Alternative Management Research Articles

Tripartite interactions of an endophytic entomopathogenic fungus, Asian corn borer, and host maize under elevated carbon dioxide.

Biological control of insect pests is encountering an unprecedented challenge in agricultural systems due to the ongoing rise in carbon dioxide (CO2) level. The use of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) in these systems is gaining increased attention, and EPF as crop endophytes hold the potential for combining insect pest control and yield enhancement of crops, but the effects of increased CO2 concentration on this interaction are poorly understood. Here, the introduction of endophytic EPF was explored as an alternative sustainable management strategy benefiting crops under elevated CO2, using maize (Zea mays), Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis), and EPF (Beauveria bassiana) to test changes in damage to maize plants from O. furnacalis, and the nutritional status (content of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium), biomass, and yield of maize. The results showed that endophytic B. bassiana could alleviate the damage caused by O. furnacalis larvae for maize plants under ambient CO2 concentration, and this effect was enhanced under higher CO2 concentration. Inoculation with B. bassiana effectively counteracted the adverse impact of elevated CO2 on maize plants by preserving the nitrogen content at its baseline level (comparable with ambient CO2 conditions without B. bassiana). Both simultaneous effects could explain the improvement of biomass and yield of maize under B. bassiana inoculation and elevated CO2. This finding provides key information about the multifaceted benefits of B. bassiana as a maize endophyte. Our results highlight the promising potential of incorporating EPF as endophytes into integrated pest management strategies, particularly under elevated CO2 concentrations. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Advanced airway management in the prehospital setting during traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest following traffic collision in Japan, 2013-2019

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): Okinaka Memorial Institute for Medical Research; Toranomon Hospital. Background The European guideline on management of major bleeding and coagulopathy following trauma (sixth edition) recommend that endotracheal intubation or alternative airway management be performed without delay to facilitate adequate ventilation and oxygenation during trauma resuscitation. However, controversy remains as to whether advanced airway management should be provided for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in the prehospital setting. Purpose This study aimed to examine the association of prehospital advanced airway management with outcomes after traumatic OHCA. Methods This observational study analyzed the Japanese government-led nationwide population-based registry data of OHCA patients. Patients with traumatic OHCA following traffic collision who received advanced life support in the prehospital setting from 2013 to 2019 were included. Propensity score matching was used to examine the association of advanced airway management with outcomes after traumatic OHCA following traffic collision. The primary outcome was one-month survival. Results A total of 5,617 patients (mean [SD] age, 60.1 [21.6] years; 68.6% male) were included. 3,822 (68.0%) received advanced airway management, and 1,795 (32.0%) did not. After adjusting for potential confounders using propensity score matching, advanced airway management was associated with decreased chance of one-month survival (23/1452 [1.6%] vs 43/1452 [3.0%]; RR, 0.53; 95%CI, 0.32-0.88; P=0.0128). Similar association was observed for prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (88/1452 [6.1%] vs 139/1452 [9.6%]; RR, 0.63; 95%CI, 0.49-0.82; P=0.0004). Conclusion Among patients with traumatic OHCA following traffic collision, advanced airway management was associated with decreased chance of one-month survival and prehospital return of spontaneous circulation.

New perspectives on migraine treatment: a review of the mechanisms and effects of complementary and alternative therapies

Migraine is a prevalent and disabling neurovascular disorder, with women being more susceptible, characterized by unilateral throbbing headache, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and often associated with various comorbidities such as brain and cardiovascular diseases, which can have a serious impact on quality of life. Although nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the main first-line medications for the treatment of pain, long-term use often leads to side effects and drug addiction, which emphasizes the need to investigate alternative pain management strategies with fewer adverse effects. Complementary and alternative medicine is a viable pain intervention often used in conjunction with traditional medications, including acupuncture, herbs, moxibustion, transcutaneous electrical stimulation, bio-supplements, and acupressure, which offer non-pharmacological alternatives that are now viable pain management options. This review focuses on the mechanistic doctrine of migraine generation and the role and potential mechanisms of Complementary and Alternative Therapies (CAT) in the treatment of migraine, summarizes the research evidences for CAT as an adjunct or alternative to conventional therapies for migraine, and focuses on the potential of novel migraine therapies (calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists and pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) antagonists) with the aim of evaluating CAT therapies as adjunctive or alternative therapies to conventional migraine treatment, thereby providing a broader perspective on migraine management and the design of treatment programs for more effective pain management.

Inferior Ophthalmic Vein-Dominant Dural Cavernous Fistula Embolization via Combined Orbitotomy and Direct Puncture of Inferior Ophthalmic Vein: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Dural carotid-cavernous fistulas (DCF) typically drain into the superior ophthalmic vein. Predominant involvement of the inferior ophthalmic vein (IOV) is rare, with only 4 documented cases in the literature. Here, the authors describe a case of a 51-year-old man who presented with acute left-sided proptosis, dysmotility, and vision loss and was found to have an IOV-dominant type D dural carotid-cavernous fistulas. The fistula could not be embolized by transfemoral endovascular access or orbitotomy alone and was ultimately managed with combined orbitotomy and direct IOV puncture. All previous reports of IOV-dominant dural carotid-cavernous fistulas in the literature were similarly inaccessible via the transfemoral approach. This case highlights the challenges of IOV cutdown and proposes an alternative management strategy. When IOV cutdown is precluded by the fragile, collapsed, or deep nature of the vessel, conversion to percutaneous IOV puncture may offer a safe and effective approach and mitigate the risks of direct puncture alone.

Operational taxonomy of farmers' towards circular bioeconomy in regional level

The concept of the bioeconomy holds great promise for promoting green growth and competitiveness across Europe through the use of renewable biological resources, such as plant and animal biomass, while adhering to the principles of circularity. Despite its introduction by the European Commission in 2015, little effort has been made to define or describe what exactly a circular bioeconomy entails. In the case of Greece in particular, however, the survival of the region of Western Macedonia appears to be highly dependent on sustaining its agricultural activity by incorporating elements related to this crucial sector of the economy. In order for this agricultural transformation to be effective, bio-economic practices relevant to crop production and appropriate alternative management practices must be universally implemented at all levels. To achieve this, it was necessary to collect questionnaires from 412 farmers in the region for analysis purposes, and to classify their responses based on k-means cluster analysis, which later formed these systematic groups: modernists, early adopters and latecomers. Evaluation of these categories revealed a variety of factors, such as age and income, that significantly influenced their attitudes towards adopting bioeconomy farming practices and related circularity principles. Overall, understanding these challenges opens the door for policy decisions aimed at supporting the development of sustainable rural areas.

Economic and Social Impact of Huanglongbing on the Mexico Citrus Industry: A Review and Future Perspectives

The citrus industry is of great importance in Mexico, with an estimated production value of USD 2.4 billion and the potential to generate up to 28 million employees per year. Approximately 69,000 Mexican families depend on this sector. However, it is under serious threat from the disease known as Huanglongbing (HLB). The rapid spread of this disease has caused significant economic losses, impacted the livelihoods of citrus growers, and led to substantial job losses. Currently, HLB is not under control in Mexico, and as the management strategies applied have proven to be ineffective, yields have not been recovered to pre-HLB levels, and production costs have significantly increased. Therefore, it remains the most destructive citrus disease. This review paper describes the current situation of the disease, its economic and social impact, and the measures adopted for its management in Mexico. Future perspectives highlight advances in research based on new biotechnological tools as an eco-friendly management alternative. Practical suggestions to address HLB are also mentioned in our analysis.

Defining management strategies for acute severe ulcerative colitis using predictive models: a simulation-modeling study.

Robust management algorithms are required to reduce the residual risk of colectomy in acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) refractory to standard infliximab salvage therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance and benefits of alternative ASUC management strategies using simulated prediction models of varying accuracy. This was a simulation-based modeling study using a hypothetical cohort of 5,000 steroid-refractory ASUC patients receiving standard infliximab induction. Simulated predictive models were used to risk-stratify patients and escalate treatment in patients at high risk of failing standard infliximab induction. The main outcome of interest was colectomy by 3 months. The 3-month colectomy rate in the base scenario where all 5,000 patients received standard infliximab induction was 23%. The best-performing management strategy assigned high-risk patients to sequential Janus kinase inhibitor inhibition and mediumrisk patients to accelerated infliximab induction. Using a 90% area under the curve (AUC) prediction model and optimistic treatment efficacy assumptions, this strategy reduced the 3-month colectomy rate to 8% (65% residual risk reduction). Using an 80% AUC prediction model with only modest treatment efficacy assumptions, the 3-month colectomy rate was reduced to 15% (35% residual risk reduction). Overall management strategy efficacy was highly dependent on predictive model accuracy and underlying treatment efficacy assumptions. This is the first study to simulate predictive model-based management strategies in steroid-refractory ASUC and evaluate their effect on short-term colectomy rates. Future studies on predictive model development should incorporate simulation studies to better understand their expected benefit.

Developing onshore wind farms in Aotearoa New Zealand: carbon and energy footprints

ABSTRACT In recognition of deeper insights into the implications of wind farm deployments, this paper addresses the need for an updated Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for onshore wind generation systems, using 4.3 MW wind turbines and direct drive permanent magnet synchronous generators. The environmental and energy performances were estimated through an LCA for an onshore wind plant under construction in Aotearoa New Zealand with a total nameplate capacity of 176 MW. This study used real construction data showing literature data overestimates civil works and underestimates transportation contributions in the wind farm footprint. Further, different end-of-life management alternatives for turbine blades are analysed: landfill, mechanical recycling, and chemical recycling. The results indicate a carbon footprint of 10.8–9.7 gCO2eq/kWh, a greenhouse gas payback time of 1.5–1.7 years for avoided combined cycle gas turbines, and an energy payback time of 0.4–0.5 years, in which the chemical recycling of the blades is the lower emission solution overall. The outcomes underscore the environmental efficiency of onshore wind farms and their important role in the energy transition. Notably, the manufacturing of wind turbines is the primary contributor to the carbon and energy footprints, highlighting a critical area for targeted environmental mitigation strategies.

The beta pore-forming bacterial pesticidal protein Tpp78Aa1 is toxic to the Asian citrus psyllid vector of the citrus greening bacterium

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) Diaphorina citri transmits the causative agent of huanglongbing, or citrus greening disease, that has decimated global citrus production. Pesticidal proteins derived from bacteria such as Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) can provide effective and environmentally friendly alternatives for management of D. citri, but few with sufficient toxicity to D. citri have been identified. Here, we report on the toxicity of 14 Bt-derived pesticidal proteins from five different structural groups against D. citri. These proteins were selected based on previously reported toxicity to other hemipteran species and on pesticidal protein availability. Most of the proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified from inclusion bodies or His-tag affinity purification, while App6Aa2 was expressed in Bt and purified from spore/crystal mixtures. Pesticidal proteins were initially screened by feeding psyllids on a single dose, and lethal concentration (LC50) then determined for proteins with significantly greater mortality than the buffer control. The impact of CLas infection of D. citri on toxicity was assessed for selected proteins via topical feeding. The Bt protein Tpp78Aa1 was toxic to D. citri adults with an LC50 of approximately 204 µg/mL. Nymphs were more susceptible to Tpp78Aa1 than adults but no significant difference in susceptibility was observed between healthy and CLas-infected nymphs or adults. Tpp78Aa1 and other reported D. citri-active proteins may provide valuable tools for suppression of D. citri populations.

Evaluation of the effect of organic fertilizers on the morphophysiological parameters and antioxidant compounds of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.).

Objective: To evaluate the effect of organic fertilizers on the morphophysiological parameters and antioxidant compounds of Swiss chard (B. vulgaris L.) var. ‘Rainbow’ grown under greenhouse conditions. Design/Methodology/Approach: A completely randomized design was used with three treatments and 33 repetitions: T1 (poultry manure-based organic fertilizer (T1 AAC)), T2 (coffe pulp-based vermicompost (T2 LC)), and T3 (chemical fertilization (T3 FQ)). Plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, fresh biomass, dry biomass, chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, total polyphenols, DPPH, and yield were evaluated. An analysis of variance and Tukey’s test (α=0.05) were used. Results: For most of the variables evaluated, the best results were obtained with the poultry manure-based organic fertilizer (T1 AAC) treatment. The antioxidant compounds and the quality of Swiss chard were influenced by organic fertilizers, with 0.21 mg Eq. gallic acid g-1 fresh tissue (ft), total chlorophyll of 19.5 µg g-1 (ft), and a yield of 6,150 kg·m2. Study Limitations/Implications: The mineral content of this vegetable was not evaluated. Findings/Conclusions: The use of poultry manure-based organic fertilizers can be an alternative nutritional management for Swiss chard cultivation.

Three-dimensional printed custom-made modular talus prosthesis in patients with talus malignant tumor resection

BackgroundTalar malignant tumor is extremely rare. Currently, there are several alternative management options for talus malignant tumor including below-knee amputation, tibio-calcaneal arthrodesis, and homogenous bone transplant while their shortcomings limited the clinical application. Three-dimensional (3D) printed total talus prosthesis in talus lesion was reported as a useful method to reconstruct talus, however, most researches are case reports and its clinical effect remains unclear. Therefore, the current study was to explore the application of 3D printed custom-made modular prosthesis in talus malignant tumor.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the patients who received the 3D printed custom-made modular prosthesis treatment due to talus malignant tumor in our hospital from February 2016 to December 2021. The patient's clinical data such as oncology outcome, operation time, and volume of blood loss were recorded. The limb function was evaluated with the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society 93 (MSTS-93) score, The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score; the ankle joint ranges of motion as well as the leg length discrepancy were evaluated. Plain radiography and Tomosynthesis-Shimadzu Metal Artefact Reduction Technology (T-SMART) were used to evaluate the position of prosthesis and the osseointegration. Postoperative complications were recorded.ResultsThe average patients’ age and the follow-up period were respectively 31.5 ± 13.1 years; and 54.8 months (range 26–72). The medium operation time was 2.4 ± 0.5 h; the intraoperative blood loss was 131.7 ± 121.4 ml. The mean MSTS-93 and AOFAS score was 26.8 and 88.5 respectively. The average plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, varus, and valgus were 32.5, 9.2, 10.8, and 5.8 degree respectively. One patient had delayed postoperative wound healing. There was no leg length discrepancy observed in any patient and good osseointegration was observed on the interface between the bone and talus prosthesis in all subjects.ConclusionThe modular structure of the prosthesis developed in this study seems to be convenient for prosthesis implantation and screws distribution. And the combination of solid and porous structure improves the initial stability and promotes bone integration. Therefore, 3D printed custom-made modular talus prosthesis could be an alternative option for talus reconstruction in talus malignant tumor patients.

Developing agricultural pest management strategies with reduced-risks to surface water: An economic case study of California's Central Coast region

Pesticides are critical for protecting agricultural crops, but the off-site transport of these materials via spray drift and runoff poses risks to surface waters and aquatic life. California's Central Coast region is a major agricultural hub in the United States characterized by year-round production and intensive use of pesticides and other chemical inputs. As a result, the quality of many waterbodies in the region has been degraded. A recent regulatory program enacted by the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board set new pesticide limits for waterways and imposed enhanced enforcement mechanisms to help ensure that water quality targets are met by specific dates. This regulatory program, however, does not mandate specific changes to pest management programs. In this study, we evaluate the economic, environmental, and pest management impacts of adopting two alternative pest management programs with reduced risks to surface water: 1) replacing currently used insecticide active ingredients (AIs) that pose the greatest risk to surface water with lower-risk alternatives and 2) converting conventional arthropod pest management programs to organic ones. We utilize pesticide use and toxicity data from California's Department of Pesticide Regulation to develop our baseline and two alternative scenarios. We focus on three crop groups (cole crops, lettuce and strawberry) due to their economic importance to the Central Coast and use of high-risk AIs. For Scenario 1, we estimate that implementing the alternative program in the years 2017–2019 would have reduced annual net returns on average by $90.26 – $190.54/ha, depending on the crop. Increased material costs accounted for the greatest share of this effect (71.9%–95.6%). In contrast, Scenario 2 would have reduced annual net returns on average by $5,628.12 – $18,708.28/ha during the study period, with yield loss accounting for the greatest share (92.8–97.9%). Both alternative programs would have reduced the associated toxic units by at least 98.1% compared to the baseline scenario. Our analysis provides important guidance for policymakers and agricultural producers looking to achieve environmental protection goals while minimizing economic impacts.

Aerosol-PM2.5 Dynamics: in-situ and satellite observations under the influence of regional crop residue burning in post-monsoon over Delhi-NCR, India

The increasing air pollution in the urban atmosphere is adversely impacts the environment, climate and human health. The alarming degradation of air quality, atmospheric conditions, economy and human life due to air pollution needs significant in-depth studies to ascertain causes, contributions and impacts for developing and implementing an effective policy to combat these issues. This work lies in its multifaceted approach towards comprehensive understanding and mitigating severe pollution episodes in Delhi and its surrounding areas. We investigated the aerosol dynamics in the post-monsoon season (PMS) from 2019-2022 under the influence of both crop residue burning and meteorological conditions. The study involves a broad spectrum of factors, including PM2.5 concentrations, active fire events, and meteorological parameters, shedding light on previously unexplored studies. The average AOD550 (0.799) and PM2.5 concentration (140.12 μg/m³) were the highest in 2019. PM2.5 was higher from mid-October to mid-November each year, exceeding the WHO guideline of 15 μg/m³ (24 hours) by 27 to 34 times, signifying a public health emergency. A moderate to strong correlation between PM2.5 and AOD was found (r = 0.650) in 2021. The hotspot region accounts for almost 50% (2019), 47.51% (2020), 57.91% (2021) and 36.61% (2022) of the total fire events. A statistically significant negative non-linear correlation (r) was observed between wind speed (WS) and both AOD and PM2.5 concentration, influencing air quality over the region. HYSPLIT model and Windrose result show the movement of air masses predominated from the North and North-West direction during PMS. This study suggest to promotes strategies such as alternative waste management, encouraging modern agricultural practices in hot-spot regions, and enforcing strict emission norms for industries and vehicles to reducing air pollution and its detrimental effects on public health in the region and also highlights the need for future possibilities of research to attract the global attention.

A Combined Decision-Making Analysis Under Single-Valued Neutrosophic Set for Selecting Favorable Knowledge Management Strategy

The Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) are pivotal methods in multi-criteria decision-making, addressing causal relationships among criteria and ranking alternatives, respectively. This paper introduces a novel approach, integrating DEMATEL and TOPSIS under the framework of single-valued neutrosophic set (SVNS) to handle indeterminacy in decision-making. Applied to a knowledge management strategy case, the method utilizes eight criteria and four alternatives derived from the literature. The process involves DEMATEL for expert weight determination and direct-relation matrix creation through linguistic variable influence. Subsequently, TOPSIS is employed to rank alternatives based on distance measures. The combined method identifies the ‘Human Resource Department’ as the most crucial in knowledge management strategy. This integrated approach facilitates organizations in pinpointing vital criteria and alternatives for effective knowledge management. Comparative analyses with existing methods are also presented.

The Reaction of Rice Growth to the Arsenic Contamination under Various Irrigation Methods.

Several studies have explored how arsenic (As) is absorbed and transported in plants, but less attention has been paid to its impact on rice growth and yield in relation to water management. We aimed to assess how arsenic affects plant development under different irrigation methods. The growth and yield parameters of four rice varieties ('M 488', 'Janka', 'Szellő', and 'Nembo') in two greenhouse experiments were analyzed in 2021 and 2022 under different irrigation methods (flooded (F), intermittent (I), and aerobic (A)). Three different As concentrations were set up in the soil: 43 mg kg-1, 24 mg kg-1, and 4 mg kg-1. Our results showed that the high As treatment caused severe damage to the plants including leaf yellowing as well as reduced growth and decreased yield parameters. Alternative water management practices such as I and A irrigation could reduce the negative effects of As. At the high level of As stress (43 mg kg-1), the I irrigation had the most favorable effect on the yield of 'Janka' among the tested cultivars compared to the F irrigation (in F: 1.64 ± 1.13 g; in I: 5.45 ± 3.69 g). However, the use of fully aerobic conditions increased the likelihood of drought stress.

Controlling Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) Pest through the Use of Ginger, Garlic, and Chili Powder on Growing Mustasa Plant (June 2023)

Growing in popularity as a sustainable and eco-friendly method of food production is organic agriculture. Organic pesticides have come to light as alternatives to traditional chemical-based pesticides as a result of this trend. Moreover, organic pesticides offer a sustainable method of crop protection that is consistent with organic farming's guiding principles. Because of this, there is rising interest in researching alternative pest management strategies, such as using organic insecticides made from natural ingredients. Allium sativum (garlic), ginger (Gingiber officinale), and chile (capsicum spp.) are well known for their therapeutic and anti- fungal uses. Its potential as an efficient and environmentally friendly pest management method has recently come to light in research. This study was carried out with the intention of repelling and preventing infestations using organic materials in terms of leaves produce, crops yield, and plant survival. The researchers concluded that the level of effectiveness of the preferred concentration was 95% of ginger extract, 5% of garlic extract, and 5% of chili powder is effective with the weighted mean of 6 leaves produce and 30 bunches of crops yield and plant survival

Investigation of the effect of superabsorbent polymer application on soil moisture and plant growth

As climate change continues to affect the environment, drought management has become more critical in agri-food production. Farmers are now looking for alternative drought management methods that are easy to apply. In this sense, superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) were proposed as an alternative soil conditioning and drought management tool within this study. To test the efficiency of a developed SAP in terms of soil conditioning and plant growth promotion with different soil types and extreme drought conditions, long-term soil and greenhouse experiments were carried out in at least 4 replicates. The plant growth was monitored by 4 different growth indicators using wheat as a model plant. Plant growth indicators demonstrated that shoot dry matter, spike length, and grain yield were enhanced up to 24%, and 11.6% using different amounts of SAP at varying drought conditions. The study set forth and exemplary of superabsorbent polymer use in agriculture and useful in dose adjustment and understanding the drought-dose relationship in these types of polymers.

Could bacteriophages be used as a novel pest management tool to control gut endosymbionts in Western Flower Thrips?

Several species of Thysanoptera are considered agricultural pests, especially Frankliniella occidentalis (Western Flower Thrips, WFT). The damage WFT causes to plants can either be direct by feeding and oviposition activity or indirect by WFT serving as vectors for several plant viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Properties of WFT like polyphagy, cryptic lifestyle, fast reproduction and the ability to quickly develop insecticide resistance make them difficult to control. Alternative pest management tactics are thus in high demand. Potential targets are the facultative or obligate endosymbionts that affect the life history parameters of WFT. The known endosymbionts of WFT: BFo1/BFo2 (B = bacteria, Fo = Frankliniella occidentalis, number indicate different types) positively influence their fertility and development. Elimination of these endosymbionts could result in a decreased individual reproduction level and decreased population growth. Bacteriophages specific against BFo1/BFo2 were isolated and characterized and were applied in a no-choice feeding assay to female WFT. Antibiotic and sugar solutions served as controls. Phage-treated thrips showed no significant difference in survival, fecundity, oviposition rate or developmental time of the progeny compared to the control, whereas antibiotic treatment caused a decline in survival, fecundity, and oviposition rate, but not in the developmental time of offspring. The results showed a rapid decline of the bacteriophage concentration in the feed solution, which the WFT salivary gland products might cause. The complex relationship between thrips, endosymbionts and bacteriophages, needs further attention before bacteriophages could be used as potential management tools.

Early adopter insights on physical impact mill technology for harvest weed seed control in Canada

The evolution and spread of herbicide resistance among the weed community has increased interest in alternative weed management strategies such as harvest weed seed control. Western Canadian producers have begun adopting physical impact mills as an additional weed management strategy. A survey of early adopters of physical impact mill technology in Canada was conducted to better understand the motivations behind producers adopting, initial experiences, and research needs. Ten producers responded to the survey, accounting for 18 out of an estimated 30 impact mills in use in Canada, believed to be located primarily in the Canadian Prairies. These producers were mainly from larger farms (> 4,000 ha), equipped the majority of their combines (75% average) and used the mills in essentially all crops grown. The majority of respondents were located in Saskatchewan, with 2 mills being used in Alberta. Wild oat (60%) and kochia (50%) were the weeds most frequently mentioned as specific motivators of impact mill adoption. Average increased fuel cost from the mill was estimated at CAD $3.46 ha-1, with average annual maintenance costs of about $1,500 per impact mill. Producers relied on information from mill companies and other early-adopting farmers primarily, followed by extension talks and social media. Research needs were also identified by producers that could inform the future direction of harvest weed seed control research in Canada. Future research should focus on confirming efficacy, optimizing combine settings, and looking at integrated systems with precision agriculture technologies.

Biorational Fungicides to Manage Cucurbit Powdery Mildew on Winter Squash in New York

Cucurbit powdery mildew (CPM) is one of the most common foliar diseases of winter squash grown in New York. Conventional fungicides remain the primary method for managing CPM. However, increasing consumer demand for organic produce and concerns about both environmental safety and fungicide resistance development have driven research to identify alternative management strategies. Biorational fungicides, including biologicals, botanicals, and minerals, are increasingly available for certified organic production but are generally considered less effective at managing CPM than conventional products. Copper-containing pesticides approved for use in organic production are effective, but concerns about nontarget effects are driving exploration of alternative biorational solutions for CPM. Further research is warranted to validate and expand management strategies for organic cucurbit production. In this study, we evaluated 9 and 10 biorational fungicides to reduce CPM on winter squash in field trials in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The treatment that consistently and most effectively reduced disease severity was Kocide 3000-O (copper hydroxide) followed by Theia ( Bacillus subtilis) and Regalia plus Stargus ( Reynoutria sachalinensis plus B. amyloliquefaciens). The developmental product Curezin (copper zinc) and the adjuvant Dyne-Amic (alkylphenol ethoxylate) also significantly reduced disease compared with the untreated control in 2022. No differences in yield were observed in either year. We conclude that copper-based biorational fungicides most effectively managed CPM compared with other biological and botanical products evaluated, followed by Theia and Regalia plus Stargus. Knowledge gained from this study can inform current CPM management practices and the development of future tools for IPM strategies.