Agrochemicals

Apple scab incited by the ascomycete Venturia inaequalis poses a significant threat to apple cultivation, necessitating a reassessment of existing disease management strategies. Attempts to manage apple scab include diverse approaches like developing disease forecasting models and the extensive application of synthetic chemical fungicides. However, the efficacy of these methods is compromised by inconsistencies, environmental concerns, and the pathogen’s resistance, necessitating the exploration of alternative sustainable strategies. Addressing the challenges associated with apple scab management, this review strongly supports a shift towards the integration of biological control agents (BCAs). Emphasising the transformative synergy between BCAs and their bioactive secondary metabolites, we highlight their efficacy in advancing precision disease control through innovative and sustainable solutions. The review effectively presents a strong justification for the integration of BCAs and their by-products into apple scab management, offering insights into associated benefits, risks, and challenges while outlining promising prospects. Ultimately, it is expected to drive the adoption of environmentally conscious practices for effective apple scab management. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of air assistance associated with electrostatic spraying in terms of spray deposition and yield (Experiment 1), and the coverage and droplet density on soybean crops at different working speeds (Experiment 2). The treatments in Experiment 1 corresponded to combinations of electrostatic systems associated with air assistance at three airspeeds (21, 25, and 30 m·s⁻¹) plus a conventional treatment without electrostatic or air assistance. The treatments in Experiment 2 corresponded to three working speeds (3.3, 4.2, and 5.0 m·s⁻¹) with or without the use of an electrostatic system. All applications were performed with a self-propelled sprayer, delivering 75 L·ha⁻¹ with ATR 2.0 nozzles. A blue tracer, detectable as absorbance with a spectrophotometer, was added to the spray solution to evaluate deposition. The results indicate that an air assistance at 21 m·s⁻¹ plus electrostatic system increased the amount of spray deposited on the middle and top leaves of the plants in relation to the conventional system, with yield increments of up to 621 kg·ha⁻¹. The slowest working speed (3.3 m·s⁻¹) combined with air assistance and an electrostatic system provided the greatest spray deposition, droplet coverage, and density on the bottom leaves of soybean crops. Full article

Imidacloprid (IDP) products are applied via soil drenching in the citrus critical root zone (CCRZ) at 0–60 cm soil depth. This study aimed to determine the uptake and leaching of IDP in the CCRZ of a Florida Entisol. The treatments include: (1) a control with no IDP applied, (2) 1.6 g of active ingredient (a.i.) per tree (×2), and (3) 3.2 g a.i. per tree of IDP (×4). The treatments were applied to two trees within each experiment unit, replicated five times, and completely randomized. The IDP concentration in the Entisol was affected by the amount of water received within the sampling intervals. IDP movement in the Entisol was evident for the field trials in Fall 2021 and 2022, irrespective of the treatment. A total of 10 mm of daily irrigation was the major driver of IDP movement in Fall 2021 (September–December 2021), while 11.7 cm of cumulative rainfall plus 10 mm of daily irrigation were the major drivers for IDP in Fall 2022 (November–December 2022). The IDP uptake level by leaves was relatively low probably because of the relatively low temperature and humidity. More applications of IDP did not result in its higher uptake by citrus leaves in the Entisol. Given the persistence of IDP, there is a possibility of leaching, which could potentially contaminate the groundwater, surface water, and non-target organisms. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully manage the use of IDP in citrus production systems to mitigate the unintended environmental impacts. Full article

Pollinators play important roles in providing pollination services, maintaining biodiversity, and boosting crop production. Even though pollinators are essential to the environment and agriculture, their decline has been noted across multiple studies in the recent past. Both natural and anthropogenic factors have contributed to their decline. Much of the focus has been placed on climate change, habitat loss, pests and pathogens, and synthetic pesticides, but relatively little is known about the effects of biopesticides. Biopesticides are biological control agents derived from living organisms and are classified into three groups: microbial, biochemical, and plant-incorporated protectant-based products. Biopesticides are formulated similarly to their synthetic counterparts and are readily available and used within urban and agricultural settings by pest management experts and household residents. The general public and much scientific literature support the prevailing idea that biopesticides are environmentally safe and pollinator friendly in comparison with synthetic versions. However, such generalizations are based on studies with a few key pollinator species and may not be relevant to several other species that provide crop pollination services. Studies focused on native pollinators have shown that some biopesticides have lethal and sublethal effects. Because each biopesticide exhibits varying effects across pollinator species, it could be dangerous to generalize their non-toxicity across taxa and environmental settings. In this article, recent research in this direction is discussed. Full article

The importance of antioxidants has gained much attention due to the increase in the prevalence of various non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular diseases, which occur due to excess reactive species. The widespread use of synthetic antioxidants in the food industry has raised concerns about their potential harmful effects on health. As a result, the utilization of natural antioxidants to preserve food and as a source of dietary antioxidants has gained attention. Essential oils extracted from Apiaceae family plants are an excellent source of antioxidants. In this review, research findings regarding the antioxidant activity of selected Apiaceae family members and their applications are discussed. Full article

Currently, there are no known human biomonitoring studies that concurrently examine biomarkers of dicamba and 2,4-D. We sought to compare biomarkers of exposure to herbicides in pregnant women residing in the US Midwest before and after the adoption of dicamba-tolerant soybean technology using urine specimens obtained in 2010–2012 from the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-be (N = 61) and in 2020–2022 from the Heartland Study (N = 91). Specific gravity-standardized concentration levels for each analyte were compared between the cohorts, assuming data are lognormal and specifying values below the LOD as left-censored. The proportion of pregnant individuals with dicamba detected above the LOD significantly increased from 28% (95% CI: 16%, 40%) in 2010–2012 to 70% (95% CI: 60%, 79%) in 2020–2022, and dicamba concentrations also significantly increased from 0.066 μg/L (95% CI: 0.042, 0.104) to 0.271 μg/L (95% CI: 0.205, 0.358). All pregnant individuals from both cohorts had 2,4-D detected. Though 2,4-D concentration levels increased, the difference was not significant (p-value = 0.226). Reliance on herbicides has drastically increased in the last ten years in the United States, and the results obtained in this study highlight the need to track exposure and impacts on adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Full article

Recent advances in the microbial degradation of persistent organic pollutants have the potential to mitigate the damage caused by anthropogenic activities that are harmfully impacting agriculture soil ecosystems and human health. In this paper, we summarize the pollution characteristics of neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs) in agricultural fields in China and other countries and then discuss the existing research on screening for NNI-degrading functional bacterial strains, their degradation processes, the construction of microbial consortia, and strategies for their application. We explore the current needs and solutions for improving the microbial remediation rate of NNI-contaminated soil and how these solutions are being developed and applied. We highlight several scientific and technological advances in soil microbiome engineering, including the construction of microbial consortia with a broad spectrum of NNI degradation and microbial immobilization to improve competition with indigenous microorganisms through the provision of a microenvironment and niche suitable for NNI-degrading bacteria. This paper highlights the need for an interdisciplinary approach to improving the degradation capacity and in situ survival of NNI-degrading strains/microbial consortia to facilitate the remediation of NNI-contaminated soil using strains with a broad spectrum and high efficiency in NNI degradation. Full article

Herbicide volatility and drift are serious problems for chemical weed control. The extended use of dicamba, especially due to the commercial release of dicamba-resistant crops, revealed many off-target dicamba injury issues for sensitive crops. The objective of the present study is to give information on the chemical properties and volatility of dicamba and highlight some key issues, while a systematic review of the recently reported cases is attempted. Unfortunately, the problem is increasing, with a huge majority of the injuries reported in the USA, but it is also present in many other countries. Several arable, horticultural, and perennial crops suffer from such damage. Specific measures and approaches are suggested in order to quantify, reduce, and prevent such problems, while the training of farmers and stakeholders and further research are certainly required for the optimization of the several alternative options. Full article

Sustainable crop and weed management is among the crucial challenges in the era of the EU Green Deal. The main objective of the present study was to apply an innovative approach for the rapid assessment of herbicide efficacy in maize (Zea mays) crop in four different trials during two years. Weed NDVI values were recorded at two weeks after treatment, while weed biomass and crop yield were also measured. The results revealed significant differences between the several treatments. In many cases, significant effects of herbicide application on the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values and weed biomass were noticed at two weeks after treatment. Moreover, the mixture nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron + mesotrione resulted in high efficacy on the crop yield of all fields. Consequently, our approach can allow for an early prediction of the real field efficacy of several herbicides and thus act as an alert for the farmers in order to choose the most efficient herbicide, avoid applications of low efficacy and reduce the herbicide inputs. Full article

Plant probiotic bacteria are being increasingly used to maximize both the productivity and quality of field crops. Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6 (PcO6) is a plant root colonizer with probiotic activities. This bacterium produces an array of metabolites, including a group of phenazines that are functional in plant protection. The paper reports responses of PcO6 to a nonionic triblock copolymer surfactant, Pluronic F68. This Pluronic exhibits membrane “healing” activity and improves cryopreservation recovery in eukaryotic cells. The product is FDA-approved and is applied as an adjuvant in formulations used in agriculture, medicine, and biotechnology. Growth of PcO6 on lysogeny broth at 25 °C was unhindered by 0.1 and 1.0 g/L F68, reduced at 10 g/L, and with significant inhibition at 100 g/L F68; micelle formation could account for inhibited growth at higher doses. Phenazine production was not changed by F68, whereas the surfactant activity of F68 induced the spread of bacterial colonization on 0.5% agar. Exposure of cells to fluorescein-labeled F68 resulted in intense fluorescence, stable to washing, showing a direct association of the Pluronic with the bacterium. However, neither protection nor harm was found for PcO6 cells suspended in either 0.1% or 1% F68 after three freeze (−20 °C)/thaw cycles. These findings suggest that F68 could be compatible for use in agricultural formulations with little effect on probiotics such as PcO6. Full article

Trichome is a hair-like structure involved in mechanical and chemical defenses of plants against herbivorous insects. Nicotiana benthamiana, a wild tobacco plant, has well-developed glandular trichomes that secrete sugar esters with potent repellent and insecticidal properties. However, there is a lack of information about the effectiveness of trichome extract in the control of plant-sapping insects. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of N. benthamiana trichome exudates on Bemisia tabaci MED (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), a highly destructive insect pest that poses significant threats to both vegetable and ornamental plants globally. First, we determined the host preference and mortality of B. tabaci adults using the choice test and feeding assay towards tomato and N. benthamiana plants. B. tabaci preferred tomato over N. benthamiana plants. Second, we extracted N. benthamiana trichome exudates by washing the leaves with either water or ethanol and evaluated their oral toxicities against B. tabaci adults using a parafilm feeding chamber containing 20% sucrose solution. Oral ingestion of both extracts significantly increased mortality in a concentration-dependent manner. Oral ingestion of ethanol-washed 10% trichome extract caused >60% mortality in B. tabaci adults after 36 h. Third, trichome exudates were concentrated by drying to obtain a powder form, which was more potent in killing whiteflies than the liquid form. Oral ingestion of 1% trichome powder was completely lethal to B. tabaci within 36 h. N. benthamiana trichome exudates are highly toxic to B. tabaci through oral ingestion, suggesting that N. benthamiana can be used as a potential natural pesticide for whitefly management. Full article

Recently, the search for sustainable and environmentally friendly agrochemicals from natural origin is steadily growing. Propolis, a resinous substance collected by honeybees, well known for its diverse biological activities, has attracted the attention of scientists and farmers with its agrochemical potential in the last years. This review article aims to delve into the fascinating world of propolis and its utilization in agriculture. Here, we provide a brief overview of propolis: its chemical composition and the bioactive substances responsible for its biological properties. The effectiveness of propolis in controlling common pests and diseases that affect crops, suppressing postharvest illnesses of fruits and vegetables, stimulating plant defenses and increasing stress resistance, is reviewed. Discussion of the challenges and future perspectives related to the integration of propolis in agriculture is also one of our objectives, including chemical variability, standardization and regulatory considerations. We also focused on the latest research trends and technological advances that promise to unlock the full potential of propolis as a sustainable agricultural tool. Full article

Membrane fractionation with track-etched membranes was used to size-profile the microelement composition of water-extractable soil colloids (WESCs). The aim of the study is the element composition of narrow WESC fractions of typical chernozems in the range of 0.01–10 µm. Micro-/ultrafiltration through a cascade of track-etched polycarbonate membrane filters with pore sizes of 5, 2, 1, 0.8, 0.4, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.03, and 0.01 µm at room temperature was used. ICP–AES using direct spraying of obtained fractions without decomposition was used; Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Si, Sr, Ti, Zn, Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, and S were found. Narrow WESC fractions differ significantly. For macro- and microelements, maximum amounts of Si, Al, Fe, and Ti and their maximum percentages are observed in fractions with sizes above 1 µm, while Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn, K, and S are accumulated more in fractions with sizes below 1 µm. The developed approach provides preparative isolation of a detailed set of narrow WESC fractions in the micrometer–nanometer range. This provides element soil profiles that reveal distinct differences and the individual character of each fraction as well as trends in changes in the mineral matrix and microelement composition with fraction size. Full article

In Benin, synthetic insecticides are the main pest control option used by farmers to protect and enhance their production. However, failures to control the target pests are often observed after application and may be related to agricultural practices or insecticide quality. The present work was designed to assess a rapid, simple, and reliable analytical method for detecting and quantifying the most commonly used insecticides (λ-cyhalothrin and acetamiprid) in Benin. The analytical standard technical grade separation was performed by gradient reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on a C₁₈ stationary-phase column. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of acetonitrile/water using a gradient flow. The flow rates were 1 and 1.4 mL·min⁻¹ for λ-cyhalothrin and acetamiprid, respectively. The analysis times were 15 and 20 min, with retention times of 2.35 and 7.94 min for λ-cyhalothrin and acetamiprid, respectively. Results reveal that most of the surveyed farmers were not educated (70% < Primary School Certificate) and were men (95%). Of the main insecticides applied by farmers, λ-cyhalothrin and acetamiprid were found to be the most technical-grade ones. Furthermore, the analysis of insecticides showed that the concentrations obtained in our study often differed from the ones mentioned on insecticide labels. The proposed method is useful for quantifying insecticides in various technical and commercial formulations with little interference from additives. Full article

Biocontrol agent (BCA) plant protection active substances composed from microorganisms, semiochemicals and substances from natural origins are increasing in Europe, since their entry into force of Regulation (EC) 1107/2009, in number and as a percentage of total active substances. As they are included in the scope of plant protection products (PPPs), this raises the question as to whether they are only substitute active substances, more socially acceptable, sustainable and environmentally preferable, or really another way of managing bioaggressors, pests and diseases. As we have conducted a survey of all active substances listed in all Parts of Regulation EU 540/2011 and compared chemical to BCA active substances, described their evolution and characteristics since 2011 and predicted the global perspective in the future years for both chemical, which are in decline, and BCA AS separately, these works raised the question of whether these BCA AS are a substitution, as is often the case for users, for the previous chemical AS, or whether they are fundamentally different new substances, which clearly obey a new vision of crop protection. This study therefore encompasses all active substances approved at any time in Europe since 2011 for both categories, whether still approved or not. At the end of this assessment, the following conclusion can be drawn: BCA AS are mainly fundamentally different substances from chemical AS, in all the compartments studied. A comparison between BCAs and chemical active substances allowed under (EC) 1107/2009 PPP Regulation is described together with a characterisation of BCA AS listed in EC 540/2011 PPP Regulation. Finally, the specific distinction of BCA vs. chemical active substance profile is analysed. This work allows us to conclude on the evolution of crop protection and the means that must be implemented to face current and new threats. Full article

The global demand for sustainable agricultural practices is increasing, necessitating the preference for fertilizers and organic stimulants with minimal chemical transformation. This study investigates the potential use of Mucuna (Mucuna pruriens sp.) and avocado (Persea americana Mills) seed residues in the cultivation of cherry-tomato crops (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) var. cerasiforme. After extracting L-dopa, the Mucuna ground residual seeds were incorporated into the soil substrate as an edaphic fertilizer. In contrast, the hydrolyzed avocado seed was mixed with water or the nutrient Long Ashton and applied as a foliar biostimulant to cherry plants grown in a greenhouse. We report the nutrients and amino acid content in hydrolysates of the avocado and Mucuna’s residue seeds and experiment with their effect in plants employing a completely blocked random design of eight treatments with four replicates. Data inspection involved analysis of variance, and mean differences were determined using Fisher’s least significant difference test. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed among the treatments regarding the number of flowers (70%), fruits (23%), and dry weight fruits (25%) in favor of those using these seed residues. A second experiment revealed that treatments containing both seed residues slightly increased the °Brix in fruits. This study supports with evidence that residual seeds benefit tomatoes and probably other important plants, contributing to the path to sustainable agriculture. Full article

The unintended loss of glyphosate and P from cropland may pose an environmental risk to downstream water quality and marine ecosystems. Glyphosate and P compete for exchange sites, and since glyphosate is an organophosphate, it reacts similarly to phosphates in soil. The competition for exchange sites between glyphosate and P could lead to an increased risk of loss due to leaching, leading to water quality degradation and harm to aquatic wildlife. The focus of this study was to (i) determine the sorption tendencies of P and orthophosphate in Florida Entisols and (ii) determine the sorption tendencies of glyphosate in Florida Entisols. Adsorption and desorption experiments were performed for both P and glyphosate. The data from the sorption experiments were fitted to linear, Freundlich, and Langmuir models. Orthophosphate-P (ortho-P) was best represented by the linear isotherm. Glyphosate adsorption was best represented by the linear isotherm, and desorption was best represented by both the linear and Freundlich models. Phosphorus and glyphosate sorption and desorption increased with soil depth, likely due to the higher concentrations of Fe and Al with greater depth. These results could improve P and glyphosate application rates when applied in tandem to citrus trees, increasing overall tree health and improving soil quality. Full article

Greek consumers perceive an increased risk of pesticide residues in food. This study examined Greek consumers’ perceptions of the safety of Greek plant-based food compared to those from other EU countries. One-half of Greek consumers believe Greek food is as safe as other European foods, while the other half disagree. According to a principal component analysis and a bivariate logistic regression, several factors, such as the perceived safety of plant foods, education, age, gender, traceability, perceived benefits and risks of pesticides, actual pesticide use, and authoritative information sources, influence this attitude. Authoritative knowledge in this field can reduce risk perception and improve Greek consumers’ attitudes towards food safety. The latent class analysis identified two categories of consumers. The first class receives limited information about pesticides, leading to lower perceived pesticide benefits, higher mistrust of traceability, and concerns about pesticide residues. In contrast, the second class actively searches for information from credible sources, endorses the Greek plant foods safety, acknowledges the pesticide benefits, and trusts traceability. Official information is associated with reduced risk perception. Regulators should consider the impact of sociodemographic and other intrinsic characteristics on individuals’ risk perceptions and prioritise transparency in risk communication strategies. Full article

The short-term intake (ESTI) of pesticide residues in Hungarian consumers was assessed based on 2331 test results obtained during the 2017–2021 monitoring program on frequently analyzed apples, sour cherries, table grapes, peaches, nectarines, peppers, and strawberries (23.5% of all samples taken from 119 crops). The age-specific consumption data were obtained from national food consumption surveys (2009 and 2018–2020). The exposure was characterized by Hazard Quotient and Hazard Index considering the acute reference doses of pesticide residues detected in the samples. When ESTI was calculated with all detected “single” residues and a variability factor of 3.6, recommended for evaluation of monitoring results, the HI only exceeded 1 for children <3 years old eating grapes (1.50–1.81). HI was <1 when any of the six foods were eaten together within one day. Between forty and fifty percent of samples contained 2–23 residues. Though the individual residue concentrations were below the corresponding MRLs, multiple residues being present in one sample resulted in maximum HI values in apples (1.14); grapes (6.57); peaches and nectarines (2.57); strawberries (2.74); and peppers (10.44). Residues with low ARfD values contributed the most. Applying HI is simple, but provides only point estimates; therefore, it should only be used in first-tier risk assessment. Full article