Search Results (160)

The emerging sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) industry in Australia faces potential threats from multiple pre-harvest diseases and pests, which will necessitate an initiative-taking approach for pest management. Here we assess the diseases and pests most likely to impede the development of a viable Australian sesame industry. Drawing on the international literature, we also consider the management approaches most likely to be viable and identify key research gaps necessary for effective and sustainable crop protection. More than sixty-seven plant pathogens have been identified worldwide that cause diseases in sesame, with some being observed to be major in Australia. Part of this review aims to provide an extensive overview of previous research on sesame and its diseases, shedding light on the evolving knowledge within sesame research, emerging trends, and the current state of understanding on the topic as it applies to Australia. Among the hundreds of pests reported to attack sesame internationally, this review identifies fifty-six pest taxa that are established in, or native to, Australia. We rank those most likely to be serious based on overseas damage levels and observations from recent trial plantings in Northern Australia. Chemical control methods have demonstrated efficacy overseas but are associated with concerns over resistance and environmental impact. Extremely limited numbers of pesticides are currently registered for pest or disease control in sesame by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority so non-chemical methods will be important. These include botanical, biological, cultural, and physical control approaches. This review underscores the need for continued research and tailored plant protection strategies to optimize sesame. Full article

Nanomaterials (NMs) are currently widely used in a wide range of industrial production and scientific applications, starting from molecular and medical diagnostics to agriculture. In the agricultural and food systems, NMs are now used in various ways, to improve the nutritional value of crops, detect microbial activity and inhibit biofilms, encapsulate and deliver pesticides, protect plants from chemical spoilage, as nanosensors and more. Despite these applications, NMs are described as “dual-face technologies”: they can also act as environmental contaminants. For instance, nanoplastics (NPs) dispersed in the environment can damage plants at different levels and undermine their viability. Epigenetic modifications induced by NMs have potentially wider and longer-term impacts on gene expression and plant functions. Therefore, it is important to verify whether plants are also affected by NMs on the molecular level, including epigenetic mechanisms and any induced variation on the epigenome. This review focusses on gene expression modulation and epigenetic alterations such as DNA methylation and the role of microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) induced in plants and crops by NMs and NPs. Full article

Innovative plant protection solutions are increasingly sought in modern agriculture. Rapid advances in nanotechnology offer promising opportunities to develop biodegradable, cost-effective composites containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with well-documented antimicrobial properties. The aim of this study was to synthesize sodium alginate gels containing AgNPs, evaluate their physicochemical and antibacterial properties, and assess their effect on the growth of red cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra) seedlings. In accordance with the principles of green chemistry, AgNPs were chemically synthesized using sodium alginate as a stabilizer and fructose as a non-toxic reducing agent. The final composite contained 150 mg/L AgNPs and was diluted to 20 and 60 mg/L for biological tests. Antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was tested using agar diffusion assays. Seedling growth parameters and phytochemical content were assessed after 10 days of seedlings exposure to AgNPs. The results showed significant antibacterial activity in all tested strains. Crucially, neither AgNPs concentration negatively affected seedling development or phytochemical concentration. Application of AgNPs at concentration of 60 mg/L increased ascorbic acid and carotenoids content in comparison to control (deionized water). These results suggest that AgNPs-alginate composites may serve as sustainable antimicrobial agents in agriculture, inhibiting pathogens without compromising crop quality. Full article

Natural surfaces, such as lotus leaves, springtail cuticles, and pitcher plant peristomes, exhibit extraordinary wetting behaviors due to their unique surface topographies and chemical compositions. These natural architectures have inspired the development of wettability models and the production of artificial surfaces with tailored wettability for advanced applications. Electrodeposited metallic coatings can imitate the wettability behaviors of natural surfaces, showing superhydrophobic, superoleophobic, or slippery characteristics. Such coatings can significantly enhance corrosion resistance by minimizing water–metal contact and promoting self-cleaning effects. This review presents various strategies for fabricating corrosion-resistant metallic coatings, including different electrodeposition techniques in aqueous or non-aqueous baths, followed by post-treatment procedures and surface functionalization methods. However, despite the promising protective properties demonstrated under controlled laboratory conditions, long-term studies under natural exposure conditions are still lacking, which limits the full assessment of the durability and effectiveness of non-wettable electroplated deposits in practical applications. Full article

Alternative plant protection methods should be promoted to mitigate the dangers and consequences of using chemical pesticides, ensuring a safe environment and protecting human health (Directive 2009/128/EC). One of the objectives of the EU organic production action plan is to provide substitutes for plant protection methods, decrease the adverse effects on the environment, and promote the diversity of living organisms. The use of synthetic and non-organic chemicals has significantly expanded, damaging human health and the environment. This study aimed to evaluate alternative plant protection solutions for the improvement of the strawberry cv. Elsanta plant’s generative development, yield, fruit quality, and biochemical composition. The two-year strawberry experiment conducted in a tunnel greenhouse included chemical and biological means (Bacteria and Thyme preparations). The experiment randomised a block design with four replicates and 32 plants per replicate. The treatments were conducted at the 10% flowering state (BBCH 61–65), every 7–10 days (a total of four times): (1) Control, (2) Chemical, (3) Bacteria, and (4) Thyme. We evaluated the yield, fruit weight, size, number of leaves, crowns, flowers, inflorescences, fruit firmness, soluble solids, and Vitamin C. The highest fruit weight at the first picking was in the Bacteria treatment. The number of rotten fruits was similar after all treatments. Additionally, they were firmer and bigger in size but had a smaller soluble solids content. The strawberry ascorbic acid and soluble solids content (Brix %) showed significant variation. The highest ascorbic acid concentration in the fruit was after the Thyme application (45.06%). Our study showed that alternative plant protection measures can reduce the use of chemical fungicides and maintain proper fruit quality. Full article

Ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) are common predators found in agricultural ecosystems. They feed on crop pests and help reduce pest population. Additionally, they are used as bioindicators to determine the impact of human activities on entomofauna and habitat conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the ground beetles that inhabit chemically protected (CP) and non-chemically protected (NCP) potato crops and to assess the impact of pesticide use on these beneficial insects. This study was conducted in Poland, on potato fields where ground beetles were caught during four-year crop rotation cycles in 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016. Two fields with potato crops were chosen: one without chemical protection and the other with chemical protection. Soil traps were used to catch insects, resulting in 7095 individuals of Carabidae, belonging to 41 species, caught throughout the study. The abundance and species richness of ground beetles fluctuated depending on the year of the study and the type of crop protection. Results showed that pesticide use in potato crops decreased ground beetle abundance while species richness remained unaffected. Furthermore, the use of chemical plant protection (CP) induced changes in some life traits of the carabids, leading to a decrease in the abundance of hemizoophages and autumn-breeding carabids. The abundance of the other ecological groups of Carabidae was also year-dependent. Full article

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of foliar application of protein biostimulants in combination with extracts from field horsetail (E. arvense L.), common tansy (T. vulgare L.), or yarrow (A. millefolium L.) on winter wheat. Initially, the fungistatic activity and phytotoxicity of three extract concentrations (1%, 5%, 10%) were tested on reference plants. The average results indicated a decrease in root elongation stimulation with increasing concentrations of all extracts. Antimicrobial tests revealed that the 5% and 10% extracts exhibited the strongest activity, especially against S. griseus, whereas the 1% extracts showed no inhibitory effect. The 5% concentration was chosen as optimal due to its comparable efficacy to a reference fungicide. Subsequently, the impact of combining foliar application of extracts with protein biostimulants on wheat seedling and root length, chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic pigments, and soil dehydrogenase activity was analyzed. Horsetail and yarrow extracts combined with biostimulants improved plant growth, depending on dose and combination. This was particularly evident for variants S5-B8, K5-B4, K5-B8, A-B8, for which seedling lengths were 23.6 cm (16.8%), 24.4 cm (20.8%), 23.9 cm (18.3%), and 23.6 cm (16.8%), respectively. The maximum increase in chlorophyll (a + b) content (38.30%, 35.81%, and 41.24%) occurred in plants treated with S5-B4, K5-B8, and A-B4, respectively, compared with non-treated plants. In contrast, tansy extracts reduced chlorophyll content (by up to 78%) and induced moderate stress. The research highlights the potential of natural fungicides to protect plants effectively while minimizing environmental and human health risks compared to conventional chemicals. Full article

The large growth in the global population requires new solutions for the control of harmful insects that compete for our food. Changing regulatory requirements and public perception, together with the continuous evolution of resistance to conventional insecticides, also require, in addition to innovative molecules with different modes of action, new non-chemical control strategies that can help maintain efficient integrated pest management programs. The last 30 years have inaugurated a new era characterised by the discovery of new mechanisms of action and new chemical families. Although European programs also promote a green deal in the crop protection sector, the existing thorough regulations slow down its spread and the adoption of new products. In light of these changes, this review will describe in more detail the dynamics of discovery and registration of new conventional insecticides and the difficulties that the agrochemical industries encounter. Subsequently, the different innovative control strategies alternative to conventional insecticides based on natural substances of different origin, entomopathogenic microorganisms, semiochemical and semiophysical compounds, and classical and augmentative biological control will be described. The advantages of these green strategies will be illustrated and also the constrains to their diffusion and commercialisation. Finally, the main biotechnological discoveries will be described, from transgenic plants to symbiotic control, classical genetic control, and, more recently, control based on insect genomic transformation or on RNAi. These new biotechnologies can revolutionise the sector despite some constrains related to the regulatory restrictions present in different countries. Full article

The use of insect sex pheromones as an alternative technology for pest control in agriculture and forestry offers a promising solution. The development of a novel technology for the biological production of pheromones through yeast fermentation significantly lowers production costs, enabling the adoption of sustainable pest control practices in field crops, a strategy previously reserved for high-value crops. Over three years of monitoring and mating disruption trials in Greek cotton fields, focusing on the cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), it was confirmed that yeast-derived pheromones exhibit equal efficacy compared to their chemically synthesized counterparts. For the mating disruption of H. armigera, a biodegradable, flowable, and paraffin-based matrix was developed. The matrix adheres to plants, protects the labile pheromone molecules (Z)-11-hexadecenal and (Z)-9-hexadecenal, and controls their gradual release into the environment. These biodegradable polymer blobs act as non-retrievable dispensers and can be deployed manually or via unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ensuring efficient and accurate application. This precise, time-efficient, and economically sound technology aligns with European Commission initiatives, such as the Green Deal’s Farm to Fork Strategy and the Biodiversity Strategy, contributing to food sustainability while respecting biodiversity. Full article

The proliferation of toxigenic fungi in food and the subsequent production of mycotoxins constitute a significant concern in the fields of public health and consumer protection. This review highlights recent strategies and emerging methods aimed at preventing fungal growth and mycotoxin contamination in food matrices as opposed to traditional approaches such as chemical fungicides, which may leave toxic residues and pose risks to human and animal health as well as the environment. The novel methodologies discussed include the use of plant-derived compounds such as essential oils, classified as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), polyphenols, lactic acid bacteria, cold plasma technologies, nanoparticles (particularly metal nanoparticles such as silver or zinc nanoparticles), magnetic materials, and ionizing radiation. Among these, essential oils, polyphenols, and lactic acid bacteria offer eco-friendly and non-toxic alternatives to conventional fungicides while demonstrating strong antimicrobial and antifungal properties; essential oils and polyphenols also possess antioxidant activity. Cold plasma and ionizing radiation enable rapid, non-thermal, and chemical-free decontamination processes. Nanoparticles and magnetic materials contribute advantages such as enhanced stability, controlled release, and ease of separation. Furthermore, this review explores recent advancements in the application of artificial intelligence, particularly machine learning methods, for the identification and classification of fungal species as well as for predicting the growth of toxigenic fungi and subsequent mycotoxin production in food products and culture media. Full article

The last decades have offered new challenges to researchers worldwide through the problems our planet is facing both in the environmental protection field and the need to replace fossil fuels with new environmentally friendly alternatives. Bioenergy, as a form of renewable energy, is an acceptable option from all points of view, and biofuels, due to their biological origin, have the ability to satisfy the new needs of humanity. As they release non-polluting combustion products into the atmosphere, biofuels have already been adopted as additives in traditional liquid fuels, intended mainly for the internal combustion engines of automobiles. The current work proposes an extension of the biofuel application in combustion processes specific to industrial furnaces. This technical concern has not been found in the literature, except for the achievements of the research team involved in this work, who performed the previous investigations. A 51.5 kW burner was designed to operate with glycerin originating from the triglycerides of plants and animals, mixed with ethanol, an alcohol produced by the chemical industry recently used as an additive in gasoline for automobile engines. Industrial oxygen was chosen as the oxidizing agent necessary for the liquid mixture combustion, allowing us to obtain much higher flame temperatures compared with the usual combustion processes using air. Mixing glycerin with ethanol in an 8.8 ratio allowed for growing flame stability, also accentuated by creating swirl currents in the flame through the speed regime of fluids at the exit from the burner body. Results were excellent in both the flame stability and low level of polluting emissions. Full article

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of manufactured organic chemicals that are widely employed for their heat-, oil-, and water-resistant properties. Studies have shown that the bioaccumulation of PFASs in living organisms and their related health effects are sufficient for classifying them as a group of toxicants worthy of great concern and further study. While PFASs travel through the air and soil, their contamination of water pathways proves to be the most common route for exposure. We analyzed PFASs from three different wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) throughout Arizona to show that, despite treatment efforts, they persist as contaminants in water sources. Using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency method 1633, seasonally obtained field samples were prepared for analysis through liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 24 samples were taken at different stages of the treatment process to assess the proficiency of the removal processes during remediation. Duplicate samples were each taken from Tucson’s WWTP and Flagstaff’s WWTP before and after chlorination, and from three sites in Yuma County, upstream effluent, downstream effluent, and WWTP, before chlorination. From the samples obtained in Yuma, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, perfluorooctanoic acid, and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid were detected but at levels below their limits of quantification. PFBS was detected at the Yuma and Tucson WWTP at levels up to 4.52 ng/L and 73.53 ng/L, respectively. The samples obtained from Flagstaff’s WWTP were below the instrument level of detection and, therefore, characterized as non-detects. Full article

With growing importance in sustainable agriculture and environmental protection, the use of liquid organic fertilizers (LOFs) as a replacement for or supplement to chemical fertilizers has grown in popularity. The effectiveness of LOFs depends on the content of elemental nutrients as well as plant growth regulators. Three types of materials, i.e., brassica vegetables, mushrooms, and soybeans, were fermented for 60 days to produce LOFs. The soybean-based fertilizer (SOF) contained the highest concentrations of mineral nutrients (0.99% N, 0.11% P), organic carbon (6.75%), and IAA (24 µg/mL), followed by the mushroom-based fertilizer (MOF) and brassica-based fertilizer (BOF). During fermentation, polyamines (PAs) in LOFs dramatically increased with time, with MOF and SOF containing higher concentrations of PAs than BOF. Greenhouse-grown rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants at 21 d old were sprayed with diluted (1:75) solutions of LOFs or chemical fertilizers (CF) before being treated for 7 and 14 days with 100 mM NaCl. For both non-stress and salt-stress groups, the root and shoot dry weights, chlorophyll contents, net photosynthesis rates, and endogenous PAs of the LOF- and CF-treated plants were significantly higher than those of the plants receiving no fertilizers. The SOF was the most effective and enhanced growth and photosynthesis at a similar level as the chemical fertilizer and had good potential to be employed as an eco-friendly substitute for chemical fertilizer. Full article

Non-chemical methods of fertilisation and protection have been gaining importance in recent years. This trend is closely linked to current European Union (EU) agricultural policy and the growing consumer awareness of the impact of nutrition on health. Newly developed biopreparations have to be tested for their agricultural efficiency alongside a quality assessment of the resulting food. The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of newly developed microbially enriched fertilisers in organic strawberry cultivation had an effect on fruit chemical composition and heavy metal accumulation. In the research, five biopreparations (K2–K6 combinations) containing selected Bacillus strains and plant extracts were tested in 2021 and 2022 on three strawberry cultivars: ‘Honeoye’, ‘Rumba’, and ‘Vibrant’. After the vegetation period, the collected fruit samples were frozen, freeze-dried, and subjected to chemical analyses to determine the total carbon and nitrogen content, as well as the concentration of microelements (Mn, Fe), macroelements (Na, Mg, K, Ca, P) and heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn). The application of the tested biopreparations did not significantly impact the total carbon content of strawberry fruit. For most of the tested traits, cultivars reacted differently to the tested preparations. A higher total nitrogen content was found for treatments treated with biopreparations, especially for the ‘Vibrant’ cultivar—ranging from 15.2 g·kg⁻¹ K2 (BacilRoots) to 16.3 g·kg⁻¹ K3 (BacilRoots + BacilExtra) and K5 (BacilRoots + BacilExtra + BacilHumus)—being about 10–18% higher than on the control object (K1). The content of sodium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium did not change significantly under the influence of biopreparations. The use of the K3 and K5 treatment resulted in significantly lower iron contents when compared to those of the control (strawberries sprayed with water with no biopreparations added)—respectively, by 16.1% and 17.9%. ‘Vibrant’ treated with water (control treatment) showed the highest contents of iron, copper, and zinc when compared to those treated with biopreparations. No exceedances of the permissible heavy metal content were found in the samples tested. Full article

Verticillium wilt caused by the soil-borne fungus Verticillium dahliae causes severe losses to a broad range of economically important crops worldwide. Chemical disease management is ineffective; thus, alternative control strategies are needed. Olive-producing countries face the challenge of managing olive mill wastewater (OMW) in an environmentally friendly and agronomically beneficial manner. The proper use of OMW supported by scientific research has been proposed as a valuable means for successful disease management. In this respect, we tested whether soil application of raw OMW can protect vegetable crops against V. dahliae and investigated the potential disease-suppressive mechanisms. OMW inhibited significantly fungal growth, sporulation, hyphae width, and conidial and microsclerotial germination in vitro, and these effects were dose-dependent. Moreover, the addition of OMW in the soil provided sufficient protection of eggplant and tomato against V. dahliae in planta. The high OMW-conferred protection of eggplant was gradually decreased, possibly due to the decreased phenolic content in OMW over time. Bioassays with sterilized soil substrate and OMW, along with isolated microbial strains, revealed that soil- and OMW-originated microbes had no role in disease suppression. Moreover, split-root set-ups suggested a non-systemic OMW-induced resistance mechanism. Root-drench application of OMW in eggplant and tomato plants did not cause significant alterations in the structure of the plant microbiome that could be associated with disease suppressiveness. Full article