Resistance status of lepidopteran soybean pests following large-scale use of MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean in Brazil

Widespread adoption of MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean, expressing Cry1Ac Bt protein and glyphosate tolerance, has been observed in Brazil. A proactive program was implemented to phenotypically and genotypically monitor Cry1Ac resistance in Chrysodeixis includens (Walker). Recent cases of unexpected injury in MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean were investigated and a large-scale sampling of larvae on commercial soybean fields was performed to assess the efficacy of this technology and the distribution of lepidopteran pests in Brazil. No significant shift in C. includens susceptibility to Cry1Ac was observed eight years after commercial introduction of this technology in Brazil. F2 screen results confirmed that the frequency of Cry1Ac resistance alleles remains low and stable in C. includens. Unexpected injury caused by Rachiplusia nu (Guenée) and Crocidosema aporema (Walsingham) in MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean was detected during the 2020/21 season, and studies confirmed a genetically based alteration in their susceptibility to Cry1Ac. MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean remains effective against Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner), C. includens, Chloridea virescents (Fabricius) and Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) in Brazil. However, there is evidence of field-evolved resistance to MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean by the secondary soybean pests R. nu and C. aporema.

Transgenic and genome-edited fruits: background, constraints, benefits, and commercial opportunities

Breeding has been used successfully for many years in the fruit industry, giving rise to most of today’s commercial fruit cultivars. More recently, new molecular breeding techniques have addressed some of the constraints of conventional breeding. However, the development and commercial introduction of such novel fruits has been slow and limited with only five genetically engineered fruits currently produced as commercial varieties—virus-resistant papaya and squash were commercialized 25 years ago, whereas insect-resistant eggplant, non-browning apple, and pink-fleshed pineapple have been approved for commercialization within the last 6 years and production continues to increase every year. Advances in molecular genetics, particularly the new wave of genome editing technologies, provide opportunities to develop new fruit cultivars more rapidly. Our review, emphasizes the socioeconomic impact of current commercial fruit cultivars developed by genetic engineering and the potential impact of genome editing on the development of improved cultivars at an accelerated rate.

Smart packaging : Modern way for reducing post-harvest losses of horticultural produce

Most fresh horticultural commodities are highly perishable and thus require proper care and handling during and after harvesting. Hence, packaging (pre-packaging, primary, secondary and tertiary) becomes an essential operation in prolonging the shelf life of the processed or fresh horticultural produce. Packaging provides containment and protection to the product and convenience and communication about the inside product to the end consumer. Consumer requirements and demands and world wide shifting patterns such as expectation of life and companies putting money into the production and delivery of food are driving innovation in food and packaging. Smart packaging is a novel and fascinating technological area with a lot of positive feedback from today’s consumers. The two primary forms of smart packaging are active and intelligent packaging. Active packaging systems include active compounds put into sachets or pads and then placed in the package, as well as placed directly in the package or on the packaging material. Intelligent packaging comprises signs that describe the product’s safety and quality, history, and the environment surrounding the container. Packaging in the traditional sense functions as a passive barrier, delaying the detrimental impact of environmental factors on the food product. These new innovative packaging systems, on the other hand, allow the package to interact with the environment and food, as well as play a vital part in the preservation of horticultural commodities. Despite substantial study into the innovative packaging technologies, several of these innovations have yet to be successfully deployed in commercial horticultural produce packaging systems. Comprehensive awareness of their potential in horticulture product packaging applications will help with effective development and broad commercial introduction.

INTRODUCING ARTIFICIAL COMPANIONS TO USERS WITH DEMENTIA IN UNREGULATED MARKETS: OPPORTUNITIES VS. ETHICAL ISSUES

Because of the high costs of providing long-term care, artificial companions are increasingly considered an opportunity to provide support to older adults with cognitive impairment while saving costs. Artificial companion can comfort and inform, thus inducing a sense of being in a relationship. Sensors and algorithms usually allow these applications to exude a life-like feel. The explosion of these technologies has created a “cultural lag” between their rapid commercial introduction and the slower evolution of regulations. An outcome of this cultural lag is a tension between the potential of artificial companions to support users and a series of unresolved ethical issues related to the fact that users might lack the capacity to fully understand the implications of using these technologies. Specific challenges of deception, surveillance, consent and social isolation are raised by the introduction of these technologies in users with cognitive impairment. The case study of a sophisticated artificial companion commercially available in the United States lends the opportunity to examine the tension between the potential of this technologies vs. unresolved ethical issues. This companion is an avatar on an electronic tablet that is displayed as a dog or a cat. Whereas artificial intelligence guides most artificial companions, this application is a hybrid of robots and human beings because it also relies on technicians “behind” the on-screen avatar, who via surveillance, interact with users. We conclude with a call to develop regulations promoting artificial companions as “human-driven technologies,” i.e. technologies focused on truly empowering users according to their cognitive abilities.

Simulated Single Drift Events of 2,4-D and Dicamba on Pecan Trees

A large number of agronomic and horticultural crops are susceptible to injury and yield loss from drift-level exposures to synthetic auxin herbicides. A new generation of genetically modified crops including cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), field corn (Zea mays), soybean (Glycine max), and canola (Brassica napus) with resistance to dicamba and 2,4-D herbicides has been developed to address the problem of glyphosate-resistant weeds. In the few years since their commercial introduction, these technologies have been rapidly adopted. The objective of this study was to determine the potential effects of simulated, single drift events of 2,4-D and dicamba on pecan (Carya illinoinensis) trees. 2,4-D amine [3.8 lb/gal acid equivalent (a.e.)] or dicamba-Diglycolamine salt (4.0 lb/gal a.e.) were applied in 1.0%, 0.1%, and 0.01% by volume spray solutions to pecan trees in June 2013. In 2016 and 2017, 2,4-D choline (3.8 lb/gal a.e.) or dicamba-N,N-Bis-(3-aminopropyl) methylamine (5.0 lb/gal a.e.) were applied in 1.0%, 0.1%, and 0.01% by volume spray solutions to pecan trees in May. These results suggest that serious injury can occur to pecan trees receiving a drift application of 1.0% by volume dicamba or 2,4-D. This injury includes deformed foliage, dead foliage, dead limbs, and/or branches, and arrested nut development. There were no major differences in the response of pecan to either dicamba or 2,4-D at similar rates in this study. Pecan damage resulting from off-target movement of 2,4-D and dicamba at rates ≥1% by volume has the potential to cause significant injury. Yield was not negatively affected by any of the treatments, suggesting that pecan trees can compensate for the observed injury to some extent. The effect of treatments on percent kernel was variable.

Quo vadishigh-resolution continuum source atomic/molecular absorption spectrometry?

After more than a decade since its commercial introduction, high-resolution continuum source atomic/molecular absorption spectrometry may be facing a mid-life crisis.