31 Plant Species against Blood Feeding and Disease Vectors Insects: Beyond Anti-Insect Properties, Unvalued Opportunities and Challenges for Health and Sustainability

Plants with bioactive properties are greatly useful in preventing and controlling blood-sucking and disease-vector invertebrates, particularly in developing countries and low-income communities. Their application is a promising alternative to synthetic compounds whose use remains a health, environmental, and economic challenge. However, many are still unknown and unvalued, while others are becoming ignored and threatened. The main objective of this ethnobotanical study is to identify and characterize indigenous and locally grown plants against blood-sucking and disease-vector insects. Salient opportunities and challenges of using these plants are documented and discussed. Semi-structured interviews, using a prepared questionnaire, were conducted with 228 informants. The consensus index (CI) was calculated to analyze the reliability of the collected information. The identified 31 anti-insect plant species belong to 20 botanical families, four morphological categories, and six habitat types. They can be categorized as insecticidal plants (42% of the total), insect repellent (42% of the total), and both insecticidal and insect repellent (16% of the total). More than 54% of these are still abundant in the study area, while about 35.5% have become rare and difficultly accessible. Based on the numerical importance of related anti-insect plant species, the seven targeted blood-sucking insects range in the following decreasing order: Jiggers (16 species) > Fire Ants (9 species) > Flies (8 plants) > Mosquitoes (4 species) > Fleas (2 species) > Bedbugs (1 species) > lice (0 species). The three most commonly used plants, with the highest confirmation indices, are Tetradenia riparia (ICs = 0.712), Eucalyptus globulus subsp. maidenii (ICs = 0.302), and Solanum aculeastrum (ICs = 0.288). The antimicrobial role of many locally grown anti-insect plants and the multiple other associated valorization possibilities are ignored by most informants. Domesticating, propagating, protecting, and promoting the sustainable use of these plants would be an appropriate route for their conservation and continued availability.

Defensive Role of Plant Latex on Insect Pests’ Suppression: A Critical Review

Over 350 million years have passed since the documentation of the first interaction between plants and insects. Numerous plant defense qualities and associated counter-adaptive features have developed as a result of these interactions between insects and plants. These characteristics might be either morphological or biological in nature. One of the most significant and useful biochemical characteristics in plants is latex. Latex has a sticky property due to presence of secondary metabolites in it, which aids in entangling or sealing the mouthparts of small insects. These metabolites also chemically interact with the insects interfering with crucial bodily processes. Plant latex has amazing properties that help protect plants from insects and inhibit them in general. It may be possible to control insect pests in a natural, secure, and long-lasting manner by correctly identifying plant latex with strong insecticidal properties and developing formulations of plant latex.

Different mechanisms underlie similar species-area relationships in two tropical archipelagoes

Despite much research in the field of island biogeography,mechanisms regulating insular diversity remain elusive.Here,we aim to explore mechanisms underlying plant species-area relationships in two tropical archipelagoes in the South China Sea.We found positive plant species-area relationships for both coral and continental archipelagoes.However,our results showed that different mechanisms contributed to similar plant species-area relationships between the two archipelagoes.For coral islands,soil nutrients and spatial distance among communities played major roles in shaping plant community structure and species diversity.By contrast,the direct effect of island area,and to a lesser extent,soil nutrients determined plant species richness on continental islands.Intriguingly,increasing soil nutrients availability(N,P,K)had opposite effects on plant diversity between the two archipelagoes.In summary,the habitat quality effect and dispersal limitation are important for regulating plant diversity on coral islands,whereas the passive sampling effect,and to a lesser extent,the habitat quality effect are important for regulating plant diversity on continental islands.More generally,our findings indicate that island plant species-area relationships are outcomes of the interplay of both niche and neutral processes,but the driving mechanisms behind these relationships depends on the type of islands.

Construction of Plant Expresion Vector Carrying Two Insecticidal Genes and Obtain Insect-resistant Transgenic Tobacco Plants

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Ozone disrupts the communication between plants and insects in urban and suburban areas:an updated insight on plant volatiles

Plant-insect interactions are basic components of biodiversity conservation.To attain the international Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs),the interactions in urban and in suburban systems should be better understood to maintain the health of green infrastructure.The role of ground-level ozone(0_(3)) as an environmental stress disrupting interaction webs is presented.Ozone mixing ratios in suburbs are usually higher than in the center of cities and may reduce photosynthetic productivity at a relatively higher degree.Consequently,carbon-based defense capacities of plants may be suppressed by elevated 0_(3) more in the suburbs.However,contrary to this expectation,grazing damages by leaf beetles have been severe in some urban centers in comparison with the suburbs.To explain differences in grazing damages between urban areas and suburbs,the disruption of atmospheric communication signals by elevated 0_(3) via changes in plant-regulated biogenic volatile organic compounds and long-chain fatty acids are considered.The ecological roles of plant volatiles and the effects of 0_(3) from both a chemical and a biological perspective are presented.Ozone-disrupted plant volatiles should be considered to explain herbivory phenomena in urban and suburban systems.

Relationship between age, size, fecundity and climatic factors in Panax wangianus an endangered medicinal plant in the sacred grove forest of North-East India

Panax wangianus （Syn. Panax pseudoginseng） S. C. Sun （Araliaceae） is a critically endangered, medicinal plant of North-East India. The objective of this study was to determine how plant size affects flowering phenology and to evaluate the effect of climatic factors on flowering, fruiting and seed production. Data on vegetative and repro- ductive characters were monitored from 2016 individuals of Panax wangianus population in Law Lyngdoh, Smit sacred grove in Nongkrem, Shillong, India. Leaflet area was measured by a planimeter. Size variables of both vegetative and reproductive traits in different age classes were measured. Climatic factors were recorded from 2007 to 2009. Age was recorded by counting the number of bud scale scars on the rhizome. Light intensity and relative humidity were measured using a photometer, LiCor Model LI-189 and thermohygrometer respectively. Different climatic variables are correlated with vegetative and reproductive phenological events. Statistical analysis revealed that a strong positive correlation was observed between the age versus vegetative and reproductive characters, except 1%–2% plants showed neoteny. Morphological variations were observed in natural conditions on the basis of the number of prong and carpellate conditions. Phenological status revealed that most of the individuals of the age class 35–50 years and above 50 years contributed the most to flowering, fruiting and seed production. Age class was significant to predict the size of the plant and its reproductive capacity. Climatic factors such as temperature, precipitation and relative humidity show synergistic effect on both the vegetative and reproductive phases in Panax wangianus in the undisturbed Nongkrem sacred grove. The color of flowers of P. wangianus also varied depending upon the sunlight intensity. Therefore, in the view of conservationand management, the age class of 35–50 years and above 50 years is the most important for population sustainability.

Accumulation of cadmium and copper by female Oxya chinensis (Orthopera: Acridoidea) in soil-plant-insect system

One purpose of this research is to present accumulation of cadmium （Cd） and copper （Cu） by female Oxya chinensis （Orthopera： Acridoidea） in a simulated soil-plant-insect ecosystem treated with Cd. Fourth-instar nymphs of O. chinensis had been fed on wheat （Triticurn aestivum） seedlings contaminated with Cd and Cu for one month. In the ecosystem, the Cd concentration in wheat seedlings rose greatly with the increasing of Cd in the soil, but the Cu concentration in wheat seedlings was not found elevated. There was a highly significant difference（P〈0.05） in Cd concentrations of wheat seedlings and not any significant difference（P〉0.05） in Cu concentrations of wheat seedlings. The Cd and Cu concentration in different body part-head, thorax, abdomen, and hind femur, varied under different Cd concentrations in soil. There were significant differences （P〈0.05） in the four parts of Cd and Cu accumulations with all treatments. The order of Cd accumulation was thorax 〉abdomen 〉head 〉hind femur and the Cu was abdomen 〉thorax 〉 head〉hind femur. The results indicated that Cd and Cu were accumulated from the soil to grasshoppers through the plant; that is to say, Cd and Cu in environment could be transported to animal or human via food chain.

Evaluation of cotton germplasm for morphological and biochemical host plant UPdates resistance traits against sucking insect pests complex

Background:Sucking insect pests cause severe damage to cotton crop production.The development of insect resistant cotton cultivars is one of the most effective measures in curtailing the yield losses.Considering the role of morphological and biochemical host plant resista nee(HPR)traits in plant defense,12 cotton genotypes/varieties were evaluated for leaf area,leaf glanding,total soluble sugars,total soluble proteins,total phenolics,tannin and total flavonoids against fluctuating populations of whitefly,thrips and jassid under field conditions.Results:The population of these insects fluctuated during the growing seas on and remained above threshold level(whitefly>5,thrips>(8-10)f or jassid>1 per leaf)during late June and early July.Strong and negative association of whitefly(r=-0.825)and jassid(r=-0.929)with seed cotton yield was observed.Mean population of insects were the highest in Glandless-1 followed by NIA-82 and NIA-M30.NIAB-Kiran followed by NI AB-878 and Sadori were the most resistant,with the mean population of 1.41,1.60,1.66(whitefly);2.24,232,2.53(thrips)and 037,0.31,036(jassid),respectively.The resistant variety NIAB-Kiran showed less soluble sugars(8.54 mg.g^(-1)),soluble proteins(27.11 mg.g^(-1))and more phenolic(36.56 mg.g^(-1))and flavonoids(13.10mg.g^(-1))as compared with the susceptible check Glandless-1.Moreover,all insect populations were positively correlated with total soluble sugars and proteins.Whitefly populations exhibited negative response to leaf gossypol glands,total phenolics,tannins and flavonoids.The thrips and jassid populations had a significant and negative correlation with these four biochemical HPR traits.Conclusion:The ide ntified resistant resources and HPR traits can be deployed against sucking in sect pests'complex in future breeding programs of developing insect resistant cotton varieties.

EFFECT OF COMBINATION METHODS ON INSECT DISINFESTATION AND QUALITY OF PLANT NUTS

Almond, groundnut, pinenut and walnut, were radiated (0.25 kGy) after packing in coloured and clear polyethylene bags (0.04mm) and subsequently stored for 24 weeks at room (16-36℃) and low temperatures (10-20℃). The effect of these treatments on insect infestation and quality was studied. It was observed that radiation (0.25 kGy) treatment in combination with low temperature (10-20℃) completely checked the insect infestation of nuts during 24 weeks of storage. Peroxidation was higher in samples stored at room than at low temperature. Storage period had a marked adverse influence on sensory quality of nuts, however, samples kept at low temperature were comparatively rated higher.

The Potential of Using Indigenous Pesticidal Plants for Insect Pest Control to Small Scale Farmers in Africa

Pesticidal plants are scientifically proven for their effectiveness in controlling insect pests. Their activity is enhanced by active compounds contained, which are known for their repellant and antifeedant potentials to the insects. Use of pesticidal plants by local small scale farmers has been a point of concern following information that majority of farmers do not widely use pesticidal plants despite of an indigenous knowledge that they possess. Improvement of the technologies used by local farmers in previous times, that are easy and effective need to help farmers abstain from the use of synthetic pesticides that are detrimental to the environment and to their own health. This paper reviews the potentiality of pesticidal plants to small holder farmers. It also gives the status of pesticidal plants use, their possible effectiveness against insect pests, persistence as well as the knowledge that indigenous people possess in their use. Again, the paper suggests the need for more instrumental research on practical improvement of indigenous knowledge on the use of pesticidal plants with scientific evidences.

Relationship of late-season ear leaf nitrogen with early- to mid-season plant height of corn

Nitrogen concentration in the ear leaf is a good indicator of corn (Zea mays L.) N nutrition status during late growing season. This study was done to examine the relationship of late-season ear leaf N concentration with early- to mid- season plant height of corn at Milan, TN from 2008 to 2010 using linear, quadratic, square root, logarithmic, and exponential models. Six N rate treatments (0, 62, 123, 185, 247, and 308 kg·N·ha-1) repeated four times were implemented each year in a randomized complete block design under four major cropping systems: corn after corn, corn after soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], corn after cotton [Gossypium hirsutum (L.)], and irrigated corn after soybean. The relationship of ear leaf N concentration determined at the blister growth stage (R2) with plant height measured at the 6-leaf (V6), 10-leaf (V10), and 12-leaf (V12) growth stages was statistically significant and positive in non-irrigated corn under normal weather conditions. However, the strength of this relationship was weak to moderate with the determination coefficient (R2) values ranging from 0.21 to 0.51. This relationship was generally improved as the growing season progressed from V6 to V12. Irrigation and abnormal weather seemed to have adverse effects on this relationship. The five regression models performed similarly in the evaluation of this relationship regardless of growth stage, year, and cropping system. Our results suggest that unlike the relationship of corn yield at harvest with plant height measured during early- to mid-season or the relationship of leaf N concentration with plant height when both are measured simultaneously during early- to mid-season, the relationship of late-season ear leaf N concentration with early- to mid-season plant height may not be strong enough to be used to develop algorithms for variable-rate N applications on corn within a field no matter which regression model is used to describe this relationship.

Analysis of genetic relationships between grain milling quality traits and plant agronomic traits of rice

Since seed and maternal plant are in different generations,the grain milling traits and plant agronomic traits of rice are based on differentgenetic models.Using the genetic modelswhich could estimate covariance componentsbetween two traits with unequal design matri-ces,we analyzed the gentic relationships be-

昆虫分泌物介导的昆虫与植物互作研究进展

昆虫和植物是自然界生物类群中重要的组成部分,在长期进化的过程中形成了复杂的相互作用关系,如植物进化出了复杂的防御策略来抵御昆虫为害,同时,昆虫为了获取更多的生存资源也进化出了更多的适生方式。因此,分析和了解昆虫与寄主植物相互适应的研究进展对害虫的有效防治和抗虫植物的培育具有重要作用。在昆虫与寄主植物互作的研究中,植食性昆虫的口腔分泌物(唾液或反刍液)、卵分泌物、肠道合成物及微生物等作为连接昆虫和植物的中间媒介,其有效成分不仅起着诱导或增强植物防御的作用,而且部分还具有抑制或削弱植物防御的功能,因此,按有效成分发挥的作用,植食性昆虫的口腔分泌物主要可分为激发子和效应子。本文从昆虫分泌物的角度介绍了昆虫钙结合蛋白类、酶类和毒液蛋白类等效应子与脂肪酸氨基酸共轭物类、多肽类和酶类等激发子及其介导植物防御的主要方式,明确了植食性昆虫适应寄主植物防御的不同策略,不仅有助于对昆虫和植物两者互作机制的深入解析,而且为绿色有效防治害虫和植物抗性品种的选育提供新的思路。

结合信息物质的昆虫病原微生物自传播技术研究进展

昆虫病原微生物是害虫综合治理的重要措施,但其防治效果不稳定、速效性差、自然流行慢,因此探索增强昆虫病原生物流行技术是提升其防治效果的重要手段。自传播技术利用昆虫自身传播病原微生物以控制害虫种群数量,该技术提高了昆虫病原微生物在田间的传播效率和精准防控效果,是目前害虫防治具有开发潜力的技术之一。本文阐述了国内外关于结合信息物质的昆虫病原微生物自传播技术研究进展,系统介绍了自传播技术的原理、昆虫病原微生物类群、防治对象和装置等,并对该技术未来发展趋势进行了展望,以期为提高昆虫病原微生物防控害虫效果提供新思路。

不同虫茶及其植物原料的抗氧化作用效果比较

目的比较研究酸枣叶虫茶、茶叶虫茶及其植物原料的体外抗氧化能力。方法采用高效液相色谱法及分光光度法等方法检测酸枣叶、茶叶、酸枣叶虫茶及茶叶虫茶中多酚、总黄酮、咖啡碱、游离氨基酸及可溶性糖含量,并以自由基的清除能力及铁离子还原力作为抗氧化能力的评价指标。结果茶叶中多酚含量最高,显著高于酸枣叶及两种虫茶(P<0.05);酸枣叶中总黄酮、咖啡碱及可溶性糖的含量最高,均显著高于茶叶及两种虫茶(P<0.05),且酸枣叶虫茶不含咖啡碱;茶叶虫茶的游离氨基酸含量最高,显著高于酸枣叶虫茶及植物原料(P<0.05);在抗氧化能力测定中,茶叶对1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼(1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl,DPPH)自由基、羟自由基(·OH)、超氧阴离子自由基(superoxide anion radicals,·O_(2)^(-))、2,2’-联氮-二(3-乙基-苯并噻唑啉-6-磺酸)二铵盐[2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)ammonium salt,ABTS]阳离子自由基的清除能力及铁还原能力最高,均显著高于酸枣叶及两种虫茶(P<0.05),而茶叶虫茶的抗氧化活性最弱。Spearman相关性分析表明,4个样品的DPPH自由基、·OH、·O_(2)^(-)、ABTS阳离子自由基清除能力、铁还原力及抗氧化效能综合指数均与多酚、可溶性糖、游离氨基酸含量的相关系数较高,其与多酚、可溶性糖含量分别呈极显著、显著正相关(P<0.01,P<0.05),与游离氨基酸含量均呈显著负相关(P<0.05)。结论植物原料的抗氧化活性强于虫茶,且酸枣叶虫茶强于茶叶虫茶,多酚、可溶性糖是决定两种虫茶及其植物原料抗氧化活性的重要物质。

番茄两种虫媒传播的重要病毒病研究进展

近年来,番茄黄化曲叶病毒和番茄褪绿病毒对番茄生产造成了巨大的危害,这两种病毒都主要通过烟粉虱传播。本文对番茄黄化曲叶病毒病和番茄褪绿病毒病的扩散趋势、引起这两种病毒病的病原物特性及其发病症状差异、传播这两种病毒的主要媒介昆虫、烟粉虱媒介的危害及其研究概况、烟粉虱生物型的演化及其鉴定方法、烟粉虱和番茄两种病毒的互作以及烟粉虱媒介和番茄两种病毒病的防控等方面进行综述,以期为番茄病虫害的防控提供科学指导。

湖北巴东县野生茶树种质资源遗传多样性及种群结构亲缘关系分析

野生茶树种质资源具有较高的遗传多样性,是开展茶树品种选育的优质基因库。收集了来自湖北省巴东县的26份野生茶树资源,利用简单重复序列(Simple sequence repeat,SSR)分子标记并结合对照栽培型茶树品种对野生茶树资源的遗传多样性及种群结构等进行分析。结果如下:(1)16对引物在供试材料中共扩增得到82个等位位点,每对引物扩增所得的等位基因范围为3~8个,平均检测出等位位点5.12个,有效位点数量3.65个,香农多样性指数平均值1.378。(2)从16对引物中筛选出6个核心引物位点,可对26份野生茶树进行有效检测并鉴别。(3)UPGMA进化树将48份材料分为7个类别,野生茶树与栽培型茶树能通过SSR标记进行有效划分;进一步种群遗传结构分析发现26份野生茶树可分为2个亚群。(4)依据生化成分含量,筛选得出2份高EGCG含量的茶树种质资源及2份适制红茶的茶树种质资源。研究结果显示,巴东野生茶树多样性丰富,种群内部遗传变异高,为进一步保护、开发和利用巴东野生茶树种质资源奠定了基础。

蜜蜂气味结合蛋白与外源性化合物互作机制研究进展

嗅觉是蜜蜂赖以生存和繁殖的主要感官方式,可为蜜蜂外出觅食、躲避天敌、交配等行为提供重要信息,而气味结合蛋白(odorant-binding proteins,OBPs)在其嗅觉感知中发挥着关键作用。探究外界环境中各种化学物质与蜜蜂OBPs之间的相互作用,对于揭示蜜蜂OBPs对不同外源性化合物的结合特性和结合机制具有重要意义。外源性化合物主要包括化学信息物质(信息素和蜜源开花植物挥发物)以及杀虫剂等农用化学品。一方面,化学信息物质与蜜蜂OBPs结合,在维持蜂群稳定、繁殖、觅食、授粉等生理功能中发挥着重要作用;另一方面,杀虫剂与蜜蜂OBPs结合则可能危害蜜蜂嗅觉系统,影响或干扰蜜蜂对环境气味分子的识别。本文综述了蜜蜂OBPs的种类、功能及其与外源性化合物互作机制的研究进展,以期为深入探究蜜蜂OBPs的生理功能、保护蜜蜂免受杀虫剂等化学物质的危害提供参考。

垂直结构对桂西北干热河谷木本植物枝叶关系的影响

【目的】探索桂西北干热河谷木本植物枝叶大小关系在垂直结构上的变化规律,为桂西北干热河谷地区植物保护及植被恢复提供理论依据。【方法】以广西雅长林场天然次生林群落为研究对象,采用单因素方差分析法、标准化主轴估计法和相关分析法,分析不同林层木本植物枝叶的性状大小差异、枝叶性状间的异速生长关系及相关关系。【结果】不同林层木本植物大部分枝叶性状存在显著差异(P<0.05,下同),随着林层的升高,枝条鲜质量、枝条干质量、小枝直径、总叶面积、叶片鲜质量、叶片干质量和叶片干物质含量均呈上升趋势,枝条相对含水量、分梢密度、单叶面积、叶片相对含水量和比叶面积均呈下降趋势。不同林层木本植物小枝横截面积与总叶面积均呈显著正向的异速生长关系,与分梢密度呈显著负向的异速生长关系,均存在共同斜率,且回归方程截距均存在显著差异,说明垂直结构变化未能改变木本植物枝条大小与枝条数量和叶面积的生物量权衡关系,但可显著改变枝叶性状资源配置比例,其中,高林层木本植物单位面积小枝上所支持的小枝数量更少,所支撑的总叶面积更多;相关分析结果表明,垂直结构变化对木本植物枝叶性状间相关性影响显著,相较于上层林,下层和中层林木本植物枝叶性状间的相关性更紧密。【结论】垂直结构变化未对木本植物枝叶性状间的权衡关系产生显著影响,但对枝叶的生物量配置方式影响显著,上层林木本植物单位面积小枝上具有更高的叶面积,而下层林木本植物单位面积枝条上所支撑的小枝数量更多,这是桂西北干热河谷木本植物适应异质环境所采取的生态策略。