New Records of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from South Australia and Western Australia

Records of Helicoverpa armigera. from pheromone and light traps are presented for areas of South Australia and Western Australia where this agricultural pest has not previously been recognised. Although considerably less abundant than H. punctigera, H. armigera. was recorded at all trap locations in the two states, many of which were in arid inland areas devoid of agricultural crops. A better definition of the distribution of this species may assist in understanding the dynamics of pesticide resistance in populations within the cropping areas

Host plant resistance in grain crops and prospects for invertebrate pest management in Australia: An overview

An integrated pest management (IPM) approach that relies on an array of tactics is adopted commonly in response to problems with pesticide-based production in many agricultural systems. Host plant resistance is often used as a fundamental component of an IPM system because of the generally compatible, complementary role that pest-resistant crops play with other tactics. Recent research and development in the resistance of legumes and cereals to aphids, sorghum midge resistance, and the resistance of canola varieties to mite and insect pests have shown the prospects of host plant resistance for developing IPM strategies against invertebrate pests in Australian grain crops. Furthermore, continuing advances in biotechnology provide the opportunity of using transgenic plants to enhance host plant resistance in grains

伊勢物語の相補的解釈 ―一章段内の部分単位での考察―

Many crops transformed with insecticidal genes isolated from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) show resistance to targeted insect pests. The concentration of Bt endotoxin proteins in plants is very important in transgenic crop efficacy and risk assessment. In the present study, changes in levels of CrylAc protein in the leaves of transgenic Bt oilseed rape (Brassica napus) carrying a Bt crylAc gene under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter were quantified during vegetative growth by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Plants were grown in a glasshouse, sampled at 2, 4, 5 and 6 weeks, and the concentration of CrylAc was quantified in basal, top and previous top leaves. The mean concentration differed between sowing dates when CrylAc concentration was expressed as ng g-1 fresh leaf weight but not when expressed as ng mg-1 total soluble protein. It was demonstrated that CrylAc concentration increased significantly as the leaf aged, while the total soluble plant protein decreased significantly. Levels of CrylAc were therefore higher in leaves at the base of the plants than in leaves close to the growing point. However, even young leaves with very low CrylAc concentrations caused high mortality in the larvae of a CrylAc-susceptible laboratory strain of the diamondback moth. The feeding area of leaves consumed by larvae in vivo and in situ was similar. Leaf damage caused by sampling (i.e. artificially) or by feeding of larvae did not affect the levels of CrylAc in the leaves under the experimental conditions in this study