Effect of heat waves on embryo mortality in the pine processionary moth.

Extreme climate events such as heat waves are predicted to become more frequent with climate change, representing a challenge for many organisms. The pine processionary moth Thaumetopoea pityocampa is a Mediterranean pine defoliator, which typically lays eggs during the summer. We evaluated the effects of heat waves on egg mortality of three populations with different phenologies: a Portuguese population with a classical life cycle (eggs laid in summer), an allochronic Portuguese population reproducing in spring, and a Tunisian population from the extreme southern limit of T. pityocampa distribution range, in which eggs are laid in fall. We tested the influence of three consecutive hot days on egg survival and development time, using either constant (CT) or daily cycling temperatures (DT) with equivalent mean temperatures. Maximum temperatures (T max) used in the experiment ranged from 36 to 48°C for DT and from 30 to 42°C for CT. Heat waves had a severe negative effect on egg survival when T max reached 42°C for all populations. No embryo survived above this threshold. At high mean temperatures (40°C), significant differences were observed between populations and between DT and CT regimes. Heat waves further increased embryo development time. The knowledge we gained about the upper lethal temperature to embryos of this species will permit better prediction of the potential expansion of this insect under different climate warming scenarios.

Can behavioural differences in Platypus cylindrus (Coleoptera: Platypodinae) from Portugal and Tunisia be explained by genetic and morphological traits?

Platypus cylindrus is an important wood borer of cork oak trees (Quercus suber) in the Mediterranean region, namely Portugal, Morocco and Algeria where its presence has drastically increased in the past few decades. On the contrary, the insect is not a relevant pest in Tunisia. The aim of this work is to analyze morphological and genetic differences among Tunisian and Portuguese populations in order to understand their role in the diverse population dynamics (e.g., aggressiveness) of the insect. The information could be used as a novel tool to implement protective measures. Insects were collected from cork oak stands in Tunisia (Ain Beya, Babouch and Mzara) and Portugal (Chamusca and Crato). Morphological traits of female and male mycangial pits were determined, using scanning electron microscopy but no significant differences were found. Genetic differences were analyzed using nuclear (internal simple sequence repeat polymerase chain reaction) and mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase I (COI)) molecular markers. The results showed a very low level of intraspecific polymorphism and genetic diversity. The alignment of COI sequences showed high percentage of identical sites (99%) indicating a very low variation in nucleotide composition. Other variables related with the ecology of the insect and its associated fungi must be studied for a better understanding of the differences in the insect population's dynamic in Mediterranean countries.

First Report of Diplodia Canker of Cypress Caused by Diplodia pinea f. sp. cupressi on Mediterranean Cypress in Tunisia.

Symptoms of decline were observed on Mediterranean cypress trees (Cupressus sempervirens L.) in Tunisia in 2003 and 2004; disease specimens were vouchered as FIAF 38649. The declining, windbreak trees in the Cap Bon Region were 25 to 30 years old. Severity of symptoms varied among trees. Thus, areas of reddish, withered foliage alternated with areas that were still green. Other trees were completely withered. The bases of withered branches and tree trunks bore slightly sunken cankers with longitudinal bark cracks that oozed drops of resin. When the outer layer of a cankered area was scraped away, dark brown inner bark tissue was seen to extend up to several centimeters around the canker. Cross sections through cankers on trunks and branches revealed extensive darkened, wedge-shaped sectors in the wood. The affected bark bore numerous black pycnidia. Conidia were mostly smooth, ovoid, hyaline, and aseptate; a few were brown with a medial septum. The mean conidial dimensions (n = 100) were 27 × 11 µm; the extreme range was 19 to 31 × 8 to 13 µm. Isolates obtained from affected host tissue and conidia developed mainly floccose colonies that were white, then greyish green, and finally dark gray black on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 25°C. Blackish pycnidial fructifications containing typical conidia were produced after 5 weeks on autoclaved cypress seeds placed on the colonies under light. Pathogenicity was tested using five 3-year-old potted Mediterranean cypress trees. These were inoculated by placing 3-mm-diameter plugs of mycelium of isolate DF IMG86 (DAOM 234788) from the edge of a 15-day-old colony on PDA on 5-mm-diameter wounds made in the bark. The wounds were covered with cotton wool moistened with sterile water and wrapped in adhesive tape. Similar wounds on five control trees received a plug of sterile PDA. Symptoms occurred as early as the third week after inoculation. The leaves first became yellow and then turned amaranth red, after which they progressively withered. Two months after inoculation, cankers were clearly visible at the inoculation site. Isolates from these cankers were morphologically similar to those used for inoculation. The control plants did not show any disease symptoms and their wounds healed normally. Morphological, cultural, and pathological characteristics of the fungus isolated from cypress with decline symptoms were similar to those of the fungus referred to as Diplodia pinea f. sp. cupressi or Sphaeropsis sapinea f. sp. cupressi (1). Identification was confirmed by marker analysis by using intersimple sequence repeat polymerase chain reaction (2). Banding patterns for isolate DF IMG86 were produced using primers HYH(GY)7 and (CAG)5 and were identical to those for Diplodia pinea f. sp. cupressi isolates 94-3 (DAOM 229437) and 95-158 (DAOM 229439) and differed from those obtained for isolates of Diplodia pinea (S. sapinea A group), D. scrobiculata (S. sapinea B group), Botryosphaeria obtusa, and B. stevensii. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this pathogen in Tunisia. The development of D. pinea f. sp. cupressi on cypress windbreaks in the Cap Bon Region may be related to a drought that has afflicted Tunisia for the past 5 years. Reference: (1) Z. Solel et al. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 9:115, 1987. (2) S. Zhou et al. Mycol. Res. 105:919, 2001.

[Evaluation of drug side effects over a year in a cardiology service]. / Bilan des effets indésirables médicamenteux recueillis au cours d'une année dans un service de cardiologie.

An intensive pharmacovigilance survey was carried out over the course of 1 year in cardiology department which revealed 64 reports of adverse drug reactions among 61 hospitalised patients, giving an overall incidence of 2.3%. Most of the patients in whom adverse drug reactions were recorded were elderly and female. The most common adverse events were cardiovascular (72%) and haemorrhagic (9%), and related to drugs given for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. The symptoms originating from drug therapy were dominated by sinus arrhythmias (25 cases), linked to drugs co-administered that have potentially similar cardiac pharmacodynamic effects. Seven cases of "torsades de pointe" were also observed.