Use Of Synthetic Pesticides Research Articles

Identification of plant beneficial Bacillus spp. for Resilient agricultural ecosystem.

The use of synthetic pesticides and chemicals to continuously increase agricultural productivity is causing severe damage to our ecosystem. Therefore, there is need to enhance our understanding about the factors which can contribute to soil processes and play key role in developing sustainable agricultural ecosystem. In this context, the bacteria from cauliflower rhizosphere were isolated and characterized for different plants beneficial attributes. The relationship of soil bacteria and its elemental composition was examined using canonical correspondence analysis. The elemental composition analysis of soil samples revealed presence of Mg, Al, Si, P, K, Ca, Fe and their oxides. In addition, the isolates were found positive for phosphorus solubilization, siderophore, chitinase and protease activity, and indole acetic acid type of growth regulator. The direct confrontation assay revealed antagonistic behavior of these isolates against Fusarium oxysporum and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The promising isolates were identified and affiliated to closely related species of genus Bacillus in phylogenetic relationship. The canonical correspondence analysis revealed distribution of elements and their relationship with the identified species in particular area. The characteristics of these isolates revealed their potential in alleviating the biotic and abiotic stresses and hence enhancing crops yield without the usage of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. The present study is first of its kind and will open new avenues to explore microbial community structure across different farmlands soils to develop resilience agricultural ecosystem.

In Silico and in Vivo Investigations of Bioagent Helicoverpa Nucleopolyhedrovirus against Helicoverpa armigera in Chickpea

During investigations; homology model of 3D-structure was built for sequence of polyhedrin protein of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus, containing 246 amino acids (Accession: ACI05106.1 GI: 205946055), and evaluated through multiple tools/ applications to judge extent of accuracy in light of existing crystal structure. Further, in vivo experiments were conducted and determined response of different adjuvants with HaNPV and their efficacy. The pooled mean mortality of larvae exposed to virus mixed with 5% green tea and 5% rice bran filtrates (8.3 larvae per 25 plants) was differ significantly from control (15.8 larvae per 25 plants), suggesting that UV protectants & diet enhancer (mannitol) has ability to protect stability of virulence of the virus, under field conditions. The minimum percent pod damage of 8.6% and maximum yield of 1604.8 Kg ha-1 at harvesting was recorded with formulation of indigenous BHA virus isolate @ 2.2 x 105 POBs mL-1 mixed with Roket @50 ppm; followed by formulation with mannitol (@ 1% + green tea 5% + 5% rice bran filtrates) with percent pod damage of 16.8 % and yield of 1045.8 Kg ha-1 of chickpea. Furthermore, in vitro toxicity of fresh virus suspension @ 250 mL ha-1 was recorded more toxic in terms of percent mortality and LT50 (5.65 days). However, three months stored HaNPV formulations [(A) mannitol @ 1%+ green tea@ 5% and (B) mannitol @ 1% + green tea 5% + 5% rice bran filtrates] were more effective in larval reduction with LT50 of 7.89 and 6.00 days, respectively. Virus mixed with 5% green tea and 5% rice bran filtrates gave stability to formulation up-to one year with LT50 of 7.64 days. Findings showed that HaNPV formulations with mannitol (B) have potential that can be used in integrated manner with other IPM practices, to reduce the use of toxic synthetic pesticides in chickpea.

EFFECT OF JATROPHA OIL ON THE MANAGEMENT OF FALL ARMYWORM (Spodoptera frugiperda JE smith.) IN MINNA, NIGER STATE

Indiscriminate use of synthetic pesticides is likely to give rise to fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) resistance and environmental pollution which may result in poisoning of human. In view of these, there is need to develop naturally occurring insecticides which may be less toxic to man and animals but as effective against fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) of various cereals as synthetic insecticides. Field research was carried out in the Teaching and Research Farm of Federal University of Technology, Minna to evaluate the effect of Jatropha oil on the management of fall armyworm. The experiment was arranged in Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates and six varieties. 45 ml/ L of Jatropha oil was applied every week for four weeks using Knapsack sprayer. Data on severity of fall armyworm infestation, plant height, stem diameter, number of ears, number of rotten ears, fresh and dry cob weight and grain yield were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) the means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The results indicated that OPV maize variety recorded the highest grain yield while Oba super 6 demonstrated a tolerance against the infestation of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). Therefore, farmers could plant OPV maize variety for its high grain yield and Oba super 6 for its tolerant against the infestation of fall armyworm.

اثر عصاره های هیدروالکلی افسنطین Artemisia absinthium و شمعدانی Pelargonum graveolens بر شته سبز هلو Myzus persicae در راستای معرفی حشره کش سالم

Background and Objective: This widespread use of synthetic pesticides for agricultural has resulted in the presence of their residues in rivers, lakes, sea, soils groundwater, and even drinking water, proves the high risk of these chemical insecticides on human health, toxicity to nontarget organisms. The plant extracts derived from A. absinthium and Pelargonium leaves were evaluated due to the esterified and phenolic compounds observed for their insecticidal activity towards green peach aphid. Green peach aphid (Scientific name: Myzus persicae) (In English: Green peach aphid) In Iran, the aphid attacked the leaves of peach, apple, cherry, apricot and also plants such as tomato, potato and eggplant make it complex, decreased growth, shriveling of the leaves and the death of various tissues and can cause severe damage. Method: The extract was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Evaluation of the efficacy of different concentration of plant extracts (0, 10, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400 and 500 ppm) on green peach aphid with leaf dipping method.Findings: The main compounds of the A. absinthium were 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic (37.48 %),Benzoic acid, ethyl ester (4.40 %), 3,7-Di-tert-butyl-1-naphthol (13.47 %) and Cyclohexanol (3.06 %). The main compounds of the Pelargonium extract were Tetradecane (22.62 %) and Dibutyl phthalate (13.80 %). The results showed that A. absinthium treatment was the most efficacious with LC50= 218.43 ppm. Discussion and Conclusion: Increasing in concentration of plant extracts led to increased green peach aphid mortality percent. It seems that extracts of A. absinthium and Pelargonium affects the pest green peach aphid and can be an effective and inexpensive alternative to chemical pesticides.

Chitosan and Byrsonima crassifolia-based nanostructured coatings: Characterization and effect on tomato preservation during refrigerated storage

Current concerns about the use of synthetic pesticides for preserving horticultural commodities have triggered the search for environmentally friendly packaging. In this regard, this study evaluated the effect of chitosan nanoparticle and chitosan-Byrsonima crassifolia nanoparticle coatings on the postharvest quality of tomato and on the incidence of Pectobacterium carotovorum after 19 days of storage. Thickness and swelling properties as well as the quality and physiological variables, and antimicrobial activity were determined. From the results, confocal laser scanning micrographs showed the interaction between the tomato and the coating containing the rhodamine-labeled chitosan nanoparticles. Changes in chroma and hue angle values as well as for firmness, with an increase in ascorbic acid content and lower CFU (colony-forming units) for the tomatoes coated with chitosan nanoparticles at a concentration of 30% were observed. The weight loss values were less than 13%. There was a decrease in CO2 and ethylene production at the end of the storage period. Chitosan-based nanostructured coating represents an alternative for preserving tomatoes against P. carotovorum.

Use of earth observation satellite data to guide the implementation of integrated pest and pollinator management (IPPM) technologies in an avocado production system

Insect pollinators provide an important ecosystem service by improving agricultural productivity. However, their populations have been declining in recent years due to excessive use of synthetic pesticides, climate and land use/land cover (LULC) changes. Climate and LULC changes have resulted in land fragmentation and consequently pollinator habitat loss. To conserve pollinators, there is a need for sustainable agricultural practices such as integrated pest and pollinator management (IPPM), which is a holistic landscape management approach that minimizes pesticides use while conserving pollinator abundance and diversity. This study aimed to use earth observation (EO) data to characterize landscape dynamics in terms of vegetation productivity to guide the implementation of IPPM interventions in an avocado production system in Murang'a (Kenya). Specifically, we utilized Sentinel-2 (S-2)-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) as a proxy for vegetation productivity to assess IPPM implementation sites. The NDVI was calculated using multi-date S-2 data acquired during the dry and wet seasons and categorized into three vegetation productivity classes - low, medium, and high - using a K-means unsupervised clustering method. We also collected socio-economic baseline data from 410 farmers with a focus on their perception to implement one of four avocado pest management and pollination options: (1) IPPM, (2) integrated pest management (IPM), (3) pollinator supplementation (P), and (4) no intervention (control). The three landscape vegetation productivity classes were then linked with the four farmer preferences with regards to the implementation options. Criteria based on the distances among the sites for implementing the different four options were set for farmer selection and the experiment was replicated three times in each vegetation productivity class (i.e. in total 12 farmers in each class). The results showed that the K-means method was successful in characterizing the landscape vegetation productivity with an overall accuracy of 86.2%. One the other hand, we successfully selected the 36 (12 in each of the 3 vegetation productivity classes) out of 410 farmers who met our distance-based criteria and participated in the implementation of one of the four technology options (i.e. IPPM, IPM, P, and control). In conclusion, NDVI proved to be a vital proxy for assessing the landscape dynamics as it provided a robust view of vegetation productivity patterns, which enabled a well-representative distribution of the four pest management and pollination options across the landscape. Overall, the study shows the utility of integrating EO and socio-economic data in selecting sites for implementing agro-technologies at a landscape scale.

Acaricidal activity of Cinnamomum cassia (Chinese cinnamon) against the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis is linked to its content of (E)-cinnamaldehyde

BackgroundThe tick Haemaphysalis longicornis (Neumann) is a well-known vector of numerous pathogens of veterinary and medical importance. Various control strategies, including the use of synthetic pesticides, have been developed to control this tick species. However, demand for effective and safe alternative pesticides is increasing due to the adverse effects associated with the intensive and injudicious use of synthetic pesticides, which include undesirable effects on non-target species and environmental pollution. Hence, the acaricidal activity of the extract and the essential oil of Cinnamomum cassia (Chinese cinnamon) and their major components, and the underlying mechanisms of this activity, were evaluated against unfed larvae and nymphs of H. longicornis.MethodsThe components of the extract and essential oil of C. cassia were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and their larvicidal and nymphicidal activity were evaluated using the larval and nymphal packet test. The underlying detoxification mechanism was elucidated by targeting in vivo esterase and monooxygenase activity, and the toxicological effect was assessed on non-target Tenebrio molitor and Harmonia axyridis by topical application in open Petri dishes.Results(E)-cinnamaldehyde was the predominant component of the extract (50.79%) and essential oil (89.95%). The 50% lethal concentration (LC50) for larvae and nymphs treated with the extract was 11.56 and 49.18 mg/mL, respectively. The essential oil, (E)-cinnamaldehyde and fenvalerate exhibited acaricidal activity, with LC50 values of 3.81, 3.15, and 0.14 mg/mL, respectively, against the larvae, and 21.31, 16.93, and 1.89 mg/mL, respectively, against the nymphs. (E)-cinnamaldehyde significantly increased esterase and monooxygenase activity in both larvae and nymphs. Unlike fenvalerate, C. cassia essential oil and (E)-cinnamaldehyde did not cause mortality of T. molitor or H. axyridis adults.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that C. cassia essential oil and (E)-cinnamaldehyde have the potential to be developed into botanical-based larvicidal and nymphicidal agents for tick control.Graphical abstract

Changes in soil mesofauna structure due to different land use systems in south Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Essential to the provision of important ecosystems services, i.e., food production, soil is suffering great pressure. The degradation of natural areas in order to turn them into croplands has been causing severe effects to the soil quality, including the maintenance of their biodiversity. Soil physical disruption reduce the soil biodiversity and, consequently, may cause negative effects to the supporting services, i.e., organic matter degradation and nutrient cycling, which will directly or indirectly impact agroecosystems. In this study, the influence of three different types of land uses (native forest (NF), conventional agriculture (CA), and organic agriculture (OA)) to the soil mesofauna (emphasizing collembolan and mites) were assessed under real scenarios in the southeast part of Brazil. Both conventional and organic fields were of strawberries, and the greatest difference in their processes was the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, performed at CA. Soil fauna organisms were collected and identified to main groups, except the collembolan species which were further separated into four main groups/family. Results showed that not only the physical changes due to soil tillage caused negative effects to soil fauna. In the field where the use of agricultural products was allowed, organisms were much more severely affected. Hence, the conversion of natural forested areas to agricultural lands may harm soil fauna communities through biodiversity loss. This study not only adds significant information to the knowledge regarding the relation between biodiversity loss and agricultural practices worldwide, but it also helps to improve Brazilian knowledge of the edaphic fauna in agroecosystems.

Biological Protection Of Plants

For the last thirty years, agriculture has been distinguished by the fact that when growing agricultural products the concept of organic and ecological management is increasingly taken as a basis, since human health (which depends to a large extent on the environment) is above all. In this regard, all over the world, programs are being stimulated and developed to improve the well-being of agricultural ecosystems. For this purpose, new agronomic and biological methods of growing crops are being applied, leaving in the past the use of synthetic materials, pesticides and other components that previously caused significant harm to nature.

Current biological approaches for management of crucifer pests

Cabbage is considered as one of the most commonly found vegetables and it has been cultivated in large areas throughout the year. As it is mostly grown in large areas, higher rate of pest infestation likely to occur, which hinder its total production and consumption. However, continuous use of synthetic pesticides in agricultural pest management often leads to various negative impacts such as development of resistance by the pest, adverse effect on non-target organisms and hazardous effect on environment. These drawbacks led to an alternative approaches for control of crucifer pests that are cost effective, biodegradable, low toxic effect on non-target organisms and eco-friendly. This review brings together all the information of different biological practices for management of crucifer pests and list of botanical insecticides and entomopathogenic organisms that are being reported. This will help in establishing the knowledge of limited studies on pest management using different biological control methods to more challenging research and conveys the importance of pest management system for taking research forward.

Allelopathic Properties of Ipomoea Hildebrandtii Vatke

The use of synthetic pesticides to alleviate the notorious weeds in farms has caused environmental pollution, consumption of chemicals absorbed by plants and resistance posed by the weeds putting agricultural development and ecological systems under threat. The main reason for study of allelopathic effect of the plant include; its application of observed allelopathic effects to agricultural production, reduction of inputs to chemical pesticides uses, resultant environmental pollution and for provision of fruitful method for sustainable development of agriculture and ecological systems. This study made the use of allelochemicals produced by the invasive Ipomoea hildebrandtii to provide an effective method of controlling weeds through biological control method which is environmentally friendly as compared to the conventional chemical method. Extraction was done and concentrated by rotary evaporator, pH of the soil under which the plant grew was determined. The allelopathic test was done at different concentrations in petri dishes on Phaseolus vulgaris and the characterization of the plant compounds done by Ultra Violet coupled to visible region, Fourier Transform Infra-Red, and Gas Chromatograph -Mass Spectroscopy. The leave extract was more effective in allelopathic effect on the plant than the stem extract, that means the inhibiting compounds are more concentrated in the leaves than the stem.

Changes in Bacterial and Fungal Soil Communities in Long-Term Organic Cropping Systems

Long-term organic farming aims to reduce synthetic fertilizer and pesticide use in order to sustainably produce and improve soil quality. To do this, there is a need for more information about the soil microbial community, which plays a key role in a sustainable agriculture. In this paper, we assessed the long-term effects of two organic and one conventional cropping systems on the soil microbial community structure using high-throughput sequencing analysis, as well as the link between these communities and the changes in the soil properties and crop yield. The results showed that the crop yield was similar among the three cropping systems. The microbial community changed according to cropping system. Organic cultivation with manure compost and compost tea (Org_C) showed a change in the bacterial community associated with an improved soil carbon and nutrient content. A linear discriminant analysis effect size showed different bacteria and fungi as key microorganisms for each of the three different cropping systems, for conventional systems (Conv), different microorganisms such as Nesterenkonia, Galbibacter, Gramella, Limnobacter, Pseudoalteromonas, Pantoe, and Sporobolomyces were associated with pesticides, while for Org_C and organic cultivation with manure (Org_M), other types of microorganisms were associated with organic amendments with different functions, which, in some cases, reduce soil borne pathogens. However, further investigations such as functional approaches or network analyses are need to better understand the mechanisms behind this behavior.

Human-robot skills transfer interface for UAV-based precision pesticide in dynamic environments

Purpose Nowadays, the global agricultural system is highly dependent on the widespread use of synthetic pesticides to control diseases, weeds and insects. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is deployed as a major part of integrated pest management in a precision agriculture system for accurately and cost-effectively distributing pesticides to resist crop diseases and insect pests. Design/methodology/approach With multimodal sensor fusion applying adaptive cubature Kalman filter, the position and velocity are enhanced for the correction and accuracy. A dynamic movement primitive is combined with the Gaussian mixture model to obtain numerous trajectories through the teaching of a demonstration. Further, to enhance the trajectory tracking accuracy under an uncertain environment of the spraying, a novel model reference adaptive sliding mode control approach is proposed for motion control. Findings Experimental studies have been carried out to test the ability of the proposed interface for the pesticides in the crop fields. The effectiveness of the proposed interface has been demonstrated by the experimental results. Originality/value To solve the path planning problem of a complex unstructured environment, a human-robot skills transfer interface is introduced for the UAV that is instructed to follow a trajectory demonstrated by a human teacher.

Insecticidal Activities Against Odontotermes formosanus and Plutella xylostella and Corresponding Constituents of Tung Meal from Vernicia fordii.

Simple SummaryOdontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) (O. formosanus) and Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) (P. xylostella) are common industrial and agricultural pests with a wide distribution range, multiple host species, few natural predators, and rapid reproduction. The control of these pests relies heavily on synthetic chemical pesticides; however, environmental pollution and the rise of insect resistance induced by the excessive use of synthetic chemical pesticides pose serious challenges. The present study was designed to systematically evaluate the insecticidal activities of different extracts of tung meal against the above two pests and to reveal the chemical constituents of the main active parts. The result confirmed the remarkable insecticidal activity of tung meal and provided a theoretical basis for its development as a potential plant insecticide.The environmental pollution, pesticide resistance, and other associated problems caused by traditional chemical pesticides with limited modes of action make it urgent to seek alternative environmentally-friendly pesticides from natural products. Tung meal, the byproduct of the detoxified Vernicia fordii (Hemsl.) seed, has been commonly used as an agricultural fertilizer and as a pesticide. However, its active insecticidal extracts and ingredients remain elusive. In the present study, the contact toxicities of tung meal extracts against the agricultural and forest pests like O. formosanus and P. xylostella were examined. Our results showed that ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extracts showed the strongest toxicity against O. formosanus and P. xylostella, respectively. In order to further explore the chemical profiles of the ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extracts, UPLC-Q/TOF-MS and GC-MS analyses have been performed, and 20 and 29 compounds were identified from EA and PE extracts, respectively. The present study, for the first time, verified the noteworthy insecticidal activities on the aforementioned agricultural and forest pesticides and revealed the potential active parts and chemical composition, which are conducive to further exploiting the potential of tung meal as a natural plant-derived insecticide for biological control of agricultural and forest pests.

Toxicological and ecotoxicological pressure assessment on the use of synthetic pesticides in Sancti Spíritus, Cuba

A study to quantify the toxicity and ecotoxicological pressure of pesticides in the Sancti Spíritus province, Cuba, was carried out between 2011 and 2014. A longitudinal descriptive work was designed for the study period to identify potential risks to the environment and also to human health associated with the use of pesticides in the country. The Spread Equivalents (ƩSeq) and Pesticide Occupational and Environmental Risk (POCER) indicators, as well as the Toxic Load (TL) methodology of Instituto Cubano de Sanidad Vegetal, were used to determine the toxicity and ecotoxicity of pesticide use. One hundred and twenty-four active ingredients corresponding to 62 chemical families were applied in the province during the study period. Organophosphates, triazoles, sulfonylurea, pyrethroids, inorganic compounds (such as copper), carbamates, dithiocarbamates, neonicotinoids, aryloxyphenoxypropionates, and organochlorines predominated due to their use frequency. The use of toxic pesticides, and the lack of personal protection equipment, among others, made workers, residents, and applicators the toxicological modules with the highest risk of exposure. On the other hand, aquatic organisms, and the persistence of the pesticides in the soil and in groundwater, are the modules with the highest ecotoxicological pressure. By using the POCER and ƩSeq indicators, a more accurate toxicity and ecotoxicity assessment for certain pesticides can be performed in Cuba, in comparison to the one obtained when using only the TL equation currently employed in the country. In addition, substituting the most toxic pesticides (e.g., parathion, endosulfan, bifenthrin, copper oxychloride, mancozeb, paraquat, diquat, and ametryn) with less toxic ones (e.g., cypermethrin, tebuconazole, triadimenol, and bispyribac-sodium) could help reduce synthetic pesticide pressure on humans and the environment.

Case Study: Water Resources, Knowledge and Safety Practices of Pesticides Among Farmers Around Lake Diatas of West Sumatera

Lake Diatas is surrounded by agricultural activities that cannot be separated from the use of synthetic pesticides. Improper use of pesticides may endanger the health of farmers. This research aims to observe the clean water resources, as well as the knowledge and safety practices of pesticides among farmers around Lake Diatas. Interviews were conducted with 30 heads of families who lived and farmed around Lake Diatas. The results showed that 40% of farmers utilized rainwater as clean water, 30% used shallow well water which most of the wells were open and have no concrete ring, which vulnerable to contamination. There were 11 active ingredients detected used by farmers with one type with highly hazardous and two of them were moderately hazardous toxicity. For farmers’ knowledge, 76, 7% of farmers know that the improper use of pesticides may cause health problems and environmental pollution. There were 73, 3% of farmers determine the dose of pesticide regarding packaging label, while the rest determine the dose from the seller recommendation and also trial and error. All of the farmer respondents used personal protective equipment during spraying but mostly only googles, gloves, and masks, and 40% of farmers experienced health problems after spraying. From the results of the study, it can be concluded that the practice of PPE practice on farmers who farm and live around Lake Diatas still needs to be improved to prevent more health problems that can be caused by pesticide application.

Effect of powder and extract of Ritchiea reflexa (Thonn.) Gilg et Benedict and Ctenium elegans Kunth on Amitermes evuncifer Blattodea, Termitinae

Termites play key roles in the ecosystems functioning, especially in the recycling of organic matter. However, few are considered pests because they cause damages to crops and wooden structures. Long based on the use of synthetic pesticides, the control of pestiferous termites is now focused on environmental friendly means including the use of plant extracts. Here, powder, acetonic and ethanolic extracts of Ctenium elegans and Ritchiea reflexa were tested against Amitermes evuncifer. The phytochemical study on extracts exhibited tannins and terpenoids in both species, and steroids only in the ethanolic extract of R. reflexa. Five concentrations of each formulation were used against two controls (negative and positive). Six replicates were made for each concentration using 25 (for extracts) and 30 (for powder) healthy termite workers in petri dishes. All concentrations reduced the survival duration and life expectancy of termites. In 1.83±0.41 days, the higher concentration (6 mg/cm2) of R. reflexa ethanolic extract killed all termites against 6.67±1.63, and 8.67±0.52 days for the same concentration of acetonic extract and powder, respectively. On the other hand, it took 11.17±2.64; 5.5±0.55, and 5.33±0.52 days, for powder, ethanolic and acetone extracts of C. elegans to kill all the tested termites, respectively. The results suggested the use of these formulations as a botanical insecticide in termite management. Key words: Amitermes evuncifer, biopesticides, Ctenium elegans, environment protection, Ritchiea reflexa.

Culturable Yeasts as Biofertilizers and Biopesticides for a Sustainable Agriculture: A Comprehensive Review.

The extensive use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides has negative consequences in terms of soil microbial biodiversity and environmental contamination. Faced with this growing concern, a proposed alternative agricultural method is the use of microorganisms as biofertilizers. Many works have been focused on bacteria, but the limited literature on yeasts and their potential ability to safely promote plant growth is gaining particular attention in recent years. Thus, the objective of this review is to highlight the application of yeasts as biological agents in different sectors of sustainable agricultural practices through direct or indirect mechanisms of action. Direct mechanisms include the ability of yeasts to provide soluble nutrients to plants, produce organic acids and phytohormones (indole-3-acetic acid). Indirect mechanisms involve the ability for yeasts to act as biocontrol agents through their high antifungal activity and lower insecticidal and herbicidal activity, and as soil bioremediating agents. They also act as protective agents against extreme environmental factors by activating defense mechanisms. It is evident that all the aspects that yeasts offer could be useful in the creation of quality biofertilizers and biopesticides. Hence, extensive research on yeasts could be promising and potentially provide an environmentally friendly solution to the increased crop production that will be required with a growing population.

Europe's Farm to Fork Strategy and Its Commitment to Biotechnology and Organic Farming: Conflicting or Complementary Goals?

The European Commission's Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy, under the European Green Deal, acknowledges that innovative techniques, including biotechnology, may play a role in increasing sustainability. At the same time, organic farming will be promoted, and at least 25% of the EU's agricultural land shall be under organic farming by 2030. How can both biotechnology and organic farming be developed and promoted simultaneously to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? We illustrate that achieving the SDGs benefits from the inclusion of recent innovations in biotechnology in organic farming. This requires a change in the law. Otherwise, the planned increase of organic production in the F2F strategy may result in less sustainable, not more sustainable, food systems.

PEMANFAATAN METABOLIT SEKUNDER TUMBUHAN SEBAGAI PESTISIDA NABATI PADA HAMA TANAMAN HUTAN

The use of chemical pesticides is often carried out in excessive doses, so that this condition results in increased accumulation of pesticide residues in nature. The residue can kill non target organisms, there was an explosion of secondary pests and pest resistance. One effort to reduce the use of synthetic chemical pesticides is by substitution using botanical pesticides that are more environmentally friendly. Botanical pesticides that are easily biodegradable in nature, so it does not pollute the environment, it is relatively safe for humans and the presence of natural enemies. One of the most potential types of botanical pesticides is from the Meliaceae family, namely neem, mahogany, and suren. In this study, the content of secondary metabolites was tested for neem, mahogany and suren seeds. Toxicity properties against pests conducted through literature searches. The purpose of this study was to obtain information on the toxicity and content of secondary metabolite compounds from the three plant seed extracts against forest pests. The results showed that the extract of neem, mahogany and suren seeds contain compounds secondary metabolites from the saponins, tanins, flavonoids, alkoloids, and terpenoids. The compounds can be used as botanical pesticides to control pests of forest plants.