Transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) lines of two cultivars, Ilam Hardy and Iwa, were developed using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation to transfer a cry1Ac9 gene under the transcriptional control of the CaMV 35S promoter. PCR confirmed the presence of the nptII selectable marker gene in all recovered lines. All ten lines of Ilam Hardy and 14 of 15 Iwa lines were PCR-positive for the cry gene. In greenhouse trials, all Ilam Hardy transgenic lines produced phenotypically normal plants and significantly inhibited larval growth of potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella Zeller). In contrast, only 60% of the Iwa transgenic lines produced phenotypically normal plants, but all lines positive for the cry gene significantly inhibited larval growth. All transgenic lines with a greenhouse appearance equivalent to the nontransgenic controls and improved resistance to potato tuber moth larvae were planted in the field. Three of the ten Ilam Hardy lines and two of the eight Iwa lines retained phenotypically normal appearance in the field and produced tuber yields equivalent to the nontransgenic controls. All five of these transgenic lines significantly inhibited larval growth of potato tuber moth on excised field-grown leaves. A high correlation was established between larval growth indices from the greenhouse and the field. A transgenic line from each cultivar inhibited larval growth by over 40%, and the line derived from Ilam Hardy prevented pupation of all larvae. Southern analysis on these five elite lines revealed that they contained either one or two copies of the cry1Ac9 gene. The amount of Cry protein in all transgenic lines tested was less than 60 ng·g-1 of fresh leaf tissue. A transgenic line from each cultivar was identified with comparable phenotypic appearance and yield to their parent cultivars coupled with high resistance to PTM.

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The effect of pyridine compounds on the capture of thrips was examined in an Auckland New Zealand capsicum greenhouse in 2004 Yellow sticky traps were positioned just above the crop canopy in a rectangular array with 6 traps per compound and 6 control traps 2024 m apart and left for 24 h Most thrips found on traps were Frankliniella occidentalis (>99) Fourteen times more female F occidentalis were captured on traps with methyl isonicotinate or ethyl isonicotinate than on controls Sticky traps treated with methyl 4pyridyl ketone also caught more female F occidentalis than controls (45) Sticky traps with methyl isonicotinate caught more male F occidentalis (up to 52) than controls Ethyl2chloropyridine4carboxylate and ethyl nicotinate did not increase trap catches of either sex The results demonstrated that selected pyridine compounds have the potential to improve trap capture of F occidentalis in a covered crop

Measuring pollen deposition onto stigmas by insects is one technique used to assess pollinator effectiveness but it can be unpredictable and timeconsuming as insects must visit test flowers This study examined whether a measurement of pollen grains from flowervisiting insects could be used to predict pollen deposited on stigmas Individuals were collected from four bee and six fly species as they visited pak choi flowers in commercial and trial seed fields to assess their body pollen Pollen was removed from insects by pressing their bodies (excluding activelycollected pollen on bees hind legs) with a cube of gelatinefuchsin In this study there appears to be a strong correlation between mean estimated pollen counts for each insect species and previously published data recording mean number of pollen grains deposited on stigmas for the same species Therefore the measurement of pollen grains directly from flowervisiting insects shows potential as a quicker and easier technique to assess pollinator effectiveness as insects can be directly collected from flowers

Starch phosphorylation is an important aspect of plant metabolism due to its role in starch degradation. Moreover, the degree of phosphorylation of starch determines its physicochemical properties and is therefore relevant for industrial uses of starch. Currently, starch is chemically phosphorylated to increase viscosity and paste stability. Potato cultivars with elevated starch phosphorylation would make this process unnecessary, thereby bestowing economic and environmental benefits. Starch phosphorylation is a complex trait which has been previously shown by antisense gene repression to be influenced by a number of genes including those involved in starch synthesis and degradation. We have used an association mapping approach to discover genetic markers associated with the degree of starch phosphorylation. A diverse collection of 193 potato lines was grown in replicated field trials, and the levels of starch phosphorylation at the C6 and C3 positions of the glucosyl residues were determined by mass spectrometry of hydrolyzed starch from tubers. In addition, the potato lines were genotyped by amplicon sequencing and microsatellite analysis, focusing on candidate genes known to be involved in starch synthesis. As potato is an autotetraploid, genotyping included determination of allele dosage. Significant associations (p < 0.001) were found with SNPs in the glucan water dikinase (GWD), starch branching enzyme I (SBEI) and the starch synthase III (SSIII) genes, and with a SSR allele in the SBEII gene. SNPs in the GWD gene were associated with C6 phosphorylation, whereas polymorphisms in the SBEI and SBEII genes were associated with both C6 and C3 phosphorylation and the SNP in the SSIII gene was associated with C3 phosphorylation. These allelic variants have potential as genetic markers for starch phosphorylation in potato.

New Zealand pipfruit crops require postharvest fungicides for control of European canker, caused by Neonectria ditissima. Fungicide efficacy trials to protect leaf scars from N. ditissima infections were conducted during autumn 2013 and 2014. Disease control of artificially inoculated leaf scars was achieved by single applications of copper oxychloride and copper oxide, but not copper hydroxide, applied at 4.3, 1.1 and 0.6 kg elemental copper/ ha respectively. Control of leaf scar infections by copper oxide (0.65 and 0.95 kg elemental copper/ha) was similar to control by captan. Leaf scars (0-10 days old) remained susceptible to infections up to 10 days after leaf fall; disease control was achieved by re-distribution of copper and captan fungicides onto new leaf scars. Disease control using copper oxide was consistent and similar to control using captan. The copper product, and concentration of elemental copper, are important for successful control of leaf scar infections by N. ditissima.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) in Lactarius sect. Deliciosi produce valuable edible mushrooms. Market supplies are harvested from natural populations. Sustainable cultivation could increase commercial crop production. The first step in EMF cultivation is the production of host seedlings well-colonised by the target species. The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of vegetative versus spore inoculum for controlled mycorrhizal synthesis between Lactarius and Pinus species native to China. Inoculated seedlings were incubated in a glasshouse for up to 14 months. Mycorrhizae were synthesised, using vegetative inoculum, for 13 distinct combinations of five Pinus and four Lactarius species, 12 of these unprecedented. Spore inoculation was not successful. The successful mycorrhization presented here provides a foundation for establishing mushroom orchards, with L. deliciosus x P. yunnanensis or P. radiata, L. hatsudake x P. yunnanensis or P. tabuliformis, and L. vividus x P. massoniana or P. radiata appearing promising symbionts for cultivation. From 5 months following inoculation, mycorrhizal seedlings underwent extensive insect grazing. Adult forms of Bradysia impatiens were the most frequent insects caught on sticky traps, while their larvae were observed foraging through roots. The control of insects in the nursery will be critical to large-scale production of mycorrhizal seedlings.