Normalized difference vegetation index for desiccation evaluation with glyphosate + 2,4-D in magnetized spray solution

Water magnetization and geoprocessing are increasingly utilized tools in weed management. Our objective was to study the influence of water magnetization on herbicide efficiency and to verify whether there is a relationship between control scores and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). In the laboratory experiment, water was subjected to magnetization and evaluated with respect to four characteristics. In the field experiment, plots of Brachiaria grass were subjected to treatments in a factorial scheme (6 × 2 + 1). Six herbicidal factors (doses of glyphosate and glyphosate + 2,4-D) and the magnetization or absence of magnetization of the spray solution were evaluated and compared against the control treatment (without spraying). Weed control assessments were carried out six times. Images were obtained using an embedded multispectral camera to determine the NDVI values. Data related to water characteristics were analyzed using the t test. Weed control and NDVI data were subjected to analysis of variance and are presented in regression graphs. Dispersion analysis of NDVI data was performed according to the control scores. The magnetization process decreased the pH of the water and increased the surface tension, but it did not influence the control scores or the NDVI. As the glyphosate dose was increased, the control scores were higher and the NDVI values were lower. Magnetized water did not affect the biological efficiency of the herbicides, and there was a strong correlation between the control scores and the NDVI values.

Technology of strip chemical treatment in the resource-saving system of agriculture in Volgograd region

To preserve and restore disturbed lands and reduce the damaging impact on air, plants and soil, it is necessary to apply resource-saving technologies. Strip-till technology is recommended for tilled crops. The technical solution is offered to increase the efficiency of the working solution use due to the rational distribution on the objects of influence and increase of its uniformity. That is, it is possible to reduce the hectare rate of consumption of the working solution by using the method of strip chemical treatment of plants. This is achieved by the redistribution of the working solution between the row and the row with the cultivated plant. The technical solution is to equip the serial sprayer with two lines with spray nozzles and special separator bodies. After a quick changeover in the field without the use of special tools, it is possible to switch from continuous spraying to strip spraying and back. At switching over to strip spraying, the spray solution is sprayed strictly along the strips of cultivated plant growth and covers the whole surface of stem and leaves. This allows reducing the cost of liquid chemicalization agents application and accurately redistributing the working solution.

Simulated Particle and Vapor Drift of Dicamba to ‘Vidal blanc’ Hybrid Grapevine under Missouri Field Conditions

The increasing adoption of dicamba-tolerant soybean (Glycine max) increases the potential exposure of wine grape (Vitis sp.) to dicamba, to which off-target injury may occur via particle drift or vapor drift. In Missouri, at one site in 2017 and at two sites in 2018, research of production vineyards focused on the effects of dicamba on hybrid ‘Vidal blanc’ grapevines. During flowering and early fruit set, bearing grapevines were exposed to low rates of dicamba delivered as a spray solution of 81 or 161 ppm or by vapor from treated soil. Grapevines were highly sensitive to dicamba, and visible symptoms extended throughout the growing season. The severity of dicamba injury (leaf cupping and feathering) was similar at two of three site-years, with greater injury related to particle drift than to vapor drift of dicamba. Early-season injury resulted in dicamba impacting the total soluble solids (TSS) content of grape berries and grape yield. At harvest during two site-years, yield reductions of up to 45% were associated with dicamba exposure at flowering. Across all site-years, no significant effects of dicamba drift were observed in the TSS content of berries during veraison in August, as measured by refractometer. However, the final TSS content of berries at harvest in September was reduced by 12% from dicamba as particle drift. At a minimum detection level of 10 ng⋅mL−1, high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry identified dicamba at levels up to 33 ng⋅mL−1 in grape must over all site-years. Unexpectedly, this was up to 125 d after grapevine exposure despite low levels of visible dicamba symptomology.

Chitosan-microencapsulated rhEGF in promoting wound healing

Aims: Chitosan and epidermal growth factor (EGF) have been shown to improve wound healing. This study investigates the healing effects of a spray solution (NewEpi, JoyCom Bio-Chem Co. Ltd., Taiwan) containing recombinant human EGF (rhEGF) delivered via a newly patented technology—chitosan microencapsulated nanoparticles. Methods: On Wistar rats, two full-thickness wounds on the dorsum bilateral of the spine were created. The rats were randomised to the following treatment groups: hydrogel, wet dressing, foam, rhEGF spray and rhEGF spray+foam. Sterile dressings were applied and changed daily. A total of 2μg of rhEGF was administered in two sprays during each dressing change. All animals were euthanised on day 14. Tissue samples were taken from the wound bed, including an area of 2cm surrounding the wound margin for histological evaluations. Results: Wounds treated with the rhEGF spray achieved the greatest size reduction by day 14 compared with other types of conventional dressings. An overall significant difference in levels of collagen synthesis existed between groups (p<0.01). Pair-wise comparisons showed that the rhEGF spray treatment significantly promoted higher levels of mature Type I collagen than any other conventional dressings (p<0.01), whereas non-rhEGF treatments resulted in higher levels of Type III collagen. The regenerated tissue in rhEGF spray treatment groups was also in alignment with that of normal skin. Epidermis, dermis and hair follicles were easily observed in wounds treated with the rhEGF spray. Conclusion: The major challenge of topical application of rhEGF was overcome by using a new drug delivery technology: chitosan–rhEGF nanoparticles. The positive healing effects observed in this study suggest the therapeutic potentials of this novel rhEGF topical spray solution.

Interaction of Contact Herbicides and Timing of Dicamba Exposure on Soybean

Dicamba residues in sprayers are difficult to remove and may interact with subsequent herbicides including contact herbicides labeled for use in soybean. Without proper tank cleanout, applicators treating dicamba-resistant and non-dicamba-resistant crops are at risk of contaminating the spray solution with dicamba residue from previous applications. Experiments were conducted in Fayetteville, AR in 2018 and 2019 with the first evaluating consequences of dicamba tank contamination with contact herbicides and the second experiment addressing the impact of dicamba exposure on a glufosinate-resistant soybean cultivar relative to a contact herbicide application. Experiments for tank contamination and timing of dicamba exposure were designed as a three-factor- and a two-factor- randomized complete block with four replications, respectively, considering site-year as a fixed effect in each experiment. Dicamba at 0, 0.056, 0.56, and 5.6 g ae ha −1 was applied alone, with glufosinate, with acifluorfen, or with glufosinate plus acifluorfen to V3 soybean. Dicamba applied in combination with contact herbicides exacerbated visible auxin symptomology over dicamba alone at 21 and 28 days after treatment (DAT), while dicamba at 5.6 g ae ha −1 reduced soybean height. Injury and height reductions caused by dicamba mixtures with contact herbicides did not reduce grain yield. In the second experiment, dicamba was applied at 2.8 g ae ha −1 at VC, V1, V2, V3, and at 3, 7, and 10 days after a glufosinate application to V3 soybean (DATV3). Greater soybean injury was observed when dicamba exposure followed a glufosinate application than when dicamba preceded glufosinate or was applied in a mixture with glufosinate, with yield reductions resulting from 7 and 10 DATV3 dicamba applications. Dicamba exposure in the presence of contact herbicides resulted in increased auxin symptomology and can be intensified if soybean are exposed to dicamba following a contact herbicide application.

Herbicides Efficacy against Volunteer Oilseed Rape as Influenced by Spray Solution pH

The pH of the spray liquid is one of the factors influencing the efficacy of herbicides. Adjusting the appropriate parameters of the spraying liquid may reduce the consumption of pesticides, which is in line with the currently introduced legal standards and society’s requirements. In the greenhouse experiment, the influence of herbicides containing mesotrione, nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, bromoxynil, and a mixture of nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, and mesotrione on the efficacy of oilseed rape control was investigated. Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L. ssp. oleifera), apart from being an important crop, can become a nuisance weed in many fields as form of volunteer plants. Visual assessment, reduction of fresh weight, and chlorophyll fluorescence were performed. Individual herbicides influenced the tested parameters to a different extent. The pH of the spray liquid influenced the efficacy of individual plant protection products. The highest herbicidal efficacy in relation to the tested plants was observed in the case of combinations in which mesotrione was applied at a reduced and increased pH, nicosulfuron applied in an acidic and alkaline environment, rimsulfuron without pH modification, and all treatments in which bromoxynil was applied. The herbicides containing mesotrione and bromoxynil had the greatest impact on the photosystem II activity.

Nozzle Selection and Adjuvant Impact on the Efficacy of Glyphosate and PPO-Inhibiting Herbicide Tank-Mixtures

PPO-inhibiting herbicides in combination with glyphosate for postemergence applications is a common approach to manage glyphosate- and ALS-inhibitor-resistant weeds. PPO-inhibitors can reduce glyphosate translocation when applied in tank-mixtures, but adjuvants may be used to overcome this effect. Additionally, optimal droplet size may be affected by tank-mixtures of different herbicides and it can be crucial to herbicide efficacy. Field and greenhouse studies were conducted to investigate the impact of nozzle selection and adjuvants on weed control and interactions when applying PPO-inhibitors (fomesafen or lactofen) alone or in tank-mixture with glyphosate to five weed species using six nozzle types. Ultra-coarse droplets were just as effective as medium droplets regardless of the spray solution, but have a lower likelihood of off-target movement. Tank-mixtures applied were consistently antagonistic to common lambsquarters, horseweed, and Palmer amaranth. Only fomesafen was antagonistic to kochia whereas synergistic interactions were observed when glyphosate plus lactofen were applied in combination with COC, DRA + COC, or NIS. Separate applications are advisable with herbicide- and weed-specific situations to avoid antagonism, which is necessary to achieve optimum weed control and maintain the effectiveness of PPO-inhibitors. Future research should continue to look at these important interactions across a wide range of weed species.

Folic Acid Fortification of Double Fortified Salt

The addition of folic acid to Double Fortified Salt aims to ameliorate iron, iodine, and folic acid deficiencies in vulnerable populations. Folic acid was added either to the iodine spray solution or to the iron premix used to prepare salt fortified with iron and iodine. When added through the solution, sodium carbonate was needed to dissolve folic acid and to adjust pH. Alternately, folic acid was added either to the iron core or sandwiched between the core and the TiO2 layer of the ferrous fumarate premix. Folic acid and iodine were stable in all three cases, retaining more than 70% of the added micronutrients after six months at 45 oC/ 60-70% RH. Adding folic acid to the premix's iron core is preferred as folic acid retention was slightly higher, and the added folic acid did not impact a yellow colour to the salt. Folic acid in this salt was stable in cooking and did not affect selected cooked foods' sensory properties. The technology is a cost-effective approach for simultaneously combating iron, iodine, and folic acid deficiencies.