Synthesis and bioactivity of some fluorine-containing benzoyl arylureas. Part I: Insecticidal-acaricidal products in which the aryl group bears a trifluoromethyl-substituted alkyl or alkenyl side chain

This paper reports the synthesis and the biological activity of benzoyl arylureas in which the aryl group bears a trifluoromethyl-substitiited alkyl or alkenyl side chain, R. The activity of these compounds has been evaluated on larvae of S. littoralis, A. aegypti, L. decemlineata and on the eggs of T. urticae. In general: (1) the optimum insecticidal activities are achieved when the substituents on the benzoyl moiety, R₁, and R₂, are 2,6-difluoro, the substituents on the aryl moiety, R₃, are 3,5-dichloro and R₁, is 4-(? CH?C(CI)CF₃); (2) the best acaricidal activity is shown when R₁, is 2-CI, R₂, and R₃, are hydrogen atoms and R₁, is 4-(? CH₂CH₂CH(CI)CF₃); (3) the best overall activity is displayed when R₁, is 2-CI, R₂ is hydrogen, R₃ is 3-chloro and R₁ is 4-(? CH₂CH₂CF₃).     

Synthesis and bioactivity of some fluorine-containing benzoyl arylureas. Part II: Insecticidal products in which the aryl group bears a polyfluoroalkoxy or (polyfluoroalkoxy)alkoxy side chain

This paper reports the synthesis and insecticidal activities of benzoyl arylureas in which the aryl group bears a polyfluoroalkoxy or (polyfluoroalkoxy)alkoxy side-chain. The activity of these compounds has been evaluated against larvae of S. littoralis, A. aegypti and L. decemlineata. The effects have been studied of varying (a) the substituents, R1 and R₂ in the 2-and 6-positions of the benzoyl moiety; (b) the polyfluoroalkoxy chain R₁ in the 4-position of the aryl moiety; and (c) the other substituent(s), R3, on this ring. In general, the highest activities were achieved against S. littoralis when R₁, R₂ = F, R₃ = 2-F and R₁ = O? CF₂CFH? OCF3 or R₁ = Cl and R₂ = H. R₃ = 2-Cl and R₁ = O? CF₂CFH? OCF₃; against A. aegypti when R₁, R₂ = F. R₃ = 3-F and R₁ = O? CF₂CFH? OCF₃ or R₁ = Cl and R₂ = H. R₃ = 3-F and R₁ = O? CF₂CFH? OCF₃; and against L. decemlineata by compounds in which R₁ = Cl and R₂ = H. R₃ = 3. 5-CI and R₁ = O? CF₂CFH? OCF₃, R₁, R₂ = F, R₃ = 3.5-Cl and R₁ = O? CF₂CFH? OCF₂CF₃, R₁, R₂ = F, R₃ = 3-CI and R₁ = O? CF₂CFH? OCF₂CF₂CF₃. The greatest overall insecticidal activities were achieved when R₁, R₂ = F, R₃ = 2-F and R₁ = O? CF₂CFH? OCF₃ and when R₁, R₂ = F, R₃ = 3-Cl and R₁ = O? CF₂CFH? OCF₃.     

Vegetative Compatibility Grouping of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. gladioli from Saffron

Fusarium corm rot of saffron (Crocus sativus L.), incited by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. gladioli, causes severe yield losses in Italy. Major symptoms during flowering (October–November) include yellowing and wilting of shoots, basal stem rot and corm rot. Sixty-four isolates of F. oxysporum f. sp. gladioli, obtained from infected saffron crops located in Italy (Abruzzi, Tuscany and Umbria) and in Spain, were characterized by pathogenicity and vegetative compatibility. Chlorate-resistant, nitrate-nonutilizing (nit) mutants were used to determine vegetative compatibility among the isolates of the pathogen with the aim of examining the genetic relatedness among populations from different locations. All the isolates belonged to vegetative compatibility group 0340. Since saffron shares susceptibility to F. oxysporum f. sp. gladioli with other ornamental plants of the Iridaceae (Crocus, Gladiolus, Iris and Ixia), it is likely that a clone of the pathogen (VCG 0340) was introduced with other hosts and is responsible for the disease outbreak observed on saffron in Italy. Alternatively, or additionally, the clone of F. oxysporum f. sp. gladioli causing disease on saffron in other countries may have spread to the saffron fields in Italy through the import and dispersal of infested propagation material.     

Effect of different formulations on tebuconazole residues in stone fruits

BACKGROUND: The correlation between pesticide residue levels and formulation of an active substance is often not considered, even if it is reasonable to expect some differences arising from behaviour during dilution and spraying, from adhesion to plant and from degradation. An experimental study to investigate the magnitude of tebuconazole residues as a function of different tebuconazole formulated products was carried out in Italy. The fungicide was applied as wettable powder (WP) and water‐dispersible granule (WG) formulations to peach, plum, apricot and nectarine orchards, on four different sites. The fruit samples gained from the field trials were quantitatively analysed by gas chromatography with a nitrogen phosphorus detector (GC/NPD) for tebuconazole residues. RESULTS: Tebuconazole residues in the fruits gained from the plot treated with the WP formulation, 14 days after application, were in the range 0.01–0.07 mg kg^?1, while corresponding residues in the plot treated with the WG formulation were in the range 0.01–0.06 mg kg^?1. CONCLUSION: No significant differences in the residue levels of tebuconazole could be observed between the trials conducted with the WP and the WG formulation. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Growth,diet, and reproduction of Eurasian perch <Emphasis Type="Italic">Perca fluviatilis</Emphasis> L. in Lake Varese,northwestern Italy

No data have previously been reported on Eurasian perch Perca fluviatilis L. in Lake Varese. In this study, the growth, diet, and reproductive biology of the Eurasian perch population were investigated with the aim of providing information that may serve as a basis for efficient resource management. A total of 240 specimens were caught during the monthly sampling campaign from November 2006 through October 2008. The length-to-weight relationships were W _t = 8.4 × 10⁻³ L _t^3.10 (males) and W _t = 4.1 × 10⁻³ L _t^3.36 (females). The parameters for the von Bertalanffy growth function for pooled sexes were L _∞  = 33.17 cm, k = 0.20 year⁻¹, and t ₀ = −1.34 year. Perch in Lake Varese spawn from April through May. Sexual maturity is reached when males are 2 years old, in females mostly when they are 3 years old. Relative fecundity (F _rel) and absolute fecundity (F _abs) were assessed for females. Fecundity values were similar to data reported for other European populations: females of age 2+ F _rel = 102,457 ± 12,275, age 3+ F _rel = 131,767 ± 5,891, and age 4+ F _rel = 131,252 ± 15,555. Perch diet spectrum was wide and somewhat characterized by season. Perch in Lake Varese feed on macroinvertebrates, mainly Chironomidae and Chaoborus, zooplankton, and juvenile rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus.     

Effect of aromatable androgen (17‐methyltestosterone) on induced maturation of silver European eels (Anguilla Anguilla): Oocyte performance and synchronization

The reproductive performances of silver European eel in term of gonad development and egg production, employing slow‐release implants with the androgen 17‐MT (1 mg) in combination with traditional weekly injection of carp pituitary extract (CPE) was evaluated. Wild female European eels (Anguilla anguilla) underwent a standard induction protocol with CPE and were randomly divided into three groups (N‐group, no implant; Y‐group, with implant; and control, C‐group, no treatment). The results showed that 17‐MT‐treated females (Y‐group) reproduced spontaneously about 6 weeks earlier than the N‐group females with a saving of almost 40% in CPE and time of induction. Concerning artificial induction of maturation in female silver eels, our study demonstrated that they positively respond to androgen exposure also in terms of eggs productivity. Indeed, Y‐group was more productive than N‐group: in Y‐group, 11 eels ensured an eggs production that exceeded 50% of initial body weight (BW), whereas in N‐group only three eels have exceeded this value. The results suggest that 17‐MT should be considered in future protocols for the improvement of the artificial reproduction of female silver European eels.     

Antibacterial activity of red and white wine against oral streptococci

Wine contains a number of biologically active compounds with beneficial effects on human health. The antibacterial action of commercial red and white wines against oral streptococci responsible for caries development and against S. pyogenes responsible for pharyngitis was studied. Its postcontact effect against S. mutans was also studied. Both wines displayed activity. The compounds responsible for such activities were succinic, malic, lactic, tartaric, citric, and acetic acid. The synthetic mixtures of the organic acids tested at the concentrations found in wine had greater antibacterial activity than the beverages, indicating that in wine they are inhibited by other components. Wine polyphenols displayed no activity against oral streptococci or S. pyogenes. Findings show that wine is active against oral streptococci and S. pyogenes and suggest that it enhances oral health.     

Isolation, identification, and quantification of roasted coffee antibacterial compounds

Coffee brew is a widely consumed beverage with multiple biological activities due both to naturally occurring components and to the hundreds of chemicals that are formed during the roasting process. Roasted coffee extract possesses antibacterial activity against a wide range of microorganisms, including Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans, whereas green coffee extract exhibits no such activity. The naturally occurring coffee compounds, such as chlorogenic acids and caffeine, cannot therefore be responsible for the significant antibacterial activity exerted by coffee beverages against both bacteria. The very low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) found for standard glyoxal, methylglyoxal, and diacetyl compounds formed during the roasting process points to these alpha-dicarbonyl compounds as the main agents responsible for the antibacterial activity of brewed coffee against Sa. aureus and St. mutans. However, their low concentrations determined in the beverage account for only 50% of its antibacterial activity. The addition of caffeine, which has weak intrinsic antibacterial activity, to a mixture of alpha-dicarbonyl compounds at the concentrations found in coffee demonstrated that caffeine synergistically enhances the antibacterial activity of alpha-dicarbonyl compounds and that glyoxal, methylglyoxal, and diacetyl in the presence of caffeine account for the whole antibacterial activity of roasted coffee.