New Active Ingredients for Sustainable Modern Chemical Crop Protection in Agriculture.

Today, the agrochemical industry faces enormous challenges to ensure the sustainable supply of high-quality food, efficient water use, low environmental impact, and the growing world population. The shortage of agrochemicals due to consumer perception, changing needs of farmers and ever-changing regulatory requirements is higher than the number of active ingredients that are placed on the market. The introduction of halogen atoms into an active ingredient molecule offers the opportunity to optimize its physico-chemical properties such as molecular lipophilicity. As early as 2010, around four-fifths of modern agrochemicals on the market contained halogen atoms. In addition, it becomes clear that modern agrochemicals have increasingly complex molecular structures with one or more stereogenic centers in the molecule. Today, almost half of modern agrochemicals are chiral molecules (herbicides, insecticides/acaricides/nematicides ≪ fungicides) and most of them consist of mixtures such as racemic mixtures of enantiomers, followed by mixtures of diastereomers and mixtures of pure enantiomers. Therefore, it is important that halogen-containing substituents or stereogenic centers are considered in the structural optimization of the active ingredients to ultimately develop sustainable agrochemicals in terms of efficacy, ecotoxicology, ease of use and cost-effectiveness.

Exploration of Phage-Agrochemical Interaction Based on a Novel Potent Phage LPRS20-Targeting Ralstonia solanacearum.

Phage therapy has the potential to alleviate plant bacterial wilt. However, the knowledge gap concerning the phage-agrochemical interaction impedes the broader application of phages in agriculture. This study characterized a phage isolate and investigated its interactions with agrochemicals. A novel species within the Ampunavirus genus was proposed, serving phage LPRS20 as a type phage with a broad lytic range and significant antibacterial activity against Ralstonia solanacearum strains infecting tobacco, chili, or tomato. Sensory evaluation of the morphology of tobacco leaves suggested that phage application resulted in negligible harm to plants. Investigations into phage-agrochemical interactions revealed synergisms when LPRS20 was delivered 4 h before thiodiazole-copper as well as LPRS20 in combination with low-concentration berberine. Overall, our findings reveal that phage LPRS20 represents a novel, effective, and eco-friendly biocontrol agent against tobacco bacterial wilt in vivo and in vitro and contributes to the potential integration of phages and agrochemicals for controlling soil-borne pathogens.

Method for evaluation of Streptomyces growth and metabolism in the presence of glyphosate-based herbicide.

The use of pesticides, such as glyphosate, has increased due to population growth and the rising demand for food. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), such as Streptomyces, offer a more ecologically friendly alternative to the excessive use of pesticides. However, these bacteria undergo a complex life cycle involving the formation of hyphae, mycelia, and spores, which makes standardizing laboratory cultures challenging. In this context, we tested three methods for cultivating a Streptomyces isolate (CLV322) in the presence of the stressor agent glyphosate, denoted as M1, M2, and M3. These methods involved the simultaneous addition of the herbicide 24-48 h after the start of cultivation. We evaluated the growth and cell viability of CLV322 using the 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) assay under glyphosate-based herbicide stress (Roundup® Original DI) at concentrations ranging from 0.002 to 7.2 mg mL- 1. We also assessed the ability of CLV322 to maintain PGPR characteristics in the presence of the herbicide by quantifying indolic compounds, siderophores, and phenazines. The cultivation method significantly influenced the production of metabolites by CLV322, with M3 yielding more consistent results across the evaluated parameters. Our findings suggest that germinating Streptomyces spores for 48 h before introducing glyphosate (M3) enables the analysis of bacterial tolerance to herbicide stress. This methodology may also apply to evaluate other abiotic stresses on Streptomyces strains.

Improvement of plant quality by amino acid transporters: A comprehensive review.

Amino acids serve as the primary means of transport and organic nitrogen carrier in plants, playing an essential role in plant growth and development. Amino acid transporters (AATs) facilitate the movement of amino acids within plants and have been identified and characterised in a number of species. It has been demonstrated that these amino acid transporters exert an influence on the quality attributes of plants, in addition to their primary function of transporting amino acid transport. This paper presents a summary of the role of AATs in plant quality improvement. This encompasses the enhancement of nitrogen utilization efficiency, root development, tiller number and fruit yield. Concurrently, AATs can bolster the resilience of plants to pests, diseases and abiotic stresses, thereby further enhancing the yield and quality of fruit. AATs exhibit a wide range of substrate specificity, which greatly optimizes the use of pesticides and significantly reduces pesticide residues, and reduces the risk of environmental pollution while increasing the safety of fruit. The discovery of AATs function provides new ideas and ways to cultivate high-quality crop and promote changes in agricultural development, and has great potential in the application of plant quality improvement.

Climatic fluctuations alter the preference of stingless bees (Apidae, Meliponini) towards food contaminated with acephate and glyphosate.

The global decline of pollinators has become a major concern for the scientific community, policymakers, and the general public. Among the main drivers of diminishing bee populations is the widespread use of agrochemicals. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the foraging dynamics of bees at agrochemical-contaminated areas, it is essential to consider both environmental conditions and the specific foraging ecology of bee species. For the first time, we conducted a semi-field study to investigate whether stingless bees exhibit a preference for food contaminated with agrochemicals compared to non- contaminated food, under natural weather conditions. Colonies of Plebeia lucii Moure, 2004 were placed in a greenhouse and subjected to a preference test, where bees were given the freedom to choose between contaminated or non-contaminated food sources following a preliminary training period. Within the greenhouse, we placed feeders containing realistic concentrations of an insecticide (acephate: 2 mg a.i./L), a herbicide (glyphosate: 31.3 mg a.i./L), or a mixture of both, alongside non-contaminated food. Environmental variables (temperature, humidity, and light intensity) were monitored throughout the experiment. At higher temperatures, the foragers preferred food containing the mixture of both agrochemicals or uncontaminated food over the other treatments. At lower temperatures, by contrast, the bees preferred food laced with a single agrochemical (acephate or glyphosate) over uncontaminated food or the agrochemical mixture. Our findings indicate that agrochemical residues in nectar pose a significant threat to P. lucii colonies, as foragers do not actively avoid contaminated food, despite the detrimental effects of acephate and glyphosate on bees. Furthermore, we demonstrate that even minor, natural fluctuations in environmental conditions can alter the colony exposure risk. Despite the interplay between temperature and bees' preference for contaminated food, foragers consistently collected contaminated food containing both agrochemicals, whether isolated or in combination, throughout the whole experiment.

Preparation of low-cost sludge-based highly porous biochar for efficient removal of refractory pollutants from agrochemical and pharmaceutical wastewater.

Producing a high-performance sludge biochar through a feasible method is a great challenge and is crucial for practicability. Herein, we reported a highly porous sludge biochar synthesized from agrochemical-pharmaceutical and municipal sludge blends through a novel pyrolysis-acid treatment-post pyrolysis method. The optimized biochar named ASMS91 obtained interconnected pores with a total pore volume of 0.894 cm3/g and a surface area of 691.4 m2/g through extended acid wash and subsequent post-pyrolysis, which is superior to non-activated sludge biochar. ASMS91 removed 45.3 % of wastewater COD (156 mg/L) in 24 h, which was rapid and higher performance than commercial activated carbon (1000 iodine number). This outstanding performance is due to its high adsorption ability of long-chain aliphatic compounds (e.g., 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol, neophytadiene and eicosane) into mesopores, which accounts for 71.8 % of pore filling. ASMS91 was highly recyclable, and adsorption was reduced by only 5.3 % after the 4th cycle. It also outperformed other sludge biochar in literature in removing perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS), sulfamethoxazole, methylene blue, and methylene orange. Finally, the feasibility of our proposed method was validated by a brief techno-economic analysis. This feasible approach may support future research regarding sludge valorization and low-cost chemical wastewater treatment.

The use of insect cell line Sf21 for ecotoxicity testing.

Insect cell lines are finding utility in many areas of biology, but their application as an in vitro tool for ecotoxicity testing has been given less attention. Our study aimed to demonstrate the utility and sensitivity of Sf21 cells to commonly used fungicides: Propiconazole and CuSO4, as well as dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) an industrial solvent. Sf21 cells were readily cultured from frozen stocks in 3-4 days and showed utility as an invertebrate in vitro acute toxicity test. The data showed the threshold levels of cell survivability against propiconazole and CuSO4. The EC50 values were 135.1 µM and 3.31 mM respectively. The LOAEL (lowest observed adverse effect level) was ≈ 1 µM for propiconazole and ≈ 10 µM for CuSO4. Culturing of Sf21 cells in media containing the solvent DMSO showed that 0.5% DMSO concentration did not effect cell viability. Sf21 cells are sensitive and useful as a robust ecologically relevant screening tool for acute toxicity testing.

Network toxicological and molecular docking to investigate the mechanisms of toxicity of agricultural chemical Thiabendazole.

Food safety is closely linked to human health. Thiabendazole is widely used as a fungicide and deodorant on agricultural products like vegetables and fruits to prevent fungal infections during transport and storage. This study aims to investigate the toxicity and potential mechanisms of Thiabendazole using novel network toxicology and molecular docking techniques. First, the ADMETlab2.0 and ADMETsar databases, along with literature, predicted Thiabendazole's potential to induce cancer and liver damage. Disease target libraries were constructed using GeneCards and TCMIP databases, while Thiabendazole target libraries were constructed using Swiss Target Prediction and TCMIP databases. The Venn database identified potential targets associated with Thiabendazole-induced cancer and liver injury. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were derived from the STRING database, and gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathways were obtained from the DAVID database. Molecular docking assessed the binding affinity between Thiabendazole and core targets. The study revealed 29 potential targets for Thiabendazole-induced cancer and 30 potential targets for liver injury. PPI identified 5 core targets for Thiabendazole-induced cancers and 4 core targets for induced liver injury. KEGG analysis indicated that Thiabendazole might induce gastric and prostate cancer via cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targets, and liver injury through the same targets, with the p53 signaling pathway being central. GO analysis indicated that Thiabendazole-induced cancers and liver injuries were related to mitotic cell cycle G2/M transition and DNA replication. Molecular docking showed stable binding of Thiabendazole with core targets including CDK1, CDK2, EGFR, and checkpoint kinase 1 (CHEK1). These findings suggest Thiabendazole may affect the G2/M transition of the mitotic cell cycle through the p53 signaling pathway, potentially inducing cancer and liver injury. This study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the potential molecular mechanisms underlying Thiabendazole toxicity, aiding in the prevention and treatment of related diseases. Additionally, the network toxicology approach accelerates the elucidation of toxic pathways for uncharacterized agricultural chemicals.

Discovery Phase Agrochemical Predictive Safety Assessment Using High Content In Vitro Data to Estimate an In Vivo Toxicity Point of Departure.

Utilization of in vitro (cellular) techniques, like Cell Painting and transcriptomics, could provide powerful tools for agrochemical candidate sorting and selection in the discovery process. However, using these models generates challenges translating in vitro concentrations to the corresponding in vivo exposures. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling provides a framework for quantitative in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE). We tested whether in vivo (rat liver) transcriptomic and apical points of departure (PODs) could be accurately predicted from in vitro (rat hepatocyte or human HepaRG) transcriptomic PODs or HepaRG Cell Painting PODs using PBPK modeling. We compared two PBPK models, the ADMET predictor and the httk R package, and found httk to predict the in vivo PODs more accurately. Our findings suggest that a rat liver apical and transcriptomic POD can be estimated utilizing a combination of in vitro transcriptome-based PODs coupled with PBPK modeling for IVIVE. Thus, high content in vitro data can be translated with modest accuracy to in vivo models of ultimate regulatory importance to help select agrochemical analogs in early stage discovery program.

Neurotoxicity assessment of the herbicide pethoxamid in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos/larvae.

Pethoxamid, a member of the chloroacetamide herbicide family, is a recently approved chemical for pre- or post-emergence weed control; however, toxicity data for sublethal effects in aquatic organisms exposed to pethoxamid are non-existent in literature. To address this, we treated zebrafish embryos/larvae to pethoxamid over a 7-day period post-fertilization and evaluated several toxicological endpoints associated with oxidative stress and neurotoxicity. Continuous pethoxamid exposure did not affect survival nor hatch success in embryos/larvae for 7 days up to 1000 µg L-1. Exposure to pethoxamid did not affect embryonic ATP-linked respiration, but it did reduce non-mitochondrial respiration at the highest concentration tested. We also noted a significant increase in both apoptosis and levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in larvae zebrafish following exposure to pethoxamid. Increases in apoptosis and ROS, however, were not correlated with any altered gene expression pattern for apoptotic and oxidative damage response transcripts. To assess neurotoxicity potential, we measured behavior and several transcripts implicated in neural processes in the central nervous system. While locomotor activity of larval zebrafish was affected by pethoxamid exposure (hyperactivity was observed at concentrations below 1 µg L-1, and hypoactivity was noted at higher exposures to 10 and 100 µg L-1 pethoxamid), there were no effects on steady state mRNA abundance for neurotoxicity-related transcripts tested. This data contributes to knowledge regarding exposure risks for chloroacetamide-based herbicides and is the first study investigating sublethal toxicity for this newly registered herbicide.

Recent Advances in Design and Development of Diazole and Diazine Based Fungicides (2014-2023).

With fungal diseases posing a major threat to agricultural production, the application of fungicides to control related diseases is often considered necessary to ensure the world's food supply. The search for new bioactive agents has long been a priority in crop protection due to the continuous development of resistance against currently used types of active compounds. Heterocyclic compounds are an inseparable part of the core structures of numerous lead compounds, these rings constitute pharmacophores of a significant number of fungicides developed over the past decade by agrochemists. Among heterocycles, nitrogen-based compounds play an essential role. To date, diazole (imidazole and pyrazole) and diazine (pyrimidine, pyridazine, and pyrazine) derivatives make up an important series of synthetic fungicides. In recent years, many reports have been published on the design, synthesis, and study of the fungicidal activity of these scaffolds, but there was a lack of a comprehensive classified review on nitrogen-containing scaffolds. Regarding this issue, here we have reviewed the published articles on the fungicidal activity of the diazole and diazine families. In current review, we have classified the molecules synthesized so far based on the size of the ring.

Environmental presence and toxicological outcomes of the herbicide pendimethalin in teleost fish.

Herbicides are often detected in aquatic ecosystems due to residential and agricultural applications and can harm aquatic organisms once deposited into water systems. Pendimethalin is part of the dinitroaniline chemical family and is applied to crops like corn, legumes, potatoes, and soybeans. The potential toxicity of pendimethalin to aquatic species is understudied compared to other widely studied herbicides, like atrazine and glyphosate. The objectives of this review were to (1) collate information on sub-lethal responses to pendimethalin exposure in fish, (2) evaluate how exposure studies relate to environmental concentrations, and (3) identify putative bioindicators for exposure studies. Overall, studies reporting pendimethalin in water systems worldwide indicate a range of 100-300 ng/L, but levels have been reported as high as ~15 µg/g in sediment. In teleost fish, studies demonstrate developmental toxicity, immunotoxicity, and behavioral disruptions. The strongest evidence for pendimethalin-induced toxicity involves oxidative stress, although studies often test toxicity at higher concentrations than environmentally relevant levels. Using the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database, pathway analysis reveals linkages to neurotoxicity and mechanisms of neurodegeneration like "Ubiquitin Dependent Protein Degradation", "Microtubule Cytoskeleton", "Protein Oxidation and Aggregation in Aging", and "Parkinson's Disease". Other prominent pathways included those related to mTOR signaling and reproduction. Thus, two potential mechanisms underlying pendimethalin-induced toxicity in fish include the neural and reproductive systems. This review synthesizes current data regarding environmental fate and ecotoxicology of pendimethalin in teleost fish and points to some putative physiological and molecular responses that may be beneficial for assessing toxicity of the herbicide in future investigations.

Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of a pendimethalin-based herbicide in Apis mellifera.

Public concern about the effects of pesticides on non-target organisms has increased in the recent years. Nevertheless, there is a limited number of studies that address the actual toxic effects of herbicides on insects. This study investigated the side effects of herbicides on non-target organisms inhabiting agroecosystems and performing essential ecological and economic functions such as crop pollination. We analysed morphological alterations in the gut, Malpighian tubules and circulating haemocytes of Apis mellifera workers as markers of exposure effects. A commercial formulation of a pendimethalin-based herbicide (PND) was administered orally under laboratory conditions at a realistic concentration admitted in the field (330gL-1 of active ingredient., 4 L ha-1 for cereal and vegetable crops). The worker bees were exposed to a single application of PND for a period of one week, to simulate the exposure that can occur when foraging bees accidentally drink drops of contaminated water upon treatments. Histopathological analyses of the midgut, ileum and Malpighian tubules showed alterations over time (from 24 to 72 h after the beginning of exposure) such as loss of epithelial organisation, cellular vacuolisation and altered pyknotic nuclei as well as disruption of the peritrophic membrane over time. Semiquantitative analyses of the midgut showed a significant increase in the organ injury index 24 and 72 h after the initial exposure in PND-exposed bees compared to control bees. In addition, a change in positivity to Gram staining was observed in the midgut histological sections. A recovery of cytotoxic effects was observed one week after the initial exposure, which was favoured by the periodic renewal of the intestinal epithelium and the herbicide dissipation time. Cytochemical staining with Giemsa of haemocytes from PND-treated workers over 24 and 72 h showed significant nuclear alterations such as lobed or polymorphic nuclei and micronuclei compared to bees in the control group. These results show that the dose of PND used to protect crops from weeds can lead to significant cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in non-target organisms such as honey bees. In croplands, the sublethal effects on cell morphology can impair vital physiological processes such as nutrition, osmoregulation, and resistance to pathogens, contributing to the decline in biodiversity and abundance of species that play a prominent ecological role, such as pollinators.

Determination of pesticide residues in urine by chromatography-mass spectrometry: methods and applications.

Introduction: Pollution has emerged as a significant threat to humanity, necessitating a thorough evaluation of its impacts. As a result, various methods for human biomonitoring have been proposed as vital tools for assessing, managing, and mitigating exposure risks. Among these methods, urine stands out as the most commonly analyzed biological sample and the primary matrix for biomonitoring studies. Objectives: This review concentrates on exploring the literature concerning residual pesticide determination in urine, utilizing liquid and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, and its practical applications. Method: The examination focused on methods developed since 2010. Additionally, applications reported between 2015 and 2022 were thoroughly reviewed, utilizing Web of Science as a primary resource. Synthesis: Recent advancements in chromatography-mass spectrometry technology have significantly enhanced the development of multi-residue methods. These determinations are now capable of simultaneously detecting numerous pesticide residues from various chemical and use classes. Furthermore, these methods encompass analytes from a variety of environmental contaminants, offering a comprehensive approach to biomonitoring. These methodologies have been employed across diverse perspectives, including toxicological studies, assessing pesticide exposure in the general population, occupational exposure among farmers, pest control workers, horticulturists, and florists, as well as investigating consequences during pregnancy and childhood, neurodevelopmental impacts, and reproductive disorders. Future directions: Such strategies were essential in examining the health risks associated with exposure to complex mixtures, including pesticides and other relevant compounds, thereby painting a broader and more accurate picture of human exposure. Moreover, the implementation of integrated strategies, involving international research initiatives and biomonitoring programs, is crucial to optimize resource utilization, enhancing efficiency in health risk assessment.

Assessing human carcinogenicity risk of agrochemicals without the rodent cancer bioassay.

The rodent cancer bioassays are conducted for agrochemical safety assessment yet they often do not inform regulatory decision-making. As part of a collaborative effort, the Rethinking Carcinogenicity Assessment for Agrochemicals Project (ReCAAP) developed a reporting framework to guide a weight of evidence (WOE)-based carcinogenicity assessment that demonstrates how to fulfill the regulatory requirements for chronic risk estimation without the need to conduct lifetime rodent bioassays. The framework is the result of a multi-stakeholder collaboration that worked through an iterative process of writing case studies (in the form of waivers), technical peer reviews of waivers, and an incorporation of key learnings back into the framework to be tested in subsequent case study development. The example waivers used to develop the framework were written retrospectively for registered agrochemical active substances for which the necessary data and information could be obtained through risk assessment documents or data evaluation records from the US EPA. This exercise was critical to the development of a framework, but it lacked authenticity in that the stakeholders reviewing the waiver already knew the outcome of the rodent cancer bioassay(s). Syngenta expanded the evaluation of the ReCAAP reporting framework by writing waivers for three prospective case studies for new active substances where the data packages had not yet been submitted for registration. The prospective waivers followed the established framework considering ADME, potential exposure, subchronic toxicity, genotoxicity, immunosuppression, hormone perturbation, mode of action (MOA), and all relevant information available for read-across using a WOE assessment. The point of departure was estimated from the available data, excluding the cancer bioassay results, with a proposed use for the chronic dietary risk assessment. The read-across assessments compared data from reliable registered chemical analogues to strengthen the prediction of chronic toxicity and/or tumorigenic potential. The prospective case studies represent a range of scenarios, from a new molecule in a well-established chemical class with a known MOA to a molecule with a new pesticidal MOA (pMOA) and limited read-across to related molecules. This effort represents an important step in establishing criteria for a WOE-based carcinogenicity assessment without the rodent cancer bioassay(s) while ensuring a health protective chronic dietary risk assessment.

Adsorption of sulfamethoxazole and ethofumesate in biochar- and organoclay-amended soil: Changes with adsorbent aging in the laboratory and in the field.

Biochars and organoclays have been proposed as efficient adsorbents to reduce the mobility of agrochemicals in soils. However, following their application to soils, these adsorbents undergo changes in their physicochemical properties over time due to their interaction with soil components. In this study, the adsorption capacity of a commercial biochar and a commercial organoclay for the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SFMX) and the pesticide ethofumesate (ETFM) was evaluated over aging periods of 3 months in the laboratory and 1 year in the field, subsequent to their application to a Mediterranean soil. The results showed that the adsorption of SFMX and ETFM in the soil amended with the adsorbents was greater than in the unamended soil, but for both chemicals, adsorption decreased with aging of the adsorbents in the soil. Characterization of the adsorbents before and after aging revealed physical blocking of adsorption sites by soil components. The loss of adsorption capacity of the adsorbents upon aging led to higher leaching of SFMX and ETFM in the soil containing field-aged adsorbents, although leaching remained lower than in unamended soil. Our findings reveal that, under the Mediterranean environment studied, the efficacy of the studied materials as adsorbents is maintained to a considerable extent for at least one year after their field application, which would have positive implications in their use for attenuating the dispersion of agricultural contaminants in the environment.

Oxime chemistry in crop protection.

An overview is given on the significance of the oxime moiety in crop protection chemistry. This review focuses on the two most important aspects of agrochemical oximes, which are the occurrence and role of oxime groups in compounds with herbicidal, fungicidal and insecticidal activity, as well as the application of oxime derivatives as intermediates in the synthesis of crop protection agents not bearing any oxime function. Especially noteworthy is the fact, that in the synthesis of agrochemicals, oximes can be cyclized to isooxazoline, isoxazole, oxadiazole, oxazine, pyrrole, isothiazole and imidazole rings. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Pneumatic spray delivery-based fixed spray system configuration optimization for efficient agrochemical application in modern vineyards.

BACKGROUND: The hydraulic spray delivery (HSD)-based solid set canopy delivery system (SSCDS) emitter configuration has been optimized for agrochemical applications in vertical shoot position (VSP) vineyards. It uses cost-prohibitive emitters, and their placement restricts the mechanical pruning activities. Therefore, this study focused on optimizing the spray performance of a pneumatic spray delivery (PSD)-based SSCDS variant that addresses the earlier issues. Three PSD-SSCDS emitter configurations (C1-C3) were designed using modified low-cost emitters (E1: modified flat fan, E2: 90° modular flat fan) for agrochemical applications in VSP vineyards. C1 had an E1 installed on trellis posts at 1.67 m above ground level. C2 had a pair of E2 installed per vine at 0.3 m below the cordon, while C3 combined the emitter placement of C1 and C2. The spray deposition (ng cm-2) and coverage (%) were quantified (mean ± standard error) using mylar cards and water-sensitive paper samplers placed within the canopy, respectively. RESULTS: Spray deposition for C1, C2, and C3 was 301.12 ± 63.30, 347.9 ± 66.29, and 837.6 ± 92.53 ng cm-2, respectively. Whereas spray coverage for corresponding configurations was 18.02 ± 2.63, 8.98 ± 1.84, and 28.84 ± 2.46%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, configuration C3 provided significantly higher spray deposition and coverage than C1 and C2. Substantially reduced system installation cost and emitter density per hectare with improved spray performance were achieved by C3 compared to earlier optimized HSD-SSCDS configuration in the VSP vineyards. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

From Pipeline to Plant Protection Products: Using New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in Agrochemical Safety Assessment.

The human population will be approximately 9.7 billion by 2050, and food security has been identified as one of the key issues facing the global population. Agrochemicals are an important tool available to farmers that enable high crop yields and continued access to healthy foods, but the average new agrochemical active ingredient takes more than ten years, 350 million dollars, and 20,000 animals to develop and register. The time, monetary, and animal costs incentivize the use of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in early-stage screening to prioritize chemical candidates. This review outlines NAMs that are currently available or can be adapted for use in early-stage screening agrochemical programs. It covers new in vitro screens that are on the horizon in key areas of regulatory concern. Overall, early-stage screening with NAMs enables the prioritization of development for agrochemicals without human and environmental health concerns through a more directed, agile, and iterative development program before animal-based regulatory testing is even considered.

Evaluation of imidacloprid (Confidor OD®) genotoxicity in Chrysoperla externa eggs (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) through comet assay.

The comet assay allows the analysis of DNA damage caused by different genotoxins. This assay has recently gained interest because of its ease of studying the interactions of xenobiotics with different organisms. Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) is a species of great economic relevance because it is a predator of major agricultural pests during its larval stage. Neonicotinoids are the most important chemical class of insecticides introduced into markets. A previous imidacloprid toxicity assessment on C. externa showed that this neonicotinoid insecticide reduced the egg viability. The objective of this study was to analyze the genotoxicity of Confidor OD® (imidacloprid 20% a.i., LS, Bayer CropScience) on the biological control agent C. externa at DNA level using the comet assay as an ecotoxicological biomarker. A comet assay protocol has been developed for this species at first time. For the bioassays, the commercial product formulated Confidor OD® was used at two concentrations: 100 and 180 mg/l of the active ingredient. Selected eggs were dipped in a Confidor OD® solution for 15 s. Descriptors evaluated in the comet assay were damage index, % DNA damage, and tail length. The damage index did not show any significant differences between the different concentrations evaluated, but differences were observed for tail length, because at higher concentrations of Confidor OD®, there were greater DNA breaks. The DNA of the cells from treated eggs analyzed at 48 h and 96 h of development showed the same % DNA damage; that is, they had no recovery capacity. Application of Confidor OD® to C. externa eggs produced irreparable breaks at the DNA level. The technique adjusted for C. externa can be used in other beneficial insects to study pesticide genotoxicity using a comet assay.