@article {9996, title = {Functional responses of immature stages of Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) to Aphis fabae (Hemiptera: Aphididae)}, journal = {European Journal of EntomologyEuropean Journal of EntomologyEuropean Journal of Entomology}, volume = {108}, number = {3}, year = {2011}, note = {ISI Document Delivery No.: 781SRTimes Cited: 0Cited Reference Count: 37}, month = {Jul}, pages = {391-395}, type = {Article}, abstract = {Functional responses of immature stages of Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (L.) to varying densities of Aphis fabae Scopoli reared on Vicia faba L. were evaluated under laboratory conditions. All larval stages of the predator were starved for 12 h prior to being placed individually for 24 h in plastic containers with different densities of its prey, A. fabae, on potted V. faba plants. Logistic regression analysis of the proportion of aphids consumed as a function of initial density indicated that all larval instars of P. quatuordecimpunctata exhibited a type II functional response when searching for A. fabae on V. faba plants. Attack rates (0.059, 0.057, 0.065 and 0.064) and handling times (6.18, 2.37, 1.06 and 0.44) for first to fourth instar larvae, respectively, were estimated using Holling{\textquoteright}s disc equation.}, keywords = {aphid, Aphidiinae, Aphis, braconidae, Coccinellidae, density, fabae, functional response in larvae, Greece, HOMOPTERA-APHIDIDAE, models, PARASITOIDS HYMENOPTERA, PREDATOR, predator-prey interaction, PREDATOR-PREY SYSTEMS, Propylea quatuordecimpunctata, Seasonal abundance, SEPTEMPUNCTATA}, isbn = {1210-5759}, author = {Papanikolaou, N. E. and Martinou, A. F. and Kontodimas, D. C. and Matsinos, Y. G. and Milonas, P. G.} } @article {9373, title = {Phylogenetic relationships of Greek Apis mellifera subspecies based on sequencing of mtDNA segments (COI and ND5)}, journal = {Journal of Apicultural ResearchJournal of Apicultural ResearchJournal of Apicultural Research}, volume = {50}, number = {1}, year = {2011}, note = {ISI Document Delivery No.: 721EDTimes Cited: 1Cited Reference Count: 51}, pages = {42-50}, type = {Article}, abstract = {Honey bee Apis mellifera L. populations from various areas of Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Slovenia and Turkey, together with a genetically improved commercial strain exported all over the world were studied using sequencing analysis of two mitochondrial regions, the ND5 and the COI gene segments. The aim of this study was to examine the phylogenetic relationships among these honey bee populations, to investigate the existence of gene flow as a result of migratory beekeeping and commercial breeding, and to find out if these subspecies can be discriminated. Seven and eight different haplotypes were revealed for the COI and ND5 gene segments respectively, while the combined data set consisted of twelve different haplotypes. Among the two DNA segments studied, the highest genetic divergence values were observed in COI. In both genes the highest divergence value was among A. m. ligustica colonies and all others. All the phylogenetic trees constructed by Maximum Parsimony, Neighbour-Joining and Bayesian Inference analyses exhibited exactly the same topology for COI and ND5 separately, as well as for the concatenated data set; A. m. ligustica forms the most distinct clade. Our study presents the first comprehensive sequencing analysis of A. mellifera subspecies occurring in Greece and it is the first time that sequencing data from ND5 mtDNA gene segment have been obtained at the population level.}, keywords = {4TH LINEAGE, ALIGNMENT, Apidae, Apis mellifera, genetic diversity, Greece, HONEY-BEE, Hymenoptera, microsatellite, MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA VARIATION, mtDNA, phylogenetic relationships, populations, sequencing, variability}, isbn = {0021-8839}, author = {Martimianakis, S. and Klossa-Kilia, E. and Bouga, M. and Kilias, G.} } @article {5862, title = {Comparative assessment of the field-susceptibility of Sesamia nonagrioides to the Cry1Ab toxin in areas with different adoption rates of Bt maize and in Bt-free areas}, journal = {Crop ProtectionCrop ProtectionCrop Protection}, volume = {30}, number = {7}, year = {2011}, note = {ISI Document Delivery No.: 775YOTimes Cited: 1Cited Reference Count: 36}, month = {Jul}, pages = {902-906}, type = {Article}, abstract = {A three year (2003-2005) field study compared the susceptibility to the Cry1Ab toxin, expressed in Bt maize, of Mediterranean corn borer (MCB) Sesamia nonagrioides populations collected from areas with different adoption rates of Bt maize in Spain with Bt-free areas in Greece. Spain is the only European country where the cultivar Compa CB derived from the event Bt176 was commercially grown, from 1998 to 2005. The large decrease of the titer of the toxin in this cultivar at later growth stages represented the worst-case scenario for resistance development of MCB, since larvae of the second and third generations were exposed to sublethal concentrations of Cry1Ab toxin. Our data revealed that the variation in susceptibility to Cry1Ab for the MCB Spanish field populations analyzed in the three years was very low, with LC(50) values fluctuating between 12 and 30 ngCry1Ab/cm(2), regardless of the region of origin, the type of maize (Bt or non-Bt) and the year. Furthermore, no significant differences were found when comparisons were made with a laboratory population (LC(50) values: 18-26 ng Cry1Ab/cm(2)) or with field populations from Greece (Bt-free areas), which displayed LC(50) values ranging between 22 and 27 ng Cry1Ab/cm(2). Standardizing bioassay protocols proved to be essential for obtaining comparable results. These findings suggest that resistant MCB populations did not evolve in those Spanish maize areas where Compa CB was largely cultivated for eight years, contradicting the expected rapid development of resistance under these unfavourable conditions. Additionally, our results can be used as baseline indices in post-market resistance monitoring programs if Bt maize is introduced in Greece. Further studies should continue, since the insights gained from a resistance monitoring program may help to enhance the durability of Bt maize. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}, keywords = {Bacillus thuringiensis, BACILLUS-THURINGIENSIS TOXIN, BASE-LINE, Bioassay, CRAMBIDAE, crops, EUROPEAN CORN-BORER, inheritance, INSECT RESISTANCE, NOCTUIDAE, nonagrioides, OSTRINIA-NUBILALIS LEPIDOPTERA, populations, Resistance Baseline susceptibility, Sesamia, SUSCEPTIBILITY, transgenic maize}, isbn = {0261-2194}, author = {Farinos, G. R. and Andreadis, S. S. and De La Poza, M. and Mironidis, G. K. and Ortego, F. and Savopoulou-Soultani, M. and Cast{\'a}nera, P.} } @article {2741, title = {Cold tolerance of field-collected and laboratory reared larvae of Sesamia nonagrioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).}, journal = {CryolettersCryolettersCryoletters}, volume = {32}, number = {4}, year = {2011}, note = {ISI Document Delivery No.: 825USTimes Cited: 0Cited Reference Count: 40}, month = {Jul-Aug}, pages = {297-307}, type = {Article}, abstract = {Sesamia nonagrioides Lefebvre (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is considered one of the most destructive pests of corn in the Mediterranean region. The purpose of the present study was to investigate some aspects of the cold tolerance of non-diapausing and diapausing laboratory reared larvae of S. nonagrioides, as well as of field-collected larvae, taking into consideration various parameters, such as supercooling ability, mean lethal temperature and accumulation of cryoprotectant substances, in relation to diapause. Our results provide evidence that S. nonagrioides has limited cold tolerance as it displays a low ability of supercooling. This is strongly supported by the fact that mortality of the individuals occurred after extended exposure to subzero temperatures, equivalent or slightly lower to their mean supercooling point. However, lethal temperatures of diapausing larvae were significantly lower in relation to that of non-diapausing larvae, indicating the existence of a direct link between diapause and cold tolerance. Regarding the role of cryoprotectant substances, accumulation of glycerol seems to be closely related to diapause, in contrast to accumulation of trehalose, which is more related to exposure to low temperatures slightly higher than 0 degrees C. Finally, non-diapausing larvae of different instars displayed a similar ability of supercooling and tolerance to low temperatures as well as accumulation of cryoprotectant substances. The ecological significance of our findings on cold tolerance of this species is being discussed with particular reference to the microclimate observed in northern Greece.}, keywords = {accumulation, BOLLWORM, cold hardiness, COTTON, CRYOPROTECTANTS, diapause, DIAPAUSE TERMINATION, glycerol, HARDINESS, lower lethal temperature, nonagrioides, NONDIAPAUSING PUPAE, OSTRINIA-NUBILALIS, OVERWINTERING LARVAE, Sesamia, supercooling point, TELENOMUS-BUSSEOLAE, TERRESTRIAL ARTHROPODS, trehalose}, isbn = {0143-2044}, author = {Andreadis, S. S. and Vryzas, Z. and Papadopoulou-Mourkidou, E. and Savopoulou-Soultani, M.} }