Control Of Crop Pests Research Articles

IoT-based system of prevention and control for crop diseases and insect pests.

Environmentally friendly technologies for the prevention and control of crop diseases and insect pests are important to reduce the use of chemical pesticides, improve the quality of agricultural products, protect the environment, and promote sustainable development of crop production. On the basis of Internet of Things (IoT) technology, we developed a prevention and control system for crop diseases and insect pests with two main components: a plant protection device (the hardware) and an information management system (the software). To be suitable for both facility- and field-based production scenarios, we incorporated two types of plant protection devices, utilizing ozone sterilization and light-trap technologies. The devices were equipped with various sensors to realize real-time collection and monitoring of data on the crop production environment. The information management system has an IoT-based architecture and includes a mobile device app to enable remote control of the plant protection devices for intelligent management of plant protection data. The system can achieve efficient management of large-scale equipment applications and multi-device collaborative work to prevent and control pests and diseases. The developed system has operated successfully for several years in China and has been applied to cucumber, tomato, rice, and other crops. We demonstrate the effectiveness and practicality of the system in a greenhouse facility and in the field.

Transgenic sugarcane for the sustainable management of the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis

The sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis is a major pest of sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) in the Americas. The insect is partially controlled by cultural, biological, and chemical methods but still causes significant economic losses to sugarcane growers and processors. Currently, one of the most efficient strategies for pest control in other crops is the use of transgenic plants harbouring genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which encode crystalline proteins (Cry and/or Vip) with insecticidal activity, known as Bt genes/proteins. In sugarcane, the expression of individual Bt proteins has been previously reported, but not the stacking of two or more Bt proteins. In this study, Bt genes were incorporated by microprojectile bombardment into embryogenic sugarcane calli of the clones TUC 95-10 and TUC 03-12. The presence of the transgenes in 33 transgenic lines was verified by using PCR assays. Subsequently, transgenic lines were acclimated and multiplied in the greenhouse to generate vegetative material for their phenotypic and molecular assessments. The expression levels of transcripts in candidate lines were quantified by real time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) assays. In conclusion, transgenic sugarcane lines with a higher level of expression of Bt transcripts compared with the control were developed. These promising lines will be used for future phenotypic tests to determine their resistance against D. saccharalis.

Biological Control of Pests in Major Tropical Vegetable Crops: A Review

India stands as a global agricultural powerhouse, employing over 60% of its population in farming and related sectors. Agriculture forms a significant pillar of the nation’s GDP, with vegetables being a cornerstone of its horticultural output. Despite advancements in vegetable production, the sector faces myriad challenges, including insect infestations, diseases and other biotic and abiotic factors that compromise yield and quality. This review article delves into the biological control of pests in key tropical vegetable crops like brinjal, tomato, chili, okra and cucurbits. It explores the use of biological control agents such as predators, parasitoids and pathogens as part of integrated pest management strategies aimed at reducing the dependency on synthetic pesticides. It provides an in-depth analysis of common pests such as whiteflies, aphids, mealybugs and thrips, as well as crop-specific pests like brinjal and bhendi shoot and fruit borers. The paper underscores the advantages of biological control, including its environmental sustainability and reduced risk of pest resistance, while also acknowledging its limitations such as slower pest elimination rates and higher costs. It calls for concerted efforts from governmental bodies, NGOs and agricultural institutes to promote awareness and training in biological control methods. The focus of the review is to advocate for a paradigm shift towards sustainable and effective pest management practices in India’s vegetable farming sector.

Production of biopesticide from Melia azedarach Linn extract obtained by supercritical fluid extraction for the control of Tetranychus urticae

Compounds derived from plant extracts, such as those from the fruits and leaves of Melia azedarach Linn (chinaberry tree), which contain azadirachtin, have been utilized for crop pest control. However, these natural compounds are susceptible to degradation during extraction and in field conditions. To address this, extraction processes involving supercritical fluid and microencapsulation via spray drying may be employed to obtain and preserve biopesticidal molecules. This study focuses on producing a biopesticide from M. azedarach L. fruit extract using supercritical CO2, and microencapsulation via spray drying with a blend of cheese whey and gum Arabic. The extract was obtained from chinaberry fruits rich in azadirachtin (736.92 μg/L) using supercritical CO2 at 250 bar and 50 °C for 120 min, with a yield of 3.44%. The extract was then encapsulated using cheese whey and gum Arabic (70:30) as encapsulating agents at extract:encapsulating agents ratios of 1:10 and 1:15. Mortality rates of Tetranychus urticae Koch adult females and their eggs, in contact and residual assays with both non-encapsulated and encapsulated extract, did not significantly differ (p > 0.05) from the commercial acaricide abamectin. This study introduces a potential new biopesticide that utilizes chinaberry extract obtained through supercritical CO2 extraction and encapsulation for industrial scale-up studies, and this approach holds promise for the production of an effective biopesticide for crops affected by two-spotted spider mites.

1-nonene plays an important role in the response of maize-aphid-ladybird tritrophic interactions to nitrogen.

Plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the key distress signals involved in tritrophic interactions, by which plants recruit predators to protect themselves from herbivores. However, the effect of nitrogen fertilization on VOCs that mediate tritrophic interactions remains largely unidentified. In this study, a maize (Zea mays)-aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi)-ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) tritrophic interaction model was constructed under high-nitrogen (HN) and low-nitrogen (LN) regimens. H. axyridis had a stronger tendency to be attracted by aphid-infested maize under HN conditions. Then, volatiles were collected and identified from maize leaves on which aphids had fed. All of the HN-induced volatiles (HNIVs) elicited an electroantennogram (EAG) response from H. axyridis. Of these HNIVs, 1-nonene was attractive to H. axyridis under simulated natural volatilization. Furthermore, our regression showed that the release of 1-nonene was positively correlated with H. axyridis visitation rates. Supplying 1-nonene to maize on which aphids had fed under LN enhanced attractiveness to H. axyridis. These results supported the conclusion that 1-nonene was the active compound that mediated the response to nitrogen in the tritrophic interaction. In addition, the 1-nonene synthesis pathway was hypothesized, and we found that the release of 1-nonene might be related to the presence of salicylic acid (SA) and abscisic acid (ABA). This research contributes to the development of novel environmentally friendly strategies to optimize nitrogen fertilizer application and to improve pest control in maize crops.

Bacteria-Based Double-Stranded RNA Production to Develop Cost-Effective RNA Interference Application for Insect Pest Management.

Since the discovery of the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism, it has been widely used in the fields of gene function, biomedicine, and crop pest control. In the direction of agricultural application, this technology is highly expected, especially in the field of pest control, which is called "the third revolution in the history of pesticides". Currently, RNA biopesticides are developing rapidly all over the world. A genetically modified product (MON87411) has been approved for marketing, and a large number of agricultural companies are developing products based on direct spraying RNA biopesticides and submitting them for regulatory approval. The biggest problem that has emerged for spray RNA biopesticides is the technology for large-scale and low-cost production of dsRNA. At present, the bacterial fermentation production technology can realize large-scale dsRNA production with a yield of 4.23~182mg/L bacterial solution. This article describes the experimental protocol for dsRNA production technology based on bacterial fermentation.

Can arctic seaweed extracts be used as biological nematicides against potato cyst-forming nematode?

The study was aimed on the assessment of extracts from two arctic brown seaweeds Ascophyllum nodosum and Laminaria digitata as biological nematicides against phytoparasitic nematodes. Potato cyst-forming nematode Globodera rostochiensis Woll. was used as test organism. Seaweed extracts were got from Arkhangelsk Seaweed Factory LLC. Extracts of A. nodosum and L. digitata have been experimentally shown to have nematicidal properties against the dangerous potato pest G. rostochiensis. The addition of seaweed extracts to potato root diffusates slowed down nematode juvenile hatching process, affected the contents of cysts, reducing the reproductive potential of the plant-parasitic nematode. Research highlights the perspectives of using seaweed extracts in nematode-infested fields for control crop pests.

Intercropping Maize-Faba Bean Reduced Yield and Economic Losses Caused by Busseola fusca (Fuller) in Semiarid Area.

Intercropping is an important practice for controlling crop pests in Ethiopia. However, there is a limited studies on the maize-faba bean intercropping benefits for controlling stemborer (Busseola fusca) pests. This study was carried out at Wukro Agricultural College, Tigray, Ethiopia, to investigate the effects of maize intercrops with two faba bean varieties (Gora and Moti) at three different population levels (25%, 50%, and 75%) of the recommended sole faba bean (250,000 plants ha-1) on infestation, density, and damage of stemborer on maize. The intercrops significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the stemborer infestation, density, and damage on maize over to the sole maize. Maize intercrops with the Gora faba bean variety at a density of 50% lowered the pest damage on maize cobs by 35% relative to the sole maize. The intercrop also reduced the grain yield and economic losses due to the pest by 48% and 53%, respectively, compared to the sole maize. The results recommended that maize intercropped with the Gora faba bean variety at a density of 50% could be used as an alternative farming against stemborer pest in the semiarid farming systems of northern Ethiopia.

Global stability of the interior equilibrium and the stability of Hopf bifurcating limit cycle in a model for crop pest control

&lt;p&gt;Mathematical modeling and analysis of a crop-pest interacting system helps us to understand the dynamical properties of the system such as stability, bifurcations and chaos. In this article, a predator-prey type mathematical model for pest control using bio-pesticides has been analysed to study the global stability property of the interior equilibrium point. Moreover, the occurrence and orbital stability of Hopf bifurcating limit cycle solutions have been studied using ref30's conditions. Analytical and numerical results show that the interior equilibrium of the pest control model is globally asymptotically stable. Also, Hopf bifurcating occurs when the bifurcation parameter crosses the critical value, and the bifurcating periodic solution is found to be stable.&lt;/p&gt;

Biocha Soil Amendment: Effect on Soil, Crop Performance, and Diseases Resistance

One of the main challenges facing developing countries is an ever-increasing gap between population growth and food supply. Diseases, insects, and weeds decrease the production of crops worldwide by 36%. Hence, control of crop pests contributes to increased crop production. Organic amendments to the soil have direct impacts on crop productivity and plant health as it enhances soil fertility, water, and nutrient retention and plant disease defense mechanisms. Biochar is an important organic amendment. It is produced by the pyrolysis process, whereby organic substances are broken down at higher temperatures in low oxygen conditions. Biohar improved soil nutrient availability and water retention capacity, and induced plant resistance against broad ranges of plant pathogenic organisms including fungi, nematodes, and bacteria. Biochar soil amendment also enhances root-associated microbes such as flavobacterium and arbuscular mycorrhizae. Biochar amendments can increase soil essential nutrients for crop productivity and suppress plant pathogens. Suppression of plant pathogens is attributed to the stimulation of beneficial soil microbes, providing nutrients, and inducing plant defense. The objectives of the review are to depict the importance of biochar soil amendment on crop performance, disease resistance, and soil properties.

Application of Indigenous Technological Knowledge (ITK) for Plant Disease Management in Tamil Nadu, India

Most of the farmers in our country highly depend on chemical pesticides and fungicides to control pests and diseases in agriculture and horticultural crops. Abundant usage of these pesticides in crop fields causes harmful effects to human beings as well as to other living organisms. The harmful effects of these chemicals brings the emergency call for ecofriendly and hazard free sustainable agriculture. Indigenous technological knowledge (ITK) originates from local, rural communities and it can play an important role in organic agriculture. The ITKs are eco-friendly and compatible with various agricultural management practices particularly pest and disease management. Application of ITK in crop management, contributing towards chemical residue-free agricultural products. The farmers of Tamil Nadu state in India profusely use the chemical pesticides and fungicides to control crop pests and diseases even though most districts in Tamil Nadu have their own ITK practices with respect to location specificity. Hence, an attempt has been made to document some of the significant and effective ITKs followed by the farmers in Tamil Nadu for the management of crop diseases. This paper contains an overview of Indigenous Knowledge in Plant diseases management to help researchers in the future.

Natural pesticides for pest control in agricultural crops: an alternative and eco-friendly method

Biological pesticides are pesticides derived from natural materials such as bacteria, plants, and minerals that are applied to crops to kill pests. Biopesticides are targeted, inexpensive, eco-friendly, sustainable, leave no trace, and are not associated with the production of greenhouse gases. It contributes significantly to the agricultural bio-economy's sustainability. The advantages to the ecosystem provided by many significant biological resources justify the incorporation of biopesticides in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. Through advancements in research and development, the use of biopesticides has significantly reduced environmental contamination. The development of biopesticides promotes agricultural modernization and will surely result in a gradual phase-out of chemical pesticides. Although synthetic pesticides have positive effects on crop yield and productivity, they also have some negative impacts on soil biodiversity, animals, aquatic life, and humans. In general, synthetic pesticides make the soil brittle, decrease soil respiration, and reduce the activity of some soil microorganisms, such as earthworms. Pesticide buildup in bodies of water can spread from aquatic life to animals including people, as their biomagnification can cause fatal diseases like cancer, kidney disease, rashes on the skin, diabetes, etc. Biopesticides, on the other hand, have surfaced and have proven to be quite beneficial in the management of pests and are safe for the environment and hence have emerged as very useful in the control of pests with a lot of merits. The present review provides a broad perspective on the different kinds of pesticides. We analyzed suitable and environmentally friendly ways to improve the acceptance and industrial application of microbial herbicides, phytopesticides, and nano biopesticides for plant nutrition, crop protection/yield, animal/human health promotion, as well as their potential integration into the integrated pest management system.

Indiscriminate use and inappropriate application of agrochemicals by smallholder farmers in Amhara Region, Ethiopia: Implications for sustainable beekeeping, crop and livestock production

This study was conducted to investigate the knowledge gaps regarding the use of agrochemicals by the farming communities in the Amhara Region, Ethiopia and its impact on beekeeping, crop and livestock production. The primary data were collected through household surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and researchers’ observations. A total of 540 farmers (270 beekeepers and 270 non-beekeepers) were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The survey data was analyzed using SPSS software version 21, while the qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis. The results revealed that beekeeping contributes significantly to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the Amhara Region, mainly through the provision of hive products for home consumption and income but also for pollination services. The trends in the past decade showed that honeybee colony holdings and hive productivity had decreased due to indiscriminate use of agrochemicals, among others. Both beekeeper and non-beekeeper farmers in the study areas have been using different types of agrochemicals to control crop pests, diseases and weeds, and in some areas farmers used herbicides to clear weeds from pastureland. Farmers also stated that they are already aware of the negative effects of agrochemicals on honeybees. Nevertheless, the applications of agrochemicals are continuing without attitudinal changes. The results also showed that farmers purchase agrochemicals from legal as well as illegal vendors without proper understanding of their safe use and the expiry dates. Farmers’ use of agrochemicals in violation of the technical recommendations on their proper applications; they ignore risks and safety instructions, use unsafe storage facilities, do not use protective devices when applying agrochemicals, and dispose of agrochemical containers unsafely. The findings demonstrated that apart from the direct effects on honeybees, indiscriminate and inappropriate application of agrochemicals even poses risks to the lives of farmers. Beekeepers, non-beekeepers and both crop and livestock experts revealed that nowadays IPM has not been used by farmers as an alternative to synthetic agrochemicals. Farmers are also unaware of the legal frameworks available to protect honeybees from the negative effects of agrochemicals, and they have not developed local bylaws that can be used by farming communities to protect honeybees from the negative effects of agrochemicals. The results also showed that the direct economic losses incurred due to the loss of honey bee colonies from the indiscriminate application of agrochemicals run into ETB 11,520,000.00 /USD422,133.00/. Thus, the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals has become one of the major threats to the development of beekeeping, crop and livestock production. Therefore, very strong actions are needed by concerned and responsible stakeholders to save the lives of honeybees. The interventions to reduce agrochemical exposure should be implemented through context-specific and integrated approaches.

Assessment of human safety risks from the use of plant protection products

Agriculture is a very serious sector in the life of mankind, with a history that goes back thousands of years, and we know from history that many wars have been fought to gain land in order to obtain better farmland. To meet the needs of growing societies and the increasing pressures that came with it, various technologies were adopted to increase both the quality and quantity of crops. Increasing attention has been paid to the control of crop pests, leading to the emergence of plant protection, which aims not only to kill crop pests but also to produce healthier products for human consumption and to prevent the spread of weeds and their destruction. In the course of our work, we have grouped pesticides by active substance. Knowledge of these groups is essential to assess the risks associated with each of these products and, after a detailed risk assessment of the spraying process, to make recommendations for risk reduction to address high unacceptable risks in order to make agricultural work safer for the use of pesticides.

Pathogen Eradication in Garlic in the Phytobiome Context: Should We Aim for Complete Cleaning?

Global food production is challenged by plant pathogens that cause significant crop losses. Fungi, bacteria, and viruses have long threatened sustainable and profitable agriculture. The danger is even higher in vegetatively propagated horticultural crops, such as garlic. Currently, quarantine, rouging infected plants, and control of natural vectors are used as the main means of disease and pest control in garlic crops. Agricultural biotechnology, meristem-tip culture, and cryotherapy offer solutions for virus eradication and for the multiplication of 'clean stocks', but at the same time, impact the symbiotic and beneficial components of the garlic microbiome. Our research involves the first metatranscriptomic analysis of the microbiome of garlic bulb tissue, PCR analyses, and a biological assay of endophytes and pathogens. We have demonstrated that in vitro sanitation methods, such as shoot tip culture or cryotherapy can alter the garlic microbiome. Shoot tip culture proved ineffective in virus elimination, but reduced bacterial load and eliminated fungal infections. Conversely, cryotherapy was efficient in virus eradication but demolished other components of the garlic microbiome. Garlic plants sanitized by cryotherapy exhibited a lower survival rate, and a longer in vitro regeneration period. The question arises whether total eradication of viruses, at the expense of other microflora, is necessary, or if a partial reduction in the pathogenic load would suffice for sanitized garlic production. We explore this question from both scientific and commercial perspectives.

Application of Anisotropic Gold Nanomaterials in Plasmonic Sensors for Detection of Glyphosate

The trend of using agrochemicals is increasing, especially glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH). The application of toxic chemicals as pest control in food crops carries a risk to human safety. Therefore, it is important to create a sensor for detection through Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) by utilizing anisotropic gold nanoparticles (AGN) to detect the presence of GBH contaminants in the form of malathion and temephos, with a detection level as low as three-part per million (ppm). AGN-based LSPR is successfully synthesized through an experimental technique using the Seed Mediated Growth Method (SMGM). The UV-Vis response showed two strong absorbances with a peak occurring around 500 to 600 nm, the peak within the transverse surface plasmon resonance range (t-SPR) corresponds to one aspect, while the peak within the spectral range extending from 700 nm to 900 nm corresponds to another aspect, namely Longitudinal Surface Plasmon Resonance (l-SPR). Anlysis of the FESEM photograph shows a structure consisting of two particles with different shapes, pentagonal pyramids and a bone shape. Pentagonal pyramids joined with a surface density of 64.43 ± 1,53 % and bone shape of 32,46 ± 1.53 %. This characterization shows strong and distinctive optical resonance in the near-infrared visible light spectrum, which is very suitable for LSPR sensors. It is necessary to fabricate an LSPR sensor device capable of detecting the presence of GBH by testing sensitivity, stability and repeatability. The sensitivity test results were evaluated by varying the synthesis time and concentration of contaminants in the AGN growth solution. It confirmed that the AGN-based LSPR sensor has a promising potential for GBH residue detection.

Both long-term grasslands and crop diversity are needed to limit pest and weed infestations in agricultural landscapes.

Increasing landscape heterogeneity has been suggested to be an important strategy to strengthen natural pest control in crops, especially through enhancing the amount of seminatural habitats. Increasing crop diversity is also a promising strategy to complement or replace seminatural habitat when seminatural habitat is scarce. However, their relative or possibly interactive effects on pest and weed infestation remain poorly investigated, and the role of different types of seminatural habitats has been understudied. Using an extensive sampling effort in 974 arable fields across 7 y, we evaluated the separate and interactive effects of crop diversity (seven arable crop types) and the amount of four types of seminatural habitats (meadows, hay, forests, and hedgerows) in the landscape on pest and weed control. Meadows and crop diversity, respectively, supported insect pest and weed control services in agricultural landscapes through a complementarity effect. Crop diversity increased weed seed predation rate (by 16%) and reduced weed infestation (by 6%), whereas long-term grasslands (to a much higher degree than hay or woody habitats) increased insect pest predation rates (by 23%) and reduced pest infestation (by 19%) in most arable crops. Our results demonstrate that diversification of the agricultural landscape requires long-term grasslands as well as improved crop diversity to ensure the delivery of efficient pest and weed control services.

Rationale for the Need for Additional Impact on the Hotbeds of Perennial Weeds When Spraying Against Crop Pests

The authors present the results of studies of hotbeds (clumps) of perennial weeds in the field and assess the effectiveness of the methods and techniques for pest control in row crops in weed hotbeds. The method of additional impact on the hotbeds of perennial weeds when spraying against crop pests is proposed.

Degradation of diazinon by dielectric barrier discharge plasma

Pesticides are chemical compounds widely used in crop pest control, ensuring high productivity and product quality control. However, pesticides are toxic and can be bioaccumulative, and their excessive use causes environmental and health impacts. In this study, the potential of atmospheric cold plasma to degrade diazinon present in water was investigated. For the degradation process, a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma system was used to process diazinon at a varying voltage (10, 15, and 20 kV), excitation frequency (200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 Hz), and exposure time (10, 20, and 30 min). The concentration of diazinon and the identification of the by-products were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrum (GC-MS). DBD plasma processing efficiently degraded diazinon, reaching a maximum degradation of 9.44 ± 0.09 mg/L, sufficient to bring diazinon-contaminated waters to safe levels. Analysis of variance indicated that increasing voltage and treatment time and low plasma excitation frequencies increased diazinon degradation. Two parallel degradation routes were proposed for diazinon degradation by cold plasma consisting of an oxidative desulphurization route and a hydrolytic route followed by a ring-opening reaction.

Impacts of landscape heterogeneity on bottom-up effects affecting biological control

Conservation biological control of crop pests by natural enemies relies on management strategies to favour their trophic interactions. In agricultural landscapes, natural enemies acting across habitat boundaries may feed on non-pest prey, resulting in apparent competition between non-pest prey and pests. Such communities, including pests, non-pest prey, and natural enemies have been shown to be affected by landscape heterogeneity depending on the dispersal capacity of the interacting organisms. Nonetheless, a mechanistic understanding of how natural enemies’ dispersal capacity interacts with landscape heterogeneity affecting conservation biological control is, however, lacking. Here, we contribute to such mechanistic understanding through modelling. We simulated the consequences of differences in landscape heterogeneity defined by the contrast of plant resource distribution in a semi-natural habitat compared to a crop and variation in natural enemy dispersal capacity on biological control of a pest. Our model showed that variation in plant resource distribution resulted in bottom-up effects that led to shifts in the dominant mechanism underlying biological control. At high landscape heterogeneity when resources differ strongly between crop and the semi-natural habitat, non-pest prey benefitted from the plant resources available, promoting apparent-competition-mediated biocontrol for high-dispersing natural enemies. At low landscape heterogeneity, pests benefitted mostly from plant resources available, promoting direct plant-pest-enemy mediated biocontrol. Interestingly, intermediate levels of landscape heterogeneity resulted in the lowest levels of biocontrol. Our results highlight the importance of potential bottom-up effects that the matching between plant resources available in a habitat and the resource preference of herbivores can induce on conservation biological control.