Developing a Phototactic Electrostatic Insect Trap Targeting Whiteflies, Leafminers, and Thrips in Greenhouses.

Our aim was to develop an electrostatic apparatus to lure and capture silverleaf whiteflies (), vegetable leafminers (), and western flower thrips () that invade tomato greenhouses. A double-charged dipolar electric field producer (DD-EFP) was constructed by filling water in two identical transparent soft polyvinyl chloride tubes arrayed in parallel with fixed separation, and then, inserting the probes of grounded negative and positive voltage generators into the water of the two tubes to generate negatively and positively charged waters, respectively. These charged waters electrified the outer surfaces of the opposite tubes via dielectric polarization.

Use of Electric Discharge for Simultaneous Control of Weeds and Houseflies Emerging from Soil.

An electrostatic apparatus was developed to control weeds and houseflies emerging from ground soil in a greenhouse simultaneously. Identical iron plates were placed in parallel at a defined interval and fixed in an iron frame. Two sets of fixed iron plates were used, one for weed control and one for fly control.

Decreased expression of fructosyltransferase genes in asparagus roots may contribute to efficient fructan degradation during asparagus spear harvesting.

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) accumulates inulin and inulin neoseries-type fructans in root, which are synthesized by three fructosyltransferases-sucrose:sucrose 1-fructosyltransferase (1-SST, EC 2.4.

Purification, characterization, and functional analysis of a novel 6G&1-FEH mainly hydrolyzing neokestose from asparagus.

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) accumulates inulin- and inulin neoseries-type fructans. Fructose released by the hydrolysis of fructans is an energy source for emerging asparagus spears.

Application of PCR-denaturing-gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) method to examine microbial community structure in asparagus fields with growth inhibition due to continuous cropping.

Growth inhibition due to continuous cropping of asparagus is a major problem; the yield of asparagus in replanted fields is low compared to that in new fields, and missing plants occur among young seedlings. Although soil-borne disease and allelochemicals are considered to be involved in this effect, this is still controversial. We aimed to develop a technique for the biological field diagnosis of growth inhibition due to continuous cropping.