This investigation was an attempt to replicate and expand previous research which suggested that laterality of electromyographic biofeedback input had a significant effect in lowering frontalis muscle activity. In 1984 Ginn and Harrell conducted a study in which they reported that subjects receiving left ear only audio biofeedback had significantly greater reductions in frontalis muscle activity than those receiving right ear only or both ear feedback. This study was limited to one biofeedback session and subjects were selected based on demonstration of right hand/ear dominance. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the left ear effect reported by Ginn and Harrell could be replicated. Furthermore, the current investigation sought to extend the previous finding to left handed subjects and explore the stability of the effect, if found, by adding a second biofeedback session. Subjects were 96 students recruited from undergraduate psychology classes. They were screened for handedness by the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory which resulted in identification of 48 right handers and 48 left handers. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of four groups consisting of left ear feedback, right ear feedback, both ears feedback, and controls. This resulted in eight conditions. Analysis of variance of microvolt changes from baseline found no statistically significant differences between groups. An examination of the rank order of the data reveal a left ear group performance in the same direction as those reported by Ginn and Harrell (1984).

Tsang, Kwok On. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 147-165). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.i / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.vii / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xiv / LIST OF TABLES --- p.XX / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- "Mikania micrantha, a problematic weed around the world" --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Current situation --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Properties of M micrantha --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Control methods of M. micrantha --- p.6 / Chapter 1.1.3.1 --- Manual removal --- p.6 / Chapter 1.1.3.2 --- Chemical control methods --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.3.3 --- Biological control methods --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2 --- Parasitic plants --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Introduction --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Modes of parasitism --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Biology of Cuscula spp. --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.3.1 --- Seed germination --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2.3.2 --- I lost detection and parasitism --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.3.3 --- Reproduction --- p.19 / Chapter 1.2.3.4 --- Impacts on hosts --- p.21 / Chapter 1.3 --- Previous researches on the control of M. micrantha by cuscuta --- p.23 / Chapter 1.4 --- Research significance --- p.25 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Knowledge gap --- p.25 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Experimental objectives and significance --- p.26 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Thesis layout --- p.28 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- Germination biology of Cuscuta japonica --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- "Cuscuta seeds collection, treatment and storage" --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Imbibition --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Germination --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Emergence --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Germination dynamics --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Statistical analysis --- p.37 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Imbibition test --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Germination test --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Emergence test --- p.42 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Germination dynamic --- p.43 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.44 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Seed dormancy --- p.44 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Germination requirements --- p.48 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Emergence ability --- p.51 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Germination dynamics --- p.52 / Chapter 2.5 --- Conclusions --- p.54 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- Life cycle of C. japonica --- p.55 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.55 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.57 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Site description --- p.57 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Data collection --- p.62 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.64 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.71 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Life cycle of C. japonica in Dragon's Back and its implication --- p.71 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Life cycle of (\ japonica in Shan Tong Road and Yau King Lane --- p.74 / Chapter 3.5 --- Conclusions --- p.80 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- Effect of infestation by C. japonica and C. campcstris on the growth of M. micrantha --- p.82 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.82 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.84 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Sites description --- p.84 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Plant materials --- p.85 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Infestation --- p.86 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Harvest of plant materials --- p.87 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Chlorophyll extraction and concentration determination --- p.87 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Measurements --- p.88 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Statistical analysis --- p.89 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.89 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- "Changes in length of stem, leaf size and number of leaves" --- p.89 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Changes in biomass of hosts and parasites --- p.94 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Changes in the chlorophyll concentration --- p.97 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.99 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Cuscuta as a strong sink to the host --- p.99 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Growth of cuscuta and comparison of its influence on M micrantha --- p.104 / Chapter 4.5 --- Conclusions --- p.106 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- Effect of C. japonica infestation on the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes of M. micrantha --- p.107 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.107 / Chapter 5.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.110 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Plant materials --- p.110 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Infestation --- p.111 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Harvest of plant materials --- p.111 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Measurement of enzyme activity --- p.112 / Chapter 5.2.4.1 --- Reagent preparation --- p.112 / Chapter 5.2.4.2 --- Extraction method --- p.112 / Chapter 5.2.4.3 --- Enzyme activity determination --- p.113 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results --- p.115 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- SOD activity --- p.115 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- CAT activity --- p.116 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- POD activity --- p.117 / Chapter 5.4 --- Discussion --- p.1 19 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Changes in SOD activity --- p.120 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Changes in CAT and POD activity --- p.122 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- Effects and implications of the changes in the activities of the anti-oxidative enzymes --- p.123 / Chapter 5.5 --- Conclusions --- p.124 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- Host range of C. japonica --- p.126 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.126 / Chapter 6.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.130 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Field study --- p.130 / Chapter 6.2.1.1 --- Site description --- p.130 / Chapter 6.2.2.2 --- Data collection --- p.130 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Greenhouse study --- p.131 / Chapter 6.2.2.1 --- Site description --- p.131 / Chapter 6.2.2.2 --- Plants selection --- p.131 / Chapter 6.2.2.3 --- Experimental setup --- p.132 / Chapter 6.2.2.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.133 / Chapter 6.3 --- Results --- p.133 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Field study --- p.133 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Greenhouse study --- p.137 / Chapter 6.4 --- Discussion --- p.138 / Chapter 6.4.1 --- Field study --- p.138 / Chapter 6.4.2 --- Greenhouse study --- p.140 / Chapter 6.4.3 --- Implications on application --- p.141 / Chapter 6.5 --- Conclusions --- p.143 / Chapter CHAPTER 7 --- General Summary and Conclusions --- p.144 / REFERENCES --- p.147 / APPENDIX A --- p.166 / APPENDIX B --- p.173 / APPENDIX C --- p.176

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 168-198) The horehound plume moth (Wheeleria spilodactylus Curits), an agent introduced to control the invasive weed horehound (Murrubium vulgare L.), was used as a model system to investigate factors believed to influence the successful establishment of an introduced natural enemy. Retrospectively tests the use of generic population viability analysis and decision making tools for determining optimal release strategies for the horehound plume moth in South Australia and to compare outcomes with the emprical data collected during the course of this project

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 168-198) / xiv, 204 leaves ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / The horehound plume moth (Wheeleria spilodactylus Curits), an agent introduced to control the invasive weed horehound (Murrubium vulgare L.), was used as a model system to investigate factors believed to influence the successful establishment of an introduced natural enemy. Retrospectively tests the use of generic population viability analysis and decision making tools for determining optimal release strategies for the horehound plume moth in South Australia and to compare outcomes with the emprical data collected during the course of this project / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Applied and Molecular Ecology, 2002

Licenciatavhandling Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2009. / Härtill 2 uppsatser.

Licenciatavhandling Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2009.

The increasing concerns about chemical pesticides that are environmentally hazardous and the continuous development of resistance by palhogens to chemical pesticides have led to this study. Many studies have shown that some Gram-negative bacteria, such as Pseudomonas flouresens, control plant diseases and promote plant growth. In this study Gram positive bacteria, Bacillus sp., were chosen because of their ability to produce endospores. Endospores can be used in stable, dry formulations. The advantage of using endospores is their ability to survive harsh conditions such as droughts and high temperatures, which give a long shelf life to the biological control agent. Bacillus isolates were recovered from the rhizosphere of 12 different crops, and were subsequently screened in vitro for their antimicrobial activity. Of 130 isolates, 87 exhibited antimicrobial activity against the test organisms: Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium sp., Phytophthora cinnamoni, Fusarium sp., and single representatives of Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria, namely, Erwinia carotovora and Staphylococcus aureus respectively. The Bacillus isolates B77, B81 and B69 inhibited all the test organisms investigated, which suggests that they produced broad spectrum antimicrobial compounds or more than one antimicrobial compound. Of the isolates that showed antimicrobial activity, 78 of them did not inhibit Trichoderma harzianum K D, which is a registered biological control agent; indicating their potential for combined application. Selected Bacillus isolates were tested for the biological control of R. solani under greenhouse conditions in wheat, cabbage, tomato, maize, and cucumber seedlings. Bacillus isolates were applied as seed treatments, and the inoculated seeds were planted in R. solani infested speedling trays. Shoot dry weight measurement of seedlings indicated that 12 out of 19 Bacillus isolates showed significantly different shoot dry weight in wheat whereas all the isolates tested in tomato and cucumber gave significantly different shoot dry weight. No significantly different shoot dry weight was obtained for maize or cabbage. Seed emergence findings indicated that none of the Bacillus isolates gave significantly different emergence percentage on wheat, cabbage, tomato, and maize but all of them showed significantly different emergence percentage on cucumber. The results indicate that both the pathogen and the biological control agents exhibited varying levels of specificity on each crop tested. The biological control potential of the best Bacillus isolates was tested on bean and maize crops in the field. Green bean and maize seeds were coated with the selected Bacillus isolates and then sown under field conditions. For each isolate, four replicate treatment plots were established, with and without a R. solani inoculum. Percentage emergence, plant survival levels to harvesting and yield of maize cobs and green beans pods were measured. For all parameters measured the positive and negative controls were not significantly different thereby rendering the results for the entire field study inconclusive. However, Bacillus isolates B77, BII, R5 and R7 improved green bean pod yield and Bacillus Isolate B8I increased maize yield, indicating their potentials as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

Biological control of pest Bruchidae may provide an important management strategy against infestation of stored grain legumes, a key source of dietary protein in developing countries. Previous related research has focused on the potential of parasitoids to control bruchids; the role of generalist predators in this application has not yet been extensively explored. / The anthocorid true bug Xylocoris flavipes (Reuter) exhibited a Type II density dependent functional response to five species of adult bruchids. The rate of kill of these large prey was quite low but fairly consistent and female predators were generally more effective. Of the species examined, only the eggs and neonate larvae of A. obtectus were accessible and predation on these stages was high. / Population interaction studies evaluating the effects of predator density and of time elapsed between infestation of commodity and predator addition indicated that adding the predator simultaneously with the pests significantly reduced the number of F$ sb1$, bruchid progeny for all species. Predator density contributed less to bruchid suppression than time of predator addition and bruchid progeny suppression was much greater than anticipated given the rate of kill observed in the functional response experiments. Reproduction by A. obtectus was almost entirely inhibited by the predator. / The high levels of suppression achieved with the predator indicated a significant biological control potential; however, the more fecund bruchid species with inaccessible immature stages continued to produce a large number of progeny. The predator was then combined with larval parasitoids capable of utilizing the internally-developing stages of the bruchids; bruchid suppression was considerably enhanced over the predator alone, and for the most fecund pests, suppression was greater than for the parasitoids alone.

Cucumber root rot caused by Pythium aphanidermatum can be suppressed by introduced plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Preliminary experiments clarified that this root disease could be suppressed by strains of Pseudomonas aureofaciens, P. corrugata, and P. fluorescens. To determine whether the mechanism was a systemic resistance induced by PGPR, a split root technique was employed on greenhouse cucumbers grown in soilless substrates. On the split roots, bacteria which were introduced into one side of the root were completely separated from pathogen challenged-inoculated roots-on the other side of the roots. Results from the series of experiments conducted with this design demonstrated that (i) the resistance against root rot induced by PGPR was systemic, (ii) germination of P. aphanidermatum zoospores was reduced in extracts from bacterized roots compared to non-treated control, and (iii) spread of Pythium mycelia was delayed and zoospore germination was inhibited on the distant induced root, compared to the non-bacterized control. Furthermore, enzyme analysis indicated that phenylalanine ammonia lyase, peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase increased on cucumber roots two days after they were bacterized with Pseudomonas strains 13 or 63--28. When the bacterized roots were challenged with P. aphanidermatum, these plant defense enzymes increased as the symptoms appeared, but this accumulation of enzymes was not any higher on roots induced with each of the Pseudomonas strains compared to the Pythium inoculated control. This enzyme stimulation was also systemically induced by PGPR or P. aphanidermatum on cucumber roots. The patterns of iso-peroxidase induced with the PGPR and P. aphanidermatum treatments were different. High levels of salicylic acid (SA) accumulated in bacteria-induced roots, as well as in pathogen-infected roots, which suggests that SA may be associated with cucumber resistance response. But exogenous application of SA did not induce any systemi

Infection of small ruminants by gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) is a major health concern because they cause substantial economic losses, especially in the tropics and sub-tropics. For many years, control of GIN has been based upon use of anthelmintics. However, there is now a global challange because mutant GIN individuals can tolerate most of the widely used anthelmintics. Therefore, alternative control measures are needed. The objective of the study was to screen a number of plant species for their anthelmintic effects, and to evaluate selected strains of Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) and Clonostachys rosea (Schroers) for activity against sheep GIN. Subsequently, the combined treatments would test a dual control strategy for nematodes by using a combination of plant extracts with biocontrol agents. Ethanol extracts of 25 plant species were screened for their anthelmintic effects against Haemonchus contortus (Rudolphi 1803). Extracts of each plant were used in vitro at various concentrations (10, 20 and 30%) to treat 10 day faecal cultures. Five plants with high efficacies (Ananas comosus L. Merr., Aloe ferox Mill., Allium sativum Linn., Lespedeza cuneata Dum. Cours. and Warburgia salutaris Bertol.f. Chiov) were selected for further investigation, using ethanol, dichloromethane and water extracts at four concentrations (2.5, 5, 10 and 20%). Ethanol was the most effective solvent. Larval counts decreased as a result of increasing extract concentrations. An ethanolic extract of Lespedeza cuneata caused more than 70% mortality at all concentrations. In an in vivo study, the five plants A. comosus, A. ferox, A. sativum, L. cuneata and W. salutaris extracts were compared to a positive Control (Equimax®, a modern anthelmintic based on abamectin and praziquantel). Gender, eggs count (EPG₀) and initial body weights were used in assigning sheep (24 females and 24 males) to six groups. Each group was randomly assigned a treatment. Plant extracts were applied as an oral dose (100 mg kg⁻¹ BW), one dose per week per animal for 42 days (Phase 1). Subsequently, the same sheep were dosed for three consecutive days with the same treatments, keeping them in the same groups (Phase 2). Rectal faecal samples were taken for counting of eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) and L₃ larvae per gram (LPG) in faecal cultures. With application of plant extracts, the EPG count decreased with time (P<0.001), and the impact of the plant extracts increased (P<0.001) with time. Two extracts, from A. comosus and L. cuneata, were the most effective in Phase 1 (58% and 61% reduction of EPG, respectively,), and in Phase 2 (77% and 81% reduction of EPG, respectively). In a study on potential biocontrol agents, two strains of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and one of Clonostachys rosea f. rosea (C. rosea), and compared with a diatomaceous earth (DE) product for their anthelmintic activity in sheep. Bacillus thuringiensis and C. rosea were fed to sheep at a rate of 1g kg⁻¹ BW, and DE was fed at 2% of sheep diet. The biocontrol treatments had no effect on EPG (P>0.05), but reduced GIN larvae per gram (LPG) (P<0.001) in faecal culture. Efficacy varied with time (P<0.001). By Day 7 Bt, C. rosea and DE had caused mortalities of GIN of 75.7, 86.9 and 60.6%, respectively. In addition, the efficacy of feeding 1g kg⁻¹ BW of C. rosea chlamydospores to sheep every day, every second day and every third day was tested. Daily feeding of fungal chlamydospores reduced LPG (a count of 12±1.67 GIN larvae) (P<0.001) more than feeding them the biocontrol agent every second day (39±0.77) or third day (58±1.77). By Day 12, feeding the biocontrol agent to sheep every day, every second day, or every third day caused mortality of GIN larvae of 90, 63 and 49%, respectively. Four dietary levels (treatments) of C. rosea (0.25g (F1), 0.5g (F2), 1g (F3) and control (C) of C. rosea product kg-1 BW) were tested. Treatments were each mixed with a complete diet and fed to sheep once daily for 10 weeks, according to body weights. Increased doses of the biocontrol agent reduced LPG (P<0.001), larval development (LD) (P<0.001), and increased efficacy (P<0.001). On Day 70, F1, F2, F3 and the Control controlled LD by 33.3, 72.3, 89.4 and 2.6%, respectively. Clonostachys rosea was effective in reducing third stage larvae (L₃) on pastures significantly (P<0.001) by Day 63 and Day 70. Ethanolic extracts of A. comosus, A. ferox, A. sativum, L. cuneata and W. salutaris all reduced egg production by GIN parasites of sheep. Feeding sheep cultured chlamydospores of a biocontrol fungus, Clonostachys rosea, reduced counts of nematode larvae in sheep; and 1g C. rosea chlamydospores kg⁻¹ BW daily was enough to reduce nematode infective larvae, therefore reducing the degree of pasture contamination. An initial trial showed that the combination of the two treatments of an A. comosus extract and C. rosea chlamydospores was more effective than either treatment on its own in controlling gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep. A long-term trial is being undertaken currently to confirm this finding. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.