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The chemical fertilizers applied to Romania's soils represent a particularly important aspect in ensuring a qualitative and quantitative production. The expenditures that farmers have to be able to fertilize the soil correctly and with a sufficient amount have become over the years increasingly higher. The paper analyzes in evolution, over two periods of time, 2007-2014 and 2014-2021, 2 aspects: the surfaces of agricultural holdings, by classes of economic size; the main technical-economic indicators of the use of chemical fertilizers in agricultural holdings, namely the expenditures per hectare of agricultural land with chemical fertilizers, in total and by types: N, P205 and K2O fertilizers, and the expenditures with chemical fertilizers to obtain 100 euros of plant production. The data were retrieved from the FADN platform and statistically interpreted using mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, growth rate, t-test of significance. The conclusion that emerges from the analysis undertaken is that there are big differences between the two analyzed periods, in both of them are signs of variations over the years and increases in chemical fertilizer expenses, but the second period, 2014-2021, shows a greater homogeneity of data, even decreases in the higher classes, while the classes (1) 2,000 - < 8,000 EUR and (2) 8,000 - < 25,000 EUR have increased expenditures per ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Economia e Sociologia Rural and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

To counter the harmful impacts of agricultural chemicals on the environment and human health, there is an increasing demand for safe, eco-friendly, and potent plant-based biopesticides. In this study, we aimed to investigate the antimicrobial effects of ginger essential oil and selected volatile compounds (linalool, eugenol, citral, and cinnamaldehyde [CA]) against Fusarium oxysporum FOX-1. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using the mycelium growth inhibition method. The compound CA exhibited the most potent antifungal effect against F. oxysporum FOX-1 and was selected for further investigation. After treatment with CA at 1/2 MIC or MIC, the spore germination of F. oxysporum FOX-1 was significantly inhibited at 12 h. Furthermore, microscopic observation revealed that CA treatment resulted in the morphological degradation of F. oxysporum FOX-1. CA destroyed the cell membrane integrity of F. oxysporum FOX-1, increasing the relative conductivity and the leakage of intracellular protein, nucleic acids, and malondialdehyde, affecting the integrity and metabolism of the cell membrane. The effects were positively related to CA concentration. Additionally, in vivo experiments with rhizome sections showed that CA significantly reduced the pathogenicity of F. oxysporum FOX-1. Overall, these findings provide evidence for the potential of using ginger essential oil components as fungicides, offering a basis for future research to develop robust and eco-friendly plant-derived fungicides that serve as a sustainable means to reduce fungus-driven agricultural losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trace elements (TEs) can reduce both the quantity and quality of agricultural produce when essential trace elements are deficient or when any trace element accumulates beyond threshold concentrations in soil. Therefore, TEs in agricultural systems should be managed to ensure that soil concentrations are kept within guideline levels and do not affect production. Oil palm agriculture in Indonesia occurs on weathered, acidic soils that require substantial fertilizer inputs to maintain production. To understand whether TE accumulation in soils resulting from fertilizer and pesticide use may affect production in the future, we have developed a mass-balance model to calculate likely concentrations of TEs in soils after given time periods under production conditions. Our model was developed to simulate processes which occur in the soil-plant system and involve the transport of TEs. It was developed to be rationally convenient, that is, parsimonious, working at environmentally relevant concentrations and able to be applied at the hectare scale to large agricultural systems. The model uses the mass-balance equation ... and uses the critical parameters of rainfall, evaporation, erosion, soil adsorption coefficient, initial plant and soil contaminant concentrations, as well as soil-and-crop specific parameters. We validated our model using a data set from a 64-year fertilizer trial, which had known inputs and application rates of fluorine (F), cadmium (Cd) and uranium (U). We applied the validated model to a smallholder oil palm plantation in Indonesia, modelling accumulation of copper (Cu), F, Cd and U under recommended production conditions, to determine which TEs might limit production and the likely timeframes for this. Our results indicate that topsoil concentrations of Cu and F were likely to reach phytotoxic concentrations in soils (289 and 719 mg kg-1, respectively), within 50 years under these conditions. The future feasibility of intensive oil palm production on weathered, low fertility soils such as those in Indonesia should be assessed to avoid long-term negative impacts on soil quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review delves into the mesmerizing technology of nano-agrochemicals, specifically pesticides and herbicides, and their potential to aid in the achievement of UN SDG 17, which aims to reduce hunger and poverty globally. The global market for conventional pesticides and herbicides is expected to reach USD 82.9 billion by 2027, growing 2.7% annually, with North America, Europe, and the Asia–Pacific region being the biggest markets. However, the extensive use of chemical pesticides has proven adverse effects on human health as well as the ecosystem. Therefore, the efficacy, mechanisms, and environmental impacts of conventional pesticides require sustainable alternatives for effective pest management. Undoubtedly, nano-agrochemicals have the potential to completely transform agriculture by increasing crop yields with reduced environmental contamination. The present review discusses the effectiveness and environmental impact of nanopesticides as promising strategies for sustainable agriculture. It provides a concise overview of green nano-agrochemical synthesis and agricultural applications, and the efficacy of nano-agrochemicals against pests including insects and weeds. Nano-agrochemical pesticides are investigated due to their unique size and exceptional performance advantages over conventional ones. Here, we have focused on the environmental risks and current state of nano-agrochemicals, emphasizing the need for further investigations. The review also draws the attention of agriculturists and stakeholders to the current trends of nanomaterial use in agriculture especially for reducing plant diseases and pests. A discussion of the pros and cons of nano-agrochemicals is paramount for their application in sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Lumina (0123-4072) is the property of Universidad de Manizales and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The green revolution strategy, which promotes the use of synthetic agricultural chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers, the adoption of high-yielding, nutrient-responsive crop varieties, increased irrigation potential exploitation, etc., has, for the most part, increased production output. However, it will also cause a decline in the productivity and production of various crops as well as harm to the environments and soil health. Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPRs) have special functions in the soil that improve the health and productivity of plants. PGPR produce phytohormones, fix atmospheric nitrogen, colonize the rhizosphere, aid in the production of secondary metabolites, shield plants from pathogens, produce siderophores, and aid in the uptake of nutrients by solubilizing phosphate. They also produce biologically active substances that have an impact on the development and growth of plants. In the present investigation, the fungicidal activities of Streptomyces sp., the significant PGPRs were screened for antifungal activities while an Entomopathogenic fungi (Baeuveria bassiana) was utilized for production of crude metabolites which were utilized to prepare Silver fused nanoparticles, the nanoparticles were found to have significant insecticidal/pesticidal properties against larvae invading Cauliflower crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite biocontrol conceptually being a useful way to control specific pests, there are very few products that are used beyond the glasshouse level, into the field. Only if organisms meet four criteria (four pillars) will they be widely used in the field to replace or augment conventional agrichemicals. (i) The virulence of the biocontrol agent must be enhanced to overcome evolutionary barriers either by mixing with synergistic chemicals or with one or more organisms, and/or by mutagenic or transgenic enhancing of virulence of the biocontrol fungus. (ii) Inoculum production must be cost‐effective; many inocula are produced by expensive, labour‐intensive solid‐phase fermentation. (iii) Inocula must be formulated both to have long shelf life of inocula as well as being formulated to establish on, and control the target pest. Usually spores are formulated, while chopped mycelia from liquid culture are cheaper to produce and are immediately active upon application. (iv) After fulfilling these three criteria, the product must be biosafe: not produce mammalian toxins that affect users and consumers, and have a host range that does not include crops and beneficial organisms, and in most cases that it will not spread from application sites or have environmental residues beyond those needed to control the target pest. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of an in situ study of a set of blood parameters in adult marsh frogs (Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas 1771) from populations inhabiting the largest system of rice fields in Bulgaria, the Tsalapitsa rice fields (TRF), under chronic stress conditions. This study was conducted in spring 2022 to assess the health status of TRF frogs compared to that of frogs occupying a reference site (RS). Furthermore, this study also compared the results obtained for the TRF population with those obtained in a study conducted at the exact same location with P. ridibundus individuals in 2013 (Zhelev et al. 2018). This comparison highlights the potential effects of persistent use of agrochemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) on the marsh frogs of later generations. Our results suggest that the general health of marsh frogs in the polluted site (PS) in southern Bulgaria has severely deteriorated. Frogs of both sexes were anemic with weakened immune systems compared to those living in the RS. The long-term use of agrochemicals in the PS affected males to a greater extent than it did females. Statistically significant hypochromia was observed in males, combined with general leukopenia, neutrophilia, lymphopenia, monocytosis, eosinophilia, and higher neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agroindustrial Science is the property of Agroindustrial Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The global cost-benefit analysis of pesticide use during the last 30 years has been characterized by a significant increase during the period from 1990 to 2007 followed by a decline. This observation can be attributed to several factors including, but not limited to, pest resistance, lack of novelty with respect to modes of action or classes of chemistry, and regulatory action. Due to current and projected increases of the global population, it is evident that the demand for food, and consequently, the usage of pesticides to improve yields will increase. Addressing these challenges and needs while promoting new crop protection agents through an increasingly stringent regulatory landscape requires the development and integration of infrastructures for innovative, cost- and time-effective discovery and development of novel and sustainable molecules. Significant advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and cheminformatics over the last two decades have improved the decision-making power of research scientists in the discovery of bioactive molecules. AI- and cheminformatics-driven molecule discovery offers the opportunity of moving experiments from the greenhouse to a virtual environment where thousands to billions of molecules can be investigated at a rapid pace, providing unbiased hypothesis for lead generation, optimization, and effective suggestions for compound synthesis and testing. To date, this is illustrated to a far lesser extent in the publicly available agrochemical research literature compared to drug discovery. In this review, we provide an overview of the crop protection discovery pipeline and how traditional, cheminformatics, and AI technologies can help to address the needs and challenges of agrochemical discovery towards rapidly developing novel and more sustainable products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1Department of Agronomy, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai 625 104, India 2Water Technology Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641 003, India 3Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai 625 104, India 4Department of Agricultural Chemicals, CPMB&B, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641 003, India 5Department of Mathematics, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai 625 104, India The leaves of Vitex negundo L., popularly known as notchi in Tamil Nadu, India, contain a wide variety of secondary metabolites and phytochemicals. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has been employed in the present study to detect and classify bioactive chemicals using three distinct extraction solvents: dichloromethane, milli-Q water and methanol. We have isolated 65 phytocompounds in total qualitatively. The bulk of these substances belong to the terpenoid class of secondary metabolites, which play a role in plant defence systems and natural pollination. Thus, it has been proposed that notchi leaf extracts could be used instead of synthetic chemicals and also as a biopesticide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Golden Batch tool is a digital tool built and developed by Yara for Yara fertiliser plants. The basic idea of the tool is to digitise binders and notebooks with historical references of good production, i.e. Golden Batches. The tool provides a user-friendly way to search for and use previous production periods to follow up current production. It also continuously monitors the plant, ensuring the best production periods are always captured and stored for the future. Central to the tool's development is the programmatic definition of what qualifies as a 'good production.' This definition serves a dual purpose: firstly, identifying Golden Batches based on historical datasets, and secondly, continuously monitoring ongoing plant operations to identify and optimise for superior production periods. This approach mitigates reliance on subjective assessments of production quality, thereby enhancing standardisation, troubleshooting capabilities, and aiding in the training of new personnel. However, the adoption of this transformative tool is not without its challenges. It demands substantial time and effort for training and integration. Nevertheless, this investment is imperative for unlocking the full potential of the tool. Presently, the tool has been successfully implemented in six NPK plants, with an observable trend of high user adoption overall, but with challenges in some plants. A post-project review conducted on the initial plant wherein the tool was deployed revealed a significant increase in the production rate after the tool's implementation. The Golden Batch tool is not a static solution; it is a dynamic tool that emphasises continuous improvement. The application undergoes evolutionary adaptations responsive to user needs, innovative ideas, and constructive feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slow release agrochemicals are a class of agrochemical inputs that deliver their active chemicals or ingredients slowly over time. The majority of formulation consists of an outer medium and a core ingredient, the outer layer progressively degrades over time, enabling the slow release of the active substances to the earth. Bionanocomposites have obtained prominence as outer medium of slow release formulation. Bionanocomposites are a family of hybrid materials made by combining the biopolymer matrix and the nanofiller. Although traditional agrochemicals such as herbicides, insecticides, liming, pesticides, fertilizers etc. are frequently employed in field to improve crop productivity, their excessive use can have noxious effect on the environment and living organisms. These problems can be mitigated by the application of agrochemicals employing bionanocomposites, which increase bio-efficacy and reduces the danger of leaching. This comprehensive review highlights the significance of biobased nanocomposites, their synthesis techniques, applications in agriculture industry and their slow release efficiency in water and soil. It also focus on the remarkable contributions of various research in the slow and controlled release of nanofertilizers, nanopesticides and nanoherbicides which marks a sustainable way of developing agricultural practices aiming at the enhancement of yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of natural and environmentally friendly pesticides is a key area of interest for the agrochemical industry, with many potentially active compounds being sourced from numerous plant species. In this study, we report the bioassay-guided isolation and identification of phytotoxic and antifungal compounds from the ethyl acetate extract of Helietta parvifolia stems. We identified eight compounds, consisting of two coumarins and six alkaloids. Among these, a new alkaloid, 2-hydroxy-3,6,7-trimethoxyquinoline-4-carbaldehyde (6), was elucidated, along with seven known compounds. The phytotoxicity of purified compounds was evaluated, and chalepin (4) was active against Agrostis stolonifera at 1 mM with 50% inhibition of seed germination and it reduced Lemna pausicotata (duckweed) growth by 50% (IC50) at 168 μM. Additionally, we evaluated the antifungal activity against the fungal plant pathogen Colletotrichum fragariae using a thin-layer chromatography bioautography assay, which revealed that three isolated furoquinoline alkaloids (flindersiamine (3), kokusagenine (7), and maculine (8)) among the isolated compounds had the strongest inhibitory effects on the growth of C. fragariae at all tested concentrations. Our results indicate that these active natural compounds, i.e., (3), (4), (7), and (8), could be scaffolds for the production of more active pesticides with better physicochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both sulfonyl and phosphorothioate are important privileged structural motifs which are widely presented in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Herein, we describe an efficient approach to synthesizing sulfonyl-containing phosphorothioates by merging photoredox and copper catalysis at room temperature. This protocol is compatible with a wide range of substrates and can be applied to the late-stage modification of complex molecules. Control experiments are conducted to demonstrate the generation of the sulfonyl radical in the transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos del CILHA is the property of Universidad Nacional de Cuyo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Due to the policy of balancing the occupation and compensation of cultivated land and uneven regional economic development in China, the cultivated land tends to move from developed area to undeveloped area. China's undeveloped regions are mainly located in the west, where the climate is more arid and the soil is more barren, and more agrochemical inputs such as fertilizers and mulch films are needed to ensure grain production. Therefore, the westward shift of cultivated land may bring about even faster westward shift of agricultural chemicals, which poses great danger to the already fragile ecological environment in the western region. However, the current research mainly focuses on the spatio-temporal changes of cultivated land, and the research on the environmental effect brought by the spatial movement of cultivated land is still lacking. Based on the cultivated land data and corresponding agrochemical inputs at the provincial level from 2000 to 2020, spatio-temporal statistical models were used to analyze the evolution of cultivated land distribution patterns and the super-environmental effect. The following results were found: (1) the gravity centers of China's cultivated land area moved to the northwest, with corresponding average annual moving speeds of 1.67 km year−1 during the study period; (2) the gravity centers of agrochemical inputs were also moved westward or north-westward and showed even higher speeds than that of cultivated land area, i.e., mulch film (14.93 km year−1) > fertilizer (6.69 km year−1) > pesticide (5.59 km year−1) > agricultural diesel (3.78 km year−1) > cultivated land area (1.67 km year−1); (3) it was revealed from the spatio-temporal double-difference modeling that the westward shift of cultivated land distribution patterns had increased the relative agrochemical inputs per area in the west, which explained why the westward shift of agrochemical inputs was faster than that of cultivated land. This study has enriched the existing ecological policy evaluation methods theoretically, revealed the super-environmental effect brought by the westward shift of cultivated land patterns under the current policy background, and confirmed that the westward shift of cultivated land will bring the pressure of agricultural non-point source pollution to the western region, which may lead to the destruction of the ecological environment in the western region. In practice, it can provide a decision-making reference for rational agrochemical inputs in the process of grain cultivation and protection of agricultural ecological environment in western China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to determine a disinfestation procedure for in vitro establishing of Agave angustifolia Haw. explants collected in the field. Design/Methodology/Approach: seven agave plants per treatment were placed in perlite to contrast six treatments; two agrochemicals (Benomyl 2 g L-1 and Actara 0.5 g L-1) and three contact times (10, 20 and 30 days). The stems of the plants were sectioned in 4-6 segments, after treatment with alcohol 80%, chlorine 30% and hydrogen peroxide 20%, to later place them in vitro. Usually there is contamination of explants mainly by bacteria, so Pursue® was used at 25 and 50%, placing 20 explants in each concentration for 1 minute. The variables evaluated were percentage of visibly healthy explants, type of contamination. Due to the difference in the number of explants, no statistical tests were performed. Results: the plants treated with Benomyl presented less contamination by fungi without considering the contact time. Bacteria were present in the different treatments used, however, in the explants with pretreated with Benomyl, 85% was obtained visibly healthy when Pursue® at 50% was used. Study limitations/Implications: other agrochemicals, such as specific bactericides are desirable to determine through their use, whether they mitigate in vitro contamination by pathogenic bacteria. Findings/Conclusions: pretreatments with agrochemicals for the in vitro establishing of plants collected from the field are necessary to increase the number of visually healthy explants. With the Pursue® product at 50%, up to 85% of explants can be obtained without the presence of fungi or bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil characteristics are a crucial matter in relation torice production in a swampland area. A study on chemical soil characteristics and economics of swampland rice production was carried out at a subdistrict of Rambutan and Banyuasin 1, Banyuasin, South Sumatera. Evaluation of soil organic matter in both locations foundcarbon content in Rambutan and Banyuasinto bemedium to high and medium to very high, respectively. In respect to nitrogen content, Rambutan had very low to medium, while Banyuasin 1 fell into the low to medium categories. Based on the average C/N ratio, both locations were considered to have a high accumulation of organic matter in the soil. In regard to macronutrient content, especially P and K, Rambutan and Banyuasin 1 fell into the low to medium category for P and low for K. Cost analysis of swampland rice production in both locations revealed the production processto be economically feasible. Linear regression analysis among pertinent factors in production improvement presented the positive impacts on rice productivity to be derived from Amount of planted seeds, phosphate fertilizer, return of straw to soil/organic matter and knowledge of the recommended fertilizer dosage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eppawala area in Sri Lanka has an agriculturalbased economy. As a result, the recent agricultural intensification could increase the risk of heavy metal contamination in lakes in the area as the main water canal in the area, i.e., Jaya Ganga, flows across these lakes. Therefore, this study focuses on the risk assessment of heavy metals in the freshwater lake sediments in the Eppawala area and the identification of potential sources for heavy metal contamination in the lakes. Nine heavy metals (Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) were investigated in surface sediments (n = 22) of the upstream and downstream lakes of the Eppawala Phosphate Deposit (EPD). The average heavy metal concentrations in the upstream lake sediments were higher than those downstream. Eppawala lake sediments were heavily polluted by As along with moderate to high Cr pollution. However, only As and Cd indicated considerable to moderate ecological risk levels to the local environment. The downstream lake sediments showed lower heavy metal contents compared to those upstream and had negative correlations between heavy metals and P2O5 contents. This reveals that the EPD does not contribute to the heavy metal contamination in the Eppawala lake sediments. However, the statistical analysis showed that heavy metals were mostly derived from similar pollution sources. Agrochemicals used in paddy cultivation in the vicinity might be a potential source of heavy metals. This study highlights the importance of implementing remediation to control the heavy metal pollution prevailing in the Eppawala lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf spot or yellow sigatoka disease (caused by Mycosphaerella musicola) of banana causes significant yield loss as well as in quality of fruits in every year and reported up to 65% or even more under favorable epidemic conditions. In this perspective, an experiment was conducted at ZBNF project Research field, college of horticulture, Sirsi (Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka) for consecutive two seasons (2020-21 & 2021-22). Experiment accompanied with RBD statistical design with five replications and four treatments. Four different management practices involving viz. Propiconazole 25EC @ 0.1% (Recommended package of practices-UHS, Bagalkot), Trichoderma harzianum 10g/lit. (Organic farming), sour butter milk 5 lit. per 200 liter of water (Natural farming) and Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25% WG @0.5gm/lit. (Chemical farming) were evaluated against sigatoka leaf spot disease. Among the management practices, chemical farming comprises tebuconazole 50%+ trifloxystrobin 25%WG@1gm/lit was found effective in managing the disease (12.38% PDI) followed by recommended package of practice comprises propiconazole 25%EC @1ml/l (16.33% PDI), organic farming comprises of talk-based Trichoderma harzianum 10g/lit (17.33% PDI). Natural farming showed least effective to combat disease recorded maximum disease severity (19.66% PDI) after 210 days after planting. Although chemical farming can effectively control the disease but results in the serious risk on human health and environmental hazards. Therefore, organic and natural farming are an alternative approach that are eco-friendly and economically viable against sigatoka leaf spot disease management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to high surface area, loading capacity, and selectivity, Metal‐Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have shown much promise recently for potential applications in extraction and delivery of agrochemicals for environmental remediation and sustainable release, respectively. However, application of MOFs for pesticide delivery in wider agricultural context can be restricted by their granular form. Herein, an alternative approach is studied using biodegradable polymer‐MOF composites to address this limitation. The loading and release of a widely used pesticide, 2,4‐dichloropheoxycetic acid (2,4‐D), is studied using two MOFs, UiO‐66 and UiO‐66‐NH2, and the 2,4‐D‐loaded MOFs are incorporated into biodegradable polycaprolactone composites for convenient handling and minimizing runoff. The MOFs are loaded by in‐situ, and post‐synthetic methods, and characterised thoroughly to ensure successful synthesis and loading of 2,4‐D. The pesticide release studies are performed on the MOFs and composites in distilled water, and analysed using UV‐Vis spectroscopy, demonstrating sustained‐release of 2,4‐D over 16 days. The loaded MOF samples show high loading capacity, with up to 45 wt% for the in‐situ loaded UiO‐66. Release kinetics show more sustained release of 2,4‐D from UiO‐66‐NH2 compared to UiO‐66, which can be due to supramolecular interactions between the NH2 group of UiO‐66‐NH2 and 2,4‐D. This is further supported by computational studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The skin sensitization potential of agrochemicals can be assessed using laboratory methods such as the keratinocyte activation assay so that their use in regulatory toxicology might replace experimental animal testing. Here, we evaluated the skin sensitization potential of 11 agrochemicals by using an antioxidant response element–nuclear factor erythroid 2 luciferase assay in KeratinoSens and LuSens cells and applying a skin sensitization adverse outcome pathway (AOP). The KeratinoSens and LuSens assays consistently evaluated the skin sensitization potential of 10/11 agrochemicals with reference to animal testing databases. Benomyl, pretilachlor, fluazinam, terbufos, butachlor, and carbosulfan were correctly detected as sensitizers, and glufosinate ammonium, oxiadiazon, tebuconazole, and etofenprox were correctly detected as non-sensitizers. For diazinon, the skin sensitizing potential was positive in the KeratinoSens assay but not in the LuSens assay. These results suggest that the evaluation of in vitro skin sensitization using the AOP mechanism can be applied to assess active agrochemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the search for sustainable and environmentally friendly agrochemicals from natural origin is steadily growing. Propolis, a resinous substance collected by honeybees, well known for its diverse biological activities, has attracted the attention of scientists and farmers with its agrochemical potential in the last years. This review article aims to delve into the fascinating world of propolis and its utilization in agriculture. Here, we provide a brief overview of propolis: its chemical composition and the bioactive substances responsible for its biological properties. The effectiveness of propolis in controlling common pests and diseases that affect crops, suppressing postharvest illnesses of fruits and vegetables, stimulating plant defenses and increasing stress resistance, is reviewed. Discussion of the challenges and future perspectives related to the integration of propolis in agriculture is also one of our objectives, including chemical variability, standardization and regulatory considerations. We also focused on the latest research trends and technological advances that promise to unlock the full potential of propolis as a sustainable agricultural tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance, referring to microorganisms' capability to subsist and proliferate even when there are antimicrobials is a foremost threat to public health globally. The appearance of antimicrobial resistance can be ascribed to anthropological, animal, and environmental factors. Human-related causes include antimicrobial overuse and misuse in medicine, antibiotic-containing cosmetics and biocides utilization, and inadequate sanitation and hygiene in public settings. Prophylactic and therapeutic antimicrobial misuse and overuse, using antimicrobials as feed additives, microbes resistant to antibiotics and resistance genes in animal excreta, and antimicrobial residue found in animal-origin food and excreta are animals related contributive factors for the antibiotic resistance emergence and spread. Environmental factors including naturally existing resistance genes, improper disposal of unused antimicrobials, contamination from waste in public settings, animal farms, and pharmaceutical industries, and the use of agricultural and sanitation chemicals facilitatet its emergence and spread. Wildlife has a plausible role in the antimicrobial resistance spread. Adopting a one-health approach involving using antimicrobials properly in animals and humans, improving sanitation in public spaces and farms, and implementing coordinated governmental regulations is crucial for combating antimicrobial resistance. Collaborative and cooperative involvement of stakeholders in public, veterinary and ecological health sectors is foremost to circumvent the problem effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeted analysis of contaminants in water are often focused on a narrow range of chemicals, falling short of the true pollution status of water bodies. Non targeted screening presents several advantages in identifying less prioritized pollutants, entirely unknown compounds and transformation products. In this study we employed a non-targeted screening workflow established on a high-resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer coupled to an ultrahigh performance liquid chromatograph (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) to identify known and unknown pollutants in South African waste and surface waters. Level two confidence identification of 315 compounds was achieved based on mass accuracy, isotope patterns and MS/MS spectra match. Pharmaceuticals, drugs, and metabolites made up 40% of the detected compounds, biological compounds and industrial chemicals along with their metabolites constituted 24 and 18% respectively, while personal care products, pesticides and food additives made up approximately 5, 4 and 4% respectively. Several antiretroviral drugs were confirmed with level one confidence using isotope labelled standards. A wide range of “new” pharmaceuticals, pesticides and metabolites were documented in South African waters for the first time. Seventeen (17) pharmaceuticals were reported for the first time in South African waters, of which four are reported for the first time ever in surface water.The result of this exploratory study highlights the presence of several contaminants of public health concern that have hitherto received little to no attention in previous wastewater-based epidemiological studies. We provide a detailed list of priority contaminants for future studies on targeted-analysis.