Doses Of Pesticides Research Articles

Influence of Pre-sowing Seed Treatments with Botanical and Organics on Yield Attributing Traits and Seedling Parameters of Cluster Bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L) Variety: RGC1066

The current global scenario firmly emphasizes the need to enhance eco-friendly agriculture practices for sustainable agriculture. Chemical agriculture has made an adverse impact of the health care of not only soil but also the beneficial soil microbial communities and the plants cultivated in these soil. This eventually has led to a high demand of botanical and organic produce by the present day health conscious society and periodic attempts are being made by farmers all over the world to depollute. Application of heavy doses of chemical fertilizers and pesticides are being used by the farmers to get a better yield of various agricultural crops. These chemical fertilizers and pesticides decrease soil fertility and cause health problems to the consumers. The new approaches to the use of botanical and organic amendments in farming have proven to be effective means of improving soil structure, enhancing soil fertility and increasing crop yields. Botanical and organics play vital roles in increasing soil fertility and increasing yield. The study was designed to check the response of botanical and organics on yield and seedling quality parameters such as field emergence percent, plant height (30, 60, 90 DAS), days to 50% flowering, number branches per plant, number of pods per plant, number of clusters per plant, days to maturity, seed yield per plant, seed yield per plot, harvest index, germination percentage, speed of germination, root length, shoot length, seedling length, seedling dry weight, seedling fresh weight, seedling growth rate, root: shoot ratio, seed metabolic efficiency, mobilization efficiency, vigour index-I, vigour index-II, electrical conductivity. For this experiment the seeds of RGC1066 variety collected from department of genetics and plant breeding, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj during 2021-2022, to find out the influence of pre-sowing seed treatments with botanical and organics, seeds treated with panchagavya, beejamruth, jeevamruth, neem leaf extract and vermiwash at different concentrations viz 2, 3, 5, and 10% for 12hours along with control (no treatment). It is found that all treatments showed improved performance than untreated seeds, but it was observed that seeds treated with panchagavya@10% for 12 hours performed better in comparison to other treatments. This study can be helpful to reach new horizons of research in the field of sustainable agriculture, natural resource conservation and seed technology to overcome the germination problem and improve crop growth and yield eventually.

The Shallot Growth and Yield from True Shallot Seed using Biochar, Compost, and Organic Pesticide in Wanasari, Brebes Regency

The practice of environmentally friendly shallot cultivation is nowadays widely applied by farmers, beside reducing environmental contamination and producing agricultural products that are safe for consumption, it can also increase shallot production. This study aimed to determine the effect of biochar, compost, and organic pesticides on the growth and yield of shallot, and the activity of microorganisms in the soil. The study was conducted in Klampok Village, Wanasari, Brebes Regency from January to July 2020 using a complete randomized block design with nine treatments which were a combination of biochar, compost, organic pesticides, recommended dose of pesticides, and farmers’ dose of pesticides. The shallot seed used was the Bima Brebes variety. Soil characteristics, compost nutrient contents, plant growth, shallot yield, and total soil bacteria population were measured. The study showed that the yield of shallot was 16.7 tons/ha obtained from adding compost and recommended doses of pesticides. The treatment of biochar, compost, and organic pesticides, although it has not been able to increase the growth and yield of shallot, it can be applied for shallot cultivation as it can increase the total bacterial population of soil, reduce the use of chemical pesticides, reduce production input costs, and environmentally friendly.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF HEXACOPTER UAV (ANGRAU- PUSHPAK) SPRAYING FOR MANAGEMENT OF CHILLI THRIPS (Thrips parvispinus)

The study aimed at evaluating efficacy of UAV spraying in managing invasive thrips, Thrips parvispinus on chilli. The experiment was conducted at operational research project (ORP) site at Lam village of Guntur district during kharif 2022-23 with restricted randomized block design. The recommended doses of pesticides issued by Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee(CIB&RC), GoI, New Delhi were adapted. The treatments imposed were of 100%, 75% and 50% RDP with UAV and 100% RDP with human backpack sprayer and a control plot with only water spraying with drone for asserting the efficacy of drone spraying when sprayed at low volume spraying (25 L ha-1).The first spray to control thrips was carried out 112 DAS (Days After Sowing) with a spinetoram 11.7% SC on with analysis of pre and post spraying (5 days after spraying) results showed that the bio-efficacy when sprayed with 100% RDP (T1), 75% RDP(T2), 50% RDP (T3) with drone and 100% RDP with human back pack sprayer (T4) and control(T5)reduced number of thrips per flower from 7.57 to 5.8, 7.55 to 6.40, 7.55 to 10.22, 8.05 to 8.22, 8.05 to 12.95, respectively with a percent reduction over control of 50.75, 46.19, 23.65 and 36.57, respectively. The second spray was carried out at 119 DAS with Flubendiamide 19.92% +Thiacloprid 19.92% SC. The pre and post spraying (5 days after spraying) data analysis revealed that the reduction of thrips per flower over control in T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 to 7.37, 8.32, 12.12, 10.25 and 16.03 and the percent reduction over control in T1, T2, T3 and T4 are 52.22%, 44.88%, 24.29% and 36.78%, respectively. The third spray with Fipronil 80% WG was carried out at 126 DAS and the pre and post spraying data analysis revealed that the number of thrips per flower are 5.27, 6.47, 10.55, 8.05 and 16.83 with a percent reduction over control of 68.83, 62.34, 22.08 and 38.96, respectively. The fourth spray was carried out at 133 DAS with spirotetramat 25.31% w/w OD and the pre and post spray data analysis revealed that the number of thrips per flower are of 5.12, 5.75, 9.5, 8.5 and 18.22 in T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 and the percent reduction over control in T1, T2, T3 and T4 are 66.59, 61.68, 40.89 and 46.92, respectively. During the four sprays, it was observed that in all treatments, there was no phytotoxicity due to these chemicals spraying and the NDVI values recorded were 0.77, 0.76, 0.64, 0.72 and 0.34, respectively in the treatments T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5. The yields recorded were found to be 58.6, 55.2, 34.5, 53.8 and 14.1 q ha-1. The incremental cost-benefit ratio (ICBR) was found to be highest (4.46) in 75% RDP spray with drone, when compared to 3.58 in 100% RDP, 2.82 in 50% RDP and 2.98 in 100%RDP with human backpack sprayer respectively. The bio-efficacy of all the chemicals revealed that 100% RDP and 75% RDP sprayed with drone are on par with each other, which offers an opportunity to reduce the dosage by25% if sprayed with drone for the same bio-efficacy with highest ICBR.

Risk Factors for Pesticide Poisoning in Horticultural Farmers in the Agricultural Area of West Seram Regency, Indonesia

Background: In the field of environmental health, pesticide poisoning is still an important health problem in agricultural areas, especially horticultural agriculture, as a result of the risky habit of using pesticides. This study aimed to analyse the risk factors for poisoning in horticultural farmers in West Seram District, Indonesia. Methodology: This study applied a cross-sectional design, involving 298 farmers selected by proportional random sampling technique. The risk factors studied included tenure, the use of personal protective equipment, duration of spraying, frequency of spraying, number of types of pesticides, method of mixing, direction of spraying, and dose of pesticides, smoking while spraying, washing hands when eating, drinking while spraying, spraying time and personal hygiene. Data were collected through interviews, then analyzed using multiple logistic regression test. Results: The results showed that the p-value for each factor was use of personal protective equipment = 0.025, frequency of spraying = 0.023, method of mixing pesticides = 0.004, direction of spraying = 0.017 and personal hygiene = 0.002. Conclusions: It could be concluded that the use of personal protective equipment, personal hygiene, frequency of spraying, method of mixing and spraying direction are risk factors for pesticide poisoning in horticultural farmers.

Assessing phytotoxicity and cyto-genotoxicity of two insecticides using a battery of in-vitro biological assays.

Intensive use of chemical pesticides in agriculture poses environmental risks and may have negative impacts on agricultural productivity. The potential phytotoxicity of two chemical pesticides, chlorpyrifos (CPS) and fensulfothion (FSN), were evaluated using Cicer arietinum and Allium cepa as model crops. Different concentrations (0-100 μgmL-1) of both CPS and FSN decreased germination and biological attributes of C. arietinum. High pesticide doses significantly (p≤0.05) caused membrane damage by producing thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and increasing proline (Pro) content. Pesticides elevated ROS levels and substantially increased the superoxide anions and H2O2 concentrations, thus aggravating cell injury. Plants exposed to high pesticide dosages displayed significantly higher antioxidant levels to combat pesticide-induced oxidative stress. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased by 48%, 93%, 71%, 52% and 94%, respectively, in C. arietinum roots exposed to 100 µgFSNmL-1. Under CLSM, pesticide-exposed C. arietinum and 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (2'7'-DCF) and 3,3'-diaminobenzidine stained roots exhibited increased ROS production in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, enhanced Rhodamine 123 (Rhd 123) and Evan's blue fluorescence in roots, as well as changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and cellular apoptosis, were both associated with high pesticide dose. Allium cepa chromosomal aberration (CAs) assay showed a clear reduction in mitotic index (MI) and numerous chromosomal anomalies in root meristematic cells. Additionally, a-dose-dependent increase in DNA damage in root meristematic cells of A. cepa and conversion of the super-coiled form of DNA to open circular in pBR322 plasmid revealed the genotoxic potential of pesticides. The application of CPS and FSN suggests phytotoxic and cyto-genotoxic effects that emphasize the importance of careful monitoring of current pesticide level in soil before application and addition at optimal levels to soil-plant system. It is appropriate to prepare both target-specific and slow-release agrochemical formulations for crop protection with concurrent safeguarding of agroecosystems.

Amphiphilic Copolymer-based Pesticide Nanoformulations for Better Crop Protection: Advances and Future Need

Abstract: Amphiphilic copolymers (ACPs) are widely recognized due to their self-organizing micellar characteristics in an aqueous medium and their extensive application potential in bioactive molecule delivery. However, their use in agriculture is still limited with some scattered research studies, especially on the delivery of pesticides for crop protection. Hence, the present study comprehensively summarizes these research findings mainly focusing on synthesis, selfassembly, and release properties of pesticide nanoformulations prepared using poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based ACPs. PEG-based ACPs are synthesized using linker molecules through a simple esterification reaction in the presence of an acid catalyst or an enzyme. However, multistep reactions are noticed in the synthesis of ACPs employing biopolymers, like chitosan-based ACPs. On spontaneous emulsification, ACPs develop nanomicelles (~10-300 nm), and their micellar characteristics are highly dependent on the nature of the blocks. The polymeric micellar barrier of ACPs also leads to the slow release of entrapped pesticide molecules from these nanomicelles with diffusion as the dominant release mechanism. Hence, the field appraisal of these ACPs-based pesticide nanoformulations has shown reduced pesticide doses as compared to the conventional formulations. However, despite these stated advantages, ACPs-based pesticide nanoformulations are yet to reach their full potential, which might be due to several key researchable gaps, like a lack of ACPs with high pesticide loading capacity, lack of biosafety data, environmental fate details, etc. The use of ACPs is still gaining pace in formulating pesticides and being proven as a smart material for targeted pesticide delivery to attain sustainable agriculture with a promise to reduce environmental hazards due to pesticide application.

The Protective Role of Oleuropein Aglycone against Pesticide-Induced Toxicity in a Human Keratinocytes Cell Model.

The extensive use of agricultural pesticides to improve crop quality and yield significantly increased the risk to the public of exposure to small but repeated doses of pesticides over time through various routes, including skin, by increasing the risk of disease outbreaks. Although much work was conducted to reduce the use of pesticides in agriculture, little attention was paid to prevention, which could reduce the toxicity of pesticide exposure by reducing its impact on human health. Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), a major component of the Mediterranean diet, exerts numerous health-promoting properties, many of which are attributed to oleuropein aglycone (OleA), the deglycosylated form of oleuropein, which is the main polyphenolic component of EVOO. In this work, three pesticides with different physicochemical and biological properties, namely oxadiazon (OXA), imidacloprid (IMID), and glyphosate (GLYPHO), were compared in terms of metabolic activity, mitochondrial function and epigenetic modulation in an in vitro cellular model of human HaCaT keratinocytes to mimic the pathway of dermal exposure. The potential protective effect of OleA against pesticide-induced cellular toxicity was then evaluated in a cell pre-treatment condition. This study showed that sub-lethal doses of OXA and IMID reduced the metabolic activity and mitochondrial functionality of HaCaT cells by inducing oxidative stress and altering intracellular calcium flux and caused epigenetic modification by reducing histone acetylation H3 and H4. GLYPHO, on the other hand, showed no evidence of cellular toxicity at the doses tested. Pretreatment of cells with OleA was able to protect cells from the damaging effects of the pesticides OXA and IMID by maintaining metabolic activity and mitochondrial function at a controlled level and preventing acetylation reduction, particularly of histone H3. In conclusion, the bioactive properties of OleA reported here could be of great pharmaceutical and health interest, as they could be further studied to design new formulations for the prevention of toxicity from exposure to pesticide use.

Time-dependent mortality and behavioral response of Odontotermes obesus (Blattodea: Termitidae) against different dose rates of pesticides for sustainable forest management

Termites have become a global concern, and their effective management has remained a challenge since time immemorial. Certain microbial and botanical agents have been used for their management, but their efficacy has been compromised, particularly in field conditions. Hence, the current study was designed to check the efficacy of low doses of different pesticides, such as chlorpyrifos, fipronil, bifenthrin, and chlorantraniliprole, against mortality and behavioral responses of Odontotermes obesus at two different temperatures (16 ± 1 and 26 ± 1°C). The discrete behavioral symptoms included intoxication, ataxia, moribundity, and death. Laboratory-maintained termite workers were exposed to different concentrations of pesticides through a filter paper bioassay. All tested pesticides and their concentrations differed significantly regarding their lethal time (LT50) values compared to the mortality of termite workers. Moreover, the LT50 values of pesticides gradually decreased with increased pesticidal concentrations. Temperature also had a significant effect on the efficacy of tested pesticides as all pesticides showed better results at higher temperatures. At both tested temperatures, chlorantraniliprole (5 ppm) proved to be the most effective pesticide against termite workers. Similarly, the behavioral symptoms also varied depending on pesticides and their administered concentrations and existed for a relatively longer time span at lower temperatures. In most cases, the order of responses was moribundity, followed by intoxication and ataxia. Moribundity and intoxication were the most frequently observed symptoms for chlorpyriphos and bifenthrin-treated termite workers. In the case of fipronil, intoxication was the most pronounced symptom. Similarly, the maximum value of ataxia was recorded in the case of chlorantraniliprole. However, moribund symptoms lasted longer in all tested concentrations of chlorantraniliprole, followed by ataxia and intoxication. The overall order of toxicity was chlorantraniliprole > bifenthrin > fipronil > chlorpyrifos. These pesticides, at their low doses, did not exhibit any repellent action and were not detected by the foraging termite workers. Moreover, their slow action mechanism makes them a suitable candidate for infecting whole colonies away from treated surfaces. Therefore, these pesticides can be successfully incorporated into different integrated termite management programs to keep the plantation free from threatening underground pests.

Acute effects of malathion 57 EC pesticides on the histology, and blood cell structure of Silver barb (Barbonymus gonionotus) in the South-west region of Bangladesh

Pesticides used in agriculture that wash off have a detrimental effect on freshwater fish in Bangladesh. The purpose of this research is to assess the effects of the organophosphate insecticide Malathion 57 EC on the silver barb (Barbonymus gonionotus). The effects of Malathion 57 EC at dosages of 0.001 and 0.005 ppm, respectively, were assessed using a histological bio-assay of the gill, liver, kidney, and RBC count of B. gonionotus. For B. gonionotus, the LC50 value of Malathion 57 EC was estimated to be 0.08 ppm. The notable alterations included gill clubbing, missing gill lamellae, hyperplasia, nuclear hypertrophy, vacuolation, glomerular enlargement, increasing the width of renal tubules, bleeding, necrosis, and pyknosis were found in the histological analysis. Large lymphocytes, dead cells, tear-shaped cells, a fusion of cells, binucleated cells, ghost cells, senile cells, and irregular cell shapes were among the abnormalities detected in peripheral nuclear erythrocytes. In B. gonionotus, the RBC count was considerably lower (P<0.01) at lower pesticide doses compared to higher ones. The outcome of the study shows that the organophosphorus pesticide has a negative impact on the histology and haematology of various organs in B. gonionotus. Res. Agric. Livest. Fish. Vol. 10, No. 2, August 2023: 207-218

Design and experiment of a binocular vision-based canopy volume extraction system for precision pesticide application by UAVs

When unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are used for orchard chemicals application, accurate measurement of the canopy volume can provide decision support for determining pesticide dosages, flight parameters, and droplet sizes. Using binocular camera ranging, this study presents a novel canopy segmentation algorithm that preprocesses light detection ranging data to extract sub-grid canopy volumes. A binocular vision-based canopy volume extraction system for UAV chemical application was developed. The system utilizes multi-degree-of-freedom adaptive balance technology to ensure that the binocular camera can still vertically detect the canopy even when the flight attitude changes. Performance experiments were conducted using artificial fruit trees with different leaf densities and regular cardboard box as measurement targets. The canopy volume measurements indicate that the new model accurately detects target contours. When flying at 2 m/s, the maximum errors between system-measured and actual volumes were 6.58 and 9.37 % for the rectangular and triangular, respectively. Increasing speeds and attitudes lead to increased errors and measurement variations. However, the position of the system relative to the target does not cause significant differences in results. The maximum measurement errors between system-measured and actual LiDAR values were 6.44 and 9.17 % for high- and low-density canopies, respectively. These results demonstrate that the proposed system has high measurement accuracy and provides a reliable precision UAV pesticide-spraying control system for plant protection based on real-time canopy detection.

Evaluation of the droplet deposition and control effect of a special adjuvant for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sprayers.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sprayers have been widely used in agriculture. With the goals of using pesticides efficiently and reducing their dosage, we evaluated the effects of adding and not adding special adjuvants to UAV sprayers on droplet deposition and the control effect of leaf folder insects. The deposition quantity and coverage area of UAV sprayers with the Kao Adjuvant A-200® on rice leaves were better than those without the Kao Adjuvant A-200®. Regarding the control effect on rice leaf rollers, UAV sprayers with the Kao Adjuvant A-200® were also better, and they also met the pesticide residue limit for brown rice. Kao Adjuvant A-200® can improve the UAV sprayer's droplet deposition and pest control effect. When the pesticide dosage was reduced by 30%, UAV sprayers with Kao Adjuvant A-200® can achieve a good control effect, which is very helpful in reducing the pesticide dosage.

A New Approach for Detecting Sublethal Effects of Neonicotinoids on Bumblebees Using Optical Sensor Technology.

Among insects, bees are important pollinators, providing many vital ecosystem services. The recent pollinator decline is threatening both their diversity and abundance. One of the main drivers of this decline is the extensive use of pesticides. Neonicotinoids, one of the most popular groups of pesticides, can be toxic to bees. In fact, numerous studies have found that neonicotinoids can cause sublethal effects, which can impair the biology, physiology, and colony survival of the bees. Yet, there are still knowledge gaps, and more research is needed to better understand the interaction between neonicotinoids and bees, especially in the field. A new optical sensor, which can automatically identify flying insects using machine learning, has been created to continuously monitor insect activity in the field. This study investigated the potential use of this sensor as a tool for monitoring the sublethal effects of pesticides on bumblebees. Bombus terrestris workers were orally exposed to field-realistic doses of imidacloprid. Two types of exposures were tested: acute and chronic. The flight activity of pesticide-exposed and non-exposed bumblebees was recorded, and the events of the insect flights recorded by the sensor were used in two ways: to extract the values of the wingbeat frequency and to train machine learning models. The results showed that the trained model was able to recognize differences between the events created by pesticide-exposed bumblebees and the control bumblebees. This study demonstrates the possibility of the optical sensor for use as a tool to monitor bees that have been exposed to sublethal doses of pesticides. The optical sensor can provide data that could be helpful in managing and, ideally, mitigating the decline of pollinators from one of their most major threats, pesticides.

The histological effects of different doses of methidathion pesticide on the lungs of Mus musculus mice

The current study investigated the effect of two doses of the organophosphorous pesticide methidathion on the lungs of laboratory mice Mus musculus L. The animals were divided into three equal groups: the first group represented the control group injected through the intraperitonial membrane with 0.1 ml of normal saline, and the second and third groups were injected with 0.1 ml of methcathinone solution at a concentration of (1.2, 2.4 mg/kg) respectively. The histological study of the lung of groups treated with methadone showed the presence of histological changes in the low-dose group represented by hyperplasia represented by the enlargement and swelling of the lining of the alveoli and the narrowing of its cavities as well as congestion, bleeding and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Whereas the second treated group showed more histological changes in lung composition, represented by the infiltration of inflammatory cells near the respiratory channels and around the walls of blood vessels that appeared congested with blood, edema and bleeding between the alveoli were noted. Key Words: Lung, Histological changes, Organophosphorous methidathion pesticide.

A method to optimize the pesticide dose considering the combined influence of plant, pest, pesticide, and spray equipment on bioefficacy

Aim of the study: To develop a method to optimize the pesticide dose considering the combined influence of plant, pest, pesticide, and spray equipment on bioefficacy. Area of study: Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India. Material and methods: A controlled droplet applicator generated droplets from 200 to 50 μm. The target leaf's deposition density of a preset droplet size can be controlled by timing the spray. A sequence of bioassays was performed at various droplet densities at each pesticide (imidachloprid 17.8% SL) dose and droplet size to determine the mortality of cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii) and jassids (Amrasca biguttula) feeding on immature cotton plants. Calculating the number of droplets per target area needed to cause 50% and 90% mortality (LN50 and LN90) yielded a series of model curves. Field tests were done on the computed optimal doses of the pesticide for a spray apparatus (electrostatically charged spray) to assess the spray's bioefficacy against A. gossypii and A. biguttula. Main results: In comparison to uncharged mist blower spray, which had a bioefficacy of 91% for an LN90 dose of 110 g a.i. L-1, the spray had an 89% bioefficacy on A. gossypii. Using the electrostatic spray, it was 91% effective against A. biguttula and 98% effective against an uncharged mist blower at a dose of 110 g a.i. L-1 of LN90. Research highlights: This generalized method of modelling could effectively compute the optimal pesticide dose for any plant, pest, pesticide, and spray equipment combination.

A study on the pesticides-loading capacity of dendritic fibrous nano silica synthesized from 1-pentanol-water microemulsion with a low oil-water ratio.

Dendritic fibrous nano silica (DFNS) represents an optimal carrier material for pesticide constituents, due to its radial accessibility channels and high specific surface area. A low-energy methodology for synthesizing DFNS at a low volume ratio of oil to water is provided by employing 1-pentanol as the oil solvent in the microemulsion synthesis system, renowned for its remarkable stability and exceptional solubility. The DFNS@KM nano-pesticide was fabricated using a diffusion supported loading (DiSupLo) method and kresoxim-methyl (KM) as the template drug. Findings from Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, XRD, thermogravimetric, differential thermal analysis, and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller analyzes revealed the physical adsorption of KM onto the synthesized DFNS without any chemical bonding, with KM mainly existing in an amorphous state within the channels. High-performance liquid chromatography measurements demonstrated that only the loading amount of DFNS@KM was primarily dependent on the KM to DFNS ratio, with minimal effects observed from loading temperature and time. The loading amount and encapsulation efficiency of DFNS@KM were found to be 63.09% and 84.12%, respectively. Furthermore, DFNS effectively prolonged the release of KM, with a cumulative release rate of 85.43% over 180 h. The successful loading of pesticide components into DFNS synthesized with a low oil-to-water ratio provides theoretical support for the industrialization of nano-pesticides, with significant implications for enhancing pesticide utilization, reducing pesticide dosage, augmenting agricultural efficiency, and promoting sustainable agricultural development.

Automated image-based analysis unveils acute effects due to sub-lethal pesticide doses exposure.

Pesticides are still abused in modern agriculture. The effects of their exposure to even sub-lethal doses can be detrimental to ecosystem stability and human health. This work aims to validate the use of machine learning techniques for recognizing motor abnormalities and to assess any effect post-exposure to a minimal dosage of these substances on a model organism, gaining insights into potential risks for human health. The test subject was the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), exposed to food contaminated with the LC30 of Carlina acaulis essential oil. A deep learning approach enabled the pose estimation within an arena. Statistical analysis highlighted the most significant features between treated and untreated groups. Based on this analysis, two learning-based algorithms, Random Forest (RF) and XGBoost were employed. The results were compared through different metrics. RF algorithm generated a model capable of distinguishing treated subjects with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.75 and an accuracy of 0.71. Through an image-based analysis, this study revealed acute effects due to minimal pesticide doses. So, even small amounts of these biocides drifted far from distribution areas may negatively affect the environment and humans.

Bio-efficacy of Chemical Insecticides against Major Insect Pests of Mustard Applied through Seed Treatment

Seed treatment application of chemical insecticides is getting popularity in the management of insect-pest population. The present investigation was conducted to study the bio-efficacy of different chemical insecticides, widely used against major insect-pest of mustard crop. A mustard variety Bio-902 was sown in twenty-seven plots of 2× 2 m2 at the agronomy farm of Sri Karan Narendra College of Agriculture, Jobner, India during the Rabi season of 2020-21. A total of nine treatments including an untreated control group with three replications were investigated in a randomized block design (RBD). The data was recorded for aphid population and seed yield in each treatment. The treatments including Imidacloprid 40% + Fipronil 40% (10 g/kg seed) was found significantly effective followed by Imidacloprid (10 g/kg seed), Clothianidin (10 g/kg seed), Thiamethoxam (10 g/kg seed), Imidacloprid 40% + Fipronil 40% (5 g/kg seed), Imidacloprid (5 g/kg seed), Clothianidin (5 g/kg seed) and Thiamethoxam (5 g/kg seed). The ranking of treatments based on seed yield in mustard was found to be similar to the trend observed in the aphid population for different treatments. Seed treatment helps protect the seed and emerging plant from insects until they become more resilient. Method of seed treatment and doses of pesticides to be used in seed treatment are deciding factor for bio efficacy of pesticides.

Precision Variable-rate Control System for Mini-UAV-based Pesticide Application

Mechanized and efficient pesticide application is an effective measure to prevent crop diseases, control pests, and ensure stable yield. For crops in greenhouses, due to the complex operating environment, the traditional mechanical spraying method will lead to excessive pesticide spraying and pesticide residues. Based on the ultrasonic sensor array, a small crop canopy volume calculation model is proposed, and the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) control model of nozzle flow is established. The compensation time of opening and closing delay of the nozzle was determined to be 0.201 s by the high-speed photography method. The optimal operating speed was determined to be 0.3 m·s−1 through the benchmark test. Then, the precision variable spraying control method was integrated to develop the precision variable plant protection UAV based on an ultrasonic sensor array. The test results showed that the droplet deposition density was greater than 20 drop s·cm−2, and the droplet coverage rate of precision variable spraying was less than 30%. In the experimental area, the pesticide dosage of conventional and precision variable spraying was 0.24 L and 0.15 L, respectively, The precision variable-rate spraying saved pesticide usage by 34.5%. The system can realize precise variable spraying according to crop location and crop canopy volume changes. This study will promote the rapid development and application of precision spraying technology for small plant protection UAVs.

Synergistic Effect of Orange Oil Adjuvant on Acetamiprid in the Control of Edentatipsylla shanghaiensis

We explore the effects of orange oil adjuvant (a kind of spray adjuvant) on the physicochemical properties of acetamiprid (pesticide) when foliage-applied to the surface of pittosporum tobira leaves. The leaf surface was characterized by the OCG (Van Oss–Chaudhury–Good) method, and the relationship between the wetting behavior of various pesticide droplets, including the change in surface free energy (SFE), adhesion force, and adhesion work, is explored to offer insight into the control of the pittosporum tobira psyllid, Edentatipsylla shanghaiensis Li et Chen. Results showed that SFE values for the adaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces were 40.13 mJ/m2 and 37.06 mJ/m2, respectively, while acetamiprid liquids had SFE values of 67.43 mJ/m2 and 63.26 mJ/m2. SFE values of the acetamiprid liquids are greater than that of the leaf surface, and the droplets on the leaves with a smaller adhesion force and lager adhesion work exhibited moderate-to-poor wettability estimated by contact angles. When the concentration of the orange oil adjuvant was between 0.10% and 1.00% above CMC (critical micellar concentration, 0.09%), the SFE values of the acetamiprid liquids were less than that of the leaf surface. The adhesion tension was greatly increased, and the adhesion work decreased by 14.46–28.13%. Meanwhile, droplets on the leaves exhibited good wettability. Field experiments showed that the synergistic effect of acetamiprid against E. shanghaiensis was significantly improved after spraying with orange oil adjuvant at the concentrations 0.10% and 1.0% above CMC. This study demonstrated the use of an orange oil adjuvant with a concentration above CMC to improve the synergistic effect of the insecticide directly through improved leaf wetting, which can provide reference for reducing pesticide dosage and increasing efficiency during the chemical control of pests.

O-091 The impact of endocrine disruptors on early pregnancy and clinical outcomes in IVF

Abstract The impact of endocrine disruptors on early pregnancy and clinical outcomes in IVF Moncef Benkhalifa (1,2,3), Debbie Montjean (2), Hafida Corsi-Cauet (3), Henri Copin (1,3), Véronique Bach (3), Pierre Miron (2), Rosalie Cabry (1,3) (1) Reproductive Medicine and Reproductive Genetics, University Hospital & School of Medicine. Picardie University Jules Verne. Amiens France (2) ART Centers. Laval and Brossard. Fertilys International Inc. Laval. Québec. Canada (3) PERITOX Laboratory. Picardie University Jules Verne. Amiens. France Since more than 40 years, there are annual increasing of studies, meta-analysis reporting and discussing the potential associations between endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and human fertility potential declining. Today it’s accepted that a substantial number of environmental and exposition factors affect the fertility and fecundity capacity of couples during the peri and post conception period. It’s accepted that most of EDCs interfere with or mimic steroid hormone action; predominantly by affecting estrogen, androgen and thyroid hormones signaling pathways and disturbing specific molecular process on relation with single or multiple biological functions. Some of EDCs can interact with the male and female reproductive system and lead to endocrine disruption in the testis and ovary. they exert their effects mainly via binding transcription factor receptors, EDCs can alter endocrine function through a variety of mechanisms. At fertility age EDCs may alter the expression and/or activity of enzymes required for synthesis and/or catabolism of testicular and ovarian sex steroids and the expression of hormone receptors and/or their ability to bind their and endogenous ligands. For example, in male, the literature reported a negative correlation between disrupted spermatogenesis and lifestyle factors (environmental-professional expositions) such as alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, drug use, and obesity caused by high-energy diet. In female infertility diseases, the negative impact of chemicals ED has been studied in animals. Many disorders have been described, such as low ovarian weight, impaired folliculogenesis, a high aneuploidy rate and the acceleration of follicular atresia. Indeed, women exposed to some endocrine-disrupting pesticides (such as atrazine, lindane) have an elevated risk of long menstrual cycles or anovulation but the most serious consequence is POF and endometriosis pathophysiology’s. In our IVF experience in Picardie region (France), we observed that various pesticides with an endocrine-disrupting action are associated with poor oocyte quality (maturation and competency), embryonic defects and poor IVF outcomes, and some pesticide compounds are linked to specific causes of female infertility, such as premature ovarian insufficiency, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and endometriosis. It was reported that EDCs can reduce embryo implantation chances and increase miscarriage, placenta and post-natal abnormalities. for endometrium receptivity and implantation failure EDCs can play by modifying keys elements of the immune response relevant to pregnancy, and disrupt immune tolerance required for robust placentation, optimal fetal development and be a as contributing risk factors in recurrent miscarriage, preeclampsia, preterm birth and related pathologic gestation Environmental insults, including endocrine disrupting chemicals during critical periods of fetal development, can alter DNA methylation patterns, leading to inappropriate developmental gene expression and disease risks. Similar to environmental factors, endocrine-disrupting chemicals can influence gene expression without modifying the DNA sequence. It is commonly accepted that the transgenerational inheritance of parentally acquired traits is conveyed by epigenetic alterations risks also known as “epimutations”. In Conclusion, the negative impact of exposure to various endocrine-disrupting is becoming now a worldwide public health. Indeed, the community should be informed about the fertility decline, low ongoing pregnancy rates, and elevated risk of miscarriage associated with exposure to high doses of pesticides for example. We must keep in mind that humans are exposed to EDCs mixtures composed of hundreds of chemicals every day and not a single chemical in isolation.