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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (19 April 2024) | Viewed by 25410

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Renato Almeida Sarmento

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Guest Editor

1. Graduate Programme in Plant Production, Federal University of Tocantins, Gurupi 77402-970, Brazil
2. Graduate Programme in Forest and Environmental Sciences, Federal University of Tocantins, Gurupi 77402-970, Brazil
3. Graduate Programme in Biotechnology and Biodiversity, Federal University of Tocantins, Gurupi 77402-970, Brazil
Interests: entomology; ecophysiology; ecotoxicology; functional ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Ricardo Siqueira Da Silva

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Guest Editor

Graduate Programme in Plant Production and Graduate Programme in Forest Science, Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys, Diamantina, MG 39100-000, Brazil
Interests: ecological niche modelling for pests in current and future time
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Crop losses from pests threaten global food security and safety. A variety of tools and tactics are used in crop protection to safeguard crops from weeds, insects, viruses, plant diseases, and other undesirable elements. Traditional agricultural production techniques, such as chemical pest control, have been increasingly thrown into doubt due to the negative impact on human health, biodiversity, and the environment. They may have negative effects, greatly decreasing or even eliminating subsequent harvests. In this sense, sustainable agriculture is an environmentally friendly production system that can be an alternative to traditional agricultural production techniques. Considering that, this Special Issue is an exciting opportunity to publish recent breakthroughs in the ecological management of pests and the impact of climate change on pests, including integrated pest management strategies, such as alternative and biological control as well as the influence of biotic and abiotic factors on pests in a climate change scenario.

Prof. Dr. Renato Almeida Sarmento
Prof. Dr. Ricardo Siqueira Da Silva
Guest Editors

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Keywords

ecology
entomology
crop protection
IPM-strategies
biological control
alternative control
plant–pest interaction
climate change
plant health
plant disease

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

28 pages, 4310 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pesticide Use, Regulation, and Policies in Indian Agriculture

by A. Amarender Reddy, Meghana Reddy and Vartika Mathur

Sustainability 2024, 16(17), 7839; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177839 - 9 Sep 2024

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 15356

Abstract

This research paper presents a comprehensive analysis of pesticide use in global and Indian agriculture, focusing on the mounting food security challenges due to population growth and the increased demand for food and fiber crops. While pesticides are crucial in mitigating losses due to pests, diseases, and weeds, increasing apprehension regarding their adverse effects on human and environment health necessitates a critical examination of their usage patterns. Despite India’s relatively low per-hectare pesticide usage of 0.4 kg compared to China’s 1.83 kg, issues with pesticide residue contamination in the food chain require urgent attention. Additionally, significant regional disparities in pesticide application highlight the need for more uniform and sustainable agricultural practices. Therefore, this study examines the evolving trends in global and Indian pesticide application, providing a comprehensive analysis of the shifting dynamics across various Indian states and crop varieties. Furthermore, it analyzes various pesticide categories and their respective market shares, providing insights into production and export patterns. Our research also explores regulatory frameworks aimed at optimizing pesticide use while minimizing detrimental effects on human health and the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toward Sustainable Agriculture: Crop Protection and Pest Control)

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10 pages, 708 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Humic Substances on the Colony Growth and Conidial Germination of Entomopathogenic Fungi from the Genus Metarhizium

by Anna Majchrowska-Safaryan, Cezary Tkaczuk and Marta Wrzosek

Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3616; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093616 - 26 Apr 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1763

Abstract

The development of sustainable agricultural production involves the use of new plant protection products, with low toxicity to non-target organisms and high biodegradability. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of commercially available preparations containing humic substances, in comparison with pure humic acids, on the growth and germination of spores of entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs) from the genus Metarhizium in vitro. AmiAGRA, HumiAGRA, AlgoHUM (recommended field dose) and pure humic acids extracted from peat, brown coal and spent mushroom substrate were added to Sabouraud’s culture substrate. Observation of the growth of the colonies of the tested species of EPFs was carried out every 5 days until day 20, measuring their diameter (mm). In the second stage of the experiment, the culture medium with the addition of preparations and pure humic acids was applied in a thin layer to the surface of glass slides and an aqueous solution with spores was introduced. Observation was carried out after 24 and 48 h, and the results obtained were expressed as percentages in relation to the control. The conducted research showed that on the 20th day of the culture (on average), preparations containing humic substances had a stimulating effect, while pure acids limited the growth of the colonies of the tested isolates slightly. The growth of M. anisopliae fungal colonies was most strongly stimulated by AlgoHUM, and M. flavoviride by HumiAGRA. The share of germinated spores after 48 h of contact with the substrate was higher than after 24 h, and more spores germinated on substrates with the addition of preparations containing humic substances than on pure humic acids. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toward Sustainable Agriculture: Crop Protection and Pest Control)

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12 pages, 1080 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

An Eretmocerus Species, Parasitoid of Aleurocanthus spiniferus, Was Found in Europe: The Secret Savior of Threatened Plants

by Gianluca Melone, Roberta Ascolese, Francesco Nugnes, Francesco Porcelli, Carmelo Rapisarda, Alessia Farina, Ugo Picciotti, Francesca Garganese and Stefania Laudonia

Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2970; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072970 - 2 Apr 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3092

Abstract

This study focuses on the first detection in Europe of a parasitoid Eretmocerus sp. gr. serius (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) on the Orange Spiny Whitefly, Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Quaintance) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Through extensive field surveys, this study investigates the occurrence of the aphelinid in several regions across central and southern Italy. Different sites were monitored to investigate the Eretmocerus sp. gr. serius parasitization rate on A. spiniferus, shedding light on its potential as a biological control agent against the invasive whitefly pest. The research results offer a hopeful prospect for progressing sustainable and eco-friendly methods in handling A. spiniferus infestations in citrus crops, highlighting the importance of natural enemies in integrated pest management programs. The research emphasizes the importance of the recently discovered parasitoid for European agriculture, paving the way for inventive approaches in pest control and cultivation practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toward Sustainable Agriculture: Crop Protection and Pest Control)

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16 pages, 1803 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytochemical Characterization of Callistemon lanceolatus Leaf Essential Oils and Their Application as Sustainable Stored Grain Protectants against Major Storage Insect Pests

by Thachappilly A. Ankitha, Naduvilthara U. Visakh, Berin Pathrose, Nicola Mori, Rowida S. Baeshen and Rady Shawer

Sustainability 2024, 16(3), 1055; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031055 - 25 Jan 2024

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2839

Abstract

Food storage has been important since the dawn of agriculture and human settlement. Insect pests cause major losses to food grains during storage and production. Essential oils are good alternatives for chemical insecticides for the management of storage pests. Red bottlebrush, Callistemon lanceolatus, is a flowering plant of the Myrtaceae family. This research work aimed to extract the oil from bottlebrush leaves, and chemically characterize and assess their repellent and insecticidal properties against the cowpea seed beetle, Callasobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoptera: Ptinidae), and red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), for the first time. The essential oil yielded by hydro-distillation of bottlebrush leaves was 1.02 ± 0.01%. GC-MS analysis determined the chemical composition of the volatile oil comprised 1,8-cineole (19.17%), α-terpineol (11.51%), α-pinene (10.28%), and α-Phellandrene (9.55%). The C. lanceolatus leaf oil showed potent repellence, contact toxicity, and fumigation toxic effects. In the contact toxicity assay, at 24 h, the LC₅₀ values were 1.35, 0.52, and 0.58 mg/cm² for the red flour beetle, cigarette beetle, and cowpea seed beetle, respectively. Likewise, in the fumigation assay observed after 24 h, LC₅₀ values of 22.60, 5.48, and 1.43 µL/L air were demonstrated for the red flour beetle, cigarette beetle, and cowpea seed beetle, respectively. Additionally, there was no significance found by a phytotoxicity assay when the paddy seeds were exposed to C. lanceolatus oil. The results show that the volatile oils from red bottlebrush leaves have the potential to be applied as a biopesticide. Therefore, C. lanceolatus leaf oil can be utilized as a bio-insecticide to control stored product insects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toward Sustainable Agriculture: Crop Protection and Pest Control)

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13 pages, 2304 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Endophytic Development of the Entomopathogenic Fungus Beauveria bassiana Reduced the Development of Galls and Adult Emergence of Leptocybe invasa in Susceptible Eucalyptus

by Thomas Vieira Nunes, Jovielly Neves Rodrigues, Ismael O. Pinto, Raphael S. Pimenta, Maíra Ignacio Sarmento, Ricardo S. Silva, Philipe G. C. Souza, Danival J. de Souza, Louis A. Joseph, Maria L. de O. Souza and Renato A. Sarmento

Sustainability 2023, 15(23), 16411; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152316411 - 29 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1415

Abstract

Eucalyptus cultivation in arid regions is limited by the losses caused by the galling wasp, Leptocybe invasa Fisher and La Salle, 2004 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae); it oviposits below the epidermis of the central veins, mainly on seedlings in nurseries and/or young plants in the field, causing galls where the insects develop. Galls modify the normal circulation of sap in vascular tissues, ultimately affecting the development of infested plants and resulting in slower growth. Eucalyptus genotypes tolerant to water stress are susceptible to L. invasa, and this pest has no effective control methods. Here, we aimed to (i) determine the initial infestation dynamics of L. invasa in Eucalyptus plants inoculated with Beauveria bassiana and (ii) identify any change in the development of galls. B. bassiana-inoculated seedlings were infested with L. invasa. Susceptible plants were unaffected, and gall development was negatively affected at multiple stages. A fungal solution containing B. bassiana reduced gall development and the emergence of L. invasa adults in eucalyptus plants at considerable rates. The total number of adult emergence holes was 89.74% fewer for inoculated plants when compared to uninoculated plants. These results can help develop B. bassiana products to control L. invasa in susceptible eucalyptus plants for improved, sustainable forestry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toward Sustainable Agriculture: Crop Protection and Pest Control)

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