• Plant species strongly influence pesticide uptake and translocation behavior. • Lipophilic pesticides showed higher root accumulation than hydrophilic pesticides. • Increasing exposure decreased root accumulation but increased translocation. • Longer exposure led to higher root accumulation across all crops and compounds. • Translocation changes with longer exposure varied by plant species and pesticide. The root uptake by crops is an important process to consider when evaluating the environmental fate of plant protection products (PPPs). Bioaccumulation and mobility of PPPs largely depend on their physicochemical properties and the crop characteristics. Therefore, the hydroponic root uptake and subsequent translocation of imidacloprid, metalaxyl-M, fluopyram, and tebuconazole were investigated in maize, wheat, and soybean. Analysis via HPLC-HRMS revealed that no single crop showed consistently higher accumulation across all tested PPPs. Soybean exhibited the highest degree of root accumulation, with RCFs ranging from 4.3 to 59. Wheat exhibited the greatest propensity for translocation into the shoots, with TFs peaking at 5.9. Maize ranked intermediate in both aspects. Lipophilic PPPs generally exhibited greater bioaccumulation then hydrophilic ones, and the highest translocation has been observed in wheat and maize for metalaxyl and in soybean for imidacloprid with TFs for these compounds ranging between 3.0 and 5.9. Increasing PPP concentrations in the nutrient solution from 0.01 to 10 µM resulted in reduced root accumulation, as reflected by a decline in RCF from 3.8 to 0.61 in the most pronounced case. Conversely, acropetal transport increased over the same concentration range, with TF rising from 0.35 to 2.6 under the strongest observed response. A longer exposure time resulted in more pronounced root accumulation, while the change in acropetal transport varied and depended on the plant species and the physicochemical properties of the PPPs. These new insights highlight crop-specific uptake and translocation behavior in plants and could help to refine plant uptake models.

In dietary risk assessment of plant protection products, residues of active ingredients and their metabolites need to be evaluated for their genotoxic potential. The European Food Safety Authority recommend a tiered approach focussing assessment and testing on classes of similar chemicals. A dataset of 58 inhibition of acetyl CoA carboxylase herbicides for which either Ames, chromosomal aberration or micronucleus test results were identified from publicly available regulatory submission dossiers. A set of structural space alerts were defined from this dataset, each linked to a key metabolic transformation present in the metabolic space, covering both the cyclohexadiones and aryloxphenoxypropionates classes. A hypothetical case study chemical was used to demonstrate the ability of the structural space alerts to identify metabolically related analogues with which to predict genotoxicity, including the in vivo micronucleus test, via read-across. In addition, the structural space alerts defined were compared to the metabolic simulators in the OECD QSAR Toolbox. The results showed the importance of expert driven methods for defining metabolic similarity for read-across for plant protection products. As with previous work in this area, the key challenge being the need for metabolism data for the development of the structural space alerts.

The critical nature of a robust weight of evidence assessment to conclude on endocrine disruption using diflufenican as a case study.

Fixed spray delivery system (FSDS), an alternative to conventional pesticide technologies, is gaining interest in grapevine. Indeed, especially in steep-sloped vineyards, optimal configured FSDS layout can enhance operator safety and potentially provide adequate spray performance. This study compared the spray performance of two modern 2-tier hydraulic-based FSDS layouts (L1 and L2), tailored to a vertical shoot positioning-trained vineyard. The investigation was conducted across three vine growth stages, with two canopy densities evaluated at each stage. Spray performance was assessed in terms of canopy deposits, in-field ground losses, and the impact of the plant protection product (PPP) wash-off effect caused by water used as propellant. Results were compared with field data obtained under comparable conditions using a conventional airblast sprayer. With respect to L1 layout, L2 layout achieved across the growth stages 1.75 and 1.55 times more canopy deposit and ground losses, respectively. Moreover, the L2 layout resulted in a more uniform canop y deposit within the sampled area resulting in a more promising HSD-FSDS configuration for grapevine spray applications. The PPP wash-off effect evaluation further supported this outcome but also identified areas for refinement to enhance spray performance. Based also on the comparison with the conventional airblast sprayer, recommendations for future protection plans are proposed, providing a step-forward toward large-scale adoption and implementation of HSD-FSDS technology. • Hydraulic-based fixed spray delivery system (HSD-FSDS) was evaluated in a vertical shoot positioning trained vineyard. • Two HSD-FSDS layouts were tested across three growth stages and two canopy densities. • Spray deposit in the canopy, in-field ground losses, and wash-off effects were assessed. • Layout configuration influenced spray uniformity and spray performance. • Design modifications and tailored agricultural practices may help optimize HSD-FSDS.

Trace metal fluxes in cultivated soils from north-eastern France

Urbanization intensified the risks of neonicotinoids to estuarine and marine ecosystems under a backdrop of agricultural cultivation.

Toxic effects of the fungicide carbendazim on the midge Chironomus riparius in two consecutive generations and the detection of body burden after metamorphosis.

Levan-derived oligosaccharides (LOS) prime barley against fungal pathogens through asparagine metabolism.

Spodoptera frugiperda poses a significant threat as a polyphagous agricultural pest. Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), a broad-spectrum baculovirus with established activity against multiple lepidopteran pests, represents an environmentally benign biocontrol candidate. However, its efficacy against S. frugiperda is constrained by limited oral infectivity. Here, serial passaging in S. frugiperda yielded a mutant strain of AcMNPV (AcMNPV-Mut) with significantly enhanced oral infectivity relative to the wild strain AcMNPV (AcMNPV-Wt). Importantly, while both oral infectivity and overall virulence (shortened LT₅₀ and increased mortality) against S. frugiperda were enhanced, the virus maintained its ability to effectively infect and cause disease in other insect hosts, like Helicoverpa armigera. Whole-genome sequencing identified a missense mutation in ac34. Functional characterization of a recombinant virus harboring this mutation revealed that the ac34 variant contributes to virulence augmentation through dual pathways: elevated budded viruses (BVs) production facilitating secondary infection, and upregulated late and very late gene expression, which improves occlusion-derived virus (ODV) embedding within occlusion bodies (OBs), and may lead to an increase in OB size, contributing to a higher viral load per particle, and thereby enhancing primary infectivity. The ac34 mutation enhances primary and secondary infection, promoting virulence evolution and providing a molecular target for biopesticide design.IMPORTANCEIn this study, we found that Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) undergoes adaptive mutations after serial passages in the semi-permissive host Spodoptera frugiperda, driven by mutation in ac34. These mutations not only significantly increase viral replication within this pest but also improve the packaging and infectivity of viral particles. This coordinated optimization allows the virus to achieve higher effective doses in a short time, synergistically enhancing its control efficiency against S. frugiperda. Importantly, the mutation does not compromise the virus's pathogenicity toward its original permissive hosts, underscoring its potential utility in single-application strategies for integrated pest management. These findings provide new molecular insights for designing efficient and broadly applicable biocontrol agents, contributing to more sustainable management of agricultural pests and reduced reliance on chemical pesticides.

Kiwifruit soft rot is a devastating post-harvest disease that leads to significant economic losses in the kiwifruit industry. Although chemical pesticides can effectively inhibit pathogenic fungi, their conventional formulations still have disadvantages such as poor stability, low utilization rate, and high environmental risks. Therefore, developing environmentally friendly and multifunctional smart pesticide delivery system (PDS) is key to achieving sustainable plant disease control. In this study, we developed a multifunctional PDS by using β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)-modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) as a nanocarrier for prochloraz (Pro) delivery. The nanopesticide (Pro-MSN-β-CD) exhibited high loading efficiency (68.74%) and demonstrated pH- and α-amylase-responsive controlled release behavior. In addition, it also exhibited enhanced foliar adhesion and rain erosion resistance performance. In vitro antifungal assays showed 100% inhibition of Botryosphaeria dothidea at 1 μg mL-1. Post-harvest trials on kiwifruit revealed superior protective (67.50%) and curative (58.59%) efficacy against soft rot. Biosafety assessments confirmed minimal phytotoxicity in mung bean germination tests. The Pro-MSN-β-CD nanopesticide offered an efficient, biosafe, and environmentally friendly solution for controlling kiwifruit soft rot. Its stimuli responsive release and enhanced targeting performance provided a sustainable strategy for post-harvest disease management, contributing to the advancement of precision agriculture. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Phytophthora capsici is the causal agent of Phytophthora, a destructive disease that causes yield losses in pepper worldwide. However, chemical pesticides reducing this blight have adverse effects on environmental sustainability, pest resistance and pesticide residues. Thus, developing more friendly biopesticides against P. capsici is an alternative approach for the sustainable production of peppers in practice. Genome mining has indicated that strain JQ36 encodes a nonribosomal peptide synthatase (NRPS). Subsequently, the NRPS-derived cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs) anikasin (1), two new anikasinβ (2) and anikasinγ (3) were co-produced from Pseudomonas sp. JQ36 via an OSMAC (one strain many compounds) approach. Specifically, the OSMAC approach used in this study involved adding l-Leu or l-Val to the culture media of strain JQ36. Further structural elucidation characterized the chemical structures of anikasin (1) as d-Leu1, d-Asp2, d-allo-Thr3, d-Leu4, d-Leu5, d-Ser6, l-Leu7, d-Ser8, l-Leu9, l-Ile10 and l-Asp11, linked to a (R)-3-hydroxycapric acid (HDA). Intriguingly, the substitutions of l-Ile10 as l-Leu10 for anikasinβ (2), and l-Ile10 as l-Val10 for anikasinγ (3) indicated the substrate flexibility for this NRPS. Moreover, the biocontrol data revealed that anikasins have the capacity to control P. capsici by inhibiting germination and lysis of zoospores of this pathogen, finally decreasing the incidence of Phytophthora foliar blight on pepper plants. This study demonstrates that anikasins could potentially serve as novel biopesticides for controlling Phytophthora foliar blight on peppers. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Rising global food demand requires sustainable strategies to mitigate crop yield losses caused by biotic and abiotic stresses. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), traditionally used as biocontrol agents against insect pests, also exhibit a remarkable ability to live within plants as endophytes, significantly boosting plant resilience to abiotic stresses. This review summarises the mechanisms by which EPF endophytes colonise plants and confer robust tolerance to drought, salinity, and heavy metal toxicity. These beneficial fungi orchestrate host physiological adaptations by activating antioxidant systems, up-regulating stress-responsive genes, modulating phytohormone signalling, and enhancing nutrient assimilation. Through improved photosynthetic efficiency, osmotic adjustment, nutrient uptake, and ion homeostasis, EPF endophytes substantially increase plant biomass, yield stability, and productivity under severe stress. Harnessing these fungi as dual-purpose bioagents offers a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides, bridging ecological pest and disease management and climate-resilient agriculture. Future efforts must prioritise optimising field efficacy and overcoming regulations and commercialisation barriers to unlock their full potential in sustainable global food systems.

ABSTRACT Continuous adoption of green control techniques (GCTs) represents an eco-friendly practice that enhances agricultural resilience by mitigating farmers’ misuse of and overreliance on chemical pesticides. The internet has penetrated rapidly in rural China. While farmers’ internet use is a novel form of human capital, its efficacy in promoting GCTs remains underexplored. This study investigates the impact of internet use on continuous GCT adoption and its subsequent effect on farm performance, using a dataset of 874 farmer surveys. To address endogeneity, we employ a control function approach and conditional mixed process model. We find that internet use raises the probability of physical and biological control techniques’ continuous adoption by 7.2% and 8.1%, respectively, and GCTs significantly improve crop yields and agricultural income. This study contributes to the literature by (1) redefining internet use as a novel form of agricultural human capital, expanding human capital theory’s scope and theoretical boundaries, and (2) constructing the ‘internet use → GCT adoption → farm performance’ analytical framework, offering new empirical evidence in green agricultural economics.

Biological control agents can offer an eco-friendly and more sustainable alternative to conventional chemical pesticides, providing protection against destructive pathogens, such as Phytophthora capsici, while reducing potential environmental harm associated with synthetic pesticide use in agricultural systems. This work evaluates the biocontrol effectiveness of Bacillus vallismortis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus thuringiensis, and Bacillus subtilis, against the widespread plant pathogen Phytophthora capsici. Our studies showed that Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus subtilis promote plant growth and provide protection against Phytophthora capsici in both in vitro and in vivo greenhouse studies, while Bacillus vallismortis and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens were effective in vitro but not in vivo. Specifically, Bacillus thuringiensis was observed to both hinder the growth of Phytophthora capsici and enhance plant resilience to this pathogen, with B. thuringiensis-treated, pathogen-exposed plants displaying a 94.4% increase in root length and a 74.0% increase in shoot height compared to plants with only oomycete exposure. To probe the molecular interactions between the biocontrol agent and pathogen, a dual culture of Bacillus thuringiensis and Phytophthora capsici was analyzed in situ using a desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI) workflow. This approach interrogated the spatially oriented biochemical interactions that may serve as the molecular foundation for the effectiveness of these biological control agents in crop protection, identifying seven unique phenotypic regions within the dual culture. Herein, we demonstrate the benefits of biological control agent application in tomato cultivation and showcase the strengths of desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry imaging when applied to the spatially resolved molecular characterization of agriculturally relevant microorganisms.

Striped stem borer (SSB; Chilo suppressalis Walker) is one of the most destructive pests in rice production. Previous studies have demonstrated that SSB infestation induces transcription of OsT5H (tryptamine-5-hydroxylase) and biosynthesis of serotonin, a newly recognised phytohormone, and that disruption of serotonin biosynthesis significantly increases SSB resistance. However, the regulatory module modulating serotonin biosynthesis remains to be identified and characterised. Here, we reveal an OsMYB306-OsRAV11 module that regulates OsT5H transcription and serotonin biosynthesis in response to SSB infestation in rice. OsMYB306 and OsRAV11 can bind to the OsT5H promoter and repress its transcription. In the module, OsRAV11 interacts with OsMYB306 and enhances its inhibitory effect on OsT5H transcription. CRISPR/Cas9-generated knockout mutants (myb306, rav11 and myb306 rav11) exhibited elevated OsT5H expression, increased serotonin accumulation and reduced SSB resistance. Conversely, OsRAV11 overexpression reduced OsT5H transcription. Our findings establish a transcriptional regulatory framework for the biosynthesis of serotonin in response to SSB infestation. These findings inform the development of new strategies for producing SSB-resistant rice by genome editing, potentially reducing reliance on chemical pesticides for SSB control.

Chemical pesticides remain the primary strategy for controlling greenhouse whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci), yet traditional application systems are plagued by uneven droplet distribution, severe pesticide drift, and inadequate control efficacy - all of which contradict cleaner production objectives. To address these challenges, this study proposed a multi-objective optimization framework for low-cost high-pressure glasshouse atomization, integrating a high-speed imaging mechanism to achieve targeted droplet uniformity, environmental sustainability, and efficient whitefly control. A self-developed low-cost high-precision atomization system was constructed, featuring polypropylene Venturi-swirl integrated atomizing nozzle (PP-VSIN). High-speed imaging was employed to capture the transient behaviors (spreading, trajectory, and deposition) of water and pesticide droplets on tomato crops, enabling quantitative analysis of droplet size distribution (DSD), coefficient of variation (CV), and target leaf contact characteristics under varying conditions: spray pressure (2, 5, and 8 MPa), nozzle-tomato horizontal distance (0.5, 0.75, and 1 m), and spray angle (90°, 120°, and 180°). Results demonstrated that the mixed pesticide solution reduced the contact angles on tomato leaves, water-sensitive paper, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cards, effectively enhancing the spreading and adhesion capabilities of droplets on tomato surfaces. Droplet size spectrum analysis revealed that the average droplet size decreased with increasing spray pressure, and particularly when pressure increased from 5 to 8 MPa, droplet deposition and penetration were significantly improved. Tomato canopy deposition followed the order of upper > middle > lower (6.300, 6.226, and 6.062 μL cm-2), with minimal overall differences, while droplet coverage was the lowest on the upper and lower leaves of the canopy (21.02% and 21.15%, respectively). Multi-objective optimization confirmed the optimal parameters: 0.75 m single-side nozzle spacing, 180° spray angle, 8 MPa spray pressure, and 225 L hm-1 application rate. This parameter combination exhibited excellent atomization performance and whitefly control efficacy, with the control efficacy of six treatments stabilizing at 79.68-89.01% on the seventh day and remaining above 79% thereafter. Compared with traditional application systems, pesticide usage was reduced by 33.33%. This system achieves a balance among performance, cost, and environmental sustainability, improves targeted pest control, and promotes environmental sustainability. It bridges the gap between mechanistic understanding and practical application, providing a scalable and sustainable clean production solution for pest management in small-to-medium glasshouses. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

The most common method of controlling pests and diseases in agriculture is through pesticide applications, though these are known to be harmful to humans, animals, and the environment. Biological pest control and selective insecticides are more compatible with the basic principles of integrated pest management practices. In this context, we evaluated eight plant protection products, including insecticides and fungicides, against two predators, Orius laevigatus and Amblyseius swirskii, using International Organization of Biological Control (IOBC) guidelines. These two predators are key natural enemies of several agricultural pests of greenhouse and open production systems, particularly thrips and mites. Abamectin and dimethoate were ranked as harmful to both predators and spinosad to A. swirskii. Emamectin benzoate and the fungicide kresoxim-methyl + boscalid were moderately harmful, causing 31% to 73% mortality in A. swirskii and O. laevigatus. The insect growth regulator pyriproxyfen and fungicides cymoxanil+propineb and copper oxychloride were determined harmless to both A. swirskii and O. laevigatus, causing <30% mortality. Additional testing of these products is warranted to determine their effects on natural enemies in glasshouses or open fields. We expect the severity of the products' effects to be reduced, given environmental factors that affect their efficacy and the protection afforded by plant architecture to predators.

Chemical pesticides are often implicated in the ongoing declines of European farmland biodiversity. Pesticides support intensive agriculture in the EU, but environmental and human health risks must be managed and weighed against the need for crop production. Here I attempt a balanced review of the current EU pesticide regulatory process with a focus on environmental risk assessment. I find there are key weaknesses, for example with regards accounting for exposure to multiple active substances, and that wildlife are routinely exposed to residues of multiple active substances at the landscape scale, with apparent trophic level effects. Linking observed exposure to effects is problematic, however, and pesticides are not the only driver of biodiversity loss. I discuss the need to maintain crop production in the EU to avoid off-shoring environmental disbenefits, in the context of the EU Green deal, and in light of ongoing biodiversity declines. I consider the potential for increased landscape heterogeneity to complement the aims of pesticide regulation by promoting farmland biodiversity and crop beneficial ecosystem services, and potentially to mitigate, in some scenarios, negative effects of pesticides. I explore the available policy instruments to promote landscape heterogeneity, barriers to uptake and scenario-specific concrete measures. I conclude that residue-aware environmental risk assessment and reduced pesticide use through measures such as plant breeding, integrated pest management and precision application of pesticides, coupled with enhanced landscape heterogeneity to promote biodiversity and mitigate some pesticide effects, offer potential to achieve the desired outcome of reversing biodiversity decline while ensuring ongoing EU crop production.

Agriculture is vital for food security and economic growth in Zambia, where smallholder farmers face severe pest challenges. While chemical pesticides are effective, they pose environmental and health risks. Biopesticides offer a safer alternative, but their adoption remains low among farmers. This study aims to evaluate the factors influencing the adoption and extent of biopesticide use among smallholder farmers in Zambia, focusing on socio-economic, institutional, technological, and environmental factors. The results reveal that several factors significantly influence biopesticide adoption, including the age of the household head, access to extension services, credit, sprayer ownership, training in biological control, and farm location in agroecological zones II and III. Older farmers, those with better financial stability and farming knowledge, and those receiving training and extension support were more likely to adopt biopesticides. Conversely, crop diversity negatively influenced adoption, suggesting that diversified farming systems may naturally fight pest life cycles and therefore not need pesticides. The extent of biopesticide adoption was positively related with household head income, cooperative membership, and extension services, while crop diversity again was negatively related. To enhance adoption, targeted interventions are needed, including improved access to credit, training, cooperative support, and extension services. Policymakers should also consider the role of ecological farming practices when designing strategies for biopesticide integration. Addressing financial and logistical barriers will promote sustainable pest management, improve food security, and align with Zambia’s climate-smart agricultural goals.

Non-crop habitats are integral components of winter wheat agroecosystems, providing food resources and refuges that may support early-spring recovery of predatory natural enemies and contribute to early-season biological control potential. During 2024-2025, we used sticky traps to monitor four typical non-crop habitats (woodland, grassland, village, and uncultivated land) adjacent to wheat fields, quantifying early-season abundance dynamics of predatory natural enemies across habitat types and survey dates. Our results show that early-season abundance dynamics varied significantly among habitat types. Eupeodes corollae was most abundant in woodland, averaging 10.36-fold higher than in village. Chrysoperla sinica was most abundant in grassland, averaging 7.72-fold higher than in uncultivated land. Village provided important early-season refuges for coccinellids: Propylaea japonica abundance was on average 4.14-fold higher than in uncultivated land, and Harmonia axyridis abundance was on average 5.32-fold higher. Conserving and properly managing village-edge vegetation, grasslands, and woodland edges surrounding farmland may promote the early-spring recovery of predatory natural enemies in wheat agroecosystems. These findings suggest potential for strengthened early-season aphid management through enhanced availability of predatory natural enemies and reduced reliance on chemical pesticides, although aphid populations were not monitored and possible spillover into wheat fields was inferred indirectly from spatial and temporal abundance patterns. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.