High hazzard pesticides (HHPs) in Near East and North Africa (NENA), constrains and recommendations to mitigate the risk of HHPs.

This study presents an overview of the current situation of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) in North Africa and Near East countries (NENA). This work reviews the registered pesticides in the region and identify HHPs being used according to the criteria 1-8 for HHPs of FAO/WHO Guidelines on HHPs. In addition, to identify the weakness and the need of the region to mitigate the risk from the use of HHPs, the report ended with recommendations needed in the region to improve the pesticide managements and registration, such as improving the agricultural practices by adopting the integrated pest management IPM and including replacing HHPs with ecosystem-friendly alternatives if available. The total number of pesticides registered and used in NENA region is 642 active ingredients (IA). Eighty-nine HHPs are still in use in NENA region and 50% of them are evaluated under 1-7 criteria of GHS HHPs. This evaluation shows that 50% of HHPs are insecticides, 22% fungicides, 10% herbicides, 8% nematocides, and 10% rodenticides. The rest of 38 HHPs are identified under criteria 8. This high number of HHPs still in use in some NENA countries urges the need of technical assistance to reduce the use of HHPs. The type of assistant varies from country to other; to identify the priority of technical and legal assistant needed, a country-based assessments must be carried out at the near future.

Effect of potassium sorbate (E-202) and the antifungal PgAFP protein on Aspergillus carbonarius growth and ochratoxin A production in raisin simulating media.

BACKGROUND: Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by several species of Aspergillus and Penicillium fungi. The presence of OTA in raisins is mainly related to black Aspergillus spp. contamination. This toxin poses risks to human and animal health due to its high toxicity and carcinogenicity. New strategies to avoid the risk associated with OTA are therefore necessary. RESULTS: A comparison was made between the effects of the antifungal protein PgAFP and potassium sorbate (E-202) on the growth of Aspergillus carbonarius, biosynthetic- and stress-related gene expression and its OTA production at two water activity (aw ) levels, 0.95 and 0.93 aw . The results showed that PgAFP successfully controlled OTA production, whereas E-202, despite being able to reduce Aspergillus carbonarius growth, caused a significant increase in OTA production by the fungus. CONCLUSION: PgAFP protein, a biological compound with an antifungal activity, is safer to use than E-202 and may be proposed as a food preservative and a useful strategy to control ochratoxigenic A. carbonarius in raisins. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Development of Real-Time Isothermal Amplification Assays for On-Site Detection of Phytophthora infestans in Potato Leaves.

Real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assays were developed targeting the internal transcribed spacer 2 region of the ribosomal DNA of Phytophthora infestans, the potato late blight causal agent. A rapid crude plant extract (CPE) preparation method from infected potato leaves was developed for on-site testing. The assay's specificity was tested using several species of Phytophthora and other potato fungal and oomycete pathogens. Both LAMP and RPA assays showed specificity to P. infestans but also to the closely related species P. andina, P. mirabilis, P. phaseoli, and P. ipomoeae, although the latter are not reported as potato pathogen species. No cross-reaction occurred with P. capsici or with the potato pathogens tested, including P. nicotianae and P. erythroseptica. The sensitivity was determined using P. infestans pure genomic DNA added into healthy CPE samples. Both LAMP and RPA assays detected DNA at 50 fg/µl and were insensitive to CPE inhibition. The isothermal assays were tested with artificially inoculated and naturally infected potato plants using a Smart-DART platform. The LAMP assay effectively detected P. infestans in symptomless potato leaves as soon as 24 h postinoculation. A rapid and accurate on-site detection of P. infestans in plant material using the LAMP assay will contribute to improved late blight diagnosis and early detection of infections and facilitate prompt management decisions.

Seasonal Fluctuations of Sap-Feeding Insect Species Infected by Xylella fastidiosa in Apulian Olive Groves of Southern Italy.

A study on seasonal abundance of Auchenorrhyncha species and their infectivity by Xylella fastidiosa in the Apulia region of Italy was conducted to identify ideal periods for monitoring and adoption of potential control measures against insect vectors. Adult populations of Auchenorrhyncha species were monitored monthly over a 2-yr period from five olive groves. A total of 15 species were captured, identified, and tested for presence of X. fastidiosa by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). For three species, Philaenus spumarius L., Neophilaenus campestris (Fallèn), and Euscelis lineolatus Brullé, positive reactions to X. fastidiosa were obtained, on average, in 16.3, 15.9 and 18.4% of adult insects, respectively. Philaneous spumarius was the dominant species (39.8% of total Auchenorrhyncha captured) with the highest adult abundance in summer months. Adult P. spumarius and N. campestris were first detected between March and May in both years, and all insects tested during these periods (year 1: n = 42, year 2: n = 132) gave negative reactions to X. fastidiosa by PCR. Similarly, first adults of E. lineolatus that appeared from October to November (year 1: n = 20, year 2: n = 15) tested negative for presence of X. fastidiosa Given the lack of transstadial and transovarial transmission of X. fastidiosa and considering that P. spumarius is univoltine, control measures against nymphal stages of P. spumarius should be investigated as means of population suppression to reduce spread of X. fastidiosa in olive groves.