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Precision farming – consideration of reduced exposure in the pollinator risk assessment
Get PDFObserved declines in the distribution and abundance of various insect species have moved the topic of biodiversity and the protection of honey bees, an insect species of particular economic interest, into the focus of public attention. This also resulted in an increasing public pressure to reform the European agricultural policy and as part of this to minimise the amount of synthetic plant protection products used. In this context, so-called ‘precision farming’ offers a considerable potential for a reduced application of plant protection products by using precision application techniques that allow to adjust applications to the actual scale of target distribution within a field. Is however currently not possible to exactly quantify the subsequent decrease of exposure of non-target organisms. Focusing on honey bees, the authors are therefore in a first step proposing a field study design to quantify the direct and indirect exposure of honey bees and their colonies in relation to the ratio of treated to untreated field area and the application pattern used. Furthermore, parameters of the bee risk assessment scheme are discussed that could be suitable to describe exposure reduction by precision application.Observed declines in the distribution and abundance of various insect species have moved the topic of biodiversity and the protection of honey bees, an insect species of particular economic interest, into the focus of public attention. This also resulted in an increasing public pressure to reform the European agricultural policy and as part of this to minimise the amount of synthetic plant protection products used. In this context, so-called ‘precision farming’ offers a considerable potential for a reduced application of plant protection products by using precision application techniques that allow to adjust applications to the actual scale of target distribution within a field. Is however currently not possible to exactly quantify the subsequent decrease of exposure of non-target organisms. Focusing on honey bees, the authors are therefore in a first step proposing a field study design to quantify the direct and indirect exposure of honey bees and their colonies in relation to the ratio of treated to untreated field area and the application pattern used. Furthermore, parameters of the bee risk assessment scheme are discussed that could be suitable to describe exposure reduction by precision application
Establishing realistic exposure estimates of solitary bee larvae via pollen using inter species correlation models
Get PDFPractical and regulatory experience in the conduct of bee residue trials
Get PDFTo ensure the safe use of agrochemicals, today’s regulatory system requires an assessment of the environmental risk to bees, as well as an assessment of the dietary risk to humans following the consumption of honey and other bee products. Field trials can provide valuable data to assess the potential exposure of foraging honey bees to agrochemical residues and hence the potential for residues to reach honey consumed by humans.To ensure the safe use of agrochemicals, today’s regulatory system requires an assessment of the environmental risk to bees, as well as an assessment of the dietary risk to humans following the consumption of honey and other bee products. Field trials can provide valuable data to assess the potential exposure of foraging honey bees to agrochemical residues and hence the potential for residues to reach honey consumed by humans
Laboratory acute contact toxicity test with the leafcutter bee Megachile rotundata
Get PDFSo far little is known about the toxicity of Plant Protection Products (PPPs) to solitary bees other than Osmia spp. as well as the inter- and intra-species sensitivity differences of honey bees and solitary bees.Megachile rotundata is a commercially bred solitary bee which is used worldwide mainly for the pollination of alfalfa. In general, bees can be exposed to PPPs directly by contact spray application (overspray) or indirectly via nectar and pollen. The leafcutter bees additionally can be exposed to (possibly) contaminated leaf pieces which are used for the building of brood cells. Therefore, contact toxicity might be of major importance within leafcutter bee species. Acute contact toxicity tests with M. rotundata based on the existing honey bee testing guideline OECD No. 214 were carried out, to make a first step in the direction of the development of a standard test method and collect data for the comparison of inter- and intra-species contact toxicity sensitivity. The toxic reference substance dimethoate was used as test substance. LD50/24h values of M. rotundata were compared to values of A.mellifera generated in a similar period of time. The low mortality observed in the control also after 96 hours, confirms the feasibility and reliability of the test method. The LD50/24h values of M. rotundata in all four tests were higher compared to those of A. mellifera. Accordingly, M. rotundata appeared to be slightly less sensitive to formulated dimethoate than A. mellifera.So far little is known about the toxicity of Plant Protection Products (PPPs) to solitary bees other than Osmia spp. as well as the inter- and intra-species sensitivity differences of honey bees and solitary bees.Megachile rotundata is a commercially bred solitary bee which is used worldwide mainly for the pollination of alfalfa. In general, bees can be exposed to PPPs directly by contact spray application (overspray) or indirectly via nectar and pollen. The leafcutter bees additionally can be exposed to (possibly) contaminated leaf pieces which are used for the building of brood cells. Therefore, contact toxicity might be of major importance within leafcutter bee species. Acute contact toxicity tests with M. rotundata based on the existing honey bee testing guideline OECD No. 214 were carried out, to make a first step in the direction of the development of a standard test method and collect data for the comparison of inter- and intra-species contact toxicity sensitivity. The toxic reference substance dimethoate was used as test substance. LD50/24h values of M. rotundata were compared to values of A.mellifera generated in a similar period of time. The low mortality observed in the control also after 96 hours, confirms the feasibility and reliability of the test method. The LD50/24h values of M. rotundata in all four tests were higher compared to those of A. mellifera. Accordingly, M. rotundata appeared to be slightly less sensitive to formulated dimethoate than A. mellifera
Hazards of pesticides to bees - 14th International Symposium of the ICP-PR Bee Protection Group, October 23 - 25, 2019 Bern, Switzerland - Proceedings -
Get PDFImpact of plant protection strategy and soil tillage on the carbon footprint of wheat
Get PDFDer Klimaschutz liegt aufgrund der zunehmenden negativen Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf die pflanzliche Produktion im Eigeninteresse der Landwirtschaft. Welche Auswirkungen unterschiedliche Pflanzenschutzstrategien, der Verzicht auf Fungizide sowie eine reduzierte Bodenbearbeitung auf die Klimawirkung der Weizenproduktion haben wurde aufbauend auf einem Dauerfeldversuch in Dahnsdorf in 2008–2019 untersucht. Die Bewertung wurden mittels partieller Lebenszyklus (LCA) durchgeführt. Im Durchschnitt über sämtliche Versuchsvarianten und Jahre lagen die Treibhausgasemissionen (THG-Emissionen) bei 3002 kg CO2eq ha‑1 und der CO2-Fußabdruck (CFP) bei 0,53 kg CO2eq kg‑1. Obwohl die Varianten mit wendender Bodenbearbeitung signifikant höhere THG-Emissionen je ha aufwiesen, waren Ihre CFPs nicht signifikant höher als die der nicht-wendenden Varianten. Die ertragssichernde Wirkung der Fungizide führte zu verringerten CFPs. Signifikante Jahresunterschiede zeigten sich bei allen drei untersuchten Parametern. Dies unterstreicht die Notwendigkeit einer Bewertung über längere Zeitreihen und den besonderen Wert von Langzeitversuchen.Climate protection is in the self-interest of agriculture due to the increasing negative effects of climate change on crop production. The effects of different crop protection strategies, the non-usage of fungicides, and reduced tillage were assessed regarding climate impact of wheat production based on a long-term field trial in Dahnsdorf in 2008–2019. The assessment was carried out using a partial life cycle assessment (LCA). On average across all treatments and years, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were 3002 kg CO2eq ha-1 and carbon footprint (CFP) was 0.53 kg CO2eq kg-1. Although the treatments with plow caused significantly higher GHG emissions per hectare, their CFPs were not significantly higher than those of the non-plowed treatments. The yield-securing effects of fungicides led to reduced CFPs. Significant differences between years were evident for all three parameters examined. This underlines the need for an evaluation over longer time series and the special value of long-term field trials
Phytosanitary early alert system and information for research and breeding organisations and the public
Get PDFWenn Quarantäneschadorganismen und neue Schadorganismen in die EU eingeschleppt werden, ist es wichtig, schnell darauf zu reagieren, damit Tilgungsmaßnahmen erfolgreich sein können. Im neuen EU-Pflanzengesundheitsregime wird deshalb das bereits etablierte Frühwarnsystem, in dem sich die Mitgliedstaaten gegenseitig über Schadorganismen in eingeführten Sendungen und über ein Auftreten von Quarantäneschadorganismen informieren, gestärkt. Die Warnungen werden über hierfür EU-weit eingerichtete IT-Systeme (EUROPHYT und TRACES) weitergeleitet. Durch Einfuhrkontrollen werden Schadorganismen in Warensendungen festgestellt. Das Auftreten von Schadorganismen im Gebiet wird entweder durch amtliche Erhebungen und Inspektionen festgestellt oder von Unternehmern oder Privatpersonen, die zur Meldung an den Pflanzenschutzdienst verpflichtet sind.Die neue EU-Pflanzengesundheitsverordnung gibt vor, dass die Öffentlichkeit stärker informiert werden muss. Dies gilt insbesondere für Reisende und Kunden von Postdiensten und Internethandel, damit sie die Einschleppung von Schadorganismen mit Pflanzen und Pflanzenerzeugnissen durch Einhalten der phytosanitären Regelungen verhindern.Für Zwecke amtlicher Tests, für wissenschaftliche oder Bildungszwecke, Versuche und Sortenauslese bzw. Züchtungsvorhaben gibt es Ausnahmen von den phytosanitären Anforderungen und Verboten. Das Arbeiten mit Quarantänematerial darf nur in amtlich benannten Quarantänestationen und geschlossenen Anlagen erfolgen. Jede Genehmigung für die Einfuhr, Verbringung, Haltung oder Vermehrung von Quarantänematerial darf nur zeitlich befristetet unter bestimmten Auflagen erfolgen. Eine Freigabe von Pflanzen aus der Quarantäne beispielsweise für Zuchtmaterial ist möglich, wenn hierdurch keine Quarantäneschadorganismen freigesetzt werden können.It is important to react quickly if quarantine pests and new pests are introduced into the EU to enable successful eradication measures. The new EU plant health regime therefore strengthens the early alert system where Member States inform each other about harmful organisms in imported consignments and about outbreaks of quarantine pests. The warnings are forwarded via EU-wide IT-systems set up for this purpose (EUROPHYT and TRACES). Harmful organisms are found in consignments during import controls. The outbreaks of harmful organisms are either found by official monitoring and inspections or operators and private persons notify the outbreak to the plant protection service, which is an obligation.The new EU plant health regulation specifies improved information of the public. Especially traveller and clients of postal services and internet trade must be informed so that they avoid the introduction of harmful organisms with plants and plant products by complying with the phytosanitary regulations.There are exceptions from phytosanitary requirements and prohibitions for official testing, scientific or educational purposes, trials, varietal selections, or breeding. Work with quarantine material is only allowed in officially nominated quarantine stations and confinement facilities. Every authorisation for import, movement, holding or multiplication of quarantine material is temporary and underlies specific requirements. The release of plants from quarantine is possible for instance for breeding material if no quarantine pests can be released with it
Effects of tea garden soil on aroma components and related gene expression in tea leaves
Get PDFIn order to explore the effect of soil on the synthesis of aroma components in tea leaves, tea seedlings replanted in tea rhizosphere soil of different ages were used as research materials. Tea seedlings were replanted in soils aged 0, 4, 9, and 30 years, and after one year of growth, 34, 37, 29, and 26 substances were detected in the tea leaves, respectively, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The relative contents of terpenoids and alcohols in the tea leaves dropped from 66.40% to 44.52% and 5.21% to 2.61%, respectively, as the age of the rhizosphere soil increased. Aldehydes, esters, and nitrogen compounds increased from 3.80% to 22.36%, 1.33% to 12.02%, and 3.13% to 19.96%, respectively, as the age of the rhizosphere soil increased. Gene differential expression measured by fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that the number of nerolidol synthetase and linalool synthase genes in tea leaves increased significantly, and the terpineol synthetase, phellandrene synthase, myrcene synthetase, ocimene synthase, limonene synthetase, germacrene synthase, and farnesene synthase genes declined significantly with the increase in soil age. In summary, as the number of years tea had been planted in the soil increased, the soil significantly affected the expression of terpene synthase genes in tea leaves, and then the composition and content of aroma substances in tea leaves changed. The results provide a theoretical basis for the improvement of tea quality