Plant Protection Industry Research Articles

On the use of PID control to improve the stability of the quad-rotor UAV

The recent development of drones has aroused great concern at home and abroad. For civil industry and agricultural plant protection industry, it can provide safer and more stable flight and improve production efficiency. For the exploration industry, the application of UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) will reduce unnecessary casualties. In places where damage is serious, UAV will bring accurate on-site information and data more quickly. It can make drones to replace people in high-risk operations, scientific and technological agricultural development and survey more stable and safe; For the military industry, it can be applied to different combat environments to increase its stability. In recent years, although UAV combat and reconnaissance are not the mainstream combat methods, UAV has become or an indispensable part. Improving the stability of UAV will also increase the military combat capability, so UAV has good development prospects and economic benefits. Nowadays, PID (Proportion Integration Differentiation) control plays an indispensable role in quad-rotor UAV. How to use different types of PID control combined with existing intelligent technology to improve the stability of quad-rotor UAV is a hot issue in recent years. This paper summarizes the previous research results in this field, briefly describes the motion mechanism of four-rotor UAV, wind disturbance resistance mechanism, the action principle and contract between traditional PID control and fuzzy PID control, as well as the effect of intelligent algorithm on PID control addition, and puts forward suggestions for PID control algorithm of the future UAV.

P21-11 Re-evaluating the need for chronic toxicity studies with therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, using a weight of evidence approach

Different government agencies operating in the European Union regulate different types of chemical products but all require testing for carcinogenicity to support applications for product marketing and commercialisation. A conference was held in Brussels in 2013 where representatives of the pharmaceutical, animal health, chemical and plant protection industries, together with representatives of regulatory agencies, universities and other stakeholders, met under the auspices of The European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA) to discuss the varying requirements for carcinogenicity testing, and how these studies might be refined to improve hazard evaluation and risk assessment while implementing principles of the 3Rs (replacement, refinement and reduction in animal studies). While there are some similarities, the regulatory approaches in pharmaceutical, animal health, chemical and plant protection sectors have varying degrees of flexibility in requirements for carcinogenicity testing, to an extent reflecting concerns over the magnitude and duration of human exposure, either directly as in therapeutic exposure to pharmaceuticals, or indirectly through the ingestion of residues of veterinary drugs or plant protection chemicals. The article discusses these differences and other considerations for modified carcinogenicity testing paradigms on the basis of scientific and 3Rs approaches.

In planta Activity of the Novel Copper Product HA + Cu(II) Based on a Biocompatible Drug Delivery System on Vine Physiology and Trials for the Control of Botryosphaeria Dieback.

The growing concerns on human and environment health are forcing the plant protection industry toward the formulation of more eco-sustainable plant protection products (PPP), both efficient and innovative in their approach to disease control. A large number of these innovative formulations now rely on a combination of pathogens antagonistic properties and stimulation of natural plant defense to pathogens. The formulation HA + Cu(II), in which copper is delivered to the plants by the drug-delivery molecule hydroxyapatite (HA), was found efficient against the grapevine pathogens Plasmopara viticola and Phaeoacremonium minimum and able to induce the host-plant defense system. We investigated the HA + Cu(II) impacts on grapevine physiology, both in uninfected and when infected by the Botryosphaeria dieback agents Diplodia seriata and Neofusicoccum parvum. This study of plant physiology and disease impact were addressed to evaluate both the HA + Cu(II) potential as a plant defense elicitor and its possible and future use as PPP in vineyard. Our results showed that HA + Cu(II) induced several key-defense genes without negatively affecting plant growth and photosynthetic activity. In addition, fungistatic effect on the two Botryosphaeriaceae at the in planta tested concentrations is reported. Altogether, our results obtained under controlled conditions fully support the potential of HA + Cu(II) as a promising PPP toward grapevine trunk diseases in vineyard.

Brown Planthopper Sensor Network Optimization Based on Climate and Geographical Factors using Cellular Automata Technique

Brown Planthopper (BPH) is one of the most dangerous insects that cause damage to rice. Aphids infected rice fields with low productivity can be lost even. Dealing with this situation, the Plant Protection industry has invented the light trap - a device based on the specific activity of insects phototaxis. These measures are considered effective and less costly today. However, the current light traps are usually installed next to the home of the staff assigned to manage light traps for easy tracking without attention to the impact of environmental factors around. Currently, the plant protection industry wants more scientific basis in light traps arranged so they want to review and make the factors of climate and geography in the light traps installed but not yet performed. In this paper, we propose an approach to find appropriate positions to replace light traps based on a combination between weather factors and geographical factors with data on infected areas by BPH with various infection levels exhibited on the maps based on Cellular Automata method. We present the simulation results with 8 considered cases to determine positions for light traps in an area of more than 1400 square kilometres including 84 communes in Can Tho city, one of the largest rice granaries in Vietnam.

Control of the strawberry mite, Phytonemus pallidus (Banks) in strawberry plantations by alternative acaricides

Due to the withdrawal from the plant protection industry of several main insecticides (e.g. endosulfan, amitraz and propargite) commonly used to control the strawberry mite (Phytonemus pallidus spp. fragariae), there is a constant need to search for new control measures against this pest.The efficacy of spirotetramat (Movento 150 OD at rates of 0.5 and 0.7 and Movento 100 SC at rates of 0.75 and 1.0 l ha−1), abamectin (Vertimec 018 EC, 1.0 l ha−1) and abamectin (1.0 l ha−1) + the adjuvant Slippa (0.2 l ha−1) for control of strawberry mite was evaluated in the current study. Pyridaben (Sanmite 20 WP, 2.25 kg ha−1) was used as a reference product. All of the products were used twice at weekly intervals, after fruit harvest, when the population of P. pallidus exceeded the risk threshold. All products significantly reduced P. pallidus populations in strawberry plantations compared to control plots. The results obtained with spirotetramat were dependent on dose and formulation, and ranged from 60% to over 90% efficacy. The efficacy of abamectin for controlling the mobile forms of strawberry mite was 81–99%. This active ingredient applied in combination with the adjuvant did not display any better level of control than when applied alone (efficacy 77–95%). The results obtained with the reference product (pyridaben) were similar or slightly lower (average > 80%) than those obtained with the test products.

Crop protection, environment, health, and biodiversity: observations and outlook.

This special issue of Environmental Science and Pollution Research highlights selected papers presented at the 43rd congress organized by the French Group of Pesticide Research (BGroupe Francais des Pesticides,^ GFP) which was held in Albi, from 29 to 31 May 2013, and officially hosted by Champollion University, France. The congress was held in the beautiful settings of the Episcopal city with its Cathedral and the Toulouse Lautrec museum, recently listed as UNESCO world heritage. Albi is a prefecture city of the Midi-Pyrenees region, one of the most agricultural regions of France. The GFP met the French scientific community involved in research into phytosanitary compounds. The conferences took place in French and addressed numerous issues dealing with the use of pesticides, their utility to agriculture, and their consequences for the environment and human health. Discussions included their mode of action, analysis and transfer through the environment and along food chains, and finally their elimination. Occurring annually, this congress is a place of rich exchanges not only between scientists but also with technical institutes, which are becoming increasingly present. These congresses are an opportunity for researchers to present their work and to compare their findings with others in a constructive atmosphere. Both the contributors and the audience were French researchers from the academic and institutional world, francophone researchers from foreign universities, and researchers from plant protection industries. Representatives from various French agencies, ministries, and agencies in charge of development were one of the audiences: agronomists and technicians also participated in this meeting. Particular encouragement was given to the active participation of young researchers (MSc or PhD students). The main objectives of this conference were to review current knowledge of the French-speaking scientific community in all areas concerning pesticides, to feed national debate, to allow the emergence of new paths of research, and to foster collaborations between research organizations, institutions, and industrial environments. Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Advancing the 3Rs in regulatory toxicology – Carcinogenicity testing: Scope for harmonisation and advancing the 3Rs in regulated sectors of the European Union

Different government agencies operating in the European Union regulate different types of chemical products but all require testing for carcinogenicity to support applications for product marketing and commercialisation. A conference was held in Brussels in 2013 where representatives of the pharmaceutical, animal health, chemical and plant protection industries, together with representatives of regulatory agencies, universities and other stakeholders, met under the auspices of The European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA) to discuss the varying requirements for carcinogenicity testing, and how these studies might be refined to improve hazard evaluation and risk assessment while implementing principles of the 3Rs (replacement, refinement and reduction in animal studies). While there are some similarities, the regulatory approaches in pharmaceutical, animal health, chemical and plant protection sectors have varying degrees of flexibility in requirements for carcinogenicity testing, to an extent reflecting concerns over the magnitude and duration of human exposure, either directly as in therapeutic exposure to pharmaceuticals, or indirectly through the ingestion of residues of veterinary drugs or plant protection chemicals. The article discusses these differences and other considerations for modified carcinogenicity testing paradigms on the basis of scientific and 3Rs approaches.

Photoprotection by Plant Extracts: A New Ecological Means To Reduce Pesticide Photodegradation

A pesticide's reactivity toward light at the leaf surface after crop treatment is rarely considered, although such degradation reactions directly affect the pesticide's effectiveness. To overcome these limitations, the use of plant pigments was proposed as a new class of photoprotecting agent. The photoprotecting properties of seven plant pigments were tested under controlled conditions over herbicide sulcotrione. Grape wine extracts were tested over a panel of pesticides from distinct chemical families. The addition of plant extracts almost systematically reduced the pesticide's photoreactivity. The grape wine extracts improve at least by 38% the half-life of photolysis of almost all of the active ingredients tested, except for the herbicide triclopyr. Fustictree extract increases by 82% the photostability of the herbicide sulcotrione. Plant extracts mainly act as sunscreens; that is, the photostabilization of the active ingredient is due to the competitive energy absorption of UV photon. The use of natural plant extracts is a promising strategy to limit pesticide photodegradation. It is a way to develop sustainable and innovative technology for the plant protection industry, being beneficial from both economic and ecological points of view.

Interpretation of the term 'product' in EU Council Regulations 1768/92 and 1610/96 on Supplementary Protection Certificates

In order to compensate for the reduced time to exploit pharmaceutical and agrochemical patents, patent extension schemes were introduced in the 1990's. In Europe, the extension is achieved through supplementary protection certificates (SPC) with Regulation 1768/92 and 1610/96, which provide for up to 5 years additional protection or agrochemical products. The SPC Regulations combine aspects of the patent and regulatory systems, which themselves have different aims and approaches leading to problems in definition. This is particularly the case for the definition of ‘product’. This term is defined in Article 1b as ‘the active ingredient or combination of active ingredients of a medicinal product’. However, EU legislation on SPCs does not provide an indication to precisely what is meant by ‘active ingredient’. This has lead to interpretation problems for national patent offices during the SPC application process and during litigation, which have been and continue to be resolved at the national or European level. This article discusses from a European perspective the issues of what exactly constitutes a product within the meaning of Article 1 of the Regulations and which products are actually protected by an SPC. It reviews the case law of different European jurisdictions that clarify the question of which products are covered by an SPC as well as establishes what constitutes a new product over the subject matter of a previous marketing authorization. It also addresses the implications of the definition of ‘product’ for Pharma and plant protection industries.

Establishment of Maximum Residue Levels for minor uses

The availability of plant protection products that are authorized for minor uses in the European Community is becoming restricted due to the stringent EU review process. An associated problem is the lack of sufficient residues data for minor uses necessary for the establishment of MRLs (Maximum Residue Levels). The policy for MRL setting is focussed on a high protection level for the consumer. Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) forms the basis for MRL setting together with supervised residues trials according to GAP. The MRL can be set when risk assessment shows no risk for the consumer. Rules to extrapolate residues data from major crops to minor crops can sometimes be derived from, for example, morphological properties of the crop, provided the GAP is similar, but for many minor crops this is not possible. In these cases residues trials performed on the minor crop are required to set an MRL, however, performing residues trials is not profitable for the plant protection industry, because of their limited financial return. Activities to facilitate the setting of MRLs for minor crops have been initiated both within the EU and CODEX.

Experience gained from the application of GLP principles to multi-site studies in plant protection

The multi-site study (MSS) concept is not new and was already being used by the Swiss plant protection and pharmaceutical industries, across all areas of expertise, 11 years before the publication of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Consensus Document No. 13. The need for this type of study set-up was and remains unavoidable, not only because of the way in which field studies for the determination of product residues in food are conducted in the plant protection industry, but also because of the fractionation of other study types ( e.g. toxicology studies) and the related subcontracting to contract labs as a consequence of insufficient capacity and/or lack of expertise as well as for cost reduction reasons. This paper deals with the historical background of the introduction of the MSS concept, its development, known facts, reasons for its extension to other areas, frequent difficulties in its daily implementation, regulatory and monitoring weaknesses, as well as, consequences and measures. Statements are corroborated by practical examples. Experience shows that there are weaknesses ( differences) among the various national Compliance Monitoring Authorities in charge of inspecting MMSs and there are still substantial differences from country to country regarding the interpretation and enforcement of GLP principles. Doubts are arising about the sense of OECD Mutual Joint Visits, and the mutual acceptance of data appears to be at jeopardy. A lot of time and patience is still needed to improve harmonisation at the international level so that GLP principles are followed uniformly across companies and countries. There is also the need for increased involvement of quality assurance units and Compliance Monitoring Authorities.

Public policy and partnership in research on biological control in France

Most public institutions and companies of plant protection industry have a favourable opinion of biological control; they feel concerned by the issue, but weakly engaged in its solution. Biological plant protection is however poorly developed in agriculture, the success of biological control being insufficiently known due to severe competition with chemical pesticides that are reliable, efficient, specific and safer for the environment.