Showing papers by "Rainer Meyhöfer published in 2012"
TL;DR: It was showed that a complex of thrips is found in the field and its composition varies with crop stage and species and intercropping French bean with other crops compromises on French bean yield but reduces damage to the French bean pods, thereby enhancing marketable yield.
Abstract: The study aimed at determining thrips species composition and thrips population density on French bean planted as a sole crop and as an intercrop with either sunflower, Irish potato, or baby corn, in various combinations. Field experiments were conducted in two seasons to examine: (1) thrips population development and thrips species composition over time, (2) effect of intercrops on thrips population density and natural enemies, and (3) effect of intercrops on French bean yield. The experiments were conducted at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Embu, Kenya in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The thrips population on French beans increased with time. It showed a peak at the flowering stage then started declining when the crops were nearing senescence. French beans hosted four thrips species, Megalurothrips sjostedti (Trybom), Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), and Hydatothrips aldolfifriderici (Karny) (all Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in order of decreasing abundance. The main thrips species on Irish potato and sunflower was F. schultzei. Baby corn hosted only Frankliniella williamsi (Hood) and Thrips pusillus (Bagnall). A monocrop of French bean hosted more thrips than a French bean intercrop mix. Thrips natural enemies such as Orius spp. and Ceranisus spp. were recorded in all crop plants but in especially high numbers on French bean and baby corn, respectively. Plots with French bean alone had about 1.4 times higher yields compared to intercropped plots of French bean with sunflower and French bean with baby corn. However, the percentage of pods that could get rejected on the market due to thrips damage was highest on plots with French bean alone (68 and 63%) and lowest on plots with French bean and baby corn (35 and 37%) in the first and second seasons, respectively. This study showed that a complex of thrips is found in the field and its composition varies with crop stage and species. Intercropping French bean with other crops compromises on French bean yield but reduces damage to the French bean pods, thereby enhancing marketable yield.
57 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that terrestrial gastropods can generally act as seed dispersers of myrmecochorous plants and even substitute myrmicochory, especially where ants are absent or uncommon, and whether experimentally exposed seeds are removed by gastropod.
Abstract: Seed dispersal by ants (myrmecochory) is widespread, and seed adaptations to myrmecochory are common, especially in the form of fatty appendices (elaiosomes). In a recent study, slugs were identified as seed dispersers of myrmecochores in a central European beech forest. Here we used 105 beech forest sites to test whether myrmecochore presence and abundance is related to ant or gastropod abundance and whether experimentally exposed seeds are removed by gastropods. Myrmecochorous plant cover was positively related to gastropod abundance but was negatively related to ant abundance. Gastropods were responsible for most seed removal and elaiosome damage, whereas insects (and rodents) played minor roles. These gastropod effects on seeds were independent of region or forest management. We suggest that terrestrial gastropods can generally act as seed dispersers of myrmecochorous plants and even substitute myrmecochory, especially where ants are absent or uncommon.
35 citations
University of Innsbruck1, University of Thessaly2, Nova Scotia Agricultural College3, Institut national de la recherche agronomique4, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center5, Leibniz University of Hanover6, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada7, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna8, Agricultural Research Service9, University of Queensland10
TL;DR: The aims and scope have been modified to carve out a clear profile for Journal of Pest Science, to publish high-quality papers on all aspects of pest science in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, urban pests, and stored products research, including health and safety issues.
Abstract: Journal of Pest Science covers all aspects of pest control providing it with a broad thematic standing (Traugott and Gross 2008; Traugott 2010). Nevertheless, the team of editors is always keen to shape the journal’s profile, and therefore we have modified the aims and scope to carve out a clear profile for Journal of Pest Science. Our current aims and scope are to publish high-quality papers on all aspects of pest science in agriculture, horticulture (including viticulture), forestry, urban pests, and stored products research, including health and safety issues. Journal of Pest Science reports on advances in control of pests and vectors of diseases, the biology, ethology and ecology of pests and their antagonists, and the use of other beneficial organisms in pest control. The journal covers all noxious or damaging organisms, including arthropods, nematodes, molluscs, vertebrates, plant pathogens, and weeds. Journal of Pest Science devotes special attention to emerging and innovative pest control strategies, including the side effects of such approaches on non-target organisms, for example natural enemies and pollinators, and the implementation of these strategies in integrated pest management. Journal of Pest Science also publishes papers on the management of agroand forest ecosystems where this is relevant to pest control. Papers on technical developments relevant for pest control will be considered as well. Moreover, the journal welcomes commentaries on pressing topics in pest control, as for example the current
3 citations