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Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024The QuEChERS method was adjusted to determine bifenthrin residues in grapes and grape leaves. Extraction and cleanup procedures were optimized to decrease co-extracted...
The QuEChERS method was adjusted to determine bifenthrin residues in grapes and grape leaves. Extraction and cleanup procedures were optimized to decrease co-extracted materials and enhance the detection of bifenthrin. The method was validated per the European Union (EU) Guidelines criteria. Accuracy ranged from 98.8% to 93.5% for grapes and grape leaves, respectively. Precision values were 5.5 and 6.4 (RSDr) and 7.4 and 6.7 (RSD) for grapes and grape leaves, respectively. LOQs (the lowest spiking level) were 2 and 20 µg/kg for grapes and grape leaves, respectively. Linearity as determination coefficient (R) values were 0.9997 and 0.9964 for grapes and grape leaves, respectively, in a matrix over 1-100 µg/L range of analyte concentration. This was very close to the value in the pure solvent (0.9999), showing the efficiency of the cleanup in removing the co-extracted and co-injected materials; the matrix effect was close to zero in both sample matrices. Dissipation of bifenthrin was studied in a supervised trial conducted in a grapevine field during the summer of 2023 at the recommended dose and double the dose. Dissipation factor k values were 0.1549 and 0.1672 (recommended dose) and 0.235 and 0.208 (double dose) for grapes and grape leaves, respectively. Pre-harvest interval (PHI) was calculated for the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) values of the EU database. Residues of bifenthrin were removed effectively from grapes using simple washing with tap water in a laboratory study. Residues reached the MRL level of 0.3 mg/kg in both washing treatments, running or soaking in tap water treatments for 5 min. Removal from leaves did not decrease residue levels to the MRL in grape leaves.
PubMed: 38931127
DOI: 10.3390/plants13121695 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Endophytic microorganisms represent promising solutions to environmental challenges inherent in conventional agricultural practices. This study concentrates on the...
Endophytic microorganisms represent promising solutions to environmental challenges inherent in conventional agricultural practices. This study concentrates on the identification of endophytic bacteria isolated from the root, stem, and leaf tissues of four plant species. Sixty-one strains were isolated and sequenced by 16S rDNA. Sequencing revealed diverse genera among the isolated bacteria from different species, including , , , and . AR11 and VR24 obtained from the roots of and demonstrated significant inhibition on c.f. mycelial growth. In addition, AR11, AR32, and CR25 exhibited significant activity in phosphatase solubilization, nitrogen fixation, and indole production, highlighting their potential to facilitate plant growth. A comparative analysis of species showed that root isolates from , , and have beneficial properties for inhibiting pathogen growth and enhancing plant growth. AR11 with 100% similarity to , could be considered a promising candidate for further investigation as microbial biofertilizers. This finding highlights their potential as environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides, thereby contributing to sustainable crop protection practices.
PubMed: 38931116
DOI: 10.3390/plants13121684 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Harlequin bug () poses a significant threat to cruciferous vegetable crops, leading to economic losses and challenges in sustainable agriculture. This 2-year field study...
Harlequin bug () poses a significant threat to cruciferous vegetable crops, leading to economic losses and challenges in sustainable agriculture. This 2-year field study evaluated the efficacy of exclusion netting and selected biopesticides in controlling harlequin bug populations in a field-grown broccoli crop. Treatments included an untreated control, industry standards Azera and Entrust, and ProtekNet mesh netting. Additionally, three commercial essential oil treatments including Essentria IC-3, Nature-Cide, and Zero Tolerance were tested along with two bokashi fermented composting products BrewKashi and Oriental Herbal Nutrient (OHN). During both the first and second year of the study, none of the commercially produced essential oil products or bokashi products were effective in controlling harlequin bug or preventing leaf scars. Conversely, ProtekNet consistently provided the highest level of protection against harlequin bugs of all stages as well as leaf damage scars; it also provided the largest broccoli head width and highest yield. Entrust showed similar results compared to ProtekNet, both with the control of harlequin bug life stages and with leaf scars. These findings indicate that both ProtekNet and Entrust are effective organic alternatives for managing harlequin bug on broccoli, while the selected essential oil and bokashi products do not appear to be effective.
PubMed: 38931050
DOI: 10.3390/plants13121618 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Specialized chemicals are used for intensifying food production, including boosting meat and crop yields. Among the applied formulations, antibiotics and pesticides pose... (Review)
Review
Specialized chemicals are used for intensifying food production, including boosting meat and crop yields. Among the applied formulations, antibiotics and pesticides pose a severe threat to the natural balance of the ecosystem, as they either contribute to the development of multidrug resistance among pathogens or exhibit ecotoxic and mutagenic actions of a persistent character. Recently, cold atmospheric pressure plasmas (CAPPs) have emerged as promising technologies for degradation of these organic pollutants. CAPP-based technologies show eco-friendliness and potency for the removal of organic pollutants of diverse chemical formulas and different modes of action. For this reason, various types of CAPP-based systems are presented in this review and assessed in terms of their constructions, types of discharges, operating parameters, and efficiencies in the degradation of antibiotics and persistent organic pollutants. Additionally, the key role of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) is highlighted. Moreover, optimization of the CAPP operating parameters seems crucial to effectively remove contaminants. Finally, the CAPP-related paths and technologies are further considered in terms of biological and environmental effects associated with the treatments, including changes in antibacterial properties and toxicity of the exposed solutions, as well as the potential of the CAPP-based strategies for limiting the spread of multidrug resistance.
Topics: Plasma Gases; Atmospheric Pressure; Environmental Pollutants; Food Industry; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Reactive Oxygen Species; Organic Chemicals
PubMed: 38930977
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29122910 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Naturally occurring substances and their derivatives function as vital resources for pesticides that can be used in fields, such as insecticide production and fungicide...
Naturally occurring substances and their derivatives function as vital resources for pesticides that can be used in fields, such as insecticide production and fungicide development. As a botanical entity displaying multifaceted biological functions, wormwood has received thorough scrutiny across multiple sectors. The insect repellency potency combined with antibacterial and antifungal activities of wormwood position it as a potential candidate for prospective development into eco-friendly chemical pesticides. In this research, Wormwood essential oil was procured via ethanol water under ultrasonic scenarios and subsequently diluted with PEG 400 to formulate green chemical pesticides. The defensive efficacy of this green pesticide on plants was validated through 2 weeks of clustered plant growth experiments. Active constituents that exerted their effects were scrutinized by GC-MS. Furthermore, this green pesticide also displays efficacious effects on the prevention and management of aphids, exhibiting a dose-dependent relationship. 4-terpenol, eucalyptol, carvacrol, and L-borneol were identified by GC-MS as the predominant active constituents in this green chemical pesticide. Wormwood can be leveraged to develop green chemical pesticides, which can protect plants without contaminating the environment.
Topics: Insecticides; Animals; Oils, Volatile; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Cymenes; Green Chemistry Technology; Aphids; Eucalyptol; Camphanes
PubMed: 38930942
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29122877 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024The escalating resistance of agricultural pests to chemical insecticides necessitates the development of novel, efficient, and safe biological insecticides. , a...
The escalating resistance of agricultural pests to chemical insecticides necessitates the development of novel, efficient, and safe biological insecticides. , a vermivorous cone snail, yields a crude venom rich in peptides for marine worm predation. This study screened six α-conotoxins with insecticidal potential from a previously constructed transcriptome database of , characterized by two disulfide bonds. These conotoxins were derived via solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and folded using two-step iodine oxidation for further insecticidal activity validation, such as CCK-8 assay and insect bioassay. The final results confirmed the insecticidal activities of the six α-conotoxins, with Qc1.15 and Qc1.18 exhibiting high insecticidal activity. In addition, structural analysis via homology modeling and functional insights from molecular docking offer a preliminary look into their potential insecticidal mechanisms. In summary, this study provides essential references and foundations for developing novel insecticides.
Topics: Conotoxins; Insecticides; Animals; Molecular Docking Simulation; Conus Snail; Amino Acid Sequence; Peptides; Solid-Phase Synthesis Techniques
PubMed: 38930912
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29122846 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024In this research, with an aim to develop novel pyrazole oxime ether derivatives possessing potential biological activity, thirty-two pyrazole oxime ethers, including a...
In this research, with an aim to develop novel pyrazole oxime ether derivatives possessing potential biological activity, thirty-two pyrazole oxime ethers, including a substituted pyridine ring, have been synthesized and structurally identified through H NMR, C NMR, and HRMS. Bioassay data indicated that most of these compounds owned strong insecticidal properties against , , , and at a dosage of 500 μg/mL, and some title compounds were active towards at 500 μg/mL. Furthermore, some of the designed compounds had potent insecticidal effects against , , or at 100 μg/mL, with the mortalities of compounds , , , , , , , , , , and against , in particular, all reaching 100%. Even when the dosage was lowered to 20 μg/mL, compound also expressed 50% insecticidal activity against , and compounds , , , , , and displayed more than 60% inhibition rates against . The current results provided a significant basis for the rational design of biologically active pyrazole oxime ethers in future.
Topics: Pyrazoles; Oximes; Insecticides; Animals; Drug Design; Structure-Activity Relationship; Ethers; Molecular Structure; Pyridines; Moths
PubMed: 38930832
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29122767 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024The present study provides a comprehensive analysis of the chemical composition of essential oils from species of the genus and their applications. The compiled results... (Review)
Review
The present study provides a comprehensive analysis of the chemical composition of essential oils from species of the genus and their applications. The compiled results highlight the chemical diversity and biological activities of these oils, emphasizing their potential importance for various therapeutic and industrial applications. The findings reveal that essential oils present a variety of bioactive compounds, such as monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, which demonstrate antimicrobial activities against a range of microorganisms, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as yeasts. Furthermore, this study highlights the phytotoxic activity of these oils, indicating their potential for weed control. The results also point to the insecticidal potential of essential oils against a range of pests, showing their viability as an alternative to synthetic pesticides. Additionally, species of the genus have demonstrated promising hypoglycemic effects, suggesting their potential in diabetes treatment. This comprehensive synthesis represents a significant advancement in understanding essential oils, highlighting their chemical diversity and wide range of biological activities. However, the need for further research is emphasized to fully explore the therapeutic and industrial potential of these oils, including the identification of new compounds, understanding of their mechanisms of action, and evaluation of safety and efficacy in different contexts.
Topics: Oils, Volatile; Anti-Infective Agents; Insecticides; Myrtaceae; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Animals; Plant Oils
PubMed: 38930786
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29122720 -
Microorganisms May 2024(1) Background: The mycophagous mite, , was found to feed on entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) in our previous experiments, which seriously impacted the culture and...
(1) Background: The mycophagous mite, , was found to feed on entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) in our previous experiments, which seriously impacted the culture and preservation of fungal strains. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the biological characteristics of the occurrence and damage to EPF. (2) Methods: The mite's growth and development and feeding preference were surveyed by comparative culture and observation; also, optical and electronic microscopies were employed. (3) Results: could survive normally after being fed on seven EPF species, including , , , , , , and . The first four fungi were the mite's favorites with their greater feeding amount and shorter developmental duration. Interestingly, the mite could also feed on and , but this led to the mite's death. After feeding on and , the mites began to die after 24 h, and the mortality rate reached 100% by 72 h. Observation under optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the conidia of and adhered to the mite's surface, but there was no evidence of penetration or invasion. However, dissection observation indicated that the two species germinate and grow within the mite's digestive tract, which implies that generalists with broad-spectrum hosts and the production of destruxins have acaricidal activity toward the mycophagous mites.
PubMed: 38930424
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061042 -
Microorganisms May 2024The genus is renowned for its role in biocontrol and biotechnological applications. The identification of new species within this genus is crucial for broadening our...
The genus is renowned for its role in biocontrol and biotechnological applications. The identification of new species within this genus is crucial for broadening our understanding of its ecological roles and potential utility in sustainable agriculture. This study aimed to characterize a new species of , isolated from soil in eastern China, and to evaluate its bioactivity against (corn moth) and (greater wax moth). We utilized morphological characterization; molecular phylogenetic analysis employing ITS, , and genes; and bioactivity assays to identify and characterize the new species. The newly identified species, sp. nov., displays unique morphological and genetic profiles compared to known species. Bioactivity tests showed that this species exhibits inhibitory effects against and , highlighting its potential in biocontrol applications. By the ninth day at a spore concentration of 1 × 10 spores/mL, the mortality rate of the corn moth and greater wax moth reached 30% to 50% respectively. The discovery of sp. nov. adds to the genetic diversity known within this genus and offers a promising candidate for the development of natural biocontrol agents. It underscores the importance of continued biodiversity exploration and the potential for natural solutions in pest and disease management.
PubMed: 38930423
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061041