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Agronomy
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Agrochemistry and Application of Natural Products to Agricultural Research
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Agrochemistry and Application of Natural Products to Agricultural Research

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Biosystem and Biological Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2024) | Viewed by 7990

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Mayker Lazaro Dantas Miranda

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Triângulo Mineiro—Campus Uberlândia Centro, Uberlândia 38064-790, Brazil
Interests: natural products; organic chemistry; essential oils; biologically active compounds; agrochemistry; chemical education
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to cordially invite you to contribute your valuable insights and innovative findings to our upcoming Special Issue of Agronomy entitled "Agrochemistry and Application of Natural Products to Agricultural Research". This Special Issue promises to be an exciting platform which will showcase groundbreaking research, novel discoveries, the use of natural products, and biological control agents in crop protection and the game-changing application of natural products.

By sharing your expertise, you will be contributing to the expansion of knowledge and the potential impact of natural products on critical challenges to agriculture.

To our readers, we promise an insightful collection of papers that explore the vast potential of nature to advance environmental well-being. This Special Issue aims to be a reference for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers who seek innovative solutions derived from natural sources.

Let us uncover the potential of natural products and pave the way for a healthier and more sustainable future.

With warm regards,

Prof. Dr. Mayker Lazaro Dantas Miranda
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • plant extracts
  • essential oils
  • chemistry of natural compounds
  • bio-based agricultural products
  • biological control of plant diseases

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 6324 KiB  
Article
A Comparative Study on Rapeseed Sprayed with Film Antitranspirant Under Two Contrasting Rates of Soil Water Depletion
by Jie Xiang, Martin C. Hare, Laura H. Vickers and Peter S. Kettlewell
Agronomy 2024, 14(12), 2944; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14122944 - 10 Dec 2024
Viewed by 602
Abstract
Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), as one of the most important oil crops around the world, has been affected by drought considerably, particularly at flowering when crops are most sensitive to water stress. It has been shown that film antitranspirant (AT) can effectively [...] Read more.
Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), as one of the most important oil crops around the world, has been affected by drought considerably, particularly at flowering when crops are most sensitive to water stress. It has been shown that film antitranspirant (AT) can effectively reduce the yield loss of droughted crops if applied at the critical stage. However, the mechanism remains unclear by which AT mitigates drought damage to plants under different rates of water depletion. Two experiments in randomised complete block designs were conducted on spring rapeseed with two levels of irrigation, well-watered (WW) and water-stressed (WS), where slow and fast soil water depletion were imposed during the flowering stage in mesocosms (Expt 1_SD) and pots (Expt 2_FD), respectively, and different concentrations of AT, 0, 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1% and 0, 0.5%, and 1%, were applied. Leaf physiological traits, seed yield, and yield components were determined. The results showed that compared to WW, water stress reduced leaf relative water content (RWC) by 2% and 6% in Expt 1_SD and Expt 2_FD, respectively, and had detrimental effects on stomatal conductance, CO2 assimilation rate, and intrinsic water use efficiency. Following AT application, a positive linear relationship was observed in leaf RWC against AT concentrations, albeit with large variations. In Expt 1_SD, seed dry weight and aboveground biomass increased significantly with increasing AT concentrations, while no yield responses were observed in Expt 2_FD, indicating that soil water status may play an important role in rapeseed responses to AT application regardless of concentrations. Therefore, the timing of AT application needs to consider soil water conditions in addition to the growth development of rapeseed plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agrochemistry and Application of Natural Products to Agricultural Research)
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17 pages, 1853 KiB  
Article
Effective Control of Neofusicoccum parvum in Grapevines: Combining Trichoderma spp. with Chemical Fungicides
by Aranzazu Gomez-Garay, Sergio Astudillo Calderón, Mª Luisa Tello Mariscal and Beatriz Pintos López
Agronomy 2024, 14(12), 2766; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14122766 - 21 Nov 2024
Viewed by 841
Abstract
Vitis vinifera is highly susceptible to grapevine trunk diseases, with Neofusicoccum parvum recognized as a highly destructive pathogen. This study investigates the biocontrol potential of five Trichoderma species (T. harzianum, T. viride, T. asperellum, and T. virens) against [...] Read more.
Vitis vinifera is highly susceptible to grapevine trunk diseases, with Neofusicoccum parvum recognized as a highly destructive pathogen. This study investigates the biocontrol potential of five Trichoderma species (T. harzianum, T. viride, T. asperellum, and T. virens) against N. parvum, evaluating multiple biocontrol mechanisms (mycoparasitism, competition for nutrients, production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and antibiosis) as well as their compatibility with the fungicides copper oxychloride and sulfur. Results demonstrated that (1) Trichoderma harzianum effectively suppressed N. parvum through VOC production, mycoparasitism, and nutrient competition, significantly reducing pathogen growth in planta while showing compatibility with both fungicides, highlighting its suitability for integrated disease management; (2) Trichoderma viride showed high inhibition of N. parvum in vitro, but its phytotoxicity in planta limits its field application. These findings support T. harzianum as a promising agent within integrated disease management strategies, offering a sustainable alternative to reduce chemical fungicide reliance in controlling grapevine trunk pathogens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agrochemistry and Application of Natural Products to Agricultural Research)
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13 pages, 1117 KiB  
Article
Phytochemistry of Argemone ochroleuca Sweet Extracts and Their Inhibitory Effects on Maize Seed Germination
by Nezelo T. Mlombo, Zakheleni P. Dube, Fikile N. Makhubu and Hellen Nxumalo
Agronomy 2024, 14(9), 1912; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14091912 - 26 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1025
Abstract
Argemone ochroleuca Sweet is an alien invasive weed dominating most cultivated lands, however, the phytochemicals present in this plant and the effects of these on the germination and growth of economically important crops such as maize are not well-documented. The objective of the [...] Read more.
Argemone ochroleuca Sweet is an alien invasive weed dominating most cultivated lands, however, the phytochemicals present in this plant and the effects of these on the germination and growth of economically important crops such as maize are not well-documented. The objective of the study was to characterize the phytochemistry of the shoots and roots of A. ochroleuca and determine whether the extracts could inhibit the germination of maize seeds. The shoots and roots of A. ochroleuca were extracted in water, hexane, and acetone. Ten maize seeds were used in the germination bioassay. A phytochemical analysis was conducted using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The effects of the A. ochroleuca water, hexane, or acetone extracts on maize seed germination were concentration and plant-part dependent. The highest reduction was recorded from the water extract with 82%. Identified compounds with high percentages in A. ochroleuca were 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z) and 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, (Z,Z,Z)-. The present study indicated that A. ochroleuca extracts suppress the germination of maize seeds, likely due to the presence of both the identified and potentially unidentified phytochemicals that were not detected by the selected method. There is, however, a need to establish the relationship between the phytochemical compounds and the enzymes responsible for germination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agrochemistry and Application of Natural Products to Agricultural Research)
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11 pages, 765 KiB  
Article
Antifungal and Allelopathic Effects of Essential Oil from Calyptranthes concinna DC. Dried Leaves and of Its Major Constituent Elemicin
by Cassia C. Fernandes, Alline L. B. Dias, Jaciel G. dos Santos, Irles J. M. M. da Silva and Mayker L. D. Miranda
Agronomy 2024, 14(7), 1527; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14071527 - 14 Jul 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1357
Abstract
Essential oils (EOs) are natural products widely used in sustainable agrochemistry, not only because they are biodegradable and safe but also because they are regarded as alternatives to chemical fungicides against fungal species that attack crops. Allelopathy, another field of study, falls within [...] Read more.
Essential oils (EOs) are natural products widely used in sustainable agrochemistry, not only because they are biodegradable and safe but also because they are regarded as alternatives to chemical fungicides against fungal species that attack crops. Allelopathy, another field of study, falls within the most recent and sustainable strategies applied to weed suppression to replace synthetic herbicides. Therefore, this study reports the chemical composition and allelopathic and antifungal effects of the EOs extracted from Calyptranthes concinna dried leaves (Cc-EO) and its pure major constituent elemicin. Their antifungal activities were evaluated by the disk diffusion method (DDM) at doses between 0.05 mg/mL and 0.4 mg/mL of Cc-EO and elemicin. The allelopathic effect was evaluated by studying the inhibition of germination and the growth of Lactuca sativa seeds. The chemical composition of Cc-EO was determined by GC-MS and GC-FID analyses. The major constituents of Cc-EO were elemicin (60.5%), α-cadinol (9.0%) and caryophyllene oxide (8.3%). Cc-EO and elemicin were assayed in vitro against 17 fungi of agronomic interest (Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. nomius, Penicillium digitatum, P. expansum, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, S. rolfsii, S. minor, Fusarium graminearum, Myrothecium verrucaria, Corynespora cassiicola, Erwinia psidii, Colletotrichum musae, Alternaria carthami, Rhizoctonia solani, Rhizopus stolonifer and Macrophomina phaseolina). The concentration of Cc-EO (0.4 mg/mL) inhibited 100% of the mycelium growth of seven strains, equal to the fungicide fluazinam, which was used as a positive control. Elemicin showed antifungal activity against all fungi at all concentrations under investigation (above 50%). A strong allelopathic effect was recorded for Cc-EO and elemicin at the dose of 0.28 mg/mL, with the almost total inhibition of germination. This study revealed, for the first time, the strong and remarkable fungicidal and allelopathic effects of Cc-EO and elemicin, an important finding for the agrochemical field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agrochemistry and Application of Natural Products to Agricultural Research)
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14 pages, 2082 KiB  
Article
Green-Nano Manganese and Its Impact on the Growth, Yield, and Fruit Properties of Flame Seedless Grapes
by Adel M. Al-Saif, Rasha S. Abdel-Hak, Mohamed M. S. Saleh, Mohammed H. Farouk and Shimaa R. Hamed
Agronomy 2024, 14(7), 1464; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14071464 - 6 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1433
Abstract
The present work aimed to evaluate green-nano manganese produced at the Microbial Biotechnology Department, National Research Centre, Egypt, and assess its impact on the growth, yield, and fruit properties of grapevines. To this end, two experiments were conducted. The first was microbiological, where [...] Read more.
The present work aimed to evaluate green-nano manganese produced at the Microbial Biotechnology Department, National Research Centre, Egypt, and assess its impact on the growth, yield, and fruit properties of grapevines. To this end, two experiments were conducted. The first was microbiological, where several incorporation strategies were utilized to enrich the yeast with manganese, as follows: (1) manganese was added to the liquid medium (non-growth phase), and (2) manganese was added after 24 h of incubation (growth phase). The results showed that the non-growth phase had a reduced possibility of medium contamination. The manganese concentration in the yeast cells was increased due to manganese sulfate in the medium. The manganese incorporation in yeast cells was 99.93% (1.205 × 105) higher than that of the medium at 0.0195 g/L of manganese. Although the concentration of manganese in the medium raised the optical density (OD) of the yeast cell biomass, manganese sulfate had no passive influence on it. The second experiment was horticultural, where Flame Seedless grapevines were sprayed with frozen and active fresh yeast enriched with manganese that resulted from the microbiological experiment. Grapevines were sprayed twice a year at 10 or 20 cm3/L, and the results were compared with those for the mineral and chelate forms. The results demonstrated that yeast extracts in both forms showed positive effects on grapevine. The most effective treatment with regard to growth, yield, and fruit properties was frozen yeast enriched with manganese at 20 cm3/L, which yielded 10.14 and 12.6 kg/vine, compared with the control, which recorded 3.7 and 5.6 kg/vine in the two seasons, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agrochemistry and Application of Natural Products to Agricultural Research)
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21 pages, 7587 KiB  
Article
Loop-Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction: An Efficient Approach for the Recovery of Bioactive Compounds from Oak Bark
by Ilaria Quaratesi, Ioan Calinescu, Vasile Lavric, Vittoria Ferrara, Elena Badea, Petre Chipurici, Elisa-Gabriela Dumbravă, Rodica-Roxana Constantinescu, Nicoleta Daniela Ignat and Ioana Popa
Agronomy 2024, 14(7), 1452; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14071452 - 4 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1506
Abstract
Oak bark is a by-product known for its richness in polyphenols, with tanning substances being particularly interesting for their application in different fields. Vegetable tannins are mostly utilized in the leather sector, but are also widely used as adhesives, in cement plasticizers and [...] Read more.
Oak bark is a by-product known for its richness in polyphenols, with tanning substances being particularly interesting for their application in different fields. Vegetable tannins are mostly utilized in the leather sector, but are also widely used as adhesives, in cement plasticizers and for medical and agrochemical applications owing to their natural antimicrobial activity. This study aimed to develop a green and efficient pilot-scale technique for extracting polyphenols from oak bark by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) using a modified Dual-Frequency Reactor (DFR). Different parameters, such as extraction time, temperature, and solvent type (water, sodium hydroxide or sodium sulfite and bisulfite solutions) were investigated for their influence on the total phenolic content (TPC) and the quantity of dry extract. Control experiments by conventional methods were also performed. UAE at 50 °C yielded the highest TPC and dry extract (confirmed by ANOVA analysis, p < 0.05) in just 10 min, suggesting that UAE can be considered an energy- and cost-effective alternative to conventional techniques. The most suitable solvent was found to be a 0.5% sodium hydroxide solution. The molecular profile of the extracts was assessed by FTIR-ATR spectroscopy, revealing typical signals of tannins in all extracts. Furthermore, antimicrobial activity tests demonstrated the complete absence of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in the extracts, ensuring the suitability of the product for different kinds of application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agrochemistry and Application of Natural Products to Agricultural Research)
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