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In order to clarify the bioactivity of fluazinam to Fusarium pseudograminearum, the mycelial growth of 86 strains of F. pseudograminearum isolated from various cities in Henan Province from April to May 2022 was determined. The sensitivity baseline was established, and the field control efficacy of fluazinam on Fusarium crown rot (FCR) was determined. The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration of fluazinam on mycelial growth was 20 µg/mL, the effective concentration (EC50) of fluazinam on the mycelial growth of 86 strains was 0.013-0.492 µg/mL, and the average EC50 value was 0.194 µg/mL. The sensitivity of 57 strains (66.3%) was approximately normal distribution, and the average EC50 value of (0.201±0.057) µg/mL was used as the sensitivity baseline of F. pseudograminearum to fluazinam. The sensitivity of strains in the same city was quite different, and the ratio of the maximum and minimum EC50 value was 2.8-36.7. The difference in Luohe was the largest, and the difference in Xuchang was the smallest. There was no significant difference in the sensitivity of strains to fluazinam in different cities. There was no significant correlation between the sensitivity of F. pseudogramine to fluazinam and the geographical origin of the strains in Henan Province. There was no significant correlation between the sensitivity to fluazinam and its sensitivity to carbendazim and tebuconazole. Seed soaking with 500 g/L fluazinam suspension concentrate (SC), the incidence of FCR in Yichuan County and Xin'an County decreased by 45.46% and 56.88%, respectively, at the double ridge stage, and the white spike rate decreased by 8.73% and 13.67%, respectively, at the milky stage. The control efficacy of seed soaking with 500 g/L fluazinam SC against FCR of wheat at the double ridge stage was better, reaching more than 51% in both places. This study laid a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of fluazinam in FCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study designed and synthesized a new drug-loading nanomaterial, the three-armed starshaped polymer compound (TaSPC), and loaded the broad-spectrum fungicide fluazinam to prepare TaSPC/fluazinam nanocarrier particles. The principle and drug-loading performance of TaSPC loading fluazinam were investigated by molecular docking simulation and ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The appearance and particle size changes before and after loading fluazinam onto TaSPC were compared and analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The physicochemical properties of TaSPC and TaSPC/fluazinam were characterized by Zeta potential analysis, contact angle measurement with strawberry leaves, and uptake test with Rhodamine 6G. The in vitro and in vivo inhibitory effects of TaSPC/fluazinam on four plant pathogenic fungi, the toxicity of TaSPC to human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and the toxicity of TaSPC and TaSPC/fluazinam to Apis mellifera ligustica Spin, were determined. The results indicated that TaSPC could spontaneously combine with fluazinam through hydrophobic interaction, with a pesticide loading rate (PLC) of 9%. The particle size of TaSPC/fluazinam was 17.86 nm, which was significantly reduced by 71.4% compared to the original fluazinam (62.46 nm). After loading with TaSPC, the contact angle of the TaSPC/fluazinam droplet on strawberry leaves decreased from 44.08° to 33.60°, a significant reduction of 23.78%. The inhibitory effect of TaSPC/fluazinam on plant pathogenic fungi was significantly enhanced compared to the original fluazinam. Among them, the inhibitory activity against Botrytis cinerea was the highest, with an inhibition rate of 75% at a dose of 0.2 mg/L, an increase of nearly 60% compared to the original fluazinam. Within a reasonable application range, TaSPC had low cytotoxicity, and both TaSPC and TaSPC/fluazinam had low toxicity to pollinating bees. The study demonstrated that TaSPC is a significant benchmark for the development of efficient and low-toxicity nanocarrier materials and the reduction of pesticide use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium head blight (FHB), predominately caused by ascomycete Fusarium graminearum sensu stricto, is a devastating fungal disease of cereal crops worldwide. In this study, baseline sensitivity of F. graminearum s. str. to fluazinam was established using 100 isolates that were collected from Anhui and Jiangsu provinces of China in 2009 and 2018. The EC50 values of fluazinam on mycelial growth inhibition ranged from 0.0211 to 0.1097 μg/mL and the mean EC50 was 0.0601 ± 0.0191 μg/mL, which indicated that fluazinam had a strong inhibitory effect on mycelial growth of F. graminearum s. str. To acquire fluazinam‐resistant (FluR) mutants, one wild‐type strain (PH‐1, with assembled genome) and another four fluazinam‐sensitive (FluS) isolates randomly selected from the above‐mentioned population were domesticated with fluazinam or mutagenized by ultraviolet light in vitro. As a result, 45 FluR mutants were obtained with resistance frequencies of 0.68% (domestication) and 8 in 10−8 (mutagenesis), respectively. Of the 45 FluR mutants, 11 were selected to determine the biological fitness. Based on data of radial mycelial growth, asexual and sexual reproduction, response to environmental stresses, pathogenicity and deoxynivalenol production, all the tested mutants suffered from a fitness penalty. Additionally, slightly positive cross‐resistance was observed between the combination of fluazinam and tebuconazole, pyraclostrobin, or pydiflumetofen, but not phenamacril or carbendazim. Therefore, a low‐to‐moderate risk of development of F. graminearum s. str. resistant to fluazinam was suggested, indicating that fluazinam could be a good alternative fungicide against the FHB in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the mid‐2010s, Phytophthora infestans clones that have been dominant in Western Europe from the beginning of the 21st century, for example, EU_13_A2, EU_6_A1 and EU_1_A1, are being replaced by several other emerging clones, including EU_37_A2. The objective of this study was to determine whether the main drivers for the success of EU_37_A2 in Western Europe are associated with decreased fungicide sensitivity, increased virulence and/or aggressiveness. Axenic P. infestans cultures were sampled in the 2016 and 2017 growing seasons from potato crops in France and the United Kingdom. Amongst these, four genotypes were identified: EU_37_A2, EU_13_A2, EU_1_A1 and EU_6_A1. Although a wide range of fluazinam sensitivity was found amongst individual isolates, clonal lines EU_13_A2 and EU_37_A2 showed decreased sensitivity to fluazinam. EU_37_A2 overcame the R5 differential cultivar more often than isolates of EU_1_A1 or EU_6_A1. However, this does not explain the competitive advantage of EU_37_A2 over the virulent EU_13_A2. The fittest genotype, as measured by aggressiveness under controlled conditions, was EU_6_A1, followed by EU_37_A2, EU_13_A2 and then EU_1_A1. EU_37_A2 isolates also showed a shorter latent period than either EU_6_A1 or EU_13_A2, which could favour its long‐term persistence. Overall, the data suggest that the emergence of EU_37_A2 in Western Europe was driven by its resistance to a then‐major fungicide and shorter generation time. This conclusion is further supported by the fact that EU_37_A2 emergence was slowed by the progressive reduction in the use of fluazinam as a single active ingredient in the years following its initial detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape white rot is a destructive fungal disease caused by the pathogenic fungus Coniella vitis. The sensitivity of C. vitis to fluazinam was tested to select an efficient fungicide to control this disease. Furthermore, the baseline sensitivity of C. vitis populations to fluazinam was established based on the EC50 of 62 C. vitis strains collected from different regions in which grapevines are grown in China. The C. vitis populations were extremely sensitive to fluazinam. The efficiency of fluazinam to grape white rot was determined with detached grapevine leaves. Fluazinam was highly effective in controlling this disease. Moreover, the risk of the C. vitis strains developing resistance to fluazinam was assessed with five mutant strains resistant to fluazinam obtained by a fungicide selection method in the laboratory. The fluazinam‐resistant mutant strains were deficient in their hyphal growth, stress and virulence compared with the parental strain. This led to the conclusion that the C. vitis populations are highly sensitive to fluazinam, and C. vitis is unlikely to develop resistance to fluazinam under natural conditions. Thus, fluazinam is a potential fungicide to efficiently control grape white rot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungicides are used to control pathogenic fungi of crop species, but they have also been shown to alter behavioral, life history and fitness related traits of nontarget insects. Here, we tested the fungicide effects on feeding behavior, survival and physiology of the nontarget pest insect, the Colorado potato beetle (CPB) (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). Feeding behavior was studied by a choice test of adult beetles, which were allowed to choose between a control and a fungicide (fluazinam) treated potato leaf. Larval survival was recorded after 24 and 72 h exposure to control and fungicide‐treated leaves with 2 different concentrations. The adults did not show fungicide avoidance behavior. Similarly, survival of the larvae was not affected by the exposure to fungicides. Finally, to understand the effects of fungicides at the physiological level (gene expression), we tested whether the larval exposure to fungicide alter the expression of 5 metabolic pathway and stress associated genes. Highest concentration and 72‐h exposure caused upregulation of 1 cytochrome P450 (CYP9Z14v2) and 1 insecticide resistance gene (Ldace1), whereas metabolic detoxification gene (Ugt1) was downregulated. At 24‐h exposure, highest concentration caused downregulation of another common detoxification gene (Gs), while both exposure times to lowest concentration caused upregulation of the Hsp70 stress tolerance gene. Despite these overall effects, there was a considerable amount of variation among different families in the gene expression levels. Even though the behavioral effects of the fungicide treatments were minor, the expression level differences of the studied genes indicate changes on the metabolic detoxifications and stress‐related pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wolrdwide, late blight disease initiated by Phytophthora infestans cause major yield loss in potatoes. Management depends mainly on the application of chemical fungicides that might cause environmental pollution. Therefore, current study aimed to investigate the fungicidal activity of biotic (BioArc) and abiotic (Fluazinam and Potasin F) compounds individually or sequentially against P. infestans in two field seasons. The results showed that disease severity was significantly decreased in all treated plants compared to control potatoes. In addition, all treatments caused increment of vegetative growth, tuber yield, and tuber contents of N, P, K, reducing, non-reducing, total sugar, protein, starch, total carbohydrate, TSS, and Vit C. In conclusion, combination of Fluazinam, BioArc, and Potasin F as tri-sequential treatment would be an appropriate alternative to chemical fungicides in the management of P. infestans on potato vegetative growth and improve yield production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

【Objective】The study aimed to clarify the degradation behavior and residual risk of fluazinam on Pamax notoginseng,and to provide a theoretical busis for the sate use of fluazinam.【Method】In 2018, controlled field application of fluazinam on P. notoginsengwere carried out inexperimental sites in Zhanyi, Shilin, Mile and Qiubei of Yunnan province. To detect and quantify fluazinamin P. notoginseng, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry（UPLC-MS/MS） method was established.【Result】The recovery efficiency of fluazinam in P. notoginseng and soil ranged from 82% to 103% with relative standard deviations（RSDs） of 1%-13% and limits of quantification（LOQ） of 0.01-0.02 mg/kg. The results of dissipation dynamic experiments indicated that the half-lifeof fluazinam in P. notoginseng plants were 6.5-7.4 days, and the half-lifein soils were 20.0-30.1 days, but the degradation of fluazinam in rhizosphere soils and roots of P. notoginseng were not consistent with the first-order kinetic model. The ultimate residue experiments showed that 50% fluazinam suspension applied at doses of 250 g/hm²and 375 g/hm² for 3-4 times with an interval of 7 days, at 7, 14, and 21 days after the last application the residues of fluazinam were below 1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg in rhizome and root hair, respectively. The results of the dietary intake risk assessment revealed that the national estimated daily intake（NEDI） of fluazinam was 0.45 mg, with a risk quotient（RQ） of 71.4%, will be a posean unacceptable risk to the health of the general population. 【Conclusion】Fluazinam is easy to be degraded in crops and environment. At present, the Maximum Residue Level（MRL values） of fluazinam isset at 1 and 2 mg/kg in rhizome and root hair of P. notoginseng in China, respectively. When using 50% fluazinam suspension to control P. notoginseng diseases, it is recommended to apply at the most effective dose of 250 g/hm² and up to 3 times, and the safe pre-harvest interval is 7 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the dissipation rate and the final residue level of fluazinam in wax gourd, the dissipation dynamics and final residue trials of 500 g/L SC were carried out in Beijing, Shandong, Anhui, Hunan, Yunnan and Guangdong Provinces. Among them, dissipation dynamic trials were set up in Beijing and Anhui. Samples were extracted with acetonitrile, cleaned up by primary secondary amine (PSA), detected by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLCMS/MS), and quantified by external standard method. The results showed that, among the spiked levels of 0.01-1 mg/kg, the recoveries ranged from 89% to 109%, the relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranged from 2.8% to 12%, and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.01 mg/kg. The half-lives of fluazinam on wax gourd were between 2.04 to 2.17 days in Beijing and Anhui, respectively. The final residue trials in six provinces showed that the residue level of fluazinam on wax gourd was between

A total of 40 Colletotrichum strains causing anthracnose on Polygonatum kingianum were isolated and identified by morphology and ITS sequence in 2019. They were collected from three producing regions in Yunnan Province. Their sensitivities to fluazinam, prochloraz and difenoconazole were tested using the mycelium growth rate method. The results showed that all the 40 strains isolated from P. kingianum diseased leaves might belong to genus of Colletotrichum, i.c. C. gloeosporioides, C. fructicola, C. boninense and C. acutatum. Among them, 29 strains belong to C. fructicola, accounting for 72.5% of the total isolated strains. Fungicide sensitivity tests indicated that fluazinam, prochloraz and difenoconazole showed strong antifungal activities against the growth of all the tested strains. The EC50 values of fluazinam, prochloraz and difenoconazole to all tested strains were in the range of 0.028-0.53 mg/L, 0.018-2.69 mg/L and 0.158-2.57 mg/L, respectively. The sensitivities of all strains to fluazinam were higher than those to prochloraz and difenoconazole. No resistant strains to fluazinam, prochloraz and difenoconazole were found in those three producing regions of Yunnan Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 40 Colletotrichum strains causing anthracnose on Polygonatum kingianum were isolated and identified by morphology and ITS sequence in 2019. They were collected from three producing regions in Yunnan Province. Their sensitivities to fluazinam, prochloraz and difenoconazole were tested using the mycelium growth rate method. The results showed that all the 40 strains isolated from P. kingianum diseased leaves might belong to genus of Colletotrichum, i.c. C. gloeosporioides, C. fructicola, C. boninense and C. acutatum. Among them, 29 strains belong to C. fructicola, accounting for 72.5% of the total isolated strains. Fungicide sensitivity tests indicated that fluazinam, prochloraz and difenoconazole showed strong antifungal activities against the growth of all the tested strains. The EC50 values of fluazinam, prochloraz and difenoconazole to all tested strains were in the range of 0.028-0.53 mg/L, 0.018-2.69 mg/L and 0.158-2.57 mg/L, respectively. The sensitivities of all strains to fluazinam were higher than those to prochloraz and difenoconazole. No resistant strains to fluazinam, prochloraz and difenoconazole were found in those three producing regions of Yunnan Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, a one-pot synthesis method possessing the advantages of simple, green and low-cost had been researched for the preparation of L-histidine-stabilized Cu nanoclusters (Cu NCs). Subsequently, the structure and optical properties of as-prepared Cu NCs were studied by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), fluorescence spectroscopy and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. TEM image of the Cu NCs showed high dispersion with an average diameter of 2.0 nm. Fluorescence spectrum displayed that the Cu NCs emitted green fluorescence (emission wavelength of 492 nm) under excitation wavelength of 393 nm. Moreover, the as-synthesized Cu NCs illustrated excellent performances, such as good water solubility, UV stability and high-salt resistance. Interestingly, the fluorescence intensity of as-prepared Cu NCs was obviously quenched in the presence of fluazinam. Under optimal conditions, the relative fluorescence intensity was linear with the fluazinam concentrations from 1 to 40 μ M, with a detection limit of 0.25 μ M. Eventually, the fluorescence sensor was successfully used to determine fluazinam in real water samples. A simple, sensitive, and selective method based on the fluorescence quenching of L-histidine stabilized copper nanoclusters for rapid determination of fluazinam was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, direct detection of fluazinam was realized using a fluorescent sensor using disulfide quantum dots (MoS 2 QDs) via inner filter effect (IFE). The maximum excitation of as-prepared MoS 2 QDs presented a complementary spectral-overlap with the maximum absorption of fluazinam. Thus the occurrence of inner filter effect led to the significant fluorescence quenching of MoS 2 QDs. Additionally, fluorescent quenching efficiency of MoS 2 QDs could be enhanced by the effects of π-π stacking, hydrogen bond and electrostatic interaction between fluazinam and MoS 2 QDs, and these non-chemical bond responses also promoted the selectivity for fluazinam detection. Under the optimum conditions, the IFE-based fluorescent sensor exhibited a relative wide linear range from 50 nM to 25 μM with the LOD of 2.53 nM (S/N = 3). In addition, a paper-based sensor was established by cross-linking the MoS 2 QDs into cellulose membrane for naked-eyed detection and digital analysis of fluazinam. The paper-based sensor presented a liner range from 10 μM to 800 μM for fluazinam detection with the LOD of 2.26 μM. Additionally, the acceptable recoveries were obtained for fluazinam detection in the spiked samples of tomato, potato and cucumber, indicating that the proposed method provided an effective sensing platform for real applications of fluazinam detection in food safety. Image 1 • MoS 2 QDs were introduced as fluorescent readout for measurement of fluazinam. • A paper-based sensor was developed using MoS 2 QDs for fluazinam detection. • Nake-eyed and digital readout were realized by an IISV system. • This strategy presented a model to develop fluorescence sensors based on IFE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Citrus is one of the most important fruit crops worldwide. Fluazinam is a fungicide that is used to control fungal diseases, and its dissipation and residue in citrus fruits should be studied. RESULTS: A Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) procedure combined with gas chromatography with an electron capture detector (GC‐ECD) has been developed. The fortified recoveries ranged from 82.1% to 105.9%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of less than 5.7%. Fluazinam dissipated relatively quickly following first‐order kinetics, with a half‐life of 8.5–9.5 days. The experiments on the terminal residue of fluazinam in citrus were conducted at six locations in China, and the risk quotient (RQ) method was applied to citrus fruits for dietary exposure risk assessment based on the terminal residue test. The RQs of fluazinam at three preharvest intervals (PHIs) (21, 28, and 35 days) were all less than 100%, which is an acceptable level for human consumption. The present study provides a reference for the establishment of maximum residue limit (MRL) for fluazinam in citrus. CONCLUSIONS: The dissipation and residues of fluazinam in citrus were monitored. The half‐life of less than 10 days showed that fluazinam could degrade relatively easily in citrus. The risk assessment also indicated the intake safety of fluazinam in citrus. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two new zn (II) coordination polymers were synthesized and characterized. • Complex 1 and complex 2 can detect 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol (TNP), tetracycline (TET) and fluazinam (FLU) with a high sensitivity and selectivity. • Coordination polymers have shown great potential in clinical diagnosis and treatment. Two new Zn(II) coordination polymers, namely, {[Zn 2 (L)(4,4′-bip) 2 ] ·4H 2 O} n (1) {[Zn (H 2 L) (1,2-die)] · H 2 O} n (2) [H 4 L = 5, 5′-(ethane-1, 2-diyl) diisophthalic acid, 4, 4′-bip = 4, 4′ - bis (1-imidazolyl) biphenyl , 1, 2-die = 1,2-di(pyridin-4-yl)ethene] have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, IR spectra and fluorescent analysis. Coordination polymers 1 and 2 are 2D network structures. They both have 3D supramolecular structures based on the interspersion of 2D networks. They can detect 2, 4, 6-trinitrophenol (TNP), tetracycline (TET) and fluazinam (FLU) by fluorescence quenching. And the possible reasons for the quenching of TNP, TET, and FLU were discussed in detail, which may be energy resonance transfer. These new zinc coordination polymers could be used multifunctional sensors on NACs, antibiotics and pesticides in the future. In addition, the results of fluorescence sensing experiments show that Zn(II) coordination polymers composed of different auxiliary N donors have significant influence on the detection limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two new zn (II) coordination polymers were synthesized and characterized. • Complex 1 and complex 2 can detect 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol (TNP), tetracycline (TET) and fluazinam (FLU) with a high sensitivity and selectivity. • Coordination polymers have shown great potential in clinical diagnosis and treatment. Two new Zn(II) coordination polymers, namely, {[Zn 2 (L)(4,4′-bip) 2 ] ·4H 2 O} n (1) {[Zn (H 2 L) (1,2-die)] · H 2 O} n (2) [H 4 L = 5, 5′-(ethane-1, 2-diyl) diisophthalic acid, 4, 4′-bip = 4, 4′ - bis (1-imidazolyl) biphenyl , 1, 2-die = 1,2-di(pyridin-4-yl)ethene] have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, IR spectra and fluorescent analysis. Coordination polymers 1 and 2 are 2D network structures. They both have 3D supramolecular structures based on the interspersion of 2D networks. They can detect 2, 4, 6-trinitrophenol (TNP), tetracycline (TET) and fluazinam (FLU) by fluorescence quenching. And the possible reasons for the quenching of TNP, TET, and FLU were discussed in detail, which may be energy resonance transfer. These new zinc coordination polymers could be used multifunctional sensors on NACs, antibiotics and pesticides in the future. In addition, the results of fluorescence sensing experiments show that Zn(II) coordination polymers composed of different auxiliary N donors have significant influence on the detection limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides are biological or chemical substances used to manage pests and diseases. Encapsulation of pesticides in biodegradable carriers creates a slow-release system that can improve water dispersibility and prolong residual activity. We prepared two kinds of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactants. These were used to encapsulate the fungicide fluazinam (Flu) against Rhizoctonia solani using the Shirasu Porous Glass (SPG) membrane emulsification method. Both nanoparticles had uniform spherical shapes with average diameters of 314.13 nm (SDS) and 612.80 nm (PVA). The slow-release microspheres had excellent sustained-release properties, resistance to UV degradation, storage stability, leaf surface coverage and antifungal efficacy compared to the commercial formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grey mould, caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea Pers ex Fr., is a very destructive and important disease worldwide. Fluazinam is a phenylpyridinamine fungicide with broad‐spectrum activities. The baseline sensitivity of B. cinerea to fluazinam is yet to be established in Henan Province, China. In this study, a total of 117 field isolates of B. cinerea were collected from 49 commercial greenhouses in different locations of Henan Province, in 2016, and the sensitivities of these isolates to fluazinam were determined based on mycelial growth. The effective concentration for 50% (EC50) values ranged from 0.0038 to 0.0441 μg/ml, and the mean EC50 value was 0.0201 ± 0.0081 μg/ml for mycelial growth. The frequency distribution range presented a unimodal curve. To define the cross‐resistance relationships, the linear correlation coefficients of the EC50 values between fluazinam and carbendazim, procymidone, pyrimethanil or boscalid were analysed. The results showed that no correlation was observed between fluazinam and the other tested fungicides. These results provide important information to growers for the prevention and control of grey mould. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the economically important diseases of lettuce is lettuce big‐vein disease (LBVD), which leads to severe yield losses. LBVD is associated with a complex of two viruses, Lettuce big‐vein associated virus (LBVaV) and Mirafiori lettuce big‐vein virus (MLBVV). These viruses are transmitted by motile zoospores of Olpidium spp. fungi, which persist in the soil for decades through resting spores. In greenhouse and field experiments, this study tested whether changing plant and soil temperatures together with fungicide application would have a significant effect on controlling LBVD in lettuce. Soil fumigation with metam sodium was not effective at controlling the disease, as opposed to treatment with chloropicrin and methyl bromide. Moreover, the fungicides carbendazim and fluazinam were effective in reducing the incidence of Olpidium virulentus. Nevertheless, control of the fungal vector did not seem to be sufficient to control the disease due to the transition ability of the virus under low vector abundance. Crop covers, which affect the favourable environmental conditions for the viruses by lowering soil temperature and raising air temperature, reduced the disease symptoms. Combining fungicides with crop cover had a synergistic effect on reducing disease symptoms, thus providing a sustainable solution for LBVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a necrotrophic and filamentous fungus with a broad host range. Fluazinam is a pyridinamine fungicide with a broad spectrum of antifungal activity and had a strong inhibition effect on mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum populations. But the impact of fluazinam on morphological and physiological characteristics of S. sclerotiorum is little known. In this study, the EC 50 values of fluazinam to three strains of S. sclerotiorum (CZ17S, YZ55S and SA42S) were 0.0084, 0.007, 0.0065 μg/ml respectively. After fluazinam treatment, hyphae of S. sclerotiorum became thinner, hyphal offshoot of top increased, the distance between one septum and another became shorter, cell membrane permeability increased markedly, exopolysaccharide (EPS) content and oxalic acid content decreased significantly, peroxidase (POD) activity increased significantly and mycelial respiration was inhibited. While the number and dry weight of sclerotia, glycerol content in the mycelia did not significantly change. In protective activity assay on detached rapeseed leaves, application of fluazinam at 40 μg/ml and 80 μg/ml, the control efficacy reached to 41.4% and 100%, respectively. In curative activity assay, application of fluazinam at 100 μg/ml, the control efficacy reached to 61.09%. In the same concentration, protective activity of fluazinam against S. sclerotiorum was higher than curative activity. These results will contribute to us on evaluating the potential of the fungicide fluazinam for management of Sclerotinia stem rot and understanding the mode of action of fluazinam against S. sclerotiorum. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Determined the effect of fluazinam on morphology of S. sclerotiorum • Investigated the impact of fluazinam on physiology of S. sclerotiorum • Analyzed the protective and curative activity of fluazinam against S. sclerotiorum [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sclerotinia stem rot, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is a devastating disease in Henan Province, of the main rapeseed production areas in China. Fluazinam belongs to the broad‐spectrum phenylpyridinamine fungicides, which have high activity in inhibiting the mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum. In this study, 191 field isolates were obtained from different oilseed rape fields in Henan Province, before being exposed to fluazinam in 2015. The baseline sensitivity of S. sclerotiorum to fluazinam was established. The effective concentration for 50% inhibition of mycelial growth (EC50) ranged from 0.0019 to 0.0337 μg/ml, and the mean EC50 value was 0.0084 ± 0.0055 μg/ml. The range of the frequency distribution was narrow. The results of a cross‐resistance assay revealed no cross‐resistance between fluazinam and carbendazim, dimethachlone, boscalid or fludioxonil. Field efficacy tests showed that the control efficacies of fluazinam (50% WG) applied at 150, 225 and 300 g ai ha−1 were 67%, 73% and 88%, respectively. In contrast, the control efficacies of boscalid (50% WG) and carbendazim (50% WP) applied at 225 and 1,500 g ai ha−1 were 71% and 52%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The popular fungicide fluazinam is known to exhibit an unusual cyclic pattern of the protonophoric uncoupling activity in isolated rat liver mitochondria (RLM), with membrane deenergization followed by spontaneous recoupling in the minute scale, which is associated with glutathione conjugation of fluazinam catalyzed by glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Here, we compare the fluazinam effect on RLM with that on rat kidney (RKM) and heart (RHM) mitochondria by monitoring three bioenergetic parameters: oxygen consumption rate, mitochondrial membrane potential and reduction of nucleotides. Only in RLM, the uncoupling activity of fluazinam was transient, i.e. disappeared in a few minutes, whereas in RKM and RHM it was stable in this time scale. We attribute this difference to the increased activity of mitochondrial GST in liver. We report data on the detection of glutathione-fluazinam conjugates by mass-spectrometry, thin layer chromatography and capillary electrophoresis after incubation of fluazinam with RLM but not with RKM, which supports the assumption of the tissue specificity of the conjugation. [Display omitted] • Fluazinam exerts spontaneously reversible uncoupling of rat liver mitochondria (RLM). • By contrast, the uncoupling is not transient in rat kidney and rat heart mitochondria. • Glutathionylation of fluazinam is assumed to abrogate its uncoupling activity in RLM. • Glutathione-fluazinam conjugates are found by LC-MS and TLC after incubation with RLM. • Fluazinam appears to be a tissue-specific uncoupler in mammalian mitochondria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Fusarium fujikuroi is the primary causal agent of rice bakanae disease. Fluazinam is a protective dinitroaniline fungicide which could interrupt the fungal cell's energy production. Little is known about the effects of fluazinam on F. fujikuroi. In this study, baseline sensitivity of F. fujikuroi to fluazinam was determined using 103 isolates collected from diseased young rice of different fields in Shaoxing of Zhejiang Province and Huaian of Jiangsu Province of China in 2016. The EC 50 values of fluazinam on inhibiting mycelial growth against 103 isolates of F. fujikuroi ranged from 0.0621 to 0.5446 μg/mL with the average value of 0.2038 ± 0.0099 μg/mL (mean ± standard error). The EC 50 values of fluazinam on suppressing conidium germination against 103 isolates of F. fujikuroi ranged from 0.1006 to 0.9763 μg/mL with the mean value of 0.3552 ± 0.0181 μg/mL. Treated with fluazinam, hyphae of F. fujikuroi were contorted, offshoot of top mycelia increased, conidial production descreased significantly and exopolysaccharide (EPS) content did not change significantly while peroxidase (POD) activity significantly decreased. Meanwhile, cell membrane permeability increased after treated with fluazinam. The analysis of cell ultrastructure indicated that fluazinam could damage the membrane structure of F. fujikuroi and cause a large number of vacuoles formed. In addition, fluazinam did not affect germination rate, plant height and fresh weight of rice, which indicated that fluazinam was safe to rice. All the results indicated that fluazinam had strong antifungal activity against F. fujikuroi and a potential application in controlling rice bakanae disease. These results will provide useful information for management of rice bakanae disease caused by F. fujikuroi and further increase our understanding about the mode of action of fluazinam against F. fujikuroi and other phytopathogens. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Determined baseline sensitivity of Fusarium fujikuroi to fluazinam • Analyzed the effects of fluazinam on physiology of Fusarium fujikuroi • Tested the security of fluazinam to rice [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluazinam is a dinitroaniline fungicide with broad-spectrum activities. However, the activity of fluazinam against Bipolaris maydis which is the causal agent of southern corn leaf blight is unknown yet. In this study, baseline sensitivity of B. maydis to fluazinam was determined using 92 isolates collected during 2015 and 2016 from different geographical regions in Jiangsu Province of China, and the EC 50 values ranged from 0.0396 to 0.9808 μg/ml with average value of 0.3853 ± 0.2297 μg/ml, and 0.079 to 0.7832 μg/ml with average value of 0.3065 ± 0.1384 μg/ml for mycelial growth and conidium germination respectively. Fluazinam did not affect the distribution of cell nucleus and the formation of septum of B. maydis . However, fluazinam could make mycelium of B. maydis contorted and the mycelial branches increased and inhibit the development of conidia. The result of transmission electron microscope showed that fluazinam damaged cell wall and cell membrane of mycelium, and make organelles in mycelial cell dissolved and vacuolated, and the cell almost broke up, which caused the intracellular plasma leakage increase. The protective activity test of fluazinam suggested that fluazinam had great control efficiency against B. maydis on detached corn leaves. Application of fluazinam at 10 μg/ml and 20 μg/ml, the control efficacy reached to 87.70% and 98.25% respectively. However, fluazinam had no curative activity against B. maydis on detached corn leaves. These results will contribute to us on evaluating the potential of the dinitroaniline fungicide fluazinam for management of diseases caused by B. maydis and understanding the mode of action of fluazinam against B. maydis . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SYP-14288 is a novel fungicide developed by the Shenyang Research Institute of Chemical Industry in China. Although preliminary studies indicate that SYP-14288 is highly effective against 32 important plant pathogens belonging to a range of taxonomic groups, its mode of action remains unknown. In this study, we documented that SYP-14288 has excellent activity against all of the asexual life stages of the plant-pathogenic oomycete Phytophthora capsici , and is especially effective in blocking cyst germination and other life stages that require high energy consumption. In assays designed to determine the fungicide's mode of action, addition of ATP reduced SYP-14288 inhibition of P. capsici , which suggested that SYP-14288 inhibits ATP synthesis of the pathogen. This inference was confirmed in that treatment with SYP-14288 sharply reduced the ATP content in P. capsici . The respiration rate of P. capsici was positively correlated with the concentration of SYP-14288 or of the fungicide fluazinam (an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation), but increases in respiration were greater with SYP-14288 than with fluazinam. These results indicate that SYP-14288 is a promising fungicide that functions as an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to discover highly effective fungicides against Corynespora cassiicola on cucumber, the inhibitory activities of 19 fungicides against mycelial growth, spore germination and germ tube elongation of C. cassiicola were measured. The effects of the 4 selected effective fungicides on mycelial and conidial morphology were also evaluated. The results showed that fluazinam, isopyrazam, fludioxonil and tetramycin exhibited strong inhibitory activities against mycelial growth, spore germination and germ tube elongation at each growth stage of C. cassiicola. The average EC50 value of the four fungicides for inhibiting mycelial growth were 0.516 3, 1.538, 1.605 and 0.648 2 mg/L, respectively. The average EC50 value of inhibiting the spore germination were 0.164 4, 1.359, 1.127 and 0.002 5 mg/L, respectively. The average EC50 value of inhibiting germ tube elongation were 0.189 6, 0.144 7, 0.060 4 and 0.001 5 mg/L, respectively. Fungicides with different modes of action, such as boscalid, chlorothalonil and trifloxystrobin, showed high efficacy against spore germination and tube elongation of C. cassiicola. The average EC50 value of three fungicides to inhibit the spore germination were 1.564, 0.373 0 and 0.021 3 mg/L, respectively. The average EC50 value of inhibiting the germ tube elongation were 0.629 5, 0.233 4 and 0.405 0 mg/L, respectively. But the inhibitory activities against mycelial growth were poor, the average EC50 value were greater than 16 mg/L. After the treatment of fluazinam, isopyrazam, fludioxonil or tetramycin, the morphology of mycelial and conidia was studied. The microscopical observation showed that the mycelial septa spacing decreased, the edge of diaphragm appeared as intumescent and two branches of the main mycelia frequently occurred. In addition, mycelia became distorted and adhesive, the new branches of mycelium were inhibited or conidial growth was metamorphotic. Given that fluazinam, isopyrazam, fludioxonil and tetramycin showed excellent inhibitory virulence against C. cassiicola, these fungicides are potential candidates for the control of C. cassiicola in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, sensitivity distribution of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum populations to fluazinam was determined using 103 strains collected from the fields of Jiangsu Province of China in 2016–2017 and the resistance risk of fluazinam was assessed. The average EC 50 (50% effective concentration) values and MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) values of 103 S. sclerotiorum strains against fluazinam were 0.0073 ± 0.0045 μg/ml and < 0.3 μg/ml for mycelial growth, respectively. Nine mutants with low resistance level were obtained from wild type sensitive strains exposed on PDA medium amended with fluazinam and the resistance was stable after their ten transfers on PDA without the fungicide. Compared with the parental strains, the nine fluazinam-resistant mutants decreased in mycelial growth, sclerotial production, pathogenicity and were more sensitive to 0.7 M NaCl. In addition, cell membrane permeability of resistant mutants was higher than that of their parental strains. Cross resistance assay showed that there was no cross-resistance between fluazinam and fludioxonil, dimetachlone, prochloraz, tebuconazole, azoxystrobin, or procymidone in S. sclerotiorum . The above results indicated that there was a low resistance risk for fluazinam in S. sclerotiorum . However, the sensitivity of all fluazinam-resistant mutants to fludioxonil decreased. Sequencing alignment results showed that there were no mutations in the two-component histidine kinase gene ( Shk1 ) of the resistant mutants and the expression levels of Shk1 of three resistant mutants were significantly up-regulated while others were almost the same as their parental strains. These results will contribute to evaluating the resistance risk of fluazinam for management of diseases caused by S. sclerotiorum and further increase our understanding about the mode of action of fluazinam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Three degradation products of fluazinam in vegetables were identified. • Sulfhydrylation of fluazinam has not been previously reported. • The quantifications and toxicity estimations were performed for the new compound. Fluazinam exhibits rapid degradation in some vegetable matrixes. The degradation products may pose risk for human health. In the present study, three degradation products of fluazinam in vegetables have been identified, named as sulfhydryl fluazinam, hydroxyl fluazinam, and amine fluazinam. Among them, sulfhydryl fluazinam has not been previously reported. Quantitative/semi-quantitative method for simultaneous analysis of fluazinam and the three degradation products was developed using QuEChERS in combination of HPLC-MS/MS. The proposed analytical method was further applied in monitoring fluazinam and its degradation products in fluazinam-processed vegetables. As a result, sulfhydryl fluazinam was demonstrated to be a characteristic degradation product of fluazinam in the sulphur-rich vegetables with transformation rates of above 10.0% within 60.0 min. In addition, we found for the first time that sulfhydrylation of pesticide occurred in putrid vegetable samples covering various plant families. The result contributed to discovery of the overlooked degradation pathways of pesticides in vegetables. Among fluazinam and the three degradation products, amine fluazinam was predicted to have highest toxicity, followed by sulfhydryl fluazinam and fluazinam, whereas hydroxyl fluazinam displayed the lowest toxicity. Cytotoxicity experiments in BRL-3A cells showed that toxicity of sulfhydryl fluazinam was comparable to that of fluazinam. In short-term oral studies in mice, liver appeared to be a target organ for sulfhydryl fluazinam. The present study not only provides an efficient analysis method, but also inspires further comprehensive risk assessment of fluazinam and its degradation products in vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fluorescent detection system for fluazinam was reported using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) method based on CdTe quantum dots (CdTe QDs) and 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis(4-methacryloyloxy) phenyl porphyrin (TMaPP). TMaPP and water-soluble CdTe QDs were synthesized successfully and characterized using FT-IR, 1H NMR, XPS and TEM, respectively. FRET mechanism between CdTe QDs and TMaPP was confirmed by detailed studies on their fluorescent spectra. After a co-culture of TMaPP and CdTe QDs, fluorescent intensity of CdTe QDs decreased significantly while that of TMaPP increased concomitantly due to altered FRET. Addition of fluazinam led to impaired energy transfer from CdTe QDs to TMaPP and therefore fluorescence recovery of CdTe QDs with fluorescence quenching of TMaPP. The correlation of fluazinam concentration with the fluorescence intensity ratio provided the basis for quantitative analysis, and a broad linear range varying from 0.01M to 5M with a low detection limit of 2.3nM was obtained. As-reported sensor system demonstrated excellent reproducibility, selectivity and sensitivity in real sample detection. A ratiometric fluorescent assay for fluazinam was reported by using TMaPP as receptors and CdTe QDs as donors based on FRET. After being mixed, the fluorescent intensity of CdTe QDs decreased while that of TMaPP increased. The addition of fluazinam led to fluorescence recovery of CdTe QDs with fluorescence quenching of TMaPP. The correlation of fluazinam concentration with fluorescence intensity ratio FQDs/FTMaPP provided the basis for quantitative analysis. As-prepared sensor demonstrated excellent analytical performance to fluazinam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dots doped with nitrogen and sulfur (NSCDs) was prepared from l -cysteine with a hydrothermal method and applied to develop a fluorescent sensor to determine fluazinam. Characterizations of the NSCDs suggest that it provides abundant affinitive sites for recognizing fluazinam through molecular interactions including electrostatic, π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding interactions. Strong inner filter effect (IFE) leads fluazinam to quench the fluorescence of the NSCDs with high efficiency. Under optimized conditions, the fluorescent probe shows very good sensitivity and selectivity in a linear range from 0.05 μM to 4 μM, and the detection limit is calculated down to 10 nM. The proposed fluazinam sensor is demonstrated to be feasible for application in detecting this fungicide in soil and apple samples with satisfactory accuracy. Besides, NSCDs could also be used to fabricate visual paper-based testing stripes under a portable UV lamp with a detection limit as lower as 50 μM. The fluorescent material presented here provides a functional platform for simple yet facile in-field detection of fluazinam in related samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several crops of agronomic interest depend on bees' pollination, and Apis mellifera L (Hymanoptera: Apidae) is the most studied direct pollinator. Nevertheless, the use of pesticides in agricultural environments is common, including fungicides. Studies that seek to evaluate the effects of fungicides on the hypopharyngeal glands of bees, the site of royal jelly synthesis, are lacking. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the effect of field doses of fungicides (Captan SC® and Zignal®), alone or in mixture, on the hypopharyngeal glands and their subsequent effect on the strength of hives. The evaluations were carried out under field conditions in three hives per treatment. For a period of one month, bee hives received feed containing sugar syrup, pollen and 1.2 mL of Zignal® and 3 mL of Captan SC® in the isolated treatments and 4.2 mL in the mixture. The action of fungicides on the hypopharyngeal glands was determined by transmission electron microscopy analysis in bees 7 and 15 days old, collected in the hives one month after exposure to fungicides. The strength of the hives was evaluated for six months based on the number of frames with adult bees, open and closed brood, and stored food. The results indicate that fungicides promote early degeneration of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and morphological and structural changes in mitochondria. In addition, a reduction in adult population, open and closed breeding and food stock was observed. More pronounced damage occurred when bees were exposed to the mixture of fungicides. Overall, it can be concluded that the presence of fungicides in bee diets promotes harm accentuated over time and compromises the survival of hives. It will be worth estimating the fungicide effects of the queen development and on the colony heath. • Fungicides promote ultrastructural changes in the honey-bee glands. • Degeneration of the rough endoplasmic reticulum in bees caused by fungicides. • Fungicides mixture increase damage in bees. • Long term chronic effects of fungicides on bees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the sensitivity of Botrytis cinerea to fluazinam and the existed cross-resistance between fluazinam and other fungicides, 106 single spore isolates of B. cinerea were collected from tomato in Fujian province. The sensitivities of B. cinerea isolates to fluazinam were determined by mycelial growth rate test. The results showed that EC50 values of 106 isolates to fluazinam followed a unimodal curve, ranging from 0.003 7 to 0.045 2 μg/mL with the mean EC50 value of (0.022 1 ±0.009 8) μg/mL. Thus, the data could be employed as the baseline-sensitivity of B. cinerea to fluazinam which could be used for the field resistance monitoring. And the sensitivities of 15 isolates of B.cinerea, which exhibited different sensitivities to fluazinam, to pyrimethanil, iprodione, procymidone and picoxystrobin, were also tested with the mycelial growth rate method. The mycelial growth inhibition rates of the above mentioned 5 fungicides were fluazinam> iprodione> procymidone> picoxystrobin> pyrimethanil. No cross-resistance between fluazinam and other 4 fungicides was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the evaluating Member State (EMS), Austria, received an application from ISK Biosciences Europe N.V. to set an import tolerance for the active substance fluazinam in blueberries from the import country the United States at the proposed level of 4 mg/kg. Austria drafted an evaluation report in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, which was submitted to the European Commission and forwarded to EFSA. According to EFSA the data are sufficient to derive an import tolerance of 3 mg/kg for the proposed use on blueberries. The existing use on blueberries is adequately supported by residue data and an import tolerance proposal can therefore be derived. Adequate analytical enforcement methods are available to control the residues of fluazinam in plant matrices/on the commodity under consideration. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concludes that the proposed use of fluazinam on blueberries will not result in a consumer exposure exceeding the toxicological reference values of the active substance and therefore is unlikely to pose a consumer health risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium graminearum is an important plant pathogen and the causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB). At present, the principal method of controlling FHB is through fungicides. Fluazinam is an agent with strong broad-spectrum antifungal activity and has been used to control many diseases. However, there are no reported uses of fluazinam for controlling FHB. This study reports the activity and cell toxicology mechanisms of fluazinam on the filamentous fungus F. graminearum and its effect on fungal growth and development. The activity of fluazinam was tested for 95 wild-type field strains of F. graminearum. The EC 50 values (the 50% effective concentration) of fluazinam for inhibition of mycelial growth and spore germination ranged from 0.037 μg/ml to 0.179 μg/ml and from 0.039 μg/ml to 0.506 μg/ml, respectively. The fluazinam sensitivity of these strains varied in 4.9 and 13.0 folds, implying that the target of the fungicide remained unchanged. After treatment with 0.3 μg/ml (≈EC 90) fluazinam, the production of conidia was reduced, and the cell wall and cell membrane had shrunked; the cell nucleus and septum morphology, cell membrane permeability, and sexual development were not affected. When treated with 0.1 μg/ml (≈EC 50) or 0.3 μg/ml fluazinam, the mycelial respiration and deoxynivalenol (DON) synthesis of F. graminearum were decreased. Confocal images showed that the formation of toxisomes was disturbed after fluazinam treatment, suggesting that fluazinam reduces DON synthesis by inhibiting toxisome formation. Infection of wheat coleoptiles revealed that fluazinam had a strong protective activity against F. graminearum. At 250 μg/ml fluazinam the control efficacy of protective treatments reached 100% and controlled strains resistant to carbendazim. These results contribute to the understanding of the mode of action of fluazinam and its application. [Display omitted] • Determined baseline sensitivity of Fusarium graminearum to fluazinam. • Analyzed the effect of fluazinam on physiology of Fusarium graminearum. • Investigated protective activity of fluazinam on coleoptiles of wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bstract According to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has reviewed the maximum residue levels (MRLs) currently established at European level for the pesticide active substance fluazinam. In order to assess the occurrence of fluazinam residues in plants, processed commodities, rotational crops and livestock, EFSA considered the conclusions derived in the framework of Directive 91/414/EEC as well as the import tolerances and European authorisations reported by Member States (incl. the supporting residues data). Based on the assessment of the available data, MRL proposals were derived and a consumer risk assessment was carried out. Although no apparent risk to consumers was identified, some information required by the regulatory framework was found to be missing. Hence, the consumer risk assessment is considered indicative only and some MRL proposals derived by EFSA still require further consideration by risk managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bstract In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, Italy, hereafter referred to as the evaluating Member State (EMS), received an application from Cheminova A/S to set a maximum residue level (MRL) for the active substance fluazinam in tomatoes. In order to accommodate for the intended use of fluazinam, Italy proposed to raise the existing MRL from the limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.05 mg/kg to 0.3 mg/kg. Italy drafted an evaluation report in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 which was submitted to the European Commission and forwarded to EFSA. According to EFSA the data are sufficient to derive a MRL proposal of 0.3 mg/kg for the intended use on tomatoes. Adequate analytical enforcement methods are available to control the residues of fluazinam on the commodity under consideration. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concludes thatthe proposed use of fluazinam on tomatoes will not result in a consumer exposure exceeding the toxicological reference values and therefore is unlikely to pose a consumer health risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botrytis cinerea is a necrotrophic and filamentous fungus with a high risk of developing resistance to fungicides. The pyridinamine fungicide fluazinam has been reported to have excellent activity against B. cinerea and better effect on controlling gray mold. In this study, the physiological and biochemical characteristics of laboratory-induced mutants of B. cinerea with resistance to fluazinam has been investigated. Compared to the wild-type strains, the fluazinam-resistant mutants had a significant decrease in respiratory rate, glycerol, oxalate, and ATP contents, and an increase in ATPase activity and sensitivity to osmotic pressure, but did not differ in cell membrane permeability. Sequencing indicated that two parental strains and four resistant mutants were identical in the nucleotide sequence of F-ATPase gene. These results will enrich our understanding of the resistance mechanism of B. cinerea to fluazinam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Larvae of mealworms Tenebrio molitor L. ( Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) have been used as animal feed, but fungal pathogens rapidly downsize the populations, resulting in economic losses. In this work, we established an effective management strategy for fungal pathogens. An entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, was isolated from mealworm cadavers. The bioassay of some isolates of this species at >90% relative humidity revealed that the ERL1575 isolate had the highest virulence. At 20-30% RH, ERL1575 conidia when ingested produced 80% mortality but when sprayed topically produced only <10% mortality. Mealworms that had ingested conidia were exposed to 20, 25, 30 and 35°C and high humidity (>95%) for 5 days. This experiment produced about 90% mortality except at 35°C where mortality was <20%. When 40 fungicides were assayed against ERL1575, fluazinam (1000-fold) and mancozeb (667-fold) significantly inhibited conidial germination and/or hyphal growth. When fluazinam and mancozeb were added to the mealworm diet of conidia-inoculated wheat bran, most were alive 3 days post application. However, 100% mortality resulted 3 days post application in the conidia-inoculated wheat bran without any fungicides. In conclusion, B. bassiana isolates are pathogenic at <30°C when they are ingested by mealworms but fluazinam and mancozeb can be used for management to control the pathogen in their cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluazinam is a widely used pesticide employed against the fungal disease late blight in potato cultivation. A specific, repeatable, and rapid high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method utilizing a diode array detector (DAD) was developed to determine the presence of fluazinam in soil. The method consists of acetonitrile (ACN) extraction, clean-up with solid-phase extraction (SPE), and separation using a mobile phase consisting of 70% ACN and 30% water (v/v), including 0.02% acetic acid. HPLC was performed with a C18 column and the detection wavelength was 240 nm. The method was successfully applied to an incubation experiment and to soil samples taken from potato fields where fluazinam had been applied two to three times during the on-going growing season. In the 90-day incubation experiment, analytical standard fluazinam and the commercial fungicide Shirlan®were added to soil samples that had never been treated with fluazinam, and were then extracted with ACN and 0.01 M calcium chloride (CaCl2). Fluazinam was not extractable with CaCl2, indicating that it does not leach to watercourses in the dissolved form. Recovery with ACN extraction for sandy soils was 72–95% immediately after application and 53–73% after 90 days of incubation. Out of the eight potato field soil samples, fluazinam was found in two samples at concentrations of 2.1 mg kg−1and 1.9 mg kg−1, well above the limit of quantification (0.1 mg kg−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] White mold on processing tomato was controlled by Trichoderma spp. [•] Control was achieved by chemigation in a drip-irrigated field, in 2009 and 2010. [•] White mold control was not improved by fungicides applied via chemigation. [•] The use of Trichoderma spp. increased processing tomato yields in up to 25tha−1. [•] Biological control increased pulp yield from 1.0 (2009) to 7.0tha−1 in 2010. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, Austria, hereafter referred to as the evaluating Member State (EMS), received an application from the company ISK Biosciences Europe NV to set the import tolerance for the active substance fluazinam in ginseng roots from the US at the level of 3 mg/kg. Austria drafted an evaluation report in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, which was submitted to the European Commission and forwarded to EFSA. According to EFSA the data are sufficient to derive a MRL proposal of 3 mg/kg for the proposed use on ginseng roots. An adequate analytical enforcement method to control the residues of fluazinam in fresh ginseng at the validated LOQ of 0.01 mg/kg is available. Although there are some indications that a liquid chromatography method is applicable for the enforcement of fluazinam in dried roots at the LOQ of 0.1 mg/kg, it would be desirable to get a full method validation. No consumer health risk is expected for the proposed MRL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although the underlying cause of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is not well characterized, epidemiological studies suggest that exposure to agricultural chemicals is a risk factor for PD. Fluazinam (FZN) is a new active ingredient for the control of grey mould, belonging to the novel broad spectrum phenylpyridinamine fungicides. We used human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells to investigate mechanisms of dopaminergic cell death in response to FZN. FZN treatment produced dose-dependent cytotoxicity, and decreased the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in SH-SY5Y cells. We provided evidence for the occurrence of oxidative stress and oxidative damage during FZN exposure on dopaminergic cells through the measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells with DCFH-DA. The cytotoxic effects of FZN appear to involve an increase in ROS generation since pretreatment with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), an anti-oxidant, reduced cell death. After FZN treatment, dopamine (DA) levels decreased in both cell and culture media, and oxidative effects of FZN were blocked by NAC pretreatment. We show that cell death in response to FZN was due to apoptosis since FZN exposure results in an increased in cytochrome c release into the cytosol and activated caspase-3 through p38 and JNK signaling. Furthermore, the blocking of p38 or JNK signaling inhibits FZN-induced cell death. Phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases precedes cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation. This cellular response is characteristic of mitochondrial dysfunction. Therefore, we also investigated the effect of FZN on mitochondrial complex I activity in FZN-treated cell. Interestingly, we show that FZN inhibited the complex I activity. Thus in this study, we report a new mode of action by which the fungicide FZN could triggers apoptosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A number of epidemiological studies have demonstrated a strong association between the incidence of neurodegenerative disease and pesticide exposure. Fluazinam (FZN) is a preventative fungicide from the pyridinamine group that was introduced in the 1990s and that quickly established itself as a new standard for the control of blight caused by Phytophthora infestans in potatoes. We used human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells to investigate mechanisms of neuronal cell death in response to FZN and showed that FZN was cytotoxic to SH-SY5Y cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Additionally, we showed that FZN treatment significantly decreased the neuron numbers including dopaminergic neurons and mitochondrial complex I activity. The cytotoxic effects of FZN were associated with an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation because pretreatment with N-acetyl cysteine, an anti-oxidant, reduced cell death. We showed that neuronal cell death in response to FZN was due to apoptosis because FZN increased cytochrome C release into the cytosol and activated caspase-3 through the accumulation of p53. FZN also reduced the levels of Bcl-2 protein but increased the levels of Bax. Our results provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of FZN-induced apoptosis in neuronal cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the conventional cultivation of potatoes, weed control and the control of potato late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans are carried out by the application of herbicides and fungicides. We investigated the impacts of the herbicides metribuzin and linuron and the fungicide fluazinam on soil microbiota in microcosms, in mesocosms and in the field. The toxicity of each pesticide in solution was assessed using the luminescent bacteria test and in soil by a solid phase modification. In microcosm tests, the microbial activity and biomass were estimated by measuring several soil enzyme activities together with soil ATP content. In the mesocosm tests, the separate addition of each pesticide and the simultaneous use of all the pesticides were investigated. We monitored the impacts on ten different soil enzyme activities and measured soil toxicity with the luminescent bacteria test separately in the 5cm top layer and in the layer from 5 to about 20cm below the surface. During one season, the impact of the use of pesticides was monitored in the field in plots receiving pesticides for the third consecutive year and in control plots cultivated without the use of pesticides for the 3 preceding years. The pesticide concentrations were monitored in each experiment. The luminescent bacteria toxicity test revealed a strong inhibition by fluazinam. In microcosms the herbicides increased several enzyme activities but metribuzin inhibited luminescence in the bacterial test. Fluazinam was highly toxic in microcosms. In the mesocosm with combined use of pesticides, decreased activities of some enzymes were observed first in the surface soil and at harvesting also deeper in the soil. In the mesocosm experiment with separate use of pesticides, less impacts were observed. In the field experiment the pesticides decreased seven enzyme activities, when calculated per soil fresh weight but activities of four enzyme decreases if calculated per soil organic matter. Controlling weeds by herbicides decreased weed growth and the decreases in enzyme activities were interpreted to be due to the lack of the stimulating impact of weed roots. A strong inhibition in the soil toxicity test and continuing bioavailability of fluazinam were detected throughout the experiments even after winter in the field. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sclerotinia blight, caused by Sclerotinia minor, is an important disease of peanut in North Carolina. The effectiveness of Coniothyrium minitans, a mycoparasite of sclerotia of Sclerotinia spp., was studied in a 5-year field experiment and in eight short-term experiments in northeastern North Carolina. The 5-year experiment was initiated in November 1999 to evaluate the effectiveness of repeated soil applications of C. minitans (commercial formulation, Contans WG) at 2 and 4 kg ha-1 in reducing Sclerotinia blight. In addition, individual commercial peanut fields were selected in 2001 and 2002 to evaluate a single application of C. minitans at 4 kg ha-1. No differences were found between the 2 and 4 kg ha-1 rates of C. minitans in reducing Sclerotinia blight. In 2002, there was less disease in plots receiving applications of C. minitans for either 1 or 3 years compared with the nontreated control; whereas, in 2003, C. minitans applications for 1, 2, or 3 years reduced disease and the number of sclerotia isolated from soil. A single application of C. minitans reduced sclerotia in only two of the eight short-term experiments. The integration of consecutive years of soil applications of C. minitans at 2 kg ha-1 with moderately resistant cultivars and fungicide applications may aid in the management of Sclerotinia blight in peanut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments were conducted to evaluate potato late blight forecasting models in Norway during 1994-1999. Various adjustments of the Førsund rules (FØR) and the NEGFRY model were compared with routine fungicide applications. In the small plot experiments ( n =25) only the fungicide fluazinam was used, but in the large plot experiments ( n =13) several fungicides were included according to farmers' practice. A total of seven cultivars were included in the experiments, Beate and Saturna being the principal ones. Generally, fungicide treatments applied in accordance with the straightforward FØR provided acceptable control of leaf and tuber blight. Using forecast techniques, the number of treatments was reduced by 25-50% compared to routine treatments without causing significantly more disease. There were no significant differences in late blight control and treatment frequency between forecasts based on FØR, using historical weather data, and NEGFRY, using historical weather data and weather prognoses. The implications of the new pathogen population, cultivar resistance and farmers' acceptance of fungicide application being related to use of forecasts are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 80 isolates of Phytophthora infestans were collected in Sichuan during 2010 to 2014 and analyzed against fluazinam. The results showed that there were no significant differences in sensitivity of isolates to fluazinam in different years, their sensitivities distributed as a unimodal curve, EC50 values ranged from 0. 1830 μg/mL to 0. 8767 μg/m L, the most insensitive was 4. 8 folds of the most sensitive,with a mean of (0. 4369 ± 0. 1426) μg/mL, which could be used as baseline-sensitivity of P. infestans to fluazinam in Sichuan. Meanwhile, resistant isolates were not detected in Sichuan province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We described an outbreak of contact dermatitis in a tulip bulb processing company. Shortly after the introduction of a new pesticide the fungicide fluazinam, employees started to complain of dermatitis of the arms and the face 8 employees were investigated and showed positive patch test to fluazinam. The dermatitis disappeared quickly when they stopped work, but return as soon they restarted. Subsequent investigations showed that the fungicide had not been used according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Fluazinam was shown to be a strong sensitizer under these circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The citrus red mite, Panonychus citri, is an important pest that causes serious citrus production losses in China. The insecticide fluazinam has a good control effect on the pest mites; however, its mechanism of action on mites remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptomic sequencing and differential expression genes in P. citri treated with fluazinam, and identified some of the genes potential involved in detoxification metabolism related with the fluazinam exposure. Evaluating the efficacy of fluazinam, and analyzing the transcriptome data of P. citri under fluazinam stress, potentially provide a new agent for prevention and control of P. citri, and also preliminary research results for exploring the mechanism of action of fluazinam on P. citri. Given the up-regulated expression levels of genes for Mn-superoxide dismutase and catalase, we speculate that they play an important role in fluazinam-stress action on P. citri. The use of a large number of chemical acaricides to control these pest mites has led to an increasing problem of pesticide resistance, which has always been the difficulty in integrated pest management (IPM). Fluazinam has a good control effect on Panonychus citri, the serious pest on citrus; however, we only know the mechanism of action of fluazinam as a fungicide and its mechanism of action on mites remains unclear. Through analysis using Illumina high-throughput transcriptomic sequencing and differential expression genes in P. citri treated with fluazinam, 59 cytochrome P450 genes, 23 glutathione s-transferase genes, five carboxylate esterase genes, 11 superoxide dismutase genes and 15 catalase genes were identified. The Gene Ontology enrichment and the enrichment of KEGG results showed that the treatment were enrichment for redox enzyme pathways. Evaluating the efficacy of fluazinam, and analyzing the transcriptome data of P. citri under fluazinam stress, potentially provide a new agent for prevention and control of P. citri, and also preliminary research results for exploring the mechanism of action of fluazinam on P. citri. Given the up-regulated expression levels of genes for Mn-superoxide dismutase and catalase, we speculate that they play an important role in fluazinam-stress action on P. citri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]