Curvularia eragrostidis, a causal agent of head blight on the weed (Digitaria sanguinalis), did not cause disease on the turfgrass Festuca arundinacea. Different extracellular esterase isoenzymes were detected in saprophytic and parasitic phases during the fungal germination. The epicuticular waxes of D. sanguinalis were more efficient to induce the secretion of esterases from the fungus than t...

Adult epicuticular hydrocarbon variation of 14 geographically isolated populations of cactophilic Drosophila mojavensis was assessed to further investigate mechanisms of sexual isolation. Hydrocarbon transfer experiments demonstrated that these compounds are part of the mate recognition system in this species. Sixteen of the 23 epicuticular hydrocarbon components studied differed in amounts bet...

Plant non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) constitute large multigene families that possess complex physiological functions, many of which remain unclear. This study isolated and characterized the function of a lipid transfer protein gene, BraLTP1 from Brassica rapa, in the important oilseed crops Brassica napus. BraLTP1 encodes a predicted secretory protein, in the little known VI Cla...

Inclusive fitness theory predicts that members of non-clonal societies will gain by directing altruistic acts towards their closest relatives. Multiple mating by queens and multiple queens creates distinct full-sister groups in many hymenopteran societies within which nepotism might occur. However, the weight of empirical data suggests that nepotism within full-sister groups is absent. It has b...

Street canyons are generally highly polluted urban environments due to high traffic emissions and impeded dispersion. Green infrastructure (GI) is one potential passive control system for air pollution in street canyons, yet optimum GI design currently unclear. This review consolidates findings from previous research on assesses the suitability of different forms terms local quality improvement...