Crop Protection Research Articles

Efficacy assessment in crop protection: a tutorial on the use of Abbott’s formula

AbstractIn 1925, the American entomologist Walter Sidney Abbott proposed an equation for assessing efficacy, and it is still widely used today for analysing controlled experiments in crop protection and phytomedicine. Typically, this equation is applied to each experimental unit and the efficacy estimates thus obtained are then used in analysis of variance and least squares regression procedures. However, particularly regarding the common assumptions of homogeneity of variance and normality, this approach is often inaccurate. In this tutorial paper, we therefore revisit Abbott’s equation and outline an alternative route to analysis via generalized linear mixed models that can satisfactorily deal with these distributional issues. Nine examples from entomology, weed science and phytopathology, each with a different focus and methodological peculiarity, are used to illustrate the framework.

Strategic Model for Mangrove Forest Resource Management in Boalemo District, Gorontalo Province

Mangrove forest destruction in Boalemo Regency has increased significantly over the past decade. The condition of mangrove forests has been degraded due to the pressure of population growth, especially in coastal areas. Damage to mangrove forest resources is certainly very dangerous to the ecosystem of fisheries resources, biodiversity and destroys the stability of coastal forests that support the protection of inland and rural agricultural crops. The purpose of this research is to design a model of sustainable mangrove forest resource management strategy in Boalemo District, Gorontalo Province, so that it can be applied as a policy in improving and optimizing mangrove forest resource management efforts in Gorontalo Province. The method used is Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM). The results showed that there are thirteen sub-elements of program requirements needed to build the model, of the thirteen elements of program requirements there are no sub-elements that occupy quadrant I, in quadrant II there are two sub-elements and in quadrant III there are six sub-elements, in quadrant IV is occupied by five sub-elements which are key elements to build a mangrove forest resource management strategy model.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Activity of Silicon-Containing Carboxamide Fungicides.

Bioisosteric silicon replacement has proven to be a valuable strategy in the design of bioactive molecules for crop protection and drug development. Twenty-one novel carboxamides possessing a silicon-containing biphenyl moiety were synthesized and tested for their antifungal activity and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) enzymatic inhibitory activity. Among these novel succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs), compounds 3a, 3e, 4l, and 4o possessing appropriate clog P and topological polar surface area values showed excellent inhibitory effects against Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Botrytis cinerea, and Fusarium graminearum at 10 mg/L in vitro, and the EC50 values of 4l and 4o were 0.52 and 0.16 mg/L against R. solani and 0.066 and 0.054 mg/L against S. sclerotiorum, respectively, which were superior to those of Boscalid. Moreover, compound 3a demonstrated superior SDH enzymatic inhibitory activity (IC50 = 8.70 mg/L), exhibiting 2.54-fold the potency of Boscalid (IC50 = 22.09 mg/L). Docking results and scanning electron microscope experiments revealed similar mode of action between compound 3a and Boscalid. The new silicon-containing carboxamide 3a is a promising SDHI candidate that deserves further investigation.

Endocrine-Disrupting Effects of Transplacental and Translactational Exposure to Tembotrione on Hormone Status in Wistar Rat Offspring at Different Developmental Stages: A Pilot Study.

Green agronomy promotes the implementation of natural and naturally derived substances in crop protection. In the present study, we evaluated the endocrine-disrupting potential of the allelopathic herbicide tembotrione in Wistar rats by studying the hormone status of offspring from the treated dams. Three doses of tembotrione (0.0004, 0.0007, and 4.0 mg/kg b.w./day) have been administered to dams during gestation and/or lactation. In the serum of newborn, weaning, and pubertal female and male offspring, 17β-estradiol and testosterone were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A decrease in 17β-estradiol and testosterone was observed in female and male weaning and pubertal offspring exposed to all doses of tembotrione during gestation and lactation. In weaning offspring exposed only during lactation, 17β-estradiol dropped significantly after exposure to the two lower doses and testosterone after exposure to the lowest dose of tembotrione. The greatest effect was observed at the lowest dose of tembotrione. In newborns, we observed increased 17β-estradiol after exposure to two lower doses of tembotrione and significantly increased testosterone after exposure to the lowest dose. The highest dose of tembotrione decreased 17β-estradiol significantly in newborn females. The obtained results suggest that tembotrione might be considered a pro-estrogenic or estrogen agonistic compound under the exposure conditions applied in this investigation.

4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase Inhibitors: From Molecular Design to Synthesis.

Weed resistance is a critical issue in crop production. Among the known herbicides, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitors are crucial for addressing weed resistance. HPPD inhibitors constitute a pivotal aspect of contemporary crop protection strategies. The advantages of these herbicides are their broad weed spectrum, flexible application, and excellent compatibility with other herbicides. They also exhibit satisfactory crop selectivity and low toxicity and are environmentally friendly. An increasing number of new HPPD inhibitors have been designed by combining computer-aided drug design with conventional design approaches. Herein, the molecular design and structural features of innovative HPPD inhibitors are reviewed to guide the development of new HPPD inhibitors possessing an enhanced biological efficacy.

Discovery, Optimization, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Pyrazol-5-yl-phenoxybenzamide Derivatives as Potent Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitors.

The diphenyl ether molecular pharmacophore has played a significant role in the development of fungicidal compounds. In this study, a variety of pyrazol-5-yl-phenoxybenzamide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their potential to act as succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs). The bioassay results indicate certain compounds to display a remarkable and broad-spectrum in their antifungal activities. Notably, compound 12x exhibited significant in vitro activities against Valsa mali, Gaeumannomyces graminis, and Botrytis cinerea, with EC50 values of 0.52, 1.46, and 3.42 mg/L, respectively. These values were lower or comparable to those of Fluxapyroxad (EC50 = 12.5, 1.93, and 8.33 mg/L, respectively). Additionally, compound 12x showed promising antifungal activities against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (EC50 = 0.82 mg/L) and Rhizoctonia solani (EC50 = 1.86 mg/L), albeit lower than Fluxapyroxad (EC50 = 0.23 and 0.62 mg/L). Further in vivo experiments demonstrated compound 12x to possess effective protective antifungal activities against V. mali and S. sclerotiorum at a concentration of 100 mg/L, with inhibition rates of 66.7 and 89.3%, respectively. In comparison, Fluxapyroxad showed inhibition rates of 29.2 and 96.4% against V. mali and S. sclerotiorum, respectively. Molecular docking analysis revealed that compound 12x interacts with SDH through hydrogen bonding, π-cation, and π-π interactions, providing insights into the probable mechanism of action. Furthermore, compound 12x exhibited greater binding energy and SDH enzyme inhibitory activity than Fluxapyroxad (ΔGcal = -46.8 kcal/mol, IC50 = 1.22 mg/L, compared to ΔGcal = -41.1 kcal/mol, IC50 = 8.32 mg/L). Collectively, our results suggest that compound 12x could serve as a promising fungicidal lead compound for the development of more potent SDHIs for crop protection.

Sorted sample- wavelet feature clustering based on the range for classification of multiple nutrient deficiencies in tomato plants

The phenomenon of physiological change in plants hyperpolarizes membrane potentials showing a significant change in electrophysiology. For plants to survive, develop, and reproduce, the proper ratio of nutrients is required. Malnourished plants exhibit unfavorable changes in their physiology. Nutrient deficiencies are one of the primary abiotic stresses occurred in plants which are commonly identified and classified through various hyperspectral imaging, and pattern recognition methods. In contrast to image-based methods, in this paper, the electrophysiological signal data of tomato plants in multiple nutrient deficiency states are classified. These electrical signals of tomato plants are acquired in healthy and in deficient states of calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), nitrogen (N), and iron (Fe). The features are extracted by 7-level orthogonal wavelet decomposition using four different wavelets Daubechies (Db), Coiflet (Cf), Symlet (Sym), and Discrete Meyer (Dm). A novel range-based sorted sample clustering method is proposed to boost classification performance. Class assignment is performed in two modes homogeneous and non-homogeneous, where multi-class classification in non-homogeneous class assignment attained 99.4 % accuracy and in homogeneous class assignment a highest accuracy of 96.8 % is attained using the KNN classifier. Identifying nutrient deficiencies through electrophysiological signal analysis dominated the detection through imaging techniques, impacting a drastic change in crop protection practices.

A Comprehensive Review on Entomovectoring in Agroecosystem

Protecting beneficial arthropods is essential, as they provide crucial services beyond pollination, including disease and insect pest management. The combination of several ecosystem services for agricultural sustainability requires the recognition that biodiversity is coupled with bio-complexity, productivity, resilience, and ecosystem functionality. Insects such as bumblebees, mason bees, and honey bees have long been employed professionally for pollination, likewise microbial biocontrol agents are frequently employed in pest management. A key aspect of pollination ecology is entomovectoring technology that utilizes managed bees to disseminate biocontrol agents to flowering crops. This can enhance crop yields by providing non-chemical protection against pests and diseases as well as enhancing pollination efficiency. This technology is based on bee management, manipulation of bee behaviour, components of cropping system, plant-pathogen-vector-antagonist system which can be a trend-breaking pest management system in agriculture and will give double benefit to agriculture i.e. crop pollination and crop protection acting together for increased crop yield and quality.

Economic analysis of crop protection strategies: comparing the value of increased fungicide inputs and crop genetic improvement in managing Ascochyta blight in Australian chickpeas.

Genetic improvement of crop varieties requires significant investment. Therefore, varieties must be developed to suit a broad range of breeding targets, such as yield and suitability to rainfall zones, farm management practices and quality traits. In the case of breeding for disease resistance, breeders need to consider the value of genetic improvement relative to other disease management strategies and the dynamics of pathogen genetic and phenotypic diversity. This study uses a benefit-cost analysis framework to assess the economic value of fungicide management and crop genetic improvement in disease resistance for Australian chickpea varieties. When assessing the likelihood of growers switching to new crop varieties with improved genetic resistance to disease, the simulation results reveal that adopting these varieties yielded higher net benefit values compared to implementing current fungicide strategies across all rainfall zones. On average, the increase in net benefit varied between 2.6% and 3.5%. Conversely, when we examined the scenario involving modifying the current fungicide strategy, we observed that, on average, switching from the current fungicide management strategy to one which involved additional fungicides was beneficial in about 73% of the cases. Our analysis reveals the importance of factors such as commodity prices, production costs, disease-related variables and risk aversion in determining the economic benefits of adopting new crop protection strategies. Furthermore, the research reveals the need for accessible information and reliable data sources when evaluating the benefits of new agricultural technologies. This would assist growers in making informed and sustainable disease management decisions. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Toxicities of Desert Dates and Moringa Seeds Essential Oils on Helicoverpa armigera Hub (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Larvae under Laboratory conditions

Production of tomato, Solanum lycopersicum worldwide is being threatened by Helicoverpa armigera Hub., and farmers rely heavily on the use of costly hazardous synthetic insecticides for its management. The prime concern in increasing production of tomato is the obstacles posed by H. armigera and lack of sufficient understanding of available environmentally friendly control materials which are essential for the development of reliable integrated pest management strategies. The present study was conducted with the objectives of determining the toxicities of desert dates and moringa seed essential oils (EO) on the larvae of H. armigera. The two (2) EOs were obtained by distillation and evaporation techniques. Toxicity studies were conducted at the Entomology laboratory of the Department of Crop Protection, Bayero University Kano. Fruits and leaves of tomato plant were sprayed with different concentrations of 2%, 4% and 6% of the essential oil extracted from the plant and acetone was used as control, cypermethrin (synthetic insecticide) was used as a standard check. The treated plants parts were allowed to dry for 15 to 20 minutes under laboratory condition. Ten 3rd instar larvae of H. armigera were introduced into the container covered with muslin cloth and allowed to feed. Observation on larval mortality was made at 24, 48 and 72h post introduction. EOs composition was analysed using GC-MS for qualitative and quantitative determination of the biomolecules present. Results of the toxicity of the essential oils show both oils caused mortality of the larvae. The GC-MS analysis shows 1-Methylpentyl cyclopropane (Monoterpene) as the dominant compound in both essential oils. Two percent (2%) EO of balanites is recommended for application on both the fruits and leaves of the tomato plant to control H. amigera

Population Dynamics of Dysdercus volkeri F. (Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae) at Different Stages of Cotton Development in Northeastern Nigeria

Two-location field trials were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Crop Protection, Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola and at the School Farm Government Girls Secondary School Kaltungo, Gombe state, in 2022 cropping season. The study was carried out to determine the population dynamics of Dysdercus volkeri at different stages of cotton development in North-Eastern Nigeria. The experiments were laid-out using randomize complete block design (RCBD) and the treatments consisting of five cotton varieties (SAMCOT 8, SAMCOT 9, SAMCOT 10, SAMCOT 11, SAMCOT 12) were replicated four (4) times. The week that had the highest population of D. volkeri in a combined analysis was 18 Weeks After Sowing (WAS), 66.30 in Yola and 16WAS, 20.70 in Kaltungo, per 10 cotton plants. The least population of the insect in both locations was obtained on 12WAS with 27.70 in Yola and 12WAS with 2.83 in Kaltungo, per 10 cotton plants. SAMCOT 10 had the highest population of the insect in both location with 54.71 and 32.70 (per 10 cotton plants) with the least on SAMCOT 11 and 12 with a population of 37.17 and 7.57 (per 10 cotton plants). Boll maturation stage supported the highest population of D. volkeri at Yola and Kaltungo with 89.23, the least at the beginning of boll formation 48.34 in both locations

Design, synthesis and biological activity evaluation of eco-friendly rosin-based fungicides for sustainable crop protection.

Utilizing fungicides to protect crops from diseases is an effective method, and novel eco-friendly plant-derived fungicides with high efficiency and low toxicity are urgent requirements for sustainable crop protection. Two series of rosin-based fungicides (totally 35) were designed and synthesized. In vitro fungicidal activity revealed that Compound 6a (Co. 6a) effectively inhibited the growth of Valsa mali [median effective concentration (EC50) = 0.627 μg mL-1], and in vivo fungicidal activity suggested a significant protective efficacy of Co. 6a in protecting both apple branches (35.12% to 75.20%) and apples (75.86% to 90.82%). Quantum chemical calculations (via density functional theory) results indicated that the primary active site of Co. 6a lies in its amide structure. Mycelial morphology and physiology were investigated to elucidate the mode-of-action of Co. 6a, and suggested that Co. 6a produced significant cell membrane damage, accelerated electrolyte leakage, decreased succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) protein activity, and impaired physiological and biochemical functions, culminating in mycelial mortality. Molecular docking analysis revealed a robust binding energy (ΔE = -7.29 kcal mol-1) between Co. 6a and SDH. Subsequently, biosafety evaluations confirmed the environmentally-friendly nature of Co. 6a via the zebrafish model, yet toxicological results indicated that Co. 6a at median lethal concentration [LC50(96)] damaged the gills, liver and intestines of zebrafish. The above research offers a theoretical foundation for exploiting eco-friendly rosin-based fungicidal candidates in sustainable crop protection. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Peasant perception of beekeeping constraints and practices in large honey production areas in Burkina Faso

BackgroundIn recent decades, agricultural landscapes have been profoundly modified due to the intensification of agriculture, therefore leading to significant disturbances in all components of biodiversity. A survey on the knowledge of beekeeping realities and the use of phytosanitary products in areas of high honey production in Burkina Faso was carried out. Beekeeping realities design the state of beekeeping activities in the study localities.MethodsThe objective of this survey was to characterize Beekeeping operations and to assess the level of knowledge of beekeepers on the effects of the use of phytosanitary products through different beekeeping and agricultural practices. In this sense, 113 farmer beekeepers from the Boucle du Mouhoun, Hauts-Bassins and Nord regions in Burkina Faso were surveyed about their different beekeeping practices.ResultsThe results obtained indicated that beekeeping is a secondary activity (96.47%) and is mainly practiced by men (90.27%). The respondents have mostly an average of 22 traditional hives. The majority of beekeepers have not received training (84.07%) on the hazards of plant protection products on their beekeeping farms. However, a large amount of beekeepers (70.73%) acknowledged that the use of plant protection products could be harmful to their activity. Hives are usually installed in or near the fields. The plant protection products used for crop protection are herbicides (27%), insecticides (23%), fungicides (8%), but especially mixed (42%).ConclusionThe results show that beekeeping in Burkina Faso remains traditional and is practiced for sociocultural reasons. The use of pesticides close to beekeeping could play a role in bee colony collapse taking place in these regions. Training beekeepers on the dangers of the chemicals they use in fields near hives is therefore essential.

Search for sources of resistance to leaf diseases among present winter bread wheat varieties in the southern part of the Rostov region

The purpose of the current work was to search for sources of winter wheat varieties’ resistance to the most common pathogens of the area under artificial infectious backgrounds and recommend them for inclusion in the breeding process. The study was carried out on the experimental plots of the laboratory for plant immunity and protection of the FSBSI Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in 2021–2023. In order to expand the genetic diversity in immunity of newly developed varieties, it is necessary to use new sources of resistance. The objects of study were 78 winter wheat varieties from interstation variety testing, representing various breeding institutions in Russia and some foreign varieties. The study material was presented by the North Caucasian populations of pathogens of such wheat leaf diseases as powdery mildew, brown and yellow rust, and leaf spot (Septoria). Infectious backgrounds were formed according to generally accepted methods, using spore material of pathogens both stored and collected from crops in the previous year (types of rust) and collected from overwintered plants in the spring (powdery mildew, leaf spot). Weather conditions varied across the years of study (mainly in the autumn), but the damage to susceptible test varieties in the experiments was maximum. As a result of the study of the varieties on their resistance to one pathogen, there have been identified 23 varieties resistant to powdery mildew, 56 ones to leaf rust, 47 ones to yellow rust, 8 varieties to leaf spot. There has been given a characteristic of varieties according to various degree of resistance or susceptibility to each pathogen. On the resistance to two pathogens, there have been identified 17 varieties resistant to brown and yellow rust, 2 varieties resistant to brown rust and powdery mildew, 2 varieties resistant to yellow rust and powdery mildew, 1 variety resistant to brown rust and leaf spot. Ten varieties have shown resistance to no one pathogen, but they have had moderate resistance or moderate susceptibility to several other pathogens. 20 varieties were resistant to three diseases in various combinations, and 16 of them were resistant to brown, yellow rust, and powdery mildew. One variety ‘MV Nador’ from Hungary showed resistance to all 4 pathogens. All resistant varieties identified in the study can replenish the supply of winter wheat sources to the complex of leaf diseases for breeding purposes or be used in integrated crop protection against leaf diseases.

Development of an RNA Nanostructure for Effective Botrytis cinerea Control through Spray-Induced Gene Silencing without an Extra Nanocarrier.

Spray-induced gene silencing represents an eco-friendly approach for crop protection through the use of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to activate the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, thereby silencing crucial genes in pathogens. The major challenges associated with dsRNA are its limited stability and poor cellular uptake, necessitating repeated applications for effective crop protection. In this study, RNA nanoparticles (NPs) were proposed as effectors in plants and pathogens by inducing the RNAi pathway and silencing gene expression. RNA structural motifs, such as hairpin-loop, kissing-loop, and tetra-U motifs, were used to link multiple siRNAs into a long, single-stranded RNA (lssRNA). The lssRNA, synthesized in Escherichia coli, self-assembled into stable RNA nanostructures via local base pairing. Comparative analyses between dsRNA and RNA NPs revealed that the latter displayed superior efficacy in inhibiting spore germination and mycelial growth of Botrytis cinerea. Moreover, RNA NPs had a more robust protective effect on plants against B. cinerea than did dsRNA. In addition, RNA squares are processed into expected siRNA in plants, thereby inhibiting the expression of the target gene. These findings suggest the potential of RNA NPs for use in plant disease control by providing a more efficient and specific alternative to dsRNA without requiring nanocarriers.

Thermopriming Induces Time-Limited Tolerance to Salt Stress.

Implementing sustainable crop protection practices is crucial to protect global harvests and ensure high-quality food supplies. While priming is an established method in seed production for the fortification of plants against various stresses, it is not yet a standard practice in transplant cultivation. Thus, we evaluated the long-term effects of thermopriming-a heat-based priming technique-on the growth, development, and fruit yield of tomato plants. Following a recovery period of about six weeks for thermoprimed plants without stress inducers, we subjected them to subsequent salt stress to ascertain the persistence of the priming effects. Additionally, we compared the efficacy of thermopriming with benzothiadiazole (BTH), a chemical elicitor, in enhancing plant resilience to abiotic stress. While BTH application negatively impacted both plant growth and fruit health, thermopriming showed no such adverse effects on these parameters. Instead, thermopriming initially enhanced the plant defense mechanisms by increasing the accumulation of protective phenols and flavonoids in the leaves. Interestingly, while thermopriming did not alter the response to salt stress, it notably strengthened the overall resilience of the plants. Our findings underscore both the potential and temporal constraints of thermopriming memory. Nonetheless, primed plants exhibited temporarily increased stress tolerance, offering a means to safeguard the offspring.

Over 50 years of a field experiment on cropping systems in Bałcyny, Poland: Assessing pesticide residues in soil and crops from the perspective of their field application history

Many agricultural problems can be illustrated and solved through long-term field experiments. Since 1967, an experiment has been conducted in Bałcyny, Poland, to compare continuous cropping with growing crops in crop rotation. The experiment also provides information on the history of chemical crop protection, which may have influenced soil and crop contamination with pesticide residues. In this study, fields of winter rye in continuous cropping (CCrye) and a 5–6-field crop rotation (CRrye) were used as an example to investigate the occurrence of pesticides in soil and grain in the context of previous use of chemical crop protection products. Two levels of crop protection were also examined: herbicide (since the 1972/73 growing season) and fungicide (since 1982/83) application (HF) and control treatment (CT; no herbicides since 1972/73, no fungicides since 1982/83). Insecticides were used only when absolutely necessary. Between 1967 and 2019, 58 different active substances were applied to the fields selected for this study. Soil and grain samples collected in 2019 after rye harvest were analyzed for the presence of 441 and 496 different substances, respectively. Only DDT and its metabolites were detected in soil, even though DDT was not applied to the fields after 1967. The concentration of ΣDDT (sum of all metabolites and isomers) ranged from 038 to 130 µg kg–1 soil and exceeded the limit set in Poland (120 µg kg–1) under CRrye-HF treatment. In winter rye grain, no pesticide residues were found. The results show that long-term rational use of less persistent pesticides does not lead to contamination of the soil or the test cereal grain, but DDT continues to threaten the environment five decades after its probable last use. The study points to the value of comprehensive long-term recording for providing a retrospective assessment of pesticide exposure. Long-term field experiments facilitate this approach.

Classical and Molecular Methods of Identification as well as Estimating Nematodes: A Comparative Review

Changing climatic scenarios accompanied with harsh ecological conditions are forcing various groups of organisms to evolve and adapt in different dimensions. Predominantly in the field of agriculture and crop science, several categories of new pests along with diseases are emerging voraciously causing havoc and causing panic-stricken situations for the farmers. Among the pests, nematode is one of the unnoticed categories contributing significantly to economic loss to the farmers. Due to monotonous crop protection practices in some of the areas as well as drastic changes in the environmental factors, new species of nematode are evolving and attacking economically important crop species. For that, we have to understand the pattern of feeding, oviposition site, life cycle, host searching behaviour, parasitic stages and susceptible host stage for attacking in order to form proper management practices. For understanding its mechanisms and behaviour, our prime concern will be its identification and taxonomic classification by various conventional as well as molecular approaches. Molecular approaches are turning out to be a useful and vigorous tool for the identification of the phylum Nematoda replacing conventional ones.

Potato Berries as a Valuable Source of Compounds Potentially Applicable in Crop Protection and Pharmaceutical Sectors: A Review.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a major agricultural crop cultivated worldwide. To meet market demand, breeding programs focus on enhancing important agricultural traits such as disease resistance and improvement of tuber palatability. However, while potato tubers get a lot of attention from research, potato berries are mostly overlooked due to their level of toxicity and lack of usefulness for the food production sector. Generally, they remain unused in the production fields after harvesting the tuber. These berries are toxic due to high levels of glycoalkaloids, which might confer some interesting bioactivities. Berries of various solanaceous species contain bioactive secondary metabolites, suggesting that potato berries might contain similarly valuable metabolites. Therefore, possible applications of potato berries, e.g., in the protection of plants against pests and pathogens, as well as the medical exploitation of their anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and antifungal properties, are plausible. The presence of valuable compounds in potato berries could also contribute to the bioeconomy by providing a novel use for otherwise discarded agricultural side streams. Here we review the potential use of these berries for the extraction of compounds that can be exploited to produce pharmaceuticals and plant protection products.

Recent Advances in Design and Development of Diazole and Diazine Based Fungicides (2014-2023).

With fungal diseases posing a major threat to agricultural production, the application of fungicides to control related diseases is often considered necessary to ensure the world's food supply. The search for new bioactive agents has long been a priority in crop protection due to the continuous development of resistance against currently used types of active compounds. Heterocyclic compounds are an inseparable part of the core structures of numerous lead compounds, these rings constitute pharmacophores of a significant number of fungicides developed over the past decade by agrochemists. Among heterocycles, nitrogen-based compounds play an essential role. To date, diazole (imidazole and pyrazole) and diazine (pyrimidine, pyridazine, and pyrazine) derivatives make up an important series of synthetic fungicides. In recent years, many reports have been published on the design, synthesis, and study of the fungicidal activity of these scaffolds, but there was a lack of a comprehensive classified review on nitrogen-containing scaffolds. Regarding this issue, here we have reviewed the published articles on the fungicidal activity of the diazole and diazine families. In current review, we have classified the molecules synthesized so far based on the size of the ring.