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Controlling unwanted annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) in desirable turfgrass species often relies heavily on herbicide use. As a result, increasing populations of herbicide-resistant annual bluegrass have become a concern. In 2018, a university research and extension initiative began addressing the increasing herbicide-resistant annual bluegrass epidemic. Preliminary findings produced by this research initiative were presented to golf course employees at the 2022 Golf Course Superintendents Association of American Educational Conference in San Diego, California. Findings were presented by a panel of scientists working on various annual bluegrass research sub-objectives. A survey was designed to match the sub-objectives within this panel presentation and determine what recommendations the attendees were most likely to use. The survey also identified environmental zones where participants originated and what turfgrass species they are managing in various areas of the golf course. The goal of sharing these survey findings is to assist turfgrass extension specialists and managers interested in designing annual bluegrass management programs that match stakeholder needs. Survey results determined that extension material pertaining to controlling annual bluegrass with cultural practices would interest the largest stakeholder cross section regardless of environmental turfgrass zone. Another major topic was annual bluegrass emergence patterns for herbicide timing, which was the most important or interesting topic for golf course employees in the warm-season turfgrass environmental zone.

Pesticide exposure represents a significant occupational health hazard for farmworkers, and handwashing is one strategy to reduce exposure via the dermal route. After learning about recent research findings regarding the lack of handwashing utilized by North Carolina farmworkers in the field, the North Carolina Farmworker Health Program approached the student and faculty member who conducted the research to partner and improve handwashing education, with the goal of reducing pesticide exposure among farmworkers. The resulting handwashing educational toolkit was the product of a participatory development project that engaged farmworker health outreach workers with university partners in every stage--from needs assessment to method and message selection and, ultimately, educational material development and evaluation. This promising project serves as a model for a sustainable partnership among a student, faculty member, and community organization and underscores the importance of respect, equality, and distributed power in collaboratively responding to a community-identified need.

Teaching the fundamentals of chemical kinetics on the college level is challenging to teachers and students alike due to its abstract nature of concepts and limited connection with real context applications. This study consisted of two phases starting with designing a chemistry education for the sustainable development-based learning environment of reaction kinetics, followed by a case study in which students' perceptions toward learning chemistry by solving a real environmental problem using digital resources, spreadsheets, and an active learning environment, were explored. First, we designed a Socio-Scientific Environmental Chemistry module centered on the sorption kinetic processes of herbicides in volcanic ash derived soils (VADS) and their potential to pollute groundwater. The objective of the learning module was to contribute to the development of sustainability skills, to promote learning of contextualized chemistry knowledge, and to develop scientific skills. This module employs spreadsheets as computational tools in chemistry to model real sorption kinetic data of herbicides in VADS. The learning module was designed for one section of two Analytical Chemistry courses and one Physical Chemistry course of an undergraduate chemistry teacher-training program. After the design phase, the learning module was implemented in each course, and students' perceptions were gathered using the focus group technique. The sample was of 22 students distributed into three focus groups. The data collected were analyzed and categorized through qualitative content analysis using the Technological Pedagogical Science Knowledge (TPASK) framework. On the basis of our findings, the students acquired contextualized chemistry knowledge and develop skills and knowledge related to using digital resources and spreadsheets in a scientific context. Besides, the preservice chemistry teachers' knowledge of pedagogy allowed them to develop some elements of their pedagogical science knowledge and TPASK. This case study shows that the problem-based learning approach offers great potential in supporting a learning environment suitable to working with spreadsheets to solve real-environment problems in chemistry education.

Purpose: Audience response system technology has been found to have modest learning and larger non-cognitive impacts on students in traditional secondary and post-secondary learning environments. The impacts of this technology are less understood for learners in informal settings, including for farmers in training provided by extension services. Approach: In this study, we investigated the implementation of audience response systems by Cooperative Extension trainers in five counties in North Carolina during pesticide training for farmers. We quantitatively assessed farmers' knowledge gains and explored their impressions of the learning environment when audience response systems were used. Findings: Results suggest that audience response technology has similar benefits in farmer pesticide training as those identified during use in traditional educational settings. Education, age, and experience did not affect knowledge gains observed with use of the technology with farmers. Practical Implications: This study supports the use of audience response system technology in farmer training provided by extension services, even for older adults without post-secondary education. Theoretical Implications: As in traditional learning environments, non-cognitive impacts of audience response system use in farmer training appear to be more robust than learning impacts, and the implementation practices of trainers may influence learning outcomes. Originality/Value: This study meets a need to understand the impact of audience response systems on learning outcomes in agricultural and extension learning environments and uses pre-test measures to establish baseline comparisons of control and treatment groups.

Since 1999, one of the main strategies the Colombian government has used to mitigate coca cultivation is to spray the crops with herbicide, which is carried out from airplanes. In this paper I evaluate the consequences of this strategy for rural households in areas where coca is cultivated, specifically the effects of aerial spraying on child labor and education. Since the areas where spraying takes place are fundamentally different from those where it does not, I use a two-stage least squares model, instrumenting for aerial eradication with the number of days highspeed winds in the municipality made spraying difficult. These were days in which the wind was one standard deviation above the municipality's monthly average. This corrects for possible sources of endogeneity due to selection bias. The results of this study show that aerial spraying was associated with a one percentage point increase in the likelihood that children ages 12-17 would work instead of going to school. Crop spraying was further associated with a 0.15 percentage point increase in the probability that older siblings in families living in a coca-growing area would fall behind in school, and a five percentage point increase in the probability that younger siblings would drop out of school. Thus, the findings of this research, based on data that cover the period from 2008 to 2012, suggest that the war on drugs has the potential to generate new barriers to educational access for children who live in areas where aerial spraying occurs.

In 2019, Artist Inc. and the Kinnari Ecological Theatre Project presented "Snow White and the Apple's Revenge" at the Likhandula Festival in Los Baños, the Philippines. Adapting the original Grimm version of the fairytale to challenge the validity of GM crops, it was presented in the town where the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is located. In 2019, both IRRI's controversial 'golden rice', a new GM rice containing beta carotene to prevent night blindness, and a new GM apple that does not brown when cut were put on the market, providing the context for the performance.

Responding to a call for national reform of mathematical education, as well as a college-wide revision of general education (GE) requirements, we describe a new entry-level, GE course focused on the humanitarian utility of mathematics. This includes a detailed overview of how we taught the course using a Humanitarian MATLAB Lab Manual developed collaboratively with undergraduate students within an applied math program. A "PRIMUS" edition of this manual with complete MATLAB materials for a GE course is included as an Appendix for interested readers. A variety of social justice issues including peace-building after modern civil wars, continued cancer risk after Chernobyl, gang reduction, various dimensions of human trafficking, the use of a tractor and herbicide in subsistence farming, equitable resource distribution during the Syrian refugee crisis, and access to HIV vaccines are included in this special edition of the manual.

A pilot study was conducted to better understand the knowledge, perceptions, and concerns of turf and lawn care pesticide professionals in New York State (NYS) regarding cancer and other health risks. Data were collected from 31 focus group participants and 104 questionnaire respondents in applicator trainings and other meetings around the state. Three distinct themes emerged from focus group discussions: cultural shift in pesticide management practices, costs and benefits of pesticide regulations, and challenges of understanding and communicating about health risks. Factor analysis yielded three subscales: "control disease," "reduce chemical risk," and "concern." Exploratory regression analysis yielded predictive relationships between work experience, cancer risk knowledge, and attitudes in support of reducing chemical risk, which in turn predicted precautionary pesticide behavior, such as reading the label and using personal protective equipment. Results suggest the need to incorporate cancer risk education into continuing education for turf and lawn care professionals. (Contains 5 tables, 1 figure, and 3 notes.)

This article examines the expansion of agrofuels in the Americas and the ecological impacts associated with the technologies used in the production of large-scale monocultures of corn and soybeans. In addition to deforestation and displacement of lands devoted to food crops due to expansion of agrofuels, the massive use of transgenic crops and agrochemical inputs, mainly fertilizers and herbicides used in the production of agrofuels, pose grave environmental problems.

"Biological invasions" are now recognized as the cause of significant ecological and economic damage. They also raise a series of less visible social issues. Management of invasive species is often a political process raising questions such as who decides which organisms are to be managed, and who benefits or is affected by different management techniques. In a rural region of northern California, the proposed use of herbicides on spotted knapweed sparked an intense social controversy. This research uses participant observation, interviews, and archival material to understand how members of the Karuk Tribe of California, the non-Indian community, and the U.S. Forest Service developed different perceptions of safety and risk regarding herbicide use. I describe interconnected factors that frame the interpretation of risk: institutional trust, proximity to exposure, gender, and race. Gender and race, in turn, form the basis of anti-herbicide mobilization. The larger sociological question highlighted is, who pays the price for species invasions? Use of herbicides on invasive species is increasing. Many people who face increased exposure to herbicides are members of racial minority groups. When the poor or racial minorities face disproportionate exposure, differences in risk perception become matters of environmental justice. This paper discusses the broader social implications of differences in risk perception among communities and land managers. (Contains 1 footnote.)

This paper seeks to explain variations in gender participation in farm production and decision-making through an analysis of organic farm types, sizes, and orientations. Based on both survey and case study data, the analysis shows that female farmers on vegetable farms and mixed livestock/cash crop farms are more likely to be involved in farm production and management than women on field crop farms, where mechanization and capital intensive production is much higher. The links to ideological orientations and motivations are also examined, suggesting that farmers with more conventional orientations to organic farming are also less likely to support gender equality. (Contains 6 tables and 10 footnotes.)

This interrupted case study, developed for an honors seminar and a nonmajors chemistry course, is based on data taken from a series of published research articles. The case explores the unintended side effects of chemicals introduced into the environment, specifically organic compounds that can act as environmental estrogens. Students examine the data on the effects of the herbicide atrazine on the environment, then discuss the scientific, political, and economic issues that underlie the controversy surrounding its sale in the United States. (Contains 7 figures and 2 resources.)

The metabolism and toxicology of the herbicide 2, 4, 5-T are reviewed. (BB)

Describes the usefulness of glyphosate for a demonstration of its herbicidal properties. Includes a list of the materials, preparation of solutions, procedures, data collection and analysis for three activities involving this chemical. (CW)

Presented is a brief review of plant growth substances and selective herbicides. Topics include herbicidal selectivity and inhibitors. (BB)

Presents a brief review of pesticide use. Included topics are: biological activity, formulation, application, uptake, metabolism, residues, and tolerance. (BB)

This review is devoted to methods for the determination of residues of pesticides and some related industrial chemicals. Topics include: residue methods, sampling, chromatography, organochlorine pesticides, organophosphorus pesticides, carbamate insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, pyrethrins, fumigants, and related chemicals. (MVL)

Discusses problems in selecting the correct herbicide for use in controlling aquatic weeds, considering specificity, size of the market, fear of trace contaminants, and herbicide resistance in weeds. Also summarizes some successful herbicides, providing a table listing mode of action of some herbicides used for control of aquatic plants. (JN)

The history of the development of the herbicide industry, particularly the phenoxy herbicides 2, 4-D, and 2, 4, 5-T,is presented. (BB)

The potential connection between exposure to glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) and breast cancer risk is a topic of research that is rapidly gaining the publics attention due to the conflicting reports surrounding glyphosates potential carcinogenicity. In this review, we synthesize the current published biomedical literature works that have explored associations of glyphosate, its metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), and GBHs with breast cancer risk in humans and human cell-based models. Using PubMed as our search engine, we identified a total of 14 articles that were included in this review. In the four human studies, urinary glyphosate and/or AMPA were associated with breast cancer risk, endocrine disruption, oxidative stress biomarkers, and changes in DNA methylation patterns. Among most of the 10 human cell-based studies, glyphosate exhibited endocrine disruption, induced altered gene expression, increased DNA damage, and altered cell viability, while GBHs were more cytotoxic than glyphosate alone. In summary, numerous studies have shown glyphosate, AMPA, and GBHs to have potential carcinogenic, cytotoxic, or endocrine-disruptive properties. However, more human studies need to be conducted in order for more definitive and supported conclusions to be made on their potential effects on breast cancer risk.

Oxylipins are a group of bioactive fatty acid metabolites generated via enzymatic oxygenation. They are notably involved in inflammation, pain, vascular tone, hemostasis, thrombosis, immunity, and coagulation. Oxylipins have become the focus of therapeutic intervention since they are implicated in many conditions, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and aging. The liver plays a crucial role in lipid metabolism and distribution throughout the organism. Long-term exposure to pesticides is suspected to contribute to hepatic carcinogenesis via notable disruption of lipid metabolism. Prometryn is a methylthio-s-triazine herbicide used to control the growth of annual broadleaf and grass weeds in many cultivated plants. The amounts of prometryn documented in the environment, mainly waters, soil and plants used for human and domestic consumption are significantly high. Previous research revealed that prometryn decreased liver development during zebrafish embryogenesis. To understand the mechanisms by which prometryn could induce hepatotoxicity, the effect of prometryn (185 mg/kg every 48 h for seven days) was investigated on hepatic and plasma oxylipin levels in mice. Using an unbiased LC-MS/MS-based lipidomics approach, prometryn was found to alter oxylipins metabolites that are mainly derived from cytochrome P450 (CYP) and lipoxygenase (LOX) in both mice liver and plasma. Lipidomic analysis revealed that the hepatotoxic effects of prometryn are associated with increased epoxide hydrolase (EH) products, increased sEH and mEH enzymatic activities, and induction of oxidative stress. Furthermore, 9-HODE and 13-HODE levels were significantly increased in prometryn treated mice liver, suggesting increased levels of oxidation products. Together, these results support that sEH may be an important component of pesticide-induced liver toxicity.

The document is an interview with Prof. Fernanda Fidalgo from the Biology Department at the University of Porto, Portugal. It discusses her academic journey, research on plant stress responses, and collaborations. Prof. Fidalgo highlights challenges in science in Portugal, the importance of student relationships, and her future research focus. The interview also touches on the evolving publishing landscape, social media in science communication, and personal hobbies. Prof. Fidalgo reflects on key moments that shaped her career and life, including her decision to pursue academia, motherhood, and overcoming personal challenges. [Extracted from the article]

The use of pesticides is often regarded as a fundamental aspect of conventional agriculture. However, these compounds have gained recognition as some of the oldest and most widely employed xenobiotic contaminants, necessitating effective strategies for human biomonitoring. In this context, a method was developed for the determination of 16 legacy organochlorine pesticides, 6 metabolites of current pesticides (2,4-D, malathion, parathion, fipronil, pyraclostrobin, cypermethrin, permethrin, cyfluthrin), and 1 triazine herbicide (atrazine) in serum. Samples were prepared with water, formic acid, acetonitrile, and ultrasound irradiation, followed by solid-phase extraction with Oasis Prime HLB. Subsequently, metabolites from current pesticides underwent derivatization using MTBSTFA with 1% TBDMSCl for analysis via gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS), employing an SLB-5MS fused silica capillary column. Analytical curves were generated with limits of quantification from 0.3 to 4.0 ng.mL−1. Accuracy ranged from 69 to 124%, and the coefficient of variation from 2 to 28%. Moreover, determining 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-ol was suggested as a biomarker for pyraclostrobin biomonitoring. This analytical approach facilitated the determination of both legacy and metabolites of current pesticides in the same serum sample, presenting an interesting and cost-effective option for large cohorts, and multi-omics studies that evaluate time-dependent biomarkers in blood samples, thereby enabling biomonitoring within the same matrix. Furthermore, a proof-of-concept involving 10 volunteers demonstrated exposure to 9 pesticides at mean concentrations measured in ng mL−1, consistent with findings from various biomonitoring initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Weed infestation in cotton has been reported to offer severe competition and cause yield reduction to a large extent. Weeding via cultural practices is time consuming, tedious, and expensive due to long duration of cotton crop and regular monsoon rains during cotton production in India. Chemical weed control has been successfully utilized in cotton in the recent past. However, continuous use of similar herbicides leads to resistance in weeds against herbicides. And when sprayed to the field, herbicides not only suppress weeds but leave undesirable residues in the soil that are hazardous to the environment. Therefore, a study was performed at cotton research area at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana during two consecutive kharif seasons (2020 and 2021) to determine the most suitable and sustainable weed management strategy through the integration of chemical and cultural methods. Results: Mulching with rice straw of 7.5 t ha−1 resulted in significantly higher cotton seed yield (3 189 and 3 084 kg ha−1) and better weed control in comparison to no mulch treatments (2 990 and 2904 kg ha−1) in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Among various weed management levels, the significantly lowest cotton seed yield was recorded in untreated control (1 841 and 1 757 kg·ha−1 during 2020 and 2021, respectively) in comparison to other treatments while all other treatments were statistically at par with each other during both years of crop experimentation. Conclusion: Mulching with rice straw of 7.5 t·ha−1 along with a pre-emergence application of pendimethalin (active ingredient) at 1.5 kg·ha−1fb (followed by) one hoeings at 45 days after sowing (DAS) and fb glyphosate 2 kg·ha−1 (Shielded spray) at 90 DAS is a viable option for effective control of grassy and broadleaved weeds in Bt cotton in north-west India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document titled "PM 9/32 (1) Solanum carolinense" from the EPPO Bulletin describes the control procedures for monitoring, containing, and eradicating Solanum carolinense, a perennial herb native to North America. The species is considered a major agricultural problem due to its weedy attributes and negative impact on crop yield, livestock, and host to crop diseases and pests. The document outlines the importance of regional cooperation, surveillance, eradication, and containment measures to prevent the further spread of this pest. It also provides detailed information on monitoring, eradication, and containment strategies, including the use of herbicides, mechanical control, mowing, and cultural control methods. [Extracted from the article]

The document from the journal "Analyst" published by The Royal Society of Chemistry in 2024 provides a comprehensive list of research papers and articles on various topics related to chemistry. The papers cover a wide range of subjects, including electrochemical approaches for biomarker detection, detection of volatile organic compounds, catalytic kinetics, and sensor development for various applications. The journal aims to connect the global chemistry community through impactful research and publications, reinvesting profits back into the field. [Extracted from the article]

Glyphosate (GLY) is widely applied in agriculture and horticulture as a herbicide. The development of genetically modified plants has caused abuse of GLY, with excessive residues potentially causing harm to human health. Consequently, a novel method needs to be built to detect GLY in soybeans and corn. Computer simulation was used to design an excellent hapten which was used to produce an anti-GLY monoclonal antibody (mAb) with outstanding sensitivity and affinity, and its 50%-inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 128.59 ng mL−1. Afterwards, an immunochromatographic assay strip was developed based on the mAb. In soybeans and corn, the visual detection limits were 1 mg kg−1 and 0.2 mg kg−1, while the cut-off values were 50 mg kg−1 and 5 mg kg−1, respectively. The reliability of the strips was proved by the existing methods. Thus, a rapid method to detect GLY residues on-site in soybeans and corn was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread distribution of herbicides in the environment poses a significant risk to human health and wildlife. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has emerged as a powerful technique for detecting and analyzing herbicides. However, developing a low-cost, highly sensitive, reproducible, stable, and Raman-active nanostructured substrate for herbicide detection remains a particular challenge. In this research, a nanohybrid substrate consisting of gold nanoparticles@carbon nanodots (AuNPs@CNDs) was synthesized by reducing HAuCl4 in the presence of CNDs at 100 °C. The optical, chemical, and physical properties of CNDs, AuNPs, and the hybrid AuNPs@CND substrates were thoroughly investigated using various techniques including UV-vis spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and CytoViva darkfield and hyperspectral imaging. The SERS effect of the substrates was evaluated using rhodamine 6G (Rh6G), a Raman-active probe, and two groups of herbicides containing mesotrione or S-metolachlor. The results demonstrated a significant signal amplification in the SERS spectra of Rh6G and herbicide molecule detection using the AuNPs@CND substrate compared to bare CNDs and AuNPs alone. This suggests that the nanohybrid AuNPs@CND SERS substrate holds promise for the detection of herbicides and other organic compounds in environmental applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study quantifies the crop yield loss by weeds and management of hardy and prominent weeds. Uncontrolled weeds reduced grain yield of DSR by 68%. Pendimethalin 1.0 kg ha−1 pre-emergence (PE) followed by (fb) bispirbac-sodium 30 g ha−1 at 25 DAS fb fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 60 g ha−1 at 30 DAS, and pendimethalin 1.0 kg ha−1 (PE) fb azimsulfuron 25 g ha−1+fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 60 g ha−1 at 30 DAS significantly reduced weed density and weed dry matter, and recorded higher grain yield in DSR than other treatments. The pendimethalin 1.0 kg ha−1 (PE) fb bispyribac-sodium 30 g ha−1 at 30 DAS was statistically similar to stale seed-bed fb bispyribac-sodium 30 g ha−1 at 30 DAS and gave higher weed control efficiency and energy index compared to unweeded control and bispyribac-sodium 30 g ha−1 at 30 DAS. Pendimethalin 1.0 kg ha−1 (PE) fb bispyribac-sodium 30 g ha−1 at 25 DAS fb fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 60 g ha−1 30 DAS showed more promising in controlling tough weeds like L. chinensis and D. aegyptium and predominant weeds (Echinochloa colona, broad-leaved weeds and Cyperus species) in DSR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

California is the nation's primary producer of almonds, pistachios, and walnuts, and an important producer of rice. Because of California's diverse cropping systems, off-target herbicide drift can be a considerable problem, particularly from aerial applications that are commonly used in flooded rice production systems. Triclopyr is an auxin-mimic type herbicide that has been commonly used in rice for many years for control of broadleaf weeds and the industry is familiar with symptoms of off-target triclopyr drift. Florpyrauxifen-benzyl is a newly registered auxin-mimic herbicide in California rice with activity on key weeds and is being rapidly adopted. Although symptoms typically are similar among auxinic herbicides, it is important to understand subtle differences and risks among these herbicides as stewardship for newly registered products. This research was conducted in 2020 and 2021 to determine the relative sensitivity of almond, pistachio, and walnut trees to simulated drift rates of florpyrauxifen-benzyl and triclopyr as well as characterize and compare symptoms caused by these two herbicides. The fractional herbicide rates tested were 1/200X, 1/100X, 1/33X, and 1/10X of the florpyrauxifen-benzyl use rate of 29.4 g·ha-1 a.i. and 1/200X, 1/100X, and 1/33X of the triclopyr use rate of 420.3 g·ha-1 a.e. Florpyrauxifen-benzyl and triclopyr herbicides were applied directly to one side of the canopy of 1- to 2-year-old almond, pistachio, and walnut trees. The general symptoms of florpyrauxifen-benzyl and triclopyr were chlorosis, chlorotic spots, leaf curling, leaf narrowing, leaf distortion, leaf malformation, leaf crinkling, shoot curling, stem coloring, stunting, terminal bud death, and twisting. The florpyrauxifen-benzyl and triclopyr injury symptoms were compared at the same fractional rates and found to be similar to each other. The herbicide injury was observed on the entire pistachio canopy, particularly on developing leaves and terminal buds. In contrast, injury symptoms on almond and walnut were more apparent on the side of the canopy to which the herbicides were applied. Symptom severity peaked at 14 days after treatment with the 1/10X florpyrauxifen-benzyl rate, when the visible injury was 16%, 48%, and 78% on almond, walnut, and pistachio, respectively. Although almond and walnut symptoms from the 1/10X florpyrauxifen-benzyl rate remained visible longer than all other treatments, all trees gradually recovered throughout the growing season. In contrast, pistachio trees did not recover fully and had injury symptoms that persisted for the remainder of the treatment year and at leaf-out the following spring. When drift occurs, it is typically at rates below 1/100X up to 1/33X of herbicide use rates. This research suggested that proper herbicide drift management practices and application precautions are likely to minimize the risk of significant injury from florpyrauxifen-benzyl drift to almond and walnut because of low injury symptoms at the typical drift rates. However, extra precautions may be needed if there are nearby pistachio orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbicides have demonstrated their impact on insect fitness by affecting their associated microbiota or altering the virulence of entomopathogenic fungi toward insects. However, limited research has explored the implications of herbicide stress on the intricate tripartite interaction among insects, associated bacterial communities, and entomopathogens. In this study, we initially demonstrated that associated bacteria confer a leaf beetle, Plagiodera versicolora, with the capability to resist the entomopathogenic fungus Aspergillus nomius infection, a capability sustained even under herbicide glyphosate stress. Further analysis of the associated microbiota revealed a significant alteration in abundance and composition due to glyphosate treatment. The dominant bacterium, post A. nomius infection or following a combination of glyphosate treatments, exhibited strong suppressive effects on fungal growth. Additionally, glyphosate markedly inhibited the pathogenic associated bacterium Pseudomonas though it inhibited P. versicolora's immunity, ultimately enhancing the beetle's tolerance to A. nomius. In summary, our findings suggest that the leaf beetle's associated microbiota bestow an augmented resilience against the dual stressors of both the entomopathogen and glyphosate. These results provide insight into the effects of herbicide residues on interactions among insects, associated bacteria, and entomopathogenic fungi, holding significant implications for pest control and ecosystem assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the underlying temporal dynamics influencing invasive plant control outcomes is essential to achieve restoration and land management goals. Within grasslands, herbicides are commonly used as the main method for invasive plant control, but the efficacy of management may be dependent on seasonal dynamics, as well as the number of applications. Additionally, assessments to quantify invasive plant control are often limited to aboveground plant composition, overlooking the potential repository of propagules stored in the soil seedbank, and additional impacts on nontarget species. To ensure that an herbicide method is effectively controlling invader populations, while limiting impacts on the resident plant communities, both above‐ and belowground species responses must be assessed. We established an herbicide field experiment across different sites and years in Riverside, CA, U.S.A., to assess the control of a global annual invasive forb, Oncosiphon pilulifer. We investigated how seasonal herbicide management (early‐season vs. late‐season) and repeated annual herbicide applications (1 vs. 2 years) influenced cover and seedbank density of our focal invader and the resident plant community 1 year after treatment. We found that although late‐ and early‐season‐applied herbicides reduced invader cover, early‐season applications were the only strategy to reduce invader seedbank density, indicating potential longer term management control. Lastly, native cover was limited in post‐treated areas, suggesting that additional management strategies may be needed to overcome native establishment limitations in invaded grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High beech regeneration density is a concern in northern shade tolerant hardwood forests. High densities of beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh) regeneration can crowd out other desirable species, such as sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.), and jeopardize long-term sustainability since beech is under threat from beech bark disease (Cryptococcus fagisuga/Neonectria spp. Complex). We examined the efficacy of three tending (no tending, brush saw, and basal bark herbicide) and two timing and harvesting (deferred 5 years post-single tree selection harvest, concurrent with uniform shelterwood harvest) treatments on reducing beech regeneration density and promoting sugar maple regeneration density over 6 years. Six years after tending, we found that large beech regeneration density was reduced, medium beech regeneration density had recovered to pre-tending levels in most treatments, and small beech regeneration density remained unaffected. Tending treatments had no effect on any size class of sugar maple regeneration density but the uniform shelterwood harvest promoted medium sugar maple density more than the single-tree selection harvest. Despite this increase, in all treatment combinations sugar maple regeneration densities remained below stocking targets. Our results suggest that while tending treatments can temporarily reduce beech regeneration densities, sugar maple is unable to take advantage of the increased growing space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulses are essential components of vegetarian diet and play a pivotal role in addressing malnutrition by providing a vital source of dietary protein. However, weed competition remains as a significant obstacle to blackgram (Vigna mungo L) production, resulting in 25 to 35% yield losses. A field experiment was carried out at the National Pulses Research Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Vamban, Pudukkottai, India during Kharif seasons of 2020 and 2021, to assess the suitable post-emergence herbicides for appropriate weed control in blackgram grown under irrigated conditions. The experimental field was observed to contain notable grass weed flora, specifically Dactyloctenium aegyptium and Chloris barbata, as well as broadleaved weeds, such as Flaveria australica, Cleome gynandra, Eclipta alba, Convolvulus arvensis, Digera arvensis, Vicia spp., and Celosia argentea. The results demonstrated that among the chemical weed management methods, spraying of Fomesafen @ 220 g + Fluzifop p-butyl @ 220 g ha−1 at 20 days after sowing (DAS) as a post-emergence herbicide treatment exhibited superior weed control efficiency, recording 66.80% and 68.53% at 30 and 45 DAS, respectively and recorded higher seed yield of 1088 kg ha−1. Additionally, this method generated 8.1% higher net income and 12.5% more benefit–cost ratio than hand weeding, making it an economically profitable strategy for maximizing blackgram yield and effective labour management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The off-target effects of herbicides present significant challenges in agricultural practices, posing serious threats to both ecological systems and human health. Dicamba, one of the most widely used herbicides, is particularly problematic due to its high volatility and water solubility, which can lead to rapid environmental dispersal, non-target toxicity, and groundwater contamination. To mitigate these issues, we synthesized a novel cocrystal of dicamba and phenazine (DCB-PHE cocrystal) through a combination of theoretical prediction and mechanochemical screening. The DCB-PHE cocrystal was characterized using single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermal analysis. Compared to pure dicamba, the DCB-PHE cocrystal exhibited a substantial reduction in volatility by 59 % and a decrease in equilibrium solubility by up to 5.4 times across various temperatures (15 °C, 25 °C, 35 °C). Additionally, the dissolution rates were significantly lowered by over 94 %. Leaching experiments demonstrated that the DCB-PHE cocrystal reduced total leachate by 4.9 % and delayed percolation. In greenhouse trials, the DCB-PHE cocrystal caused less damage to exposed soy plants and enhanced herbicidal activity against target weeds, with fresh weight reduction of chicory and ryegrass by 32 % and 28 %, respectively, at the highest dosage. Furthermore, safety assays confirmed that the DCB-PHE cocrystal's safety profile was comparable to that of dicamba in terms of its impact on wheat, and it did not exhibit increased genotoxicity to broad beans. These findings suggest that the DCB-PHE cocrystal is a promising candidate for reducing the environmental impacts of dicamba while maintaining its herbicidal efficacy. The DCB-PHE cocrystal, prepared via supramolecular self-assembly, reduces drift, slows release, and decreases leaching rates into groundwater, contributing significantly to the development green and efficient agriculture. [Display omitted] • DCB-PHE cocrystal is prepared via mechanochemical and solution methods. • DCB-PHE cocrystal reduces the volatility of dicamba, minimizing soybean leaf damage. • DCB-PHE cocrystal significantly decreases solubility and dissolution rates at various temperatures. • DCB-PHE cocrystal lowers the leaching rate of dicamba into groundwater. • DCB-PHE cocrystal enhances herbicidal activity without increasing non-target toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of herbicidal activity and identification of active compounds are important bases for the development of new botanical herbicides. RESULTS: This study confirmed that Symphoricarpos orbiculatus has high herbicidal activities against mono‐dicotyledonous weeds, including Echinochloa crusgalli, Digitaria sanguinalis, Amaranthus retroflexus and Portulaca oleracea. By bioassay‐guided isolation, 12 compounds were isolated and identified from S. orbiculatus for the first time, including iridoids: naucledal (K1), loganin (K2), loganigenin (K3), loganin acid (K4), glucologanin (K5) and vogeloside (K6), as well as flavonoids: quercetine (K7), luteolin (K8), nobiletin (K9), astragalin (K10), isorhamnetin 3‐d‐glucoside (K11) and rutin (K12). Biological assays showed that iridoids are the main active ingredients of S. orbiculatus. The compounds of K5 and K6 could inhibit both the root (IC50 = 37.54 and 38.91 μg mL−1, respectively) and shoot (IC50 = 42.78 and 45.72 μg mL−1, respectively) of Portulaca oleracea, which have a weeding toxicity similar to that of the commercialized plant‐based herbicide pelargonic acid. In addition, the results of pot culture assay showed that S. orbiculatus ethanol extracts had high fresh weight control effect against Digitaria sanguinalis and P. oleracea at the concentration of 40 g L−1. After 7 days, both the soil treatment and the stem and leaf spray method resulted in severe leaf necrosis and significant leaf etiolation. CONCLUSION: Symphoricarpos orbiculatus and its herbicidal active compounds have the potential to develop into botanical herbicides, and are first reported in the present study. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small concentrations of herbicide, such as those found in drift, can affect nontarget plants at different life‐history stages including seed germination and seedling emergence as well as seedling growth. Fragmented landscapes, such as those in the northern Great Plains, lead to increased proximity of ecological restoration sites to agricultural lands using herbicides. Germination, emergence, and growth are crucial life‐history stages leading to ecological restoration success, but these stages are sensitive to impacts from external factors such as herbicide exposure. A lab germination experiment and a greenhouse emergence experiment were performed to examine the effect of herbicides (2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid [2,4‐D], atrazine, and trifluralin) on species used in ecological restorations in the northern Great Plains. Seed germination, seedling emergence, and seedling growth of many study species decreased with exposure to herbicides at different concentrations representative of herbicide drift. At concentrations as low as 0.1% recommended application rate 2,4‐D elicited broad effects on final seed germination percentage and germination rate. Atrazine affected seedling emergence and growth for a number of study species at concentrations as low as 10% recommended application rate. Trifluralin affected germination, emergence, and growth of the fewest number of study species. The information gained from these experiments can be used to inform restoration practitioners of best practices and recommended species to use when implementing ecological restoration adjacent to agricultural lands. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:2387–2397. © 2024 The Author(s). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbicides (HBCs) are extensively used in modern agriculture. However, their potential negative impacts on environmental media have emerged as a significant environmental concern. In this study, we employed positive matrix factorization (PMF) to identify the potential sources of HBCs. Furthermore, we utilized a multi-matrix ecological risk model to assess the risks associated with HBCs in both surface water and groundwater in the black soil region of Northeast China. The findings revealed that the levels of ∑ 15 HBCs in surface water and groundwater ranged from 585.84 to 6466.96 ng/L and 4.80 to 11,774.64 ng/L, respectively. The PMF results indicated that surface runoff and erosion accounted for 50% of the total HBCs in water, serving as the primary sources. All tested HBCs exhibited acute risk values within acceptable levels. The risk index for the ∑ 15 HBCs was categorized as "moderate risk" in 31% of the surface waters and 13% of the groundwaters. However, 4% of the groundwater sampling sites reached the "high risk" level. The chronic risk quotient of ∑ 15 HBCs in surface water and groundwater was 92% and 62% at the "high risk" level, respectively. Interestingly, non-carcinogenic HBCs contributed more significantly to the ecotoxicology of the aquatic system than carcinogenic HBCs. This study provides comprehensive information on the legacy of HBCs in water bodies and emphasizes the potential risks posed by HBCs to aquatic systems. The results obtained from this study could help relevant management authorities in developing and implementing effective regulations to mitigate the ecological and environmental risks associated with HBCs. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heavy reliance on herbicides for weed control has led to an increase in resistant weeds in the United States. Robotic weed control is emerging as an alternative technology for removing weeds mechanically using artificial intelligence. We develop an integrated weed ecological and economic dynamic (I‐WEED) model to examine the biophysical and economic drivers of adopting robotic weed management and simulate the optimal timing and intensity of robotic adoption within and across growing seasons. We specify a cohort‐based weed growth model that relates yield damages to effective weed density and treats the susceptibility of weeds to herbicides as a renewable resource that can be regenerated by using mechanical weeding robots, due to a fitness cost that makes resistant weeds less prolific. Compared to myopic weed management which ignores resistance development, forward‐looking management leads to earlier adoption of robots and treating robots as complements instead of substitutes to herbicides. This weed management results in adopting fewer robots, deploying robots on a smaller portion of the land, higher profitability, and lower yield loss in the long run, relative to myopic management. Counterintuitively, myopic management leads to a lower resistance level through its higher robot adoption intensity. We also find that a lower level of initial weed seed resistance and/or a higher fitness cost result in a higher level of resistance because they create incentives for farmers to delay the adoption of robotic weed control. Our analysis shows the importance of jointly considering the interactions between weed ecology and economics in analyzing the incentives and effects of robotic weed management on weed resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decades, concern has been increasing over reported declines in aboveground biodiversity on farmland. In many regions, data on the toxicity of pesticides to honeybees (Apis mellifera), but not wider nontarget arthropod (NTA) data, are required for pesticide registration. In Europe, the effects of pesticides on NTAs and honeybees have been the subject of regulatory risk assessment for more than 30 years, resulting in a large database. Although insecticides may be expected to affect NTA populations, solely identifying insecticidal modes of action for further NTA testing would result in redundancy among low‐risk testing products and may also exclude other modes of action with potential effects in the field. This study assessed whether the honeybee acute risk assessment could provide any indication of the potential impact and recovery time of NTAs in cropped areas at the field scale and, if so, how it might be used in a tiered testing approach. The hazard quotients (HQs; foliar application rate/LR50) were derived for 151 active substances (32% insecticides, 28% fungicides, 38% herbicides, 2% plant growth regulators) for which toxicity data for established EU Tier 1 NTA indicator species (Typhlodromus pyri, Aphidius rhopalosiphi) and application rate data were available. These HQs were compared with published NTA HQ thresholds indicating the time to recovery of NTA populations and communities in field studies (>1 to >12 months). Using the same application rate data, honeybee acute risk quotient (RQ) and HQ were also determined and compared with NTA HQs and honeybee regulatory thresholds. These comparisons demonstrated that, where required, the current regulatory honeybee acute RQ of 0.4 or honeybee HQ of 50 can provide an efficient screening tier to target NTA testing at those products and uses with potential effects in the field where recovery may exceed 12 months. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:2326–2333. © 2024 SETAC Key Points: Comparison of the 151 nontarget arthropod (NTA) hazard quotients (HQs) with the honeybee acute risk quotients (RQs) and HQs revealed that the current honeybee thresholds (RQ 0.4 or HQ 50) can provide an efficient screening tier to target any NTA testing at those product and use rates with potential effects in the field where recovery may exceed 12 months.Such an approach is also applicable with mixture products and off‐crop, with the relevance of the NTA HQ thresholds potentially being more widely addressed by assessing whether taxa identified in EU field studies encompass the traits of taxa within a region or of a particular species of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA), a sodium salt of monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), is a selective contact herbicide used for the control of a broad spectrum of weeds. In water, MSMA dissociates to ions of sodium (Na+) and monomethylarsonate (MMA−) that is stable and does not transform abiotically. In soils characteristic of MSMA use, several simultaneous processes can occur: (1) microbial methylation of MMA to dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), (2) microbial demethylation of MMA to inorganic arsenic (iAs), (3) methylation of iAs to MMA, and (4) sorption and sequestration of MMA and its metabolites to soil minerals. Sequestered residues are residues that cannot be desorbed from soil in environmental conditions. Sequestration is rapid in the initial several days after MSMA application and continues at a progressively slower rate over time. Once sequestered, MMA and its metabolites are inaccessible to soil microorganisms and cannot be transformed. The rate and extent of the sorption and sequestration as well as the mobility of MMA and its metabolites depend on the local edaphic conditions. In typical MSMA use areas, the variability of the edaphic conditions is constrained. The goal of this research was to estimate the amount of iAs potentially added to drinking water as a result of the use of MSMA, with models and scenarios developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency for pesticide risk assessment. In this project, the estimated drinking water concentrations (EDWCs) for iAs were assessed as the average concentration in the reservoir over a 30‐year simulation with annual applications of MSMA at maximum label rates. When the total area of suitable land was assumed to be treated, EDWCs ranged from <0.001 to 0.12 µg/L. When high estimates of actually treated acreage are considered, the EDWCs are below 0.06 µg/L across all scenarios. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:2076–2087. © 2024 The Author(s). Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). Key Points: Inorganic arsenic (iAs) potentially added to drinking water from the use of monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA) was estimated with models (Pesticide Root Zone Model, version 5 [PRZM5], Variable Volume Water Model [VVWM], and aerial spray prediction model [AgDRIFT]) and based on scenarios developed by the USEPA for pesticide risk assessment.Sequestered residues (residues that could not be extracted by water or weak acids) were considered as losses to the modeled systems in PRZM5 and VVWM.Rate constants used for modeling sequestration and transformation were derived from empirical data representative of MSMA use environments.The modeled estimated drinking water concentration for iAs ranged from <0.001 to 0.12 µg/L when 100% of the suitable area of a watershed is treated with MSMA and below 0.06 µg/L across all scenarios when the actual area treated with MSMA is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA), the sodium salt of monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), is used as a selective, broad‐spectrum contact herbicide to control weeds in cotton and a variety of turf. In water, MSMA dissociates into ions of sodium (Na+) and of MMA−, which is the herbicide's active component. Certain soil microorganisms can methylate MMA to dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) other microorganisms can demethylate MMA to inorganic arsenic (iAs). To predict the groundwater concentration of iAs that may result from MSMA application, the processes affecting the environmental behavior of MSMA must be quantified and modeled. There is an extensive body of literature regarding the environmental behavior of MSMA. There is a consensus among scientists that the fate of MMA in soil is controlled by microbial activity and sorption to solid surfaces and that iAs sorption is even more extensive than that of MMA. The sorption and transformation of MMA and its metabolites are affected by several factors including aeration condition, temperature, pH, and the availability of nutrients. The precise nature and extent of each of these processes vary depending on site‐specific conditions; however, such variability is constrained in typical MSMA use areas that are highly managed. Monomethylarsonic acid is strongly sorbed on mineral surfaces and becomes sequestered into the soil matrix. Over time, a greater portion of MMA and iAs becomes immobile and unavailable to soil microorganisms and to leaching. This review synthesizes the results of studies that are relevant for the behavior of MSMA used as a herbicide to reliably predict the fate of MSMA in its use conditions. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1859–1875. © 2024 The Author(s). Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). Key Points: The environmental fate of monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA) used as a herbicide should be evaluated based on studies conducted with experimental conditions and setup that are relevant to MSMA use.The environmental fate of MSMA in soil is controlled by sorption and sequestration to soil minerals and by microbial activity.The rate and extent of sorption and sequestration of MSMA vary depending on site‐specific conditions; however, such variability is constrained in typical MSMA use areas.With time, the majority of MSMA and its metabolites become immobile and unavailable to soil microorganisms and transport in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Monsanto company – now acquired by Bayer – has been accused of ghostwriting articles within peer review literature, with the goal of using influential names to front its content in defence of the herbicide Roundup. Here, I conduct a detailed analysis of three Monsanto review articles and a five-article journal supplement for which detailed information from company emails is publicly available following litigation over Roundup. All the articles had external, but not Monsanto authors, and ghostly practices including ghost authorship, corporate ghost authorship and ghost management were evident in their development. There was clear evidence of ghostwriting – that is, drafting of the manuscript by non-authors – in only two cases. I found no evidence of undeserving authorship among the external authors. The articles complied with the disclosure requirements of their journals, save for the journal supplement. While crude ghostwriting did occur, much of the literature involved subtler practices through which Monsanto exercised control over content, while the attribution of the articles downplayed the company's role – and correspondingly aggrandized that of the external authors. Such practices are widespread within industry journal literature and are the responsibility of byline authors and journals as well as corporations. I discuss these cultural problems and consider remedies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data for herbicide effects on plant flowering are needed to determine potential impacts on plant reproduction. Thus, flowering phenology was determined for up to 12 weeks after herbicide treatment for native Willamette Valley plants growing in small plots on two Oregon State University experimental farms. Six perennial species were evaluated: Camassia leichtlinii (CALE), Elymus glaucus (ELGL), Eriophyllum lanatum (ERLA), Festuca idahoensis subsp. roemeri (FEID), Iris tenax (IRTE), and Prunella vulgaris var. lanceolata (PRVU). Effects of glyphosate and dicamba, alone and in combination, were determined using simulated drift rates of 0.1 or 0.2 x field application rates (FAR) of 1119 g ha−1 active ingredient (a.i.) (830 g ha−1 acid glyphosate) for glyphosate and 560 g ha−1 a.i. for dicamba. Flowering phenology was evaluated as stage of development on a scale from no buds (converted to 0), buds (1), pre-flowering (2), flowering (3), post-flowering (4), to mature seeds (5) before herbicide treatment and for 12 weeks after treatment. Flowering response to herbicides varied by species and farm; but, in general, dicamba and glyphosate resulted in earlier flowering stages (delayed or not full flowering) for the dicot ERLA, and to a lesser extent, PRVU; and glyphosate resulted in earlier flowering stages for the monocot IRTE. Based on these data, the concentration of herbicide affecting flowering stage was 0.1 x FAR. Once flowering stage was inhibited by dicamba and glyphosate, plants generally did not recover to full flowering. This study provided evidence that common herbicides can affect flowering phenology of native plants with implications for seed production. Highlights: Flowering phenology (stage of development) of six perennial plant species was evaluated in the field after treatment with dicamba and/or glyphosate. Dicamba and glyphosate resulted in delay of flowering (earlier stages of development) for dicots, especially Eriophyllum lanatum and, to a lesser extent, Prunella vulgaris var. lanceolata. Glyphosate resulted in delay of flowering for the monocot Iris tenax. Flowering stage was affected by 0.1 x a field application rate of 1119 g ha−1 active ingredient (a.i.) (830 g ha−1 acid glyphosate) for glyphosate and 560 g ha−1 a.i. for dicamba. Once flowering stage was inhibited by herbicides, the plants generally did not recover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glyphosate is one of the most used herbicides worldwide. In rice paddy fields, it is usually applied for weed control during the pre-planting stage. Phosphate fertilizers may enhance herbicide displacement in the soil matrix. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of monoamoniun phosphate and the mineralogical composition on the movement and mineralization of glyphosate in clay soils (CS1; CS2 and CS3) in Colombia. Glyphosate miscible displacement experiments were performed in disturbed soil columns, with and without the addition of phosphate after the application of a pulse of N-(phosphonomethyl-14C) glycine. Simultaneously, 14C-glyphosate mineralization was measured indirectly by quantifying the amount 14C–CO2 released daily. At the end of the experiment, the columns were divided into six horizontal sections and glyphosate-bound residues were determined in the soil. The addition of phosphate decreased glyphosate retention time (in CS1 and CS2) and increased the total leached amount only in CS1 soil. Overall, more than 95% of the applied glyphosate was retained in the soil columns. Glyphosate mineralization half-life adjusted to a bi-exponential model, implying that one fraction degrades rapidly due to being more bioavailable, and the other fraction presents a slow rate of degradation and, that although high contents of kaolinite clays are important in the adsorption and translocation of the herbicide, the presence of calcites and divalent cations modify this process, favoring the persistence of the molecule in the soil. Glyphosate partitions into an easily degradable fraction and a more recalcitrant fraction adsorbed to kaolinite clays, calcites, and divalent cations. This fraction is less available for biodegradation thus favoring glyphosate persistence in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unregulated use and improper management of herbicides can cause negative effects on non-target species and promote changes in biological communities. Therefore, the current study is aimed at understanding morphoanatomical responses and effects on seedling development induced by the herbicides glyphosate and saflufenacil in Enterolobium contortisiliquum, a non-target tropical species. The plants were cultivated in a greenhouse and subjected to herbicides at doses of 0, 160, 480, and 1440 g a.e ha−1 for glyphosate, and 0, 25, 50, and 100 g a.i ha−1 for saflufenacil. We conducted visual and morphological assessments over 90 days post-application. Leaf samples were collected 12 days after the application for anatomical analysis, and we also performed a micromorphometric analysis of the leaf tissues. Biomarkers of phytotoxicity were identified in plants exposed to both herbicides, even at the lowest doses, including in leaves without visual symptoms. The main morphological alterations were the decrease in growth, stem diameter, and dry mass. Furthermore, the leaves and stems visually exhibited chlorosis and necrosis. Both herbicides triggered anatomical modifications such as significant changes (p < 0.05) in the thickness of leaf tissues, hypertrophy, cell collapse, and changes in epicuticular waxes. However, the alterations induced by glyphosate were more widespread compared to saflufenacil, encompassing alterations in the root system. We confirmed that the different mechanisms of action of each herbicide and the existence of an underground reserve system in this species are intrinsically linked to the morphological and developmental responses described. Our findings suggest that E. contortisiliquum could be a potential bioindicator species for these herbicides in the environment, even at concentrations lower than those typically recommended for field application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Evolution of herbicide‐resistant weed populations is a major challenge to world food production. Using different herbicides in rotation and/or using different herbicides together as mixtures are strategies that may delay the selection of resistance. This study used simulation modelling to investigate whether mixtures and rotations can delay the selection of both generalist polygenic and specialist monogenic herbicide resistance, and whether these strategies are more likely to lead to the selection of generalist resistance in weed types with varying biological characteristics. RESULTS: Our simulations suggest that well‐designed effective herbicide mixtures should delay evolution of both polygenic and monogenic resistance better than rotations and single herbicides across all weed types. Both mixture and rotation strategies increased the likelihood of polygenic resistance compared to single‐herbicide use, and the likelihood of polygenic resistance increased as the fecundity and competitiveness of the weed increased. Whether monogenic or polygenic resistance occurred in each case depended most on the relative initial allele frequencies. We did not find that herbicide mixtures were more likely than rotations to lead to the selection of generalist polygenic resistance. The simulated efficacy of mixtures over rotations decreased if components were used at reduced rates or when individual components had already been used solo. CONCLUSION: Herbicide rotations and particularly well‐designed mixtures should delay evolution of both polygenic and monogenic resistance, especially if used as part of an effective integrated weed management programme. However, herbicide mixtures and rotations may also increase the risk that resistance will be generalist polygenic rather than specialist monogenic. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Prostate cancer is the second most diagnosed male malignancy in the U.S. 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is a commonly used herbicide and potential carcinogen. The researchers evaluated the association between prostate cancer and 2,4-D. Methods: Data was leveraged from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a population-based, cross-sectional study of men and women in the U.S. Our cohort of interest was men aged 50 years and over. Urinary 2,4-D served as the measure of exposure. Our primary outcome was history of prostate cancer based on an individual's reply of "yes" to either ever having been diagnosed with prostate cancer and/or having received treatment for prostate cancer. Chi-square, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multivariable, weighted logistic regression were used to analyze the relationship between 2,4-D and prostate cancer. Results: We identified 1,788 eligible men, representing an estimated 691,709 men after survey weighting. The median 2,4-D level was 0.28 µg/L (IQR: 0.26–0.53), and the geometric mean was 0.38 µg/L. Increasing exposure of 2,4-D was associated with prostate cancer (OR 1.72, 95% CI [1.2,2.4]). Individuals in the highest quartile of 2,4-D exposure had a higher odds of a prostate cancer diagnosis compared to the lowest quartile (OR = 3.46 95% CI [1.11,10.72]). Age stratification revealed statistically significant associations between 2,4-D and prostate cancer in men age 70 + who were in the highest quartile of exposure (OR = 3.79 95% CI [1.51,9.52]). Conclusions: These findings implicate 2,4-D exposure in the risk of prostate cancer. Future studies are warranted to corroborate these findings and elucidate potential mechanisms underlying these associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weeding is at the heart of agriculture. Today, using herbicides is unavoidable in conventional agriculture. However, increasing ecological awareness, the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and the pursuit of sustainable food have driven industries and academics to explore new approaches for growing and protecting crops. In this context, smart spot sprayers emerge as a highly innovative alternative to broadcast treatments, which overuse pesticides, and mechanical weeding, which is limited by restrictive application conditions. Using artificial intelligence (AI) for plant recognition and ultra-precise spraying technology, herbicides are applied directly to weeds with minimal overspray, reducing their use by 90% compared to conventional methods. Spot sprayers' narrowly targeted spray limits chemicals' contact with the crop, resulting in low phytotoxicity, preserving natural crop development while maximizing yield potential. In addition, site-specific application increases the selectivity of chemical products artificially, enabling more concentrated mixtures to be used. Also, AI enables the selective application of non-selective molecules, supporting their use in established cultures. These characteristics open new opportunities for effective weed control where the traditional solutions fall short. This publication demonstrates the potential of the ultra-precise smart spot sprayer ARA in weed management in onion and sugar beet crops. Although comparing the overall performance of ARA with other smart spot sprayers on the market cannot be done in this article, this technology's potential in rendering weed management on farms more effective, sustainable, and saving labor without compromising yield is nevertheless indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]