Exploring phosphorus fertilizers and fertilization strategies for improved human and environmental health

Biology and Fertility of Soils - Mineral phosphorus (P) fertilizers support high crop yields and contribute to feeding the teeming global population. However, complex edaphic processes cause P to...     

Effect of Fucoidan on the Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (ΔΨm) of Leukocytes from Patients with Active COVID-19 and Subjects That Recovered from SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Fucoidan is a polysaccharide obtained from marine brown algae, with anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and immune-enhancing properties, thus, fucoidan may be used as an alternative treatment (complementary to prescribed medical therapy) for COVID-19 recovery. This work aimed to determine the ex-vivo effects of treatment with fucoidan (20 µg/mL) on mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm, using a cationic cyanine dye, 3,3′-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC₆(3)) on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (HPBMC) isolated from healthy control (HC) subjects, COVID-19 patients (C-19), and subjects that recently recovered from COVID-19 (R1, 40 ± 13 days after infection). In addition, ex-vivo treatment with fucoidan (20 and 50 µg/mL) was evaluated on ΔΨm loss induced by carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP, 150 µM) in HPBMC isolated from healthy subjects (H) and recovered subjects at 11 months post-COVID-19 (R2, 335 ± 20 days after infection). Data indicate that SARS-CoV-2 infection induces HPBMC loss of ΔΨm, even 11 months after infection, however, fucoidan promotes recovery of ΔΨm in PBMCs from COVID-19 recovered subjects. Therefore, fucoidan may be a potential treatment to diminish long-term sequelae from COVID-19, using mitochondria as a therapeutic target for the recovery of cellular homeostasis.     

Recycling of graphite during Himalayan erosion: a geological stabilization of carbon in the crust

At geological time scales, the role of continental erosion in the organic carbon (OC) cycle is determined by the balance between recent OC burial and petrogenic OC oxidation. Evaluating its net effect on the concentration of carbon dioxide and dioxygen in the atmosphere requires the fate of petrogenic OC to be assessed. Here, we report a multiscale (nanometer to micrometer) structural characterization of petrogenic OC in the Himalayan system. We show that graphitic carbon is preserved and buried in marine sediments, while the less graphitized forms are oxidized during fluvial transport. Radiocarbon dating indicates that 30 to 50% of the carbon initially present in the Himalayan rocks is conserved during the erosion cycle. Graphitization during metamorphism thus stabilizes carbon in the crust over geological time scales.     

Factors influencing the survivorship of the burrowing nematode,Radopholus similis (Cobb.) Thorne in two types of soil from banana plantations in Martinique

The burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis (Cobb.) Thorne, causes the most damage to bananas. To minimize nematicide applications, cropping systems that use fallow, crop rotation and clean planting material have been developed in the French West Indies. In order to optimize the benefit of the intercropping period, we studied the survivorship of R. similis in different soil types and conditions. We monitored the survivorship of calibrated populations of R. similis in the laboratory on a Nitisol and on an Andosol, two soils derived from volcanic ashes and pumices. We studied water potentials ranging from 0 to ?700 kPa on undisturbed soil and on soil previously frozen to get rid of living nematodes. Mortality of adult R. similis decreased regularly, and was fairly well described by Teissier's model. In the previously frozen soils, R. similis survived longer in wet soils (half-life of 21–46 days at 0 to ?5 kPa) than in dry soils (half-life of less than 10 days between ?80 and ?250 kPa). In contrast, in undisturbed soils, R. similis survived longer in dry soils: half-lives ranged from 57 days at ?273 kPa to 17 days at water saturation in the Andosol, and 36 days at ?660 kPa to 14 days at water saturation in the Nitisol. These results are consistent with the absence of anhydrobiosis in R. similis, unlike Pratylenchus coffeae. P. coffeae survivorship curves over time do not follow a model derived from exponential decrease like Teissier's model. These results also show that the recommended one year host-free period required to sanitize soils cannot be shortened without risk, even if flooding the soil could improve it.     

Biological effects and metabolism of fenoxycarb after treatment of the fourth and the fifth instars of the tobacco budworm,Heliothis virescens F.

Treatment of 4th and 5th instar larvae of Heliothis virescens with different amounts of fenoxycarb induced an increase in weight of the 5th larval instar, prolongation of the 5th larval instar period, or the formation of dauer larvae. No effects were observed during the 4th instar and the moult to the 5th larval instar. To check whether these effects were due to persistence of fenoxycarb in treated larvae, metabolism of this chemical was analysed. Larvae were fed with radio-labelled fenoxycarb at the first day of the 4th or at the first day of the 5th larval instar. Behaviour of the radio-labelled compounds was followed during each instar. At the time of gut purge, the whole of the radio-labelled material was excreted. The effects observed during the 5th instar of 4th-instar-treated larvae do not appear to be due to the persistence of fenoxycarb. The main metabolites of fenoxycarb were identified using coupled gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.     

The insecticidal and acaricidal actions of compounds fromAzadirachta indica (A. Juss.) and their use in tropical pest management

The pest control potential demonstrated by various extracts and compounds isolated from the kernels and leaves of the neem plant (Azadirachta indica) A. Juss. (Meliaceae) seem to be of tremendous importance for agriculture in developing countries. Laboratory and field trial data have revealed that neem extracts are toxic to over 400 species of insect pests some of which have developed resistance to conventional pesticides, e.g. sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Genn. Diptera: Aleyrodidae), the diamond back moth (Plutella xylostella L. Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and cattle ticks (Amblyomma cajennense F. Acarina: Ixodidae andBoophilus microplus Canestrini. Acarina: Ixodidae). The compounds isolated from the neem plant manifest their effects on the test organisms in many ways, e.g. as antifeedants, growth regulators, repellents, toxicants and chemosterilants. This review strives to assess critically the pest control potential of neem extracts and compounds for their use in the tropics. This assessment is based on the information available on the wide range of pests against which neem extracts and compounds have proven to be toxic, toxicity to non-target organisms, e.g. parasitoids, pollinators, mammals and fish, formulations, stability and phytotoxicity.     

Acaricidal properties of some synthetic unconjugated allenic anilides

Seven unconjugated allenic anilides with the allenic moiety situated at the 3, 4 position were synthesized and evaluated for acaricidal activity against Boophilus microplus (Canestrinii). The order of toxicity (% adult mortality) of the anilides against adult B. microplus at 0.5 μg tick^?1 was: N-(3-chloro-4-methyl-phenyl)-5-methylhexa-3, 4-dienamide, (I) = N-(4-bromophenyl)-5-methylhexa-3, 4-dienamide(III)(100%) > N-(4-bromophenyl)-deca-3, 4-dienamide (VI)(68%) > N-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-5-methylhexa-3, 4-dienamide (II) (32.3%) > N-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-5-methylhepta-3, 4-dienamide (IV) (28%) > N-(3-chloro-4-methylphenyl)-5-ethylhepta-3, 4-dienamide (VII) (24%) > N-(4-bromophenyl)-5-methylhepta-3, 4-dienamide (V) (20%). Comparison of the relative potencies (in parenthesis) at 1.5 μg tick^?1 of the anilides with three commercial acaricides: pyrenone, lindane and carbaryl, revealed the following orders of activities: in comparison with pyrenone: pyrenone = I = II (1) > VI(0.93) > II (0.67) > IV (0.55) > VII (0.46) > VI (0.37); in comparison with lindane: I = HI (6.06) > VI (5.65) > II (4.04) > IV (3.36) > VII (2.76) > V (2.39) > lindane (1.0). All anilides were more toxic than carbaryl which gave no mortality at 1.5 μg tick^?1. The need for developing more effective control agents for B. microplus is highlighted by the high levels of resistance found in some Jamaican populations of the pest. Resistance of the orders of 31- to 227-fold had been reported against lindane and between 15- and 67-fold to carbaryl.     

Interaction of benzimidazole-N-sulfonamides with the cytochrome b/c1 complex of Pythium aphanidermatum

Experiments with intact cells and submitochondrial fractions of Pythium aphanidermatum (Edson) Fitz. indicated an interference of benzimidazole-N-sulfonamides with the NADH- or succinate-driven electron transport system between cytochromes b and c. Comparison with Ustilago maydis (DC) Corda and Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr. revealed that this effect is Oomycetes specific. The molecular interaction between benzimidazole-N-sulfonamides and the mitochondrial cytochrome b/c₁ complex from P. aphanidermatum has been investigated. Binding assays with [¹⁴C]52232 RP (dimefluazole) indicated a time- and dose-dependent labelling of two proteins. The molecular mass of one labelled protein and the competition of the binding with antimycin A suggest that benzimidazole-N-sulfonamides interact with the Q₁-centre of cytochrome b. Furthermore, experiments with doubly labelled [³H][¹⁴C]CGA 323103 revealed a possible irreversible inactivation of the b/c₁ complex leading to covalent linkage of the dimethylsulfonamoyl moiety to the target site.