Assembly and characterisation of a unique onion diversity set identifies resistance to Fusarium basal rot and improved seedling vigour.

A unique, global onion diversity set was assembled, genotyped and phenotyped for beneficial traits. Accessions with strong basal rot resistance and increased seedling vigour were identified along with associated markers. Conserving biodiversity is critical for safeguarding future crop production.

Study of the spatial variation of the biodegradation rate of the herbicide bentazone with soil depth using contrasting incubation methods.

Vertical and horizontal spatial variability in the biodegradation of the herbicide bentazone was compared in sandy-loam soil from an agricultural field using sieved soil and intact soil cores. An initial experiment compared degradation at five depths between 0 and 80 cm using sieved soil. Degradation was shown to follow the first-order kinetics, and time to 50% degradation (DT(50)), declined progressively with soil depth from 56 d at 0-10 cm to 520 d at 70-80 cm.

Mycorrhization helper bacteria: a case of specificity for altering ectomycorrhiza architecture but not ectomycorrhiza formation.

Mycorrhization helper bacteria (MHB), isolated from phylogenetically distinct ectomycorrhizal symbioses involving Lactarius rufus, Laccaria bicolor or Suillus luteus, were tested for fungus specificity to enhance L. rufus-Pinus sylvestris or L. bicolor-P.

Association of MACE-based insecticide resistance in Myzus persicae with reproductive rate, response to alarm pheromone and vulnerability to attack by Aphidius colemani.

Reproductive success and response to alarm pheromone, both potentially important components of fitness, were assessed using clones of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) to establish associations with insecticide resistance conferred by insensitive modified acetylcholinesterase (MACE). Both traits showed significant trends that were apparently related to this mechanism. MACE forms appeared to reproduce at slower rates than non-MACE forms expressing moderate (R1) levels of another resistance mechanism based on elevated carboxylesterase.