Gene expression changes in Maconellicoccus hirsutus in response to sublethal dose of buprofezin.

The pink or hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, is a serious pest of grapes, jute, and mesta, causing severe yield losses in India and other countries. Chemical control remains the foremost choice for farmers to manage this pest. As insecticides break down over time due to biotic and abiotic factors, insects are exposed to varying levels of these exogenous compounds. Several studies have reported that sublethal doses affect insect physiology, but only a few have examined the changes in gene expression at the molecular level. Therefore, the present study was conducted to elucidate the molecular mechanisms in M. hirsutus exposed to sublethal doses of buprofezin 25 SC. Life table analysis revealed increased fecundity in M. hirsutus exposed to the sublethal dose. A total of 1,744 differentially expressed genes were identified between the buprofezin-treated and untreated samples using transcriptome analysis. These genes were primarily associated with ribosomal proteins, proteases, cuticular proteins, and cytoskeletal structures. Ribosomes and phagosomes were the most highly enriched pathways. Interestingly, most of the DEGs were involved in restoring homeostasis rather than detoxification. To validate our RNA-sequencing results, qRT-PCR validation was performed on ten randomly selected genes. Overall, our findings provide valuable insights into intermittent changes in stress-coping genes, apart from detoxification genes.

A smartphone-based supramolecular biosensor for portable and rapid detection of buprofezin in real food samples.

Buprofezin (BUP) is an insect growth regulator widely used in agriculture to control hemipteran pests, particularly the melon aphid, Aphis gossypii, due to its efficiency and low toxicity. Although approved by the Chinese government, its maximum residue limit (MRL) in food is strictly regulated, and conventional techniques for detecting BUP have several limitations. Our study reports successful BUP detection using a supramolecular fluorescent probe DP@ALB, constructed with chalcone-based fluorescent dye DP and albumin as the host. The probe offers advantages such as low cost, visual signal output with high fluorescence color variation, rapid response, and high sensitivity. Additionally, portable test strips enable convenient on-site BUP detection and simplifying field monitoring of spiked real samples. The study achieves precise qualitative and quantitative BUP analysis in grape fruit, groundwater, and soil with satisfactory recoveries. Further, the biological applicability of sensor for the in vitro detection of BUP in L929 living cells was demonstrated. This research breakthrough overcomes the limitations of traditional analytical methods, offering an efficient and reliable approach for food and environmental monitoring and pesticide residue detection.

The G932C mutation of chitin synthase 1 gene (CHS1) mediates buprofezin resistance as confirmed by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-in approach in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens.

The brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) is a major destructive rice pest in Asia. High levels of insecticide resistance have been frequently reported, and the G932C mutation in the chitin synthase 1 (CHS1) gene has been found to mediate buprofezin resistance. However, there has been no direct evidence to confirm the functional significance of the single G932C substitution mutation leading to buprofezin resistance in N. lugens. Here, we successfully constructed a knock-in homozygous strain (Nl-G932C) of N. lugens using CRISPR/Cas9 coupled with homology-directed repair (HDR). Compared with the background strain susceptible to buprofezin (Nl-SS), the knock-in strain (Nl-G932C) showed a 94.9-fold resistance to buprofezin. Furthermore, resistant strains (Nl-932C) isolated from the field exhibited a 2078.8-fold resistance to buprofezin, indicating that there are other mechanisms contributing to buprofezin resistance in the field. Inheritance analysis showed that the resistance trait is incomplete dominance. In addition, the Nl-G932C strain had a relative fitness of 0.33 with a substantially decreased survival rate, emergence rate, and fecundity. This study provided in vivo functional evidence for the causality of G932C substitution mutation of CHS1 with buprofezin resistance and valuable information for facilitating the development of resistance management strategies in N. lugens. This is the first example of using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology in a hemipteran insect to directly confirm the role of a candidate target site mutation in insecticide resistance.

Thiadiazole/Thiadiazine Derivatives as Insecticidal Agent: Design, Synthesis, and Biological Assessment of 1,3,4-(Thiadiazine/Thiadiazole)-Benzenesulfonamide Derivatives as IGRs Analogues against Spodoptera littoralis.

In keeping with our investigation, a simple and practical synthesis of novel heterocyclic compounds with a sulfamoyl moiety that can be employed as insecticidal agents was reported. The compound 2-hydrazinyl-N-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)-2-thioxoacetamide 1 was coupled smoothly with triethylorthoformate or a variety of halo compounds, namely phenacyl chloride, chloroacetyl chloride, chloroacetaldehyde, chloroacetone, 1,3-dichloropropane, 1,2-dichloroethane, ethyl chloroformate, 2,3-dichloro-1,4-naphthoquinone, and chloroanil respectively, which afforded the 1,3,4-thiadiazole and 1,3,4-thiadiazine derivatives. The new products structure was determined using elemental and spectral analysis. Under laboratory conditions, the biological and toxicological effects of the synthetic compounds were also evaluated as insecticides against Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.). Compounds 3 and 5 had LC50 values of 6.42 and 6.90 mg/L, respectively. The investigated compounds (from 2 to 11) had been undergoing molecular docking investigation for prediction of the optimal arrangement and strength of binding between the ligand (herein, the investigated compounds (from 2 to 11)) and a receptor (herein, the 2CH5) molecule. The binding affinity within docking score (S, kcal/mol) ranged between -8.23 (for compound 5), -8.12 (for compound 3) and -8.03 (for compound 9) to -6.01 (for compound 8). These compounds were shown to have a variety of binding interactions within the 2CH5 active site, as evidenced by protein-ligand docking configurations. This study gives evidence that those compounds have 2CH5-inhibitory capabilities and hence may be used for 2CH5-targeting development. Furthermore, the three top-ranked compounds (5, 3, and 9) and the standard buprofezin were subjected to density functional theory (DFT) analysis. The highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) energy difference (ΔE) of compounds 5, 3, and 9 was found to be comparable to that of buprofezin. These findings highlighted the potential and relevance of charge transfer at the molecular level.

Buprofezin delayed the molting of Pardosa pseudoannulata, a predatory enemy for insect pests, by suppressing chitin synthase 1 expression.

Spiders, the major predatory enemies of insect pests in fields, are vulnerable to insecticides. In this study, we observed that the recommended dose of buprofezin delayed the molting of the pond wolf spider Pardosa pseudoannulata, although it had no lethal effect on the spiders. Since buprofezin is an insect chitin biosynthesis inhibitor, we identified two chitin synthase genes (PpCHS1 and PpCHS2) in P. pseudoannulata. Tissue-specific expression profiling showed that PpCHS1 was most highly expressed in cuticle. In contrast, PpCHS2 showed highest mRNA levels in the midgut and fat body. RNAi knockdown of PpCHS1 significantly delayed the molting of 12-days old spiderlings, whereas no significant effect on the molting was observed in the PpCHS2-silencing spiderlings. The expression of PpCHS1 was significantly suppressed in the spiderlings treated with buprofezin, but rescued by exogenous ecdysteroid ponasterone A (PA). Consistent with this result, the molting delay caused by buprofezin was also rescued by PA. The results revealed that buprofezin delayed the molting of spiders by suppressing PpCHS1 expression, which will benefit the protection of P. pseudoannulate and related spider species.

Method development of multi pesticide residue analysis in country beans collected from Dhaka, Bangladesh, and their dietary risk assessment.

The aim of the study was to develop a modified QuEChERS method coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the simultaneous determination of five multi-class pesticides in country beans collected from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Pesticides were extracted using ACN, and to minimize the co-extraction matrix, optimized d-SPE cleanup was done using sorbents (GCB, PSA, and C18). In the calibration range, the method showed excellent linearity with a correlation coefficient of R2 ≥ 0.9990 both in solvent- and matrix-matched calibration. For the selected pesticides, average recoveries (at four spiking levels (n = 5) of 10, 20, 100, and 200 µg/kg) of 70-100 % were achieved with relative standard deviations (RSDs) ≤ 9.5 %. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) ranged from 0.3333 to 1.3333 µg/kg and 1.0 to 4.0 µg/kg, respectively. The dietary risk assessment, in terms of hazard quotient (HQ), was calculated to assess consumers' health risks.

Buprofezin affects the molting process by regulating nuclear receptors SfHR3 and SfHR4 in Sogatella furcifera.

Nuclear receptors play a crucial role in various signaling and metabolic pathways, such as insect molting and development. Buprofezin (2-tert-butylimino-3-isopropyl-5-phenyl-perhydro-1, 3, 5-thiadiazin-4-one), a chitin synthesis inhibitor, causes molting deformities and slow death in insects by inhibiting chitin synthesis and interfering with their metabolism. This study investigated whether buprofezin affects insect ecdysteroid signaling pathway. The treatment of buprofezin significantly suppressed the transcription levels of SfHR3 and SfHR4, two nuclear receptor genes, in third-instar nymphs of Sogatella furcifera. Meanwhile, the transcription levels of SfHR3 and SfHR4 in first-day fifth-instar nymphs were induced at 12 h after 20E treatment. In addition, the silencing of SfHR3 and SfHR4 genes in first-day fifth-instar nymphs caused severe developmental delay and molting failure, resulting in a significant reduction of survival rates at 7.36% and 2.99% on the eighth day, respectively. Further analysis showed that the silencing SfHR3 and SfHR4 significantly inhibited the transcription levels of chitin synthesis and degradation-related genes. These results indicate that buprofezin can inhibits chitin synthesis and degradation by suppressing the signal transduction of 20E through SfHR3 and SfHR4, leading to molting failure and death. This study not only expands our understanding of the molecular mechanism of buprofezin in pest control but also lays a foundation for developing new control strategies of RNAi by targeting SfHR3 and SfHR4.

Generating Monoclonal Antibodies against Buprofezin and Developing Immunoassays for Its Residue Detection in Tea Samples.

The synthesis of a hapten and antigen for the preparation of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) for buprofezin is described. The recognition mechanism of hapten and buprofezin by monoclonal antibodies (mAb-19F2) is described. The effectiveness of the mAb-19F2 immunoassay technique was assessed, and the effective detection of buprofezin in tea samples was achieved through the establishment of indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) and colloidal gold immunochromatography assay (GICA). The mAb-19F2 subtype was IgG1, with an IC50 of 1.8 ng/mL and a linear range (IC20-IC80) of 0.6-5.4 µg/L, and had a cross-reaction rate of less than 0.18% with 29 other pesticides (neonicotinoids and insect growth regulators). The study identified π-π stacking interactions between hapten and TYR-61 at the mAb-19F2 site and alkyl/phosphate interactions with TRP-105 and ARG-103. The ic-ELISA had an IC50 of 12.9 ng/mL in green tea and 5.65 ng/mL in black tea, with a recovery rate of 92.4%-101.0% and RSD of 2.1%-4.8%. The GICA had a limit of detection (LOD) was 500 ng/mL, with the complete disappearance of the test lines visible to the naked eye. The limit of quantitation (LOQ, IC20) was determined to be 16.8 ng/mL. Additionally, the developed GICA showed no cross-reactivity with neonicotinoid pesticides. The recovery rate of tea spiked recovered samples was 83.6%-92.2%, with an RSD of 5.3%-12.6%, and the results were consistent with the LC/MS method. This study is important for the real-time detection of buprofezin residues to ensure food safety and human health.

Effects of three chitin synthesis inhibitors on egg masses, nymphs and adults of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

BACKGROUND: Halyomorpha halys, (brown marmorated stink bug, BMSB), is a high-concern invasive species causing severe damage to orchards in many countries outside its native Asian range. Management methods other than frequent sprays of broad-spectrum insecticides are needed to restore integrated pest management (IPM) practices in orchards. Chitin synthesis inhibitors are usually regarded as desirable options in IPM programs because of lower toxicity to beneficial insects and non-target organisms compared to neurotoxic insecticides. In this study, the activity of three chitin synthesis inhibitors (namely buprofezin, novaluron and triflumuron) was investigated on BMSB egg masses, third instars and adults by means of laboratory bioassays. RESULTS: Novaluron and to a lesser extent triflumuron were detrimental to BMSB nymphs exposed to residues on potted peach plants. Novaluron caused high mortality among early instars that emerged from sprayed egg masses. No significant differences were found between buprofezin and water control on eggs or third instars. When sprayed on BMSB adults, none of the chitin synthesis inhibitors affected survival, fecundity, or egg hatching. CONCLUSION: Given the activity on nymphs, but the lack of effects on adults, novaluron and triflumuron might be considered for field applications only as a tool in a wider management strategy along with other methods aimed at preventing the invasion of crops by BMSB adults. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Acute toxicity of two insecticides on two species of Chagas disease vectors.

The control of triatomine vectors of Chagas disease is mainly based on the use of pyrethroid insecticides. Because chemical control is the primary method for managing these insects, it is crucial to diversify the range of products utilized to mitigate the risk of resistance development. This study evaluated the toxicity of two insecticides with different modes of action on Triatoma dimidiata Latreille and T. pallidipennis Stal first and third instar nymphs. Our study focused on the effects of two insecticides, buprofezin (a growth regulator) and flunocamid (an anti-feeder), on the mortality rate of triatomine bugs in a laboratory setting. Moreover, we investigated how direct and indirect (film method) exposure to these insecticides impacted the survival of the insects. Flonicamid emerged as a promising insecticide for triatomine control since it caused 100% mortality in first-instar nymphs 48 h after direct exposure. While, in third instar nymphs, the maximum mortality was 88% at 72 h after exposure. Our result can be used as a basis for future triatomine control plans.

Insecticide resistance management of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Australian cotton - pyriproxyfen, spirotetramat and buprofezin.

BACKGROUND: Bemisia tabaci is a globally significant agricultural pest including in Australia, where it exhibits resistance to numerous insecticides. With a recent label change, buprofezin (group 16), is now used for whitefly management in Australia. This study investigated resistance to pyriproxyfen (group 7C), spirotetramat (group 23) and buprofezin using bioassays and available molecular markers. RESULTS: Bioassay and selection testing of B. tabaci populations detected resistance to pyriproxyfen with resistance ratios ranging from 4.1 to 56. Resistance to spirotetramat was detected using bioassay, selection testing and sequencing techniques. In populations collected from cotton, the A2083V mutation was detected in three populations of 85 tested, at frequencies ≤4.1%, whereas in limited surveillance of populations from an intensive horticultural region the frequency was ≥75.8%. The baseline susceptibility of B. tabaci to buprofezin was determined from populations tested from 2019 to 2020, in which LC50 values ranged from 0.61 to 10.75 mg L-1 . From the bioassay data, a discriminating dose of 200 mg L-1 was developed. Recent surveillance of 16 populations detected no evidence of resistance with 100% mortality recorded at doses ≤32 mg L-1 . A cross-resistance study found no conclusive evidence of resistance to buprofezin in populations with high resistance to pyriproxyfen or spirotetramat. CONCLUSIONS: In Australian cotton, B. tabaci pest management is challenged by ongoing resistance to pyriproxyfen, while resistance to spirotetramat is an emerging issue. The addition of buprofezin provides a new mode-of-action for whitefly pest management, which will strengthen the existing insecticide resistance management strategy. © 2023 Commonwealth of Australia. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Reference genes selection for expression studies in Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Pseudococcidae: Hemiptera) under specific experimental conditions.

BACKGROUND: Maconellicoccus hirsutus is a destructive pest which causes severe losses of agricultural and horticultural crops. For the management of M. hirsutus, many insecticides have been used and it has been exposed to insufficient dosage or uneven spray coverage which resulted in the development of insecticide resistance. Xenobiotic metabolism can be better understood with the help of gene expression studies by unveiling the underlying molecular mechanisms. The qRT-PCR is the simplest method to analyse gene expression, however, it highly relies on suitable reference genes concerning the different experimental conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated the stability of five reference genes in two sets of experimental conditions viz. developmental stages (nymphs and adults) and agrochemical stress (GA3 and Buprofezin sprayed) against M. hirsutus, using different softwares-NormFinder, geNorm, BestKeeper, and RefFinder. The study revealed that ATP51a and GAPDH can be used as reference genes for gene expression studies when exposed to Gibberellic acid. Additionally, the study revealed that the ideal pair of reference genes for data validation in M. hirsutus treated with Buprofezin was GAPDH and ß-tubulin. The ideal reference gene combination for various developmental stages was found to be 28S and Actin. CONCLUSION: According to the study, GAPDH can be utilized as a reliable reference gene in the agrochemical (GA3 and Buprofezin) exposure set. The genes can be utilized as a suitable reference for qRT-PCR gene expression studies of xenobiotic metabolism to understand the underlying molecular mechanism, which will help further to design suitable management strategies.

Investigating binding of insecticide buprofezin to DNA by experimental and metadynamics simulation studies.

Buprofezin (BUP) is an insecticide which belongs to the thiadiazine structural family and known to damage DNA in mice. Though its toxic effect on human is not known clearly, understanding the mechanism of interaction of BUP with DNA can prove useful when required. Multi-spectroscopic experiments such as UV-Vis, fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD) and 1H NMR coupled with viscosity measurements, urea effect and voltametric studies were performed to ascertain the mode of binding of BUP with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA). Analysis of UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra indicated the formation of a complex between BUP and CT-DNA. Other experiments such as competitive binding assays with ethidium bromide (EB) and Hoechst 33258, viscosity measurements, effect of urea, CD, voltammetric studies and 1H NMR spectral analysis suggested that BUP intercalates into the base pairs of CT-DNA. All these results revealed that the binding mode of BUP with CT-DNA should be intercalation and the binding constant is in the order of 104 M-1. The ΔHo < 0 and ΔSo < 0 suggested that H-bonding or van der Waals force was the main binding force between BUP and CT-DNA. The proposed mode of binding of BUP with CT-DNA has been visualized using in silico molecular docking and metadynamics simulation studies, which showed that the phenyl ring of BUP binds to CT-DNA via π-π stacking interaction in addition to H-bond formation.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

The overexpression of cytochrome P450 genes confers buprofezin resistance in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål).

BACKGROUND: Buprofezin, an insect growth regulator, has been widely used to control brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, one of the most destructive pests of rice crops in Asia. The intensive use of this compound has resulted in very high levels of resistance to buprofezin in the field, however, the underpinning mechanisms of resistance have not been fully resolved. RESULTS: Insecticide bioassays using the P450 inhibitor piperonyl butoxide significantly synergized the toxicity of buprofezin in two resistant strains of BPH (BPR and YC2017) compared to a susceptible strain (Sus), suggesting P450s play a role in resistance to this compound. Whole transcriptome profiling identified 1110 genes that were upregulated in the BPR strain compared to the Sus strain, including 13 cytochrome P450 genes, eight esterases and one glutathione S-transferase. Subsequently, qPCR validation revealed that four of the P450 genes, CYP6ER1vA, CYP6CW1, CYP4C77, and CYP439A1 were significantly overexpressed in both the BRP and YC2017 strains compared with the Sus strain. Further functional analyses showed that only suppression of CYP6ER1vA, CYP6CW1, and CYP439A1 gene expression by RNA interference significantly increased the toxicity of buprofezin against BPH. However, only transgenic Drosophila melanogaster expressing CYP6ER1vA and CYP439A1 exhibited significant resistance to buprofezin. Finally, the BPR strain was found to exhibit modest but significant levels of resistance to acetamiprid, dinotefuran and pymetrozine. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide strong evidence that the overexpression of CYP6ER1vA and CYP439A1 contribute to buprofezin resistance in BPH, and that resistance to this compound is associated with low-level resistance to acetamiprid, dinotefuran and pymetrozine. These results advance understanding of the molecular basis of BPH resistance to buprofezin and will inform the development of management strategies for the control of this highly damaging pest. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Inheritance and fitness cost of buprofezin resistance in a near-isogenic, field-derived strain and insecticide resistance monitoring of Laodelphax striatellus in China.

BACKGROUND: Laodelphax striatellus is one of the most destructive pests of rice and other cereal crops. Chemical control is still the most efficient way to control this pest, but insecticide resistance always threatens this approach. RESULTS: Monitoring data (2003-2020) showed that Chinese field populations of L. striatellus developed high-level buprofezin resistance within the first four years. This high-level resistance to buprofezin was stable for about ten years and persisted even when buprofezin selection pressure was absent. An established near-isogenic strain (YN-NIS) with 90.8-fold resistance to buprofezin had resistance inheritance of autosomal and incomplete dominance, and the resistance was controlled by multiple genes with no obvious fitness costs (relative fitness of 0.8707). Furthermore, the susceptibility of 29 field populations to another seven insecticides (2014-2020) showed that: (i) low-level resistance to pymetrozine, dinotefuran, sulfoxaflor and thiamethoxam was first detected in 2014 (eight years after introduction), 2016 (three years after), 2017 (four years after) and 2019 (19 years after), respectively, (ii) moderate resistance levels to chlorpyrifos were found for all populations across multiple years, and (iii) no resistance was detected for nitenpyram and triflumezopyrim. CONCLUSION: The fast buprofezin resistance development in L. striatellus would be caused by incomplete dominant resistance with almost no fitness cost in the resistant strain. Nitenpyram and triflumezopyrim showed no resistance and can be used as the main insecticide for the control of L. striatellus. These findings provide key fundamental information for controlling L. striatellus.

A liquid chromatographic method for determination of acetamiprid and buprofezin residues and their dissipation kinetics in paddy matrices and soil.

The present study was conducted to investigate the residue status of two insecticides (acetamiprid and buprofezin) and their dissipation kinetics in three matrices viz. paddy grain, straw, and soil. The extraction procedure for residues of these two insecticides was executed using acetonitrile solvent. The analytical method was validated, which showed good linearity with the limit of quantification (LOQ) value of 0.01 and 0.02 mg kg-1 for acetamiprid and buprofezin, respectively. The recovery range was 79.67-98.33 % concerning all the matrices in both the insecticides. Acetamiprid (20% SP) and Buprofezin (25% SC) were applied separately in the paddy field in two doses: single dose (recommended dose) and double dose along with untreated control throughout the experiment. Residue analysis of these two insecticides in paddy (grain and straw) and soil was accomplished employing high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) detector and confirmed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The dissipation data showed that acetamiprid exhibited higher dissipation in comparison with buprofezin. However, their persistence was found slightly higher in soil. The dissipation dynamics in the rice and soil were discussed with biological half-lives of both the insecticides. Consumer risk assessment study was also made considering its fate to the consumers.

Evaluation of Resistance Development in Bemisia tabaci Genn. (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) in Cotton against Different Insecticides.

Cotton is a major crop of Pakistan, and Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) is a major pest of cotton. Due to the unwise and indiscriminate use of insecticides, resistance develops more readily in the whitefly. The present study was conducted to evaluate the resistance development in the whitefly against the different insecticides that are still in use. For this purpose, the whitefly population was selected with five concentrations of each insecticide, for five generations. At G1, compared with the laboratory susceptible population, a very low level of resistance was observed against bifenthrin, cypermethrin, acetamiprid, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, nitenpyram, chlorfenapyr, and buprofezin with a resistance ratio of 3-fold, 2-fold, 1-fold, 4-fold, 3-fold, 3-fold, 3-fold, and 3-fold, respectively. However, the selection for five generations increased the resistance to a very high level against buprofezin (127-fold), and to a high level against imidacloprid (86-fold) compared with the laboratory susceptible population. While, a moderate level of resistance was observed against cypermethrin (34-fold), thiamethoxam (34-fold), nitenpyram (30-fold), chlorfenapyr (29-fold), and acetamiprid (21-fold). On the other hand, the resistance was low against bifenthrin (18-fold) after selection for five generations. A very low level of resistance against the field population of B. tabaci, at G1, showed that these insecticides are still effective, and thus can be used under the field conditions for the management of B. tabaci. However, the proper rotation of insecticides among different groups can help to reduce the development of resistance against insecticides.

Preparation and Size Control of Efficient and Safe Nanopesticides by Anodic Aluminum Oxide Templates-Assisted Method.

Efficient and safe nanopesticides play an important role in pest control due to enhancing target efficiency and reducing undesirable side effects, which has become a hot spot in pesticide formulation research. However, the preparation methods of nanopesticides are facing critical challenges including low productivity, uneven particle size and batch differences. Here, we successfully developed a novel, versatile and tunable strategy for preparing buprofezin nanoparticles with tunable size via anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template-assisted method, which exhibited better reproducibility and homogeneity comparing with the traditional method. The storage stability of nanoparticles at different temperatures was evaluated, and the release properties were also determined to evaluate the performance of nanoparticles. Moreover, the present method is further demonstrated to be easily applicable for insoluble drugs and be extended for the study of the physicochemical properties of drug particles with different sizes.

Preparation of thermosensitive buprofezin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles by the sol-gel method and their application in pest control.

BACKGROUND: Environmental stimuli-responsive release is one important way to reduce the dosage of pesticide, increase the usage efficiency and improve environmental compatibility. RESULTS: On this basis, we synthesized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) and modified them to develop a thermosensitive pesticide controlled release formulation (CRF). In this study, MSNs prepared by the sol-gel method were used as the core, poly (N-IsoPropylAcrylaMide) [P (NIPAM-MAA)] was used as the shell, and buprofezin (Bup) was loaded by adsorption. The prepared Bup@MSNs@P(NIPAM-MAA) could effectively prevent the degradation of buprofezin under UV light and exhibited excellent adhesion to rice leaves. The bioassay results showed that the mortality of Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) treated by Bup@MSNs@P(NIPAM-MAA) was positively correlated with temperature, resulting mainly from the change of release amount of buprofezin caused by temperature variation. Bup@MSNs@P(NIPAM-MAA) had long duration (20 days) for controlling N. lugens, and did not hinder the growth of rice. Meanwhile, Bup@MSNs@P(NIPAM-MAA) had low toxicity to zebrafish and human pneumonocyte BEAS-2B cells. CONCLUSION: This novel thermosensitive pesticide CRF can be applied widely to other insecticides, thus greatly promoting the development of intelligent pesticide formulations. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of Processing on Residual Buprofezin Levels in Ginseng Products.

This study determined residual buprofezin levels in fresh ginseng and evaluated their changes during processing. Supervised field trials were conducted at Yeongju, Geumsan, and Goesan, Korea. Buprofezin 12.5% EC was applied to 5-y ginseng in accordance with the Korean good agriculture practice (GAP). Samples were collected at 0, 7, 14, 21, and 30 d after the final application. On day 14 (GAP-equivalent preharvest date), the ginseng was processed to obtain dried and red ginseng. The average buprofezin concentrations on day 0 were 0.076 (Yeongju), 0.055 (Geumsan), and 0.078 mg kg-1 (Goesan). Residual concentrations increased as ginseng was processed into dried and red ginseng. Residue levels in dried ginseng manufactured by hot air drying were higher than in red ginseng obtained by steaming, hot air, and sunlight drying. However, the absolute amount of pesticides decreased by approximately 20-30% as a result of calculating the reduction factor considering the dry yield and moisture content. Therefore, the residual concentration in processed products may vary depending on the processing method, and it is deemed necessary to consider the processing yield and moisture content when evaluating the safety of residual pesticides in dried processed products.