Conversion of four carbamoyloximes in soil samples from above and below the soil water table

2-Methyl-2-(methylsulphinyl)propionaldehyde O-methylcarbamoyloxime (aldicarb sulphoxide), aldoxycarb, oxamyl and methomyl were incubated at 10°C in soil samples taken from layers above and below shallow ground-water tables at four locations in the Netherlands. Soil samples from above the water table were incubated under moist and aerobic conditions. The anaerobic conditions below the water table were simulated by incubating the soil samples under 0.5-1 cm of ground water, and a nitrogen atmosphere. During incubation, the pH and redox potentials were measured. Less than 5% of the oxamyl and methomyl remained after one day in four water-saturated, anaerobic subsoils. The half-lives of aldicarb sulphoxide and aldoxycarb ranged from 5.1 to 131 days in the four anaerobic subsoils. Conversion rates in the aerobic soil layers above the water table were from 8 to more than 100 times lower than in the water-saturated layers in the same soil profile. Half-lives in the aerobic soils ranged from 26 days for oxamyl in loamy fine sand (pH 8.0), to 1100 days for aldoxycarb in fine sand (pH 5.0). When soil from below the water table was incubated aerobically, the conversion rates of oxamyl and aldoxycarb were drastically reduced. The opposite was found when an originally aerobic soil was incubated anaerobically. Autoclaving the incubation systems retarded the conversions.     

Transformation of aldicarb sulfoxide and aldicarb sulfone in four water-saturated sandy subsoils

The transformation of aldicarb sulfoxide and aldicarb sulfone was studied in incubations with water-saturated subsoils under simulated field conditions at 10°C. The subsoils were collected at four locations from beneath the water table at a depth of 2.5 to 3.5 m. In three of the subsoils, the half-life of sulfoxide, incubated at concentrations of 0.14-0.17 mg litre^?1, ranged from 0.7 to 2.8 years. At higher concentrations (8-13 mg litre^?1), its half-life ranged from 3.4 to 6.4 years. At the lower concentration, a large fraction of sulfoxide was transformed into sulfone. The rates of transformation of the sulfone at the lower concentration in the three subsoils corresponded to half-lives of 3.3 to 8.1 years, but in only one subsoil was a significant transformation rate (half-life 6.7 years) measured at the higher concentration during the 2.3-year incubation period. The half-lives at the lower concentrations were more like those in field studies, and perhaps would still underestimate transformation rates under field conditions. After a year, 2.5-15% of the higher sulfoxide and sulfone doses had been trapped as [¹⁴C] carbon dioxide. In the fourth subsoil, with more anaerobic conditions, the half-life of sulfoxide at both concentrations was less than 0.02 year and that of sulfone was about 0.04 year. Four or five radio-labelled transformation products could be traced in this subsoil and about half of the dose of both compounds was trapped as [¹⁴C] carbon dioxide.     

Effects of the experimental fungicide RH 886 on Mucor piriformis

No registered fungicide controls Mucor piriformis, a cause of severe postharvest storage rot in pears, but the experimental fungicide RH 886 (active ingredients: 77% 5-chloro-2-methylisothiazol-3-(2H)-one and 23% 2-methylisothiazol-3-(2H)-one) has an ED₅₀ of 23.1 μg ml^?1 in 5 min exposure for germination of sporangiospores of M. piriformis and an ED₅₀ of 9.9 μg ml^?1 for mycelial growth. Mixing RH 886 into infested, amended soil at 8 mg g^?1 soil or mixing copper sulfate into soil at 1 mg g^?1 soil prevented sporulation of M. piriformis. Application of RH 886 to pear fruits prior to inoculation, or immersion of fruits in solutions of RH 886 containing sporangiospores of M. piriformis significantly reduced fruit infection.     

Control ofDitylenchus dipsaci in garlic by bulb and soil treatments

Garlic bulbs heavily infected withDitylenchus dipsaci were chemically treated to control the nematode. Treatment with ethoprop resulted in greatest reduction of nematodes early in the season; oxamyl provided good control; methomyl was ineffective. Treating the soil with aldicarb or phenamiphos was also effective. Later in the season, nematode populations increased with all treatments and crop damage was severe. In a soil heavily infested with this pathogen, nematode populations in the untreated plots were initially low but had increased rapidly 100 days after planting, resulting in total loss of plants by the end of the season. Excellent control was obtained by treating the soil with methyl bromide (MB) or solar heating with transparent polyethylene sheets prior to planting, although MB treatment caused severe stunting of the plants. Treatment with ethylene dibromide (EDB) controlled the pathogen initially, but later in the season the population level increased. The yields (kg/m²) were: untreated, 0; solar heating, 2.325; EDB, 0.813; and MB, 1.152.     

The effect of some systemic nematicides on the control of Heterodera rostochiensis in the field

A stochastic model to estimate the multiplication ofHeterodera rostochiensis at low densities (maximum multiplication) in field experiments was developed. This was done to analyse the results of four trials performed to investigate the effect of some systemic nematicides on this multiplication.Varying effects were found using aldicarb in three years while methomyl and oxamyl did not do better. A comparison between phenamiphos and phensulfothion yielded no significant differences.Samenvating Voor het bepalen van de vermenigvuldiging vanHeterodera rostochiensis bij lage dichtheden (de maximum vermenigvuldiging) in veldproeven werd een stochastisch model ontwikkeld. Dit werd gedaan ten behoeve van de analyse van de resultaten uit vier proeven welke zijn uitgevoerd om de werking van enige systemische nematiciden op deze vermenigvuldiging te onderzoeken.Het effect van aldicarb was verschillend in drie jaren terwijl methomyl en oxamyl niet beter werkten dan aldicarb. Een vergelijking tussen phenamiphos en phensulfothion leverde geen significant verschil op (Tabel 1, 2, 3).     

In vitro inhibition of α-amylase and protease by nematocides in Cicer arietinum L

The in vitro effects of four systemic nematocides, i.e., aldicarb, carbofuran, oxamyl, and phorate, on the α-amylase and protease activities in Cicer arietinum has been revealed. All four nematocides markedly inhibited the activities of both the enzymes, with a general tendency of increased inhibition with corresponding increase in the concentrations of the nematocides. There was complete inhibition of α-amylase activity by the highest concentration (500 μM) of aldicarb and carbofuran, while oxamyl at the same concentration showed the same effects on protease activity. The lowest concentration (10 μM) was almost ineffective.     

Adsorption-leaching study of the herbicides metamitron and chloridazon

Freundlich isotherms were obtained for the adsorption equilibrium of the herbicides metamitron and chloridazon with the components of a representative soil in a pesticide concentration range of 10-1000 γg ml^?1 for metamitron and 10-500 μg ml^?1 for chloridazon. The mobility of these herbicides through soil columns was also studied using the displacement technique described by Davidson (Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc., 32 (1968) 629). The experiment was carried out simultaneously in three columns, two of which were fed with solutions of the herbicides while the third was used as a control. The herbicide solutions flowed down by gravity and were collected at the outlet at different times. The herbicide content of these outlet solutions was determined by Differential Pulse Polarography.     

Aspects of the enhanced biodegradation and metabolism of ethoprophos in soil

Enhanced biodegradation of ethoprophos was evident in a soil from a previously treated field in Northern Greece. However, enhanced biodegradation was specific to ethoprophos and there was no cross‐enhancement leading to rapid degradation for any of the other organophosphorus (cadusafos, fenamiphos, fonofos, isazofos) or carbamate (aldicarb, oxamyl) nematicides registered in Greece for the control of potato cyst nematodes. Studies with radio‐labelled ethoprophos showed that the adapted microflora in the soil from the previously treated field was able to degrade [propyl‐1‐¹⁴C]ethoprophos rapidly and mineralized about 60% of the initially applied nematicide. When [ethyl‐1‐¹⁴C] ethoprophos was applied, the reduction in extractable radioactivity in the previously treated soil was coupled with evolution of lower amounts of [¹⁴C] carbon dioxide and was similar to the amounts produced from the previously untreated soils. It is suggested that degradation of ethoprophos in the soil from the previously treated field proceeds via hydrolysis of the P‐S bond in the ‐S‐propyl moiety of the ethoprophos molecule, which is then further mineralized by the adapted micro‐organisms. Enhanced biodegradation of ethoprophos in this specific previously treated soil in Northern Greece and under the local environmental conditions was still evident two years after the last ethoprophos field application. It appears that, once established, enhanced biodegradation of ethoprophos can be quite stable. A possible solution to this problem might be the introduction of a rotation scheme where other nematicides like fenamiphos, cadusafos, aldicarb or oxamyl are used as alternatives with ethoprophos application restricted to only once every three or four years. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Failure to detect highly resistant strains in dicarboximide resistant field populations of Botrytis cinerea1

Field isolates of Botrytis cinerea with moderate levels of resistance to dicarboximide fungicides (ED50 1.0–4.9 μg ml^?1) and to dicloran were obtained from glasshouses where vinclozolin and iprodione failed to control grey mould. From sensitive and moderatcly-resistant cultures, laboratory isolates were selected on dicarboximide-amended medium, which were highly resistant to these fungicides (ED50 125->3000 μg ml^?1). Conidia of all the resistant isolates germinated well on media amended with 100 μg ml^?1 of the dicarboximides vinclozolin, iprodione, procymidone and myclozolin and with 5 μg ml^?1 of metomeclan. However, the spores of the moderately resistant isolates did not germinate on 100 μg ml^?1 metomeclan while the spores of the highly resistant isolates germinated well. Using media with 100 μg ml^?1 of metomeclan to distinguish between the two phenotypes, no highly resistant strain was detected among 312 resistant samples from five cucumber glasshouses with a high frequency of moderately resistant strains. From air-borne inoculum of five glasshouses with 100% resistant populations, 1604 colonies were recovered on vinclozolin-amended (100 μg ml^?1) medium and none on metomeclan-amended (100 μg ml^?1) medium. It is concluded that strains of B. cinerea highly resistant to dicarboximides are absent from field populations.     

Effects of certain herbicides on the fate of sporangiospores of Mucor piriformis and conidia of Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium expansum

The effects of several herbicides used in pome fruit orchards on the germination of spores and growth of mycelia of Botrytis cinerea, Mucor piriformis and Penicillium expansum in vitro and the survival of propagules of these fungi in soil were studied. Diuron in agar at 4–128 μg ml^?1 reduced germination of spores of B. cinerea and M. piriformis, and 2,4-D and paraquat at 32 μg ml^?1 similarly affected B. cinerea and P. expansum. Several herbicides at 128 μg ml^?1 in agar reduced growth of B. cinerea and M. piriformis but were ineffective against P. expansum. Propagule survival levels of the three fungi generally were lower in both autoclaved and non-autoclaved soil amended with herbicides than in non-amended soil. This effect was greatest in non-autoclaved soil, suggesting involvement of microbial antagonists. The most effective herbicides for reduction of fungal propagules in soil were 2,4-D, diuron, and paraquat.     

Effect of propiconazole on growth and sterol biosynthesis by Sclerotium rolfsii

Germination of sclerotia ofSclerotium rolfsii on agar nutrient medium was delayed or slightly inhibited by concentrations of propiconazole between 0.4 and 4.0 μg ml^?1, but was strongly inhibited by 8 μg ml^?1 and completely inhibited by 16 μg ml^?1. On the other hand, growth of hyphae from the germinated sclerotia was strongly inhibited by propiconazole at 1 μg ml^?1 or greater. Hyphal growth from agar discs on agar medium was about 8 times less sensitive than hyphal growth from the sclerotia or from hyphal inoculum in liquid media. Propiconazole at 0.25 and 1.0 μg ml^?1 strongly inhibited ergosterol biosynthesis, but this was not associated with large accumulations of C-14 methyl sterols. The ratio of eburicol to ergosterol in hyphae grown in the presence of 0.25 μg ml^?1 propiconazole for 16, 30 or 45 h was 0.11, 0.13 and 0.04, respectively, for the three intervals while for hyphae grown in the presence of 1 μg ml^?1, the ratios were 0.29, 0.36 and 0.30, respectively, for the same intervals. In view of a ratio of 23.5 for¹⁴C-acetate incorporation into the two sterols during the initial 6 h growth period in the presence of propiconazole, it is believed that the lack of large accumulation of C-14 methyl sterols is due to the feedback inhibition by eburicol or to cell lysis when the content of ergosterol becomes too low in the actively growing cells.     

Potential enhancement of degradation of the nematicides aldicarb,oxamyl and fosthiazate in UK agricultural soils through repeated applications

BACKGROUND: The potential for enhanced degradation of the carbamoyloxime nematicides aldicarb and oxamyl and the organophosphate fosthiazate was investigated in 35 UK agricultural soils. Under laboratory conditions, soil samples received three successive applications of nematicide at 25 day intervals. RESULTS: The second and third applications of aldicarb were degraded at a faster rate than the first application in six of the 15 aldicarb‐treated soils, and a further three soils demonstrated rapid degradation of all three applications. High organic matter content and low pH had an inhibitory effect on the rate of aldicarb degradation. Rapid degradation was observed in nine out of the ten soils treated with oxamyl. In contrast, none of the fosthiazate‐treated soils demonstrated enhanced degradation. CONCLUSION: The potential for enhanced degradation of aldicarb and oxamyl was demonstrated in nine out of 15 and nine out of ten soils respectively that had previously been treated with these active substances. Degradation of fosthiazate occurred at a much slower rate, with no evidence of enhanced degradation. Fosthiazate may provide a useful alternative in cases where the efficacy of aldicarb and oxamyl has been reduced as a result of enhanced degradation. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

The metabolism of [14C]aldicarb in the leaves of sugar beet plants

Sugar beet plants were grown in the field, after in-furrow application of [¹⁴C]aldicarb (3 kg of aldicarb ha^?1) at planting. The ripe sugar beet plants were harvested, and the blades and petioles of the leaves were analysed separately. In the whole leaves, 15% of the ¹⁴C (all the percentages of ¹⁴C are relative to the total ¹⁴C incorporated into the whole leaves) was insoluble in ethanol+ water (1+1 by volume), 31% was organo-soluble (and thus unconjugated in the leaves), and 54% was water-soluble (mainly conjugated to plant constituents). The weights and concentrations (as aldicarb equivalents) of various identified metabolites of aldicarb, incorporated into the leaves, were determined; no aldicarb, as such, was detected.     

Disposition kinetics of cypermethrin and fenvalerate in black bengal lactating goats

Disposition kinetics of cypermethrin and fenvalerate were investigated in lactating black Bengal goats following single dose intravenous administration at 57 and 45 mg kg^?1 respectively. The maximum and minimum blood concentrations of cypermethrin were 18.49 (±3.17) and 0.06 (±0.002) μg ml^?1, while the corresponding values for fenvalerate were 14.58 (±2.37) and 0.04 (±0.005) μg ml^?1 respectively. Both cypermethrin and fenvalerate remained present in blood for 36 h. The mean t1/2β) and Vd_area values were 5.56 (±0.28) h and 10.38 (±2.20) litre kg^?1 for cypermethrin and 5.66 (±0.35) h and 11.31 (±2.20) litre kg^?1 respectively for fenvalerate. Both cypermethrin and fenvalerate persisted in goat milk for 36 h. The t1/2β) and AUC values of fenvalerate were 7.37 (±1.84) h and 122.38 (±11.65) μg h ml^?1 whilst the corresponding values for cypermethrin were 6.66 (±1.54) h and 99.48 (±7.81) μg h ml^?1 in milk respectively.     

Cytological and physiological studies of the effects of IBP on Pyricularia oryzae (II): Effects on apical cells of single hyphae

The effects of IBP (S-benzyl O,O-diisopropyl phosphorothioate) on tips of single hyphae of Pyricularia oryzae were investigated by interference contrast microscopy. Labelling hyphae with calcofluor white followed by IBP treatment revealed that elongation of apices of almost all hyphae at the colony margin was inhibited after treatment for 4 h. Successive observations on single hyphae of an IBP-sensitive isolate indicated that apical cells stopped elongating approximately 10 min after the onset of treatment with 2 μg IBP ml^?l. Small vacuoles appeared after 50 min; later they increased in number and size, and coalesced, finally producing a chain-like arrangement of vacuoles in the cytoplasm. When hyphae were treated with 10 μg IBP ml^?1, cessation of elongation and vacuolation occurred earlier than when treated with 2 μg ml^?1. Apical cells of hyphae of an IBP-tolerant isolate appeared unaltered even when treated with 10 μg ml^?1. These results indicate that a major effect of IBP is to inhibit specifically the growth of apical cells of the IBP-sensitive isolate.     

Effect of atrazine on growth, production of aflatoxin, and fatty acid and sterol biosynthesis by Aspergillus spp.

The effects of atrazine were studied on growth, production of aflatoxin, and fatty acid and sterol biosynthesis by four isolates of Aspergillus in vitro. There was little effect of atrazine on Aspergillus spp. at concentrations up to 20 μg ml^?1 but at 40 μg ml^?1 or above, growth, production of aflatoxin, and fatty acid and sterol biosynthesis were remarkably reduced. Palmitic, stearic and linoleic acid synthesis were inhibited in three of the isolates tested at 60 μg ml^?1. At 100 μg ml^?1, except ergosterol, the cholesterol and 5, 7-ergostadienol synthesis was totally inhibited in all isolates. Effet de l'atrazine sur la croissance, la production d'aflatoxine, et la biosynthèse d'acides gras et de stérols par Aspergillus spp. Chez quatre isolats d'Aspergillus, les effets de l'atrazine sur la croissance, la production d'aflatoxine, et la biosynthèse d'acides gras et de stérols ont étéétudiés in vitro. Jusqu'à des concentrations de 20 μg ml^?1, l'atrazine n'a eu que peu d'effets, mais à 40 μg ml^?1 et au-dessus, la croissance, la production d'aflatoxine, et la biosynthèse d'acides gras et de stérols ont été nettement réduites. Les synthèses d'acides palmitique, stéarique et linoléique ont été inhibées chez trois des isolats, à 60 μg ml^?1. A 100 μg ml^?1, mis à part l'ergostérol, les synthèses de cholestérol et de 5, 7-ergostanediol ont été totalement inhibées chez tous les isolats. Die Wirkung von Atrazin aufdas Wachslum, die Bildung von Aflatoxin und die Fettsäuren- und Sterol-Biosynthese von Aspergillus spp. Bei vier Isolaten von Aspergillus wurde in vitro die Wirkung auf das Wachstum sowie auf die Bildung von Aflatoxin, Fettsäuren und Sterolen untersucht. Bei Atrazin-Konzentrationen bis zu 20 μg ml^?1 war keine Wirkung zu beobachten, aber ab 40 μg ml^?1 wurden das Wachstum und die Bildung von Aflatoxin, Fettsäuren und Sterolen deutlich herabgesetzt. Bei 60 μg ml^?1 war bei drei Isolaten die Bildung von Palmitin-, Stearin- und Linolensäure gehemmt. Bei 100 μg ml^?1 war bei alien Isolaten die Bildung von Cholesterol und 5, 7-Ergostadienol, aber nicht Ergosterol, unterbunden.     

Effects of annual applications of sodium azide on soil fungal populations with emphasis on Trichoderma species

The effect of a granular formulation of sodium azide, applied annually to pine nursery beds at rates of 0, 67.2, and 134.5 kg a. i. ha^?1 under water seal or plastic seal, on soil fungal populations was determined over a 3-year period. Populations of fungi in the soil decreased following application of the sodium azide each year; the greatest decrease occurred at the highest rate of application. Populations of fungi in soil treated with the azide generally remained lower than in the controls throughout each of the 3 years; however, the population disparity between treated and control plots decreased in magnitude with each succeeding year. Populations of Trichoderma spp., in plots treated with 134.5 kg sodium azide ha^?1, increased 2 weeks after treatment each year, and the population peaks increased in magnitude each year. In addition the effect of sodium azide (technical grade > 99%) at concentrations of 0, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 μg ml^?1 in potato dextrose agar and blackstrap molasses agar media was determined in vitro for 14 isolates of Trichoderma harzianum. Growth and sporulation differed among the isolates and between the two media tested. Generally, the azide temporarily inhibited growth of the fungi, but the majority of the isolates were able to grow on either medium containing 50 μg sodium azide ml^?1, although sporulation was more profuse on the molasses than on the potato dextrose agar medium.     

Distribution of the radioactivity in sugar beet plants treated with [14C]aldicarb

Sugar beet plants were grown in the field, after in-furrow application of [¹⁴C]aldicarb (3 kg of aldicarb ha^?1) at planting. Some plants (the growing plants) were harvested 99 days after sowing and the rest (the ripe plants) 196 days after sowing. The percentages of the weights of [¹⁴C]aldicarb equivalents (the total aldicarb plus aldicarb sulphoxide and sulphone, plus all the other metabolites of [¹⁴C]aldicarb which contain ¹⁴C, expressed as aldicarb equivalents) incorporated into the beet plants, relative to the weight applied to the soil, were 2.8 and 1.8, respectively for the growing and ripe plants. The concentrations of [¹⁴C]aldicarb equivalents (mg kg^?1 fresh weight) in the growing and ripe plants, respectively were: blades of the external leaves, 3.16 and 0.93; blades of the internal leaves, 0.63 and 0.68; petioles of the external leaves, 0.51 and 0.26; petioles of the internal leaves, 0.15 and 0.05; crowns, 0.14 and 0.15; roots, 0.16 and 0.13. The proportions of the extractable aldicarb plus aldicarb sulphoxide and aldicarb sulphone determined by gas-liquid chromatography (expressed as aldicarb equivalents) relative to [¹⁴C]aldicarb equivalents, in the external and internal leaf blades of the growing beets, were 56 and 60%, respectively; these values declined to 25 and 19%, respectively in the ripe plants. The proportion was 21 % or less in all other parts of the growing and ripe plants.     

Effects of isoproturon in the rhizosphere of wheat

In a field experiment, isoproturon (as Arelon) applied to soil at 2·5 kg ai ha^?1 caused variable effects in the rhizosphere of winter wheat. These included transient increases and decreases in the number of bacterial and fungal propagules. No changes in soil levels of NH₄⁺-N, NO₂^?-N, NO₃^?-N or PO₄^3? were detected. Similar results were recorded with wheat grown in pots and in laboratory-incubated soil. Arelon (1–60 μg ai ml^?1) did not affect pure cultures of bacteria but at the highest concentration (approximating to fifty times field rate) inhibited growth of some fungi. The value of laboratory and field experiments for studying effects of pesticides on micro-organisms is discussed. The results suggest that Arelon, in practical use, is unlikely to have harmful effects on the micro-organisms or fertility of soil.     

Residues of aldicarb and its main metabolites in the leaves of sugar beet plants

The residues of aldicarb and of its main metabolites (aldoxycarb, 2-mesyl-2-methylpropionitrile, and 2-mesyl-2-methylpropan-1-ol) were measured, by a gas-liquid chromatographic procedure, in the leaves of ripe sugar beet plants from cultures made by several farmers. The sugar beet plants had been grown in normal fields and treated at sowing with aldicarb at the usual rate of 1 kg ha^?1 in the form of ‘Temik’, the commercial formulation of aldicarb which contains 10% by weight of aldicarb. The samples of sugar beet plants were taken from three fields of different soil types. The residue concentrations, ranged in order of soil type, were: sandy loam > silt loam > clay.