Search Results (203)

Pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables pose a serious threat to food safety. Traditional detection methods have defects such as complex operation, high cost, and long detection time. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop rapid, non-destructive, and efficient detection technologies and equipment. In recent years, the combination of spectroscopic techniques and imaging technologies with machine learning algorithms has developed rapidly, providing a new attempt to solve this problem. This review focuses on the research progress of the combination of spectroscopic techniques (near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), hyperspectral imaging technology (HSI), surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), and imaging techniques (visible light (VIS) imaging, NIRS imaging, HSI technology, terahertz imaging) with machine learning algorithms in the detection of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables. It also explores the huge challenges faced by the application of spectroscopic and imaging technologies combined with machine learning algorithms in the intelligent perception of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables: the performance of machine learning models requires further enhancement, the fusion of imaging and spectral data presents technical difficulties, and the commercialization of hardware devices remains underdeveloped. This review has proposed an innovative method that integrates spectral and image data, enhancing the accuracy of pesticide residue detection through the construction of interpretable machine learning algorithms, and providing support for the intelligent sensing and analysis of agricultural and food products. Full article

Baculoviruses represent a promising group of microbial insecticides for the biological control of agricultural pests, particularly those within the order Lepidoptera. Their high host specificity and environmental safety make them ideal candidates for inclusion in integrated pest management (IPM) programs. This review presents a comprehensive overview of baculovirus biology, highlighting their infection mechanisms, selectivity, and ecological compatibility. Special attention is given to advances in mass production systems—both in vivo and in vitro—and formulation technologies that improve field efficacy and environmental persistence, including UV protectants and microencapsulation. Regulatory aspects are also discussed, comparing international approval pathways and highlighting the disparity between regions with supportive policies (e.g., Latin America, Asia) and those with more restrictive frameworks (e.g., the European Union). Additionally, the current global market landscape for baculovirus-based products is examined, with emphasis on recent growth, commercialized formulations, and challenges such as host resistance and the limited spectrum of action. By synthesizing findings from the scientific literature and industry reports, this review underscores the role of baculoviruses as effective, sustainable alternatives or complements to chemical insecticides in modern agriculture, contributing to the reduction in pesticide residues and environmental impact. Full article

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is an important crop worldwide, due to its nutritional properties. It is well known as a rich source of vitamins (A, C, and D) and various minerals that are vital in human diets. The aim of this review was to explore the economic viability of organic fertilizers that improve growth, yield, and quality during pineapple production in Africa. This study was conducted through a comprehensive analysis of the literature from peer-reviewed journals. It was reviewed that organic fertilization is a general agricultural approach that prioritizes environmental sustainability, biodiversity, and soil health through the avoidance of chemicals, including inorganic fertilizers. It was also found that organic fertilizers can effectively improve growth performance, yield, and the quality of the pineapple fruit to levels comparable to those of the fruit grown using inorganic fertilizers. Subsistence and smallholder farmers have adopted organic fertilization more than commercial farmers. Various challenges, including high certification costs, limited market access, high operating costs, inadequate farmer training, and limited knowledge on producing fruit using organic fertilizers, have been reviewed. The potential for higher market prices for organically produced fruit was noted, together with the challenges. Despite higher market prices and environmental benefits from organic fertilization, the economic viability of organic fertilizers for pineapple production is constrained by other factors, such as pest management difficulties, as the policies of conservation agriculture limit the use of chemical pesticides or the introduction of alien species as biocontrol agents. Full article

The widespread presence of pesticides—especially malathion—in aquatic environments presents a major obstacle to conventional remediation strategies, while the ongoing global energy crisis underscores the urgency of developing renewable energy sources such as hydrogen. In this context, photocatalytic water splitting emerges as a promising approach, though its practical application remains limited by poor charge carrier dynamics and insufficient visible-light utilization. Herein, we report the design and evaluation of a series of TiO₂-based ternary nanocomposites comprising commercial P25 TiO₂, reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), with MoS₂ loadings ranging from 1% to 10% by weight. The photocatalysts were fabricated via a two-step method: hydrothermal integration of rGO into P25 followed by solution-phase self-assembly of exfoliated MoS₂ nanosheets. The composites were systematically characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Photocatalytic activity was assessed through two key applications: the degradation of malathion (20 mg/L) under simulated solar irradiation and hydrogen evolution from water in the presence of sacrificial agents. Quantification was performed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and thermal conductivity detection (GC-TCD). Results showed that the integration of rGO significantly enhanced surface area and charge mobility, while MoS₂ served as an effective co-catalyst, promoting interfacial charge separation and acting as an active site for hydrogen evolution. Nearly complete malathion degradation (~100%) was achieved within two hours, and hydrogen production reached up to 6000 µmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ under optimal MoS₂ loading. Notably, photocatalytic performance declined with higher MoS₂ content due to recombination effects. Overall, this work demonstrates the synergistic enhancement provided by rGO and MoS₂ in a stable P25-based system and underscores the viability of such ternary nanocomposites for addressing both environmental remediation and sustainable energy conversion challenges. Full article

Commercial production of the button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach, is threatened by various pests and mycopathogenic microorganisms. Sciarid flies (Sciaridae) of the genus Lycoriella are considered as major pests, while major pathogens include the fungi Lecanicillium fungicola (Preuss), Zare and Gams, Hypomyces perniciosus Magnus, Cladobotryum spp., and Trichoderma aggressivum Samuels & W. Gams, the causative agents of dry bubble, wet bubble, cobweb, and green mold diseases, respectively. Control of mushroom pests and diseases has long relied on synthetic chemical pesticides. Pesticide resistance and various health and environmental issues have created a need for sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to the use of synthetic chemical pesticides for mushroom pest and disease control. The concept of bioprotection, which involves using biological control agents (BCAs) and biopesticide products, offers a viable alternative. The entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev) and predatory mite Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Womersley) are the most important invertebrate BCAs, while the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, B. amyloliquefaciens, and B. velezensis stand out as the most widely used microbial BCAs/biopesticides. Azadirachtin- and pyrethrum-based products are the most important biochemical biopesticides. Bioprotection agents require inclusion in the integrated pest and disease management (IPDM) programs in order to achieve their full effectiveness. Full article

Sustainable agricultural practices are essential for eradicating global hunger, especially in light of the growing world population. Utilizing natural antagonists, such as fungi and bacteria, to combat plant diseases, rather than relying solely on synthetic chemical pesticides, which pose significant risks to the environment and human health, is known as biocontrol. Microbial biological control agents (MBCAs) have proven effective against phytopathogens and are increasingly embraced in agricultural practices. MBCAs possess several beneficial traits, including antagonistic potential, rhizosphere competence, and the ability to produce lytic enzymes, antibiotics, and toxins. These biocontrol mechanisms directly target soil-borne pathogens or indirectly stimulate a plant-mediated resistance response. The effectiveness of MBCAs in managing plant diseases depends on various mechanisms, such as hyperparasitism, antibiosis, competition for nutrients or space, disruption of quorum-sensing signals, production of siderophores, generation of cell wall-degrading enzymes, and the induction and priming of plant resistance. Formulating effective biopesticides requires optimal conditions, including selecting effective strains, considering biosafety, appropriate storage methods, and ensuring a prolonged shelf life. Therefore, formulation is crucial in developing pesticide products, particularly concerning efficacy and production costs. However, several challenges must be addressed to ensure the successful application of biological control, including the shelf life of biopesticides, slower efficacy in pest management, inadequate awareness and understanding of biocontrol methods, regulatory registration for commercialization, and suitable agricultural applications. This review clarifies the principles of plant disease biocontrol, highlighting the mechanisms of action and functionality of MBCAs in biocontrol activities, the formulation of biopesticides derived from microorganisms, and the challenges and barriers associated with the development, registration, commercialization, and application of biopesticides. Full article

Grape pomace is the largest by-product in the oenological industry, and in recent years, there have been multiple attempts to turn it into a high-value product, such as a fining agent. However, most of these attempts have usually been conducted with low volumes of wine, and/or in static conditions, using a long contact time between the fibre and wine. To speed up the fining process, this study evaluated the effectiveness of three pomace fibres and a commercial fibre in improving the safety of a young red wine, previously contaminated with ochratoxin A, histamine, and various pesticides, using a continuous filtration system. All the pomace fibres were capable of reducing the OTA concentration by around 50%, and one of the tested fibres exhibited a strong ability to decrease most of the pesticides present in the wine, with the results being even better than when this fibre was used in static conditions. All the tested fibres similarly reduced the tannin concentration of the wines, without having a major impact in the colour index. These results prove that pomace grape fibres are an effective fining agent suitable for use in a continuous filtration system, allowing for a reduction in the fining time from days to hours. Full article

Several challenges persist in China’s ginseng industry. Phoxim, chlorpyrifos, quintozene—unregistered pesticides primarily used as soil insecticides and fungicides—may pose high dietary risks. This study performed a thorough screening of potential pesticides used in Chinese ginseng cultivation, evaluated the long-term dietary risks for the ginseng-consuming group, and used the primary risk factors for ginseng in China and South Korea to compare the two nations’ pesticide usage scenarios. From 2020 to 2022, 325 pesticides and related compounds were screened in 15 major ginseng-producing counties and 3 commercial markets in Northeast China, and 39 pesticides and 3 metabolites were identified using gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, including allylmorph, pyrimethanil, pyraclostrobin, and other contaminants in Northeast China. Acute and chronic dietary risk assessment was performed using 0.009 kg as the maximum daily intake and 0.005 kg as the average daily intake, with adults as the exposed population. Based on these findings and reliable toxicological data, acute and chronic dietary risk quotients for ginseng were assessed, considering dietary intake and population exposure. The results indicate that ginseng products are generally safe and manageable, with acute and long-term dietary risks remaining within acceptable limits. Full article

Humin, as the most stable fraction in soil organic matter, determines possibility of sustainable environmental development by influencing, among other things, the binding and migration of different chemicals in soil. The aim of this paper was to determine changes in the properties of humins after interaction with three selected active substances of herbicides differing in structure and chemical properties (pendimethalin, metazachlor, and flufenacet) and two different commercial products. In accordance with OECD 106 guidelines, humins isolated from eight different soils were saturated with herbicide compounds under study. As humin is a non-hydrolyzable organic carbon fraction, solid state research techniques (elemental analysis, NMR, FTIR, EPR, and UV-Vis) were applied. The results clearly showed that the interaction between humin and herbicides increases the concentration of oxygen-containing groups and the internal oxidation (ω) in humin. For all investigated humins, a reduction in radical concentration was observed. Radicals in humins were not completely quenched; a certain concentration of radicals with unchanged structure always remained in the samples. Other spectroscopic analyses showed no significant changes in the structure of pesticide-saturated and non-saturated humins. This suggests that sorption of the studied compounds occurs on the humins only as a result of the interaction of physical forces on the surface of the studied organic matter fraction. Thus, interaction with the studied herbicides occurs as a surface phenomenon, and the inner core remains protected by the condensed structure and/or strong binding to the clay minerals. Full article

Honeybees are of economic importance not only for honey production, but also for crop pollination, which amounts to USD 20 billion per year in the United States. However, the number of honeybee colonies has declined more than 40% during the last few decades. Although this decline is attributed to a combination of factors (parasites, diseases, pesticides, and nutrition), unlike other factors, the effect of nutrition on honeybee health is not well documented. In this study, we assessed the differential expression of seven genes linked to honeybee health under three different diets. These included immune function genes [Cactus, immune deficiency (IMD), Spaetzle)], genes involved in nutrition, cellular defense, longevity, and behavior (Vitellogenin, Malvolio), a gene involved in energy metabolism (Maltase), and a gene associated with locomotory behavior (Single-minded). The diets included (a) commercial pollen patties and sugar syrup, (b) monofloral (anise hyssop), and (c) polyfloral (marigold, anise hyssop, sweet alyssum, and basil). Over the 2.7-month experimental periods, adult bees in controls fed pollen patties and sugar syrup showed upregulated Cactus (involved in Toll pathway) and IMD (signaling pathway controls antibacterial defense) expression, while their counterparts fed monofloral and polyfloral diets downregulated the expression of these genes. Unlike Cactus and IMD, the gene expression profile of Spaetzle (involved in Toll pathway) did not differ across treatments during the experimental period except that it was significantly downregulated on day 63 and day 84 in bees fed polyfloral diets. The Vitellogenin gene indicated that monofloral and polyfloral diets significantly upregulated this gene and enhanced lifespan, foraging behavior, and immunity in adult bees fed with monofloral diets. The expression of Malvolio (involved in sucrose responsiveness and foraging behavior) was upregulated when food reserves (pollen and nectar) were limited in adult bees fed polyfloral diets. Adult bees fed with monofloral diets significantly upregulated the expression of Maltase (involved in energy metabolisms) compared to their counterparts in control diets to the end of the experimental period. Single-Minded Homolog 2 (involved in locomotory behavior) was also upregulated in adult bees fed pollen patties and sugar syrup compared to their counterparts fed monofloral and polyfloral diets. Thus, the food source significantly affected honeybee health and triggered an up- and downregulation of these genes, which correlated with the health and activities of the honeybee colonies. Overall, we found that the companion crops (monofloral and polyfloral) provided higher nutritional benefits to enhance honeybee health than the pollen patty and sugar syrup used currently by beekeepers. Furthermore, while it has been reported that bees require pollen from diverse sources to maintain a healthy physiology and hive, our data on nuclear colonies indicated that a single-species diet (such as anise hyssop) is nutritionally adequate and better or comparable to polyfloral diets. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report indicating better nutritional benefits from monofloral diets (anise hyssop) over polyfloral diets for honeybee colonies (nucs) in semi-large-scale experimental runs. Thus, we recommend that the landscape of any apiary include highly nutritious food sources, such as anise hyssop, throughout the season to enhance honeybee health. Full article

Pesticides, as an indispensable component in agricultural production, play a crucial role in ensuring global food security. However, the low efficiency of pesticide utilization remains a significant challenge. The key method of improving the effective utilization rate of pesticides is mainly to enhance the affinity between pesticides and leaf surfaces while improving their deposition and adhesion properties. In this study, we utilized PEG 4000 as a carrier and emulsifier 600 and emulsifiers 700 as surfactants to prepare solid nano-dispersion of emamectin benzoate (SND-EB) by the melting method. SND-EB particles were spherical with an average diameter of 17 nm, a loading capacity of up to 50%, and excellent dispersibility. Contact angle and bouncing behavior tests on cabbage and pepper leaves demonstrated that SND-EB had superior wetting properties and spreading capabilities. Surface tension and leaf retention measurements further confirmed that SND-EB possessed excellent adhesion and leaf affinity. The SND-EB showed a 1.8-fold increase in biological activity against Spodoptera exigua compared to commercial emamectin benzoate water-dispersible granule (WDG-EB). In addition, the fabricated nanoparticles exerted no toxic effect on HepG2 cells. These results demonstrated that a 50% content of SND-EB exhibited excellent water dispersity, wettability, and insecticidal activity, providing a novel and efficient strategy for pest control. Full article

The use of different commercial products that involve one or multiple active substances with specific targeted-pests control has become a widespread practice. Because of this, a severe range of significant consequences has been often reported. Among the most used pesticides worldwide are deltamethrin (DM) and imidacloprid (IMI). With a significative effect on the insect’s nervous system, DM acts on the voltage-gated sodium channels in nerve cell membranes, while IMI mimics the acetylcholine neurotransmitter by binding irreversibly to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. This study investigates the neurotoxic effects of sub-chronic exposure to commercial formulations of deltamethrin (DM) and imidacloprid (IMI) in adult zebrafish, both individually and in combination. The formulations used in this study contain additional ingredients commonly found in commercial pesticide products, which may contribute to overall toxicity. Fish were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of these pesticides for 21 days, individually or in combination. Behavioral, molecular, and histopathological analyses were conducted to assess the impact of these pesticides. Zebrafish exhibited dose-dependent behavioral alterations, particularly in the combined exposure groups, including increased erratic swimming and anxiety-like behavior. Gene expression analysis revealed significant changes in neurotrophic factors (BDNF, NGF, ntf-3, ntf-4/5, ntf-6/7) and their receptors (ntrk1, ntrk2a, ntrk2b, ntrk3a, ntrk3b, ngfra, ngfrb), indicating potential neurotoxic effects. Histopathological examination confirmed neuronal degeneration, gliosis, and vacuolization, with more severe impairments observed in pesticide mixture treatments. These findings highlight the neurotoxic potential of pesticide formulations in aquatic environments and emphasize the need for stricter regulations on pesticide mixtures and further research on pesticide interactions. Our findings emphasize that the combination of pesticides could trigger a synergistic effect by maximizing the toxicity of each compound. Thus, it is a well-known practice for pyrethroids and neonicotinoids to be used together in agriculture. Even so, its prevalence in agriculture and the need to investigate its actual impact on human health, biodiversity, and ecosystem mitigates the development of new strategies for assessing the risk and, at the same time, enhancing the effectiveness. Full article

Nano-emulsions of essential oils (EO) and their chemical constituents are promising raw materials for the ecological control of Tribolium castaneum. Curcuma longa L. is a plant known for the properties of its rhizome, which is used in food, health, and hygiene products. Although its leaves are considered by-products with no commercial value, they produce an essential oil rich in bioactive monoterpenoids. This study aims to evaluate the repellency of nano-emulsions containing the EO from leaves of C. longa or its three main chemical constituents against T. castaneum. The representative mixture of EO extracted in four different months showed p-cymene (26.0%), 1,8-cineole (15.1%), and terpinolene (15.5%) as major compounds. Nano-emulsions of EO (HLB 16.7), terpinolene (HLB 15.0), 1,8-cineole (HLB15.0), and p-cymene (HLB 15.0) were repellent at concentrations of 11 μg/cm² (EO, terpinolene, and p-cymene) and 1.1 μg/cm² (1,8-cineole). The EO nano-emulsion droplet size increased linearly over time, remaining below 300 nm for 35 days. The EO nano-emulsion proved to be a green alternative to synthetic pesticides, as it was safe against the bioindicator Chlorella vulgaris. Furthermore, its main constituents were able to inhibit in silico the enzyme telomerase of T. castaneum, which is an enzyme essential for life. This study provides ideas for the utilization of EO from leaves of C. longa as raw material for new environmentally friendly plant-derived nanobiopesticides. Full article

Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum, is a significant fungal disease that adversely affects wheat production and food security. This study systematically evaluated the fungicidal efficacy of strong oxidative radicals (SORs) against F. graminearum and their effects on wheat growth and yield through a combination of in vitro and field experiments. In vitro experiments revealed that solutions containing different concentrations of radicals effectively suppressed the fungus. The results suggested that SOR solutions exhibited potent fungicidal activity against F. graminearum. At a concentration of 4.0 mg/L, the spore mortality rate was 96.8%, and at 5.0 mg/L, the rate reached 99.4%. The optimal concentration for the elimination of F. graminearum spores was determined to be 2.5 × 10⁵ CFU/mL. The optimal treatment duration for SORs was 10 min. Furthermore, field trials investigated the effects of SORs on wheat growth, and agronomic traits were assessed, along with their efficacy in controlling FHB in field trials, both as a standalone treatment and in combination with commercial pesticides. The results indicated that the application of SORs alone achieved an 87.9% control efficacy, demonstrating significant potential for disease control. Furthermore, SORs positively influenced wheat agronomic traits such as plant height, spike length, grain weight per plant, grain number per plant and grain yield, providing a promising new approach for the green control of FHB. Full article

A consistent life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was employed to show how the type of alkali (NaOH or Na₂CO₃) used for extracting water glass from rice husks, as well as the type of acid (HCl, H₂SO₄, or HNO₃) used for precipitating water glass to nanosilica, affects the environmental emissions of rice husk-derived nanosilica (RH nanosilica). Six nanosilica production scenarios were explicitly compared to determine the most environmentally friendly route. The LCA results show that under the same circumstances, the majority of the environmental emissions of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) are significantly better than those of sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃), except for the MAETP and ODP indicators. Similarly, except for the MAETP indicator, the environmental emissions of hydrochloric acid (HCl) are generally superior to those of sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) and nitric acid (HNO₃). NaOH and HCl were selected as preferable for the extraction of silica from rice husks and the precipitation of water glass, respectively. In addition, the preferred route underwent further in-depth optimization with the aim of achieving optimal environmental emissions for RH nanosilica. The effects of electricity, diesel, fertilizers, and pesticides on the life cycle emission factors of RH nanosilica were examined. The results demonstrate that replacing traditional coal power with cleaner alternatives, such as wind, hydropower, solar power (both photovoltaic and thermal), and biogas electricity, can result in a substantial decrease in the life cycle emission factors of nanosilica, with reductions varying between 20% and 60%. An effective method to reduce emissions associated with diesel, fertilizers, and pesticides is to adopt effective measures to decrease their consumption. These findings provide valuable theoretical foundations and insights for the industrial application of RH nanosilica. These results have great significance for guiding and promoting the industrialization process of nanosilica derived from rice husks and accelerating its commercialization. Full article