Stalk End Research Articles

Peppermint essential oil enhances the vase life of Dendrobium orchids

To extend the vase life of cut flowers, there is now a trend of using plant essential oils in place of synthetic chemicals, as they are fully biodegradable, more eco-friendly, and safer. The objective of this study was to examine the possible application and postharvest quality effects of three plant essential oils namely, ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), and citronella (Cymbopogon nardus Rendle), as natural vase solution for cut Dendrobium flowers. Peppermint essential oil showed promise as a holding solution for extending the vase life of Dendrobium orchids. To confirm vase life extension, emulsions containing peppermint essential oil at concentrations of 50 and 100 μg mL−1 combined with 4 % glucose to formulate holding solutions applied to Dendrobium orchids. Vase life, some biochemical changes, electrolyte leakage, total microbial count in the holding solution, and physical condition via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were evaluated over a period of 25 days. The three major compounds in peppermint essential oil were identified as menthol (33.24 %), 1-menthone (18.91 %) and menthofuran (14.85 %). The essential oil was applied in emulsion form as a holding solution. Treatment with 4 % glucose and either 50 or 100 μg mL−1 peppermint essential oil prolonged the vase life of Dendrobium orchids to up to 28 days. Scanning electron microscopy on Day 7 showed that the xylem vessels of treated orchids remained clear, suggesting reduced microbial plugging at the stalk end. Similarly, on Day 20, a reduced microbial cell count was observed for treated orchids (<1 log CFU mL−1) in comparison with controls (7.20 ± 0.04 log CFU mL−1). Finally, the essential oil improved flower quality by helping preserve petal membrane stability and petal anthocyanin content. Our results suggest the application of peppermint essential oil as a novel alternative to chemicals used in holding solutions for extending the vase life of Dendrobium orchids.

New integrated evidences reveal male polymorphism and species delimitation in stalk‐eyed fruit flies

AbstractSpecies of stalk‐eyed fruit flies, in the genera Pelmatops Enderlein and Pseudopelmatops Shiraki, have a distinct head structure with eyes located at the ends of stalks, setting them apart from other tephritids. Despite their unique morphology, the intraspecific variation of morphological and behavioural traits in these flies is still not well‐studied, leaving some questions about species definition unresolved. To address this, we conducted a study combining morphological evidence, behavioural studies, and molecular analyses. Our findings revealed male polymorphism in stalk‐eyed fruit flies for the first time, with four morphotypes observed in Pe. fukienensis and three in Pe. ichneumoneus and Ps. angustifasciatus. These morphotypes differ in eyestalk length, wing pattern, and the presence of projections or spikes at the ends of the compound eye. We also propose phylogenetic and phylogeographic implications for the group based on new molecular evidence, along with our observations of courtship and mating behaviours between previously recognized different species. Our study examined four nominal species (Pe. ichneumoneus and Pe. tangliangi, Ps. angustifasciatus and Ps. continentalis) and revealed rich evolutionary interactions within this group. Based on the results, we propose the synonymy of Pe. tangliangi Chen with Pe. ichneumoneus (Westwood) and Ps. continentalis Zia &amp; Chen with Ps. angustifasciatus Zia &amp; Chen.

The First Biological Portrait of Stalk-Eyed Fruit Flies: Life History, Reproductive Biology and Host Use Patterns in Pelmatops spp. (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract The stalk-eyed fruit flies, with their eyes borne at the ends of long stalks, are distinctly different from all other members of the family Tephritidae (Diptera). They resemble stalk-eyed flies (Diptera, Diopsidae) but they are much larger and their antennae are located in the middle of the head instead of on the eye stalks. The stalk-eyed fruit flies are represented by two genera (Pelmatops Enderlein and Pseudopelmatops Shiraki) mainly found in the Oriental tropics and subtropics, but their basic biology remains poorly documented. Here, we describe the life history, reproductive biology, and host use patterns of Pelmatops spp. (mainly P. ichneumoneus (Westwood)). These flies used two local brambles, Rubus setchuenensis and R. multibracteatus (Rosales, Rosaceae), as hosts, with females laying eggs below the epidermal tissue. The larvae bore into the stem, where they feed, eventually dropping to the ground to pupate in the soil. We describe the pupal morphology and eclosion, including the elongation of their eye stalks, feeding, mating, and agonistic behavior in adults. We observed mating between female P. ichneumoneus and male P. tangliangi and tentatively suggest that the two species could be conspecific. Our work presents the first detailed report on the biology of stalk-eyed fruit flies and it lays a significant foundation for future studies on the ecology and evolution of this group.

Effect of Wrapping Materials and Maturity Stages on Postharvest Loss Reduction of Papaya

Papaya fruits are vulnerable to high postharvest losses if harvesting and handling techniques are inappropriate. Therefore, an experiment was conducted in two consecutive years, 2019 and 2020, to assess the effects of wrapping materials and maturity stages on postharvest loss reduction of papaya stored at ambient condition. A factorial combination of four wrapping materials (brown paper, white paper, fiber bag, and control) and three maturity stages (MS2; few yellow streaks from base to stalk end of fruits, MS3; 1/2 ripe, and MS4; 3/4 ripe), using a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications was used to carry out this experiment. The papaya fruits were evaluated for transportation weight loss, bruised fruit percent, physiological weight loss, decay percent, total soluble solids, firmness, and shelf life. The result revealed that wrapping materials significantly affected on the transportation weight loss, percent bruised fruit, decay percent, and shelf life. The stage of maturity had a significant effect on TSS and firmness of the fruit. However, the interaction of wrapping materials and maturity stages had a non-significant effect on all the parameters. Out of the four wrapping materials, brown paper wrapped fruits had the lowest bruised fruit (4.1%), the lowest decay (10.8%), and the highest shelf life (11.8 days), while MS2 showed the minimum bruised fruit (15.1%), decay (21.2%), and shelf life (12.8 days). Fruit harvested at MS2 wrapped with brown paper can reduce postharvest loss and improve shelf life of papaya.

​Influence of Pre-sowing Treatments, Sowing Positions and Age of Stones after Extraction from Fruit on Germination and Vigour of Mango

Background: Mango stones are in general recalcitrant. Moreover, they are available only during April- May months which are the drier parts of the year. So stone germination and plant vigour are very low. Proper seed orientation, age of stones after extraction from fruit and pre-sowing treatments need to be taken into consideration for inducing early germination, boosting growth, enhancing the seedling vigour and reducing the mortality. Methods: The experiment was laid out in factorial completely randomized design with forty two treatment combinations replicated thrice. The treatments were comprised of two sowing positions viz., flat and stalk end up, three age of stones after extraction from fruit, viz., fresh extracted, 10 days and 20 days after extraction and seven pre-sowing treatments viz., 100 ppm GA3, 200 ppm GA3, 1 ppm KNO3, 2 ppm KNO3, cow dung slurry, water, control and their combinations. Result: Stalk end up sowing of freshly extracted stones pre-treated with 200 ppm GA3 for 24 hours recorded better germination and vigour of mango seedlings.

A correlation study of pre-sowing treatments, sowing positions and age of stones after extraction from fruit on germination of mango

The present study was undertaken to assess the correlation relationship between various pre-soaking treatments, sowing positions and age of stone on germination and vigour of mango seedlings. Mango stones of different age groups viz., freshly extracted stones, 10 and 20 days after extraction of pulp were soaked in aqueous solutions of GA3 (100 and 200 ppm), KNO3 (1 and 2 ppm), cow dung slurry, water and control (without treatments) for 24 hours and were sown in flat and stalk end up method. The correlation coefficients indicate the presence of inherent association between various characters under study. The study revealed that the seedling vigour index –I had very high positive and very dependable relationship with germination percentage (r=0.988**) and seedling length (r=0.974**) whereas seedling vigour index-II had very high positive, significant correlation and very dependable relationship with seedling length (0.931**) in case of stalk end up method over the flat method of sowing.

Effects of Various Edge-Curve Types and Rotational Speeds of Disc Blades on Breaking Force and Energy Consumption in the Maize Stalk Chopping Process

HighlightsThe peak breaking force and energy consumption change in maize stalk were predicted by the FEM.A high SADBT reduced the PBFR and PBFS and increased the ECSC.The TRYDB had the most critical effect on the peak breaking force and energy consumption.Abstract. The mechanized retention of stalks is the primary method to avoid open burning. However, the variation in the breaking force and energy consumption in the chopping process of mechanized retention must be clarified. Therefore, based on the finite element method (FEM) and field validation experiments, the effects of various edge-curve types and rotational speeds of disc blades for maize stalk retention on the breaking force and energy consumption were examined. The test indices were the peak breaking force of the rind (PBFR) and stalk (PBFS), energy consumption of stalk chopping (ECSC), and energy transmission efficiency (ETE). The test factors were the spiral disc blade type (Archimedean, logarithmic, and sinusoidal-exponential spiral), slide-cutting angles of the disc blade tip (SADBT, 30°, 40°, 50°, and 60°), rotational speed of the Y-type blade (RSYB, 1400, 1600, 1800, 2000, 2200, and 2400 rpm), and transmission ratio between Y-type and disc blades (TRYDB, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.0). The chopping process was divided into the cutting processes of the initial rind, rind and pith, final rind, and stalk end. The results showed that the SADBT, TRYDB, and RSYB had significant effects on the PBFR, PBFS, ECSC, and ETE. The most influential factor on all test indices was the TRYDB. The RSYB positively affected the PBFR, PBFS, and ECSC. The growth rates of the PBFR, PBFS, and ECSC increased with the TRYDB. The maximum PBFR, PBFS, and ETE values were obtained under an SADBT of 60°, and the maximum ECSC value was obtained under an SADBT of 40°. The difference in energy consumption between the field validation experiment and simulation was less than 10%, which proved the correct results of the FEM simulation. Keywords: Energy consumption, Finite element method, Maize stalk, Peak breaking force, Slide cutting.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of Carboxymethyl Cellulose from Asparagus Stalk End.

Cellulose from Asparagus officinalis stalk end was extracted and synthesized to carboxymethyl cellulose (CMCas) using monochloroacetic acid (MCA) via carboxymethylation reaction with various sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentrations starting from 20% to 60%. The cellulose and CMCas were characterized by the physical properties, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In addition, mechanical properties of CMCas films were also investigated. The optimum condition for producing CMCas was found to be 30% of NaOH concentration for the carboxymethylation reaction, which provided the highest percent yield of CMCas at 44.04% with the highest degree of substitution (DS) at 0.98. The melting point of CMCas decreased with increasing NaOH concentrations. Crystallinity of CMCas was significantly deformed (p < 0.05) after synthesis at a high concentration. The L* value of the CMCas was significantly lower at a high NaOH concentration compared to the cellulose. The highest tensile strength (44.59 MPa) was found in CMCas film synthesized with 40% of NaOH concentration and the highest percent elongation at break (24.99%) was obtained in CMCas film treated with 30% of NaOH concentration. The applications of asparagus stalk end are as biomaterials in drug delivery system, tissue engineering, coating, and food packaging.

Effects of Pre-harvest Application of 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on the Postharvest Quality of 'Cavendish' Banana (Musa cavendishii)

Several researches have been conducted to investigate the effect of 1-MCP in bananas, but inconsistencies in the results have been reported. Additionally, the effectiveness of 1-MCP is governed by various factors, such as cultivar, fruit maturity, concentration, time of exposure, and method of application. In this study, the effect of pre-harvest methods " Stalk End Immersion (SEI), bunch spraying (BS), Combination (SEIBS), and Control” of 1-MCP application was determined by observing the postharvest quality of Cavendish bananas, such as peel yellowing, sensory firmness, visual quality, weight loss, degree of shriveling, fruit finger drop, organoleptic attributes, chemical properties, and disease incidence. Results revealed that pre-harvest 1-MCP (aqueous solution dosage of 400 nL/L) application through SEI and SEI-BS methods significantly retarded the peel color change up to 7 days of storage and prolonged the banana's shelf life for up to 19 days under ambient storage conditions. SEI-BS delayed fruit softening (for 15 days) and maintained visual quality (for 19 days) compared to SEI. Fruits treated with 1-MCP through SEI-BS had lesser accumulated weight loss, lower degree of shriveling, and reduced finger drop incidence compared to BS and SEI methods conducted separately. In terms of cost efficiency, BS had lower cost compared to SEI and SEI-BS methods, while the chemical properties, organoleptic attributes, and disease incidence (crown discoloration, crown rot/mold, and banana anthracnose) failed to show any significant difference among pre-harvest methods.

A new loxosomatid species from the Kuril-Kamchatka trench area: Loxosomella marcusorum sp. n., the first record of hadal Entoprocta

The first hadal entoproct, Loxosomella marcusorum sp. n., is described from the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench (45°57′ N, 152°53′ E). It was collected from depths of 6202–6204 m during the German–Russian deep-sea expedition (KuramBio II) aboard the R/V Sonne to the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench region in August–September 2016 (cruise SO-250). The species is up to 685 μm in length, with 10–12 tentacles, with the latero-frontal budding area located at the level of the bottom of a stomach. The stalk ends with a star-shaped plate. L. marcusorum sp. n. is an epibiont of echiurid Thalassema sp. This is the first record of an entoproct living on the body surface of echiurids. A list of all the described deep-sea loxosomatid entoprocts is provided.

Effect of post shooting application of urea and sulphate of potash at the denavelled, distal stalk end of banana cv. Borjahaji

A field experiment was conducted at farmer's field under on farm trial during 2011-12, in Jorhat district of Assam, to study the impact of post shooting application of urea and sulphate of potash on the improvement of bunch weight of banana cultivar Borjahaji. The denavelled distal stalk end of the bunch was fed with urea, sulphate of potash blended with fresh cowdung soon after the fruit set. The results showed that when the bunch was fed with urea (7.5g), sulphate of potash (7.5g) blended with 500 g fresh cowdung (T 4 ) all the yield attributing characters viz. , length of fingers, weight of fingers of first hand, weight of fingers of last hand, girth of fingers, weight of first hand, weight of last hand and bunch weight were maximum as compared to denavelling and application of cowdung only (T 2 ) and application of urea and cowdung at denavelled distal stalk end (T 3 ). The minimum of all these characters and bunch weight were obtained in control (T 1 ) where male bud was retained till harvest. The results revealed that the nutrients moved from the blend into the bunch and significantly enhanced the weight of fruits and bunch. When the bunch was fed with urea 7.5 g, sulphate of potash 7.5 g blended with cowdung 500 g (T 4 ) the response was 34.77 per cent, 11 per cent and 5.9 per cent increase in weight of bunch over the treatments T 1 , T 2 and T 3 , respectively.

A giant foraminifer that converges to the feeding strategy of carnivorous sponges: Spiculosiphon oceana sp. nov. (Foraminifera, Astrorhizida).

The foraminifer Spiculosiphon oceana sp. nov. is a giant (>4 cm) agglutinated astrorhizid, which makes the second known species of this unusual genus and its first Mediterranean record. It has a peculiar stalked, capitate, monothalamous test. Bleach digestion and X-ray microanalysis indicated the test to be made exclusively of siliceous sponge spicules agglutinated in organic cement. The organism stands on a hollow, 4 cm long, 0.5 cm thick stalk built with highly selected, long and thin spicule fragments, tightly cemented together in parallel to the main axis of the stalk. The proximal end of the stalk is closed and slightly expanded into a bulb-like structure, designed to penetrate between the sand grains and maintaining the test upright while avoiding a permanent attachment to the substratum. The distal stalk end becomes a hollow, globe-like structure that contains the main protoplasm. The globelike region is built with loosely agglutinated and irregularly-shaped spicules, allowing extrusion of the pseudopodia through the cavities between the spicules. The globelike structure also serves as an anchoring basis, from which long and thin, solid tracts protrude radially to make a spherical crown that attains about 4 mm in total diameter. The radiating tracts are built with highly selected aciculate spicule fragments held together with a translucent organic cement. They provide skeletal support for the extension of a crown of pseudopodia into the water column. This arrangement is thought to enhance the chances of the pseudopodia to contact demersal planktonic prey. In summary, Spiculosiphon species collect and arrange sponge spicules with high selectivity to recreate a body morphology that strongly converges to that of some carnivorous sponges, which allows these predatory foraminifera to exploit a prey capturing strategy similar to that of the carnivorous sponges. This idea is also consistent with our report of an additional, yet undetermined, Spiculosiphon species occurring in the same sublittoral Mediterranean cave where carnivorous sponges were first discovered.

Quantificação da divergência genética entre acessos de goibeira por meio da estratégia Ward-MLM

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo quantificar a divergência genética entre 138 acessos de goiabeira procedentes do banco de germoplasma da Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), com base em descritores morfológicos, agronômicos e físico-químicos, por meio do procedimento Ward - Modified Location Model (MLM). Para tanto, foram avaliados 13 descritores, sendo cinco qualitativos (coloração da polpa, superfície do fruto, formato do fruto ao final do pedúnculo, largura do pescoço e uniformidade da cor da polpa) e oito quantitativos (massa média do fruto, diâmetro longitudinal do fruto, diâmetro transversal do fruto, rendimento da polpa, teor de sólidos solúveis totais, acidez do fruto, relação teor de sólidos solúveis totais e acidez do fruto e teor de ácido ascórbico). Detectou-se ampla variabilidade genética pelos dados morfológicos, agronômicos e físico-químicos nos 138 acessos de goiaba. Pelo procedimento da função da verossimilhança, determinou-se oito o número ideal de grupos, com um valor de incremento de 67,51. O grupo III foi considerado o mais distante, enquanto os grupos I, II, IV, V e VI, os mais próximos. O procedimento Ward-MLM é uma ferramenta útil para detectar divergência genética e agrupar os acessos utilizando, simultaneamente, variáveis qualitativas e quantitativas.

The First Permineralized Microsporophyll of the Glossopteridales:Eretmonia macloughliniisp. nov.

Eretmonia du Toit is a microsporophyll genus attributed to the Permian Glossopteridales. Microsporophylls are scale leaves (smaller leaves with morphology similar to that of Glossopteris leaves) that bear clusters of sporangia at the end of stalks attached to the petiole of the sporophyll. Late Permian permineralized specimens of Eretmonia from the central Transantarctic Mountains in Antarctica reveal the first anatomical information of the genus. Numerous veins run the length of the petiole and alternate with large canals/air spaces; the veins and canals are separated by increasing amounts of parenchyma. The ground tissue of the leaves is composed of isodiametric parenchyma of varying diameters. Beneath the epidermis is a hypodermis two to three layers thick. Pollen sac walls are a single layer thick with a tapered apex and bulbous base. The simplicity of the bisaccate pollen grains does not suggest a specialized form of pollination but rather that the glossopterids were wind pollinated.

Effect of Seed Pre-Treatment and Sowing Orientation on Germination of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. Seeds

Seeds of Balanites aegyptiaca stored for one year were germinated using cold and boiling water pre-treatments and different sowing orientations. Whole fruits were soaked in cold water for (18, 24 and 48 hours, respectively), while extracted sun dried seeds were immersed in boiling water for 7 minutes. Seeds of each treatment were sown in three orientations (seeds laid vertically with stalk end downwards, seeds laid horizontally and seeds laid vertically with stalk end upwards). The results showed a very high significant difference between treatments and sowing orientations. Soaking for 18 and 24 hours and untreated seeds resulted in higher germination. Also, sowing seeds horizontally or vertically with stalk end downwards had higher germination. The study recommend germinating Balanites seeds, after extraction of seed by soaking of fruits for 18 hours and sowing without germination pre-treatment in horizontal orientation.

Influence of De-Navelling and Stalk-End Nutrient Application on Nutrient Composition of 'Robusta' Banana Fruits

The contents of N, P, Mg, S, Fe and Mn in banana fruit increased significantly due to denavelling from 0.32%, 0.086%, 0.12%, 0.024%, 52 ppm and 4.8 ppm, under 'control' to 0.37%, 0.085%, 0.13%, 0.027%, 59 ppm and 6.7 ppm, respectively. Dipping stalk end of the bunch in fresh cow dung enhanced these above nutrients to 0.40%, 0.086%, 0.14%. 0.028%, 63 ppm and 7.6 ppm, respectively. When cow dung was enriched with ammonium sulphate, the fruits showed 0.50-0.51% of N, 0.081-0.090% of P, 0.16-0.23% of Mg, 0.032-0.040% of S, 59-111 ppm of Fe and 8.1-17.8 ppm of Mn. Addition of potassium sulphate further enhanced this effect in respect of K (2.11-2.44%) and Fe (74-115 ppm) in fruit. Increasing level of ammonium sulphate in the blend significantly decreased Ca content of the fruit from 0.24% at 5 g to 0.10% at 25 g. When potassium sulphate was included in the blend, Ca content showed further reduction (0.19% at 5 g to 0.10% at 25g). At 15 g of ammonium sulphate and 7.5 g of potassium sulphate the maximum bunch weight of 27.993 kg was obtained (as against 16.724kg under retention of male bud throughout) corresponding to the enhanced nutrient composition of 2.44% of K, 0.12% of Ca, 0.18% of Mg, 0.033% of S, 115ppm of Fe and 14.9ppm of Mn that may have nutraceutical implications.

Identification of Interacting Hot Spots in the β3 Integrin Stalk Using Comprehensive Interface Design

Protein-protein interfaces are usually large and complementary surfaces, but specific side chains, representing energetic "hot spots," often contribute disproportionately to binding free energy. We used a computational method, comprehensive interface design, to identify hot spots in the interface between the stalk regions of the β3 and the complementary αIIb and αv integrin subunits. Using the Rosetta alanine-scanning and design algorithms to predict destabilizing, stabilizing, and neutral mutations in the β3 region extending from residues Lys(532) through Gly(690), we predicted eight alanine mutations that would destabilize the αIIbβ3 interface as well as nine predicted to destabilize the αvβ3 interface, by at least 0.3 kcal/mol. The mutations were widely and unevenly distributed, with four between residues 552 and 563 and five between 590 and 610, but none between 565 and 589, and 611 and 655. Further, mutations destabilizing the αvβ3 and αIIbβ3 interfaces were not identical. The predictions were then tested by introducing selected mutations into the full-length integrins expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Five mutations predicted to destabilize αIIb and β3 caused fibrinogen binding to αIIbβ3, whereas three of four predicted to be neutral or stabilizing did not. Conversely, a mutation predicted to destabilize αvβ3, but not αIIbβ3 (D552A), caused osteopontin binding to αvβ3, but not fibrinogen binding to αIIbβ3. These results indicate that stability of the distal stalk interface is involved in constraining integrins in stable, inactive conformations. Further, they demonstrate the ability of comprehensive interface design to identify functionally significant integrin mutations.

Chrysosporium guarroisp. nov. a new emerging pathogen of pet green iguanas (Iguana iguana)

Chrysosporium guarroi sp. nov. represented by five strains isolated from cases of dermatomycosis in pet green iguanas (Iguana iguana) in Spain, is described and illustrated. This taxon is characterized by its ability to grow at temperatures from 15 to 37 degrees C and by the presence of arthroconidia and aleurioconidia. The latter are unicellular, smooth, pyriform or clavate, sessile or borne at the ends of narrow stalks. The analysis of the sequences of the D1/D2 and ITS regions confirm the separation of this new species from others of the genus Chrysosporium.

Is a mango just a mango? Testing within-fruit oviposition site choice and larval performance of a highly polyphagous fruit fly

For fruit flies, fully ripe fruit is preferred for adult oviposition and is superior for offspring performance over unripe or ripening fruit. Because not all parts of a single fruit ripen simultaneously, the opportunity exists for adult fruit flies to selectively choose riper parts of a fruit for oviposition and such selection, if it occurs, could positively influence offspring performance. Such fine scale host variation is rarely considered in fruit fly ecology, however, especially for polyphagous species which are, by definition, considered to be generalist host users. Here we study the adult oviposition preference/larval performance relationship of the Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), a highly polyphagous pest species, at the “within-fruit” level to see if such a host use pattern occurs. We recorded the number of oviposition attempts that female flies made into three fruit portions (top, middle and bottom), and larval behavior and development within different fruit portions for ripening (color change) and fully-ripe mango, Mangifera indica L. (Anacardiaceae). Results indicate that female B. dorsalis do not oviposit uniformly across a mango fruit, but lay most often in the top (i.e., stalk end) of fruit and least in the bottom portion, regardless of ripening stage. There was no evidence of larval feeding site preference or performance (development time, pupal weight, percent pupation) being influenced by fruit portion, within or across the fruit ripening stages. There was, however, a very significant effect on adult emergence rate from pupae, with adult emergence rate from pupae from the bottom of ripening mango being approximately only 50% of the adult emergence rate from the top of ripening fruit, or from both the top and bottom of fully-ripe fruit. Differences in mechanical (firmness) and chemical (total soluble solids, titratable acidity, total non-structural carbohydrates) traits between different fruit portions were correlated with adult fruit utilisation. Our results support a positive adult preference/offspring performance relationship at within-fruit level for B. dorsalis. The fine level of host discrimination exhibited by B. dorsalis is at odds with the general perception that, as a polyphagous herbivore, the fly should show very little discrimination in its host use behavior.

Chrysosporium guarroi sp. nov. a new emerging pathogen of pet green iguanas (Iguana iguana)

Chrysosporium guarroi sp. nov. represented by five strains isolated from cases of dermatomycosis in pet green iguanas (Iguana iguana) in Spain, is described and illustrated. This taxon is characterized by its ability to grow at temperatures from 15 to 37 degrees C and by the presence of arthroconidia and aleurioconidia. The latter are unicellular, smooth, pyriform or clavate, sessile or borne at the ends of narrow stalks. The analysis of the sequences of the D1/D2 and ITS regions confirm the separation of this new species from others of the genus Chrysosporium.