. AU - Reiskind, Michael H. AU - Doyle, Michael S. T2 - JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY AB - Mosquitoes may develop resistance to insecticide active ingredients (AIs) found in formulated products (FPs) due to environmental exposure from insecticides in mosquito control and/or unrelated to mosquito control, e.g., agricultural, household pest control. Mosquito control programs should implement resistance management strategies by assessing resistance in targeted populations, rotating different classes of insecticides based on resistance testing, and/or increasing insecticide concentration (i.e., saturation, using maximum labeled rate) to overcome emerging resistance. Resistance testing is often done solely on AIs, but should, in some cases, include both AIs and FPs at the concentrations mosquitoes may encounter in the field. The resistance/susceptibility status was determined for adulticides used in mosquito control. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) bottle bioassays were used to assess resistance/susceptibility status for eight AIs (i.e., bifenthrin, permethrin, sumethrin/prallethrin, deltamethrin, tau-fluvalinate, chlorpyrifos, malathion, and naled) and eight FPs (TalStar, Biomist 3 + 15, Duet, Suspend Polyzone, Mavrik, MosquitoMist, Fyfanon, and Dibrom) that respectively contain the AIs. Current CDC guidelines were utilized: susceptible (97-100% mortality at diagnostic time [DT]), developing resistance (90-96% mortality at DT), or resistant (<90% mortality at DT). Significant differences were observed in mosquito susceptibility/resistance among and between AIs and FPs. DA - 2019/5// PY - 2019/5// DO - 10.1093/jme/tjy216 VL - 56 IS - 3 SP - 761-773 SN - 1938-2928 KW - CDC bottle bioassay KW - pyrethroid KW - organophosphate KW - active ingredient KW - formulated product ER - TY - JOUR TI - Different microbial responses in top- and sub-soils to elevated temperature and substrate addition in a semiarid grassland on the Loess Plateau AU - Bai, Tongshuo AU - Tao, Jinjin AU - Li, Zhen AU - Shu, Meng AU - Yan, Xuebin AU - Wang, Peng AU - Ye, Chenglong AU - Guo, Hui AU - Wang, Yi AU - Hu, Shuijin T2 - EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE AB - The Loess Plateau soil in northwest China originated from wind sediments and is characterized by deep soil profiles and large organic carbon (C) content. Severe soil erosion constantly exposes deep soils to the surface, making the organic C vulnerable to microbial decomposition. Few, however, have so far examined how soil microbial activity and community composition in the deep loess soil respond to perturbations. We examined microbial responses in three layers of a clay‐loam loess (topsoil, 0–20 cm; midsoil, 40–60 cm; subsoil, 80–100 cm) to substrate additions (0.8 g glucose‐C kg −1 soil) under two temperature regimes (25 and 35°C). Soil C:N ratio was significantly larger in the subsoil (20.3) than topsoil (7.4). Glucose addition significantly increased CO 2 efflux during a 30‐day incubation period and the relative magnitude of the increase was four times larger in the subsoil than topsoil. The temperature sensitivity ( Q 10 ) of soil CO 2 efflux increased significantly with soil depth in the absence of glucose addition (i.e., ambient soil), but it decreased under glucose addition. Also, glucose addition significantly increased phenol oxidase and peroxidase activities in the subsoil, which might contribute to the stimulation of microbial CO 2 efflux. Composition of the microbial community was more affected by temperature increase in the topsoil, but more responsive to labile C addition in the subsoil. Together, these results indicated that the composition of soil communities and microbial activities in the topsoil and deep soil responded differently to warming and labile C input. Our findings suggest that organic C in deep loess soils can be highly sensitive to environmental changes, emphasizing the need for more long‐term monitoring and quantitative assessment of organic C release from this important C pool. Highlights Microbial responses to labile C and warming were examined along a Loess Plateau soil profile. Microbial respiration was more responsive to C addition and warming in deep soil than topsoil. Microbial composition and activity were sensitive to temperature in the topsoil but to labile C in the subsoil. Climate change may facilitate CO 2 efflux from deep Loess Plateau soils. DA - 2019/9// PY - 2019/9// DO - 10.1111/ejss.12800 VL - 70 IS - 5 SP - 1025-1036 SN - 1365-2389 KW - carbon mineralization KW - deep soil exposure KW - labile C addition KW - Loess Plateau KW - microbial community composition KW - temperature sensitivity ER - TY - JOUR TI - The Prediapause Stage of Aedes japonicus japonicus and the Evolution of Embryonic Diapause in Aedini AU - Bova, Jake AU - Soghigian, John AU - Paulson, Sally T2 - INSECTS AB - The genus Aedes is well known for its desiccation-resistant eggs, which frequently serve as an overwintering mechanism through diapause. Despite this, relatively little is known about the diapause and overwintering biology of most Aedes species including Aedes japonicus japonicus, an invasive mosquito in the United States. The importance of this mosquito in disease systems like La Crosse virus remain uncertain. Embryonic diapause is used by Ae. j. japonicus to survive temperate winters, and the persistence of this species in the Appalachian region is a result of overwintering, which has important implications for the transmission of this virus to humans. The objective of this study was to identify the prediapause stage, or the stage sensitive to environmental cues needed to induce diapause in this mosquito. By exposing each Ae. j. japonicus life stage independently to short-day photoperiods, we determined that the adult maternal life stage is the prediapause stage. Using the most recent phylogeny and prior literature on the prediapause stages in the genus Aedes, we were able to infer the evolutionary history of the prediapause stages of Aedes mosquitoes that overwinter or aestivate as eggs. This initial ancestral state reconstruction allowed us to hypothesize that Aedini mosquitoes that undergo obligate diapause may have evolved from those utilizing the embryonic prediapause stage, and that the ancestral prediapause state of Aedini appears to be maternally controlled. DA - 2019/8// PY - 2019/8// DO - 10.3390/insects10080222 VL - 10 IS - 8 SP - SN - 2075-4450 KW - mosquito KW - diapause KW - overwinter KW - ancestral state reconstruction ER - TY - JOUR TI - A Diverse Microbial Community Supports Larval Development and Survivorship of the Asian Tiger Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) AU - Travanty, Nicholas V. AU - Apperson, Charles S. AU - Ponnusamy, Loganathan T2 - JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY AB - Laboratory microcosm experiments were conducted to evaluate effects of bacteria isolated from senescent white oak leaves on the growth and survivorship of larval Aedes albopictus (Skuse). Larvae hatched from surface-sterilized eggs were reared in microcosms containing individual bacterial isolates, combined isolates (Porphyrobacter sp., Enterobacter asburiae, Acidiphilium rubrum, Pseudomonas syringae, and Azorhizobium caulinodans), a positive control containing a microbial community from an infusion of white oak leaves, and a negative control consisting of sterile culture media. Experiments were conducted for 21 d after which microcosms were deconstructed, larval survivorship was calculated, and bacteria contained in pupae, and adults that developed were quantified to determine rates of transstadial transmission. Positive control microcosms containing diverse microbial communities had an average (±SE) pupation rate of 89.3 (±5.8)% and average larval survivorship of 96.0 (± 2.3)%. Pupation in microcosms with bacterial isolates only occurred twice among all experimental replications; average larval survivorship ranged from 19 to 56%, depending on treatment. Larval growth was not found to be dependent on bacterial isolate density or isolate species, and larval survivorship was dependent on bacterial isolate density, not on isolate species. Potential mechanisms for failed development of larvae in microcosms with bacterial isolates are discussed. Bacterial isolates alone did not support larval development. High larval survivorship in positive control microcosms suggests that a diverse microbial community is required to complete larval development. Additional studies are needed to evaluate larval growth and survivorship on nonbacterial microbes, such as fungi and protozoa. DA - 2019/5// PY - 2019/5// DO - 10.1093/jme/tjz003 VL - 56 IS - 3 SP - 632-640 SN - 1938-2928 UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjz003 KW - Quercus alba KW - mosquito KW - microcosms KW - transstadial transmission KW - microbial communities ER - TY - JOUR TI - Arthropod entrapment increases specialist predators on a sticky crop and reduces damage AU - Nelson, Peter N. AU - Burrack, Hannah J. AU - Sorenson, Clyde E. T2 - BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AB - Maximizing plant defensive strategies is integral to effective integrated pest management. Direct defenses, in the form of chemical and morphological components that inhibit pest damage, underlie host plant resistance, while indirect defenses including food provisioning and semiochemical production, improve biological control. Interactions between the two defensive strategies may be disruptive, complementary, or synergistic and are an important consideration for effective pest management programs. Glandular trichomes are plant structures that inhibit or entrap arthropods, protecting plants against herbivores, potentially at the cost of reducing natural enemy efficacy. Glandular trichomes may also contribute to indirect defense, as predatory arthropods adapted to “sticky” surfaces scavenge on entrapped arthropods. Scavenging increases predator abundance and reduces plant damage; this protective mutualism has been demonstrated with multiple sticky wild flowers but has not been assessed in an economically important plant, such as tobacco. We augmented dead arthropods (carrion) on tobacco plants grown under conditions similar to commercial production and assessed tri-trophic interactions. Carrion augmentation increased predator abundance, reduced damage to reproductive structures, and increased leaf yield, but did not reduce pest densities. We determined that systemic insecticide use did not affect carrion entrapment on tobacco plants. Review of the literature revealed that a variety of economically important plants entrap arthropods on their surfaces, indicating this mutualism has potential for development into a conservation biological control tactic. DA - 2019/10// PY - 2019/10// DO - 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2019.104021 VL - 137 SP - SN - 1090-2112 KW - Trichomes KW - Mutualism KW - Plant-provided food KW - Scavenging KW - Conservation biological control KW - Numerical response ER - TY - JOUR TI - Measuring the effect of non-crop flowering plants on natural enemies in organic tobacco AU - Aurora Toennisson, T. AU - Klein, Johanna Tartan AU - Burrack, Hannah T2 - BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AB - The use of “insectary strips” of sunflowers and buckwheat is widely promoted by organic certifiers to promote control of the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) and other pests in organic tobacco. However, no published research supports this recommendation in tobacco, and results from other crops are mixed. We performed a series of experiments to test the effects of non-crop plantings of sunflowers and buckwheat on key pest and beneficial insects adjacent to organic tobacco fields in North Carolina. Although some reduction in M. persicae infestations and increases in numbers of beneficial insects were observed on tobacco plants near field-edge insectary treatments, these effects were small and were observed only over a short distance into the crop. Planting additional insectary strips in the field interior did not reduce aphid numbers in comparison to control treatments and led to increases in some pest insects. These conservation biological control techniques are unlikely to be a reliable method of controlling M. persicae and other pest insects in organic tobacco. DA - 2019/10// PY - 2019/10// DO - 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2019.104023 VL - 137 SP - SN - 1090-2112 KW - Myzus persicae KW - Sunflower KW - Buckwheat KW - Insectary plantings KW - Conservation biological control ER - TY - JOUR TI - Effects of aridity on soil microbial communities and functions across soil depths on the Mongolian Plateau AU - Chen, Dima AU - Saleem, Muhammad AU - Cheng, Junhui AU - Mi, Jia AU - Chu, Pengfei AU - Tuvshintogtokh, Indree AU - Hu, Shuijin AU - Bai, Yongfei T2 - FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY AB - Abstract Arid and semi‐arid grassland ecosystems cover about 15% of the global land surface and provide vital soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) sequestration. Although half of the soil C and N is stored in deep soils (below 30 cm), no regional‐scale study of microbial properties and their functions through the soil profile has been conducted in these drylands. To explore the distribution and determinants of microbial properties and C and N mineralization rates through soil profile along aridity gradient at a regional scale, we investigated these variables for four soil layers (0–20, 20–40, 40–60 and 60–100 cm) in 132 plots on the Mongolia Plateau. Soil microbial properties (biomass and bacteria:fungi ratio) and C and N mineralization rates decreased with increasing soil depth and aridity at the regional scale. Aridity‐induced declines in soil microbial properties mainly resulted from the negative effects of aridity on ANPP/root biomass and soil organic C (SOC) in the surface soil layers (0–20 and 20–40 cm) but from the direct and indirect (via SOC and soil C/N) negative effects of aridity in the deep soil layers (40–60 and 60–100 cm). Aridity‐induced declines in soil C mineralization rates mainly resulted from the negative indirect effect of aridity on SOC and microbial properties in each soil layer, with weaker effects of SOC and stronger effects of soil microbes in the deep soil layers. Aridity‐induced declines in soil N mineralization rates mainly resulted from the negative indirect effect of aridity on SOC in the three soil layers above 60 cm and mainly resulted from the negative direct effect of aridity in the 60–100 cm soil layer. Aridity via direct or indirect effects strongly determined the patterns of soil microbial properties and C and N mineralization throughout soil profiles on the Mongolian Plateau. These findings suggest that the increases in aridity are likely to induce changes in soil micro‐organisms and their associated functions across soil depths of semi‐arid grasslands, and future models should consider the dynamic interactions between substrates and microbial properties across soil depths in global drylands. A plain language summary is available for this article. DA - 2019/8// PY - 2019/8// DO - 10.1111/1365-2435.13359 VL - 33 IS - 8 SP - 1561-1571 SN - 1365-2435 KW - biogeographical patterns KW - depth profile KW - microbial community structure KW - semi-arid grasslands KW - soil carbon mineralization KW - soil nitrogen mineralization ER - TY - JOUR TI - Wheat Straw Return Influences Nitrogen-Cycling and Pathogen Associated Soil Microbiota in a Wheat-Soybean Rotation System AU - Yang, Hongjun AU - Ma, Jiaxin AU - Rong, Zhenyang AU - Zeng, Dandan AU - Wang, Yuanchao AU - Hu, Shuijin AU - Ye, Wenwu AU - Zheng, Xiaobo T2 - FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY AB - Returning straw to soil is an effective way to sustain or improve soil quality and crop yields. However, a robust understanding of the impact of straw return on the composition of the soil microbial communities under field conditions has remained elusive. In this study, we characterized the effects of wheat straw return on soil bacterial and fungal communities in a wheat–soybean rotation system over a 3-yr period, using Illumina-based 16S rRNA and internal transcribed region (ITS) amplicon sequencing. Wheat straw return significantly affected the -diversity of the soil bacterial, but not fungal, community. It enhanced the relative abundance of the bacterial phylum Proteobacteria and the fungal phylum Zygomycota, but reduced that of the bacterial phylum Acidobacteria and the fungal phylum Ascomycota. Notably, it enriched the relative abundance of nitrogen-cycling bacterial genera such as Bradyrhizobium and Rhizobium. Analysis of soil chemical properties indicated that straw return soils had significantly higher total nitrogen contents than no straw return soils. In addition, the relative abundance of fungal genera containing pathogens was significantly lower in straw return soils relative to control soils, such as Fusarium, Alternaria, and Myrothecium. These results suggested a selection effect from the three-year continuous straw return treatment and the soil bacterial and fungal communities were moderately changed. DA - 2019/8/8/ PY - 2019/8/8/ DO - 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01811 VL - 10 SP - SN - 1664-302X KW - wheat straw return KW - wheat-soybean rotation KW - soil bacterial and fungal community KW - 16S rRNA and ITS amplicon sequencing KW - nitrogen-cycling microbe KW - plant pathogen ER - TY - JOUR TI - Ecology in the Sixth Mass Extinction: Detecting and Understanding Rare Biotic Interactions AU - Youngsteadt, Elsa AU - Lopez-Uribe, Margarita M. AU - Sorenson, Clyde E. T2 - ANNALS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA AB - The Earth is experiencing a wave of anthropogenic biodiversity loss, such that current rates of extinction are 100–1,000 times the background rate observed between prior mass extinctions in the fossil record (Barnosky et al. 2011, Pimm et al. 2014). These losses place Earth’s biota in the early stages of an extinction event comparable to those precipitated only five times before in the past 540 million years (Barnosky et al. 2011, Ceballos et al. 2015). Among plants—the foundation of terrestrial food webs—an estimated 20% of all species are currently threatened with extinction (Brummitt et al. 2015). Among invertebrates, conservation status has been reviewed for only about 1% of described species, and of those, some 40% are threatened (Dirzo et al. 2014). Regional surveys regularly detect striking losses in insect biomass and population size over recent decades (e.g., Fox 2013, Hallmann et al. 2017, Lister and Garcia 2018). Loss of species richness, population size, and biomass are striking, but they do not capture the full impact of biotic change. Each species participates in a web of interactions, such as predation, parasitism, and mutualism, that underpin ecosystem functions (Tylianakis et al. 2008). These interactions are expected to disappear before the species themselves (McConkey and Drake 2006, Valiente-Banuet et al. 2015), precipitating changes in ecosystem function and extinction of other species that depend on the interactions (Säterberg et al. 2013, Risch et al. 2018). In this context, the study of rare biotic interactions is becoming more widespread and more urgent; however, challenges abound in detecting such interactions and interpreting their ecological relevance. These challenges were the focus of a Plant-Insect Ecosystems Section Symposium convened at the 2017 annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America in Denver, CO. Among the symposium’s 16 presenters, 6 contributed papers to this collection, providing a cross section of the dimensions of rarity with which ecologists must grapple. DA - 2019/5// PY - 2019/5// DO - 10.1093/aesa/saz007 VL - 112 IS - 3 SP - 119-121 SN - 1938-2901 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Pollination Ecology and Morphology of Venus Flytrap in Sites of Varying Time Since Last Fire AU - Hamon, Laura E. AU - Youngsteadt, Elsa AU - Irwin, Rebecca E. AU - Sorenson, Clyde E. T2 - ANNALS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA AB - Management of natural habitats is an important strategy for rare plant conservation. One common tool for managing natural habitats is the use of controlled fire. Rare plants in fire-dependent ecosystems often rely on frequent fires to increase nutrient availability, initiate germination, and limit cover from light competitors. Fire can also alter arthropod communities, including the pollinator communities upon which many flowering plants rely for sexual reproduction. However, it remains unclear how fire affects the pollination ecology of rare plants in fire-dependent ecosystems. Here we studied sites of varying burn history to examine the role of time since last fire on the morphology, flower visitor community, and degree of pollen limitation of seed production of Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula Ellis) (Caryophyllales: Droseraceae). The area occupied by blooming D. muscipula and number of traps per individual decreased with increasing time since burn. Though flower visitor richness and evenness were highest in sites of intermediate time post-burn, we found no differences in the composition of the flower visitor community in sites of different burn histories. Hand-pollinated flowers produced 8.3% more seeds per fruit than open-pollinated flowers, indicating that D. muscipula was pollen-limited, but burn history did not affect the magnitude of pollen limitation. Though we found no clear effect of burn history on the pollination ecology of D. muscipula, differences in blooming area and trap number suggest that burn history influences its distribution and growth, and affirms the benefits of frequent fires to its persistence. DA - 2019/5// PY - 2019/5// DO - 10.1093/aesa/say032 VL - 112 IS - 3 SP - 141-149 SN - 1938-2901 KW - Venus flytrap KW - Dionaea KW - pollination ecology KW - fire ecology KW - rare plant ER - TY - JOUR TI - Failure of Pollen Transport Despite High Bee Visitation in an Endangered Dioecious Shrub AU - Youngsteadt, Elsa AU - Sorenson, Clyde E. T2 - ANNALS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA AB - Dioecy is rare among flowering plants, and is associated with a high frequency of threatened species. Dioecious plants are often pollinated by wind or insects, but are susceptible to pollination failure should male and female plants become spatially separated, or should pollinator abundance decline. Here we characterize the plant–pollinator interactions of Rhus michauxii Sarg (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae), an endangered dioecious shrub endemic to the southeastern United States. Working in the sandhills region of North Carolina, we detected a diverse community of arthropods visiting R. michauxii flowers, including 55 species or morphospecies, with moderate niche overlap between male and female flowers. Although most visitors acquired pollen from male flowers, pollen loads were greatly reduced or diluted on visitors to female flowers; conspecific pollen was completely absent at all-female sites. Bees in the genus Megachile appear to be the most important pollen vectors in this system because of their abundance and pollen load composition. We constructed a regional pollen transport network involving 73 arthropod species and 46 pollen species/morphotypes, in which R. michauxii participated in 10% of links and attracted 38% of individual visitors, suggesting that it competes successfully with other plants for visitation. Finally, time-lapse videography revealed that female inflorescences were visited about six times less often than male inflorescences, but at similar times of day. Despite overall high rates of bee visitation, pollen movement from male to female plants was uncommon, and restoration of sexual reproduction in this species may require hand pollination or translocation of suitable mates to single-sex sites. DA - 2019/5// PY - 2019/5// DO - 10.1093/aesa/say049 VL - 112 IS - 3 SP - 169-179 SN - 1938-2901 KW - Rhus michauxii KW - dioecy KW - plant-pollinator interaction KW - endangered species KW - time-lapse video ER - TY - JOUR TI - The lichen symbiosis re-viewed through the genomes of Cladonia grayi and its algal partner Asterochloris glomerata AU - Armaleo, Daniele AU - Mueller, Olaf AU - Lutzoni, Francois AU - Andresson, Olafur S. AU - Blanc, Guillaume AU - Bode, Helge B. AU - Collart, Frank R. AU - Dal Grande, Francesco AU - Dietrich, Fred AU - Grigoriev, Igor V. AU - Joneson, Suzanne AU - Kuo, Alan AU - Larsen, Peter E. AU - Logsdon, John M., Jr. AU - Lopez, David AU - Martin, Francis AU - May, Susan P. AU - McDonald, Tami R. AU - Merchant, Sabeeha S. AU - Miao, Vivian AU - Morin, Emmanuelle AU - Oono, Ryoko AU - Pellegrini, Matteo AU - Rubinstein, Nimrod AU - Sanchez-Puerta, Maria Virginia AU - Savelkoul, Elizabeth AU - Schmitt, Imke AU - Slot, Jason C. AU - Soanes, Darren AU - Szovenyi, Peter AU - Talbot, Nicholas J. AU - Veneault-Fourrey, Claire AU - Xavier, Basil B. T2 - BMC GENOMICS AB - Lichens, encompassing 20,000 known species, are symbioses between specialized fungi (mycobionts), mostly ascomycetes, and unicellular green algae or cyanobacteria (photobionts). Here we describe the first parallel genomic analysis of the mycobiont Cladonia grayi and of its green algal photobiont Asterochloris glomerata. We focus on genes/predicted proteins of potential symbiotic significance, sought by surveying proteins differentially activated during early stages of mycobiont and photobiont interaction in coculture, expanded or contracted protein families, and proteins with differential rates of evolution.A) In coculture, the fungus upregulated small secreted proteins, membrane transport proteins, signal transduction components, extracellular hydrolases and, notably, a ribitol transporter and an ammonium transporter, and the alga activated DNA metabolism, signal transduction, and expression of flagellar components. B) Expanded fungal protein families include heterokaryon incompatibility proteins, polyketide synthases, and a unique set of G-protein α subunit paralogs. Expanded algal protein families include carbohydrate active enzymes and a specific subclass of cytoplasmic carbonic anhydrases. The alga also appears to have acquired by horizontal gene transfer from prokaryotes novel archaeal ATPases and Desiccation-Related Proteins. Expanded in both symbionts are signal transduction components, ankyrin domain proteins and transcription factors involved in chromatin remodeling and stress responses. The fungal transportome is contracted, as are algal nitrate assimilation genes. C) In the mycobiont, slow-evolving proteins were enriched for components involved in protein translation, translocation and sorting.The surveyed genes affect stress resistance, signaling, genome reprogramming, nutritional and structural interactions. The alga carries many genes likely transferred horizontally through viruses, yet we found no evidence of inter-symbiont gene transfer. The presence in the photobiont of meiosis-specific genes supports the notion that sexual reproduction occurs in Asterochloris while they are free-living, a phenomenon with implications for the adaptability of lichens and the persistent autonomy of the symbionts. The diversity of the genes affecting the symbiosis suggests that lichens evolved by accretion of many scattered regulatory and structural changes rather than through introduction of a few key innovations. This predicts that paths to lichenization were variable in different phyla, which is consistent with the emerging consensus that ascolichens could have had a few independent origins. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1186/s12864-019-5629-x VL - 20 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Biocontrol Strains Differentially Shift the Genetic Structure of Indigenous Soil Populations of Aspergillus flavus AU - Lewis, Mary H. AU - Carbone, Ignazio AU - Luis, Jane M. AU - Payne, Gary A. AU - Bowen, Kira L. AU - Hagan, Austin K. AU - Kemerait, Robert AU - Heiniger, Ron AU - Ojiambo, Peter S. T2 - Frontiers in Microbiology AB - Biocontrol using non-aflatoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus has the greatest potential to mitigate aflatoxin contamination. However, factors that influence the efficacy of biocontrol agents under field conditions are not well understood. Shifts in the genetic structure of indigenous soil populations of A. flavus following application of biocontrol products Afla-Guard and AF36 were investigated to determine how these changes influence the efficacy of biocontrol strains. Soil samples were collected from maize fields in Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina in 2012 and 2013 to determine the population genetic structure of A. flavus following application of the biocontrol strains. A. flavus L was the most dominant species of Aspergillus section Flavi followed by A. parasiticus. A total of 112 multilocus haplotypes (MLHs) were inferred from 1,282 isolates of A. flavus L using multilocus sequence typing of the trpC, mfs and AF17 loci. A. flavus individuals belonging to the Afla-Guard MLH in the IB lineage were the most dominant, while individuals of the AF36 MLH in the IC lineage were recovered in very low frequencies. There were no significant (P > 0.05) differences in the frequency of individuals with MAT1-1 and MAT1-2, an indication of a recombining population resulting from sexual reproduction. Population mean mutation rates were not different across temporal and spatial samples indicating that mutation alone is not a driving force in observed multilocus sequence diversity. Clustering based on principal component analysis identified two distinct evolutionary lineages (IB and IC) across all three states. Additionally, patristic distance analysis revealed phylogenetic incongruency among single locus phylogenies which suggests ongoing genetic exchange and recombination. Levels of aflatoxin accumulation were very low except in North Carolina in 2012, where aflatoxin levels were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in grain from treated compared to untreated plots. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Afla-Guard was more effective than AF36 in shifting the indigenous soil populations of A. flavus towards the non-toxigenic or low aflatoxin producing IB lineage. These results suggest that Afla-Guard is likely to be more effective in reducing aflatoxin accumulation and will also persist longer in the soil than AF36 in the southeastern United States. DA - 2019/7/31/ PY - 2019/7/31/ DO - 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01738 VL - 10 SP - J2 - Front. Microbiol. OP - SN - 1664-302X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.01738 DB - Crossref KW - aflatoxin KW - Aspergillus section Flavi KW - biological control KW - lineage KW - mating type ER - TY - JOUR TI - HvWRKY23 regulates flavonoid glycoside and hydroxycinnamic acid amide biosynthetic genes in barley to combat Fusarium head blight AU - Karre, Shailesh AU - Kumar, Arun AU - Yogendra, Kalenahalli AU - Kage, Udaykumar AU - Kushalappa, Ajjamada AU - Charron, Jean-Benoit T2 - PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY DA - 2019/8// PY - 2019/8// DO - 10.1007/s11103-019-00882-2 VL - 100 IS - 6 SP - 591-605 SN - 1573-5028 KW - Fusarium graminearum KW - HvWRKY23 KW - Flavonoid glycosides KW - Hydroxycinnamic acid amides (HCAAs) KW - Metabolo-transcriptomics KW - Virus induced gene silencing ER - TY - JOUR TI - Drought-induced soil microbial amino acid and polysaccharide change and their implications for C-N cycles in a climate change world AU - Kakumanu, Madhavi L. AU - Ma, Li AU - Williams, Mark A. T2 - SCIENTIFIC REPORTS AB - Abstract High microbial carbon (MBC) demand, a proxy for energy demand (cost), during soil microbial response to stressors such as drought are a major gap in understanding global biogeochemical cycling of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). The dynamics of two dominant microbial pools (amino acids; AA and exopolymeric substances; EPS) in soils exposed to drying and C and N amendment to mimic both low and high nutrient soil habitats were examined. It was hypothesized that dynamics of EPS and AA (osmolytes) would be greater when soil drying was preceded by a pulse of bioavailable C and N. Drying reduced AA content, even as overall soil MBC increased (~35%). The increase in absolute amounts and mol% of certain AA (eg: Taurine, glutamine, tyrosine, phenylalanine) in the driest treatment (−10 MPa) were similar in both soils regardless of amendment suggesting a common mechanism underlying the energy intensive acclimation across soils. MBC and EPS, both increased ~1.5X and ~3X due to drying and especially drying associated with amendment. Overall major pools of C and N based microbial metabolites are dynamic to drying (drought), and thus have implications for earth’s biogeochemical fluxes of C and N, perhaps costing 4–7% of forest fixed photosynthetic C input during a single drying (drought) period. DA - 2019/7/29/ PY - 2019/7/29/ DO - 10.1038/s41598-019-46984-1 VL - 9 SP - SN - 2045-2322 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Managing Fusarium Head Blight in Winter Barley With Cultivar Resistance and Fungicide AU - Cowger, Christina AU - Arellano, Consuelo AU - Marshall, David AU - Fitzgerald, Joshua T2 - PLANT DISEASE AB - Although there has been research on managing Fusarium head blight (FHB) in spring barley, little has been published on cultivar resistance and optimal fungicide timing for FHB management in winter barley. A 3-year (2015 to 2017) field experiment was conducted to measure FHB resistance of winter barley varieties, gauge the potential benefit from a fungicide, and help determine the optimal timing for fungicide application. The split-plot experiment took place in a misted, inoculated nursery in Raleigh, North Carolina using main plots of four winter barley cultivars (Atlantic, Endeavor, Nomini, and Thoroughbred). Three fungicide treatments were applied to subplots: prothioconazole + tebuconazole at full spike emergence, the same fungicide 6 days later, or no fungicide. The late applications significantly reduced FHB index in each of 3 years and significantly reduced deoxynivalenol (DON) in harvested grain in 2 of the 3 years. Applications at full spike emergence also yielded significant benefit in 1 of the 3 years for each parameter. Neither disease symptoms nor DON gave reason to prefer one of the fungicide timings over the other. Across the 3 years, DON ranked the cultivars Endeavor < Nomini = Thoroughbred < Atlantic. Combining the moderate resistance of Endeavor with a fungicide application and averaging the two timings resulted in a 75% DON reduction compared with unsprayed Atlantic. Taken together, our results indicate that barley growers concerned about minimizing DON should both plant moderately resistant varieties and apply fungicide if there is scab risk. During the same period, 16 commercial winter barley cultivars were tested in from three to seven Virginia and North Carolina environments each, and the DON results were compared after standardization across environments. The winter two-row malting barley cultivars Endeavor and Calypso displayed superior and robust DON resistance across environments. DA - 2019/8// PY - 2019/8// DO - 10.1094/PDIS-09-18-1582-RE VL - 103 IS - 8 SP - 1858-1864 SN - 1943-7692 UR - https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-18-1582-RE KW - cereals and grains KW - chemical KW - disease management KW - field crops KW - fungi ER - TY - JOUR TI - Role of Cuticular Hydrocarbons in German Cockroach (Blattodea: Ectobiidae) Aggregation Behavior AU - Hamilton, Jamora A AU - Wada-Katsumata, Ayako AU - Schal, Coby T2 - Environmental Entomology AB - Aggregation can be adaptive by providing protection from predators, facilitating thermoregulation, and expediting the location of food, shelter, and mates. German cockroaches Blattella germanica L. (Blattodea: Ectobiidae), are obligatory commensals in human-built structures, where they aggregate in crevices during the day. The source of the aggregation pheromone that drives this behavior and its chemical identity remain unclear. Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) in feces have been proposed to serve as aggregation pheromone, but this function has not been investigated in relation to visual and tactile cues that mediate aggregation. Our objective was to delineate how CHCs in the feces and on the cockroach body operate in conditions that reflect the German cockroach’s ecology—either applied to shelters, representing fecal deposition, or to previously extracted cockroaches, representing shelter co-habitation with other cockroaches. Cockroaches and feces-conditioned filter papers were extracted, CHCs were purified by flash chromatography, and two-choice behavior assays were performed with first instar nymphs. Our results confirmed that nymphs preferred to rest within feces-conditioned shelters. However, purified CHCs did not elicit more aggregation than solvent-treated control shelters. Nymphs significantly preferred to rest in shelters that contained a CHC-free dead female, but the addition of CHCs to the female did not enhance aggregation. Nymphs preferred to aggregate with the CHC-free female over CHC-treated shelters. Finally, a methanol extract of feces was highly effective at eliciting aggregation, contesting previous reports that fecal CHCs serve as aggregation pheromone. We assert that CHCs play a minor, if any, role in the aggregation behavior of German cockroaches. DA - 2019/4/29/ PY - 2019/4/29/ DO - 10.1093/ee/nvz044 VL - 48 IS - 3 SP - 546-553 LA - en OP - SN - 0046-225X 1938-2936 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvz044 DB - Crossref KW - hydrocarbons KW - aggregation KW - pheromone ER - TY - JOUR TI - Evidence of insecticide resistance selection in wild Anopheles coluzzii mosquitoes due to agricultural pesticide use AU - Mouhamadou, Chouaibou Seidou AU - Souza, Sarah Souline AU - Fodjo, Behi Kouadio AU - Zoh, Marius Gonse AU - Bli, Nestor Kesse AU - Koudou, Benjamin Guibehi T2 - INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF POVERTY AB - The wetlands used for some agricultural activities constitute productive breeding sites for many mosquito species. Thus, the agricultural use of insecticide targeting other pests may select for insecticide resistance in malaria mosquitoes. The purpose of this study is to clarify some knowledge gaps on the role of agrochemicals in the development of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors is of utmost importance for vector control.Using the CDC bottle test and the log-probit analysis, we investigated for the first time the resistance levels of Anopheles coluzzii mosquitoes to neonicotinoids, insecticides used exclusively for crop protection in Côte d'Ivoire. The study was conducted in two agricultural regions (Tiassale and Gagnoa) and one non-agricultural region (Vitre) between June and August 2017 using clothianidin, acetamiprid and imidacloprid.Mosquito populations from Tiassale and Gagnoa (agricultural settings) were determined to be resistant to acetamiprid with mortality rates being < 85% at 24 h post-exposure. In Vitre (non-agricultural area) however, the mosquito population was susceptible to acetamiprid. In all three localities, mosquito populations were resistant to imidacloprid (mortality rates were 60% in Vitre, 37% in Tiassale, and 13% in Gagnoa) and completely susceptible to clothianidin (100% mortality). An. coluzzii represented 100% of mosquito collected in Gagnoa, 86% in Tiassale and 96% in Vitre.This study provides strong evidence that agricultural use of insecticides can cause insecticide resistance in malaria vector populations. Insecticide resistance driven by agrochemical usage should be considered when vector control strategies are developed. DA - 2019/7/15/ PY - 2019/7/15/ DO - 10.1186/s40249-019-0572-2 VL - 8 SP - SN - 2049-9957 KW - Vector control KW - Insecticide resistance KW - Resistance selection KW - Agriculture KW - Anopheles coluzzii ER - TY - JOUR TI - T-BAS Version 2.1: Tree-Based Alignment Selector Toolkit for Evolutionary Placement of DNA Sequences and Viewing Alignments and Specimen Metadata on Curated and Custom Trees AU - Carbone, Ignazio AU - White, James B. AU - Miadlikowska, Jolanta AU - Arnold, A. Elizabeth AU - Miller, Mark A. AU - Magain, Nicolas AU - U'Ren, Jana M. AU - Lutzoni, François T2 - Microbiology Resource Announcements AB - The Tree-Based Alignment Selector (T-BAS) toolkit combines phylogenetic-based placement of DNA sequences with alignment and specimen metadata visualization tools in an integrative pipeline for analyzing microbial biodiversity. The release of T-BAS version 2.1 makes available reference phylogenies, supports multilocus sequence placements and permits uploading and downloading trees, alignments, and specimen metadata. DA - 2019/7/18/ PY - 2019/7/18/ DO - 10.1128/MRA.00328-19 VL - 8 IS - 29 SP - J2 - Microbiol Resour Announc LA - en OP - SN - 2576-098X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/MRA.00328-19 DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Sensitivity of plant species to warming and altered precipitation dominates the community productivity in a semiarid grassland on the Loess Plateau AU - Su, Fanglong AU - Wei, Yanan AU - Wang, Fuwei AU - Guo, Jiuxin AU - Zhang, Juanjuan AU - Wang, Yi AU - Guo, Hui AU - Hu, Shuijin T2 - ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION AB - Abstract Global warming and changes in precipitation patterns can critically influence the structure and productivity of terrestrial ecosystems. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We conducted two independent but complementary experiments (one with warming and precipitation manipulation (+ or – 30%) and another with selective plant removal) in a semiarid grassland on the Loess Plateau, northwestern China, to assess how warming and altered precipitation affect plant community. Our results showed that warming and altered precipitation affected community aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) through impacting soil moisture. Results of the removal experiment showed competitive relationships among dominant grasses, the dominant subshrub and nondominant species, which played a more important role than soil moisture in the response of plant community to warming and altered precipitation. Precipitation addition intensified the competition but primarily benefited the dominant subshrub. Warming and precipitation reduction enhanced water stresses but increased ANPP of the dominant subshrub and grasses, indicating that plant tolerance to drought critically meditated the community responses. These findings suggest that specie competitivity for water resources as well as tolerance to environmental stresses may dominate the responses of plant communities on the Loess Plateaus to future climate change factors. DA - 2019/7// PY - 2019/7// DO - 10.1002/ece3.5312 VL - 9 IS - 13 SP - 7628-7638 SN - 2045-7758 KW - aboveground net primary productivity KW - plant community KW - plant interspecific relationship KW - soil moisture KW - tolerance to drought ER - TY - JOUR TI - A maize polygalacturonase functions as a suppressor of programmed cell death in plants AU - He, Yijian AU - Karre, Shailesh AU - Johal, Gurmukh S. AU - Christensen, Shawn A. AU - Balint-Kurti, Peter T2 - BMC Plant Biology AB - The hypersensitive defense response (HR) in plants is a fast, localized necrotic response around the point of pathogen ingress. HR is usually triggered by a pathogen recognition event mediated by a nucleotide-binding site, leucine-rich repeat (NLR) protein. The autoactive maize NLR gene Rp1-D21 confers a spontaneous HR response in the absence of pathogen recognition. Previous work identified a set of loci associated with variation in the strength of Rp1-D21-induced HR. A polygalacturonase gene homolog, here termed ZmPGH1, was identified as a possible causal gene at one of these loci on chromosome 7. Expression of ZmPGH1 inhibited the HR-inducing activity of both Rp1-D21 and that of another autoactive NLR, RPM1(D505V), in a Nicotiana benthamiana transient expression assay system. Overexpression of ZmPGH1 in a transposon insertion line of maize was associated with suppression of chemically-induced programmed cell death and with suppression of HR induced by Rp1-D21 in maize plants grown in the field. ZmPGH1 functions as a suppressor of programmed cell death induced by at least two autoactive NLR proteins and by two chemical inducers. These findings deepen our understanding of the control of the HR in plants. DA - 2019/7/15/ PY - 2019/7/15/ DO - 10.1186/s12870-019-1897-5 VL - 19 IS - 1 SP - J2 - BMC Plant Biol LA - en OP - SN - 1471-2229 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12870-019-1897-5 DB - Crossref KW - Hypersensitive response KW - Maize KW - Polygalacturonase ER - TY - JOUR TI - The plant hypersensitive response: concepts, control and consequences AU - Balint‐Kurti, Peter T2 - Molecular Plant Pathology AB - Summary The hypersensitive defence response is found in all higher plants and is characterized by a rapid cell death at the point of pathogen ingress. It is usually associated with pathogen resistance, though, in specific situations, it may have other consequences such as pathogen susceptibility, growth retardation and, over evolutionary timescales, speciation. Due to the potentially severe costs of inappropriate activation, plants employ multiple mechanisms to suppress inappropriate activation of HR and to constrain it after activation. The ubiquity of this response among higher plants despite its costs suggests that it is an extremely effective component of the plant immune system. DA - 2019/7/15/ PY - 2019/7/15/ DO - 10.1111/mpp.12821 VL - 20 IS - 8 SP - 1163-1178 J2 - Molecular Plant Pathology LA - en OP - SN - 1464-6722 1364-3703 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mpp.12821 DB - Crossref KW - hypersensitive response ER - TY - JOUR TI - Complete Genome Sequence of Maize Mosaic Nucleorhabdovirus AU - Martin, Kathleen M. AU - Whitfield, Anna E. T2 - MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS AB - The complete genome sequence of maize mosaic virus (MMV) was obtained using next-generation sequencing from infected Peregrinus maidis and rapid amplification of cDNA ends from infected Zea mays . The genome of MMV is 12,170 bases, and this project completed the 5′ and 3′ ends and amended the polymerase sequence. DA - 2019/7// PY - 2019/7// DO - 10.1128/MRA.00637-19 VL - 8 IS - 29 SP - SN - 2576-098X ER - TY - JOUR TI - The role of phenotypic plasticity and rapid adaptation in determining invasion success of Plantago virginica AU - Luo, , Xi AU - Xu, Xinyu AU - Zheng, Yi AU - Guo, Hui AU - Hu, Shuijin T2 - BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS DA - 2019/8// PY - 2019/8// DO - 10.1007/s10530-019-02004-x VL - 21 IS - 8 SP - 2679-2692 SN - 1573-1464 KW - Invasion success KW - Plantago virginica KW - Phenotypic plasticity KW - Rapid adaptation KW - Nitrogen addition KW - Invasive plant ER - TY - JOUR TI - Do Bee Wings Adapt for Flight in Urban Environments? AU - Beasley, DeAnna E. AU - Fitzgerald, Jacquelyn L. AU - Fowler, Alison AU - Keleher, Kirsten AU - Lopez-Uribe, Margarita M. AU - Dunn, Robert R. T2 - SOUTHEASTERN NATURALIST AB - Understanding how organisms respond to urban-associated environmental changes is key to protecting vulnerable species. Bees, in particular, have gained interest due to their economic and ecological roles. We used a geometric morphometric approach to describe changes in wing shape and size in the solitary bee Andrena barbara (Barbara's Miner) collected across an urban landscape. We found that, although the wing morphology suggests a limited dispersal ability in its short and narrow frame, the urban landscape did not significantly explain how wing shape or size vary. Our findings are consistent with other studies that show little variation in wing morphology in urban solitary bees, and suggests that urban habitats may potentially serve an important role in bee conservation. DA - 2019/5// PY - 2019/5// DO - 10.1656/058.018.0210 VL - 18 IS - 2 SP - 183-191 SN - 1938-5412 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Urbanization drives unique latitudinal patterns of insect herbivory and tree condition AU - Just, Michael G. AU - Dale, Adam G. AU - Long, Lawrence C. AU - Frank, Steven D. T2 - OIKOS AB - Urban landscapes are characterized by high proportions of impervious surface resulting in higher temperatures than adjacent natural landscapes. In some cities, like those at cooler latitudes, trees may benefit from warmer urban temperatures, but trees in many cities are beset with problems like drought stress and increased herbivory. What drives patterns of urban tree health across urbanization and latitudinal temperature gradients? In natural systems, latitude–herbivory relationships are well‐studied, and recent temperate studies have shown that herbivory generally increases with decreasing latitudes (warmer temperatures). However, the applicability of this latitude–herbivory theory in already‐warmed urban systems is unknown. In this study, we investigated how the interaction of urbanization, latitudinal warming and scale insect abundance affected urban tree health. We predicted that trees in warmer, lower latitude cities would be in poorer health at lower levels of urbanization than trees at cooler, higher latitudes due to the interaction of urbanization, latitudinal temperature and herbivory. To evaluate our predictions, we surveyed the abundance of scale insect herbivores on a single, common tree species Acer rubrum in eight US cities spanning 10° of latitude. We estimated urbanization at two extents, a local one that accounted for the direct effects on an individual tree, and a larger one that captured the surrounding urban landscape. We found that urban tree health did not vary with latitudinal temperature but was best predicted by local urbanization and herbivore abundance. We did not observe increased herbivore abundance in warmer, lower latitudes cities, but instead herbivore abundance peaked in the mid latitudes of our study. This study demonstrates that urban landscapes may deviate from classical theory developed in natural systems and reinforces the need for research reconciling ecological patterns in urban landscapes. DA - 2019/7// PY - 2019/7// DO - 10.1111/oik.05874 VL - 128 IS - 7 SP - 984-993 SN - 1600-0706 KW - herbivory KW - urban ecology KW - urban forest ER - TY - JOUR TI - Delivery of maize mosaic virus to planthopper vectors by microinjection increases infection efficiency and facilitates functional genomics experiments in the vector AU - Yao, Jianxiu AU - Rotenberg, Dorith AU - Whitfield, Anna E. T2 - JOURNAL OF VIROLOGICAL METHODS AB - The corn planthopper, Peregrinus maidis, not only causes direct damage to plants by feeding, but also transmits maize mosaic virus (MMV) to the plant hosts. The virus is transmitted in a propagative manner but the acquisition of MMV by the vector feeding on infected plants can result in low acquisition and inoculation efficiency. Here, we increased the acquisition efficiency by delivering the virus directly into the hemocoel through microinjection, which resulted in efficient virus infection of the insect and transmission to maize. We found that delivery of virus by injection of 10 ng MMV (50 nl, 200 μg/ml virions) into P. maidis resulted in 93% transmission efficiency. In dose-response experiments, MMV abundance in insects and transmission efficiency decreased as the amount of virus inoculum delivered into the hemocoel was reduced. Examination of virus distribution in the vector using immunolabeling and confocal microscopy revealed similar tissue distributions in the injected insects when compared to those of previous studies using feeding on plants for virus acquisition. The utility of virus inoculation by microinjection for functional analysis in virus-vector interaction was explored. Co-microinjection of MMV virions and the dsRNA of PI3Kδ (a transcript that is less abundant in MMV-infected insects), resulted in a reduction in PI3Kδ expression and higher virus titers in P. maidis. These findings demonstrated that virus microinjection is a robust method for obtaining large numbers of infected planthoppers that are competent in transmitting MMV and, in combination with RNAi, could significantly facilitate the functional analysis of P. maidis-MMV interactions. DA - 2019/8// PY - 2019/8// DO - 10.1016/j.jviromet.2019.05.010 VL - 270 SP - 153-162 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Extraction of Plant DNA by Microneedle Patch for Rapid Detection of Plant Diseases AU - Paul, Rajesh AU - Saville, Amanda C. AU - Hansel, Jeana C. AU - Ye, Yanqi AU - Ball, Carmin AU - Williams, Alyssa AU - Chang, Xinyuan AU - Chen, Guojun AU - Gu, Zhen AU - Ristaino, Jean B. AU - Wei, Qingshan T2 - ACS Nano AB - In-field molecular diagnosis of plant diseases via nucleic acid amplification is currently limited by cumbersome protocols for extracting and isolating pathogenic DNA from plant tissues. To address this challenge, a rapid plant DNA extraction method was developed using a disposable polymeric microneedle (MN) patch. By applying MN patches on plant leaves, amplification-assay-ready DNA can be extracted within a minute from different plant species. MN-extracted DNA was used for direct polymerase chain reaction amplification of plant plastid DNA without purification. Furthermore, using this patch device, extraction of plant pathogen DNA (Phytophthora infestans) from both laboratory-inoculated and field-infected leaf samples was performed for detection of late blight disease in tomato. MN extraction achieved 100% detection rate of late blight infections for samples after 3 days of inoculation when compared to the conventional gold standard cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-based DNA extraction method and 100% detection rate for all blind field samples tested. This simple, cell-lysis-free, and purification-free DNA extraction method could be a transformative approach to facilitate rapid sample preparation for molecular diagnosis of various plant diseases directly in the field. DA - 2019/6/9/ PY - 2019/6/9/ DO - 10.1021/acsnano.9b00193 VL - 13 IS - 6 SP - 6540-6549 J2 - ACS Nano LA - en OP - SN - 1936-0851 1936-086X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.9b00193 DB - Crossref KW - plant disease KW - DNA extraction KW - microneedle patch KW - Phytophthora infestans KW - nucleic acid amplification KW - point-of-care diagnostics ER - TY - JOUR TI - Evaluation of an Easy-to-Install, Low-Cost Dendrometer Band for Citizen-Science Tree Research AU - Just, Michael G. AU - Frank, Steven D. T2 - JOURNAL OF FORESTRY AB - Abstract Tree-stem growth is an important metric for evaluating many ecological and silvicultural research questions. However, answering these questions may require monitoring growth on many individual trees that span changing environments and geographies, which can incur significant costs. Recently, citizen science has been successfully employed as a cost-effective approach to collect data for large-scale projects that also increases scientific awareness. Still, citizen-science-led tree-growth monitoring requires the use of tools that are affordable, understandable, and accurate. Here, we compare an inexpensive, easy-to-install dendrometer band to two other bands that are more expensive with more complex installations. We installed a series of three dendrometers on 31 red maples (Acer rubrum) in two urban areas in the eastern United States. We found that the stem-growth measurements reported by these dendrometers were highly correlated and, thus, validate the utility of the inexpensive band. DA - 2019/7// PY - 2019/7// DO - 10.1093/jofore/fvz026 VL - 117 IS - 4 SP - 317-322 SN - 1938-3746 KW - Acer rubrum KW - Public Participation in Scientific Research KW - forest measurement KW - monitoring ER - TY - JOUR TI - Effect of post-application irrigation on fungicide movement and efficacy against Magnaporthiopsis poae AU - Hutchens, W. J. AU - Gannon, T. W. AU - Shew, H. D. AU - Kerns, J. P. T2 - CROP PROTECTION AB - Management of many crown and root diseases of turfgrasses includes the use of fungicides. The physicochemical properties of the fungicides used vary greatly, but most have low mobility and are not phloem mobile, which results in little active ingredient present in the basal and underground structures of turfgrass plants. Two studies were conducted in a laboratory setting to determine the effects of post-application irrigation amounts (0, 0.3, 0.6, 1.3, and 2.5 cm) on the distribution of 14C myclobutanil and 14C tebuconazole in a soil profile of 90% sand and 10% peat moss by volume. In addition, growth chamber experiments were conducted to examine the effect of post-application irrigation amount on azoxystrobin efficacy against summer patch (Magnaporthiopsis poae) in ‘Penn A-4’ creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.). The creeping bentgrass was treated with azoxystrobin and immediately irrigated with 0, 0.25, 0.3, or 0.6 cm of irrigation. Lastly, an in vitro fungicide sensitivity assay was conducted on three M. poae isolates to determine their sensitivities to two succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs), three demethylation inhibitors (DMIs), and four strobilurins (QoIs) to determine if fungicide concentrations in the soil profile reached levels high enough to suppress fungal growth. In both 14C experiments, more than 54% of the 14C was retained in the top 5 cm of soil for all irrigation treatments. For the 14C myclobutanil experiment, lysimeters treated with 2.5 cm of post-application irrigation resulted in 3.9% of 14C recovered in the 7.6–10.2 cm sampling depth, which was higher than all other irrigation treatments. Post-application irrigation at 2.5 cm in the 14C tebuconazole experiment yielded 6.3% of the 14C at the 7.6–10.2 cm sampling depth and 2.3% at the 10.2–12.7 cm sampling depth—recoveries at both depths were higher with 2.5 cm of irrigation than all other irrigation treatments. No 14C was detected below 12.7 cm for either experiment. Less disease was observed when azoxystrobin received post-application irrigation. Both 0.25 and 0.3 cm of post-application irrigation increased turf quality compared to no irrigation; moreover, 0.25 and 0.6 cm of post-application irrigation increased root length compared to no irrigation. In the in vitro fungicide sensitivity assay, isolates of M. poae were sensitive to all fungicides with only minor sensitivity to the SDHIs. In general, isolates were most sensitive to the QoIs with some variability in isolate sensitivities noted. Isolates of M. poae are sensitive to commonly used fungicides and efficacy is enhanced by post-application irrigation due to improved fungicide distribution into the soil profile. DA - 2019/8// PY - 2019/8// DO - 10.1016/j.cropro.2019.04.027 VL - 122 SP - 106-111 SN - 1873-6904 KW - Fungicide KW - Post-application KW - Irrigation KW - Lysirneter KW - Summer patch KW - Magnaporthiopsis pone ER - TY - JOUR TI - Nonfertilizing sperm in Lepidoptera show little evidence for recurrent positive selection AU - Mongue, Andrew J. AU - Hansen, Megan E. AU - Gu, Liuqi AU - Sorenson, Clyde E. AU - Walters, James R. T2 - MOLECULAR ECOLOGY AB - Abstract Sperm are among the most variable cells in nature. Some of this variation results from nonadaptive errors in spermatogenesis, but many species consistently produce multiple sperm morphs, the adaptive significance of which remains unknown. Here, we investigate the evolution of dimorphic sperm in Lepidoptera, the butterflies and moths. Males of this order produce both fertilizing sperm and a secondary, nonfertilizing type that lacks DNA. Previous organismal studies suggested a role for nonfertilizing sperm in sperm competition, but this hypothesis has never been evaluated from a molecular framework. We combined published data sets with new sequencing in two species, the monandrous Carolina sphinx moth and the highly polyandrous monarch butterfly. Based on population genetic analyses, we see evidence for increased adaptive evolution in fertilizing sperm, but only in the polyandrous species. This signal comes primarily from a decrease in nonsynonymous polymorphism in sperm proteins compared to the rest of the genome, suggesting stronger purifying selection, consistent with selection via sperm competition. Nonfertilizing sperm proteins, in contrast, do not show an effect of mating system and do not appear to evolve differently from the background genome in either species, arguing against the involvement of nonfertilizing sperm in direct sperm competition. Based on our results and previous work, we suggest that nonfertilizing sperm may be used to delay female remating in these insects and decrease the risk of sperm competition rather than directly affect its outcome. DA - 2019/5// PY - 2019/5// DO - 10.1111/mec.15096 VL - 28 IS - 10 SP - 2517-2530 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Divergent responses of leaf N:P:K stoichiometry to nitrogen fertilization in rice and weeds AU - Sun, Xiao AU - Guo, Jiuxin AU - Guo, Shiwei AU - Guo, Hui AU - Hu, Shuijin T2 - WEED SCIENCE AB - Abstract Nitrogen (N) inputs have been found to exert strong influence on leaf stoichiometry in natural ecosystems, but there are few studies investigating the effects of N in agroecosystems. Using a 5-yr fertilization experiment in rice fields, we examined the effects of N inputs on leaf stoichiometry of one crop, rice ( Oryza sativa L.), and its four common weeds, barnyardgrass [ Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv.], Monochoria korsakowii Regel and Mack, alligatorweed [ Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.], and Japanese mazus [ Mazus pumilus (Burm. f.) Steenis], and further evaluated whether and how straw return mediates these effects. We found that rice and weed leaf nitrogen:phosphorus:potassium (N:P:K) stoichiometry exhibited divergent responses to N fertilizer. Weed leaf N:P:K stoichiometry was not sensitive to low (120 kg N ha −1 ) and regular (240 kg N ha −1 ) N inputs, but rice plants were, with significantly increased leaf N concentration and N:P and N:K ratios. The opposite trend was found for high N inputs (360 kg N ha −1 ). Rice leaf N concentration [N] did not increase further, and N:P ratios even decreased, whereas E. crus-galli and M. korsakowii had significantly increased [N] and N-related stoichiometry. We also found that the positive effects of regular N inputs on rice leaf N:P and N:K ratios were significantly dampened by straw return, but the positive effects on N:P ratios in M. pumilus leaves were enhanced by straw return. Compared with weeds, rice leaves contained low elemental concentrations across fertilization levels at grain-filling stages. These results indicate that rice has a lower N requirement than weeds at grain-filling stages, and the N supply should be managed at a relative low level to reduce the nutrient acquisition and competitive abilities of weeds. From a stoichiometric perspective, this study highlights the importance of N management in combination with straw return in controlling weeds and increasing the nutrient-use efficiency of crops. DA - 2019/5// PY - 2019/5// DO - 10.1017/wsc.2019.7 VL - 67 IS - 3 SP - 339-345 SN - 1550-2759 KW - Agroecosystem KW - M KW - pumilus KW - Oryza sativa KW - straw return ER - TY - JOUR TI - Influences of multiple clay minerals on the phosphorus transport driven by Aspergillus niger AU - Zhang, Lin AU - Hu, Yunxiao AU - Han, Feiyu AU - Wu, Yiling AU - Tian, Da AU - Su, Mu AU - Wang, Shimei AU - Li, Zhen AU - Hu, Shuijin T2 - APPLIED CLAY SCIENCE AB - Phosphorus (P) is a major limiting nutrient for plant growth. Clay minerals are able to work as active centers in soil system due to their high surface area and CEC. Yet, effects of clay minerals on P biogeochemical cycle driven by microorganisms are still unclear. In this study, hydroxylapatite and three typical clay minerals (kaolinite, palygorskite, and montmorillonite) were incubated with Aspergillus niger to investigate microbial influences on P release and adsorption. Due to the mineral particles, hyphae wrapped small montmorillonite particles (<10 μm, confirmed by SEM and TEM), which promoted microbial bioactivities, e.g., respiration and acid production. P consumption by the fungus lowered the available P from 143 to 68 ppm. Meanwhile, ATR-IR spectra and HPLC analysis confirmed the intense adsorption of oxalic acid (the primary microbial secretion) onto montmorillonite. Despite the higher acid production, both the high adsorption capability of the clay and the acid consumed by phosphate dissolution caused that pH values increased from ~2 to ~4 after montmorillonite addition. In contrast, low CEC, dispersibility, and surface area of kaolinite and palygorskite limited their ability to enhance microbial activities and the subsequent interactions with hyphae. Therefore, clay minerals, especially montmorillonite, can drive P transport with the favor from fungi in ecosystem. DA - 2019/9/1/ PY - 2019/9/1/ DO - 10.1016/j.clay.2019.04.026 VL - 177 SP - 12-18 SN - 1872-9053 KW - A. niger KW - Clay minerals KW - Morphology KW - Oxalic acid KW - P KW - Respiration ER - TY - JOUR TI - Taxonomy of the order Bunyavirales: update 2019 AU - Abudurexiti, Abulikemu AU - Adkins, Scott AU - Alioto, Daniela AU - Alkhovsky, Sergey V. AU - Avsic-Zupanc, Tatjana AU - Ballinger, Matthew J. AU - Bente, Dennis A. AU - Beer, Martin AU - Bergeron, Eric AU - Blair, Carol D. AU - Briese, Thomas AU - Buchmeier, Michael J. AU - Burt, Felicity J. AU - Calisher, Charles H. AU - Chang, Chenchen AU - Charrel, Remi N. AU - Choi, Il Ryong AU - Clegg, J. Christopher S. AU - Torre, Juan Carlos AU - Lamballerie, Xavier AU - Deng, Fei AU - Di Serio, Francesco AU - Digiaro, Michele AU - Drebot, Michael A. AU - Duan, Xiaomei AU - Ebihara, Hideki AU - Elbeaino, Toufic AU - Ergunay, Koray AU - Fulhorst, Charles F. AU - Garrison, Aura R. AU - Gao, George Fu AU - Gonzalez, Jean-Paul J. AU - Groschup, Martin H. AU - Guenther, Stephan AU - Haenni, Anne-Lise AU - Hall, Roy A. AU - Hepojoki, Jussi AU - Hewson, Roger AU - Hu, Zhihong AU - Hughes, Holly R. AU - Jonson, Miranda Gilda AU - Junglen, Sandra AU - Klempa, Boris AU - Klingstrom, Jonas AU - Kou, Chun AU - Laenen, Lies AU - Lambert, Amy J. AU - Langevin, Stanley A. AU - Liu, Dan AU - Lukashevich, Igor S. AU - Luo, Tao AU - Lu, Chuanwei AU - Maes, Piet AU - Souza, William Marciel AU - Marklewitz, Marco AU - Martelli, Giovanni P. AU - Matsuno, Keita AU - Mielke-Ehret, Nicole AU - Minutolo, Maria AU - Mirazimi, Ali AU - Moming, Abulimiti AU - Muehlbach, Hans-Peter AU - Naidu, Rayapati AU - Navarro, Beatriz AU - Teixeira Nunes, Marcio Roberto AU - Palacios, Gustavo AU - Papa, Anna AU - Pauvolid-Correa, Alex AU - Paweska, Janusz T. AU - Qiao, Jie AU - Radoshitzky, Sheli R. AU - Resende, Renato O. AU - Romanowski, Victor AU - Sall, Amadou Alpha AU - Salvato, Maria S. AU - Sasaya, Takahide AU - Shen, Shu AU - Shi, Xiaohong AU - Shirako, Yukio AU - Simmonds, Peter AU - Sironi, Manuela AU - Song, Jin-Won AU - Spengler, Jessica R. AU - Stenglein, Mark D. AU - Su, Zhengyuan AU - Sun, Surong AU - Tang, Shuang AU - Turina, Massimo AU - Wang, Bo AU - Wang, Cheng AU - Wang, Hualin AU - Wang, Jun AU - Wei, Taiyun AU - Whitfield, Anna E. AU - Zerbini, F. Murilo AU - Zhang, Jingyuan AU - Zhang, Lei AU - Zhang, Yanfang AU - Zhang, Yong-Zhen AU - Zhang, Yujiang AU - Zhou, Xueping AU - Zhu, Liying AU - Kuhn, Jens H. T2 - ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY AB - In February 2019, following the annual taxon ratification vote, the order Bunyavirales was amended by creation of two new families, four new subfamilies, 11 new genera and 77 new species, merging of two species, and deletion of one species. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the order Bunyavirales now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). DA - 2019/7// PY - 2019/7// DO - 10.1007/s00705-019-04253-6 VL - 164 IS - 7 SP - 1949-1965 SN - 1432-8798 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales: update 2019 AU - Amarasinghe, Gaya K. AU - Ayllon, Maria A. AU - Bao, Yiming AU - Basler, Christopher F. AU - Bavari, Sina AU - Blasdell, Kim R. AU - Briese, Thomas AU - Brown, Paul A. AU - Bukreyev, Alexander AU - Balkema-Buschmann, Anne AU - Buchholz, Ursula J. AU - Chabi-Jesus, Camila AU - Chandran, Kartik AU - Chiapponi, Chiara AU - Crozier, Ian AU - Swart, Rik L. AU - Dietzgen, Ralf G. AU - Dolnik, Olga AU - Drexler, Jan F. AU - Duerrwald, Ralf AU - Dundon, William G. AU - Duprex, W. Paul AU - Dye, John M. AU - Easton, Andrew J. AU - Fooks, Anthony R. AU - Formenty, Pierre B. H. AU - Fouchier, Ron A. M. AU - Freitas-Astua, Juliana AU - Griffiths, Anthony AU - Hewson, Roger AU - Horie, Masayuki AU - Hyndman, Timothy H. AU - Jiang, Daohong AU - Kitajima, Elliott W. AU - Kobinger, Gary P. AU - Kondo, Hideki AU - Kurath, Gael AU - Kuzmin, Ivan V. AU - Lamb, Robert A. AU - Lavazza, Antonio AU - Lee, Benhur AU - Lelli, Davide AU - Leroy, Eric M. AU - Li, Jianrong AU - Maes, Piet AU - Marzano, Shin-Yi L. AU - Moreno, Ana AU - Muhlberger, Elke AU - Netesov, Sergey V. AU - Nowotny, Norbert AU - Nylund, Are AU - Okland, Arnfinn L. AU - Palacios, Gustavo AU - Palyi, Bernadett AU - Paweska, Janusz T. AU - Payne, Susan L. AU - Prosperi, Alice AU - Ramos-Gonzalez, Pedro Luis AU - Rima, Bertus K. AU - Rota, Paul AU - Rubbenstroth, Dennis AU - Shi, Mang AU - Simmonds, Peter AU - Smither, Sophie J. AU - Sozzi, Enrica AU - Spann, Kirsten AU - Stenglein, Mark D. AU - Stone, David M. AU - Takada, Ayato AU - Tesh, Robert B. AU - Tomonaga, Keizo AU - Tordo, Noel AU - Towner, Jonathan S. AU - Hoogen, Bernadette AU - Vasilakis, Nikos AU - Wahl, Victoria AU - Walker, Peter J. AU - Wang, Lin-Fa AU - Whitfield, Anna E. AU - Williams, John V. AU - Zerbini, F. Murilo AU - Zhang, Tao AU - Zhang, Yong-Zhen AU - Kuhn, Jens H. T2 - ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY AB - In February 2019, following the annual taxon ratification vote, the order Mononegavirales was amended by the addition of four new subfamilies and 12 new genera and the creation of 28 novel species. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales as now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). DA - 2019/7// PY - 2019/7// DO - 10.1007/s00705-019-04247-4 VL - 164 IS - 7 SP - 1967-1980 SN - 1432-8798 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Feminizer and doublesex knock-outs cause honey bees to switch sexes AU - McAfee, Alison AU - Pettis, Jeffery S. AU - Tarpy, David R. AU - Foster, Leonard J. T2 - PLOS BIOLOGY AB - Honey bees are experts at refuting societal norms. Their matriarchal hives are headed by queens, backed by an all-female workforce, and males die soon after copulation. But the biochemical basis of how these distinct castes and sexes (queens, workers, and drones) arise is poorly understood, partly due to a lack of efficient tools for genetic manipulation. Now, Roth and colleagues have used clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) to knock out two key genes (feminizer and doublesex) that guide sexual development. Their technique yielded remarkably low rates of genetic mosaicism and offers a promising tool for engineering and phenotyping bees for diverse applications. DA - 2019/5// PY - 2019/5// DO - 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000256 VL - 17 IS - 5 SP - SN - 1545-7885 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Coccinonectria pachysandricola, Causal Agent of a New Foliar Blight Disease of Sarcococca hookeriana AU - Salgado-Salazar, Catalina AU - Shiskoff, Nina AU - LeBlanc, Nicholas AU - Ismaiel, Adnan A. AU - Collins, Maxton AU - Cubeta, Marc A. AU - Crouch, Jo Anne T2 - Plant Disease AB - Woody plants of the Buxaceae, including species of Buxus, Pachysandra, and Sarcococca, are widely grown evergreen shrubs and groundcovers. Severe leaf spot symptoms were observed on S. hookeriana at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC, in 2016. Affected plants were growing adjacent to P. terminalis exhibiting Volutella blight symptoms. Fungi isolated from both hosts were identical based on morphology and multilocus phylogenetic analysis and were identified as Coccinonectria pachysandricola (Nectriaceae, Hypocreales), causal agent of Volutella blight of Pachysandra species. Pathogenicity tests established that Co. pachysandricola isolated from both hosts caused disease symptoms on P. terminalis and S. hookeriana, but not on B. sempervirens. Artificial inoculations with Pseudonectria foliicola, causal agent of Volutella blight of B. sempervirens, did not result in disease on P. terminalis or S. hookeriana. Wounding enhanced infection by Co. pachysandricola and Ps. foliicola on all hosts tested but was not required for disease development. Genome assemblies were generated for the Buxaceae pathogens that cause Volutella diseases: Co. pachysandricola, Ps. buxi, and Ps. foliicola; these ranged in size from 25.7 to 28.5 Mb. To our knowledge, this foliar blight of S. hookeriana represents a new disease for this host and is capable of causing considerable damage to infected plants. DA - 2019/6// PY - 2019/6// DO - 10.1094/PDIS-09-18-1676-RE VL - 103 IS - 6 SP - 1337-1346 J2 - Plant Disease LA - en OP - SN - 0191-2917 1943-7692 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-18-1676-RE DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Queen and king recognition in the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes: Evidence for royal recognition pheromones AU - Funaro, Colin F. AU - Schal, Coby AU - Vargo, Edward L. T2 - PLOS ONE AB - Royal recognition is a central feature of insect societies, allowing them to maintain the reproductive division of labor and regulate colony demography. Queen recognition has been broadly demonstrated and queen recognition pheromones have been identified in social hymenopterans, and in one termite species. Here we describe behaviors that are elicited in workers and soldiers by neotenic queens and kings of the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, and demonstrate the chemical basis for the behavior. Workers and soldiers readily perform a lateral or longitudinal shaking behavior upon antennal contact with queens and kings. When royal cuticular chemicals are transferred to live workers or inert glass dummies, they elicit antennation and shaking in a dose-dependent manner. The striking response to reproductives and their cuticular extracts suggests that royal-specific cuticular compounds act as recognition pheromones and that shaking behavior is a clear and measurable queen and king recognition response in this termite species. DA - 2019/5/30/ PY - 2019/5/30/ DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0209810 VL - 14 IS - 5 SP - e0209810 J2 - PLoS ONE LA - en OP - SN - 1932-6203 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0209810 DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Characterization of the VisdhC and VisdhD Genes in Venturia inaequalis, and Sensitivity to Fluxapyroxad, Pydiflumetofen, Inpyrfluxam, and Benzovindiflupyr AU - Ayer, Katrin M. AU - Villani, Sara M. AU - Choi, Mei-Wah AU - Cox, Kerik D. T2 - PLANT DISEASE AB - Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHI) are an important class of fungicides for management of apple scab, especially as resistance to other classes of fungicides has become prevalent in the northeastern United States. Considering their single-site mode of action, there is high risk of resistance development to SDHI fungicides. Such risk mandates the need for proper monitoring of shifts in population sensitivity. This study aims to provide a means for phenotypic and genotypic characterization of SDHI fungicide resistance for Venturia inaequalis, the causal agent of apple scab. To complement the published sequence of VisdhB, target genes VisdhC and VisdhD were identified using sequences of homologous genes in other fungal organisms and a draft genome of V. inaequalis. Using mycelial growth and conidial germination assays, baseline sensitivities and cross sensitivities of V. inaequalis were determined for several SDHI fungicides. Mean baseline EC50 values for conidial germination of benzovindiflupyr, fluxapyroxad, pydiflumetofen, and inpyrfluxam were found to be 0.0021, 0.0284, 0.014, and 0.0137 μg ml-1, respectively. Mean baseline EC50 values for mycelial growth of benzovindiflupyr, fluxapyroxad, pydiflumetofen, and inpyrfluxam were found to be 0.0575, 0.228, 0.062, and 0.0291 μg ml-1, respectively. A significant and positive correlation in sensitivity was found between benzovindiflupyr, fluxapyroxad, pydiflumetofen, and inpyrfluxam as well as penthiopyrad and fluopyram, with the highest correlation between benzovindiflupyr and penthiopyrad for mycelial inhibition of V. inaequalis (r = 0.950, P < 0.001). For inhibition of conidial germination, the highest correlation was observed between penthiopyrad and fluopyram (r = 0.775, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the sequences of the VisdhC and VisdhD genes were identified and characterized for baseline isolates of V. inaequalis. Residues of similar position to mutations found in other systems that confer resistance to SDHI fungicides were identified in baseline isolates, but no mutations were identified in baseline isolates or those previously exposed to SDHI fungicides. This study will serve as a reference for future monitoring of resistance to SDHI fungicides in V. inaequalis at both a phenotypic and genotypic level. DA - 2019/6// PY - 2019/6// DO - 10.1094/PDIS-07-18-1225-RE VL - 103 IS - 6 SP - 1092-1100 SN - 1943-7692 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Enhanced Pb immobilization via the combination of biochar and phosphate solubilizing bacteria AU - Chen, Haoming AU - Zhang, Jiawen AU - Tang, Lingyi AU - Su, Mu AU - Tian, Da AU - Zhang, Lin AU - Li, Zhen AU - Hu, Shuijin T2 - ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL AB - Application of biochar in heavy metal remediation suffers from lack of long-term stability. Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) are able to elevate P release and the subsequent reaction with Pb to form stable pyromorphite. This study investigated the feasibility of applying PSB modified biochar to enhance immobilization of Pb2+. An alkaline biochar produced from rice husk (RB) and a slightly acidic biochar produced from sludge (SB) were selected. It showed that the biochars can effectively remove Pb2+ via adsorption, i.e., aqueous Pb concentrations after RB and SB addition were reduced by 18.61 and 53.89% respectively. The addition of PSB increased the Pb2+ removal for both biochars (to 24.11 and 60.85%, respectively). In particular, PSB significantly enhanced the formation of stable pyromorphite on surface of SB. This is due to that the evenly distributed PSB enhanced P release and regulated pH on the biochar surface. Moreover, small particles (<0.074 mm) showed their higher ability to induce the formation of pyromorphite, for both RB and SB. Nevertheless, SB demonstrated higher capability of sorption, together with its more abundant P content, which provided a more suitable platform to attract PSB to immobilize heavy metals. Therefore, the combination of biochar and PSB is a promising candidate material for heavy metal remediation. However, the types and particle size distribution of biochar should be addressed. DA - 2019/6// PY - 2019/6// DO - 10.1016/j.envint.2019.03.068 VL - 127 SP - 395-401 SN - 1873-6750 KW - Lead KW - Biochar KW - Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria KW - Immobilization KW - Pyromorphite ER - TY - JOUR TI - First Report of Exserohilum rostratum Causing Foliar Blight of Industrial Hemp (Cannabis saliva) AU - Thiessen, L. D. AU - Schappe, T. T2 - PLANT DISEASE AB - HomePlant DiseaseVol. 103, No. 6First Report of Exserohilum rostratum Causing Foliar Blight of Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa) PreviousNext DISEASE NOTES OPENOpen Access licenseFirst Report of Exserohilum rostratum Causing Foliar Blight of Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa)L. D. Thiessen and T. SchappeL. D. Thiessen†Corresponding author: L. D. Thiessen; E-mail Address: ldthiess@ncsu.eduNorth Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695Search for more papers by this author and T. SchappeNorth Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695Search for more papers by this authorAffiliationsAuthors and Affiliations L. D. Thiessen † T. Schappe North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695 Published Online:3 Apr 2019https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-08-18-1434-PDNAboutSectionsSupplemental ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmailWechat In the 2017 and 2018 growing seasons (between May and October), industrial hemp plants of several cultivars including those grown for fiber, seed, and flower from numerous counties in North Carolina showed foliar, stem, and floral blight symptoms. Plants were collected from samples submitted to the North Carolina State University Plant Disease and Insect Clinic. Lesions on leaves were round, brown to black, with dark margins. Inside of each lesion, abundant conidia were found. Conidia were rostrate, ellipsoidal to narrowly obclavate, straight or slightly curved, olive-brown, with a protuberant, cylindrical hilum at the base. Conidia were 7 to 12 septate and 75.64 ± 8.31 × 15.61 ± 1.41 µm. Conidiophores were cylindrical, olivaceous-brown with swollen conidiogenous cells containing circular conidial scars. Isolates were obtained by transferring single spores to water agar and then transferring to potato dextrose agar (PDA). On PDA, mycelia were initially white, turning dark brown to black after 2 to 3 days. To fulfill Koch’s postulates, a representative isolate of Exserohilum rostratum (syn. Setospaeria rostrata) was used to inoculate Cannabis sativa L. ‘Carmagnola’. Two-week-old seedlings (n = 6) were inoculated with a conidial suspension (106/ml) using a PreVal hand sprayer, and inoculated seedlings were compared with a water control plant. Plants were incubated at 23°C for 21 days in a growth chamber with a 12-h photoperiod. After 8 days, dark brown lesions were found on inoculated leaves. Lesions were small and varied from 5 mm to 1 cm. After 3 weeks, lesions were surface sterilized in 10% bleach solution for 1 min, rinsed with sterile deionized water, and placed onto PDA. The pathogen of interest was the only microorganism reisolated from lesions, and spores were identical in morphology to those originally isolated. Molecular identification was conducted by first extracting DNA from a representative pure culture using the DNeasy Powersoil kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). The ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2 regions were amplified via polymerase chain reaction using ITS1f (Gardes and Bruns 1993) and ITS4 (White et al. 1990) primers, and the RPB2 gene was amplified using the bRPB2-6F and bRPB2-7R primers (Matheny 2005). Amplicons were purified using AmpureXP magnetic beads and sequenced using Sanger sequencing at the North Carolina State Genomic Sciences Lab. Forward and reverse raw sequences were trimmed, and a consensus sequence was generated and aligned with ITS and RPB2 sequences of 19 representative isolates of all Setosphaeria species (syn. Exserohilum) in GenBank using MUSCLE (Edgar 2004). A maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree was constructed using PhyML 3.2.2 (Guindon et al. 2010) with 500 bootstrap replicates. In addition, NCBI-BLAST searches (Altschul et al. 1997) of the ITS and RPB2 sequences showed the greatest identity with Setosphaeria longirostrata (99.8% pairwise identity, syn. E. rostratum) and S. rostrata (99.5% pairwise identity, syn. E. rostratum), respectively. Sequence data for ITS1 from the isolate assessed was deposited to GenBank (accession MH779469). Based on the morphological (Seifert and Gams 2011) and molecular identification using three barcoding regions, the fungal isolates were identified as E. rostratum (syn. S. rostrata). As industrial hemp acreage increases in the United States, this disease could limit yield and quality of industrial hemp flower production.The author(s) declare no conflict of interest.References:Altschul, S. F., et al. 1997. Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389. https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/25.17.3389 Crossref, ISI, Google ScholarEdgar, R. C. 2004. Nucleic Acids Res. 32:1792. https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkh340 Crossref, ISI, Google ScholarGardes, M., and Bruns, T. D. 1993. Mol. Ecol. 2:113. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.1993.tb00005.x Crossref, ISI, Google ScholarGuindon, S., et al. 2010. Syst. Biol. 59:307. https://doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/syq010 Crossref, ISI, Google ScholarMatheny, P. B. 2005. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 35:1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2004.11.014 Crossref, ISI, Google ScholarSeifert, K. A., and Gams, W. 2011. Persoonia Mol. Phylogeny Evol. Fungi. 27:119. https://doi.org/10.3767/003158511X617435 Crossref, Google ScholarWhite, T. J., et al. 1990. Page 315 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, CA. Crossref, Google ScholarThe author(s) declare no conflict of interest.DetailsFiguresLiterature CitedRelated Vol. 103, No. 6 June 2019SubscribeISSN:0191-2917e-ISSN:1943-7692 DownloadCaptionGreen mottle mosaic and leaf deformation symptoms on watermelon (Sui, Li, Shamimuzzaman, Wu, and Ling). Photo credit: K.-S. Ling. Postharvest rot on cucumber caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata (Li, Xu, Zhang, Song, Xie, Sun, and Huang). Photo credit: H. Song. Metrics Article History Issue Date: 6 Jun 2019Published: 3 Apr 2019First Look: 9 Jan 2019Accepted: 7 Jan 2019 Pages: 1414-1414 Information© 2019 The American Phytopathological SocietyThe author(s) declare no conflict of interest.Cited bySetosphaeria rostrata (leaf spot of grasses)CABI Compendium, Vol. CABI CompendiumDieback and Leaf Spot in Box Elder (Acer negundo) Caused by Exserohilum rostratumCheng-long Liu, Xiang-rong Zheng, and Feng-mao Chen9 November 2021 | Plant Disease, Vol. 105, No. 10Molecular Diagnostics and Pathogenesis of Fungal Pathogens on Bast Fiber Crops18 March 2020 | Pathogens, Vol. 9, No. 3Surveying for Potential Diseases and Abiotic Disorders of Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa) ProductionLindsey D. Thiessen, Tyler Schappe, Sarah Cochran, Kristin Hicks, and Angela R. Post14 October 2020 | Plant Health Progress, Vol. 21, No. 4Full Issue PDF25 January 2022 | Plant Health Progress, Vol. 21, No. 4 DA - 2019/6// PY - 2019/6// DO - 10.1094/PDIS-08-18-1434-PDN VL - 103 IS - 6 SP - 1414-1414 SN - 1943-7692 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Stability of neonicotinoid sensitivity in Frankliniella fusca populations found in agroecosystems of the southeastern USA AU - Chappell, Thomas M AU - Huseth, Anders S AU - Kennedy, George G T2 - Pest Management Science AB - Abstract BACKGROUND Insecticide resistance arises at a given location in response to selection acting on novel genotypes or standing variation, or allelic migration. Fitness costs of resistance may slow resistance evolution or result in reversion to susceptibility, but consistent and geographically widespread use of insecticides may provide sufficient selection to offset the fitness costs of resistance. Understanding this relationship is important to the success of insecticide resistance management. We report the existence of fitness costs of neonicotinoid resistance in field‐collected populations of the tobacco thrips ( Frankliniella fusca ), which increasingly challenge upland cotton production in the southeastern USA. RESULTS Populations (14 of 15 in 2015; 4 of 5 in 2016) investigated showed a loss of resistance to imidacloprid after multiple generations without exposure to the insecticide. Populations studied in 2016 were each split into two colonies, and one of each pair was repeatedly exposed to imidacloprid. In three of the four populations that lost resistance, imidacloprid‐exposed colonies lost resistance significantly more slowly than did corresponding unexposed colonies. CONCLUSION For imidacloprid resistance to be broadly increasing in the landscapes of the southeastern USA despite fitness costs of resistance, selection for resistance must be sufficient to overcome the costs. Findings encourage investigation into why costs are overcome in this system, potentially including geographic extent of neonicotinoid use or prevalence of low‐dose exposure. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry DA - 2019/2/13/ PY - 2019/2/13/ DO - 10.1002/ps.5319 VL - 75 IS - 6 SP - 1539-1545 J2 - Pest Management Science LA - en OP - SN - 1526-498X 1526-4998 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ps.5319 DB - Crossref KW - resistance evolution KW - insecticide resistance management KW - tobacco thrips KW - neonicotinoid KW - agroecosystem ER - TY - JOUR TI - Simplification of vector communities during suburban succession AU - Spence Beaulieu, Meredith R. AU - Hopperstad, Kristen AU - Dunn, Robert R. AU - Reiskind, Michael H. T2 - PLOS ONE AB - Suburbanization is happening rapidly on a global scale, resulting in changes to the species assemblages present in previously undeveloped areas of land. Community-level changes after anthropogenic land-use change have been studied in a variety of organisms, but the effects on arthropods of medical and veterinary importance remain poorly characterized. Shifts in diversity, abundance, and community composition of such arthropods, like mosquitoes, can significantly impact vector-borne disease dynamics due to varying vectorial capacity between different species. In light of these potential implications for vector-borne diseases, we investigated changes in mosquito species assemblage after suburbanization by sampling mosquitoes in neighborhoods of different ages in Wake County, North Carolina, US. We found that independent of housing density and socioeconomic status, mosquito diversity measures decreased as suburban neighborhoods aged. In the oldest neighborhoods, the mosquito assemblage reached a distinct suburban climax community dominated by the invasive, peridomestic container-breeding Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito. Aedes albopictus is a competent vector of many pathogens of human concern, and its dominance in suburban areas places it in close proximity with humans, allowing for heightened potential of host-vector interactions. While further research is necessary to explicitly characterize the effects of mosquito community simplification on vector-borne disease transmission in highly suburbanized areas, the current study demonstrates that suburbanization is disrupting mosquito communities so severely that they do not recover their diversity even 100 years after the initial disturbance. Our understanding of the community-level effects of anthropogenic land-use change on arthropod vectors will become increasingly important as we look to mitigate disease spread in a global landscape that is continually developed and altered by humans. DA - 2019/5/1/ PY - 2019/5/1/ DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0215485 VL - 14 IS - 5 SP - e0215485 J2 - PLoS ONE LA - en OP - SN - 1932-6203 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0215485 DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - BEAST 2.5: An advanced software platform for Bayesian evolutionary analysis AU - Bouckaert, Remco AU - Vaughan, Timothy G. AU - Barido-Sottani, Joelle AU - Duchene, Sebastian AU - Fourment, Mathieu AU - Gavryushkina, Alexandra AU - Heled, Joseph AU - Jones, Graham AU - Kuehnert, Denise AU - De Maio, Nicola AU - Matschiner, Michael AU - Mendes, Fabio K. AU - Mueller, Nicola F. AU - Ogilvie, Huw A. AU - Plessis, Louis AU - Popinga, Alex AU - Rambaut, Andrew AU - Rasmussen, David AU - Siveroni, Igor AU - Suchard, Marc A. AU - Wu, Chieh-Hsi AU - Xie, Dong AU - Zhang, Chi AU - Stadler, Tanja AU - Drummond, Alexei J. T2 - PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AB - Elaboration of Bayesian phylogenetic inference methods has continued at pace in recent years with major new advances in nearly all aspects of the joint modelling of evolutionary data. It is increasingly appreciated that some evolutionary questions can only be adequately answered by combining evidence from multiple independent sources of data, including genome sequences, sampling dates, phenotypic data, radiocarbon dates, fossil occurrences, and biogeographic range information among others. Including all relevant data into a single joint model is very challenging both conceptually and computationally. Advanced computational software packages that allow robust development of compatible (sub-)models which can be composed into a full model hierarchy have played a key role in these developments. Developing such software frameworks is increasingly a major scientific activity in its own right, and comes with specific challenges, from practical software design, development and engineering challenges to statistical and conceptual modelling challenges. BEAST 2 is one such computational software platform, and was first announced over 4 years ago. Here we describe a series of major new developments in the BEAST 2 core platform and model hierarchy that have occurred since the first release of the software, culminating in the recent 2.5 release. DA - 2019/4// PY - 2019/4// DO - 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006650 VL - 15 IS - 4 SP - SN - 1553-7358 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Human indoor climate preferences approximate specific geographies AU - Just, Michael G. AU - Nichols, Lauren M. AU - Dunn, Robert R. T2 - ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE AB - Human engineering of the outdoors led to the development of the indoor niche, including home construction. However, it is unlikely that domicile construction mechanics are under direct selection for humans. Nonetheless, our preferences within indoor environments are, or once were, consequential to our fitness. The research of human homes does not usually consider human evolution, and, therefore, we are without previous predictions about indoor climate preference. We worked with citizen scientists to collect indoor climate data from homes ( n = 37) across the USA. We then compared these data to recent global terrestrial climate data (0.5° grid cells, n = 67 420) using a climate dissimilarity index. We also compared some climate-related physiological parameters (e.g. thermoneutral zone (TNZ)) between humans and a selection of non-human primates. On average, our study homes were most similar in climate to the outdoor conditions of west central Kenya. We found that the indoor climates of our study homes largely matched the TNZ of humans and other primates. Overall, we identified the geographical distribution of the global outdoor climate that is most similar to the interiors of our study homes and summarized study home indoor climate preferences. DA - 2019/3// PY - 2019/3// DO - 10.1098/rsos.180695 VL - 6 IS - 3 SP - SN - 2054-5703 KW - climate dissimilarity KW - human niche construction KW - human associates KW - thermal comfort KW - indoor biome ER - TY - JOUR TI - Fabric infused with a botanical repellent for protection against mosquitoes AU - Halbkat, Lilah AU - Luan, Kun AU - Cave, Grayson AU - McCord, Marian AU - Roe, Michael AU - DenHartog, Emiel AU - Travanty, Nicholas J. AU - Apperson, Charles S. AU - West, Andre J. T2 - JOURNAL OF THE TEXTILE INSTITUTE AB - Mosquito resistant apparel has become increasingly sought-after due to the rise in vector-borne illnesses such as the Zika Virus, Malaria, and Dengue Fever. Botanical insect repellents have been introduced to the market for consumers that desire a natural solution involving no pesticides or added chemicals. Fabric swatches consisting of 80% nylon and 20% elastane were separately treated with an organic repellent using a patented nonwoven vessel. The fabrics were then tested for effectiveness in repelling the mosquito Aedes aegypti using an arm-in-cage assay, the most commonly used method for mosquito repellents. The repellents were also evaluated and rated by study participants according to their preference for the appeal of the scent. The treatment method is user-friendly, enabling consumers to treat their clothing with an organic insect repellent as opposed to applying a synthetic chemical to their clothing and skin. The infused fabrics showed to be effective at repelling mosquitoes for up to 8 h after repellent infusion. DA - 2019/10/3/ PY - 2019/10/3/ DO - 10.1080/00405000.2019.1603576 VL - 110 IS - 10 SP - 1468-1474 SN - 1754-2340 KW - Infused KW - repellent KW - fabric KW - protective KW - garment KW - insect ER - TY - JOUR TI - Prey specialization and chemical mimicry between Formica archboldi and Odontomachus ants AU - Smith, Adrian A. T2 - INSECTES SOCIAUX DA - 2019/5// PY - 2019/5// DO - 10.1007/s00040-018-0675-y VL - 66 IS - 2 SP - 211-222 SN - 1420-9098 KW - Cuticular hydrocarbons KW - Predator-prey interactions KW - Social insects KW - Chemical deception KW - Social parasitism ER - TY - JOUR TI - Population Structure of Pythium ultimum from Greenhouse Floral Crops in Michigan AU - Munera, Johanna Del Castillo AU - Quesada-Ocampo, Lina M. AU - Rojas, Alejandro AU - Chilvers, Martin I. AU - Hausbeck, Mary K. T2 - PLANT DISEASE AB - Pythium ultimum causes seedling damping-off and root and crown rot in greenhouse ornamental plants. To understand the population dynamics and assess population structure of P. ultimum in Michigan floriculture crops, simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were developed using the previously published P. ultimum predicted transcriptome. A total of 166 isolates sampled from 2011 to 2013 from five, one, and three greenhouses in Kalamazoo, Kent, and Wayne Counties, respectively, were analyzed using six polymorphic and fluorescently labeled SSR markers. The average unbiased Simpson's index (λu, 0.95), evenness (E5, 0.56), and recovery of 12 major clones out of the 65 multilocus genotypes obtained, suggests that P. ultimum is not a recent introduction into Michigan greenhouses. Analyses revealed a clonal population, with limited differentiation among seasons, hosts, and counties sampled. Results also indicated the presence of common genotypes among years, suggesting that sanitation measures should be enhanced to eradicate resident P. ultimum populations. Finally, the presence of common genotypes among counties suggests that there is an exchange of infected plant material among greenhouse facilities, or that there is a common source of inoculum coming to the region. Continued monitoring of pathogen populations will enhance our understanding of population dynamics of P. ultimum in Michigan and facilitate improvement of control strategies. DA - 2019/5// PY - 2019/5// DO - 10.1094/PDIS-03-18-0394-RE VL - 103 IS - 5 SP - 859-867 SN - 1943-7692 UR - https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-03-18-0394-RE ER - TY - JOUR TI - Phytophthora acaciae sp. nov., a new species causing gummosis of black wattle in Brazil AU - Alves, Tatiane C. Albuquerque AU - Tessmann, Dauri J. AU - Ivors, Kelly L. AU - Ristaino, Jean B. AU - dos Santos, Álvaro F. T2 - Mycologia AB - A new Phytophthora species was found associated with gummosis in black wattle plantations in the subtropical, humid, south of Brazil. The new species Phytophthora acaciae is formally named herein based on phylogenetic and morphological analyses. This is the fourth Phytophthora species found from this pathogen complex in black wattle plantations causing gummosis in Brazil. The other three species are P. nicotianae, P. boehmeriae, and P. frigida. Phytophthora acaciae is heterothallic with amphigynous antheridia, noncaducous, papillate sporangia and is placed in the Phytophthora clade 2 based on nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) sequences. Maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses of P. acaciae isolates based on multigene sequences, including partial DNA sequences of three nuclear protein-coding genes (β-tubulin, translation elongation factor-1α, and ras-related protein), two mitochondrial protein-coding genes (cytochrome c oxidase subunits I and II), in addition to ITS sequence data, support the delimitation of this new species on Acacia mearnsii from the other previously described clade 2 Phytophthora species. Pathogenicity trial confirmed that the new species causes necrotic lesions on the plant stem, with either the presence or absence of gum. DA - 2019/4/9/ PY - 2019/4/9/ DO - 10.1080/00275514.2019.1575685 VL - 111 IS - 3 SP - 445-455 J2 - Mycologia LA - en OP - SN - 0027-5514 1557-2536 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00275514.2019.1575685 DB - Crossref KW - Forest fungi KW - Oomycetes KW - phylogenetics KW - Straminipila KW - taxonomy KW - 1 new taxon ER - TY - JOUR TI - Identification and characterization of Septoria steviae as the causal agent of Septoria leaf spot disease of stevia in North Carolina AU - Koehler, Alyssa M. AU - Larkin, Maximo T. AU - Rogers, Layne W. AU - Carbone, Ignazio AU - Cubeta, Marc A. AU - Shew, H. David T2 - Mycologia AB - Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) is an emerging perennial crop in the southeastern United States. A Septoria leaf spot disease of stevia was first identified on field plantings in Japan in 1978. The pathogen was named Septoria steviae based on a morphological characterization. In 2015, a species of Septoria with morphological characters of S. steviae was isolated from field and greenhouse-grown stevia plants with leaf spot symptoms in North Carolina. In this study, 12 isolates obtained from diseased stevia plants in 2015 and 2016 were characterized and compared with reference strains of S. steviae. Comparisons were based on conidial and pycnidial morphology and multilocus sequence analysis of actin (ACT), β-tubulin (BT), calmodulin (CAL), nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacers (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS), nuc rDNA 28S subunit (28S), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), and translation elongation factor-1α (TEF1). Measurements of conidia and pycnidia from symptomatic field leaves and 12 pure cultures grown on nutrient medium were consistent with those previously reported for ex-type strains of S. steviae. North Carolina strains formed a well-supported monophyletic group with ex-type strains of S. steviae. This study represents the first genetic characterization of S. steviae in the United States and provides an experimental framework to elucidate the genetic diversity and disease ecology of field populations of S. steviae. DA - 2019/4/15/ PY - 2019/4/15/ DO - 10.1080/00275514.2019.1584503 VL - 111 IS - 3 SP - 456-465 J2 - Mycologia LA - en OP - SN - 0027-5514 1557-2536 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00275514.2019.1584503 DB - Crossref KW - Ascomycete KW - morphological characterization KW - phylogenetics KW - Stevia rebaudiana ER - TY - JOUR TI - Interactions Between Biotic and Abiotic Factors Affect Survival in Overwintering Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) AU - Stockton, Dara AU - Wallingford, Anna AU - Rendon, Dalila AU - Fanning, Philip AU - Green, Clarence K. AU - Diepenbrock, Lauren AU - Ballman, Elissa AU - Walton, Vaughn M. AU - Isaacs, Rufus AU - Leach, Heather AU - Sial, Ashfaq A. AU - Drummond, Francis AU - Burrack, Hannah AU - Loeb, Gregory M. T2 - ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY AB - Drosophila suzukii Matsumura is an invasive species affecting berry crops and cherries throughout North America, South America, and Europe. Previous research suggests that in temperate climates, the overwintering success of D. suzukii is likely dependent on access to food, shelter, and adequate cold hardening. We performed a multi-state study under field conditions for two winters to determine whether D. suzukii sex, phenotype (summer-morphotype, winter-morphotype), and life stage (adults, pupae) affected survival over time while recording naturally-occurring spatial and temporal variation in temperature. Access to food was provided and the flies were buried under leaf litter. Baited traps were deployed to determine whether local populations of D. suzukii were active throughout the winter season. The duration of exposure, mean daily temperature, and cumulative time below freezing significantly affected survival. Below freezing, D. suzukii survival was significantly reduced, particularly in northern locations. In contrast, we observed sustained survival up to 10 wk in southern locations among adults and pupae. Biotic factors also significantly affected survival outcomes: female survival was greater than male survival, winter-morphotype survival was greater than summer-morphotype survival, and adult survival was greater than pupal survival. In the north, wild D. suzukii were captured only in early winter, while in the south they were found throughout the winter. These data suggest that although adult D. suzukii may overwinter in sheltered microclimates, this ability may be limited in regions where the ground temperature, or site of overwintering, falls below freezing for extended durations. DA - 2019/4// PY - 2019/4// DO - 10.1093/ee/nvy192 VL - 48 IS - 2 SP - 454-464 SN - 1938-2936 KW - SWD KW - cold tolerance KW - habitat KW - survival KW - morphotype ER - TY - JOUR TI - Promises and perils of gene drives: Navigating the communication of complex, post-normal science AU - Brossard, Dominique AU - Belluck, Pam AU - Gould, Fred AU - Wirz, Christopher D. T2 - PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AB - In November of 2017, an interdisciplinary panel discussed the complexities of gene drive applications as part of the third Sackler Colloquium on "The Science of Science Communication." The panel brought together a social scientist, life scientist, and journalist to discuss the issue from each of their unique perspectives. This paper builds on the ideas and conversations from the session to provide a more nuanced discussion about the context surrounding responsible communication and decision-making for cases of post-normal science. Deciding to use gene drives to control and suppress pests will involve more than a technical assessment of the risks involved, and responsible decision-making regarding their use will require concerted efforts from multiple actors. We provide a review of gene drives and their potential applications, as well as the role of journalists in communicating the extent of uncertainties around specific projects. We also discuss the roles of public opinion and online environments in public engagement with scientific processes. We conclude with specific recommendations about how to address current challenges and foster more effective communication and decision-making for complex, post-normal issues, such as gene drives. DA - 2019/4/16/ PY - 2019/4/16/ DO - 10.1073/pnas.1805874115 VL - 116 IS - 16 SP - 7692-7697 SN - 0027-8424 KW - gene drives KW - science communication KW - public engagement ER - TY - JOUR TI - Effects of fungicide applications on root-infecting microorganisms and overwintering survival of perennial stevia AU - Koehler, A.M. AU - Shew, H.D. T2 - Crop Protection AB - Koehler, A.M. and Shew, H.D. 2018. Effects of fungicide applications on root-infecting microorganisms and overwintering survival of perennial stevia. Crop Protection 117:000–000. Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) is a perennial species emerging as a new crop in the southeastern United States. In previous studies, application of quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicides enhanced overwintering survival of stevia. Greenhouse and field trials were conducted to assess the effect of multiple fungicides on plant growth, root associated microorganisms, and overwintering survival. In greenhouse trials in the absence of soilborne pathogens, no differences in plant height, shoot weight, or root system ratings were observed among treatments. In two field trials screening seven combination fungicides and one biological control, significant increases in overwintering survival of plants treated with QoI fungicides were observed. Plants were dug from the fields monthly to destructively sample root crowns and species of Fusarium, Ceratobasidium, Pythium, and Macrophomina phaseolina were consistently isolated. Abundant microsclerotia from M. phaseolina were observed on stems of plants that did not survive winter. In seven sample months at each of the two field trials, non-fungicide treated plants had the lowest root weights. This study is one of the first to evaluate interactions between fungicide use and root associated fungi in a perennial crop and provides a framework to further investigate the role of root-associated fungi in overwintering survival. DA - 2019/6// PY - 2019/6// DO - 10.1016/J.CROPRO.2019.02.010 VL - 120 SP - 13-20 J2 - Crop Protection LA - en OP - SN - 0261-2194 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/J.CROPRO.2019.02.010 DB - Crossref KW - Soilborne fungi KW - Stevia KW - Overwintering survival KW - Fungicide trials ER - TY - JOUR TI - A maize cytochrome b-c1 complex subunit protein ZmQCR7 controls variation in the hypersensitive response AU - He, Yijian AU - Kim, Saet-Byul AU - Balint-Kurti, Peter T2 - PLANTA DA - 2019/5// PY - 2019/5// DO - 10.1007/s00425-019-03092-8 VL - 249 IS - 5 SP - 1477-1485 SN - 1432-2048 UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-019-03092-8 KW - Hypersensitive response KW - Maize KW - Mitochondrial electron transport chain KW - Reactive oxygen species KW - Resistance genes ER - TY - JOUR TI - Influence of Weed Manipulation in Field Borders on Brown Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Densities and Damage in Field Corn AU - Babu, Arun AU - Reisig, Dominic D AU - Walgenbach, James F AU - Heiniger, Ronnie W AU - Everman, Wesley T2 - Environmental Entomology AB - Brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say), is a damaging pest of corn, Zea mays L. (Cyperales: Poaceae), in the southeastern United States. In North Carolina, during the spring, winter-planted wheat, Triticum aestivum L. (Cyperales: Poaceae), serves as the earliest available crop host, and E. servus seems to prefer this crop over seedling corn. In the absence of wheat in the agroecosystem, weeds serve as a bridge host for a portion of overwintered E. servus populations until they move to corn and other subsequent crops. Our objective was to reduce densities of E. servus in corn by manipulating the weedy field borders with mowing and applications of dicamba herbicide. During the study, multiple species of stink bugs (n =16) were found associated with weed plots. However, E. servus was the predominant (>94%) stink bug species in the corn. In this farmscape, density of E. servus adults in the unmanaged weed plots began declining around the second week of May, followed by an increase in density in adjacent corn plots. This movement coincided with the seedling growth of corn. In 2016, applications of dicamba in the weedy field border resulted in a lower density of E. servus in herbicide-treated weed plots compared with untreated plots. Despite this difference, manipulations of weeds did not lead to any significant changes in density of E. servus adults in corn. Further evidence suggested that a prominent external source of E. servus, other than field-bordering weeds, in the farmscape was likely driving densities in corn. DA - 2019/2/27/ PY - 2019/2/27/ DO - 10.1093/ee/nvz016 VL - 48 IS - 2 SP - 444-453 LA - en OP - SN - 0046-225X 1938-2936 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvz016 DB - Crossref KW - Euschistus servus KW - ecology KW - movement KW - mowing KW - farmscape ER - TY - JOUR TI - Development and Dispersal of Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Non-Bt and Bt Pyramided Cotton AU - Braswell, Lewis R AU - Reisig, Dominic D AU - Sorenson, Clyde E AU - Collins, Guy D T2 - Environmental Entomology AB - Bollworm (Helicoverpa zea Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) can cause economic losses in both non-Bt and Bt cotton. Larvae modify their behavior in the presence of Bt by moving away from terminals faster in Bt cotton compared to non-Bt cotton and avoiding Bt-treated diets. Our objectives were to understand differences in bollworm egg and larvae populations within, and dispersal away from, non-Bt and Bt pyramided-toxin cotton. We conducted small plot experiments in 2016 and 2017 to monitor on-plant egg and larval numbers, and off-plant dispersal of larvae, from non-Bt and different Bt toxin pyramided cotton. Bollworm adults preferred to oviposit in most Bt toxin pyramids compared to non-Bt; this was likely unrelated to detection of Bt by adults, but rather density-dependent aversion from high larval populations. First instar numbers were similar in all non-Bt/Bt toxin pyramids and dispersed at a similar rate. Second through fifth instar numbers were higher in non-Bt than Bt toxin pyramids but dispersed equally from all non-Bt/Bt toxin pyramids, regardless of Bt pyramid type. Development times of larvae were often slower in Bt toxin pyramids compared to non-Bt. Fifth instars were found in, and dispersing from, Bt toxin pyramids containing Vip3A, raising concerns of resistance development. Furthermore, differences in oviposition rate among non-Bt/Bt toxin pyramids and slowed development rate of larvae on Bt varieties could create inconsistencies in generation times emerging from Bt and non-Bt hosts, which could contribute to resistance development. DA - 2019/1/31/ PY - 2019/1/31/ DO - 10.1093/ee/nvz006 VL - 48 IS - 2 SP - 465-477 LA - en OP - SN - 0046-225X 1938-2936 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvz006 DB - Crossref KW - behavioral resistance KW - density dependence KW - insect behavior ER - TY - JOUR TI - Diel periodicity and visual cues guide oviposition behavior in Phlebotomus papatasi, vector of old-world cutaneous leishmaniasis AU - Shymanovich, Tatsiana AU - Faw, Lindsey AU - Hajhashemi, Nima AU - Teague, Jimmie AU - Schal, Coby AU - Ponnusamy, Loganathan AU - Apperson, Charles S. AU - Hatano, Eduardo AU - Wasserberg, Gideon T2 - PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases AB - Background: Phlebotomine sand flies are vectors of human leishmaniases, important neglected tropical diseases. In this study, we investigated diel patterns of oviposition behavior, effects of visual cues on oviposition-site selection, and whether these affect the attraction of gravid Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli), the vector of old-world cutaneous leishmaniasis, to olfactory cues from oviposition sites. Methodology/principal findings: To evaluate these questions, we conducted a series of experiments using attraction and oviposition assays within free-flight test chambers containing gravid females entrained under a 14:10 hrs light:dark photoperiod. By replacing sticky-screens or moist filter papers every three hours, we showed that oviposition site search occurs mainly in the latest part of the night whereas peak oviposition occurs during the early part of the night. Behavioral responses to olfactory oviposition cues are regulated by time-of-day and can be disrupted by transient exposure to a constant darkness photoperiod. Gravid females, but not any other stage, age, or sex, were attracted to dark, round oviposition jars, possibly resembling rodent burrow openings. This visual attraction disappeared in the absence of an illumination source. Egg deposition rate was not affected by jar color. Olfactory cues had the strongest effect when the visual cues were minimal. Conclusion and significance: Our study showed, for the first time, that visual cues in the form of oviposition-site color, lighting level, and photoperiod are important in guiding the oviposition behavior of phlebotomine sand flies. Furthermore, such visual cues could modify the flies’ sensitivity to olfactory oviposition cues. Our results suggest that chemosensory and visual cues are complementary, with visual cues used to orient gravid females towards oviposition sites, possibly at long- to medium-ranges during crepuscular periods, while olfactory cues are used to approach the burrow in darkness and assess its suitability at close-range. Implications to sand fly control are discussed. DA - 2019/3/5/ PY - 2019/3/5/ DO - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007165 VL - 13 IS - 3 SP - e0007165 J2 - PLoS Negl Trop Dis LA - en OP - SN - 1935-2735 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007165 DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Allergen content in German cockroach extracts and sensitization profiles to a new expanded set of cockroach allergens determine in vitro extract potency for IgE reactivity AU - Glesner, Jill AU - Filep, Stephanie AU - Vailes, Lisa D. AU - Wunschmann, Sabina AU - Chapman, Martin D. AU - Birrueta, Giovanni AU - Frazier, April AU - Jeong, Kyoung Yong AU - Schal, Coby AU - Bacharier, Leonard AU - Beigelman, Avraham AU - Busse, Paula AU - Schulten, Veronique AU - Sette, Alessandro AU - Sci, Biol AU - Pomes, Anna T2 - Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology AB - Cockroach allergens are an important cause of IgE-mediated sensitization in inner-city asthmatic patients. However, cockroach extracts used for diagnosis and immunotherapy are not standardized.We sought to determine the allergen content of nonstandardized German cockroach extracts and the levels of sensitization to an expanded set of cockroach allergens as determinants of in vitro extract potency for IgE reactivity.Twelve German cockroach extracts were compared for allergen content and potency of IgE reactivity. Bla g 1, Bla g 2, and Bla g 5 were measured by using immunoassays. IgE antibody levels to 8 purified recombinant allergens from groups 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 11 were measured by using ImmunoCAP. IgE antibody binding inhibition assays were performed to assess extract in vitro potencies (concentration inhibiting 30% of the total IgE antibody-binding inhibition) relative to an arbitrarily selected reference extract in 5 patients with cockroach allergy.Allergen levels were highly variable. Three new major allergens (groups 6, 9, and 11), were identified among highly cockroach-sensitized subjects (CAP class ≥ 3). Sensitization profiles were unique per subject without immunodominant allergens. The sum of IgE to 8 allergen components showed a good correlation with cockroach-specific IgE levels (r = 0.88, P < .001). In vitro potencies varied among different extracts per subject and among subjects for each extract.The in vitro potency of German cockroach extracts for IgE reactivity depends on allergen content and allergen-specific IgE titers of patients with cockroach allergy. These factors are relevant for selection of potent extracts to be used for immunotherapy and for the design and interpretation of data from immunotherapy trials. DA - 2019/4// PY - 2019/4// DO - 10.1016/j.jaci.2018.07.036 VL - 143 IS - 4 SP - 1474-1481.e8 J2 - Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology LA - en OP - SN - 0091-6749 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2018.07.036 DB - Crossref KW - Cockroach allergy KW - non-standardized extracts KW - cockroach allergen components KW - immunotherapy KW - diagnosis ER - TY - JOUR TI - Freeze stress of deciduous trees induces attacks by opportunistic ambrosia beetles AU - Ranger, Christopher M. AU - Schultz, Peter B. AU - Frank, Steven D. AU - Reding, Michael E. T2 - AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY AB - Abstract A broad host range and the utilization of living but weakened trees contribute, in part, to the invasion success of ambrosia beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae). The present study assessed the capability of freeze stress to induce attacks by ambrosia beetles. Freeze stress predisposed Cercis canadensis L., Cornus florida L., Malus pumila Mill. and Styrax japonicus Sieb. to attack under field conditions, although no attacks occurred on untreated trees. More attacks occurred on freeze‐stressed versus flood‐stressed M. pumila in Virginia but not for S. japonicus in Ohio. Attacks on flooded trees were skewed towards the base of the trunk, whereas attacks on freeze‐stressed trees mainly occurred around the upper regions of the trunk and into the branches. The predominant species recovered were Anisandrus maiche Stark and Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford) in Ohio, and Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky) in Virginia. Ethanol emissions from trunks of S. japonicus were detected by solid phase microextraction‐gas chromatography–mass spectrometry at 1 day after imposing freeze stress, peaking 4 days after injury. Trees with an intolerance of freeze stress are predicted to be vulnerable to attack, especially when subjected to mild winter temperatures followed by late‐spring freezes. Freeze stress could thereby facilitate the destructiveness of exotic ambrosia beetles. DA - 2019/5// PY - 2019/5// DO - 10.1111/afe.12317 VL - 21 IS - 2 SP - 168-179 SN - 1461-9563 KW - Anisandrus maiche KW - ethanol KW - freeze stress KW - Xylosandrus germanus KW - Xylosandrus crassiusculus ER - TY - JOUR TI - Social Ecological System Tools for Improving Crop Pest Management AU - Magarey, Roger D. AU - Chappell, Thomas M. AU - Trexler, Christina M. AU - Pallipparambil, Godshen R. AU - Hain, Ernie F. T2 - JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT AB - Abstract Integrated pest management (IPM) is a valuable tool for reducing pesticide use and for pesticide resistance management. Despite the success of IPM over the last 50 yr, significant challenges remain to improving IPM delivery and adoption. We believe that insights can be obtained from the field of Social Ecological Systems (SES). We first describe the complexity of crop pest management and how various social actors influence grower decision making, including adoption of IPM. Second, we discuss how crop pest management fits the definition of an SES, including such factors as scale, dynamic complexities, critical resources, and important social–ecological interactions. Third, we describe heuristics and simulation models as tools to understand complex SES and develop new strategies. Finally, we conclude with a brief discussion of how social processes and SES techniques could improve crop pest management in the future, including the delivery of IPM, while reducing negative social and environmental impacts. DA - 2019/2/27/ PY - 2019/2/27/ DO - 10.1093/jipm/pmz004 VL - 10 IS - 1 SP - SN - 2155-7470 KW - pesticides KW - risk KW - IPM KW - sustainability KW - resilience ER - TY - JOUR TI - COLLECTING NOTES ON ATHOUS ORNATIPENNIS (LECONTE) (COLEOPTERA: ELATERIDAE) FROM NORTH CAROLINA, USA AU - Hinson, Kevin R. AU - Blinn, Robert L. AU - Mathison, Blaine A. T2 - COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN DA - 2019/3// PY - 2019/3// DO - 10.1649/0010-065X-73.1.252 VL - 73 IS - 1 SP - 252-253 SN - 1938-4394 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Effects of targeting eye color in Tenebrio molitor through RNA interference of tryptophan 2,3‐dioxygenase ( vermilion ): Implications for insect farming AU - Oppert, Brenda AU - Chu, Fu‐Chyun AU - Reyna, Steven AU - Pinzi, Sofia AU - Adrianos, Sherry AU - Perkin, Lindsey AU - Lorenzen, Marcé T2 - Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology AB - Abstract The gene vermilion encodes tryptophan 2,3‐dioxygenase, part of the ommochrome pathway, and is responsible for the dark pigmented eyes in some insects, including beetles. Using RNA interference, we targeted the vermilion gene ortholog in embryos and pupae of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor , resulting in larvae and adults, respectively, that lacked eye pigment. RNA‐Seq was used to analyze the impact of vermilion ‐specific RNA interference on gene expression. There was a 425‐fold reduction in vermilion gene expression ( p = 0.0003), as well as significant ( p < 0.05) differential expression of 109 other putative genes, most of which were downregulated. Enrichment analysis of Gene Ontology terms found in the differentially expressed data set included genes known to be involved in the ommochrome pathway. However, enrichment analysis also revealed the influence of vermilion expression on genes involved in protein translocation to the endoplasmic reticulum, signal transduction, G‐protein‐coupled receptor signaling, cell‐cycle arrest, mannose biosynthesis, and vitamin transport. These data demonstrate that knockdown of vermilion in T. molitor results in complete loss of eye color (white‐eyed phenotype) and identify other interrelated genes in the vermilion metabolic pathway. Therefore, a dominant marker system based on eye color can be developed for the genetic manipulation of T. molitor to increase the value of mealworms as an alternative food source by decreasing negative traits, such as disease susceptibility, and increasing desired traits, such as protein content and vitamin production. DA - 2019/3/25/ PY - 2019/3/25/ DO - 10.1002/arch.21546 VL - 101 IS - 1 SP - e21546 J2 - Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol LA - en OP - SN - 0739-4462 1520-6327 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/arch.21546 DB - Crossref KW - agriculture KW - entomophagy KW - farming KW - gene expression KW - insect eye color KW - protein KW - RNA-Seq KW - Tenebrio molitor KW - vermilion ER - TY - JOUR TI - Pest management by genetic addiction AU - Gould, Fred AU - Dhole, Sumit AU - Lloyd, Alun L. T2 - PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AB - In the PNAS article “Cleave and Rescue, a novel selfish genetic element and general strategy for gene drive,” Oberhofer et al. (1) describe an exciting new mechanism for enabling a transgenic sequence to increase in frequency within a sexually reproducing population, even if the transgenic sequence causes individuals bearing it to have somewhat lower fitness than those without it. The authors liken the mechanism to the “gene addiction” that can maintain a useless plasmid in a bacterium. The work of Oberhofer et al. (1) adds substantially to a growing field within genetic engineering, often termed gene drive research, in which selfish genetic elements overcome the rules of Mendelian inheritance and push transgenes into a population. While no engineered gene drives have been released into wild populations, that is the ultimate goal, and both the technical and cultural roads toward that goal have been tortuous at times. Gene drive projects are categorized based on having one of two aims. The first is to physically link a desirable gene to a gene drive mechanism and engineer both into a viable strain of the target organism. If individuals of the strain are released into a sexually reproducing field population of that species, the DNA sequence of the drive mechanism is predicted to increase in frequency in the population and the linked, desirable gene should “hitchhike” along with it. If the population is a mosquito that transmits dengue virus, the desirable gene could be one that codes for an RNA interference molecule targeted to prevent the virus from replicating in the mosquito—thus interfering with its transmission to a person whom the mosquito subsequently bites. Projects with the second aim are designed to suppress or eliminate a pest species, be it a mosquito, rat, roach, or crop pest. Here, the gene drive mechanism itself or … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: fred_gould{at}ncsu.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1 DA - 2019/3/26/ PY - 2019/3/26/ DO - 10.1073/pnas.1901886116 VL - 116 IS - 13 SP - 5849-5851 SN - 0027-8424 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Multi-locus DNA sequence analysis, antifungal agent susceptibility, and fungal keratitis outcome in horses from Southeastern United States AU - Cullen, Megan AU - Jacob, Megan E. AU - Cornish, Vicki AU - VanderSchel, Ian Q. AU - Cotter, Henry Van T. AU - Cubeta, Marc A. AU - Carbone, Ignazio AU - Gilger, Brian C. T2 - PLOS ONE AB - Morphological characterization and multi-locus DNA sequence analysis of fungal isolates obtained from 32 clinical cases of equine fungal keratitis (FK) was performed to identify species and determine associations with antifungal susceptibility, response to therapy and clinical outcome. Two species of Aspergillus (A. flavus and A. fumigatus) and three species of Fusarium (F. falciforme, F. keratoplasticum, and F. proliferatum) were the most common fungi isolated and identified from FK horses. Most (91%) equine FK Fusarium nested within the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) with nine genetically diverse strains/lineages, while 83% of equine FK Aspergillus nested within the A. flavus clade with three genetically diverse lineages. Fungal species and evolutionary lineage were not associated with clinical outcome. However, species of equine FK Fusarium were more likely (p = 0.045) to be associated with stromal keratitis. Species of Aspergillus were more susceptible to voriconazole and terbinafine than species of Fusarium, while species of Fusarium were more susceptible to thiabendazole than species of Aspergillus. At the species level, A. fumigatus and A. flavus were more susceptible to voriconazole and terbinafine than F. falciforme. Natamycin susceptibility was higher for F. falciforme and A. fumigatus compared to A. flavus. Furthermore, F. falciforme was more susceptible to thiabendazole than A. flavus and A. fumigatus. These observed associations of antifungal sensitivity to natamycin, terbinafine, and thiabendazole demonstrate the importance of fungal identification to the species rather than genus level. The results of this study suggest that treatment of equine FK with antifungal agents requires accurate fungal species identification. DA - 2019/3/28/ PY - 2019/3/28/ DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0214214 VL - 14 IS - 3 SP - e0214214 J2 - PLoS ONE LA - en OP - SN - 1932-6203 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0214214 DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Imidacloprid is compatible with control provided by the predator Jalysus wickhami Van Duzee (Hemiptera: Berytidae) in flue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) AU - Nelson, Peter N. AU - Burrack, Hannah J. AU - Sorenson, Clyde E. T2 - CROP PROTECTION AB - Jalysus wickhami Van Duzee is the most abundant predator in North Carolina flue-cured tobacco production but information on the effect of contemporary pest management practices and interactions with other arthropods is lacking. We measured the effect of systemic imidacloprid on J. wickhami in field experiments during 2015 and 2016 by surveying its abundance, the abundance of its prey; the pests Heliothis virescens (Fabricus), Manduca sexta L., and Manduca quinquemaculata (Haworth, 1803); and other predatory arthropods in the agro-ecosystem. Systemic imidacloprid applications did not reduce J. wickhami abundance nor increase the abundance of H. virescens, M. sexta, and M. quinquemaculata, indicating natural control was not affected. J. wickhami abundance was positively correlated with the abundance of prey and predators from another feeding guild, suggesting species interactions have significant implications for the predators. DA - 2019/4// PY - 2019/4// DO - 10.1016/j.cropro.2018.12.002 VL - 118 SP - 15-20 SN - 1873-6904 KW - Integrated pest management KW - Biological control KW - Neonicotinoid KW - Systemic insecticides KW - Heliothis virescens KW - Manduca sexta ER - TY - JOUR TI - Determining Frankliniella fusca (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Egg Distribution in Neonicotinoid Seed-Treated Cotton AU - Damon A. D'Ambrosio, AU - Huseth, Anders S. AU - Kennedy, George G. T2 - JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY AB - Frankliniella fusca (Hinds) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is an early-season cotton pest. Seedlings are injured by larvae, which hatch from eggs oviposited into seedlings and feed on developing plant tissue. Better understanding F. fusca oviposition in cotton may improve their management and address new challenges such as resistance to neonicotinoid seed treatments (NSTs). Cotton seedlings exposed to F. fusca were either cleared and stained to determine egg density and location, or dissected and washed to determine larval distribution. Experiments were conducted in the greenhouse with a susceptible population and field with a NST-resistant population. Eggs of both populations were recovered predominantly in cotyledons. Larvae were more uniformly distributed on seedlings. On NST seedlings, oviposition by the susceptible population was reduced and preference shifted to true leaves. NSTs did not alter egg placement by the resistant population. These findings suggest that injury to cotton seedlings is primarily caused by F. fusca emerging on the cotyledons, and then moving to developing leaves. The oviposition shift in NST plants correlates with how systemic NSTs have been reported to concentrate in cotyledons. This can better inform management tactics in cotton, such as well-timed foliar sprays, which, given the current resistance issue, are needed to maintain effective thrips management. DA - 2019/4// PY - 2019/4// DO - 10.1093/jee/toy393 VL - 112 IS - 2 SP - 827-834 SN - 1938-291X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jee/toy393 KW - imidacloprid KW - thiamethoxam KW - resistance management KW - tobacco thrip KW - Gossypium hirsutum ER - TY - JOUR TI - Trial Summary on the Comparison of Various Non-Aflatoxigenic Strains of Aspergillus flavus on Mycotoxin Levels and Yield in Maize AU - Molo, Megan S. AU - Heiniger, Ron W. AU - Boerema, Leah AU - Carbone, Ignazio T2 - AGRONOMY JOURNAL AB - Core Ideas Biocontrol strains are effective at reducing AF levels in maize. Native and commercially available biocontrol strains are equally effective in reducing AF levels. Deploying strains of opposite mating types in combination can lead to the greatest reduction in AF contamination. The fungus Aspergillus flavus can contaminate maize ( Zea mays L.) by producing aflatoxins (AFs), secondary metabolites that have been shown to have adverse health impacts for humans and animals when ingested in large quantities or over extended lengths of time. The FDA strictly regulates that corn contaminated with more than 20 parts per billion (ppb) AFs cannot be marketed for human consumption; therefore, AFs cost US corn growers billions of dollars every year. Current methods to curb aflatoxin contamination in fields involve dense applications of non‐aflatoxigenic biological control (biocontrol) strains, either Afla‐Guard or AF36, that outcompete native strains and reduce toxicity levels throughout the field. This fungus is heterothallic and sexual reproduction occurs between isolates of opposite mating types, either MAT1−1 or MAT1−2. Both biocontrol strains are of a single mating type MAT1−2 . The implications of adding a strain of opposite mating type (MAT1−1) to this formulation are unknown. Here we examine the ability of native non‐aflatoxigenic strains applied singly and in combination to reduce AF concentrations in a cornfield in Rocky Mount, NC. We show that native, non‐aflatoxigenic A. flavus strains reduced aflatoxin levels and increased yield when compared with untreated controls. Moreover, the strain formulations that included sexually compatible MAT1−1 and MAT1−2 strains showed the greatest reduction in aflatoxin levels. We propose that using a combination of native isolates of opposite mating types reduces AF levels further than current biocontrol agents of a single mating‐type strain and could potentially provide a more long‐term form of control. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.2134/agronj2018.07.0473 VL - 111 IS - 2 SP - 942-946 SN - 1435-0645 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Gut microbial compositions mirror caste-specific diets in a major lineage of social insects AU - Otani, Saria AU - Zhukova, Mariya AU - Kone, N'golo Abdoulaye AU - Costa, Rafael Rodrigues AU - Mikaelyan, Aram AU - Sapountzis, Panagiotis AU - Poulsen, Michael T2 - ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS AB - Social insects owe their ecological success to the division of labour between castes, but associations between microbial community compositions and castes with different tasks and diets have not been extensively explored. Fungus-growing termites associate with fungi to degrade plant material, complemented by diverse gut microbial communities. Here, we explore whether division of labour and accompanying dietary differences between fungus-growing termite castes are linked to gut bacterial community structure. Using amplicon sequencing, we characterize community compositions in sterile (worker and soldier) and reproductive (queen and king) termites and combine this with gut enzyme activities and microscopy to hypothesise sterile caste-specific microbiota roles. Gut bacterial communities are structured primarily according to termite caste and genus and, in contrast to the observed rich and diverse sterile caste microbiotas, royal pair guts are dominated by few bacterial taxa, potentially reflecting their specialized uniform diet and unique lifestyle. DA - 2019/4// PY - 2019/4// DO - 10.1111/1758-2229.12728 VL - 11 IS - 2 SP - 196-205 SN - 1758-2229 UR - https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6850719 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) Oviposition and Adult Emergence in Six Wine Grape Varieties Grown in Virginia AU - Shrader, Meredith Edana AU - Burrack, Hannah J. AU - Pfeiffer, Douglas G. T2 - JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY AB - Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) is a pest of small fruits and grapes in the United States and in its home range of Japan. Physiological and morphological laboratory testing was performed on six commonly grown wine grape varieties in Virginia. Skin thickness, penetration force, and ºBrix were analyzed to determine ovipositional preferences. Experiments were performed for three consecutive years from grapes collected at one Virginia vineyard. More eggs were laid in intact Viognier grapes than any other variety. Oviposition into intact grapes was not affected by skin thickness or ºBrix; however, oviposition increased when penetration force decreased. An ovipositional choice test determined no varietal preferences. Survivorship from egg to adulthood using uninjured and injured grapes was also assessed to determine varietal suitability as D. suzukii hosts, with more flies emerging from injured grapes than uninjured. However, D. suzukii adults did emerge from intact grapes and at higher percentages than previously recorded in other wine grape studies. All varieties had eggs oviposited into them when injured. Determining the time at which each grape variety became susceptible to oviposition was determined using a D. suzukii bioassay spanning 12 wk using grapes from the green pea stage until ripe. Susceptibility to D. suzukii oviposition was based upon ripening period and penetration force. Early ripening varieties may be more susceptible to D. suzukii oviposition in the field with later maturing, harder fleshed-varieties which may escape D. suzukii oviposition. DA - 2019/2// PY - 2019/2// DO - 10.1093/jee/toy305 VL - 112 IS - 1 SP - 139-148 SN - 1938-291X KW - wine grape KW - penetration force KW - susceptibility KW - survivorship KW - skin thickness ER - TY - JOUR TI - Experimental improvement of honey bee (Apis mellifera) queen quality through nutritional and hormonal supplementation AU - De Souza, Daiana A. AU - Huang, Ming Hua AU - Tarpy, David R. T2 - APIDOLOGIE AB - Queen reproductive potential (=quality) impacts the health and productivity of honey bee colonies. To determine the factors that affect reproductive quality during development, we tested queens produced under larval treatments by supplementing the diet with juvenile hormone (JH), additional sugars, or both, compared to untreated control. Furthermore, we varied the age of the larvae that were grafted (1 and 3 days old). We analyzed newly emerged virgin queens for their morphological characters as proxies for their reproductive potential. We found that the application of a sugar-enriched diet in combination with JH application onto 1st instar queen larvae produced higher-quality queens, while for 3rd instar larvae only the JH treatment resulted in increasing queen quality. For mated queens, those treated with JH plus supplemented sugars showed a significantly higher sperm count and sperm viability. Our findings demonstrate that honey bee queen reproductive potential can be increased through diet supplementation. DA - 2019/2// PY - 2019/2// DO - 10.1007/s13592-018-0614-y VL - 50 IS - 1 SP - 14-27 SN - 1297-9678 KW - honeybee queens KW - queen quality KW - geometric morphometry KW - queen larval diet KW - juvenile hormone ER - TY - JOUR TI - Effects of Insecticides Used in Organic Agriculture on Anastatus reduvii (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) and Telenomus podisi (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), Egg Parasitoids of Pestivorous Stink Bugs AU - Ogburn, Emily C. AU - Walgenbach, James F. T2 - JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY AB - Lethal and sublethal effects of insecticides used in organic agriculture were tested against Anastatus reduvii and Telenomus podisi, native North American hymenopteran egg parasitoids of the native Euschistus servus Say (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and the invasive Halyomorpha halys Stål. Entrust (spinosad), PyGanic (pyrethrin), Neemix (azadirachtin), and Azera (pyrethrin + azadirachtin) were tested at equivalent field rates of 1×, 0.5×, and 0.1×. Bioassays included insecticide exposure to parasitoids through residue on substrate, parasitized host eggs, and their food source. When exposed to dried residues, Entrust caused 100% mortality at the 0.5× rate to both species; PyGanic, Neemix, and Azera exhibited low toxicity. Exposure of parasitized host eggs to Entrust 1× during the egg stage of parasitoid development reduced parasitoid emergence compared to all other treatments in both species. Anastatus reduvii emergence was also reduced by PyGanic at 0.5× and 1×. Parasitoid emergence from host eggs exposed during the pupal stage was more variable than egg stage exposure; emergence of both species was reduced in 0.5× and 1× rates of PyGanic, and A. reduvii was reduced in the 0.5× rate of Entrust compared to controls. Longevity of emerged parasitoids surviving exposure within host eggs showed that Entrust was more deleterious than Neemix or PyGanic. When A. reduvii was fed insecticide-laced honey, all treatments except Neemix at 0.1× reduced adult longevity compared to the control. These studies demonstrated that insecticides commonly used in organic agriculture can negatively affect two common parasitoids of stink bugs; specifically, negative effects were most pronounced with Entrust, and variable with Neemix and Pyganic. DA - 2019/2// PY - 2019/2// DO - 10.1093/jee/toy340 VL - 112 IS - 1 SP - 108-114 SN - 1938-291X KW - biological control KW - brown marmorated stink bug KW - organic production KW - pyrethrin KW - spinosad ER - TY - JOUR TI - Taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales: second update 2018 AU - Maes, Piet AU - Amarasinghe, Gaya K. AU - Ayllon, Maria A. AU - Basler, Christopher F. AU - Bavari, Sina AU - Blasdell, Kim R. AU - Briese, Thomas AU - Brown, Paul A. AU - Bukreyev, Alexander AU - Balkema-Buschmann, Anne AU - Buchholz, Ursula J. AU - Chandran, Kartik AU - Crozier, Ian AU - Swart, Rik L. AU - Dietzgen, Ralf G. AU - Dolnik, Olga AU - Domier, Leslie L. AU - Drexler, Jan F. AU - Duerrwald, Ralf AU - Dundon, William G. AU - Duprex, W. Paul AU - Dye, John M. AU - Easton, Andrew J. AU - Fooks, Anthony R. AU - Formenty, Pierre B. H. AU - Fouchier, Ron A. M. AU - Freitas-Astua, Juliana AU - Ghedin, Elodie AU - Griffiths, Anthony AU - Hewson, Roger AU - Horie, Masayuki AU - Hurwitz, Julia L. AU - Hyndman, Timothy H. AU - Jiang, Daohong AU - Kobinger, Gary P. AU - Kondo, Hideki AU - Kurath, Gael AU - Kuzmin, Ivan V. AU - Lamb, Robert A. AU - Lee, Benhur AU - Leroy, Eric M. AU - Li, Jianrong AU - Marzano, Shin-Yi L. AU - Muhlberger, Elke AU - Netesov, Sergey V. AU - Nowotny, Norbert AU - Palacios, Gustavo AU - Palyi, Bernadett AU - Paweska, Janusz T. AU - Payne, Susan L. AU - Rima, Bertus K. AU - Rota, Paul AU - Rubbenstroth, Dennis AU - Simmonds, Peter AU - Smither, Sophie J. AU - Song, Qisheng AU - Song, Timothy AU - Spann, Kirsten AU - Stenglein, Mark D. AU - Stone, David M. AU - Takada, Ayato AU - Tesh, Robert B. AU - Tomonaga, Keizo AU - Tordo, Noel AU - Towner, Jonathan S. AU - Hoogen, Bernadette AU - Vasilakis, Nikos AU - Wahl, Victoria AU - Walker, Peter J. AU - Wang, David AU - Wang, Lin-Fa AU - Whitfield, Anna E. AU - Williams, John V. AU - Ye, Gongyin AU - Murilo Zerbini, F. AU - Zhang, Yong-Zhen AU - Kuhn, Jens H. T2 - ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY AB - In October 2018, the order Mononegavirales was amended by the establishment of three new families and three new genera, abolishment of two genera, and creation of 28 novel species. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales as now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). DA - 2019/4// PY - 2019/4// DO - 10.1007/s00705-018-04126-4 VL - 164 IS - 4 SP - 1233-1244 SN - 1432-8798 ER - TY - JOUR TI - From Research to Policy: Scientists Speaking for Science AU - Elsensohn, Johanna E. AU - Anderson, Thomas AU - Cryan, Jason R. AU - Durham, Timothy AU - Gandhi, Kamal J. K. AU - Gordon, Jennifer AU - Krell, Rayda K. AU - Pimsler, Meaghan L. AU - Rivers, Ariel AU - Spafford, Helen T2 - ANNALS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA AB - Much of the scientific research in the United States is conducted in the public interest and funded through tax dollars, with exact funding allocations controlled through a variety of high-level processes, including through legislation. Scientists can provide expert opinions to government officials and their staff in this and other processes of establishing and enforcing governmental legislation, policies, and regulations, although such expertise is often underutilized. This is partly due to the paucity of scientists who have training to engage policymakers. To address this deficit, many scientific societies now provide organized training in science policy, including how to seek out opportunities to engage with policymakers. One such example is the Entomological Society of America’s Science Policy Fellowship (ESA SPF) program. This article is written by ESA SPF members and discusses the importance of interfacing with policymakers, some challenges this group encountered, and lessons learned through our experiences in the program. Through efforts like this, we hope to inspire other scientists to engage their societies in advocacy work and make their voice heard. DA - 2019/3// PY - 2019/3// DO - 10.1093/aesa/say057 VL - 112 IS - 2 SP - 75-78 SN - 1938-2901 KW - science policy KW - advocacy KW - engagement KW - policymaker ER - TY - JOUR TI - Differential germination strategies of native and introduced populations of the invasive species Plantago virginica AU - Xu, Xinyu AU - Wolfe, Lorne AU - Diez, Jeffrey AU - Zheng, Yi AU - Guo, Hui AU - Hu, Shuijin T2 - NEOBIOTA AB - Germination strategies are critically important for the survival, establishment and spread of plant species. Although many plant traits related to invasiveness have been broadly studied, the earliest part of the life cycle, germination, has received relatively little attention. Here, we compared the germination patterns between native (North America) and introduced (China) populations of Plantagovirginica for four consecutive years to examine whether there has been adaptive differentiation in germination traits and how these traits are related to local climatic conditions. We found that the introduced populations of P.virginica had significantly higher germination percentages and faster and shorter durations of germination than native populations. Critically, the native populations had a significantly larger proportion of seeds that stayed dormant in all four years, with only 60% of seeds germinating in year 1 (compared to &gt;95% in introduced populations). These results demonstrate striking differences in germination strategies between native and introduced populations which may contribute to their successful invasion. Moreover, the germination strategy of P.virginica in their native range exhibited clear geographical variation across populations, with trends towards higher germination percentages at higher latitudes and lower annual mean temperatures and annual precipitation. In the introduced range, however, their germination strategies were more conserved, with less variation amongst populations, suggesting that P.virginica may have experienced strong selection for earlier life history characteristics. Our findings highlight the need to examine the role of rapid evolution of germination traits in facilitating plant invasion. DA - 2019/3/19/ PY - 2019/3/19/ DO - 10.3897/neobiota.43.30392 IS - 43 SP - 101-118 SN - 1314-2488 KW - Adaptation KW - germination strategy KW - native and introduced populations KW - invasive species KW - Plantago virginica ER - TY - JOUR TI - HPLC quantitation of aflatoxin B1 from fungal mycelium culture AU - Gell, Richard M. AU - Carbone, Ignazio T2 - Journal of Microbiological Methods AB - Aflatoxins are mycotoxins that contaminate agricultural products when infected by toxigenic Aspergillus flavus. Methods for quantifying aflatoxin from culture using chromatography are available but are not optimized for population studies. We provide details of a method for preparation and quantitation of aflatoxin B1 from fungal cultures that satisfy those needs. DA - 2019/3// PY - 2019/3// DO - 10.1016/j.mimet.2019.01.008 VL - 158 SP - 14-17 J2 - Journal of Microbiological Methods LA - en OP - SN - 0167-7012 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mimet.2019.01.008 DB - Crossref KW - Aspergillus flavus KW - Aflatoxin B-1 KW - HPLC KW - Mycotoxins ER - TY - JOUR TI - A Simple Model to Predict the Potential Abundance of Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes One Month in Advance AU - Monaghan, Andrew J. AU - Schmidt, Christopher A. AU - Hayden, Mary H. AU - Smith, Kirk A. AU - Reiskind, Michael H. AU - Cabell, Ryan AU - Ernst, Kacey C. T2 - AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE AB - The mosquito Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (L.) is the primary vector of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses in the United States. Surveillance for adult Ae. aegypti is limited, hindering understanding of the mosquito’s seasonal patterns and predictions of areas at elevated risk for autochthonous virus transmission. We developed a simple, intuitive empirical model that uses readily available temperature and humidity variables to predict environmental suitability for low, medium, or high potential abundance of adult Ae. aegypti in a given city 1 month in advance. Potential abundance was correctly predicted in 73% of months in arid Phoenix, AZ (over a 10-year period), and 63% of months in humid Miami, FL (over a 2-year period). The monthly model predictions can be updated daily, weekly, or monthly and thus may be applied to forecast suitable conditions for Ae. aegypti to inform vector-control activities and guide household-level actions to reduce mosquito habitat and human exposure. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0860 VL - 100 IS - 2 SP - 434-437 SN - 1476-1645 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Papers From a Workshop on Mosquito Ecology and Evolution Inspired by the Career of L. Philip Lounibos AU - Juliano, Steven A. AU - Yee, Donald A. AU - Alto, Barry W. AU - Reiskind, Michael H. T2 - JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY DA - 2019/3// PY - 2019/3// DO - 10.1093/jme/tjy146 VL - 56 IS - 2 SP - 299-302 SN - 1938-2928 ER - TY - JOUR TI - A Statewide Survey of Container Aedes Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in North Carolina, 2016: A Multiagency Surveillance Response to Zika Using Ovitraps AU - Reed, Emily M. X. AU - Byrd, Brian D. AU - Richards, Stephanie L. AU - Eckardt, Megan AU - Williams, Carl AU - Reiskind, Michael H. T2 - JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY AB - Native and invasive container-inhabiting Aedes mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) play important roles in the transmission of endemic and traveler-introduced arboviruses in the United States. In response to the emergence of Zika virus into the Americas, we surveyed the distribution of container Aedes spp. of public health importance within North Carolina during 2016 using ovitraps. A seasonal survey was conducted in 18 counties from the mountains to the coast to identify species incriminated in the transmission of chikungunya, dengue, La Crosse, yellow fever, and Zika viruses. Multiple local, state, and federal agencies participated in the study and submitted more than 3,600 ovistrips. Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (81.4%, n = 54,458) was the most common and widespread species found in this survey, followed by Aedes triseriatus (Say) (10.7%, n = 7,169) and Aedes japonicus (Theobald) (7.9%, n = 5,262). We did not find Aedes aegypti and rarely found Aedes hendersoni (Cockerell). We assessed broad-scale climatic and other factors and determined that longitude, elevation, rainfall, and temperature had significant effects on explaining the variation in presence, abundance, and phenology of container Aedes in North Carolina. However, much of the variation in these outcomes was not explained at this coarse scale and may benefit from finer-scale analyses. These efforts represent the largest ovitrap survey ever conducted in the state. DA - 2019/3// PY - 2019/3// DO - 10.1093/jme/tjy190 VL - 56 IS - 2 SP - 483-490 SN - 1938-2928 KW - Aedes albopictus KW - Aedes triseriatus KW - Aedes japonicus KW - distribution ER - TY - JOUR TI - Diverse Components of Resistance to Fusarium verticillioides Infection and Fumonisin Contamination in Four Maize Recombinant Inbred Families AU - Morales, Laura AU - Zila, Charles T. AU - Mejia, Danilo E. Moreta AU - Arbelaez, Melissa Montoya AU - Balint-Kurti, Peter J. AU - Holland, James B. AU - Nelson, Rebecca J. T2 - TOXINS AB - The fungus Fusarium verticillioides can infect maize ears, causing Fusarium ear rot (FER) and contaminating the grain with fumonisins (FUM), which are harmful to humans and animals. Breeding for resistance to FER and FUM and post-harvest sorting of grain are two strategies for reducing FUM in the food system. Kernel and cob tissues have been previously associated with differential FER and FUM. Four recombinant inbred line families from the maize nested associated mapping population were grown and inoculated with F. verticillioides across four environments, and we evaluated the kernels for external and internal infection severity as well as FUM contamination. We also employed publicly available phenotypes on innate ear morphology to explore genetic relationships between ear architecture and resistance to FER and FUM. The four families revealed wide variation in external symptomatology at the phenotypic level. Kernel bulk density under inoculation was an accurate indicator of FUM levels. Genotypes with lower kernel density-under both inoculated and uninoculated conditions-and larger cobs were more susceptible to infection and FUM contamination. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) intervals could be classified as putatively resistance-specific and putatively shared for ear and resistance traits. Both types of QTL mapped in this study had substantial overlap with previously reported loci for resistance to FER and FUM. Ear morphology may be a component of resistance to F. verticillioides infection and FUM accumulation. DA - 2019/2// PY - 2019/2// DO - 10.3390/toxins11020086 VL - 11 IS - 2 SP - SN - 2072-6651 UR - http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/11/2/86 KW - maize KW - mycotoxins KW - fumonisin KW - disease resistance KW - morphology ER - TY - JOUR TI - Exotic urban trees conserve similar natural enemy communities to native congeners but have fewer pests AU - Frank, Steven D. AU - Backe, Kristi M. AU - McDaniel, Casey AU - Green, Matthew AU - Widney, Sarah AU - Dunn, Robert R. T2 - PEERJ AB - Urban trees serve a critical conservation function by supporting arthropod and vertebrate communities but are often subject to arthropod pest infestations. Native trees are thought to support richer arthropod communities than exotic trees but may also be more susceptible to herbivorous pests. Exotic trees may be less susceptible to herbivores but provide less conservation value as a consequence. We tested the hypotheses that native species in Acer and Quercus would have more herbivorous pests than exotic congeners and different communities of arthropod natural enemies. The density of scale insects, common urban tree pests, was greatest on a native Acer and a native Quercus than exotic congeners in both years of our research (2012 and 2016) and sometimes reached damaging levels. However, differences in predator and parasitoid abundance, diversity, and communities were not consistent between native and exotic species in either genus and were generally similar. For example, in 2012 neither predator nor parasitoid abundance differed among native and exotic Acer congeners but in 2016 a native species, A. saccharum , had the least of both groups. A native, Q. phellos , had significantly more predators and parasitoids in 2012 than its native and exotic congeners but no differences in 2016. Parasitoid communities were significantly different among Acer species and Quercus species due in each case to greater abundance of a single family on one native tree species. These native and exotic tree species could help conserve arthropod natural enemies and achieve pest management goals. DA - 2019/3/7/ PY - 2019/3/7/ DO - 10.7717/peerj.6531 VL - 7 SP - SN - 2167-8359 KW - Urban trees KW - Parasitoids KW - Conservation KW - Pest management KW - Exotic trees KW - Acer spp. (maple) KW - Quercus spp. (oaks) KW - Natural enemies KW - Native trees KW - Scale insects (Coccoidea) ER - TY - JOUR TI - Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) Attraction to Human Odors: Validation of a Two-Choice Olfactometer AU - DeVries, Zachary C. AU - Saveer, Ahmed M. AU - Mick, Russell AU - Schal, Coby T2 - JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY AB - Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.) (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites, and, therefore, must locate suitable hosts to ensure survival and reproduction. Their largely nocturnal activity suggests that chemosensory and thermosensory cues would play critical roles in host location. Yet, the importance of olfaction in host attraction of bed bugs remains unclear. We developed and validated a Y-tube, two-choice olfactometer and tested its suitability for investigating attraction to human odors (from skin swabs). Olfactometer orientation significantly affected the percentage of bed bugs that were activated by human odors, with significantly more bed bugs responding when the olfactometer was oriented vertically (bug introduced at bottom of the olfactometer) compared with all other orientations. Starved (7-10 d) adult males, mated females, and nymphs responded (47-77% moved up the olfactometer and made a choice) when human odors were present in the olfactometer, while starved, unmated females did not respond. Skin swabs from all five human participants elicited high response rates (65-82%), and bed bugs from four different populations responded to skin swabs (40-82% response rate). However, in all assays including those resulting in relatively low response rates, bed bugs exhibited >90% preference for human odors over blank controls. These results provide strong evidence that bed bugs can respond and orient towards human odors, independently of all other host cues. Furthermore, the validated olfactometer should enable rapid and efficient evaluations of bed bug behavioral responses to semiochemicals. DA - 2019/3// PY - 2019/3// DO - 10.1093/jme/tjy202 VL - 56 IS - 2 SP - 362-367 SN - 1938-2928 UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjy202 KW - host odor KW - host attraction KW - behavior KW - olfaction KW - chemotaxis ER - TY - JOUR TI - Exploring gene tree incongruence at the origin of ants and bees (Hymenoptera) AU - Camacho, Gabriela P. AU - Pie, Marcio R. AU - Feitosa, Rodrigo M. AU - Barbeitos, Marcos S. T2 - ZOOLOGICA SCRIPTA AB - Abstract The fact that different phylogenomic data sets can lead to highly supported but inconsistent results suggest that conflict among gene trees in real data sets could be severe. We provide here a detailed exploration of gene tree space to investigate the relationships in Hymenoptera based on data obtained by Johnson et al. ( Current Biology , 2013, 23, 2058), in which ants and Apoidea (bees and spheciform wasps) were recovered as sister groups, contradicting previous studies. We found high levels of topological variation among gene trees, several of them disagreeing with previously published hypotheses. To profile the dynamics of emerging support versus conflicting signal in combined analysis of data, we employed a novel method based on the incremental addition of randomized data to coalescence‐based phylogenetic inference. Although the monophyly of Aculeata and of Formicidae were consistently recovered using as little as 6.5% of the 308 available markers, signal for the Formicidae + Apoidea clade prevailed only after more than 50% of the loci were sampled. Still, non‐negligible support for alternative hypotheses remained until all genes were added to the analysis. Our results suggest that phylogenetic conflict is rather pervasive and not scattered as noise across individual gene trees because alternative topologies were recovered not from a specific subset, but from several random combinations of loci. Thus, even though phylogenetic signal recovered from full gene data sets was already dominant in much smaller ensembles, large amounts of data may be indeed necessary to overcome phylogenetic conflict. DA - 2019/3// PY - 2019/3// DO - 10.1111/zsc.12332 VL - 48 IS - 2 SP - 215-225 SN - 1463-6409 KW - Apidae KW - coalescent theory KW - emergent support KW - gene trees KW - RADICAL KW - species trees ER - TY - JOUR TI - Taxonomy of the order Bunyavirales: second update 2018 AU - Maes, Piet AU - Adkins, Scott AU - Alkhovsky, Sergey V. AU - Avsic-Zupanc, Tatjana AU - Ballinger, Matthew J. AU - Bente, Dennis A. AU - Beer, Martin AU - Bergeron, Eric AU - Blair, Carol D. AU - Briese, Thomas AU - Buchmeier, Michael J. AU - Burt, Felicity J. AU - Calisher, Charles H. AU - Charrel, Remi N. AU - Choi, Il Ryong AU - Clegg, J. Christopher S. AU - Torre, Juan Carlos AU - Lamballerie, Xavier AU - DeRisi, Joseph L. AU - Digiaro, Michele AU - Drebot, Mike AU - Ebihara, Hideki AU - Elbeaino, Toufic AU - Ergunay, Koray AU - Fulhorst, Charles F. AU - Garrison, Aura R. AU - Gao, George Fu AU - Gonzalez, Jean-Paul J. AU - Groschup, Martin H. AU - Guenther, Stephan AU - Haenni, Anne-Lise AU - Hall, Roy A. AU - Hewson, Roger AU - Hughes, Holly R. AU - Jain, Rakesh K. AU - Jonson, Miranda Gilda AU - Junglen, Sandra AU - Klempa, Boris AU - Klingstrom, Jonas AU - Kormelink, Richard AU - Lambert, Amy J. AU - Langevin, Stanley A. AU - Lukashevich, Igor S. AU - Marklewitz, Marco AU - Martelli, Giovanni P. AU - Mielke-Ehret, Nicole AU - Mirazimi, Ali AU - Muehlbach, Hans-Peter AU - Naidu, Rayapati AU - Teixeira Nunes, Marcio Roberto AU - Palacios, Gustavo AU - Papa, Anna AU - Paweska, Janusz T. AU - Peters, Clarence J. AU - Plyusnin, Alexander AU - Radoshitzky, Sheli R. AU - Resende, Renato O. AU - Romanowski, Victor AU - Sall, Amadou Alpha AU - Salvato, Maria S. AU - Sasaya, Takahide AU - Schmaljohn, Connie AU - Shi, Xiaohong AU - Shirako, Yukio AU - Simmonds, Peter AU - Sironi, Manuela AU - Song, Jin-Won AU - Spengler, Jessica R. AU - Stenglein, Mark D. AU - Tesh, Robert B. AU - Turina, Massimo AU - Wei, Taiyun AU - Whitfield, Anna E. AU - Yeh, Shyi-Dong AU - Murilo Zerbini, F. AU - Zhang, Yong-Zhen AU - Zhou, Xueping AU - Kuhn, Jens H. T2 - ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY AB - In October 2018, the order Bunyavirales was amended by inclusion of the family Arenaviridae, abolishment of three families, creation of three new families, 19 new genera, and 14 new species, and renaming of three genera and 22 species. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the order Bunyavirales as now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). DA - 2019/3// PY - 2019/3// DO - 10.1007/s00705-018-04127-3 VL - 164 IS - 3 SP - 927-941 SN - 1432-8798 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Variability in German Cockroach Extract Composition Greatly Impacts T Cell Potency in Cockroach-Allergic Donors AU - Birrueta, Giovanni AU - Frazier, April AU - Pomés, Anna AU - Glesner, Jill AU - Filep, Stephanie AU - Schal, Coby AU - Jeong, Kyoung Yong AU - McMurtrey, Curtis AU - Vander Schans, Thomas AU - Hildebrand, William H. AU - Busse, Paula AU - Beigelman, Avraham AU - Bacharier, Leonard B. AU - Peters, Bjoern AU - Sette, Alessandro AU - Schulten, Véronique T2 - Frontiers in Immunology AB - German cockroach extract is used clinically to evaluate allergen-specific sensitization and for subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy, though there are no guidelines for standardization in its manufacture. We performed an immunological evaluation of 12 different cockroach extracts prepared from different sources and their potency to induce allergen-specific T cell reactivity. PBMC from 13 cockroach allergic donors were expanded in vitro with 12 different German cockroach extracts. After culture expansion, cells were re-stimulated with the different extracts and T cell responses were assessed by FluoroSpot (IL-5, IFNγ and IL-10 production). In parallel to the extracts, single allergen peptide pools for allergens from groups 1, 2, 4, 5, and 11 were tested to determine allergen immunodominance. Furthermore, to assess allergy specificity, PBMC from 13 non-allergic donors were also tested with the most potent extract and T cell responses were compared to the allergic cohort. Dramatic variations in T cell reactivity were observed to the different cockroach extract batches. Response magnitudes varied over 3 logs within a single donor. IL-5 production in the allergic cohort was significantly higher compared to the non-allergic cohort (p=0.004). Allergen content determination by ELISA detected much lower concentrations of Bla g 5 compared to Bla g 1 and 2. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed that Bla g 5 was present in similar amounts to Bla g 1 and 2 in extracts made from whole body, whereas it was not detected in extracts made from fecal matter, suggesting that Bla g 5 is not excreted into feces. Different donors exhibit different response patterns to different extracts, potentially dependent on the donor-specific T cell allergen immunodominance pattern and the allergen content of the extract tested. These findings have dramatic implications for the selection of potent extracts used for diagnostic purposes or allergen-specific immunotherapy. DA - 2019/2/27/ PY - 2019/2/27/ DO - 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00313 VL - 10 SP - J2 - Front. Immunol. OP - SN - 1664-3224 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2019.00313 DB - Crossref KW - German cockroach KW - T cells KW - allergen extract KW - cytokines KW - respiratory allergy ER - TY - JOUR TI - Salt-adaptive strategies in oil seed crop Ricinus communis early seedlings (cotyledon vs. true leaf) revealed from proteomics analysis AU - Wang, Yingnan AU - Peng, Xiaoyuan AU - Salvato, Fernanda AU - Wang, Yongcui AU - Yan, Xiufeng AU - Zhou, Zhiqiang AU - Lin, Jixiang T2 - ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY AB - Soil salinity is a major abiotic stress affecting crop growth and productivity. Ricinus communis has good salt tolerance and is also an important oilseed crop throughout the world. Early seedling stage (such as cotyledon expansion stage) is the most vulnerable period for plant under stresses. However, little information exist concerning the physiological and molecular mechanisms of Ricinus communis seedlings and the role play by cotyledons and true leaf under salt stress. In the present study, biomass, photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, inorganic ions and organic solutes contents were measured, and two dimensional gel electrophoresis-based proteomic technology was employed to identify the differentially abundant proteins in the salt-treated Ricinus communis cotyledons and true leaves. The results showed that salt stress reduced growth and photosynthesis in the seedlings. With increasing salinity, the Na+ content increased and K+ content decreased in both cotyledons and leaves, but the true leaves had lower Na+ and higher K+ contents. Soluble sugars and proline are the primary organic solutes to cope with osmotic stress. In addition, proteomic analysis revealed 30 and 42 differentially accumulated protein spots in castor cotyledon and true leaf under salt stress, respectively. Most of the identified proteins were involved in carbohydrate and energy metabolism, photosynthesis, genetic information process, reactive oxygen species metabolism, amino acid metabolism and cell structure. The physiological and proteomic results highlighted that cotyledons accumulated a large number of Na+ and provided more energy to help true leaves cope with salt stress. The true leaves saved carbon structures to synthesize osmotic substances, and the enhancement of chlorophyll synthesis and electron transfer in true leaves could also maintain photosynthesis under salt stress. These findings provide new insights into different physiological mechanisms in cotyledon and true leaf of Ricinus communis response to salt stress during early seedling stage. DA - 2019/4/30/ PY - 2019/4/30/ DO - 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.12.046 VL - 171 SP - 12-25 SN - 1090-2414 KW - Cotyledon KW - Early seedling, Proteomics KW - Ricinus communis KW - Salinity ER - TY - JOUR TI - A non-persistent aphid-transmitted Potyvirus differentially alters the vector and non-vector biology through host plant quality manipulation AU - Gadhave, Kiran R. AU - Dutta, Bhabesh AU - Coolong, Timothy AU - Srinivasan, Rajagopalbabu T2 - SCIENTIFIC REPORTS AB - The association of plant viruses with their vectors has significant implications for virus transmission and spread. Only a few studies, with even fewer pathosystems, have explored non-persistent (NP) virus-vector interactions that are presumed to be transient. We studied how a NP virus, Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) influenced the behavior and biology of its vector, the melon aphid (Aphis gossypii Glover) and the non-vector, silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius). We also assessed whether the fitness effects on aphids are modulated through changes in the host plant, squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) nutrient profile. The overall performance of A. gossypii was substantially higher on PRSV-infected plants, along with increased arrestment on PRSV-infected than non-infected plants. No such PRSV-modulated fitness effects were observed with B. tabaci. PRSV-infected plants had increased concentrations of free essential amino acids: threonine, arginine and lysine; non-essential amino acids: glycine and homocysteine; and soluble carbohydrates: galactose, raffinose and cellobiose. In general, PRSV encouraged long-term feeding and enhanced fitness of A. gossypii through host plant nutrient enrichment. These findings provide evidence for a NP virus mediated positive fitness effects on its vector, with no spillover fitness benefits to the non-vector within the same feeding guild. DA - 2019/2/21/ PY - 2019/2/21/ DO - 10.1038/s41598-019-39256-5 VL - 9 SP - SN - 2045-2322 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Antennal grooming facilitates courtship performance in a group-living insect, the German cockroach Blattella germanica AU - Wada-Katsumata, Ayako AU - Schal, Coby T2 - SCIENTIFIC REPORTS AB - The antennae of adult male German cockroaches detect a contact sex pheromone embedded in the female's cuticular lipids. The female pheromone stimulates courtship behavior in males, notably a wing-raising (WR) display. Within aggregations, however, cuticular lipids are disseminated by contact among group members, including nymphs and adults of both sexes, and "contamination" of cockroaches with the cuticular lipids of another stage or sex may interfere with sex discrimination and disrupt courtship. We used behavioral observations, bioassays and chemical analysis to determine how males maintain their sensitivity to sex pheromone in aggregations. Males contaminated with female pheromone displayed lower courtship, because residual female pheromone on their antennae adapted their peripheral sensilla and habituated the central nervous system. Female pheromone that contaminated the male's antennae also elicited courtship from other non-contaminated males, disrupting their sex discrimination in the group. However, antennal grooming effectively removed female pheromone from males' antennae and maintained their chemosensory acuity and sexual discrimination among group members. Thus, grooming of the antennae and other sensory appendages is an important strategy to enhance sensory acuity, especially in group-living insects like the German cockroach. DA - 2019/2/27/ PY - 2019/2/27/ DO - 10.1038/s41598-019-39868-x VL - 9 IS - 1 SP - SN - 2045-2322 UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-39868-x ER - TY - JOUR TI - Reduction of Pb availability during surficial leaching in different types of soils with addition of apatite and oxalic acid AU - Guo, Chenmeng AU - Tian, Weitao AU - Wang, Zhijun AU - Han, Feiyu AU - Su, Mu AU - Wu, Yiling AU - Li, Zhen AU - Hu, Shuijin T2 - JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS DA - 2019/2// PY - 2019/2// DO - 10.1007/s11368-018-2100-6 VL - 19 IS - 2 SP - 741-749 SN - 1614-7480 KW - Bioapatite KW - Leaching KW - Oxalic acid KW - Pb KW - Remediation ER - TY - JOUR TI - Varroa destructor feeds primarily on honey bee fat body tissue and not hemolymph AU - Ramsey, Samuel D. AU - Ochoa, Ronald AU - Bauchan, Gary AU - Gulbronson, Connor AU - Mowery, Joseph D. AU - Cohen, Allen AU - Lim, David AU - Joklik, Judith AU - Cicero, Joseph M. AU - Ellis, James D. AU - Hawthorne, David AU - vanEngelsdorp, Dennis T2 - PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AB - Significance Varroa destructor causes considerable damage to honey bees and subsequently the field of apiculture through just one process: feeding. For five decades, we have believed that these mites consume hemolymph like a tick consumes blood, and that Varroa cause harm primarily by vectoring viruses. Our work shows that they cause damage more directly. Varroa externally digest and consume fat body tissue rather than blood. These findings explain the failure of some previous attempts at developing effectively targeted treatment strategies for Varroa control. Furthermore, it provides some explanation for the diverse array of debilitating pathologies associated with Varroa that were unexplained by hemolymph removal alone. Our work provides a path forward for the development of novel treatment strategies for Varroa . DA - 2019/1/29/ PY - 2019/1/29/ DO - 10.1073/pnas.1818371116 VL - 116 IS - 5 SP - 1792-1801 SN - 0027-8424 KW - Varroa KW - apiculture KW - insect physiology KW - honey bee KW - fat body ER - TY - JOUR TI - Controls on mineral-associated organic matter formation in a degraded Oxisol AU - Ye, Chenglong AU - Hall, Steven J. AU - Hu, Shuijin T2 - GEODERMA AB - Oxisols are the dominant soil type in humid tropical and subtropical regions and are subjected to both drying–rewetting (DRW) cycles and fluctuating oxygen (O2) availability driven by warm temperatures and abundant rainfall in surface layers. Drying-rewetting cycles and O2 fluctuations may critically affect the microbial transformation of plant litter and subsequent stabilization as mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC), but experimental data are still limited. We examined the impacts of DRW cycles, and variable O2 regimes with constant moisture, on carbon (C) and iron (Fe) dynamics in a degraded Oxisol (under long-term fallow) with added plant residues. In laboratory incubations (>3 months), both DRW cycling and fluctuating O2 availability induced a flush of respiration and a temporary increase in microbial biomass C (MBC) following soil rewetting or O2 exposure, although MBC was consistently suppressed in these treatments relative to the control (60% water holding capacity under constantly aerobic condition). Consequently, DRW cycles significantly increased but O2 fluctuations significantly decreased cumulative C mineralization relative to the control. Concentrations of short-range-ordered Fe oxides peaked immediately after litter addition and decreased five-fold during the remainder of the experiment. Mineral-associated C (defined as the chemically dispersed <53 μm soil fraction) increased 42–64% relative to initial values but was significantly lower under DRW cycling and fluctuating O2 relative to the control. Correspondingly, these treatments had greater fine particulate organic C (53–250 μm), despite increased CO2 production under DRW cycling. Our data indicate the potential for rapid and significant accrual of MAOC in a degraded Oxisol, but environmental factors such as DRW cycling and fluctuating O2 can inhibit the conversion of plant litter to MAOC—possibly by suppressing microbial biomass formation and/or microbial transformations of organic matter. DA - 2019/3/15/ PY - 2019/3/15/ DO - 10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.12.011 VL - 338 SP - 383-392 SN - 1872-6259 KW - Birch effect KW - Drying rewetting KW - Oxygen fluctuations KW - Litter decomposition KW - Iron redox KW - Mineral-organic associations ER - TY - JOUR TI - Is the Brood Pattern within a Honey Bee Colony a Reliable Indicator of Queen Quality? AU - Lee, Kathleen V. AU - Goblirsch, Michael AU - McDermott, Erin AU - Tarpy, David R. AU - Spivak, Marla T2 - INSECTS AB - Failure of the queen is often identified as a leading cause of honey bee colony mortality. However, the factors that can contribute to “queen failure” are poorly defined and often misunderstood. We studied one specific sign attributed to queen failure: poor brood pattern. In 2016 and 2017, we identified pairs of colonies with “good” and “poor” brood patterns in commercial beekeeping operations and used standard metrics to assess queen and colony health. We found no queen quality measures reliably associated with poor-brood colonies. In the second year (2017), we exchanged queens between colony pairs (n = 21): a queen from a poor-brood colony was introduced into a good-brood colony and vice versa. We observed that brood patterns of queens originally from poor-brood colonies significantly improved after placement into a good-brood colony after 21 days, suggesting factors other than the queen contributed to brood pattern. Our study challenges the notion that brood pattern alone is sufficient to judge queen quality. Our results emphasize the challenges in determining the root source for problems related to the queen when assessing honey bee colony health. DA - 2019/1// PY - 2019/1// DO - 10.3390/insects10010012 VL - 10 IS - 1 SP - SN - 2075-4450 KW - Apis mellifera KW - queen KW - brood pattern KW - queen quality KW - colony health KW - beekeeping KW - parasites and pathogens KW - pesticides ER - TY - JOUR TI - Genetic, structural, and functional diversity of low and high-affinity siderophores in strains of nitrogen fixing Azotobacter chroococcum AU - Zhang, Xinning AU - Baars, Oliver AU - Morel, François M. M. T2 - Metallomics AB - Conserved patterns of siderophore production by Azotobacters related to siderophore gene evolution and Fe bioavailability. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019/// DO - 10.1039/c8mt00236c VL - 11 IS - 1 SP - 201-212 J2 - Metallomics LA - en OP - SN - 1756-5901 1756-591X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c8mt00236c DB - Crossref ER - TY - JOUR TI - Reproductive Senescence in Drones of the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) AU - Metz, Bradley N. AU - Tarpy, David R. T2 - INSECTS AB - In the face of high proportions of yearly colony losses, queen health and fecundity has been a major focus of industry and research. Much of the reproductive quality of the queen, though, is a function of the mating success and quality of the drones (males). Many environmental factors can negatively impact drone semen quality, but little is known about factors that impact the drones’ ability to successfully mate and deliver that semen, or how widely drones vary. In our study, we observed the daily variation in honey bee drone reproductive quality over time, along with a number of morphological traits. Drones were reared in cages in bank colonies, and 20 individuals were dissected and measured daily. The number of viable spermatozoa in the seminal vesicles was zero at emergence and reached an average maximum of 7.39 ± 0.19 million around 20 days of life. Decline in spermatozoa count occurred after day 30, though viability was constant throughout life, when controlling for count. Older drones had smaller wet weights, head widths, and wing lengths. We predict that this is likely due to sampling bias due to a differential lifespan among larger, more reproductively developed drones. Our study shows that drones are more highly variable than previously suggested and that they have a significant variation in reproductive physiology as a function of age. DA - 2019/1// PY - 2019/1// DO - 10.3390/insects10010011 VL - 10 IS - 1 SP - SN - 2075-4450 KW - Apis mellifera KW - drone KW - sperm viability KW - senescence KW - aging KW - reproduction KW - spermatozoa KW - honey bee ER - TY - JOUR TI - Direct and indirect effects of nitrogen enrichment on soil organisms and carbon and nitrogen mineralization in a semi-arid grassland AU - Chen, Dima AU - Xing, Wen AU - Lan, Zhichun AU - Saleem, Muhammad AU - Wu, Yunqiqige AU - Hu, Shuijin AU - Bai, Yongfei T2 - FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY AB - Abstract Semi‐arid grasslands on the Mongolian Plateau are expected to experience high inputs of anthropogenic reactive nitrogen in this century. It remains unclear, however, how soil organisms and nutrient cycling are directly affected by N enrichment (i.e., without mediation by plant input to soil) vs. indirectly affected via changes in plant‐related inputs to soils resulting from N enrichment. To test the direct and indirect effects of N enrichment on soil organisms (bacteria, fungi and nematodes) and their associated C and N mineralization, in 2010, we designated two subplots (with plants and without plants) in every plot of a six‐level N‐enrichment experiment established in 1999 in a semi‐arid grassland. In 2014, 4 years after subplots with and without plant were established, N enrichment had substantially altered the soil bacterial, fungal and nematode community structures due to declines in biomass or abundance whether plants had been removed or not. N enrichment also reduced the diversity of these groups (except for fungi) and the soil C mineralization rate and induced a hump‐shaped response of soil N mineralization. As expected, plant removal decreased the biomass or abundance of soil organisms and C and N mineralization rates due to declines in soil substrates or food resources. Analyses of plant‐removal‐induced changes (ratios of without‐ to with‐plant subplots) showed that micro‐organisms and C and N mineralization rates were not enhanced as N enrichment increased but that nematodes were enhanced as N enrichment increased, indicating that the effects of plant removal on soil organisms and mineralization depended on trophic level and nutrient status. Surprisingly, there was no statistical interaction between N enrichment and plant removal for most variables, indicating that plant‐related inputs did not qualitatively change the effects of N enrichment on soil organisms or mineralization. Structural equation modelling confirmed that changes in soil communities and mineralization rates were more affected by the direct effects of N enrichment (via soil acidification and increased N availability) than by plant‐related indirect effects. Our results provide insight into how future changes in N deposition and vegetation may modify below‐ground communities and processes in grassland ecosystems. A plain language summary is available for this article. DA - 2019/1// PY - 2019/1// DO - 10.1111/1365-2435.13226 VL - 33 IS - 1 SP - 175-187 SN - 1365-2435 KW - below-ground carbon allocation KW - below-ground communities KW - mass ratio hypothesis KW - plant-soil interactions KW - soil acidification KW - soil food web KW - trophic groups ER - TY - JOUR TI - Effect of wheat infection timing on Fusarium head blight causal agents and secondary metabolites in grain AU - Beccari, Giovanni AU - Arellano, Consuelo AU - Covarelli, Lorenzo AU - Tini, Francesco AU - Sulyok, Michael AU - Cowger, Christina T2 - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD MICROBIOLOGY AB - Fusarium head blight (FHB) results in yield loss and damaging contamination of cereal grains and can be caused by several Fusarium species. The objective of the present study was to determine, in a greenhouse experiment on winter wheat, how FHB was affected by timing of infection (0, 3, 6 or 9 days after anthesis, daa) by the aggressive species Fusarium graminearum compared to the relatively weak species Fusarium avenaceum, Fusarium poae and Fusarium acuminatum. Measures of FHB development were: symptoms in spikes (visually assessed), fungal biomass (quantified by real time quantitative PCR) and accumulation of fungal secondary metabolites (quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) in kernels. With regard to symptoms, F. graminearum was unaffected by inoculation timing, while the weaker pathogens caused greater disease severity at later timings. In contrast, the accumulation of F. graminearum biomass was strongly affected by inoculation timing (3 daa ≥ 6 daa ≥ 0 daa = 9 daa), while colonization by the weaker pathogens was less influenced. Similarly, F. graminearum secondary metabolite accumulation was affected by inoculation timing (3 daa ≥ 6 daa ≥ 0 daa = 9 daa), while that of the weaker species was less affected. However, secondary metabolites produced by these weaker species tended to be higher from intermediate-late inoculations (6 daa). Overall, infection timing appeared to play a role particularly in F. graminearum colonization and secondary metabolite accumulation. However, secondary metabolites of weaker Fusarium species may be relatively more abundant when environmental conditions promote spore dispersal later in anthesis, while secondary metabolites produced by F. graminearum are relatively favored by earlier conducive conditions. DA - 2019/2/2/ PY - 2019/2/2/ DO - 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2018.10.014 VL - 290 SP - 214-225 SN - 1879-3460 UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2018.10.014 KW - Anthesis KW - Fusarium graminearum KW - Fusarium avenaceum KW - Fusarium poae KW - Fusarium acuminatum KW - Mycotoxins ER - TY - JOUR TI - Urban forest fragments buffer trees from warming and pests AU - Long, Lawrence C. AU - D'Amico, Vincent AU - Frank, Steven D. T2 - SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT AB - Trees are important components of urban landscapes because of the ecosystem services they provide. However, the effects of urbanization, particularly high temperatures, can benefit chronic insect pests and threaten ecosystem services offered by urban trees. Urban forest fragments are an often-overlooked component of the greater urban forest which may help to mitigate the damaging effects of urbanization. Melanaspis tenebricosa (gloomy scale) is a common pest of Acer rubrum (red maple) that becomes more abundant because of the urban heat island effect. We conducted observational and manipulative field experiments to test the hypothesis that trees in urban forest fragments would be cooler than those in surrounding ornamental landscapes and would thus have fewer M. tenebricosa, particularly in a hot mid-latitude city. Trees in forest fragments were 1.3° cooler and had three orders of magnitude fewer M. tenebricosa than trees in ornamental landscapes in Raleigh, NC USA. However, there was no difference in M. tenebricosa density between forest and landscape trees in Newark, DE and Philadelphia, PA USA which are 3.95 degrees of latitude higher, and nearer to the northern range extent. Trees in landscapes and forest fragments did not differ in predawn water potential, a measure of water stress, but likely differed in soil composition and moisture. We used potted trees to control for these differences and found that M. tenebricosa density still increased three times more in landscapes than forests suggesting temperature and not tree stress is the dominant factor. Taken together our results indicate two things. First, that trees growing in urban forest fragments are buffered from a chronic urban tree pest due to lower temperatures. Second, that temperature-driven differences in M. tenebricosa density which we saw in Raleigh could predict future density of the pest in higher latitude cities as the climate warms. DA - 2019/3/25/ PY - 2019/3/25/ DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.293 VL - 658 SP - 1523-1530 SN - 1879-1026 KW - Forest fragments KW - Herbivory KW - Trees KW - Urban heat island effect KW - Warming KW - Scale insects ER - TY - JOUR TI - Exposure risks and ineffectiveness of total release foggers (TRFs) used for cockroach control in residential settings AU - DeVries, Zachary C. AU - Santangelo, Richard G. AU - Crissman, Jonathan AU - Mick, Russell AU - Schal, Coby T2 - BMC Public Health AB - The German cockroach, Blattella germanica, is one of the most challenging pests to eradicate from indoor environments. Professional pest control is often prohibitively expensive, prompting low-income residents to turn to over-the-counter consumer products, including total release foggers (TRFs, "bug bombs"). Despite their widespread use, little is known regarding either the associated pesticide exposure risks or the efficacy of TRFs.Cockroach-infested homes were recruited into the study. Wipe samples were collected from various surfaces before TRFs were discharged, immediately after, and one month later to determine pesticide exposure risks in 20 homes (divided equally among four different TRF products). Simultaneously, cockroach populations were monitored in all homes to assess the efficacy of TRFs. In parallel, 10 homes were treated with gel baits (divided equally between two bait products), to compare TRFs to a more targeted, low-risk, do-it-yourself intervention strategy.TRFs failed to reduce cockroach populations, whereas similarly priced gel baits caused significant declines in the cockroach populations. Use of TRFs resulted in significant pesticide deposits throughout the kitchen. Across all products, pesticides, and horizontal kitchen surfaces, pesticide residues following TRF discharge were 603-times (SEM ±184) higher than baseline, with a median increase of 85 times.The high risks of pesticide exposure associated with TRFs combined with their ineffectiveness in controlling German cockroach infestations call into question their utility in the marketplace, especially because similarly priced and much safer bait products are highly effective in the indoor environment. DA - 2019/1/28/ PY - 2019/1/28/ DO - 10.1186/s12889-018-6371-z VL - 19 IS - 1 SP - J2 - BMC Public Health LA - en OP - SN - 1471-2458 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-6371-z DB - Crossref KW - Bug bomb KW - German cockroach KW - Pesticide residues KW - Pesticide exposure KW - Pyrethroids KW - Total release aerosols ER - TY - JOUR TI - Expanding Leaf Tissue Nutrient Survey Ranges for Greenhouse Cannabidiol-Hemp AU - Landis, Hunter AU - Hicks, Kristin AU - Cockson, Paul AU - Henry, Josh B. AU - Smith, James T. AU - Whipker, Brian E. T2 - CROP FORAGE & TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT AB - Core Ideas Leaf tissue nutrient concentration survey values do not exist for greenhouse CBD-hemp. Growers can use these ranges as a nutrient management tool for CBD-hemp stock plants. Different leaf tissue nutrient concentrations have been found in CBD-hemp cultivars. There are no researched nutrient recommendations specific to greenhouse CBD-hemp. CBD-hemp products have great market potential. DA - 2019/1/24/ PY - 2019/1/24/ DO - 10.2134/cftm2018.09.0081 VL - 5 IS - 1 SP - SN - 2374-3832 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Limited potential of harvest index improvement to reduce methane emissions from rice paddies AU - Jiang, Yu AU - Qian, Haoyu AU - Wang, Ling AU - Feng, Jinfei AU - Huang, Shan AU - Hungate, Bruce A. AU - Kessel, Chris AU - Horwath, William R. AU - Zhang, Xingyue AU - Qin, Xiaobo AU - Li, Yue AU - Feng, Xiaomin AU - Zhang, Jun AU - Deng, Aixing AU - Zheng, Chenyan AU - Song, Zhenwei AU - Hu, Shuijin AU - Groenigen, Kees Jan AU - Zhang, Weijian T2 - GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY AB - Rice is a staple food for nearly half of the world's population, but rice paddies constitute a major source of anthropogenic CH4 emissions. Root exudates from growing rice plants are an important substrate for methane-producing microorganisms. Therefore, breeding efforts optimizing rice plant photosynthate allocation to grains, i.e., increasing harvest index (HI), are widely expected to reduce CH4 emissions with higher yield. Here we show, by combining a series of experiments, meta-analyses and an expert survey, that the potential of CH4 mitigation from rice paddies through HI improvement is in fact small. Whereas HI improvement reduced CH4 emissions under continuously flooded (CF) irrigation, it did not affect CH4 emissions in systems with intermittent irrigation (II). We estimate that future plant breeding efforts aimed at HI improvement to the theoretical maximum value will reduce CH4 emissions in CF systems by 4.4%. However, CF systems currently make up only a small fraction of the total rice growing area (i.e., 27% of the Chinese rice paddy area). Thus, to achieve substantial CH4 mitigation from rice agriculture, alternative plant breeding strategies may be needed, along with alternative management. DA - 2019/2// PY - 2019/2// DO - 10.1111/gcb.14529 VL - 25 IS - 2 SP - 686-698 SN - 1365-2486 KW - climate change KW - food security KW - greenhouse gases KW - meta-analysis KW - water management ER - TY - JOUR TI - A new insight into lead (II) tolerance of environmental fungi based on a study of Aspergillus niger and Penicillium oxalicum AU - Tian, Da AU - Jiang, Zhongquan AU - Jiang, Liu AU - Su, Mu AU - Feng, Zheye AU - Zhang, Lin AU - Wang, Shimei AU - Li, Zhen AU - Hu, Shuijin T2 - ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY AB - Summary Environmental microorganisms have been widely applied in heavy metal remediation. This study explored the mechanisms of lead tolerance of two typical filamentous fungi, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium oxalicum . It is shown that the mechanisms of reducing Pb toxicity by these two fungi have three major pathways. The secreted oxalic acid can react with Pb (II) to form insoluble Pb minerals, primarily lead oxalate. Then, the enhanced biosorption via forming new border of cell wall prevents the transportation of Pb (II) into hypha. In addition, the fungal activity could be maintained even at high Pb concentration due to the intracellular accumulation. It was confirmed that A. niger has the higher Pb tolerance (up to 1500 mg l −1 Pb level) compared with P. oxalicum (up to 1000 mg l −1 ). Meanwhile, Pb levels below 1000 mg l −1 partially stimulate the bioactivity of A. niger , which was confirmed by its elevated respiration (from 53 to 63 mg C l −1 medium h −1 ). This subsequently enhanced microbial functions of A. niger to resist Pb toxicity. A better understanding of Pb tolerance of these two fungi sheds a bright future of applying them to remediate lead‐contaminated environments. DA - 2019/1// PY - 2019/1// DO - 10.1111/1462-2920.14478 VL - 21 IS - 1 SP - 471-479 SN - 1462-2920 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Using Maize Chromosome Segment Substitution Line Populations for the Identification of Loci Associated with Multiple Disease Resistance AU - Lopez-Zuniga, Luis O AU - Wolters, Petra AU - Davis, Scott AU - Weldekidan, Teclemariam AU - Kolkman, Judith M AU - Nelson, Rebecca AU - Hooda, K S AU - Rucker, Elizabeth AU - Thomason, Wade AU - Wisser, Randall AU - Balint-Kurti, Peter T2 - G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics AB - Abstract Southern Leaf Blight (SLB), Northern Leaf Blight (NLB), and Gray Leaf Spot (GLS) caused by Cochliobolus heterostrophus, Setosphaeria turcica, and Cercospora zeae-maydis respectively, are among the most important diseases of corn worldwide. Previously, moderately high and significantly positive genetic correlations between resistance levels to each of these diseases were identified in a panel of 253 diverse maize inbred lines. The goal of this study was to identify loci underlying disease resistance in some of the most multiple disease resistant (MDR) lines by the creation of chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) populations in multiple disease susceptible (MDS) backgrounds. Four MDR lines (NC304, NC344, Ki3, NC262) were used as donor parents and two MDS lines (Oh7B, H100) were used as recurrent parents to produce eight BC3F4:5 CSSL populations comprising 1,611 lines in total. Each population was genotyped and assessed for each disease in replicated trials in two environments. Moderate to high heritabilities on an entry mean basis were observed (0.32 to 0.83). Several lines in each population were significantly more resistant than the MDS parental lines for each disease. Multiple quantitative trait loci (QTL) for disease resistance were detected for each disease in most of the populations. Seventeen QTL were associated with variation in resistance to more than one disease (SLB/NLB: 2; SLB/GLS: 7; NLB/GLS: 2 and 6 to all three diseases). For most populations and most disease combinations, significant correlations were observed between disease scores and also between marker effects for each disease. The number of lines that were resistant to more than one disease was significantly higher than would be expected by chance. Using the results from individual QTL analyses, a composite statistic based on Mahalanobis distance (Md) was used to identify joint marker associations with multiple diseases. Across all populations and diseases, 246 markers had significant Md values. However further analysis revealed that most of these associations were due to strong QTL effects on a single disease. Together, these findings reinforce our previous conclusions that loci associated with resistance to different diseases are clustered in the genome more often than would be expected by chance. Nevertheless true MDR loci which have significant effects on more than one disease are still much rarer than loci with single disease effects. DA - 2019/1/1/ PY - 2019/1/1/ DO - 10.1534/g3.118.200866 VL - 9 IS - 1 SP - 189-201 LA - en OP - SN - 2160-1836 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1534/g3.118.200866 DB - Crossref KW - Maize disease resistance KW - Multiple disease resistance KW - QTL ER - TY - JOUR TI - Physiological Adaptive Strategies of Oil Seed Crop Ricinus communis Early Seedlings (Cotyledon vs. True Leaf) Under Salt and Alkali Stresses: From the Growth, Photosynthesis and Chlorophyll Fluorescence AU - Wang, Yingnan AU - Jie, Weiguang AU - Peng, Xiaoyuan AU - Hua, Xiaoyu AU - Yan, Xiufeng AU - Zhou, Zhiqiang AU - Lin, Jixiang T2 - FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE AB - Ricinus communis is an important energy crop and also considered as one of the most potential plants for salt-alkali soil improvement in Northeast of China. Early seedling stage (such as the cotyledon expansion stage) is always vulnerable but plays a vital role in plant establishment, especially under stress condition. However, little information exists concerning the function of cotyledon and the relationship between cotyledon and true leaf in the adaptation to salt stress and alkali stress of this species. Here, Ricinus communis seedlings were treated with varying (40, 80 and 120 mM) salinity (NaCl) and alkalinity (NaHCO3), growth, photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence of cotyledons and true leaves were measured. The results showed that the biomass, photosynthetic parameters and qp value of both cotyledons and true leaves decreased with increasing salt-alkali stress, and the decrease in biomass, gs and Tr of true leaves were much greater than that of cotyledons. Salt-alkali stress only reduced photosynthetic pigments and ΦPSⅡ in cotyledons, but did not affect those in true leaves. Additionally, the Fv/Fm and NPQ between cotyledons and true leaves showed different trends in salinity and alkalinity. The results suggested that alkali stress could cause much more damage to the castor bean seedlings, and different physiological responses and adaptive strategies are found in cotyledons and true leaves under salt-alkali stress. This study will help us develop a better understanding of the adaptation mechanisms of cotyledon and true leaf during early seedling stage of castor bean plant, and also provide new insights into the function of cotyledon in Ricinus communis under salt-alkali stress condition. DA - 2019/1/9/ PY - 2019/1/9/ DO - 10.3389/fpls.2018.01939 VL - 9 SP - SN - 1664-462X KW - Ricinus communis KW - cotyledon KW - true leaf KW - salt-alkali stress KW - chlorophyll fluorescence ER - TY - JOUR TI - High-Strength Antibacterial Chitosan-Cellulose Nanocrystal Composite Tissue Paper AU - Tyagi, Preeti AU - Mathew, Reny AU - Opperman, Charles AU - Jameel, Hasan AU - Gonzalez, Ronalds AU - Lucia, Lucian AU - Hubbe, Martin AU - Pal, Lokendra T2 - LANGMUIR AB - A heightened need to control the spread of infectious diseases prompted the current work in which functionalized and innovative antimicrobial tissue paper was developed with a hydrophobic spray-coating of chitosan (Ch) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) composite. It was hypothesized that the hydrophobic nature of chitosan could be counterbalanced by the addition of CNC to maintain fiber formation and water absorbency. Light-weight tissue handsheets were prepared, spray-coated with Ch, CNC, and their composite coating (ChCNC), and tested for antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and a microbial sample from a human hand after using the rest room. Water absorption and strength properties were also analyzed. To activate the surface of cationized tissue paper, an oxygen/helium gas atmospheric plasma treatment was employed on the best performing antimicrobial tissue papers. The highest bactericidal activity was observed with ChCNC-coated tissue paper, inhibiting up to 98% microbial growth. Plasma treatment further improved the antimicrobial activity of the coatings. Water absorption properties were reduced with Ch but increased with CNC. This "self-disinfecting" bactericidal tissue has the potential to be one of the most innovative products for the hygiene industry because it can dry, clean, and resist the infection of surfaces simultaneously, providing significant societal benefits. DA - 2019/1/8/ PY - 2019/1/8/ DO - 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b02655 VL - 35 IS - 1 SP - 104-112 SN - 0743-7463 ER - TY - JOUR TI - Grazing practices affect the soil microbial community composition in a Tibetan alpine meadow AU - Yang, Fei AU - Niu, Kechang AU - Collins, Courtney G. AU - Yan, Xuebin AU - Ji, Yangguang AU - Ling, Ning AU - Zhou, Xianhui AU - Du, Guozhen AU - Guo, Hui AU - Hu, Shuijin T2 - LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT AB - Abstract Grazing is the primary land‐use activity on the Tibetan Plateau and can affect soil microbes and their function through aboveground vegetation removal, animal trampling, and manure deposition. Two distinct grazing systems (i.e., winter grazing [WG] and annual grazing [AG]) dominate on the Tibetan Plateau, but their effects on soil microbes have rarely been assessed. Taking advantage of a 5‐year field experiment that controlled timing and density of grazers via fence exclosures, we examined impacts of different grazing practices on the biomass, diversity, and composition of the soil microbial community in a Tibetan alpine meadow. On the basis of high‐throughput sequencing, we found that grazing had no significant effects on bacterial and fungal α‐diversities but altered their community compositions. Although total soil carbon (TC), total soil nitrogen (TN), and carbon/nitrogen (C/N) were related to both bacterial and fungal community compositions, plant shoot biomass only correlated with bacteria, and soil pH and moisture significantly influenced fungi under grazing. Also, grazing altered plant community composition but did not lead to corresponding changes in bacterial or fungal community composition. Moreover, grazing practices affected the relative abundance of specific bacterial and fungal taxa, reducing Actinobacteria but increasing Basidiomycete fungi in WG. Soil TC and TN were higher, and the soil microbial community was more stable in AG than WG, likely due to more stable litter inputs in AG. Together, these results showed that AG was less disruptive to soil microbes, suggesting that AG may provide a viable option for sustainable utilization and conservation of these fragile alpine systems. DA - 2019/1/15/ PY - 2019/1/15/ DO - 10.1002/ldr.3189 VL - 30 IS - 1 SP - 49-59 SN - 1099-145X KW - alpine meadow KW - bacteria KW - fungi KW - grazing practices KW - Tibetan Plateau ER - TY - JOUR TI - Combining transcriptomes and ultraconserved elements to illuminate the phylogeny of Apidae AU - Bossert, Silas AU - Murray, Elizabeth A. AU - Almeida, Eduardo A. B. AU - Brady, Sean G. AU - Blaimer, Bonnie B. AU - Danforth, Bryan N. T2 - MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION AB - Two increasingly popular approaches to reconstruct the Tree of Life involve whole transcriptome sequencing and the target capture of ultraconserved elements (UCEs). Both methods can be used to generate large, multigene datasets for analysis of phylogenetic relationships in non-model organisms. While targeted exon sequencing across divergent lineages is now a standard method, it is still not clear if UCE data can be readily combined with published transcriptomes. In this study, we evaluate the combination of UCEs and transcriptomes in a single analysis using genome-, transcriptome-, and UCE data for 79 bees in the largest and most biologically diverse bee family, Apidae. Using existing tools, we first developed a workflow to assemble phylogenomic data from different sources and produced two large nucleotide matrices of combined data. We then reconstructed the phylogeny of the Apidae using concatenation- and coalescent-based methods, and critically evaluated the resulting phylogenies in the context of previously published genetic, genomic, and morphological data sets. Our estimated phylogenetic trees are robustly supported and largely congruent with previous molecular hypotheses, from deep nodes to shallow species-level phylogenies. Moreover, the combined approach allows us to resolve controversial nodes of the apid Tree of Life, by clarifying the relationships among the genera of orchid bees (Euglossini) and the monophyly of the Centridini. Additionally, we present novel phylogenetic evidence supporting the monophyly of the diverse clade of cleptoparasitic Apidae and the placement of two enigmatic, oil-collecting genera (Ctenoplectra and Tetrapedia). Lastly, we propose a revised classification of the family Apidae that reflects our improved understanding of apid higher-level relationships. DA - 2019/1// PY - 2019/1// DO - 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.10.012 VL - 130 SP - 121-131 SN - 1095-9513 KW - Phylogenomics KW - Transcriptomes KW - Genomes KW - Ultraconserved elements KW - UCEs KW - Apidae KW - Cleptoparasitism ER - TY - JOUR TI - Invasive plants differentially affect soil biota through litter and rhizosphere pathways: a meta-analysis AU - Zhang, Pei AU - Li, Bo AU - Wu, Jihua AU - Hu, Shuijin T2 - ECOLOGY LETTERS AB - Abstract Invasive plants affect soil biota through litter and rhizosphere inputs, but the direction and magnitude of these effects are variable. We conducted a meta‐analysis to examine the different effects of litter and rhizosphere of invasive plants on soil communities and nutrient cycling. Our results showed that invasive plants increased bacterial biomass by 16%, detritivore abundance by 119% and microbivore abundance by 89% through litter pathway. In the rhizosphere, invasive plants reduced bacterial biomass by 12%, herbivore abundance by 55% and predator abundance by 52%, but increased AM fungal biomass by 36%. Moreover, CO 2 efflux, N mineralisation rate and enzyme activities were all higher in invasive than native rhizosphere soils. These findings indicate that invasive plants may support more decomposers that in turn stimulate nutrient release via litter effect, and enhance nutrient uptake by reducing root grazing but forming more symbioses in the rhizosphere. Thus, we hypothesise that litter‐ and root‐based loops are probably linked to generate positive feedback of invaders on soil systems through stimulating nutrient cycling, consequently facilitating plant invasion. Our findings from limited cases with diverse contexts suggest that more studies are needed to differentiate litter and rhizosphere effects within single systems to better understand invasive plant‐soil interactions. DA - 2019/1// PY - 2019/1// DO - 10.1111/ele.13181 VL - 22 IS - 1 SP - 200-210 SN - 1461-0248 KW - Biological invasions KW - trophic groups KW - nutrient cycling KW - effect size KW - above-belowground interactions KW - plant-soil feedback ER - TY - JOUR TI - Overexpression of a glutathione S-transferase (Mdgst) and a galactosyltransferase-like gene (Mdgt1) is responsible for imidacloprid resistance in house flies AU - Reid, William R. AU - Sun, Haina AU - Becnel, James J. AU - Clark, Andrew G. AU - Scott, Jeffrey G. T2 - PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE AB - ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Neonicotinoids are the largest class of insecticides and are used for control of house fly populations at animal production facilities throughout the world. There have been several reports of neonicotinoid resistance in house fly populations, but identification of the factors involved in resistance has proven challenging. The KS8S3 population of house flies is highly resistant to the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid due to two factors: one on chromosome 3 and one on chromosome 4. RESULTS A comparative transcriptomic approach was used, followed by validation using transgenic Drosophila melanogaster to investigate the genes responsible for resistance in the KS8S3 strain. Overexpression of a microsomal glutathione S‐transferase ( Mdgst ) was identified as the factor likely responsible for resistance on chromosome 3. Resistance on chromosome 4 appears to be due to an unidentified trans ‐regulatory gene which causes overexpression of a galactosyltransferase‐like gene ( Mdgt1 ). No single nucleotide polymorphisms were found that could be associated with imidacloprid resistance. CONCLUSION Identification of the underlying processes that cause imidacloprid resistance is an important first step towards the development of novel and sensitive resistance monitoring techniques. It will be valuable to investigate if overexpression of Mdgst and Mdgt1 are found in other imidacloprid resistant populations. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry DA - 2019/1// PY - 2019/1// DO - 10.1002/ps.5125 VL - 75 IS - 1 SP - 37-44 SN - 1526-4998 KW - Imidacloprid resistance KW - transcriptomics KW - neonicotinoid insecticide KW - glutathione S-transferase KW - galactosyltransferase ER - TY - JOUR TI - Effect of iron limitation on the isotopic composition of cellular and released fixed nitrogen in Azotobacter vinelandii AU - McRose, D. L. AU - Lee, A. AU - Kopf, S. H. AU - Baars, O. AU - Kraepiel, A. M. L. AU - Sigman, D. M. AU - Morel, F. M. M. AU - Zhang, X. T2 - GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA AB - Abstract Most biological nitrogen transformations have characteristic kinetic isotope effects used to track these processes in modern and past environments. The isotopic fractionation associated with nitrogen fixation, the only biological source of fixed nitrogen (N), provides a particularly important constraint for studies of nitrogen cycling. Nitrogen fixation using the ‘canonical’ Mo-nitrogenase produces biomass with a δ15N value of ca. −1‰ (vs. atmospheric N2). If the ‘alternative’ V- and Fe-only nitrogenases are used, biomass δ15N can be between −6‰ and −7‰. These biomass values are assumed to be relatively invariant and to reflect the cellular level expressed isotope effect of nitrogen fixation. However, field and laboratory studies report wide ranges of diazotrophic biomass δ15N (from −3.6‰ to +0.5‰ for Mo-based nitrogen fixation). This variation could be partly explained by the release of dissolved organic N (DON) that is isotopically distinct from biomass. The model nitrogen fixer Azotobacter vinelandii secretes siderophores, small molecules that aid in Fe uptake and can comprise >30% of fixed nitrogen. To test whether siderophores (and other released N) can decouple biomass δ15N from the isotope effect of nitrogen fixation we measured the isotopic composition of biomass and released N in Fe-limited A. vinelandii cultures fixing nitrogen with Mo- and V-nitrogenases. We report that biomass δ15N was elevated under Fe limitation with a maximum value of +1.2‰ for Mo-based nitrogen fixation. Regardless of the nitrogenase isozyme used, released nitrogen δ15N was also 2–3‰ lower than biomass δ15N. Siderophore nitrogen was found to have a slightly higher δ15N than the rest of the DON pool but was still produced in large enough concentrations to account for increases in biomass δ15N. The low δ15N of siderophores (relative to biomass) is consistent with what is known from compound specific isotope studies of the amino acids used in siderophore biosynthesis, and indicates that other amino-acid derived siderophores should also have a low δ15N. The implications for studies of nitrogen fixation are discussed. DA - 2019/1/1/ PY - 2019/1/1/ DO - 10.1016/j.gca.2018.09.023 VL - 244 SP - 12-23 SN - 1872-9533 KW - Nitrogen isotopes KW - Nitrogen fixation KW - Alternative nitrogenase KW - Iron KW - Kinetic isotope effect KW - Siderophore KW - Azotobacter vinelandii ER -