Sulfur And Pest

BACKGROUND: The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a significant threat to crop production. Alternatives to synthetic pesticides are needed for its management. Here we investigated the effect of sulphur on H. halys. Experiments were performed to evaluate both mortality and deterrence/repellence of H. halys following sulphur treatments in laboratory and semi-field conditions. RESULTS: Brown marmorated stink bug mortality was not influenced by sulphur applications...

In Taiwan, the pesticides dimethomorph and imidacloprid are recommended for pest control in vineyards. Therefore, tank-mixing of these two pesticides is usually a routine practice before application. This study analyzed the influence of vineyard soil microbial flora under the recommended and high dosages (100 times the recommended dosage) of dimethomorph and imidacloprid. Individual and combined applications of pesticides were also tested through batches of soil incubation experiments. Four treatments-control (C), dimethomorph (DT), imidacloprid (IM), and mixed application of dimethomorph and imidacloprid (ID)-were used in the experimental design...

Vineyards, covering over seven million hectares worldwide, hold significant socio-cultural importance. Traditionally reliant on conventional practices and agrochemicals, this agroecosystem faces environmental challenges, including soil and water pollution. Sustainable viticulture, driven by eco-friendly practices and cost reduction, has gained prominence, underlining the importance of biological control agents such as entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). EPNs naturally occurr in vineyard soils and play a crucial role in controlling pest damage...

Many mites of the family Eriophyidae are important pests worldwide. In citrus crops, the eriophyid Phyllocoptruta oleivora stands out for the economic losses caused. The pest's injuries cause the darkening of leaves, twigs, and fruits, making them unfit for the fresh fruit market and affecting plant productivity. Another species that causes similar symptoms was described in Brazil recently, the brown citrus rust mite, Tegolophus brunneus. Although studies have not been performed with this species, growers and technicians have attributed the rise in rust damages in Brazil to T...

The green-belly stink bug (Diceraeus melacanthus Dallas (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)) is a key pest of corn-soybean crop systems and the management of this pest is difficult due to behavioral characteristics. However, products that alter its behavior, such as arrestants, dislodgers, and phagostimulants, have been used in an attempt to improve the effectiveness of chemical control. In this study, the effect of these products on the walking behavior of nymphs and adults of D. melacanthus was initially evaluated through computational behavioral tracking (Ethovision system)...

While the invasive spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (White) [Hemiptera: Fulgoridae], continues to expand its range in the United States, there remains a knowledge gap regarding the economic threat that this pest presents to forest ecosystems and production nurseries. L. delicatula uses several common hardwood trees as hosts and a previous study found that short-term feeding can reduce growth of young maple saplings. Herein, long-term feeding over 4 consecutive seasons significantly reduced diameter growth and below-ground starch storage in roots of young silver maples (Acer saccharinum L...

Frequent fungicide applications are required to manage grapevine powdery mildew (Erysiphe necator). However, this practice is costly and has led to widespread fungicide resistance. A method of monitoring in-field fungicide efficacy could help growers maximize spray-interval length, thereby reducing costs and the rate of fungicide resistance emergence. The goal of this study was to evaluate if hyperspectral sensing in the visible to shortwave infrared range (VSWIR, 400-2,400 nm) can quantify foliar fungicide efficacy on grape leaves...

Hemp russet mite, Aculops cannibicola Farkas (Acari: Eriophyidae), is one of the key pests of hemp, Cannabis sativa L. (Rosales: Cannabaceae). Hemp russet mite feeds primarily on new growth and can reach high densities, frequently exceeding a thousand mites per leaf, and leading to a decrease in yield and quality of cannabinoids. The objective of this experiment was to determine the efficacy of reduced-risk pesticides used in organic crop protection as well as conventional insecticides in managing hemp russet mites in a greenhouse and field...

Tetranychid outbreaks have been detected since 2016 in southern highbush blueberries (SHB); however, it was not until 2019 that the southern red mite (SRM), Oligonychus ilicis (Acari: Tetranychidae) was confirmed as the pest causing severe bronzing and stunting, in multiple Florida and Georgia commercial blueberry plantings. To date, only three miticides (fenazaquin, fenpyroximate, and acequinocyl) have been registered for use in SHB and there are no clear guidelines on how to manage SRM in SHB. Similarly, there is no knowledge regarding the existence of natural enemies of SRM in SHB...

Hemp is rapidly becoming a crop of global agricultural importance, and one of the more serious pests of this crop is hemp russet mite (HRM) Aculops cannabicola (Acari: Eriophyidae). Significant knowledge gaps presently exist regarding critical aspects of pest biology, quantification of crop damage, and efficacy of pesticides. Here we assessed the role of cannabidiol (CBD) on HRM performance, efficacy of sulfur treatments in field trials, and effect of hot water immersion with and without surfactants in reducing HRM counts on hemp cuttings...

Many organisms can sense and respond to magnetic fields (MFs), with migratory species in particular utilizing geomagnetic field information for long-distance migration. Cryptochrome proteins (Crys) along with a highly conserved Iron-sulfur cluster assembly protein (i.e., MagR) have garnered significant attention for their involvement in magnetoresponse (including magnetoreception). However, in vivo investigations of potential transcriptional crosstalk between Crys and MagR genes have been limited. The brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens , is a major migratory pest insect and an emerging model for studying MF intensity-related magnetoresponse...

BACKGROUND: The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is an important pest of cotton and horticultural crops globally. In China, smallholder farmers regularly intercrop cotton with garlic or onion. Aside from higher farm-level revenue, cotton intercrops are typified by lower A. gossypii abundance than monocrops. So far, the mechanistic basis of this lowered pest pressure has not been empirically assessed. RESULTS: Field trials showed that A...

The parasitoid wasp Bathyplectes anurus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Campopleginae) is a successful biocontrol agent against the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica. This weevil is a serious pest of beneficial fabaceous plants such as alfalfa and Chinese milk vetch. One of the possible reasons for the success of this wasp in hot climates may be the ability of its cocooned larvae to repeatedly jump and roll until they relocate themselves away from detrimental sunlight and heat. It is not yet known which wavelengths of light trigger this avoidance behavior or the microstructure of the cocoon shell that might allow light transmission...

The element of sulfur plays an outstanding role in crop protection chemistry, as it is used in elemental form as a multisite fungicide but is also part of agrochemicals in form of aromatic or aliphatic sulfur-containing rings or sulfur-based functional groups. This review article will give an exhaustive overview over the latter category. Several fundamental agrochemical compound classes are named after a sulfur-based functionality, such as the dithiocarbamate fungicides and the sulfonylurea herbicides. Altogether sixteen different sulfur-based functional groups are presented with their typical synthesis approaches and most important representatives in crop protection...

In the United States, allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) has been registered as an insecticide, bactericide, and nematicide. And it has been confirmed that AITC has significant insecticidal activities against four stored product pests including Sitophilus zeamais Mostchulky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). This study aimed to verify the mechanism of action of AITC on cytochrome c oxidase core subunits II in S. zeamais. Enzyme - catalyzed reactions and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) analysis revealed that the expressed COX II proteins could competitively bind and inhibit the activity of COX II...

Chemical pesticides, while playing an important role in the suppression of insect pests, should be used in a manner that minimizes negative effects on natural enemies. The parasitoid, Anagyrus vladimiri Triapitsyn (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), plays an important role in the management of mealybug pests of citrus groves in the Mediterranean region. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of commonly used acaricides (Spirodiclofen, Spirotetramat, Sulfur, Fenpyroximate, Abamectin) and mineral oils (Levanola, EOS, JMS, and Ultrapaz) on acute mortality of A...

Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a destructive pest of stored grains around the world. Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) was shown to have good bioactivity in the control of S. zeamais . In this study, the interaction of AITC on cytochrome c oxidase core subunits I (COX I) and their binding mechanism were determined using spectroscopic, isothermal titration calorimetry and molecular docking techniques. The results indicate the binding constant ( K a ) of AITC and COX I was 6.742 × 103 L/mol...

Bradysia odoriphaga (Diptera: Sciaridae) is a major insect pest of seven plant families including 30 commercial crops in Asia. The long-term use of chemical pesticides leads to problems such as insect resistance, environmental issues, and food contamination. Against this background, a novel pest control method should be developed. In insects, odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) transport odor molecules, including pheromones and plant volatiles, to olfactory receptors. Here, we expressed and characterized the recombinant B...

The nematicidal activity of radish bulb ( Raphanus sativus ) methanol (RME) and aqueous extracts (RAE) was tested against the second stage (J2 ) root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita model. The EC50 of RME after 3 d of J2 immersion in test solutions was 312 ± 65 μg/ml. However, no activity was noted for RAE (EC50 > 1,000 μg/ml). The chemical composition analysis of the methanol extract carried out by the GC-MS technique showed that 4-methylthio-3-butenyl isothiocyanate (raphasatin) was the most abundant compound at 20%...

Thrips palmi (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is an important pest of vegetables, legumes, and ornamentals. In addition, it transmits several plant viruses. T. palmi genes associated with innate immunity, endocytosis-related pathways, and cuticular development are highly enriched in response to Groundnut bud necrosis orthotospovirus (GBNV, genus Orthotospovirus , family Tospoviridae ) infection. As the previous transcriptomic study suggested the involvement of T. palmi UHRF1BP1 and PFAS in GBNV infection, these two genes were targeted for silencing using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), and the effects on thrips' fitness and virus acquisition were observed...