In situ bioremediation of organochlorine‐pesticide‐contaminated microcosm soil and evaluation by gene probe

BACKGROUND: Pesticide‐formulating industries are contaminating the environment through various activities. Bioremediation is the best method for decontamination, as chemical and physical methods are not only costly but also not very effective in open field systems. In the present study, in situ bioremediation of organochlorine‐contaminated soil was demonstrated by combined biostimulation and bioaugmentation strategies, followed by evaluation using a molecular method. RESULTS: Three parameters were monitored: microbial biomass (colony‐forming units (CFU) g^?1 soil), residual pesticides after treatment and catabolic genes from microcosm soil. Both the biostimulation and the bioaugmentation treatments showed an initial lag phase of 80 days towards colony‐forming units. Gas chromatography of soil samples showed that concentrations of residual pesticides in the soil declined by up to 85–90% after 80 days, indicating their utilisation with time. On dot‐blot hybridisation of the total DNA from the same soil samples, it was observed that catabolic genes tfdC (catechol 1,2‐dioxygenase) and cm genes (chlorophenol monoxygenase) were predominant, whereas other catabolic genes such as catechol 2,3‐dioxygenase (xylE) were negligible. CONCLUSION: The strategy of in situ bioremediation and its evaluation by gene probe and also by conventional methods was demonstrated for organochlorine‐pesticide‐contaminated soil in open microcosms. It showed that bioaugmentation along with biostimulation was effective, although initial acclimatisation for a period of almost 2–3 months was required in the open field systems. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Geographic variability in response to azinphos‐methyl in field‐collected populations of Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) from Argentina

BACKGROUND: Resistance to insecticides has been related to application history, genetic factors of the pest and the dynamic within the treated area. The aim of this study was to assess the geographic variation in azinphos‐methyl response and the role of esterase and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase enzymes in codling moth populations collected within different areas of the Río Negro and Neuquén Valley, Argentina. RESULTS: Diapausing field‐collected populations showed resistance ratios at the LC₅₀ that were 0.7–8.7 times higher than that of the susceptible strain. Mean esterase (EST) and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase activities (expressed as α‐N min^?1 mg^?1 prot^?1 and pg 7‐OHC insect^?1 min^?1 respectively) were significantly correlated with LD₅₀ values from the field‐collected populations. In addition, azinphos‐methyl response was associated with the geographic area where the insect population was collected: populations from isolated and more recent productive areas presented significantly lower resistance ratios in comparison with populations from older and more intensive productive areas. CONCLUSION: The populations assayed presented different resistance levels to azinphos‐methyl. The response was highly correlated with the orchard's geographic location. EST and ECOD activities were involved in azinphos‐methyl response in the given region. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Agronomic and environmental implications of enhanced s‐triazine degradation

Novel catabolic pathways enabling rapid detoxification of s‐triazine herbicides have been elucidated and detected at a growing number of locations. The genes responsible for s‐triazine mineralization, i.e. atzABCDEF and trzNDF, occur in at least four bacterial phyla and are implicated in the development of enhanced degradation in agricultural soils from all continents except Antarctica. Enhanced degradation occurs in at least nine crops and six crop rotation systems that rely on s‐triazine herbicides for weed control, and, with the exception of acidic soil conditions and s‐triazine application frequency, adaptation of the microbial population is independent of soil physiochemical properties and cultural management practices. From an agronomic perspective, residual weed control could be reduced tenfold in s‐triazine‐adapted relative to non‐adapted soils. From an environmental standpoint, the off‐site loss of total s‐triazine residues could be overestimated 13‐fold in adapted soils if altered persistence estimates and metabolic pathways are not reflected in fate and transport models. Empirical models requiring soil pH and s‐triazine use history as input parameters predict atrazine persistence more accurately than historical estimates, thereby allowing practitioners to adjust weed control strategies and model input values when warranted. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Immobilization of the pesticide 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid on a silica gel surface

A route for the immobilization of 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4‐D) on silica gel has been developed. In the first step the precursor was prepared by reacting the silylating agent 3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propylamine with silica gel. Nitrogen analysis of this anchored compound showed the presence of 1.16 mmol of amine groups per gram of support. The herbicide was covalently bonded to the amine groups previously anchored onto silica gel. Infrared, [¹³C] and [²⁹Si] NMR spectra supported the reaction between the nitrogen of the amine group of the anchored silica with the carbon on the para‐position of the aromatic ring of 2,4‐D. The reaction yield, 90.3%, was confirmed through elemental analysis. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Measurement of pesticide residues in peppers by near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy

BACKGROUND: Peppers are a frequent object of food safety alerts in various member states of the European Union owing to the presence in some batches of unauthorised pesticide residues. This study assessed the viability of near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) for the measurement of pesticide residues in peppers. Commercially available spectrophotometers using different sample‐presentation methods were evaluated for this purpose: a diode‐array spectrometer for intact raw peppers and two scanning monochromators fitted with different sample‐presentation accessories (transport and spinning modules) for crushed peppers and for dry extract system for infrared analysis (DESIR), respectively. RESULTS: Models developed using partial least squares–discriminant analysis (PLS2‐DA) correctly classified between 62 and 68% of samples by presence/absence of pesticides, depending on the instrument used. At model validation, the highest percentage of correctly classified samples—75 and 82% for pesticide‐free and pesticide‐containing samples respectively—were obtained for intact peppers using the diode‐array spectrometer. CONCLUSION: The results obtained confirmed that NIRS technology may be used to provide swift, non‐destructive preliminary screening for pesticide residues; suspect samples may then be analysed by other confirmatory analytical methods. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Management of yellow dwarf disease in Europe in a post‐neonicotinoid agriculture

Barley/cereal yellow dwarf viruses (YDVs) cause yellow dwarf disease (YDD), which is a continuous risk to cereals production worldwide. These viruses cause leaf yellowing and stunting, resulting in yield reductions of up to 80%. YDVs have been a consistent but low‐level problem in European cereal cultivation for the last three decades, mostly due to the availability of several effective insecticides (largely pyrethroids and more recently neonicotinoids) against aphid vectors. However, this has changed recently, with many insecticides being lost, culminating in a recent European Union (EU) regulation prohibiting outdoor use of the neonicotinoid‐insecticide compounds. This change is coupled with the growing challenge of insecticide‐resistant aphids, the lack of genetic resources against YDVs, and a knowledge deficit around the parameters responsible for the emergence and spread of YDD. This means that economic sustainability of cereal cultivation in several European countries including France and United Kingdom is now again threatened by this aphid‐vectored viral disease. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the YDV pathosystem, describe management options against YDD, analyse the impacts of the neonicotinoid ban in Europe, and consider future strategies to control YDV. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

Insecticide‐induced hormesis and arthropod pest management

Ecological backlashes such as insecticide resistance, resurgence and secondary pest outbreaks are frequent problems associated with insecticide use against arthropod pest species. The last two have been particularly important in sparking interest in the phenomenon of insecticide‐induced hormesis within entomology and acarology. Hormesis describes a biphasic dose–response relationship that is characterized by a reversal of response between low and high doses of a stressor (e.g. insecticides). Although the concept of insecticide‐induced hormesis often does not receive sufficient attention, or has been subject to semantic confusion, it has been reported in many arthropod pest species and natural enemies, and has been linked to pest outbreaks and potential problems with insecticide resistance. The study of hormesis remains largely neglected in entomology and acarology. Here, we examined the concept of insecticide‐induced hormesis in arthropods, its functional basis and potential fitness consequences, and its importance in arthropod pest management and other areas. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry