Host plant range of a fruit fly community (Diptera: Tephritidae): Does fruit composition influence larval performance?

Background: Phytophagous insects differ in their degree of specialisation on host plants, and range from strictly monophagous species that can develop on only one host plant to extremely polyphagous species that can develop on hundreds of plant species in many families. Nutritional compounds in host fruits affect several larval traits that may be related to adult fitness. In this study, we determined the relationship between fruit nutrient composition and the degree of host specialisation of seven of the eight tephritid species present in La Réunion; these species are known to have very different host ranges in natura. In the laboratory, larval survival, larval developmental time, and pupal weight were assessed on 22 fruit species occurring in La Réunion. In addition, data on fruit nutritional composition were obtained from existing databases. Results: For each tephritid, the three larval traits were significantly affected by fruit species and the effects of fruits on larval traits differed among tephritids. As expected, the polyphagous species Bactrocera zonata, Ceratitis catoirii, C. rosa, and C. capitata were able to survive on a larger range of fruits than the oligophagous species Zeugodacus cucurbitae, Dacus demmerezi, and Neoceratitis cyanescens. Pupal weight was positively correlated with larval survival and was negatively correlated with developmental time for polyphagous species. Canonical correspondence analysis of the relationship between fruit nutrient composition and tephritid survival showed that polyphagous species survived better than oligophagous ones in fruits containing higher concentrations of carbohydrate, fibre, and lipid. Conclusion: Nutrient composition of host fruit at least partly explains the suitability of host fruits for larvae. Completed with female preferences experiments these results will increase our understanding of factors affecting tephritid host range. (Résumé d'auteur

Using classification and regression tree modelling to investigate response shift patterns in dentine hypersensitivity

BACKGROUND: Dentine hypersensitivity (DH) affects people's quality of life (QoL). However changes in the internal meaning of QoL, known as Response shift (RS) may undermine longitudinal assessment of QoL. This study aimed to describe patterns of RS in people with DH using Classification and Regression Trees (CRT) and to explore the convergent validity of CRT with the then-test and ideals approaches. METHODS: Data from an 8-week clinical trial of mouthwashes for dentine hypersensitivity (n = 75) using the Dentine Hypersensitivity Experience Questionnaire (DHEQ) as the outcome measure, were analysed. CRT was used to examine 8-week changes in DHEQ total score as a dependent variable with clinical status for DH and each DHEQ subscale score (restrictions, coping, social, emotional and identity) as independent variables. Recalibration was inferred when the clinical change was not consistent with the DHEQ change score using a minimally important difference for DHEQ of 22 points. Reprioritization was inferred by changes in the relative importance of each subscale to the model over time. RESULTS: Overall, 50.7% of participants experienced a clinical improvement in their DH after treatment and 22.7% experienced an important improvement in their quality of life. Thirty-six per cent shifted their internal standards downward and 14.7% upwards, suggesting recalibration. Reprioritization occurred over time among the social and emotional impacts of DH. CONCLUSIONS: CRT was a useful method to reveal both, the types and nature of RS in people with a mild health condition and demonstrated convergent validity with design based approaches to detect RS

About the biology of Steraspis infuscata Théry and data on additional species of Steraspis collected in Benin (Coleoptera, Buprestidae)

Four species of Steraspis Dejean, 1883, have been collected in the centre and the north of Benin in West Africa : Steraspis fastuosa Gerstaecker, 1871, Steraspis infuscata Théry, 1908, Steraspis laetitia Curletti, 2011, and Steraspis modesta Kerremans, 1895. One of the goals of these field observations was to increase the knowledge of the biology of these common but localized species. In May 2011, an adult of S. infuscata was discovered inside the taproot of a Combretum collinum Fresen. (Combretaceae) sapling. This well-developed adult was found seven centimeters below the soil surface and ready to emerge. Prior to pupation, the mature larva had cut along the bottom of the taproot, thus facilitating the emergence of the adult.A propos de la biologie de Steraspis infuscata Théry et des références sur d'autres espèces de Steraspis collectées au Bénin (Coleoptera, Buprestidae). Au Bénin, quatre espèces de Steraspis Dejean, 1883, ont été capturées dans le centre et le nord du pays : Steraspis fastuosa Gerstaecker, 1871, Steraspis infuscata Théry, 1908, Steraspis laetitia Curletti, 2011, et Steraspis modesta Kerremans, 1895. Une des finalités de ces observations était d'essayer de mieux connaître la biologie de ces espèces parfois communes mais souvent localisées. En mai 2011, nous avons eu la chance de trouver un adulte de S. infuscata dans le pivot d''un très jeune arbre de Combretum collinum Fresen. (Combretaceae). Parfaitement formé avec les élytres durcis, cet adulte était prêt à prendre son envol. Il était situé à sept centimètres au-dessous de la surface du sol. La larve avait découpé le haut de la racine principale, facilitant ainsi la sortie de l'adulte.Vayssières Jean-François, Bellamy Charles L. About the biology of Steraspis infuscata Théry and data on additional species of Steraspis collected in Benin (Coleoptera, Buprestidae). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 117 (2),2012. pp. 179-185

About the biology of Steraspis infuscata Théry and data on additional species of Steraspis collected in Benin (Coleoptera, Buprestidae)

Four species of Steraspis Dejean, 1883, have been collected in the centre and the north of Benin in West Africa : Steraspis fastuosa Gerstaecker, 1871, Steraspis infuscata Théry, 1908, Steraspis laetitia Curletti, 2011, and Steraspis modesta Kerremans, 1895. One of the goals of these field observations was to increase the knowledge of the biology of these common but localized species. In May 2011, an adult of S. infuscata was discovered inside the taproot of a Combretum collinum Fresen. (Combretaceae) sapling. This well-developed adult was found seven centimeters below the soil surface and ready to emerge. Prior to pupation, the mature larva had cut along the bottom of the taproot, thus facilitating the emergence of the adult.A propos de la biologie de Steraspis infuscata Théry et des références sur d'autres espèces de Steraspis collectées au Bénin (Coleoptera, Buprestidae). Au Bénin, quatre espèces de Steraspis Dejean, 1883, ont été capturées dans le centre et le nord du pays : Steraspis fastuosa Gerstaecker, 1871, Steraspis infuscata Théry, 1908, Steraspis laetitia Curletti, 2011, et Steraspis modesta Kerremans, 1895. Une des finalités de ces observations était d'essayer de mieux connaître la biologie de ces espèces parfois communes mais souvent localisées. En mai 2011, nous avons eu la chance de trouver un adulte de S. infuscata dans le pivot d''un très jeune arbre de Combretum collinum Fresen. (Combretaceae). Parfaitement formé avec les élytres durcis, cet adulte était prêt à prendre son envol. Il était situé à sept centimètres au-dessous de la surface du sol. La larve avait découpé le haut de la racine principale, facilitant ainsi la sortie de l'adulte.Vayssières Jean-François, Bellamy Charles L. About the biology of Steraspis infuscata Théry and data on additional species of Steraspis collected in Benin (Coleoptera, Buprestidae). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 117 (2),2012. pp. 179-185

About the biology of Steraspis infuscata Théry and data on additional species of Steraspis collected in Benin (Coleoptera, Buprestidae)

Four species of Steraspis Dejean, 1883, have been collected in the centre and the north of Benin in West Africa : Steraspis fastuosa Gerstaecker, 1871, Steraspis infuscata Théry, 1908, Steraspis laetitia Curletti, 2011, and Steraspis modesta Kerremans, 1895. One of the goals of these field observations was to increase the knowledge of the biology of these common but localized species. In May 2011, an adult of S. infuscata was discovered inside the taproot of a Combretum collinum Fresen. (Combretaceae) sapling. This well-developed adult was found seven centimeters below the soil surface and ready to emerge. Prior to pupation, the mature larva had cut along the bottom of the taproot, thus facilitating the emergence of the adult.A propos de la biologie de Steraspis infuscata Théry et des références sur d'autres espèces de Steraspis collectées au Bénin (Coleoptera, Buprestidae). Au Bénin, quatre espèces de Steraspis Dejean, 1883, ont été capturées dans le centre et le nord du pays : Steraspis fastuosa Gerstaecker, 1871, Steraspis infuscata Théry, 1908, Steraspis laetitia Curletti, 2011, et Steraspis modesta Kerremans, 1895. Une des finalités de ces observations était d'essayer de mieux connaître la biologie de ces espèces parfois communes mais souvent localisées. En mai 2011, nous avons eu la chance de trouver un adulte de S. infuscata dans le pivot d''un très jeune arbre de Combretum collinum Fresen. (Combretaceae). Parfaitement formé avec les élytres durcis, cet adulte était prêt à prendre son envol. Il était situé à sept centimètres au-dessous de la surface du sol. La larve avait découpé le haut de la racine principale, facilitant ainsi la sortie de l'adulte.Vayssières Jean-François, Bellamy Charles L. About the biology of Steraspis infuscata Théry and data on additional species of Steraspis collected in Benin (Coleoptera, Buprestidae). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 117 (2),2012. pp. 179-185

Transformed hairy roots of Discaria trinervis : valuable tool for studying actinorhizal symbiosis in the context of intercellular infection

Among infection mechanisms leading to root nodule symbiosis, the intercellular infection pathway is probably the most ancestral but also one of the least characterized. Intercellular infection has been described in Discaria trinervis, an actinorhizal plant belonging to the Rosales order. To decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying intercellular infection with Frankia bacteria, we set up an efficient genetic transformation protocol for D. trinervis based on Agrobacterium rhizogenes. We showed that composite plants with transgenic roots expressing green fluorescent protein can be specifically and efficiently nodulated by Frankia strain BCU110501. Nitrogen fixation rates and feedback inhibition of nodule formation by nitrogen were similar in control and composite plants. In order to challenge the transformation system, the MtEnod11 promoter, a gene from Medicago truncatula widely used as a marker for early infection-related symbiotic events in model legumes, was introduced in D. trinervis. MtEnod11::GUS expression was related to infection zones in root cortex and in the parenchyma of the developing nodule. The ability to study intercellular infection with molecular tools opens new avenues for understanding the evolution of the infection process in nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbioses

Wet Chemistry of Spinel Iron oxide Particles

Various properties of spinel iron oxide nanograins are reviewed, illustrating the broad possibilities of wet chemistry for tailoring materials for a wide range of utilizations, from catalysis and sensors to cast magnetic materials