Search Results (183)

Today’s primary challenges include identifying efficient, affordable, and environmentally sustainable substances to serve as raw materials in industrial, agricultural, and medicinal applications. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and biological properties (namely antioxidant and allelopathic activities) of the methanolic extract derived from the above-ground portions of Artemisia judaica collected in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. GC-MS was used to evaluate the chemical composition of the methanolic extract derived from Artemisia judaica. GC-MS analysis revealed a total of 22 volatile compounds in the extract. The most prominent compounds identified were 2-ethylhexanoic acid, 5-hydroxy-6-(1-hydroxyethyl)-2,7-dimethoxynaphtho-quinone, and piperitone. The extract demonstrated strong antioxidant activity in both the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, comparable to the standard antioxidant ascorbic acid. The IC₅₀ value for the extract was 31.82 mg/mL in the DPPH assay and 39.93 mg/mL in the ABTS testing. Additionally, the extract exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of seed germination, root growth, and shoot growth of the weed Chenopodium murale in allelopathic bioassays. The most significant suppression was observed in shoot growth with an IC₅₀ value of 45.90 mg/mL, which was lower than the IC₅₀ values for root development and seed germination of C. murale, recorded at 56.16 mg/mL and 88.80 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the findings indicated that methanolic extracts had significant lethal toxic effects on the life cycle of Aedes aegypti. Future research will focus on extracting uncontaminated substances and evaluating the biological effects of each specific constituent. Full article

Glyphosate has been used for roadside weed control in southern Spain for over 40 years, and most populations of goldentop (Lamarckia aurea L.) Moench have putatively developed resistance to this active ingredient. The physiological and biochemical basis for glyphosate resistance in this weed has been investigated. Dose–response studies indicated that the resistant biotype (R) was almost 13 times more resistant to glyphosate compared to a known susceptible biotype (S). Studies of foliar glyphosate retention and ¹⁴C-glyphosate uptake/translocation showed no significant differences between both L. aurea biotypes. Basal 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) activity (µmol µg⁻¹TSP min⁻¹) showed similar values between R (0.82 ± 0.04) and S (0.75 ± 0.05) biotypes. On the other hand, the resistance factor (I₅₀R/I₅₀S) did not show a difference between the two biotypes. Therefore, it was concluded that target-site (TSR) resistance mechanisms are not involved in glyphosate resistance in this weed species. The metabolism of glyphosate to form the non-toxic metabolites aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), glyoxylate, and sarcosine was greater and faster in the R compared to the S biotype; thus, glyphosate resistance is due to non-target-site resistance (NTSR) mechanisms. This paper is the first report of glyphosate resistance in L. aurea in the world. Full article

Diuron (DU) is a widely used phenylurea herbicide designed to inhibit weed growth, but its high toxicity and prolonged half-life contribute significantly to environmental contamination. The majority of electrochemical (EC) sensors typically rely on a single response signal for the detection of DU, rendering them highly susceptible to interference from variable background noise in complex environments, thereby reducing the selectivity and robustness. By integrating molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) with a ratiometric strategy, the aforementioned issues could be solved. In this study, a novel signal on-off ratiometric MIP-EC sensor was developed based on the MXene/PEI-MWCNTs nanocomposite for the detection of DU. Positively charged PEI-MWCNTs was used as an interlayer spacer and embedded into negatively charged MXene by a simple electrostatic self-assembly method. This effectively prevented the agglomeration of MXene and enhanced its electrocatalytic performance. The MIP was synthesized via electropolymerization with DU serving as the template molecule and the selectivity was enhanced by leveraging the gate effect of MIP. Subsequently, a ratiometric MIP-EC sensor was designed by introducing [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4− into the electrolyte solution as an internal reference. Additionally, the current ratio signal (I_DU/I_[Fe(CN)6]^3−/4−) and DU concentration exhibited a good linear relationship within the range of 0.1 to 100 µM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 30 nM (S/N = 3). In comparison with conventional single-signal MIP-EC sensing, the developed ratiometric MIP-EC sensing demonstrates superior reproducibility and accuracy. At the same time, the proposed sensor was successfully applied to the quantitative analysis of DU residues in soil samples, yielding highly satisfactory results. Full article

Weeds present a pervasive challenge in agricultural fields. The integration of herbicide-resistant crops with chemical weed management offers an effective solution for sustainable weed control while reducing labor inputs, particularly in large-scale intensive farming systems. Consequently, the development of herbicide-resistant cultivars has emerged as an urgent priority. In this study, we found that the G311E mutant gene of Arabidopsis MATE (multidrug and toxic compound extrusion) family transporter DTX6, designated DTX6m, confers robust resistance to bipyridyl herbicides paraquat and diquat in rice. DTX6m-overexpression lines exhibited marked resistance to these two herbicides, tolerating diquat concentrations up to 5 g/L, which is five-fold higher than the recommended field application dosage. Agronomic assessments demonstrated that grain yields of DTX6m-overexpressing plants were statistically equivalent to those of wild-type plants. Moreover, the plants displayed beneficial phenotypic changes, such as accelerated flowering and a slight reduction in height. Seed morphometric analysis indicated that in comparison with the wild-type control, DTX6m-transgenic lines exhibited altered grain dimensions while maintaining consistent 1000-grain weight. Nutritional assays further demonstrated that DTX6m increased the levels of free amino acids in seeds, while normal protein and starch contents were retained. Collectively, these results establish that DTX6m effectively boosts rice resistance to paraquat and diquat, validating DTX6m as a candidate gene for engineering plant herbicide resistance and also implying a potential role for DTX6m in amino acid homeostasis in plants. Full article

Glufosinate-ammonium (GLA) is a broad-spectrum herbicide widely used for weed control. However, its potential toxic effects on non-target aquatic organisms, especially in freshwater ecosystems, are of growing concern. This study investigates the toxic effects of GLA on Biomphalaria glabrata, a freshwater snail highly sensitive to environmental pollutants and commonly used as a model organism in toxicological studies. Acute toxicity tests revealed that the 96-h LC50 of GLA for adult snails was 3.77 mg/L, indicating moderate toxicity, while the LC50 for embryos was 0.01576 mg/L, indicating extremely high toxicity. Chronic exposure experiments further showed that at high concentrations (0.5 mg/L), the shell diameter and body weight of the snails not only failed to increase but also decreased, and they ceased to lay eggs. Moreover, their hepatopancreas and gonads suffered significant damage. Even at an environmentally relevant concentration of 0.05 mg/L, the body length, body weight, and reproductive capacity of the snails were inhibited, and damage to the hepatopancreas and gonads was observed. These findings provide important data for assessing the potential risks of GLA to aquatic ecosystems and offer a scientific basis for formulating environmental protection policies and optimizing herbicide usage standards. Full article

Despite their effectiveness in eliminating weeds, herbicides can indirectly and directly affect organisms, leading to a decline in species abundance as well as disruptions to the structure and functioning of ecosystems. Boxer 800 EC, whose active ingredient is prosulfocarb, is an active herbicide commonly used for weed control, but its potential ecological risks are not well understood. With this in mind, a study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of sodium alginate and sodium polyacrylate in restoring homeostasis to soil exposed to Boxer 800 EC herbicide. This involved a two-factor pot experiment: factor I—herbicide dose (0.0, 0.8, 4.8, and 48.0 mg kg⁻¹ d.m.); factor II—polymer type (soil with the polymer additives sodium alginate, and sodium polyacrylate). The experiment was carried out on Eutric Cambisols with four replicates and lasted for 50 days. The test plant was Triticum aestivum L., cultivar “KWS Dorium C1”. The contaminant herbicide doses inhibited the proliferation of organotrophic bacteria and actinobacteria and reduced the colony development index (CD) and ecophysiological diversity index (EP) values for these microorganisms. The addition of sodium alginate to the soil increased the proliferation of these microorganisms, whereas sodium polyacrylate inhibited their development. Sodium alginate also increased the colony development index value of organotrophic bacteria and actinobacteria. Across all the analyzed factors, bacteria from the phylum Proteobacteriota dominated. However, the presence of herbicides and polymers changed the abundance of these bacteria. Bacteria of the genus Sphingomonas were the most prevalent genus in the samples. The herbicide Boxer 800 EC exerted a toxic effect on the growth and development of spring wheat, which was reflected in the plant biomass yield (shoot and ear) and the SPAD index. The recommended herbicide dose (0.80 mg kg⁻¹) did not cause significant changes in the growth and development of spring wheat. The hydrogel control additives deepened the negative effect of the herbicide on plant development. While the herbicide significantly reduced the levels of available carbon and total nitrogen in the soil, the polymers increased these parameters. Full article

Oxalis pes-caprae is one of the most widespread invasive plants in the Mediterranean areas, especially in central and southern Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia. It is an herbaceous species of South African origin, very common in uncultivated areas, in meadows, and at the edges of roads but also in vegetable gardens and fields, where it can become a weed. Its negative impact on the economic sector is significant due to the presence of large quantities of oxalates, which are toxic and dangerous for grazing livestock; the ingestion of high amounts of oxalates causes the accumulation of oxalate crystals, which can lead to kidney failure and anuria. This work represents a descriptive, field-based case report of epidemiological relevance, describing two cases of acute and chronic poisoning by Oxalis pes-caprae found in two different sheep farms in southern Sardinia. In February 2024, the sudden death of about 40 animals was reported in a sheep farm. On another farm, seven animals died (between March and July 2024), while others showed poisoning symptoms such as weight loss, submandibular edema, and a barrel-shaped abdomen. This manuscript aims to highlight the damage caused by poor attention in pasture management and the importance of seasonal risk management; it is necessary to pay attention to the herbaceous species present in pastures, especially in our region, where climatic temperatures no longer respect seasonality and herbaceous species that normally grow in spring are easily found also in the winter months. Full article

Considering the resistance of weeds to different herbicides with different mechanisms of action, the search for new, more selective compounds with low toxicity to other species in nature has been very important for the development of agriculture. Because of that, considering the biological activity of allelochemicals and natural epoxides, four new epoxy compounds derived from dehydrocostus lactone were synthetized and evaluated for their potential herbicide activity against three species of seeds, Allium cepa (onion), Lepidium sativum (garden cress), and Lactuca sativa (lettuce). In assays with A. cepa, compound 4 inhibited radicle length by 80% at 100 μM. Notably, for L. sativum, compound 4 showed significant inhibition, reducing stalk and radicle lengths by 80% at 100 μM, surpassing the performance of the commercial herbicide Logran. However, diol 5 notably inhibited radicle growth by 28% at 100 μM, making the most significant observed effect. One of the noteworthy lactones studied is epoxide 4. This highlights the importance of the epoxide functional group in affecting both radicle and shoot lengths of seeds. Therefore, the synthesis of these compounds has proven advantageous and holds great potential for the development of new herbicides. Full article

The aim of this review is to evaluate the therapeutic possibilities of trifluralin and other 2,6-dinitroaniline herbicides by assessing different aspects of trifluralin’s toxicology (including its mitochondrial toxicity), pharmacokinetics, and environmental fate. The particular features of TFL have triggered a wide range of policies about its properties. Is has been banned in some countries and, at the same time, has been proposed as a drug for the cure of parasitic disease by some scientific research articles. The use of this pre-emergence herbicide to control broadleaf weeds and annual grasses is assumed to rely only on its microtubule depolarization or cytoskeleton disassembly abilities (on-target effect), a fact that justifies its inhibition of a wide range of microorganisms (mostly protozoans), sharing a relatively high degree of conservation in tubulin protein sequences with weeds and grasses. Recent studies have confirmed that TFL also affects mitochondrial function (off-target effect), a hypothesis previously suggested in earlier works. Here, we account for the main issues in TFL toxicology, other potential uses of the herbicide outside crops, and its feasibility for use as an antiprotozoal drug. Full article

The dynamics and plant composition of toxic weeds in alpine meadows are strongly influenced by management practices such as livestock grazing. Here, the effect of grazing management on vegetation and soil characteristics within an alpine meadow ecosystem was assessed over a 5-year period. The experimental grazing treatments comprised no grazing (control), light grazing (5 sheep/ha), moderate grazing (10 sheep/ha), and heavy grazing (15 sheep/ha). The characteristics of both edible grass and toxic weeds, along with the soil’s physicochemical and biological properties, were evaluated. Under heavy grazing, the biomass of toxic weeds increased by 15.0%, while the biomass of edible species decreased by 57.0% compared to the control. The findings indicated that after 5 years, the plant composition changed significantly, with edible species such as Taraxacum mongolicum and Tibetia himalaica decreasing and disappearing under moderate and heavy grazing treatments. Conversely, toxic weeds like Stellera chamaejasme and Euphorbia micractina emerged under moderate or heavy grazing. Additionally, the richness of toxic weeds increased from 6.3 under the control to 14.2 under heavy grazing. Regarding soil properties, the levels of soil glucosidase, amylase, and cellulose decreased by 39.0%, 53.0%, and 40.0%, respectively. The amount of available potassium initially decreased and then increased under heavy grazing. The results demonstrated that the quality of the vegetation cover and a soil’s properties directly depend on land management. Overall, light to moderate grazing kept the soil in a better chemical and biological state and kept the biomass of palatable plants at a desirable level, which also controlled the abundance and biomass of toxic weeds. Enhancing soil nutrient conditions, such as by adding nitrate fertilizers, can be effective in restoring grasslands that have been severely degraded by grazing. Full article

Plants face an array of environmental stresses, including both abiotic and biotic stresses. These stresses significantly impact plant lifespan and reduce agricultural crop productivity. Abiotic stresses, such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, high and low temperatures, salinity, drought, floods, heavy metal toxicity, etc., contribute to widespread crop losses globally. On the other hand, biotic stresses, such as those caused by insects, fungi, and weeds, further exacerbate these challenges. These stressors can hinder plant systems at various levels, including molecular, cellular, and development processes. To overcome these challenges, multi-omics computational approaches offer a significant tool for characterizing the plant’s biomolecular pool, which is crucial for maintaining homeostasis and signaling response to environmental changes. Integrating multiple layers of omics data, such as proteomics, metabolomics, ionomics, interactomics, and phenomics, simplifies the study of plant resistance mechanisms. This comprehensive approach enables the development of regulatory networks and pathway maps, identifying potential targets for improving resistance through genetic engineering or breeding strategies. This review highlights the valuable insights from integrating multi-omics approaches to unravel plant stress responses to both biotic and abiotic factors. By decoding gene regulation and transcriptional networks, these techniques reveal critical mechanisms underlying stress tolerance. Furthermore, the role of secondary metabolites in bio-based products in enhancing plant stress mitigation is discussed. Genome editing tools offer promising strategies for improving plant resilience, as evidenced by successful case studies combating various stressors. On the whole, this review extensively discusses an advanced multi-omics approach that aids in understanding the molecular basis of resistance and developing novel strategies to improve crops’ or organisms’ resilience to abiotic and biotic stresses. Full article

In recent years, with the increasing awareness of environmental protection and food safety, essential oils (EOs) have gained significant attention as safer and more environmentally friendly alternatives. This study investigated the insecticidal activity of four Lamiaceae EOs (patchouli oil, catnip oil, lavender oil, and mint oil) against Thrips flavus and their effects on crops and weeds. The results show that patchouli oil, catnip oil, and lavender oil exhibited better insecticidal activity, with patchouli oil having the strongest toxicity, with an LC₅₀ value of 0.31 mg/mL. Additionally, catnip oil and lavender oil had significant attractive effects on T. flavus, where lavender oil only had a significant attractive effect on male T. flavus, with an attraction rate of 71.88% (p = 0.03), suggesting that it could be a potential alternative to insect lures. In pot experiments, these EOs demonstrated sustained insecticidal effects and varied impacts on crops. Lavender oil only significantly affected the shoot length of soybeans (Glycine max), while mint oil did not significantly affect the growth of G. max. Finally, we preliminarily analyzed the chemical composition of the EOs to provide insights into their active components. These findings indicate that EOs have potential applications as natural agrochemicals, but further research on their mechanisms and application conditions is required. Full article

Pesticides, essential for controlling pests and weeds, significantly boost agricultural productivity. However, their excessive use leads to substantial contamination of environmental matrices, including soil and water. Organophosphorus compounds, which constitute more than 30% of the global use of insecticides and herbicides, are particularly concerning, and their widespread application raises alarms among environmentalists and regulatory agencies due to their high toxicity to aquatic organisms. Therefore, to avoid the spread of these compounds within the environment, the contaminated sites may be treated with various methods. This study explored a soil detoxification procedure utilizing gaseous ozone. As a representative of organophosphorus pesticides, chlorfenvinphos was utilized as soil contaminant. This compound is still reported to occur in a number of environmental matrixes. The method used in this study involved the exposure of the soil matrix in a fluidized state to an ozone-enriched atmosphere. The ozonation procedure enabled the removal of the pesticide from the soil matrix. During its oxidation, some degradation products were detected; in particular, they included 2,4-dichlorobenzoic acid and 2-chloro-1-(2,4-dichloro-phenyl)-ethanone, whose presence was confirmed by a GC-MS system and the NIST database. However, they also underwent degradation. Moreover, on the basis of stereoselective reaction of Z and E isomers, the pesticide degradation pathway was proposed. Additionally, the efficacy of this detoxication method was evaluated using a combination of chronic and acute toxicity tests, employing Eisenia foetida earthworms as bioindicators. On the basis of the obtained results, it can be concluded that organophosphorus herbicides containing unsaturated bonds in their structure, including glyphosate, can be removed using this method. Full article

The growing global demand for food security requires a paradigm shift towards sustainable agricultural practices, particularly in weed management. Nanotechnology is emerging in agriculture as a useful tool to reduce the dosage and the negative effects of herbicides on the one side and to improve the bioherbicides efficiency on the other side. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the literature available on the topic, with particular reference to the main characteristics of nanoparticles for weed control and the main nanoformulations for herbicides and bioherbicides. Nanoformulations such as nanoemulsions, nanocapsules, nanospheres, silver nanoparticles and organic materials protect the active ingredients from environmental degradation and enable their controlled release, enhance foliar adhesion and facilitate the penetration into plant tissues while at the same time minimizing the off-target effects. The last paragraph reviews the recent advancements in the field of nanobioherbicides. Moreover, examples of nanoherbicide and nanobioherbicide application in laboratory, greenhouse and field conditions are collected and discussed. This review highlights the increasing efficiency and diffusion of nanoherbicides and nanobioherbicides, suggesting their introduction into sustainable and integrated weed management strategies. However, further research is still required to assess their effectiveness under natural conditions, improve their stability over time and study their bioaccumulation and toxicity toward non-target organisms. Full article

This study assessed the effectiveness of four competitive pasture species—Premier digit grass (Digitaria eriantha Steud. var. Premier), Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth.), sabi grass (Urochloa mosambicensis Hack.), and buffel grass (Pennisetum ciliare L.) against the toxic annual riceflower (Pimelea trichostachya Lindl.) at varying planting densities and ratios. At six plants pot⁻¹, with a 66:33 grass-to-weed ratio, riceflower biomass decreased by 73.7%, 82.5%, 73.7%, and 60.6% when grown alongside Premier digit, Rhodes, sabi, and buffel grasses, respectively. Similarly, with four plants pot⁻¹ at a 75:25 ratio, reductions were 69.1%, 79.8%, 71.0%, and 44.5%, respectively. Annual riceflower experienced the greatest suppression when grown with Rhodes grass, showing aggressivity index (AI) values of −60.2 and −67.2 and relative crowding coefficient (RCC) values of 0.4 for both six and four plants pot⁻¹. Premier digit grass also suppressed riceflower effectively, with riceflower AI values of −35.6 and −36.7 and RCC values of 0.5 and 0.6. Buffel grass had the least impact, with riceflower AI values of −41.1 and −27.9 and RCC values of 0.9 and 2.0. Sabi grass also demonstrated good suppressive effects, though slightly less than the top two species. Higher planting densities generally resulted in stronger riceflower suppression. The results highlight the importance of considering planting density, arrangement, and key plant traits when selecting pasture species for successful weed control. Based on these findings, we conclude that Premier digit grass and Rhodes grass show promising potential for effective suppression of annual riceflower growth. Full article