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Agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and is vulnerable to climate change. Regenerative agriculture, which focuses on increasing soil carbon, has been recognized as a potential climate solution. A recent study found that seven regenerative practices, including planting cover crops and using non-chemical fertilizers, all increased carbon sequestration. However, the study also highlights that regenerative agriculture has other benefits beyond carbon sequestration, and the focus should not solely be on carbon credits. The popularity of regenerative agriculture is growing, but there is a risk of it being co-opted and losing its essence. [Extracted from the article]

Agroecology has recently become an alternative production model that tries to face the negative environmental and socioeconomic consequences of the agricultural model based on excessive agrochemical use and no-tillage practices. It searches for alternatives to pest management so as to increase yields while promoting biodiversity conservation. Our goal was to know the perception and opinion of agroecological farmers of the Pampa region on crop pests, the techniques they use for pest management and their perceptions on biodiversity. A survey was conducted which provided 103 responses. The main pest mentioned was ants. Of farmers surveyed, 64.71% claim that their main pest significantly reduces their yields, 79.42% claim that they monitor their crops for pests, although those with over 25 years of experience tend not to. Farmers have a mostly positive perception of biodiversity, particularly birds even though many identify pigeons and parrots as damaging. These results make it possible to describe the agroecological Pampa farmers and to show some common pest issues that need to be observed to benefit production in the area. The study highlights the importance of biodiversity for these farmers and their willingness to use tools that attract birds that could potentially manage pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractTomato is one of the most widely produced vegetables in Ethiopia. Year-round production, mono-cropping, and genetically uniform hybrid varieties in relatively large areas result in pest buildup and recurrent pest epidemics in the country. Chemical control remains the primary management option for controlling tomato pests, and frequently indiscriminate and injudicious use of pesticides leads to several problem such as resistance development in insects/pathogens, destruction of natural enemies, food safety risks due to pesticide residues on the edible products and destruction of pollinators resulting in the non-setting of fruits and low yields. Multi-location and multi-season trials were conducted at Rift-Valley tomato production sites to reduce synthetic pesticides and promote good agricultural practice (GAP) packages. GAP package composed of healthy seedlings produced using seedling trays and treated with Trichoderma asperellum, and scheduled spray of bio-pesticides such as Beauveria bassiana, Lecanicillium lecanii, Metarhizium anisopliae, and neem extract depending on the insect pests at early infestation time, along with the installation of colored sticky traps (yellow and blue) significantly reduced Phthorimaea (Tuta) absoluta and increased marketable yield compared to the farmers’ practice and untreated control. Hence, the GAP package can be considered effective and economical in managing tomato pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tegolophus guavae (Boczek), Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes), and Tetranychus urticae Koch are plant-feeding mite pests that cause severe damage to the foliage and fruits of guava trees in Egypt. The phytoseiid mite, Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor), was released at three densities (100, 200, and 300 predators/tree). The results indicated that the efficiency of N. californicus was significantly influenced by the release rate. The highest mean reduction percentage after six months of release for T. guavae, B. phoenicis, and T. urticae was, respectively, at 300 predators/tree (64.90, 81.15, and 81.11%) in 2021 and (74.89, 83.76, and 83.07%) in 2022. The mean fruit yields (kg/treatment) in the released plots were substantially greater than those in the control (ranging from 8–16%). The current result suggests that releasing N. californicus is a viable option for biological guava mite pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), invasion endangered the maize production worldwide, including India. The objective of this study was to quantify the FAW damage severity and its impact on leaf area index (LAI), biomass and grain yield of maize and to detect the field damage using high-resolution multispectral spaceborne remote sensing data. Maize growing fields in the Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh and the Gadwal District of Telangana, India, were randomly surveyed to collect detailed ground-truth information. Foliar damage due to FAW was recorded, and the fields were categorized into various severity grades (healthy, low, medium and severe). FAW infestation caused significant change in LAI between the severity grades, which formed the basis for its damage detection using multispectral spaceborne remote sensing. Severe FAW infestation caused significant reduction in LAI, biomass and grain yield ranging between 36.9 and 39.9% compared to healthy grade. The infestation at the leaf collar (LC) stage caused significant yield loss of up to 26.5% compared to the tassel initiation (TI) and tasselling and silking (TS) stages. Canopy spectral reflectance from healthy and FAW-infested plants showed significant differences in the visible and near infrared (NIR) regions. A reflectance peak was observed in the NIR region of healthy plants compared to infested plants. Among various spaceborne vegetation indices, the Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) performed better in identifying the FAW infestation (R2 = 0.61**), biomass (R2 = 0.70**) and yield loss (R2 = 0.82**). These findings indicate the feasibility of utilizing multispectral remote sensing data for monitoring FAW infestation on a spatial scale, thus enabling the site-specific management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetamiprid is mainly used to control pests. However, the residues of acetamiprid have resulted in significant negative effects on mammals. Many researchers are working on developing acetamiprid detection methods. In our study, four truncated aptamers were designed based on the secondary structure of the original aptamer. Molecular docking simulation of truncated aptamers confirmed that all of the truncated aptamers bind to acetamiprid, and their binding sites were identified. The affinity, sensitivity, and specificity of these truncated aptamers were measured by a spectrophotometric method with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Acetamiprid aptamers with 17-mer (Apt-J2) and 16-mer (Apt-J4) were successfully obtained, which show higher detection sensitivity and satisfactory specificity. Additionally, a spectrophotometric detection route superior to the original aptamer was explored, and the linear ranges were from 1 to 70 μM and 0.5 to 40 μM, respectively. The truncated aptamers were applied to the analysis of lake water, indicating that the aptamers have potential for practical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractInsect pests and fungal pathogens are estimated to cause 20–40% yield reduction to crops annually, causing $290 billion of economic loss every season worldwide. Pest and pathogen impacts are a persistent and ever-increasing problem for global food production, especially due to climate change and growing populations. Frequent use of chemical pesticides has resulted in increased resistance among pests and pathogens due to the strong selection pressure that the pesticides exert, resulting in the rapid accumulation of mutations that confer behavioural, mechanical and/or biochemical resistance within the pest populations. Due to rising resistance and increasing interest in control measures with low environmental impact, there is an immediate need to find alternative pest and pathogen management strategies. RNA interference (RNAi) has been developed as a control strategy by exploiting inherent cellular defence processes, providing a species-specific biological approach to crop management. Delivery of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) can be accomplished non-transgenically by spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS), virus-mediated host-induced gene silencing (VmHIGS) or transgenically through host-induced gene silencing (HIGS), specifically targeting pest and pathogen messenger RNAs with sequence homology. Accomplishing effective RNAi strategies requires consideration into how SIGS, VmHIGS, and HIGS approaches intersect with the crop species and pest or pathogen being targeted. Additional technical advancements for the delivery and uptake of dsRNAs, messenger RNA target identification and the possibility of insect or fungal dsRNA resistance are currently being explored. These considerations will enhance the utility, ease of use and implementation of both spray-based and transgenic applications of RNAi technology for improved food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crab apple (Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill.) is native to Central Europe and successfully commercially grown in Indonesia. Management practices that increase biodiversity in agroecosystems are essential for mediating the negative impacts of intensive agriculture. This study aims to compare arthropod abundance and diversity between grass ground cover and Hydrangea intercropping in crab apple orchards and assess their impact on arthropod functional groups providing ecosystem services. In this study, arthropods were sampled using three types of traps, i.e. pitfall trap, yellow sticky trap, and pan trap. Arthropod specimens were identified by order and family, then categorised by their ecological role: detritivore, omnivore, herbivore, the natural enemy (predator and parasitoid), and pollinator. Our study collected 164 families belonging to the five examined functional groups. We found that the family composition of arthropods was significantly different between Hydrangea intercropping and grass ground cover in crab apple orchards. Grass ground cover supports the increase of herbivore and natural enemy populations and it's related to enhancing biological control. In addition, Hydrangea intercropping increases pollinator species richness and contributes to pollination services. Pest management in crab apple orchards may benefit from a combination of grass ground cover to encourage natural enemies and Hydrangea intercropping to increase pollinators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural sector has been intensifying production systems to increase yields. Olive cultivation is the most widespread permanent crop in Europe and the Mediterranean region and in many cases, it is under intensive farming practices with heavy use of agrochemicals, greatly affecting olive grove biodiversity. In this study we investigate the impact of different understorey management practices (undisturbed, cleared with mechanical means) on plant cover, ground beetle and bee richness and abundance, and on the abundance of ground arthropods and flying insects in olive groves on Lesvos Island, North Aegean, Greece. We found that undisturbed understorey had a positive impact on plant richness and abundance, ground beetle and bee richness and abundance, as well as ground arthropod and flying insect abundance. The results suggest that maintaining the plant cover undisturbed significantly improves the biodiversity of the olive groves and by extension the ecosystem services, such as pollination, pest control and soil health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe fall armyworm (FAW) is a significant pest of maize worldwide. Here, we evaluated the feasibility of mating disruption (MD) of FAW and the MD mechanisms involved using hand-applied pheromone dispensers with intermediate release rate and point density in maize plots. To understand the mechanisms underlying the MD of FAW, male captures and device density data were compared using profile analysis. In the first trial, we tested 0, 10, 30, and 40 dispensers/ha, and then 0, 20, 40, and 60 dispensers/ha in the second trial. Male captures were reduced up to 87% in MD plots. In the first trial, the percentage of plants damaged by larvae was lower in plots with 30 and 40 dispensers/ha, whereas in the second trial, the lower percentage of damaged plants was observed in plots treated with 60 pheromone dispensers/ha. There was no difference in maize yield between the MD-treated and control treatments. The profile analysis matched the predictions of hybrid MD mediated by a combination of non-competitive and competitive mechanisms. Although our results showed that sexual communication in FAW adults may be disrupted to a certain extent, further studies are needed to corroborate the potential of MD for FAW management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tithonia diversifolia has the potential for use as a reservoir for entomophages in pest control, as it attracts and preserves natural enemies before migrating to the target crop, where a high incidence of pests occurs. For example, in tomato crop production one of the limiting factors, under field condition, is the incidence of phytophagous insects. We determined the effects of Tithonia diversifolia on species assemblage structure of natural enemies and pest insects (abundance and diversity), plant growth (leaf area, stem length and diameter, number of leaves, flowers and fruits, and fruits weight/per plant), plant defense (leaf thickness and hardness) and fruit colouration on tomato plants in open conditions. Through direct and indirect samplings, a total of 456 insects were collected, comprising 76 natural enemies, 269 pests and 111 belonging other guilds. Length, stem diameter, number of flowers, leaf thickness, and hardness increased, while the number of leaves decreased. T. diversifolia plants increased natural enemies but not pest abundance in tomato plants, demonstrating that this plant can alter the structure of the insect community associated with tomato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractSince its inception, antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) have been extensively used in functional genomics. Recent advancements in chemical modification and delivery technology extend its applications to the targeted management of crop pests. ASO was conceptualized in the early 1970s and first applied to inhibit retrovirus replication in chickens. The principles of ASOs rely on target complementarity by hybridizing with the mRNA and inhibiting the function. However, the application of ASO received little attention because of its high instability in the biological environment. Initial ASOs, featuring phosphorothioate linkages, laid the groundwork for subsequent advancements, by addressing challenges such as nuclease degradation and cellular uptake limitations. The second generation introduced 2'-modifications to enhance stability and specificity while allowing reversible gene regulation. Third-generation ASOs incorporated innovative chemical modifications like locked nucleic acids (LNAs), peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), phosphoramidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs), 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-d-arabinonucleic acid (FANA), cyclohexene nucleic acids (CeNAs), and tricyclo-DNA (tcDNA), offering enhanced efficacy and stability. ASO technology continues to evolve, promising precision medicine and customized therapies for genetic diseases. In agriculture, ASOs selectively target essential genes in pests or pathogens, which would be a novel option for providing precise crop protection and reducing reliance on conventional pesticides. Recent studies demonstrated successful ASO application in thrips, psyllids, Gypsy moths, scale insects, citrus greening, and Zebra-chip diseases. Additionally, ASOs hold the potential for improving crop yield and quality by modulating gene expression related to plant growth, development, and stress responses. They can enhance abiotic stress tolerance, regulate genes associated with specific traits, and offer alternative strategies for managing diseases, such as targeting S-genes in tomatoes for resistance against bacterial spots. These applications antecede the oligo-based pesticides that will revolutionize future agriculture by reducing pesticide uses and harmful impacts on the ecosystem. Further advancements in environmental stability, field efficacy, delivery formulation, and environmental safety would mold this technology into a novel tool for sustainable crop protection. This review highlights the fundamentals of ASO, recent advancements in design chemistry, delivery systems, validation and optimization process, and its potential in customized pest management. This would serve as a ready reckoner for future ASO research and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines farmers’ perceptions of agrochemical use in maize production and their harmful environmental effects. A convergent parallel mixed design was used to collect quantitative data from 254 respondents via structured interviews and qualitative data through in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions. The findings revealed that among those who were using agrochemicals, 98.9%, 59.2% and 49.7% used inorganic fertilizer to enhance soil fertility, pesticides to control pests and herbicides to kill weeds, respectively. Those who did not use agrochemicals were limited by many factors, including adverse effects of agrochemicals on the environment and lack of access to and the high cost of agrochemicals. Also, more than half of the respondents (51.2%) had limited knowledge about the harmful effects of agrochemicals on the environment. The perceived harmful effects of agrochemicals on the environment included being harmful to domestic animals and non-targeted insects and causing air pollution. The study provides insights for the government on how it could design and enforce educational programmes that would increase farmers’ knowledge of the proper use of agrochemicals to protect the environment while maximizing maize production. This study contributes to the existing literature on how unawareness of farmers on the use of agrochemicals can adversely affect the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the impact of farmland size adjustment on net crop carbon emissions (NCEs) is crucial for both effective farmland management and sustainable development, which are essential topics in agri-environmental science. However, studies exploring the relationship between farmland size and NCEs remain limited, particularly in developing countries with scarce farmland, such as China. To fill this gap, this paper discusses farmland size's impact on NCEs using a threshold model combining endogenous switching regression (ESR) and two-stage least squares (2SLS) with survey data from 2600 Chinese farmers. The results show that increasing farmland size curbs the scale and intensity of NCEs. However, their relationship follows a triple threshold effect, where substantial NCEs mitigation occurs only when the per-household farmland size exceeds specific thresholds of 5.1, 15.2, and 46.7 ha. Expanding farmland size can also indirectly reduce NCEs by promoting green agricultural technologies (GAT) adoption. Moreover, lowering farmers' time preferences and enhancing technical training can increase the positive effect of farmland size expansion on GAT adoption and reduce NCEs further. However, the emission reduction effects vary by GAT type. Soil testing and fertilization technology, pest control technology, and water-saving irrigation technology reduce NCEs, while the other GAT have insignificant effects. Overall, our study sheds light on the intricate relationships between farmland size, GAT adoption, and NCEs, and provides valuable insights for low-carbon, sustainable agriculture policies. We suggest that policymakers can reduce NCEs and facilitate agriculture's low-carbon transition by promoting moderate farmland size expansion and locally adapted GAT. Key policy insights Expanding farmland size beyond specific thresholds of 5.1, 15.2, and 46.7 ha significantly reduces NCEs, but this relationship is nonlinear. China should promote appropriate scale management to transition toward low-carbon agriculture. Promoting the widespread dissemination of agricultural carbon mitigation technologies according to local conditions is crucial, especially for large farms to cut carbon emissions. Policymakers should demonstrate the long-term benefits of GAT to raise farmers' valuation of low-carbon agriculture constrained by their time preferences. Governments should provide technology training and learning opportunities to reduce the costs and risks of adopting GAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding of dicofol's behavior in soil is crucial for more precise pest control and minimal environmental effect. Therefore, the goal of this study was to assess how the physicochemical characteristics of 10 selected soils effects the sorption and degradation of dicofol behavior. The behavior of dicofol, including its adsorption and desorption properties as well as its rates of hydrolysis and photolysis degradation, was thoroughly examined via definitive studies. Standard batch equilibration mode for sorption revealed that it was dependent on the physical and chemical properties of the soil. Exothermic and spontaneous adsorption processes, which were characterized by a negative Gibbs free energy value, were convincingly proven by thermodynamic study. The current investigation's ΔG estimations varied from −18.6 kjmol−1 for soil-6 to −24.25 kjmol−1 for soil-9. The soil-7 with a notable organic matter content (1.81%) showed the maximum adsorption, and subsequently producing a C-type isotherm that was analyzed using a linear and Freundlich model. An analytical process using UV-VIS spectrophotometry to determine the fate of dicofol in soil matrices. Hydrolysis and photolysis studies yielded minimum half-lives of 13.4 and 1.32 days, respectively. It has been demonstrated that dicofol molecules interact strongly with soils, principally via physio-sorption mechanisms. In contrast to its strong soil affinity and permanence, dicofol exhibits a counterintuitive behavior that makes it vulnerable to sunlight-induced deterioration. Future studies will concentrate on enhancing these pathways to assist sustainable pesticide management strategies and creative pollution mitigation techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development and optimization of more sustainable pest control methods, primarily focusing on preventive strategies and non-chemical tools, is a global priority for scientists and agrochemical companies. This study examines Sicilian farmers' willingness to adopt organic pest management practices for protecting tomatoes and zucchini from two key insect pests, namely Tuta absoluta and Bemisia tabaci. We implemented the Theory of Planned Behavior as a cognitive model to explore individual motivations that influence farmers' readiness to adopt sustainable pest control practices. Results from partial least squares structural equation modeling on a sample of 85 farmers emphasize the importance of farmers' behavioral constructs in the decision-making process: Farmers' attitudes are the strongest predictors of intention (ß = 0.454; p < 0.01), followed by social norms (ß = 0.201; p < 0.1) and perceived behavioral control (ß = 0.184; p < 0.01). Intention and perceived behavioral control constructs positively and significantly affect the stated behavior construct (respectively, ß = 0.23; ß = 0.24). Traditional farm/farmer socio-economic characteristics have a notable, yet smaller, influence: Farmers' education positively predicts their willingness to adopt (ß = 0.292; p < 0.01), while farmers' age is negatively correlated (ß = −0.130; p < 0.01). Informational campaigns on the importance of organic pest management on improving soil health and biodiversity should be promoted to strengthen farmers attitudes toward organic pest management. Similarly, policy-makers should enhance farmers perceived behavioral control by providing better information about characteristics and procedures of organic pest management protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractCarpophilus hemipterus (L.) (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), a dried fruit beetle is a major pest on various grains and fruits all over the world and causes significant economic losses. Recently, due to the negative effects of pesticides on the environment and humans, biological control agents such as entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) used to control insects are gaining importance. The aim of this study was carried out to determine biocontrol potential of three local entomopathogenic nematode isolates against different stages of dried fruit beetle (larvae, pupae, and adults) under controlled conditions. S. carpocapsae isolate Bakışlı05, H. bacteriophora isolate Z-1 and H. bacteriophora isolate TOK-20 used in experiments. Isolates were applied at four different concentrations i.e. 0, 250, 500, and 1000 IJs/ml at 25 °C. Mortality rates of larvae, pupae, and adults of C. hemipterus were determined four times (24, 48, 72, and 96 h) following inoculation. The highest mortality rate of larvae of C. hemipterus was caused by Heterorhabditis bacteriophora isolate Z-1 with 98.67% mortality followed by H. bacteriophora isolate TOK-20 with 93.85% and then Steinernema carpocapsae isolate Bakışlı05 with 86.67% at the highest concentration (1000 IJs/ml). The highest mortality rate on C. hemipterus pupae was recorded at the highest concentration of S. carpocapsae isolate Bakışlı05, which was 48.00%, followed by H. bacteriophora isolate Z-1 and H. bacteriophora isolate TOK-20, which had mortality rates of 43.33% and 38.00%, respectively. Moreover, the highest adult mortality rate was determined at the maximum concentration of S. carpocapsae (Bakışlı05), with 42.67% among all EPN isolates tested. This study shows that the use of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) for the management of dried fruit beetle can be an alternative method to pest control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant peptidase inhibitors have evolved to play a strong defensive role toward phytophagous insect pests. Peptidase inhibitor was partially purified from Psoralea corylifolia seeds of leguminaceae family by ammonium sulphate precipitation (20–80%) followed by dialysis with inhibitory activity against 64–72 h old larvae of Bactrocera cucurbitae. Different concentrations of the inhibitor (200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 ppm) had a deleterious effect on the growth and development of the melon fruit fly larvae. The larval period, pupal period, and the total development period prolonged significantly, while percentage pupation and percentage adult emergence were drastically reduced. Nutritional indices viz. Mean Relative Growth Rate (MRGR) and Food Assimilated (FA) with respect to control were significantly lowered in treated larvae than in control. The inhibitory effect of peptidase inhibitor partially purified from P. corylifolia seeds increased significantly with an increase in the concentration of the inhibitor. It was also active against different strains of bacteria. These results show the potential of peptidase inhibitor partially purified from P. corylifolia seeds in insect pest control which can be used for improving plant protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rice Sheath Mite, Steneotarsonemus spinki Smiley (Acari: Tarsonemidae) is a pest of Kharif Rice (wet rice) of West Bengal, causing losses every year. It initially infests leaf sheaths, moving later onto the grains. It is not known how the mite survives in the off season, which is important for devising management strategies. The present investigation was conducted to find out the sources of infestation of S. spinki. It was concentrated on four types of substrates: rice associated weeds, soil, rice grains of different ages (before and after harvesting) and rice stubbles. Mites detected in any of those possible sources were slide mounted in modified Berlese medium and examined under phase and differential interference contrast microscope for identification. Tarsonemid mites were found on some grassy weeds, but not Steneotarsonemus spinki Smiley. No tarsonemid mite was found in soil samples from infested fields. Steneotarsonemus spinki was found on rice grains of different ages and in stubbles. Hence, both rice grains and rice stubbles could be important sources of infestation of S. spinki to new plants at each season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Odoiporus longicollis [Olivier], commonly known as banana pseudostem weevil or BPW has been a predominant pest of bananas, resulting in devastating losses in banana cultivation across India. The current research explores the use and effectiveness of the microbial biopesticide – Lysinibacillus sphaericus against banana pseudostem weevils in field and laboratory conditions. The LC50 value of L.sphaericus was found to be 9.92% of 1 OD (optical density at 600 nm) culture after 24 h of treatment against grubs at in-vitro conditions. L.sphaericus cultures were formulated as liquid, solid, and capsule formulations, and analysed parameters such as viability, shelf life, and pest control efficiency against banana pseudostem weevils. The capsule-based formulation (8 ± 2 × 102a CFU/ml) was most effective against the grubs with a storage period of 120 days to six months under room temperature in air-free containers. The efficacy of a capsule-based formulation at in vivo conditions in the pseudostem revealed that the gelatine coat of the capsule disintegrated within 24hrs after application, leading to the easy release of active ingredients to the pseudostem. The field evaluation observed that in L.sphaericus-based capsule formulations treated plants, there was more than an 80% reduction in the infestation of grubs over control treatments. The current paper describes the application of L.sphaericus against the weevil, its unique formulation as a capsule increasing bacterial shelf life, and ease of application. The development of an easily applicable and effective capsule with a better shelf life of 6 months would increase the marketing possibilities of this biopesticide formulation against Odoiporus longicollis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractTo create effective policies for promoting Integrated Pest Management (IPM) it is crucial to comprehend farmers’ attitudes toward IPM. A survey of 306 rice farmers was conducted to assess the perceived advantages and disadvantages of IPM practices and explain variations in perceptions among different groups of farmers. Through factor analysis, the primary advantages and disadvantages of utilizing IPM in farm field were categorized into six factors, namely: low efficacy in pest control, personal drawbacks, weak technical and support services (as disadvantages of IPM), as well as health benefits, cost effectiveness, and social advantages (as advantages of IPM). The cumulative percentage of variance accounted for by these six factors was 71.052%, with 36.78% of the variance stemming from positive aspects and 34.28% from negative aspects of IPM practices. Educated farmers showed a preference for IPM advantages (p < .001), while affluent farmers leaned towards IPM disadvantages (p < .020). Farmers with high rice production prioritized IPM disadvantages (p < .001), with those perceiving pesticides as harmful showing less preference for IPM drawbacks (p < .001). Training recipients favored IPM benefits (p < .000) and less so the drawbacks (p < .013). Farmers at health risk due to pesticides prioritized IPM advantages (p < .030) and lessened emphasis on disadvantages (p < .041). Additionally, farmers implementing IPM practices valued IPM advantages more (p < .000013) and disadvantages less (p < .000004). Using the scale from this research, agricultural extension services can tailor education efforts to emphasize the benefits of IPM practices and how to address their drawbacks, promoting widespread adoption of IPM among farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractCultivation of olive-trees is one of the landmark land-uses and agroecosystems of the Mediterranean. The single most important factor of production-loss is infestation by the olive fruit fly (OLF, Bactrocera oleae). We examine the spatiotemporal dynamics of OLF populations on Samos Island by employing spatial-analysis methods for a focused estimation on olive plantations. The case study includes a variation of areas across altitude. We use data for three years (2017–2019) from 399 trap locations that are not associated with farms or other major anthropogenic installations and measure temperature and humidity in 24 locations across the island to: examine the temporal variation of OLF populations, to check the relationship of temperature, humidity, and geomorphological characteristics and calculate the estimated spatial distribution of OLF. Results show small differences of annual averages, but very important spatiotemporal differences and micro hot/cold spots of OLF populations. Findings suggest significant movement of OLF populations across landscape. This approach can help achieve a deeper understanding of OLF behavior in Mediterranean ecosystems and contribute toward new approaches in pest management of olive trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfoxaflor is a systemic sulfoximine insecticide, used to control sucking pests in different agricultural crops including wheat. However, the information regarding its residual fate in wheat agroecosystem under tropical environment and the associated dietary risk are still obscure. Therefore, a supervised field experiment was conducted in wheat comprising the application of sulfoxaflor 12% (w/v) SC at 30 and 60 g a.i. ha−1 in two consecutive seasons. An optimised method for estimation of sulfoxaflor residues using modified QuEChERS technique was developed and validated. The extracting solvent ethyl acetate + cyclohexane (9 + 1 v/v) along with the clean-up combinations viz. 75 mg PSA+25 mg GCB+150 mg magnesium sulphate for wheat plant and straw and 75 mg PSA+75 mg C18 + 150 mg magnesium sulphate for grain produced satisfactory recovery, minimum matrix interference and optimum peak shape. The average recovery, repeatability and within-laboratory reproducibility of sulfoxaflor in wheat substrates ranged between 90.66% and 103.55%, 2.67–5.17% and 3.05–8.15%, respectively, and the limit of quantification was estimated 0.01 mg kg−1. Sulfoxaflor was stable up to 60 days in wheat matrices under storage (−20°C). The dissipation of sulfoxaflor in wheat plants followed first-order kinetics and the overall shorter persistence in Season I and II ranged between 1.05–1.14 and 2.44–2.47 days (T1 – T2), respectively. The deviation in the persistence of the compound between two seasons due to variation in climatic parameters was observed to be statistically significant. The estimated pre-harvest interval of sulfoxaflor ranged between 4.95–5.34 (Season I) and 11.37–11.55 days (Season II). Besides, the terminal residues of sulfoxaflor were below quantification limit in the harvested wheat products, and the estimated long-term dietary risk of sulfoxaflor was observed to be negligible. Therefore, it was expected that the application of this insecticide in wheat cultivation should pose no residual toxicity and the harvested wheat products can be considered safe for human consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides are used in vegetable farming to control pests and diseases, reduce crop losses and improve yield. The study examined pesticide residues in irrigation waters and leafy green vegetables grown in some farming areas in Accra, Ghana. Three types of irrigation water sources (n = 23) and two exotic and four indigenous Ghanaian leafy vegetables (n = 34) from 10 farming areas in Accra, Ghana were collected and examined for 15 organochlorines, 13 organophosphorus and 9 synthetic pyrethroids pesticide residues using the modified QuEChERS procedure. Pesticide residues were detected on 50% (17/34) of the leafy vegetable and 52% (12/23) of the irrigation water samples analysed. Chlorpyrifos and deltamethrin were the most detected pesticide residues in the vegetables and irrigation water. About 26.5% of the vegetables contained pesticide residues exceeding the EU maximum residue limits, so vegetable farmers should be encouraged to comply with appropriate measures on pesticide use to enhance food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annual spray diaries from orchardists in the two main stonefruit growing regions, Central Otago and Hawke's Bay, were analysed. The analysis was restricted to products for disease and arthropod pest control. It included apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches and plums grown as fresh fruit for export and domestic markets, and processing crops. Mean fungicide and bactericide applications declined from 13 to 9/block/year in Central Otago, but rose from 11 to 13 sprays in Hawke's Bay. Central Otago is drier than Hawke's Bay and the regional spray programmes now better match the respective climates. Despite large annual variations in rainfall and numbers of brown rot (Monilinia fructicola) infection periods in both regions, there was little correlation with the numbers of fungicides applied that had activity against brown rot. The products used against diseases changed substantially during the study period. Insecticide and miticide sprays averaged 5 applications per year in Central Otago at the start of the study and declined to 4-6/crop/year (overall mean of 4) by 2018–19. Hawke's Bay growers used 1–3 insecticide sprays per crop (overall mean of 2) throughout the study. The proportion of selective insecticides applied grew in Central Otago, but fell in Hawke's Bay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphine (PH3) is a methyl bromide alternative with the potential to control surface pests of New Zealand avocados as a pre-export disinfestation treatment. 'Hass' avocado fruit were treated with PH3 (as ECO2FUME® (2% PH3, 98% CO2 (w/w); Cytec Industries Inc.)). at 500, 750 and 1,500 ppm for 24, 48 and 72 h at 5–6 °C, along with vials containing mould mites (Tyrophagus communis) and greenhouse thrips (Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis). Fruit were then stored at 5 °C for three weeks, external quality assessed, and internal fruit quality assessed after ripening at 20 °C. PH3 treatments had no impact on external fruit quality, nor on skin colouration, and only minor increase in softening compared to control at 24 h, but not 48 or 72 h. Complete (100%) mortality was achieved for thrips at all PH3 concentrations for 48 h. However, only ∼50% mould mite mortality was achieved at the highest PH3 concentration of 1,500 ppm for 72 h; although this treatment did provide a significant reduction in rots and internal disorders. This initial study demonstrates that longer-duration treatments and higher PH3 concentrations improves fruit quality compared with controls, mainly by reducing rots. These treatments fully controlled thrips but provided only partial control of mould mites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on encapsulation of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil (EO) on chitosan and gum Arabic matrix in various ratios and with varying essential oil concentrations. Additionally, UV/VIS spectroscopy was used to determine cumulative-release profiles. The insecticidal activity was tested against Tribolium castaneum and Oryzaephilus surinamensis, both pests of stored products. In terms of encapsulation efficiency (EE%) and loading capacity (LC%), capsules had EE at 45.8% and LC at 2.31%. Furthermore, many minor compounds were lost after encapsulation, until identifying only 1,8-cineole, α-terpineol, and camphor after 60 d of storage. The fumigant tests demonstrated that encapsulated EO exhibited an effective control against insect pest during storage periods, namely, 30, 45, and 60 d with 99, 66, and 46% mortality for T. castaneum and 100, 84, 82% mortality for O. surinamensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Newly developed asparagus farming involves planting seedlings in year one and harvesting all emerging spears without allowing the mother ferns to grow. However, changes in asparagus growth over time are unclear. Here, four-year cultivation trials were conducted under different climatic conditions to investigate temporal changes in growth. Plants were monitored weekly. The growing period was divided into three periods: spring and fall, both within optimum growing temperatures, and summer. Spring to the first half of summer revealed two to three peaks of increase in the number of effective stems. The number of effective stems decreased during high temperatures and decreased precipitation periods (summer), and recovered with an increase in precipitation. The number of effective stems displayed peaks during the second half of periods II and III. The increase in stem diameter mostly occurred during summer. Finally, the growing years that occurred with high temperatures and low precipitation in summer showed a significant positive correlation between the yield and maximum stem diameters in spring. The results of this study indicate that plant growth can be used to schedule pest control, irrigation, and fertiliser application for plants with limited resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental impact of exotic insect pest species is often poorly quantified, making current pest management strategies obsolete. The fall armyworm (FAW) is endemic to the Western hemisphere – where it is considered a major pest of maize – and invasive to Africa, Asia and Oceania since 2016, 2018 and 2020, respectively. FAW's highly polyphagous behaviour and potential expansion of its host range in invaded habitats may put some non-crop flowering plants and their ecosystem services at risk. While its potential for intraguild competition and hybridisation with endemic maize pest species could have important consequences for pest population dynamics and pest management, a FAW inter-strain hybrid – resistant to pesticides – has already been documented in China. Integrated pest management (IPM) combines host plant resistance, agronomic practices and biological control for the long-term prevention of pests. Within invaded areas, a lack of knowledge of FAW's ecological adaptations, the absence of resistant cultivars, and an insufficient build-up of natural enemies provide challenges that translate into research opportunities to support IPM solutions for this exotic pest species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study discusses the results of a 5-year Agroecology Research and Advocacy project at three Tanzanian field sites in different agroecological zones. We investigated four common agroecological practices: compost application, mulching, intercropping, and biological pest control either alone or in combination. Two custom-built ICT tools – AgroEco Research (AER) and AgroEco Analysis (AEA) application – supported the field research. AER and AEA integration allowed secure data storage and real-time automated visualization and statistical analyses without programming. At no field station did legume intercropping or biological pest control increase cassava yields. The Chambezi field station had the highest yields even under untreated control conditions and only here, soil fertility amendments further increased root weights. Intercropping with cowpea legumes, alone or in combination with other practices, had no significant effect on cassava plant size or survival at the Mumbaka and Vianzi field sites and even negatively affected one or both parameters. Organic pest control had no effect on any target variable, except for plant size at Chambezi. Therefore, labor-intensive and expensive pest control practices may not be worth the investment at least when virus-resistant cassava varieties like Kiroba are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroecology has become increasingly popular but locally optimized agroecological production methods and information and communication technology (ICT) support tools are limited. This study was conducted at three different geographic locations across Tanzania; we co-developed an integrated participatory field research methodology consisting of two components, each supported by a specifically developed, complementary ICT tool, with maize and cassava as the two focal crops, to examine soil fertility and conservation (compost and mulching), increased biodiversity through intercropping (legumes), and organic pest control measures. Two specifically developed ICT tools, the AgroEco Research application (AER) and AgroEco Analysis application (AEA) were used for data gathering & storage and visualization & statistical analysis, respectively. Further, farmer-managed satellite experiments were performed to further test the research premises and validate their outcomes in the "real world" of smallholder farmers, which was supported by a smartphone application called "Ugunduzi" – enabling farmers to collect, store, and evaluate data generated at different stages of their research. Farmers were free to choose any type, number, and combination of the agroecological practices tested in the field research. This study serves as a methodology reference for a number of companion publications reporting on the findings of this project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hylastes species are known to cause damage to conifers in plantations in northern Sweden, and in recent years an increase in seedling damage has been observed in southern Sweden. However, there are few studies on Hylastes spp and the damage it can cause, so there is a lack of knowledge regarding pest management. In order to investigate an eventual interaction between damage by Hylastes spp and the more well-known Hylobius abietis (L) we registered damage by these species. Unprotected spruce seedlings were compared with seedlings protected from Hylobius abietis by a mechanical coating or with an insecticide. The effect of mechanical site preparation (MSP) was studied, with half of the seedlings being planted in unprepared soil and the other half after MSP. Both seedling protection and MSP significantly reduced the level of damage caused by Hylastes spp. MSP reduced the proportion of affected and killed seedlings and reduced the level of damage at the root collar. Protecting the seedlings reduced the level of damage, and no difference was found between seedlings treated with an insecticide and those provided with a coating. Similar responses were observed with both containerized and plug plus seedlings. In conclusion, measures against Hylobius abietis seem to also prevent damage by Hylastes spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the dissipation kinetics of deltamethrin, emamectin benzoate, and hexythiazox in grapes. The QuEChERS method was employed and validated for the precise determination of these three pesticides using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Excellent linearity was observed with regression coefficients exceeding 0.998. Notably, the limits of quantification (LOQ) were significantly lower than the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established for grapes by the European Union. The QuEChERS method l recovered 93.23% of the pesticides with an acceptable RSD of 5.35% (n = 180), demonstrating its suitability for quantifying them in grapes. Half-lives of deltamethrin, emamectin benzoate, and hexythiazox in grapes were 2.62-2.68 days, 8.15-7.30 days, and 3.24-4.01 days, respectively, for both single and double doses. Residues of all pesticides fell below the MRLs by the preharvest interval. This suggests that their application can be considered safe for grapes, ensuring both pest control and consumer safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a world with a rising use of pesticides, these chemicals, although designed to effectively control pests, pose potential threats to the environment and non-target organisms, including humans. Thus, this systematic review aims to investigate a possible association between genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility and genotoxicity in individuals occupationally exposed to pesticides. This review was conducted following the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) criteria. A total of 14 carefully selected studies were thoroughly analyzed by two reviewers, who assigned scores based on previously set evaluation criteria. This study classified over half of the chosen studies as having moderate or strong quality, observing a correlation between certain genetic polymorphisms involved in xenobiotic metabolism and genotoxicity in workers exposed to pesticides. Results suggest that the genes associated with xenobiotic metabolism play a substantial role in determining individuals' susceptibility to genomic damage due to pesticide exposure, affecting both their peripheral blood and oral mucosa. This implies that individuals with specific genotypes may experience increased or decreased levels of DNA damage when exposed to these chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores approaches to managing pests that are being developed in response to the faltering effectiveness of antibiotic regimes of chemical control. It focuses on black-grass (Alopecurus myosuroides), an endemic plant in European agriculture that has emerged as a serious yield-robber with increasing levels of herbicidal resistance. Following farmers and agronomists who have developed "integrated" approaches to black-grass management, the article identifies approaches to biosecurity that do not target unwanted life so much as they modulate ecological systems in their entirety. Pathogenesis, in this relational understanding, follows not from breaches of dangerous life into healthy space, but from ecological intra-actions that enable the proliferation of some life to compromise the multispecies livability of the body in question. The article contributes to the literature by detailing how this configurational approach works in the world. It traces the polymorphic spatial imaginaries required to map pests well; the process of knowledge intensification needed to reveal which configurations can resist pathogenesis; and the probiotic biopolitical interventions used to safeguard farmland productivity. The article uses black-grass to present a temporal metanarrative of intensive farming causing ecological blowback, leading to the development of approaches to pest management predicated on a pragmatic tolerance toward unwanted life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid decline of Abies koreana has been reported in most of the natural alpine habitats in Korea. It is generally accepted that this phenomenon is due to climate change even though no clear conclusions have been drawn. Most research has focused on abiotic environmental factors, but studies on the relationships between A. koreana and soil fungal microbiomes are scarce. In this study, the rhizoplane and rhizosphere fungal communities in the alive and dead Korean fir trees from its three major natural habitats including Mt. Deogyu, Mt. Halla, and Mt. Jiri in Korea were investigated to identify specific soil fungal groups closely associated with A. koreana. Soil fungal diversity in each study site was significantly different from another based on the beta diversity calculations. Heat tree analysis at the genus level showed that Clavulina, Beauveria, and Tomentella were most abundant in the healthy trees probably by forming ectomycorrhizae with Korean fir growth and controlling pests and diseases. However, Calocera, Dacrymyces, Gyoerffyella, Hydnotrya, Microdochium, Hyaloscypha, Mycosymbioces, and Podospora were abundant in the dead trees. Our findings suggested that Clavulina, Beauveria, and Tomentella are the major players that could be considered in future reforestation programs to establish ectomycorrhizal networks and promote growth. These genera may have played a significant role in the survival and growth of A. koreana in its natural habitats. In particular, the genus Gyoerffyella may account for the death of the seedlings. Our work presented exploratory research on the specific fungal taxa associated with the status of A. koreana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The putative nematocidal strains of Trichoderma for controlling root-knot nematodes were isolated from different agricultural fields in Pakistan. The Trichoderma isolates were confirmed using morphological and molecular characterisation. The root-knot nematodes were isolated from infected common bean plants Phaseolus vulgaris and identified as Meloidogyne incognita through phenotypic characteristics. Both in vitro and in vivo assays were performed. The nematocidal activity of the selected Trichoderma spp. was assessed using culture filtrate and spore suspension assays. Parameters including J2 mortality, egg hatching inhibition, root gall index, and egg mass index were calculated. The culture filtrates of T. bevicrassum strain ISO-03 caused significantly higher J2 mortality (71%) and inhibited egg hatching (68%) as compared to the activities of culture filtrates of the other two strains used in this study. The least control activity was observed in case of the culture filtrates of T. viride strain ISO-05 with 21% J2 mortality and 19% egg hatching inhibition. Similarly, the spore suspensions of T. brevicrassum ISO-03 showed the highest mortality of M. incognita juveniles (64% with respect to control) as well as the egg-hatching inhibition rates of 59%. In the in vivo study, the same strain T. bevicrassum ISO-03 significantly reduced the root galling index and egg mass indices as compared to the control. Furthermore, T. bevicrassum ISO-03 significantly promoted plant growth compared to the control. Overall, T. bevicrassum ISO-03 was identified as a potent biocontrol strain against root-knot nematodes in addition to its plant growth-promoting characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated lethal temperatures and times for killing bed bugs in diverse covered and uncovered conditions simulating their natural habitats. A total of 5400 adult bed bugs were collected alive from 17 infested locations in Paris. They were morphologically identified in laboratory as Cimex lectularius. They were then distributed in multiple sets of 30 specimens to examine in covered (tissue, furniture, mattress or blanket) and uncovered (direct exposure) conditions and in diverse step-function temperatures (50, 55 and 60°C) and times (15, 30, 60 and 120 minutes), replicated three times. Effective mortality was observed in 1080 specimens exposed directly to 50°C for 60 minutes. In specimens covered by tissue (1080 specimens), furniture (1080) or mattress (1080), all were dead at 60°C within 60 minutes. The specimens covered by blanket (1080) at the same temperature were dead after 120 minutes. A 60-minutes delay in reaching to lethal temperature within blanket compared to uncovered thermometer was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrethroids are commonly used in barrier treatments but less is known about how mosquitoes are affected by the simultaneous application of an insect growth regulator (i.e., pyriproxyfen) used in barrier treatments. This field study, conducted from May 14 – October 16, 2018, evaluated the effect of lambda-cyhalothrin (pyrethroid adulticide) and pyriproxyfen on the reproduction (measured by fecundity and adult emergence) and abundance of Aedes albopictus. Nine properties were treated with Demand®CS 0.06% + Archer® 0.010% (every 60 days) and three control properties received no treatment (N=12 total properties). No significant (P>0.05) differences were observed between abundance of Ae. albopictus in treatment compared to control groups. However, significant differences were observed in abundance of Ae. albopictus adults between weeks at both control (P = 0.003) and treatment (P < 0.0001) properties. Results from our research show that continued studies are needed to determine the efficacy of barrier treatments for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe invasive social wasp Vespula germanica is a harmful pest, mainly in urban environments. Despite extensive research on ecology and control, there are currently no effective, sustainable strategies to manage populations in the invaded range. We evaluated the effects of worker trapping on V. germanica abundance and nest activity in Southern Argentina. During two consecutive years, a high-density trapping was deployed in four plots of one hectare each. The procedure consisted of placing 25 non-toxic meat-baited traps, creating a grid of 5 × 5 traps for 4 weeks. Worker wasp abundance and the traffic rate of all the nests in the plots were measured 1 week before and one after trapping. Our results showed that worker catches resulted in a 65% reduction in local wasp abundance and a 48% in traffic rate of nests within the treated area. Similarly, a decrease in wasp abundance was obtained one year after trapping. Employing worker trapping as a tool could prove useful and environmentally friendly in reducing local wasp abundance during peak activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anticarsia gemmatalis is the most important soybean pest in various countries of America controlled mainly with synthetic insecticides. Effective management alternatives to control and avoid of insecticide resistance are needed against this pest. The toxicity, behavioral response, and respiration of A. gemmatalis larvae exposed to lemongrass essential oil (LEO) and its components were investigated. The principal components of LEO were neral, citral, and geranyl acetate with 31.5%, 26.1%, and 2.27% abundance, respectively. Larvae contact toxicity was found 36 h after exposure with LEO (LD50= 14.7 µg insect−1), citral (LD50= 4.56 µg insect−1), and geranyl acetate (LD50= 15.9 µg insect−1). Insects exposed to LEO and its components reduced locomotion and orientation to treated surfaces. Also, A. gemmatalis larvae reduced their respiration after treatment with LEO and components. These results demonstrate that LEO, citral, and geranyl acetate cause toxic and repellent effects on A. gemmatalis, indicating their potential to control this soybean pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological pest control programmes often involve the importation of exotic natural enemies, ideally followed by monitoring to discern the establishment and success of the programme. Several species of egg parasitoids in the genus Trichogramma have been released against the pomegranate butterfly, Deudorix livia, in Oman annually for nearly two decades. We estimated agri-field parasitism by Trichogramma wasps and conclude that these parasitoids are almost completely ineffective. Parasitoid emergence from D. livia eggs was almost exclusively by the naturally present wasp Telenomus nizwaensis, but this species typically achieves parasitism too late in the fruiting season to prevent economic damage. We suggest that a more targeted selection of Trichogramma species and strains is used in conjunction with improved mass-rearing or, alternatively, that active attempts to utilise Trichogramma as exotic natural enemies cease. We recommend that resources are allocated to improving parasitism, in terms of the timing and prevalence, achieved by the indigenous egg parasitoid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Embedded in a quantitative approach focused on smallholder maize farmers in southern Ghana, this article addresses the dual questions of what climate variability strategies remain adopted? And what is the intensity of adoption as well as the factors that influence the choice and intensity of adaptation strategies? The related literature presents mixed conclusions. Even more compelling is an understanding of how our research questions intersect with socio-demographic factors in mediating and shaping climate variability adaptation strategies. We find drought-resistant varieties, pest and disease control, early/late planting, and the application of indigenous knowledge to be the dominantly adopted climate variability adaptation strategies. The adoption intensity shows three climate adaptation strategies to be the highest (22.34 percent), followed by two (19.29 percent), with the least (0.5 percent) being ten. Farming experience, household size, and farm size positively correlated with the intensity of climate variability adaptation strategies. Temperature perception is inversely correlated with climate variability adaptation intensity. The findings suggest that social capital and other socio-demographic characteristics are relevant for the adoption of climate variability adaptation strategies in southern Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Historic England Zooarchaeology Reference Collection includes more than 3470 mammal, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish specimens, the majority of which are complete skeletons. It comprises important research collections that support internal, national and international projects, and is being continuously developed, mainly through in-house specimen preparation. The collection is housed in different locations at Fort Cumberland, an eighteenth-century military monument, and is therefore subject to varying environmental conditions, requiring tailored curation. This paper reports on an audit of the collection carried out in December 2016, in response to a perceived increase in the presence of insects, mould and grease, and the subsequent actions taken. The audit involved visual assessment and condition recording of each accessioned specimen. New specialist storage solutions were then implemented as part of the on-going collection curation, within the context of an integrated pest management strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides are crucial for increasing agricultural productivity, but they have also been linked to a range of health and environmental risks. In this paper, we used nationally representative data from 557 agro-dealers in Uganda to assess the role of agro-dealer certification in improving knowledge and practices related to environmentally-friendly pest control. We found that almost half of the sampled agro-dealers were not certified or accredited by regulatory bodies, even though this is a prerequisite for selling pesticides in the country. Results further showed that only 16% of the agro-input shops were selling biopesticide products, largely due to a lack of awareness, access and demand from farmers. Regression results showed that certified agro-dealers were 9-12 percentage points more likely to know about biopesticides and integrated pest management, and 8-10 percentage points more likely to sell biopesticide products, compared to their non-certified counterparts. Our findings imply that agro-dealer certification courses can play an important role in raising knowledge and stimulating the supply of environmentally-benign pest control products. We identified regulatory enforcement, a decentralized certification system and agro-dealer associations as some of the potential pathways for incentivising compliance with certification requirements, thereby promoting lower-risk pest control products and strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regenerative agriculture has emerged as a potentially outcome-based paradigm centring on soil health, biodiversity and other environmental and social parameters. Early days of organic agriculture also focused on philosophy first and evolved into a process-based regulatory paradigm whose adoption remains small relative to conventional production. Five case studies of professional growers, representing a total of 100,000 acres of production, were collected to identify reasons for choosing to grow or stop growing organic, challenges faced and attitudes around regenerative agriculture. Growers identified issues of complex and unpredictable regulation, labour, inability to predict market trends and secure needed premiums, cost and effectiveness of natural fertilizers and lack of effectiveness in pest control. These growers adopted similar practices (e.g., integrated pest management) for environmental benefits across conventional and organic acres, and viewed consumer demand and potential profitability rather than environmental benefits as the main drivers for practising organic. Growers expressed interest in outcome-based regenerative agriculture. To be viable, a programme requires criteria on measurement and certification, regionally tailored flexibility and clear financial incentives. Growers doubt such a programme would replace organic but see opportunities for new marketing programmes, particularly in carbon sequestration and water management. Challenges identified by growers warrant further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the occurrence and environmental partition of urban pesticides and the dependence of these compounds on the physicochemical properties of the sediment and water of the Ceará River (fluvial and mangrove regions) located on the tropical coast of northeast Brazil. Surface sediment and water were collected from each site. Dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, conductivity, depth, turbidity, and salinity were measured in situ. Bifenthrin, deltamethrin, permethrin, imiprothrin, and malathion were analysed in both environmental matrices. An ecological risk assessment was performed using the risk quotient (RQ) calculated from responses of aquatic organisms to the target compounds compiled in the United States Environmental Protection Agency ECOTOXicology knowledgebase (ECOTOX). The highest concentrations were found for the urban pesticides cypermethrin, permethrin, and deltamethrin, ranging from 37.39 to 367.60, 44.49 to 226.45 ng L−1, and 60.99 to 170.56 ng L−1 in water and 270.99 to 623.99, 27.00 to 307.00 ng g−1 and 0.27 to 443.48 ng g−1, in sediment in dry weight, respectively. Malathion, cypermethrin, cyfluthrin, and deltamethrin are related to chemical control performed for combatting vectors of diseases. The main sources of permethrin and imiprothrin are household insecticides. Bifenthrin may be related to its use by specialised pest control services. The study of toxic effects and the ecological risk assessment revealed cyfluthrin to be extremely toxic to marine and estuarine organisms, followed by deltamethrin, bifenthrin, cypermethrin, and permethrin, whereas imiprothrin and malathion were classified as toxic and non-toxic, respectively. The urban pesticides investigated in this study were on the same level of magnitude as those found in agricultural areas, except for malathion and imiprothrin, the levels of which were higher due to the fact that these compounds are commonly used in urban pest control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irradiation of food is promising for control of pests to minimize postharvest losses of yields and thus improvement of food safety, shelf life of produce. It is a method of choice that induces a series of lethal biochemical and molecular changes culminating into the engagement of a downstream cascade to cause abnormalities in irradiated pests. In this study, the effects of iodine-131 (131I) isotope radiation on the male gonad development of the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, were evaluated. Newly emerged adult male locusts, less than one-day-old, were divided into two groups, control and irradiated. Locusts in the control group (n = 20 insects) didn't drink irradiated water and were reared under normal environmental conditions for one week. Locusts in the irradiated group (n = 20 insects) were exposed to irradiated water at a dose of 30 mCi and they were subsequently observed until they drank the whole quantity. At the end of the experiment, scanning and electron microscopic examination of testes obtained from irradiated locusts revealed several major abnormalities, including malformed nuclei of spermatozoa, irregular plasma membranes, shrinkage of testicular follicles, vacuolated cytoplasm, disintegrated nebenkern and agglutinations of spermatids. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that 131I radiation induced both early and late apoptosis, but not necrosis, in testicular tissues. Testes of irradiated insects also exhibited a burst in reactive oxygen species (ROS), as indicated by significant elevation in amounts of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker for peroxidation of lipids. In contrast, irradiation coincided with significant reductions in activities of enzymatic antioxidant biomarkers. Relative to controls, a three-fold upregulation of expression of mRNA of heat shock protein, Hsp90, was observed in testicular tissue of irradiated locusts. 131I-irradiated insects exhibited genotoxicity, as indicated by significant increases in various indicators of DNA damage by the comet assay, including tail length (7.80 ± 0.80 µm; p <.01), olive tail moment (40.37 ± 8.08; p <.01) and tail DNA intensity % (5.1 ± 0.51; p <.01), in testicular cells compared to the controls. This is the first report on elucidation of I131-irradiation-mediated histopathological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms in gonads of male L. migratoria. Herein, the findings underscore the utility of 131I radiation as an eco-friendly postharvest strategy for management of insect pests and in particular for control of populations of L. migratoria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural insecticidal products, essentially essential oils and their bioactive compounds are available as an excellent alternative method to control insect pests as well as they are less toxic to human health. However, due to their volatile constituents, encapsulation could be considered as the most suitable solution for their practical application. Therefore, this study aims to explore the insecticidal toxicity of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil against adults of Carpophilus hemipterus. Chitosan nanoparticles were prepared by ionic gelation method with an encapsulation efficiency 41.543.1% and loading capacity 5.24G0.28%. Results revealed that chitosan nanoparticles loaded rosemary oil exhibited interesting insecticidal toxicity towards C. hemipterus adults in stored dates with 50.73% mortality. Overall, this work pointed out that the innovative design method based on chitosan-nanoparticles loaded rosemary oil can be promoted in integrated pest management program for stored date pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a discrete-time host–parasitoid model with stage structure in both species. For this model, we establish conditions for the existence and global stability of the extinction and parasitoid-free equilibria as well as conditions for the existence and local stability of an interior equilibrium and system persistence. We study the model numerically to examine how pesticide spraying may interact with natural enemies (parasitoids) to control the pest (host) species. We then extend the model to an impulsive difference system that incorporates both periodic pesticide spraying and augmentation of the natural enemies to suppress the pest population. For this system, we determine when the pest-eradication periodic solution is globally attracting. We also examine how varying the control measures (pesticide concentration, natural enemy augmentation and the frequency of applications) may lead to different pest outbreak or persistence outcomes when eradication does not occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]