Greenhouse biofumigation with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melia azedarach</Emphasis> controls <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meloidogyne</Emphasis> spp. and enhances soil biological activity

The need for environmentally friendly agricultural practices has led to the development of plant-based nematicides for root-knot nematode control. The efficacy of these botanicals has been tested primarily under laboratory and rarely under actual field conditions. Moreover, any side effects on non-target soil organisms that support soil biological activity are usually ignored. Herein, we evaluate the efficacy of Melia azedarach preparations against Meloidogyne spp. in a tomato greenhouse, by root gall examination and soil J2 enumeration. We also assessed side effects on soil microbes through PLFA analysis and microbivorous nematodes, and we quantified several plant growth parameters (e.g., fruit number and weight, root weight). Different treatments within the greenhouse included M. azedarach ripe fruit powder (MFP), ripe fruit water extract (MWE) and furfural, one of the principal active ingredients of M. azedarach and previously known to exhibit fumigant nematicidal activity. Results were compared to those obtained with the commercial nematicide oxamyl (Vydate^® 10 SL) and an untreated control. All treatments were repeated every 20 days throughout the cultivation period. MFP and MWE suppressed Meloidogyne spp. often at the same levels obtained by furfural and oxamyl treatments and enhanced soil biological activity, as indicated by the proliferation of soil microbes and microbial feeding nematodes. Furfural and oxamyl adversely affected the soil community, especially the free-living nematodes. Moreover, furfural was phytotoxic to tomato plants in spite of its natural origin.     

The relationship between the chemical composition of three essential oils and their insecticidal activity against Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say)

The chemical composition of the essential oils isolated from various parts of three Greek aromatic plants (Lavandula hybrida Rev, Rosmarinus officinalis L and Eucalyptus globulus Labill) collected at different seasons was determined by GC/MS analysis. The insecticidal action of these oils and of their main constituents on Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) adults was evaluated and their LC50 values were estimated. All essential oils tested exhibited strong activity against A. obtectus adults, with varying LC50 values depending on insect sex and the composition of the essential oils. A correlation between total oxygenated monoterpenoid content and activity was observed, with oxygenated compounds exhibiting higher activity than hydrocarbons. Among the main constituents, only linalyl and terpinyl acetate were not active against A. obtectus, while all the others exhibited insecticidal activity against both male and female adults, with LC50 values ranging from 0.8 to 47.1 mg litre(-1) air. An attempt to correlate the insecticidal activity to the monoterpenoid's structure is presented, and the difference in sensitivity between male and female individuals is also explored.     

Synergistic and antagonistic interactions of terpenes against Meloidogyne incognita and the nematicidal activity of essential oils from seven plants indigenous to Greece

BACKGROUND: Biorational means for phytonematode control were studied within the context of an increasingly ecofriendly pest management global approach. The nematicidal activity and the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) isolated from seven plants grown in Greece and ten selected compounds extracted from them against second‐stage juveniles (J2) of Meloidogyne incognita (Kof. & White) Chitwood were evaluated using juvenile paralysis experiments. Additionally, synergistic and antagonistic interactions between nematicidal terpenes were studied using an effect addition model, with the comparison made at one concentration level. RESULTS: The 96 h EC₅₀ values of Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Pimpinella anisum L., Eucalyptus meliodora A Cunn ex Schauer and Pistacia terebinthus L. were 231, 269, 807 and 1116 µg mL^?1, respectively, in an immersion bioassay. Benzaldehyde (9 µg mL^?1) was the most toxic compound, followed by γ‐eudesmol (50 µg mL^?1) and estragole (180 µg mL^?1), based on 96 h EC₅₀ values. The most potent terpene pairs between which synergistic actions were found, in decreasing order, were: trans‐anethole/geraniol, trans‐anethole/eugenol, carvacrol/eugenol and geraniol/carvacrol. CONCLUSION: This is the first report on the activity of F. vulgare, P. anisum, E. meliodora and P. terebinthus, and additionally on synergistic/antagonistic nematicidal terpene interactions, against M. incognita, providing alternative methods for nematode control. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Study of tau-fluvalinate persistence in honey

The persistence of the acaricide tau-fluvalinate with time and the factors that can affect its degradation in honey were investigated. Two honey types of extreme pH values (3.85 and 5.40) were spiked with tau-fluvalinate at two levels (50 and 200 micrograms kg-1) and incubated at 35 degrees C. Samples were analyzed in duplicate at various time intervals for up to 248 days. A simple, rapid and accurate method for the determination of tau-fluvalinate residues in honey is proposed. Tau-fluvalinate extraction and sample cleanup was carried out using C8 SPE cartridges with dichloromethane as the elution solvent. Analysis of samples was accomplished using gas chromatography with electron-capture detection (GC-ECD). The overall recovery of the method was 90.25 (+/- 0.85)% and the limit of determination 1 microgram kg-1. The results showed that tau-fluvalinate stays stable in honey for more than 8 months, even at 35 degrees C. The effect of higher temperatures, similar to those used for honey packing, on tau-fluvalinate persistence in honey was also studied. Honey samples fortified with 20 and 200 micrograms kg-1 tau-fluvalinate were subjected to heat treatment similar to that in the honey blending and packing process. No degradation of tau-fluvalinate due to the heat treatment was recorded. This long persistence increases the risk of honey contamination due to repeated and/or extended tau-fluvalinate applications.     

Influence of soil physicochemical and biological properties on the degradation and adsorption of the nematicide fosthiazate

The degradation and adsorption of the organophosphorus nematicide fosthiazate were investigated in nine soils with various physicochemical and biological characteristics. Fosthiazate was more persistent in acidic soils (pH <6), with half-life (t1/2) values ranging from 53.3 to 57.7 days, compared to soils with higher pH (pH >7), with t1/2 ranging from 14.1 to 20.7 days. Application of antibacterial and antifungal antibiotics to soil samples resulted in a significant inhibition of fosthiazate degradation only in two of the three acidic soils. In contrast, soil autoclaving resulted in doubling the t1/2 of fosthiazate in all studied soils, suggesting that both microbial and abiotic processes contribute to fosthiazate degradation. Statistical analysis indicated a significant negative correlation (P < 0.01) between soil pH and t1/2. Fosthiazate was generally weakly adsorbed with Freundlich adsorption coefficient (Kf) values ranging from 1.23 to 2.74 mL/g. Fosthiazate concentration was strongly correlated with soil organic matter content with higher Kf values in soils with higher organic matter content (P < 0.01). The mean t1/2 and Kf values derived from the laboratory studies were used to parametrize the FOCUS groundwater (GW) models PRZM, PELMO, PEARL, and MACRO for nematicide application in potato and tomato crops. Predicted environmental concentrations produced by the models PEARL and MACRO suggested a potential risk for GW in several scenarios, unlike PELMO and PRZM, which predicted low risk for GW. These findings suggest that the environmental fate of fosthiazate is strongly influenced by soil characteristics and that this nematicide should be used with care in acidic, light soils with low organic matter content.     

Hypervalent iodine compounds as potent antibacterial agents against ice nucleation active (INA) Pseudomonas syringae

Twenty-three hypervalent iodine compounds belonging to aryliodonium salts, 1, aryliodonium ylides, 2, and (diacyloxyiodo)arenes, 3, were tested for their antibacterial activities against ice nucleation active (INA) Pseudomonas syringae, and the MIC and EC(50) values were determined. All of the compounds examined caused a dose-dependent decrease in bacterial growth rates. Aryliodonium salts, especially those with electron-withdrawing groups, exhibit higher antibacterial activities with MIC = 8-16 ppm, whereas the nature of the anion does not seem to affect the activities of the diaryliodonium salts.     

Residue distribution of the acaricide coumaphos in honey following application of a new slow-release formulation

Acaricide used in beehives for the control of varroa often leaves residues in bee products. The behaviour and distribution of the acaricide coumaphos in honey following the application of a new slow-release strip formulation (CheckMite+) was assessed. The bee colonies were allowed to build new combs without foundation, and two strips were hung in the brood chamber of each colony for a period of 42 days. The distribution of coumaphos residues in honey in relation to the position of the frame and the duration of treatment was examined by collecting samples from each comb at various time intervals up to 145 days after treatment. In the brood chamber, coumaphos was incorporated into honey from the first day of application, and residues accumulated mainly in combs placed next to strips. In the adjacent combs, residues remained at low concentrations with slight variations. In the honey chamber, residue concentrations on the day of strip removal ranged between 0.006 and 0.020 mg kg(-1), while 79 days after application the concentration of coumaphos residues was below 0.020 mg kg(-1). Residues above the EC fixed maximum residue limit (MRL) of 0.1 mg kg(-1) were measured only in brood chamber honey obtained from those combs placed next to strips. In these samples, 0.060-0.111 mg kg(-1) of coumaphos was detected up to 103 days after strip removal. Coumaphos residues in honey extracted from combs that were placed at the edge of the brood chamber were found below the MRL value, even during the 42 day period of CheckMite+ strip treatment.     

Evaluation of Essential Oils from Rosemary, Orange, Lavandula and False Yellowhead on Hatching and Motility of Root-Knot Nematode

Essential oils （EOs） from Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis （Lamiaceae）, Orange, Citrus sinensis （Rutaceae）, Lavandula, Lavandula angustifolia （Lamiaceae）, False Yellowhead, Dittrichia viscosa （Asteraceae） and their major components were evaluated against root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita and Meloidogynejavanica. Second stage juveniles＇ （J2） paralysis and egg hatch inhibition were studied, while pulverized plant parts were tested for nematodes biological cycle arrest. All EOs paralyzed J2 and M. incognita were found more sensitive than M javanica with the EC50/4 days calculated at 250, 3,650 and 4,260 12g/mL for 1）. viscosa, L. angustifolia and R. officinalis, respectively. Similarly, all EOs inhibited nematodes egg hatch and D. viscosa exhibited the highest inhibition on egg hatch （100% inhibition at 5 μg/mL）. A significant influence of constituent terpenes （limonene, 1,8-cineole, linalool, camphor, L-borneol, caryophyllene oxide, β-eudesmol） dose and exposure time was indicated on egg hatch inhibition （56% to 100% at 500 μg/mL and 1,000 μg/mL）, while only β-eudesmol achieved paralysis of J2 and specifically against M. incognita （EC50/1d = 50μg/mL）. Interestingly, the most active botanical species arresting Meloidogyne spp. biological cycle in soil was C. sinensis （EC50 = 2 mg/g） and the most sensitive nematode species was M. javanica. The larvicidal and egg hatch inhibition activity holds promise towards the optimization of artificial terpene mixtures as novel and effective natural nematicides. Complex interactions of primary compounds and subsequent decomposition derivates compose efficacy profile of soil amendments.