Developing a Highly Stable Carlina acaulis Essential Oil Nanoemulsion for Managing Lobesia botrana

The growing interest in the development of green pest management strategies is leading to the exploitation of essential oils (EOs) as promising botanical pesticides. In this respect, nanotechnology could efficiently support the use of EOs through their encapsulation into stable nanoformulations, such as nanoemulsions (NEs), to improve their stability and efficacy. This technology assures the improvement of the chemical stability, hydrophilicity, and environmental persistence of EOs, giving an added value for the fabrication of natural insecticides effective against a wide spectrum of insect vectors and pests of public and agronomical importance. Carlina acaulis (Asteraceae) root EO has been recently proposed as a promising ingredient of a new generation of botanical insecticides. In the present study, a highly stable C. acaulis-based NE was developed. Interestingly, such a nanosystem was able to encapsulate 6% (w/w) of C. acaulis EO, showing a mean diameter of around 140 nm and a SOR (surfactant-to-oil ratio) of 0.6. Its stability was evaluated in a storage period of six months and corroborated by an accelerated stability study. Therefore, the C. acaulis EO and C. acaulis-based NE were evaluated for their toxicity against 1st instar larvae of the European grapevine moth (EGVM), Lobesia botrana (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a major vineyard pest. The chemical composition of C. acaulis EO was investigated by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) revealing carlina oxide, a polyacetylene, as the main constituent. In toxicity assays, both the C. acaulis EO and the C. acaulis-based NE were highly toxic to L. botrana larvae, with LC50 values of 7.299 and 9.044 µL/mL for C. acaulis EO and NE, respectively. The C. acaulis-based NE represents a promising option to develop highly stable botanical insecticides for pest management. To date, this study represents the first evidence about the insecticidal toxicity of EOs and EO-based NEs against this major grapevine pest.

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Soil Nitrogen Movement under Sustainable Vegetable Production Systems

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.494f ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 494f-495 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Amy M. Johnson ◽

Greg D. Hoyt

Keyword(s):

Pest Management ◽

Soil Nitrogen ◽

Conservation Tillage ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Plant Diseases ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Beneficial Arthropods ◽

Weed Species ◽

Available Nitrogen

An experiment was established to determine the effect of different tillage practices, vegetable crop rotations, and pest management strategies on crop yield, plant diseases, pest and beneficial arthropods, weed species changes over time, and soil environmental consequences. This poster describes nitrogen movement from the various treatments over a 3-year rotation. The treatments are: 1) conventional tillage with chemically based IPM; 2) conventional tillage with biologically based IPM; 3) conservation tillage with chemically based IPM; 4) conservation tillage with biologically based IPM; and 5) conventional tillage with no fertilizer or pest management. Mid-season soil analyses with depth showed chemical-fertilized plowed and conservation-tilled treatments with more soil available nitrogen at most depths compared to the biological-based IPM systems (soybean meal was used as a nitrogen source). However, the biological-based systems did supply enough soil nitrogen to produce similar yield results as the chemical-based systems. Less soil nitrate was measured in the 30- to 90-cm depths at harvest from the biological-based systems than chemical-based systems. Conservation-tilled systems had greater nitrate with depth compared to conventional-tilled systems.

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Antimicrobial Activity and Chemical Characterization of a Non-Polar Extract of Saffron Stamens in Food Matrix

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10040703 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 703

Author(s):

Severino Zara ◽

Giacomo L. Petretto ◽

Alberto Mannu ◽

Giacomo Zara ◽

Marilena Budroni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chemical Composition ◽

Fatty Acid Content ◽

Chemical Characterization ◽

Antimicrobial Activities ◽

Added Value ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Food Matrix ◽

Bacterial Strains ◽

By Products

The production of saffron spice generates large quantities of plant by-products: over 90% of the plant material collected is discarded, and a consideration fraction of this waste is plant stamens. This work investigated the chemical composition and the antimicrobial activities of the non-polar fraction extracted from four different saffron flower stamens. The chemical composition of ethereal extracts of the saffron stamens was qualitatively assessed by means of gas–chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses. These analyses revealed ethereal extracts to possess a high polyunsaturated fatty acid content. In vitro antibacterial activity of stamen extracts showed no large differences between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in terms of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). In food matrix microbial analysis of the bacterial strains belonging to the main foodborne pathogen species, including Staphylococcus aureus DSM 20231, Escherichia coli DSM 30083, and Listeria monocytogenes DSM 20600, using low-fat UHT milk, revealed a statistically significant reduction in the number of cells (particularly for E. coli and S. aureus with a complete elimination of the population of the two target bacteria following incubation in diethyl ether extracts of saffron stamen (DES) at high concentrations tested, both at 37 °C and 6 °C (for 48 h and 7 days, respectively). A synergic effect was observed when the pathogens were incubated at 6 °C with DES. This work shows these by-products to be excellent sources of bioactive compounds, which could be exploited in high-added-value products, such as food, cosmetics, and drugs.

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Functional Properties of Antimicrobial Neem Leaves Extract Based Macroalgae Biofilms for Potential Use as Active Dry Packaging Applications

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13101664 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (10) ◽

pp. 1664

Author(s):

A. A. Oyekanmi ◽

U. Seeta Uthaya Kumar ◽

Abdul Khalil H. P. S. ◽

N. G. Olaiya ◽

A. A. Amirul ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Composite Film ◽

Functional Properties ◽

Storage Stability ◽

Storage Period ◽

Antimicrobial Activities ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Ambient Conditions ◽

Neem Extract ◽

Control Film ◽

Neem Leaves

Antimicrobial irradiated seaweed–neem biocomposite films were synthesized in this study. The storage functional properties of the films were investigated. Characterization of the prepared films was conducted using SEM, FT-IR, contact angle, and antimicrobial test. The macroscopic and microscopic including the analysis of the functional group and the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry test revealed the main active constituents present in the neem extract, which was used an essential component of the fabricated films. Neem leaves’ extracts with 5% w/w concentration were incorporated into the matrix of seaweed biopolymer and the seaweed–neem bio-composite film were irradiated with different dosages of gamma radiation (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 kGy). The tensile, thermal, and the antimicrobial properties of the films were studied. The results revealed that the irradiated films exhibited improved functional properties compared to the control film at 1.5 kGy radiation dosage. The tensile strength, tensile modulus, and toughness exhibited by the films increased, while the elongation of the irradiated bio-composite film decreased compared to the control film. The morphology of the irradiated films demonstrated a smoother surface compared to the control and provided surface intermolecular interaction of the neem–seaweed matrix. The film indicated an optimum storage stability under ambient conditions and demonstrated no significant changes in the visual appearance. However, an increase in the moisture content was exhibited by the film, and the hydrophobic properties was retained until nine months of the storage period. The study of the films antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (SA), and Bacillus subtilis (BS) indicated improved resistance to bacterial activities after the incorporation of neem leaves extract and gamma irradiation. The fabricated irradiated seaweed–neem bio-composite film could be used as an excellent sustainable packaging material due to its effective storage stability.

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Inhibitory Copulation Effect of Vibrational Rival Female Signals of Three Stink Bug Species as a Tool for Mating Disruption

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12020177 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 177

Author(s):

Aline Moreira Dias ◽

Miguel Borges ◽

Maria Carolina Blassioli Moraes ◽

Matheus Lorran Figueira Coelho ◽

Andrej Čokl ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pest Management ◽

Mating Behavior ◽

Mating Disruption ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Stink Bug ◽

Stink Bugs ◽

Vibratory Communication ◽

Communication Signals ◽

Long Duration ◽

Bean Plants

Stink bugs are major pests in diverse crops around the world. Pest management strategies based on insect behavioral manipulation could help to develop biorational management strategies of stink bugs. Insect mating disruption using vibratory signals is an approach with high potential for pest management. The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of conspecific female rival signals on the mating behavior and copulation of three stink bug species to establish their potential for mating disruption. Previously recorded female rival signals were played back to bean plants where pairs of the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros, and two green stink bugs, Chinavia ubica and Chinavia impicticornis were placed. Vibratory communication and mating behavior were recorded for each pair throughout the experimental time (20 min). Female rival signals show a disrupting effect on the reproductive behavior of three conspecific investigated stink bug species. This effect was more clearly expressed in E. heros and C. ubica than in C. impicticornis. The likelihood of copulating in pairs placed on control plants, without rival signals, increased 29.41 times in E. heros, 4.6 times in C. ubica and 1.71 times in C. impicticornis. However, in the last case, the effect of female rivalry signals in copulation was not significant. The effect of mating disruption of female rival signals of the three stink bug species may originate from the observed reduction in specific vibratory communication signals emitted, which influences the duet formation and further development of different phases of mating behavior. Our results suggest that female rival signals have potential for application in manipulation and disruption of mating behavior of stink bugs. Further work needs to focus on the effects of female rival signals used in long duration experiments and also their interactions with chemical communication of stink bugs.

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“Predator-In-First”: A Preemptive Biological Control Strategy for Sustainable Management of Pepper Pests in Florida

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12187816 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (18) ◽

pp. 7816

Author(s):

Vivek Kumar ◽

Lucky Mehra ◽

Cindy L. McKenzie ◽

Lance S. Osborne

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Pest Management ◽

Control Strategy ◽

Frankliniella Occidentalis ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Control Program ◽

Field Conditions ◽

High Rate ◽

Polyphagotarsonemus Latus ◽

Consistent Performance

The early establishment of a biocontrol agent in the production system, whether in the greenhouse, nursery, or field, is essential for the success of the biological control program, ensuring growers’ profitability. In an effort to develop a sustainable pest management solution for vegetable growers in Florida, we explored the application of a preemptive biological control strategy, “Predator-In-First” (PIF), in regulating multiple pepper pests, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, and Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks under greenhouse and field conditions during different growing seasons. In these studies, two bell pepper cultivars (7039 and 7141) and the phytoseiid mite Amblyseius swirskii Athias–Henriot were used as a model system. Pepper seedlings (~8 week) of each cultivar were infested with varying rates of A. swirskii (20 or 40 mites/plant or one sachet/10 plant) and allowed to settle on plant hosts for a week before planting in pots or field beds. Results showed a comparative consistent performance of the treatment with the high rate of phytoseiids (40 mites/plant) in regulating B. tabaci and F. occidentalis populations in greenhouse studies, and B. tabaci and P. latus pests under field conditions. During two fall field seasons, higher marketable yields of 12.8% and 20.1% in cultivar 7039, and 24.3% and 39.5% in cultivar 7141 were observed in the treatment with the high rate of phytoseiids compared to the untreated control, indicating yield benefits of the approach. The outcome of the study is encouraging and demonstrates that PIF can be an important tool for organic vegetable growers and a potential alternative to chemical-based conventional pest management strategies. The advantages and limitations of the PIF approach in Florida pepper production are discussed.

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Aggregation Pheromones of Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): Advances in the Identification and Potential Uses in Semiochemical-Based Pest Management Strategies

Journal of Chemical Ecology ◽

10.1007/s10886-021-01319-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Pamela Taisline Bandeira ◽

Carla Fernanda Fávaro ◽

Wittko Francke ◽

Jan Bergmann ◽

Paulo Henrique Gorgatti Zarbin

Keyword(s):

Pest Management ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Aggregation Pheromones

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Risk transfer beyond reinsurance: the added value of CAT bonds

The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance Issues and Practice ◽

10.1057/s41288-021-00234-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tobias Götze ◽

Marc Gürtler

Keyword(s):

Risk Management ◽

Default Risk ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Added Value ◽

Insurance Companies ◽

Data Set ◽

Basis Risk ◽

Cat Bonds ◽

Risk Characteristics ◽

Risk Management Strategies

AbstractReinsurance and CAT bonds are two alternative risk management instruments used by insurance companies. Insurers should be indifferent between the two instruments in a perfect capital market. However, the theoretical literature suggests that insured risk characteristics and market imperfections may influence the effectiveness and efficiency of reinsurance relative to CAT bonds. CAT bonds may add value to insurers’ risk management strategies and may therefore substitute for reinsurance. Our study is the first to empirically analyse if and under what circumstances CAT bonds can substitute for traditional reinsurance. Our analysis of a comprehensive data set comprising U.S. P&C insurers’ financial statements and CAT bond use shows that insurance companies’ choice of risk management instruments is not arbitrary. We find that the added value of CAT bonds mainly stems from non-indemnity bonds and reveal that (non-indemnity) CAT bonds are valuable under high reinsurer default risk, low basis risk and in high-risk layers.

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Comparative Study of Functional Food Regulations in Japan and Globally

Global Journal of Health Science ◽

10.5539/gjhs.v11n6p132 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 132

Author(s):

Mohamed Farid ◽

Kota Kodama ◽

Teruyo Arato ◽

Takashi Okazaki ◽

Tetsuaki Oda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Food ◽

Wide Spectrum ◽

Relevant Literature ◽

The United States ◽

Added Value ◽

The European Union ◽

Foreign Markets ◽

Main Challenge ◽

Study Results ◽

Food Regulations

Since its inception in Japan, functional food has continued to deliver a true added value to a wide spectrum of customers, especially in aging subpopulations. Japanese companies have strong "R&D" capabilities and strong know-how in the field of functional foods. They have the opportunity to grow overseas by promoting and marketing their products. The main challenge is to understand the foreign markets and their regulations to be able to promote Japanese products overseas. To achieve this goal, the study reports a scientific review of the relevant literature and official legislative reports published by the authorized entities in several countries to create a comparison between the rules and regulations in different countries such as China, the European Union, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States. The study results provide suggestions for entry strategies to recommended foreign markets based on regulatory situations. The study also provides a comparison for the different functional food regulations in Japan (FOSHU, FNFC, FFC), along with an introduction for the new local government certification system.

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