Cold plasma: a potential new method to manage postharvest diseases caused by fungal plant pathogens

Development of alternative, chemical‐free approaches for control of postharvest fungi on a commercial scale has become a challenge for plant pathologists in recent years. Although there are several established techniques such as heat that are used as postharvest treatments, they often have disadvantages, including alteration of food quality due to physiological responses to the treatment, or environmental pollution. A promising new postharvest treatment is cold plasma, which is a gas‐derived mix of atoms, excited molecules and charged particles. Cold plasma has no known adverse effects on fresh produce or the environment. It is an established technology in the medical field and has been demonstrated to successfully control bacterial pathogens that cause food safety issues. This review focuses on the potential of cold plasma technology for postharvest disease control, especially those caused by fungi. An overview of plasma generation systems is provided, and in vivo and in vitro research is reviewed to consider benefits, limitations and research gaps in the context of cold plasma as a potential method for controlling postharvest fungal pathogens. Finally, recommendations are provided for the application of this technology in commercial facilities.     

Control of soil-borne pathogens with living bacteria and fungi: Status and outlook

This review addresses some of the current problems with soil-borne pathogens and their economic importance in comparison to the total plant protection market- Possible opportunities for biological control solutions in view of the various constraints of western agricultural production are discussed. More specifically, we address the scientific, economic and conceptual hurdles which have slowed down the development of biocontrol agents. In addition, examples of biological control of soil-borne pathogens which have already reached the market or are likely to be exploited commercially within the next few years are presented. Finally, we speculate on certain developments which might become important for the further commercial development of biological control products.     

Recent advances in the biological control of fusarium wilts

Studies of soils suppressive to fusarium wilts have indicated that the phenomenon is fundamentally microbiological in nature, resulting from complex microbial interactions between the pathogen and all, or a part of, the saprophytic microflora. Many groups of micro-organisms have been proposed as having a role in this process. The most consistent results show that non-pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum and fluorescent pseudomonads are the main agents for biological control. Each group has been effective in reducing the severity of fusarium diseases in several crops under experimental conditions. All the problems associated with application of antagonists have not yet been solved, but special situations exist where biological control could be applied soon. In Europe, the present development of soil-less systems to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, carnations and a few other species of flowers and vegetables in greenhouses, offers a unique opportunity to use antagonists. A strain of non-pathogenic Fusarium isolated from soil from Chǎteaurenard can be established in the soil-less substrates, or in the potting mixtures, before transplanting the plants and in these conditions can prevent colonization of the substrates by the pathogens. It gave good control of fusarium wilts of tomatoes, carnations and cyclamens, and of crown and root rot of tomatoes due to F. oxysporum f.sp.radicis lycopersici. This non-pathogenic strain, produced by liquid fermentation and mixed with talc, is easy to introduce into soil-less substrates after having been suspended in water or in liquid fertilizer. Experiments have been under way in commercial greenhouses for several years, but it will be necessary to wait at least two more years to complete all the tests required for the registration of the product as a biopesticide. Similar experiments have been conducted with a strain of fluorescent pseudo-monad also isolated from the soil of Chǎteaurenard, which shows poor antagonistic effect when applied alone but consistently improves disease control when applied in combination with the non-pathogenic Fusarium. In fact, application of both antagonists together always gave total control of the diseases, the yield in the treated plots being equal to that in the healthy control. These experiments show that combining antagonists can improve the consistency of biological control.     

The control of commensal rodents in Britain1

Rattus norvegicus and Mus domesticus are the only significant commensal rodents in Britain, though Rattus rattus is also present in a few places. R. norvegicus is by far the most important pest of agriculture. No recent quantitative information is available on the status of rodent infestation, damage or control, though these are generally considered to be satisfactory and to have altered little in the last few years. In particular, there seem to be no infestation problems of practical significance that cannot be adequately resolved by currently available control techniques. Recent developments of practical interest include the occurrence of rodent damage to the plastic bags in which big bale silage is preserved, low-grade resistance to difenacoum in R. norvegicus in one locality, and the continued introduction of improved rodenticides. New legislation has been introduced giving government comprehensive powers over the use of pesticides, under which rodenticides must now be assessed for safety, efficacy and humaneness. Responsibility for research, training and extension in rodent control has largely been devolved to the private, academic and local government sectors, with central government now undertaking these activities only on a commercial basis. The nature and significance of these changes is discussed.     

Botanical Pesticides and Their Mode of Action

Pest management is facing economic and ecological challenge worldwide due to human and environmental hazards caused by majority of the synthetic pesticide chemicals. Identification of novel effective insecticidal compounds is essential to combat increasing resistance rates. Botanical pesticides have long been touted as attractive alternatives to synthetic chemical pesticides for pest management because botanicals reputedly pose little threat to the environment or to human health. The body of scientific literature documenting bioactivity of plant derivatives to arthropod pests continues to expand, yet only a handful of botanicals are currently used in agriculture in the industrialized world, and there are few prospects for commercial development of new botanical products. Pyrethrum and neem are well established commercially, pesticides based on plant essential oils have entered the marketplace, and the use of rotenone appears to be waning. A number of plant substances have been considered for use as pest antifeedants, repellents and toxicants, but apart from some natural mosquito repellents, a little commercial success has ensued for plant substances that modify arthropod behavior. Several factors appear to limit the success of botanicals, most notably regulatory barriers and the availability of competing products (newer synthetics and fermentation products) that are cost-effective and relatively safe compared with their predecessors. In the context of agricultural pest management, botanical pesticides are best suited for use in organic food production in industrialized countries but can play a much greater role in the production and postharvest protection of food in developing countries. Botanicals have been in use for a long time for pest control. The compounds offer many environmental advantages. However, their uses during the 20th century have been rather marginal compared with other bio-control methods of pests and pathogens. Improvement in the understanding of plant allelochemical mechanisms of activity offer new prospects for using these substances in crop protection. I’m trying in this article to present different kinds of botanical pesticides came from different recourses and their mode of actions as well as I will try to examine the reasons behind their limited use (disadvantages) and the actual crop protection developments involving biopesticides of plant origin for organic or traditional agricultures to keep our environment clean and safer for humankind and animals.     

Bt maize and integrated pest management ‐ a European perspective

The European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis), the Mediterranean corn borer (Sesamia nonagrioides) and the western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) are the main arthropod pests in European maize production. Practised pest control includes chemical control, biological control and cultural control such as ploughing and crop rotation. A pest control option that is available since 1996 is maize varieties that are genetically engineered (GE) to produce insecticidal compounds. GE maize varieties available today express one or several genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that target corn borers or corn rootworms. Incentives to growing Bt maize are simplified farm operations, high pest control efficiency, improved grain quality and ecological benefits. Limitations include the risk of resistance evolution in target pest populations, risk of secondary pest outbreaks and increased administration to comply with licence agreements. Growers willing to plant Bt maize in the European Union (EU) often face the problem that authorisation is denied. Only one Bt maize transformation event (MON810) is currently authorised for commercial cultivation, and some national authorities have banned cultivation. Spain is the only EU member state where Bt maize adoption levels are currently delivering farm income gains near full potential levels. In an integrated pest management (IPM) context, Bt maize can be regarded as a preventive (host plant resistance) or a responsive pest control measure. In any case, Bt maize is a highly specific tool that efficiently controls the main pests and allows combination with other preventive or responsive measures to solve other agricultural problems including those with secondary pests. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Domestication of plants for sustainable agriculture in drylands: Experience from the Negev Desert

With globalization in the last century, introduction of exotic plant species for commercial use has become more accessible. Such attempts may involve extreme land changes. We stress that domestication of native species should be preferred to the introduction of exotic species. We took the initial steps in domesticating several species by examining commercial uses and studying aspects of plant physiology. The following desert plants were considered: Bassia indica, for salt phytoremediation and for livestock feed; Commiphora gileadensis, as an agent against cancer cells; Artemisia sieberi and A. judaica, as plants with allopathic traits; Ficus palmate, as a stand for fig plantation; Balanites aegyptiaca, as a medicinal plant and for other uses; Portulaca oleracea and Scorzonera judaica, as food crops with added values; and Pistacia atlantica, as rootstock for P. vera.     

Controlled release of aldicarb from carboxymethyl cellulose microspheres: in vitro and field applications

Aldicarb is a carbamate pesticide that is widely used throughout the world in the protection of crops (eg cotton, nuts, potatoes, onion, tobacco, sugar beet and sugar cane). In Turkey, especially in the Çukurova region, it is used for the control of the cotton white fly (Bemisia tabaci) which attacks cotton plants cultivated in this region. Aldicarb contamination in surface and ground water is a serious problem in several countries, partly due to its high water solubility. It is also highly toxic to mammals. In order to overcome these problems, microspheres of aldicarb were prepared using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as the biodegradable support material cross-linked with aluminium chloride. A strong hysteresis behaviour was observed upon drying and reswelling. Encapsulation efficiency was in the range 12–23% and aldicarb contents of 5.7–10.3 mg per 100 mg of microspheres was achieved. In vitro release was distinctly Fickian, and Higuchi constants were very close to 0.5. Release in pots revealed that only one sample had a release capability for more than four weeks. In the cotton plot much longer durations of release (more than seven weeks) were observed while a commercial granular formulation released its content immediately. It was thus possible to construct a controlled pesticide release system that prolonged the bioavailability to about eight weeks. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

绿洲发展面临的挑战、目标及21世纪发展研究展望

:本文认为 ,当前中国绿洲发展上的主要问题是荒漠化的威胁、资源利用过度、科技含量低下和产业结构失调。未来建设方向是建立知识密集绿洲体系。这一体系由农业科技、工业科技和高新技术组成 ,并从干旱区优势资源出发 ,探讨了如何通过知识产业化设计实现绿洲高效、持续发展的途径。文章指出 ,2 1世纪绿洲发展研究的热点问题有绿洲合理发展规模及其发展空间研究、绿洲知识经济产业化演进过程研究、知识经济下绿洲资源产业结构研究、绿洲发展保障体系调控研究 ,以及知识经济与 PRED协调发展体系建设等。     

Protection of potatoes against pests in Ukraine1

Potato production in Ukraine is now mainly in the private sector, and the phytosanitary state of potato crops leaves much to be desired. Control of Leptinotarsa decemlineata is generally well managed, but potato late blight (Phytophthora infestons) is out of control. Potato wart disease continues to cause problems in areas where it occurs because of the unavailability or unacceptability of resistant cultivars. Potato viruses and the losses they cause are little studied or taken into account. Other fungal, bacterial and insect pests are causing increasing problems in the field and in store. Integrated pest management systems are proposed by scientific institutions, including adequate forecasting of potato blight and use of certified seed potatoes of cultivars resistant to wart and cyst nematodes, but these systems do not adequately reach private growers. The range of plant protection products authorized for sale to the general public is very limited, and this is a serious obstacle to adequate plant protection in potato.     

Use of fungal antagonists for biocontrol of damping-off and sclerotinia diseases

Two mycoparasites, Pythium oligandrum and Coniothyrium minitans, have been tested for their ability to act as disease biocontrol agents. P. oligandrum oospores, grown in a cane molasses liquid medium and coated onto cress and sugar-beet seeds using commercial thin-film or pelleting techniques, gave significant control of damping-off in cress and sugar-beet caused by Pythium ultimum and Aphanomyces cochlioides respectively, in glasshouse pot trials. In some cases, the control was equivalent to fungicide drenches or standard fungicide seed treatments, but little control was achieved with any treatment when the pathogen inoculum potential in the soil was high. Pre-planting application of a solid substrate preparation of C. minitans gave reproducible control of sclerotinia disease in the glasshouse. The degree of control was equivalent to that achieved with regular foliar sprays of vinclozolin, when there was less than 40% disease in the control plots naturally infested with Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. At higher disease levels biocontrol was lost. Nevertheless, C. minitans survived in the soil for over one year and continued to degrade sclerotia and reduce apothecial production. The commercial potential of these biocontrol agents is discussed.     

定西市农业比较优势分析及特色农业发展对策

利用1999~2003年的农业统计资料,计算了定西市主要农作物的规模、产量和综合比较优势指数。结果表明,当归、党参、花卉、马铃薯、蚕豆的种植规模省际优势明显,各农作物的单产省际优势不明显,党参、当归、马铃薯、花卉的综合省际优势明显;除花卉外,胡麻、中药材、马铃薯、谷子的种植规模全国优势突出,中药材、蚕豆、胡麻的单产全国优势明显,中药材、胡麻、马铃薯、谷子的全国综合优势明显。以上结果表明定西市的中药材、马铃薯和花卉最具有资源比较优势,其次是小杂粮和胡麻,而其它农作物不具备资源比较优势。在此基础上,分析了特色农业发展的有利条件和存在问题,提出了适合定西市现有经济发展水平的特色农业发展对策,如尽快制定特色农业发展规划,建立特色农产品基地;加强政府部门的职能,积极扶持龙头企业,打造地方特色农产品品牌;提升专业化市场的层次,构建农产品销售网络体系;积极推广农业科技,提高特色农业的科技含量等。     

A beekeeper's perspective on the neonicotinoid ban

Bees and agrochemicals have a long history. For example, the first volume of IBRA's journal Bee World in 1919 contains mention of poisoning of bees by spraying an orchard with lead arsenate. Bees being insects, it is self‐evident that the use of insecticides to control crop pests poses a risk to them. Bee poisoning incidents became a very serious problem in the 1960s and 1970s with spraying of, in particular, oilseed rape with organophosphorus compounds. The introduction of carbamates and then especially synthetic pyrethroids reduced these problems. Data from the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme show that in recent years there have been very few poisoning incidents in the United Kingdom that can be attributed to agricultural insecticides. The introduction of neonicotinoid insecticides has, however, been very controversial. Almost as soon as they were introduced in the 1990s, French beekeepers blamed colony losses on imidacloprid used on sunflowers and maize, but restrictions on its use did not lead to a reduction in losses or to a reduction in beekeepers' concerns. Acute pesticide poisoning incidents by neonicotinoids in Germany and Italy in 2008 further sealed their reputation. Despite laboratory evidence showing their harm, field experience remains equivocal, and many commercial beekeepers continue to move their colonies to oilseed rape crops for honey production. The neonicotinoid moratorium has undoubtedly led to the increased use of older insecticides, and the effect of this on bee populations is unknown and unquantified. Many beekeepers are currently confused by the conflicting evidence. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

中国水稻病虫草害治理60年:问题与对策

自第一次绿色革命以来,随着感性高产品种的大面积推广、化肥和农药的大量使用,在显著提高产量的同时,严重削弱了稻田系统的自然调控功能,导致病虫草危害加重。为有效控制有害生物危害,防治技术和治理策略已经历了从化学防治、初级综合防治和综合治理进而生态治理等多个阶段的发展。然而,尽管在有效控制有害生物对当季作物危害上取得了良好成绩,每年挽回稻谷损失数千万吨,但小虫成大灾、多病共发、杂草群落演变、重要病虫草害抗药性突出等问题,仍严重地威胁到粮食安全和生态安全。为确保水稻生产的可持续集约发展,植物保护研究必须从建设健康稻田系统总体目标出发,加强与相关学科合作,努力提升科技协同创新能力和稻田生态系统自然调控功能,并完善管理和政策保障体系,以确保绿色防控、生态治理技术的成功实施。     

Potato production and protection in Poland in the 1990s1

Potato is an important crop for Polish agriculture, now grown on an area of 1.8 million ha, with an annual production of about 35 million t. The crop is used for fodder (pork production), human consumption and as a raw material for various branches of industry. High quantity and quality are essential for proper utilization. The main limiting factors in Polish potato production are: water (shortage or excess), seed potato quality, cultivation practices, and damage by pests, diseases and weeds. Improving the economics of potato production depends on decreasing the acreage and increasing the extent of proper protection. The major constraint is late blight (Phytophthora infestans) which causes yield losses estimated at 22.8%. Blight control is indispensable. The level of resistance among Polish cultivars, both in haulm and tuber, is not satisfactory, so more intensive resistance breeding is needed. Chemical control has increased in popularity, but improper use of phenylamides has created new problems. Further progress will depend on cost-effective methods of control and reliable use of fungicides.     

Biological activity of natural phytoecdysteroids from Ajuga iva against the sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci and the persea mite Oligonychus perseae

BACKGROUND: Ecdysteroids are steroid hormones that control moulting and govern several changes during metamorphoses in arthropods. The discovery of the same molecules (phytoecdysteroids) in several plant species displayed a wide array of rather beneficial agricultural impact. Many representatives of the genus Ajuga plants contain phytoecdysteroids with a 5β‐7‐ene‐6‐one system exhibiting physiological activities in insects. RESULTS: By means of chromatographic (silica gel column, TLC) and LC‐MS, two major ecdysteroids (20‐hydroxyecdysone and cyasterone) have been isolated and identified from Israeli carpet bugle Ajuga iva (L.) Schreber (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) plants. Ajuga iva extract fractionated on the silica gel column yielded two fractions that showed high activity against the sweetpotato whitefly Bemisis tabaci and the persea mite Oligonychus perseae. A dose of 5 mg AI L^?1 of the purely identified A. iva ecdysterone significantly reduced fecundity, fertility and survival of these pests, while commercial 20‐hydroxyecdysone at the same dose had lesser effects. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate considerable efficacy of natural phytoecdysteroids against major agricultural pests, and suggests that these materials should be considered for potential development of friendly control agents. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Technical and commercial aspects of biocontrol products

The global agrochemical market in 1991 was $26800 million, yet biological products were reported to account for only $120 million of sales per annum—less than 0.5 % of the total. The majority of these sales are attributed to bio-insecticides of which Bacillus thuringiensis accounts for over 90%, but B. thuringiensis could be described as a biologically produced insecticide, rather than a true biocontrol agent. Biological products have technical limitations, including extreme specificity, sensitivity to environmental factors and problems with robustness of the formulations, but ironically, it is these limitations which also give biological control an image of environmental acceptability. Nonetheless, some of the limitations will be overcome and sales will increase, but primarily in niche situations such as the control of soil-borne diseases and the control of insect pests showing resistance to agrochemicals. In order for significant inroads to be made into such niche markets it is imperative that progress with biological products is not impaired by over-regulation, and a rational approach by all regulatory bodies is required. Overall, though, agrochemicals are likely to continue to be the major method of crop protection for the foreseeable future, and the biological control field now needs clear, well-defined goals if current successful niche products can be the basis for future success rather than a limited experiment in alternative technology.     

Integrated crop management, the basis for environment friendly crop protection of potatoes

Relatively large amounts of pesticides are needed to control diseases and pests in modern, intensive potato production. Integrated crop management offers a way of reducing the need for pesticides. It aims to reduce costs and improve the quality of the product and of the production methods, while maintaining soil fertility and the quality of the environment. The components of integrated crop management are described. Prevention of diseases and pests has high priority. If diseases or pests are present, non-chemical control methods are preferred and chemical control is based on economic criteria and the monitoring of the soil and crops. The contribution of integrated crop management to the control of two important fungal diseases, late blight (Phytophthora infestans), and stem canker (Rhizoctonia solani) and of one pest, potato cyst nematode (Globodera spp..) is described. The prospects for further development of integrated crop protection are discussed.     

高效植保机械与精准施药技术进展

农药、植保机械（又称药械）与施药技术是影响农药喷施效果、防治效果和农药利用效率的3个同等重要的因素。药械与施药技术随着农药学科的发展而发展，整体来讲药械发展经历了人背机器、机器背人、人机分离、喷雾机器人4个典型时代。我国现有耕种面积大小不同的各类农场3.2亿个，总耕地面积1.2亿hm2，年均植保防治作业面积4亿～5亿hm2次，至今我国连续10多年的粮食连年增产，新型植保装备与高效施药技术的研发应用推广功不可没。与20世纪相比，在新千年前20年，国内外药械和施药技术与高速发展的绿色农药生产相互适应、相互促进，进入了快速发展的轨道，至2020年我国植保机械社会保有量突破2.5亿台，自走式喷杆喷雾机260多万台，各类果园喷雾机150多万台，植保无人机10多万台；新型植保装备与高效施药技术为农药减量提供了手段，助推了农药利用率的提高和农药的减量计划的实施。2020年全国水稻、玉米、小麦三大粮食作物的农药利用率达到40.6%，较2015年提高了4个百分点，新型植保装备与高效施药技术为解决诸如农药有效利用率低、操作人员中毒、农药残留超标和环境污染等问题做出了突出贡献。特别是在我国自走式喷杆喷雾机、...     

Integrated management of insect pests,diseases and weeds of cotton in Africa

Integrated pest management systems were developed originally in response to the appearance of insect populations with resistance to common insecticides. Cotton with its heavy dependence on insecticidal sprays was one of the first crops in which the effectiveness of control declined due to resistance in the target pests. Although insecticide resistance is more of a problem in large scale production systems, the IPM approach can also benefit the smallholder by reducing the number of sprays required with consequent cost savings. Where crop growth is adversely affected by diseases, competition from weeds or poor management, the full benefit of insecticide spray programmes cannot be realised. To be fully effective, insect control should therefore be integrated with other crop protection activities. This paper reviews the insect pests, diseases and weed problems of cotton in Africa and discusses the possibilities for extending the principles of IPM to cover all the crop protection activities with practical examples drawn from both small scale and larger scale production systems.