The degradation of quintozene,pentachlorobenzene, hexachlorobenzene and pentachloroaniline in soil

The disappearance of quintozene (I) and its technical impurities and metabolites pentachlorobenzene (III), hexachlorobenzene (IV) and pentachloroaniline (V) from soil, was studied in laboratory experiments under controlled conditions during a period of about 600 days. The very high persistence found, was confirmed by the analysis of 22 samples collected from fields used for potato growing and treated regularly during the foregoing 11 years with commercial formulations of quintozene. In the laboratory experiments, III, V and methylthiopentachlorobenzene (VI) were found to be degradation products from the quintozene.     

Permethrin and deltamethrin residues on lettuce

Permethrin and deltamethrin, two synthetic pyrethroid insecticides, are registered in several countries for use on lettuce. Both chemicals were applied on autumn and spring grown lettuce in the glasshouse. When applied at the normal prescribed dose rates of 25 and 12.5 g a.i. ha^?1, < 1 mg kg^?1 of either compound was found in the lettuce at harvest, even when applied only a few days before harvest. The total amount of active ingredient applied was too low to reach the 1 mg kg^?1 level when evenly applied on marketable lettuce heads weighing about 200 g each. Applying a higher dose than 25 g permethrin a.i. ha^?1 or 12.5 g deltamethrin a.i. ha^?1, or applying two applications in the 2 weeks prior to harvest, may well result in residue levels higher than the maximum residue limit of 1 mg kg^?1 for permethrin and certainly higher than the maximum residue limit of 0.2 mg kg^?1 for deltamethrin, which is more persistent.     

Assessment of trap crops for Lygus spp. in lettuce

The effectiveness of the use of trap crops for reducing herbivorous Lygus spp. (Heteroptera: Miridae) in a lettuce agroecosystem was evaluated in a series of field experiments in two locations in Sweden. Trap crop efficacy was determined by comparing Lygus densities in plots of lettuce with densities in adjacent plots of the cover crops Melilotus officinalis, Vicia sativa, Trifolium pratense and Medicago sativa, and the weed Artemisia vulgaris . All of the trap crops tested were more attractive to Lygus than lettuce, with between five- and 30-times as many adult Lygus on cover crops and more than 100-times more on A. vulgaris. Lygus rugulipennis was the dominant species on all plant species. These results suggest that a wide range of trap crops, including nitrogen-fixing cover crops, may be suitable for reducing populations of Lygus spp. in lettuce cropping systems.     

Detection and characterization of fungicide resistant phenotypes of Botrytis cinerea in lettuce crops in Greece

The development of resistance to chemical control agents needs continuous monitoring in Botrytis cinerea. 790 isolates from lettuce and other vegetable crops were collected from six widely separated sites in Greece and tested for their sensitivity to 11 fungicides from nine unrelated chemical groups. 44 of the isolates exhibited multiple resistance to fenhexamid (hydroxyanilides), azoxystrobin and pyraclostrobin (QoI’s), boscalid (SDHI’s), cyprodinil and pyrimethanil (anilinopyrimidines), fludioxonil (phenylpyrroles), carbendazim (benzimidazoles) and iprodione (dicarboximides). Thirty per cent of such phenotypes were detected in an experimental glasshouse with lettuce crops, the third year after commencing fungicide applications. The average resistance factor (R_f) for mycelial growth to fenhexamid, pyraclostrobin, boscalid, cyprodinil and fludioxonil, was over 40, 1,000, 100, 700 and 50, respectively. Some strains with high resistance to anilinopyrimidines (14 %) or moderate to fludioxonil (7 %) were detected even in isolates collected from vegetable crops prior to commercial use of these fungicides in Greece. Isolates with fludioxonil moderate resistance and fenhexamid high resistance, were detected for the first time in Greece. The results suggested the high risk in chemical control of grey mould due to development of resistance to most fungicides with site-specific modes of action. Isolates with resistance to fluazinam (phenylpyridinamines) and to chlorothalonil (phthalonitriles) were not found. The inclusion of appropriate multi-site inhibitors like chlorothalonil in fungicide anti-resistance strategies was indispensable.     

Aminopyralid soil residues affect rotational vegetable crops in Florida

BACKGROUND: Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flueggé) is a poor host of several soilborne pests of vegetable crops; therefore vegetable crops are commonly grown in a rotation with bahiagrass pastures in Florida. The herbicide aminopyralid provides foliar and soil residual weed control and increases forage production in bahiagrass pastures; however, the soil residual activity of aminopyralid makes carryover injury likely in subsequent sensitive vegetable crops. Field research was conducted to determine the sensitivity of five vegetable crops to soil residues of aminopyralid. RESULTS: At an aminopyralid soil concentration of 0.2 µg kg^?1 (the limit of quantitation for aminopyralid in this research), crop injury ratings were 48% (bell pepper), 67% (eggplant), 71% (tomato), 3% (muskmelon) and 3% (watermelon), and fruit yield losses (relative to the untreated control) at that concentration were 61, 64, 95, 8 and 14% in those respective crops. CONCLUSIONS: The crops included in this research were negatively affected by aminopyralid at soil concentrations less than the limit of quantitation (0.2 µg kg^?1). Therefore, it was concluded that a field bioassay must be used to determine whether carryover injury will occur when these crops are planted on a site where aminopyralid has been previously applied. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of hairy vetch seed germination and maturation on weediness in subsequent crops

Hairy vetch is a widely adopted cover crop in the United States. However, hairy vetch can become weedy in subsequent crops as seeds germinate after the cover crop growing season, which is largely attributed to seed dormancy. We conducted two field experiments to determine seed germination, viability and seed production phenology of two common hairy vetch cultivars in Blacksburg and Blackstone, Virginia, US. ‘Groff’ and ‘Purple Bounty’ seed were sown in October 2015 and May 2016 and germination was tracked until June 2017. Subsequently, ungerminated seeds were tested for viability. Both cultivars had <2% germination after the initial germination period, and <1% of seed recovered was still viable at the end of the experiments. We also conducted experiments to determine when these cultivars produce viable seed. Hairy vetch seeds were counted and tested for germination in the spring. Both cultivars produced seed beginning in late‐May, but most seed were not viable until mid‐June in Virginia. Our results indicate that seed dormancy is not the primary cause of hairy vetch weediness in subsequent crops as nearly all germination, 99% of the total germinated seed, occurred during the cover crop growing season. Also, if complete termination occurs before mid‐June in Virginia, it is unlikely viable seed will be added to the seed bank. To better utilise this cover crop species, cultivar selection and proper termination are important to prevent weediness.     

The impact of altered herbicide residues in transgenic herbicide-resistant crops on standard setting for herbicide residues

The global area covered with transgenic (genetically modified) crops has rapidly increased since their introduction in the mid-1990s. Most of these crops have been rendered herbicide resistant, for which it can be envisaged that the modification has an impact on the profile and level of herbicide residues within these crops. In this article, the four main categories of herbicide resistance, including resistance to acetolactate-synthase inhibitors, bromoxynil, glufosinate and glyphosate, are reviewed. The topics considered are the molecular mechanism underlying the herbicide resistance, the nature and levels of the residues formed and their impact on the residue definition and maximum residue limits (MRLs) defined by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and national authorities. No general conclusions can be drawn concerning the nature and level of residues, which has to be done on a case-by-case basis. International residue definitions and MRLs are still lacking for some herbicide-crop combinations, and harmonisation is therefore recommended.     

Yellows of lettuce and some other vegetable crops in the Netherlands caused by beet western yellows virus

A virus isolated from lettuce (Lactuca sativa), endive (Cichorium endivia), witloof chicory (C. intybus), and spinach (Spinacia oleracea), and from some weeds was shown to be beet western yellows virus (BWYV) by its host range, particle morphology and serology. It resembled previously described European isolates but differed from American strains in its inability to infectBeta vulgaris, Brassica pekinensis andRaphanus sativus. The most useful host for routine indexing wasCrambe abyssinica. Virus particles in purified preparations stained with uranyl acetate were isometric, ca. 27 nm in diameter. Purified virus reacted with antiserum to an American strain of BWYV in infectivity neutralization gel diffusion and serologically specific electron-microscopy tests.The field reaction to BWYV of cultivars of lettuce, otherLactuca species and someCichorium species was investigated and differences in symptom expression were observed. On the basis of observations during two seasons BWYV appeared to be widely distributed but seemed of minor economic importance to lettuce growing. It may be a potentially important pathogen of endive and chicory.Samenvatting Reeds gedurende enkele jaren trekt in Nederland een vergelingsziekte van sla (Fig. 1 en 2) de aandacht. In 1977 en 1978 werd de ziekte nader bestudeerd en ook waargenomen in andijvie, witlof (Fig. 3) en spinazie. Uit zieke planten van deze vier gewassen en uit de onkruiden herderstasje en kruiskruid, groeiend in de buurt van de zieke sla, kon doorMyzus persicae op persistente wijze een virus worden overgebracht. Het werd op grond van zijn waardplantenreeks (Tabel 1), deeltjesmorfologie (Fig. 4A) en serologie (Fig. 4B) herkend als het in de USA beschreven beet western yellows virus (BWYV).Het Nederlandse virus komt overeen met in andere landen gerapporteerde Europese isolaten van het virus, maar verschilt van Amerikaanse doordat het niet in staat is om biet, chinese kool en radijs te infecteren. Daarom is voor het virus door Bos en Ashby (1978) de Nederlandse naam slavergelingsvirus ingevoerd. De meest geschikte indicatorplant voor routinetoetsing isCramble abyssinica (Tabel 2). De reactie van herderstasje varieert al naar individu van nagenoeg letaal tot vrijwel symptoomloos (Fig. 5).In gedeeltelijk gezuiverde preparaten bleken de deeltjes bolvormig te zijn en ca. 27 nm in diameter (Fig. 4A). Zulke preparaten reageerden met antiserum tegen een Amerikaanse stam van het virus (BWYV) in toetsen die gebruik maken van infectieneutralisering, gel-diffusie en serologisch-speciefieke elektronenmikroskopie. Bij laatstgenoemde techniek werd een fraaie deeltjesklontering waargenomen (Fig. 4B), die ontbrak na incubatie van gezuiverd virus met een antiserum tegen het niet verwante kersebladrolvirus (Fig. 4C).Bij veldwaarneming in 1977 van 20 slarassen, waarbij tot 60% van de planten van één ras werden aangetast, bleken twee rassen niet of weinig vatbaar (Tabel 3). Bij inoculatie in de kas bleken ze echter volledig vatbaar. In 1978 werd een aantal soorten en rassen vanCichorium enLactuca blootgesteld aan natuurlijke en aan kunstmatige infectie. BehalveC. intybus Groenlof IVT waren allen vatbaar, ookL. sativa Gallega de Invierno,L. serriola enL. virosa.Het virus lijkt algemeen voor te komen. Meestal is de infectiegraad niet hoog. Vanwege de lange incubatieduur in sla is het virus in dat gewas bij de hier toegepaste teeltwijze waarschijnlijk van geringe betekenis. Het lijkt echter een potentieel belangrijk pathogeen voor andijvie en witlof.Guest research worker, Plant Diseases Division, DSIR, Private Bag, Christchurch, New Zealand, with financial assistance from the International Agricultural Centre, Wageningen, and Ministry of Education and Science, The Hague.     

A small-scale method for the determination of pyrethroid insecticide residues in crops and soils

A small-scale method for the determination of pyrethroid insecticide residues in crops and soils is described. Compared with the conventional methods, the overall analysis time is reduced by approximately 60% and solvent usage is reduced by approximately 80% using this approach. Results obtained on a range of crops using the small-scale and conventional methods were in good agreement, and a repeatability study showed that the small-scale approach is unbiased and gives good precision. To date, linseed, tobacco, cotton foliage, cotton seed, wheat grain, sorghum, savoy, cauliflower, cabbage, cucumber, apple, peach, blackcurrant, gooseberry, raspberry and soil samples have been analysed using the method. Good recoveries were obtained with all these matrices.     

Bromine residues in potato and wheat crops grown in soil fumigated with methyl bromide

The bromine content of potato tubers grown in soil fumigated with methyl bromide at 487 and 975 kg/ha (1 lb and 2 lb/100 ft2) averaged 170 and 280 mg/kg of dry weight. Most of the bromine was in the outer layers of the tubers; peeled tubers has less than 100 mg/kg, which remained after boiling. Potato haulm contained 4000 or 6700 mg/kg bromine respectively for the two rates of application. The bromine content of wheat grain grown after potatoes depended on the rate of application of methyl bromide and the time interval between treatment and wheat crop. Wheat grain harvested 31/2 21/2 and 11/2 years after fumigation with methyl bromide at 975 kg/ha had mean bromine contents of 4.5, 15 and 44 mg/kg. but the amounts in grain from plots having the same treatments varied more than two-fold; wheat grain harvested 11/2 years after fumigation at 487 kg/ha contained 23 mg bromine/kg. Wheat yields were unaffected by fumigation.     

3种浓缩方法对莴笋中7种有机磷农药残留量的分析比较

通过采用恒温水浴振荡器、电热板和氮吹仪3种不同浓缩方法,对莴笋中7种有机磷农药残留进行分析,并比较3种浓缩方法的优缺点。试验结果表明,恒温水浴振荡器、电热板和氮吹仪处理7种有机磷农药的灵敏度、准确度和精密度均符合残留检测要求。从灵敏度、准确度和精密度等方面综合考虑,选择氮吹仪处理最好;从时间、成本、操作等方面综合考虑,恒温水浴振荡器处理最好。     

Response of spring cereal crops to soil residues of ethofumesate*

For evaluation of soil residues of ethofumseate [(±)2-ethoxy-2,3-dihydro-3,3-dimethylbenzofuran-5-yl-methylsulphonate], spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were sown in soil planted 11 months previously with sugar-beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and previously treated with band or broad-cast applications of the herbicide at rates of 1.68-4.48 kg/ha. The height of barley and wheat was suppressed only where ethofumesate was applied broadcast and the soil was not ploughed after sugar-beet harvest. Three months after sowing, the 4.48 kg/ha rate suppressed the height of barley 18% and wheat 34%. In another experiment, barley grew normally on soil treated the previous year with pre-planting and post-emergence applications of ethofumesate where ploughing followed sugar-beet harvest. For all treatments, yields of straw and grain were not significantly lower than those of the untreated check plots. The dissipation of ethofumesate 24 weeks after application to sugar-beet was 89–100% when applied on a band compared to 85-95% when applied broadcast.     

基于农药残留的药用作物分类现状

本文归纳和总结了我国药用作物农药登记和残留限量标准 (MRL) 制定情况,以及国内外药用作物分类情况,提出了我国药用作物农药残留试验群组分类和代表作物选择的建议,对加快药用作物农药登记和限量标准制定,提升药用作物质量安全,促进产业发展具有重要意义。     

Colonization of lettuce cultivars and rotation crops by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae,the cause of fusarium wilt of lettuce

The severity of fusarium wilt is affected by inoculum density in soil, which is expected to decline during intervals when a non‐susceptible crop is grown. However, the anticipated benefits of crop rotation may not be realized if the pathogen can colonize and produce inoculum on a resistant cultivar or rotation crop. The present study documented colonization of roots of broccoli, cauliflower and spinach by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae, the cause of fusarium wilt of lettuce. The frequency of infection was significantly lower on all three rotation crops than on a susceptible lettuce cultivar, and the pathogen was restricted to the cortex of roots of broccoli. However, F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucae was isolated from the root vascular stele of 7·4% of cauliflower plants and 50% of spinach plants that were sampled, indicating a greater potential for colonization and production of inoculum on these crops. The pathogen was also recovered from the root vascular stele of five fusarium wilt‐resistant lettuce cultivars. Thus, disease‐resistant plants may support growth of the pathogen and thereby contribute to an increase in soil inoculum density. Cultivars that were indistinguishable based on above‐ground symptoms, differed significantly in the extent to which they were colonized by F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucae. Less extensively colonized cultivars may prove to be superior sources of resistance to fusarium wilt for use in breeding programmes.     

Residues of pesticide co-formulants in lettuce and parsley: Identification of decline processes using field trials in different cropping systems

BACKGROUND

Although co-formulants constitute a substantial portion of the total plant protection product (PPP) mass applied to crops, data on residue formation and the behaviour of these substances on plants are scarce. In an earlier study we demonstrated that co-formulants commonly used in PPPs can form considerable residues, i.e., in the low to medium mg/kg range, but normally decline rapidly within few days. In the field trial reported here, we aimed to identify the major decline processes of co-formulants. Residues of co-formulants were therefore monitored in parsley and lettuce grown in an open field as well as under foil tunnels equipped with either an overhead or a drip irrigation system.

RESULTS

Dissipation of three anionic surfactants was markedly faster when crops (parsley and lettuce) were exposed to natural rainfall or irrigation from above compared to drip irrigation. In contrast, the decline of three volatile organic solvents was not affected by rain or irrigation, but was dependent on the crop, with much shorter half-lives in lettuce than in parsley. Furthermore, dilution through plant growth contributed significantly to the reduction of residues over time.

CONCLUSION

In this work we substantiate earlier findings on the magnitude and dissipation of residues of anionic surfactants and solvents representing the most important co-formulant classes. The chosen experimental setup allowed differentiation between decline processes and we confirm that foliar wash-off is a major dissipation process for anionic surfactants. For volatile organic solvents, dissipation appears to depend on the properties not only of the substance but also of the plant (surface). © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Effect of stale seedbed preparations and subsequent weed control in lettuce (cv. Iceboll) on weed densities

The effects of stale seedbed preparations and several weed control methods on the emergence of weeds in lettuce were studied. The specific goal was to evaluate the use of a stale seedbed in combination with chemical or mechanical weed control methods in the field. Depending on location and year, stale seedbed preparations followed by weed control prior to planting reduced the amount of weeds during crop growth by 43–83%. Control of the emerged seedlings after a stale seedbed preparation was more effective with glyphosate than with a rotary harrow. Covering the rotary harrow during control to prevent light reaching the soil improved its effect on the weed density during crop growth in two of 3 years. Radiation with far red light (FR) did not reduce the number of emerging weeds in this study. Mechanical control by finger weeder, torsion weeder and hoe was applied without stale seedbed preparations. These measures reduced the weed densities by 88–99%, compared with the untreated control and were more effective than chemical weed control with carbetamide and chlorpropham. The results show that the stale seedbed technique in combination with mechanical control of emerging weeds can reduce the weed population during crop growth as effectively as chemical control. The technique may therefore help reduce the use of herbicides in lettuce crops in the future.     

Population structure of plant-pathogenic Fusarium species in overwintered stalk residues from Bt-transformed and non-transformed maize crops

Bt-transformed maize contains genes from Bacillus thuringiensis encoding for insecticidal crystal proteins. Less insect damage on Bt maize stalks can cause a reduced infection by Fusarium species through plant injuries. This could affect the presence of plant-pathogenic Fusarium species on maize residues which serve as an inoculum source for subsequent crops. We collected overwintered maize stalks of four different Bt maize hybrids and their corresponding non-Bt lines in two consecutive years in a field trial in Germany. Fusarium spp. were isolated from 67% of 648 collected maize stalks. Identification with new multiplex PCR assays showed that F. graminearum, F. avenaceum, and F. proliferatum were the most abundant Fusarium species, isolated from 42%, 26%, and 15% of the stalks, respectively. Species abundances varied between varieties and collection years. No consistent difference was found between Bt and non-Bt stalks. Fusarium graminearum isolates were subject to a population genetic structure analysis with eight newly developed microsatellites. Significant association of loci and overrepresentation of repeated multilocus haplotypes indicated a substantial asexual component of reproduction, supporting selection of haplotypes. The data suggested selection of particular F. graminearum haplotypes by collection years but not by maize Bt transformation. Haplotypic changes between years caused no divergence in the distribution of alleles, suggesting that gene flow beyond the field scale prevented substructuring. We present evidence for gene flow between our saprophytic F. graminearum population on maize residues and a wheat-pathogenic population from a field 100 km distant.