Registration of agricultural chemicals: modified procedure for field testing of pesticides established in The Netherlands

Because of increasing government fees, the chemical industry in The Netherlands has shown interest in taking over the performance of any additional field trials required for obtaining the registration of pesticides. A system is described whereby the chemical industry arranges and performs such trials under the surveillance and supervision of the Plant Protection Service, the Service retaining control of standards, the right of evaluation, and the final assessment of efficacy. Areas of responsibility are defined, suggestions for the future are given and the system is seen as developing satisfactorily.     

Pesticide Legislation and Industry

Pesticides are an essential part of modern agricultural technology required to provide high quality and high yields of food, feed and fibres. The pesticide industry faces widespread environmental concern, rising costs for research and development and increasingly stringent regulations. These pressures demand a highly critical appraisal of all stages of product evaluation, product development and of capital investment. The safe use of pesticides is the joint responsibility of government and industry; their effective cooperation can only be assured by ready dialogue combined with willingness to compromise on legislation and registration procedures, nationally and internationally, for the benefit of improved technology.     

Management of fungicide resistance in practice1

Successful management of fungicide resistance includes many more aspects than just the design of an effective anti-resistance strategy. It involves all social groups engaged in plant disease control including industry, academia, extension and advisory services and, last but not least, the farmer. Various tasks must be carried out by these groups, and all must accept their share of responsibility. Only a comprehensive view of resistance management can help to prolong the useful life of the highly active new fungicides.     

Rationale for a natural products approach to herbicide discovery

Weeds continue to evolve resistance to all the known modes of herbicidal action, but no herbicide with a new target site has been commercialized in nearly 20 years. The so-called 'new chemistries' are simply molecules belonging to new chemical classes that have the same mechanisms of action as older herbicides (e.g. the protoporphyrinogen-oxidase-inhibiting pyrimidinedione saflufenacil or the very-long-chain fatty acid elongase targeting sulfonylisoxazoline herbicide pyroxasulfone). Therefore, the number of tools to manage weeds, and in particular those that can control herbicide-resistant weeds, is diminishing rapidly. There is an imminent need for truly innovative classes of herbicides that explore chemical spaces and interact with target sites not previously exploited by older active ingredients. This review proposes a rationale for a natural-products-centered approach to herbicide discovery that capitalizes on the structural diversity and ingenuity afforded by these biologically active compounds. The natural process of extended-throughput screening (high number of compounds tested on many potential target sites over long periods of times) that has shaped the evolution of natural products tends to generate molecules tailored to interact with specific target sites. As this review shows, there is generally little overlap between the mode of action of natural and synthetic phytotoxins, and more emphasis should be placed on applying methods that have proved beneficial to the pharmaceutical industry to solve problems in the agrochemical industry.     

Data Banks on Pesticides: A Feasibility Study1)

Pesticide management is characterized, in terms of government responsibility, by an increasing need for flexibility to cope with fast change in science, technology, agricultural practice and environmental policy. The feasibility study in question was started at the end of 1974, when it became clear that the variety of conventional information systems often caused delay, especially in the administrative follow–up of the official procedures with which government is involved. This concerns approval and registration as well as providing pesticide information to quite a variety of interested parties, such as industry, importers, dealers, users of pesticides and government agencies (Plant Protection Service, Extension Services, Public Health and Environment Authorities, Labour Inspectorate, etc.). The computer–based pesticide management information system which is being developed now by a multi–disciplinary project–group should meet the needs of all those having government responsibility in the field of pesticide management. It is planned as an on–line, geographically dispersed retrieval and storage system with terminal facilities for all users. The system is to be controlled by the Pesticides Bureau of the interdepartmental Committee for Phytopharmacy.     

A review of aquatic weed biology and management research conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service

Ever-increasing demand for water to irrigate crops, support aquaculture, provide domestic water needs and to protect natural aquatic and riparian habitats has necessitated research to reduce impacts from a parallel increase in invasive aquatic weeds. This paper reviews the past 4-5 years of research by USDA-ARS covering such areas as weed biology, ecology, physiology and management strategies, including herbicides, biological control and potential for use of natural products. Research approaches range from field-level studies to highly specific molecular and biochemical work, spanning several disciplines and encompassing the most problematic weeds in these systems. This research has led to new insights into plant competition, host-specificity, and the fate of aquatic herbicides, their modes of action and effects on the environment. Another hallmark of USDA-ARS research has been its many collaborations with other federal, state action and regulatory agencies and private industry to develop new solutions to aquatic weed problems that affect our public natural resources and commercial enterprises.     

A philospohy of pest control —A biological approach to new pesticide developments

The influences on pest control that are external to the pesticide industry are discussed first. The complexity of the interrelationship between the five main parties to the pesticide controversy (the farmer, the public, the pesticide manufacturer, wild life interests and the government) explains in some measure the intensity of the controveersy itself. It is to be hoped that with increasing knowledge all parties will be able to move together along an agreed, optimum course.The responses within pest control in general, and the pesticide industry in particular, to these external influences are then discussed. Existing pest control practices largely utilise control at the level of the individual. Much current research relates to population control procedures. The pesticide industry is concerned with innovations relating to the mode of action of conventional insecticides as well as to new ways of using chemicals to control insect populations. It is suggested the long term success of population control procedures depends as much on the provision of appropriate organisasuccess of population control procedures depends as much on the provision of appropriate organisational requirements as on solving the technical problems.Finally, the likely future couse of pest control is considered. It is suggested that over the next 10 years or more the major burden of pest control will continue to fall on the pesticide industry much as at present. The first innovations, over the period 5–15 years hence, are likely to concern conventional pesticides with novel modes of action. Population control procedures will gradually become established and this process will accelerate over the period 10–20 years hence and beyond. However, full benefit from such procedures will only accrue if organisatonal requirements have been met.     

侧孢芽孢杆菌的抑藻效应及对养殖水体中蓝藻水华的生态防控

以一株侧孢芽孢杆菌(Brevibacillus laterosporus)为试验菌株,研究其对铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)的抑制效应,并将其应用于水产养殖富营养化水体中,进行蓝藻水华的生态控制。结果表明,侧孢芽孢杆菌可以抑制铜绿微囊藻的生长,使其叶绿素a的含量显著下降,从而抑制了其光合作用的活性,达到限制铜绿微囊藻细胞增殖的目的。这种抑制作用与侧孢芽孢杆菌的细菌含量成正比,初始接种的菌体浓度越高,抑制作用越强,且这种限制作用在菌藻接触后的8~10 d较为显著。将活菌数≥108个/mL的侧孢芽孢杆菌按0.50、1.00 mg/L的用量加入淡水池塘养殖的富营养水体,在60 d内不仅可使养殖水体中的TN、TP和高锰酸盐指数有所下降,同时还可显著抑制藻类的数量,增加藻类的种类,提高养殖水体中藻类的Shannon-Weaver多样性指数,较好地调节藻类群落结构。研究显示,侧孢芽孢杆菌因具有较强的抑藻能力,在生物修复养殖富营养化水体的水生生态系统方面有着良好的应用前景。     

Soybean production in eastern and southern Africa and threat of yield loss due to soybean rust caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi

Soybean is a major source of oil and proteins worldwide. The demand for soybean has increased in Africa, driven by the growing feed industry for poultry, aquaculture and home consumption in the form of processed milk, baked beans and for blending with maize and wheat flour. Soybean, in addition to being a major source of cooking oil, is also used in other industrial processes such as in the production of paints and candle wax. The demand for soybean in Africa so far outweighs the supply, hence the deficit is mainly covered through imports of soybean products such as soybean meal. The area under soybean production has increased in response to the growing demand, a trend that is expected to continue in the coming years. As the production area increases, diseases and insect pests, declining soil fertility and other abiotic factors pose a major challenge. Soybean rust disease, caused by the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi, presents one of the major threats to soybean production in Africa due to its rapid spread as a result of the ease by which its spores are dispersed by the wind. Disease control by introducing resistant soybean varieties has been difficult due to the presence of different populations of the fungus that vary in pathogenicity, virulence and genetic composition. Improved understanding of the dynamics of rust ecology, epidemiology and population genetics will enhance the effectiveness of targeted interventions that, in turn, will safeguard soybean productivity.     

Crop border and mineral oil sprays used in combination as physical control methods of the aphid‐transmitted potato virus Y in potato

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this work were to determine if the control of potato virus Y (PVY, genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae) in seed potato could be improved by combining border crops and mineral oil sprays, and if the border crop acts as a barrier or a virus sink. RESULTS: Field tests over 3 years confirmed that mineral oils alone are an effective barrier to PVY, and showed that borders alone act as a PVY sink. Combining the familiar mineral oil and the more recent crop border methods was almost twice as effective in reducing PVY incidence as either one used alone. The combination provided consistently high PVY control compared with the variable and often lower level of control by either method alone. The contribution of the oil to PVY reduction was similar whether it was applied to the border, the center seed plot, or both. Oil application to the border alone should not affect efficacy and would help keep control costs down. CONCLUSION: Combining border and oil provided the best reduction in PVY incidence 3 years out of 3, providing producers with a tool to reduce year‐to‐year variation in the effectiveness of crop borders or oil sprays used separately. © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada. Published by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.     

扑草净在养殖水体中的生态毒理效应及其微生物降解的研究进展

扑草净是一种均三氮苯类除草剂,近年来被广泛应用于水产养殖中,在清除水体青苔和杂草方面卓有成效。但因其具有较难降解的特性而对养殖水环境存在着污染隐患。本文阐述了扑草净在养殖水体中的生态毒理效应及其微生物降解的研究进展,以期引起相关研究者的关注和重视。扑草净对养殖水体中的水生生物具有一定的急性毒性,其对水草和藻类属于高毒物质,对鱼、虾类的毒性介于中毒和高毒之间,并可通过藻类间接影响鱼虾的生长代谢。扑草净在环境中的半衰期长达数月,但在一定条件下可被微生物降解。降解微生物包括细菌、真菌等20多种。微生物对扑草净的降解主要是通过酶促反应完成的,受物质本身结构、环境温度、pH等多种因素的影响,多种微生物共存时的降解效果较好。目前利用微生物降解扑草净的研究多数还停留在试验阶段,实际生产中尚无规模化的应用,对其在降解过程中可能产生的中间产物及毒性效应研究不多。因此如何有效地筛选高活性的降解菌株,降低扑草净在养殖环境中的停留,减少对水生生物的毒性将是未来研究的目标和方向。     

Social and economic aspects of alternative insect control methods

The development of alternative pest control methods offer a number of advantages over the conventional methods of pest control, under certain circumstances. These advantages will be discussed in the light of current social and economic pressures. In addition, the method of developing these alternative methods of pest control will be discussed in relation to the development of conventional methods of pest control. The so-called area-wide insect control schemes will be compared with farmer applied methods of insect control in relation to industry, training and economics.     

Computer aids to integrated control in peach orchards in Emilia-Romagna (Italy)1

An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme on vineyards and orchards has been applied since 1974 in Emilia-Romagna (northern Italy). The Entomology Institute of Piacenza has the scientific responsibility for peach, plum and apricot orchards. Data is collected in the field by a team of technicians with province-level co-ordination. Directions for control are given directly to farmers or through answering machines, Videotel or weekly bulletins. Data from orchards, concerning the pest and disease situaton, are processed by two Hewlett Packard 9000 computers: an HP 9845B and an HP Vectra RS/20. With the latter, data exchange is possible with MS DOS operating systems, allowing data input from a regional computer network now at the development stage.     

Towards multifunctional agriculture – weeds as ecological goods?

Agricultural land use has production, ecological, aesthetic and social functions. Certainly, in Europe, the concept of agricultural land use as being multifunctional seems to be increasingly accepted. Ecological goods and services can be rewarded as results or as actions – the differences between these ways are described and an outcome‐based rewarding system is elucidated for the creation of incentives for innovation and taking responsibility. The principle requirements for ecological goods are summarized. The contribution of agricultural land use to plant biodiversity is the most appropriated factor for an outcome‐based rewarding system. The various types of vegetation connected with agricultural land use can be used as recognizable ecological goods. The reasoning behind defining specific arable goods is shown. Information about creating the supply is available from the research performed on weed control in different arable systems. As the majority of ecological goods are public goods, mechanisms adapted from market situations for private goods must be stimulated and organized. The decision as to which ecological goods should be stimulated could be transferred to a decentralized and region‐specific public committee in which the relevant stakeholders are represented. Implementation exercises undertaken in a region of the German Federal State of Lower Saxony are introduced.     

高含量芽孢杆菌对罗氏沼虾养殖水体富营养化的控制

[目的]研究旨在解决当前罗氏沼虾养殖中存在的水体富营养化严重和蓝藻水华频发问题.[方法]采用高含量的枯草芽孢杆菌进行富营养化水质因子的调控和蓝藻水华的快速治理,探讨了芽孢杆菌的合理用量和作用方式.[结果]高含量芽孢杆菌应用于罗氏沼虾养殖水体后,对富营养化水质因子具有显著的控制和改善作用,其可降低水体中TN、TP和高锰酸...     

人地情感对森林公园环境负责行为的影响研究

规范激活模型是预测利他行为的重要理论,游客与地方之间的情感作为游客环境负责行为密切相关的因素,将人地情感因素纳入规范激活模型,一个解释和预测游客环境负责行为的游客环境负责行为NAM整合模型得以构建.针对福州森林公园的309名游客样本的实证研究显示:1)建构的游客环境负责行为NAM整合模型解释与预测适配度指标良好,且模型...     

EPPO Conference on New Methods for Pesticide Application Budapest (Hungary), 5-8 October, 1982 Opening Speech

On behalf of the agricultural administration of the Hungarian People's Republic and particularly on behalf of Minister JenoT Váncsa, I have the pleasure to welcome you on the occasion of this Conference dealing with a subject of such a high interest. At the same time, let me express my thanks to EPPO for choosing Hungary as a host country of the Conference.     

新疆旅游饭店等级、规模、空间结构的分析与对策

旅游饭店的档次结构、规模结构和空间结构特征是衡量旅游饭店业和地区旅游业供给特征的重要指标。本文从档次、规模、空间分布等多角度分析新疆旅游涉外饭店的发展现状 ,发现新疆旅游饭店的产业规模逐渐扩大的同时 ,旅游饭店等级、规模及空间结构等却存在诸多不合理性。从国内外旅游饭店业发展的经验分析 ,如果不妥善处理这种不合理性 ,将会影响新疆旅游饭店业的健康发展     

Effect of seven new orchard pesticides on Galendromus occidentalis in laboratory studies

BACKGROUND: Biological control of phytophagous mites in orchards requires that pesticides used to manage other arthropod pests or diseases are harmless to predacious mites, as these are essential to keep phytophagous mites at non‐injurious population levels. This study evaluates the possible toxic attributes of acetamiprid, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam, spirodiclofen, spinosad and methoxyfenoxide currently used in western Canadian orchards. RESULTS: None of these pesticides has any ovicidal properties against Galendromus occidentalis (Nesbitt). Imidacloprid and acetamiprid were highly toxic to the adults and reduced fecundity significantly. Thiamethoxam and spirodiclofen were non‐toxic to adults, but they slightly reduced fecundity. Thiacloprid, spinosad and methoxyfenoxide were harmless to adults and had no effect on fecundity. All compounds showed some repellence at 24 h intervals for 72 h. CONCLUSIONS: Imidacloprid and acetamiprid are incompatible with IPM programs because they are toxic to adults and negatively affect fecundity. Thiamethoxam and spirodiclofen need further field evaluation to determine if they are compatible with IPM programs because they slightly reduced fecundity. Thiacloprid, spinosad and methoxyfenoxide are harmless to adults, but they are slightly repellent. Therefore, with the exception of imidacloprid and acetamiprid, all these compounds should be field tested for compatibility in an IPM program. © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd     

Robotic weeders can improve weed control options for specialty crops

Specialty crop herbicides are not a priority for the agrochemical industry, and many of these crops do not have access to effective herbicides. High‐value fruit and vegetable crops represent small markets and high potential liability in the case of herbicide‐induced crop damage. Meanwhile, conventional and organic specialty crop producers are experiencing labor shortages and higher manual weeding costs. Robotic weeders are promising new weed control tools for specialty crops, because they are cheaper to develop and, with fewer environmental and human health risks, are less regulated than herbicides. Now is the time for greater investment in robotic weeders as new herbicides are expensive to develop and few in number, organic crops need better weed control technology and governments are demanding reduced use of pesticides. Public funding of fundamental research on robotic weeder technology can help improve weed and crop recognition, weed control actuators, and expansion of weed science curricula to train students in this technology. Robotic weeders can expand the array of tools available to specialty crop growers. However, the development of robotic weeders will require a broader recognition that these tools are a viable path to create new weed control tools for specialty crops. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry