38 research outputs found
A novel environmental indicator for monitoring of pesticides
No full textThe identification of an indicator for monitoring pesticides is a very effective analytical approach because it allows one to schedule and simplify the analytical routine. In this study, a new indicator has been designed, which has to be able to define a scale of priorities in the pesticides monitoring. A starting equation was developed involving the escaping tendency of a given substance from a phase (based on the Mackay model I level). The reliability of the indicator was tested by application to a model system, consisting of a defined and limited area, choosing water as matrix over a period of 6 years. A group of marker compounds was also defined to implement the predictive efficacy of the indicator. The results obtained by modeling were compared to those obtained by experimentation of the same model system. The indicator was subsequently and appropriately modified creating a new equation, including a kinetic factor, which considers the environmental degradation processes. The effect of the rectified indicator was consistent with the sales data list of compounds, when applied to the markers. The indicator developed in this study, tested as a model on specific area-phase-period (Province of Siena, water phase, 2000-2006), is applicable to any other area-phase-period, adjusting the partition value of the Mackay model for the case under study. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V
Predicting current and future disease outbreaks of Diplodia sapinea shoot blight in Italy: species distribution models as a tool for forest management planning
No full textSpecies distribution models (SDMs) provide realistic scenarios to explain the influence of bioclimatic variables on plant pathogen distribution. Diplodia sapinea is most harmful to plantations of both exotic and native pine species in Italy, causing economic consequences expecially to edible seed production. In this study, we developed maximum entropy models for D. sapinea in Italy to reach the following goals: (i) to carry out the pathogen's first geographical distribution analysis in Italy and determine which eco-geographical variables (EGVs) may influence its outbreaks; (ii) to detect the effect of climate change on the potential occurrence of disease outbreaks by 2050 and 2070. We used Maxent ver. 3.4.0 to develop SDMs. We used six global climate models (BCC-CSM1-1, CCSM4, GISS-E2-R, MIROC5, HadGEM2-ES and MPI-ESM-LR) for two representative concentration pathways (4.5 and 8.5) and two time projections (2050 and 2070) to detect future climate projections of D. sapinea. The most important EGVs influencing outbreaks were land cover, altitude, mean temperature of driest and wettest quarter, precipitation of wettest quarter, precipitation seasonality and minimum temperature of coldest month. The distribution of D. sapinea mostly expanded in central and southern Italy and shifted in altitude upwards on average by ca. 93m a.s.l. Moreover the fungus expanded the range where disease outbreaks may be recorded in response to an increase in the mean temperature of wettest and driest quarter by ca. 1.9 °C and 5.8 °C, respectively in all climate change scenarios. Precipitation of wettest quarter did not differ between current and any of future models. Under different climate change scenarios D. sapinea's disease outbreaks will be likely to affect larger areas of pine forests in the country, probably causing heavy effects on the dynamics and evolution of these stands or perhaps constraining their survival
Impact of the invasive painted bug Bagrada hilaris on physiological traits of its host Brassica oleracea var botrytis
No full textBagrada hilaris is a herbivorous insect native of Asia and Africa, which has invaded southern Europe and North America where it causes major damage to cole crops. Laboratory experiments were conducted to assess how the infestation of this invasive species damages the host Brassica oleracea var botrytis, and to evaluate the interaction between plant emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and B. hilaris adults. Plant responses to insect feeding were evaluated through changes in photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, VOC emission, and visual damage on leaves. The impact of B. hilaris was compared with that of Nezara viridula, a polyphagous species distributed worldwide. Plant VOC role in host plant detection was tested with electroantennography bioassays on B. hilaris antenna. Photosynthesis and stomatal conductance were consistently reduced in plants infested with 40 B. hilaris adults for 24 h. The feeding activity of a single B. hilaris caused larger discolored spots on host leaves in comparison with N. viridula. VOC emitted by B. oleracea changed significantly in response to B. hilaris and N. viridula infestation. In particular, production of limonene was strongly reduced by the infestation of the two pentatomids, while an increase in the emission of acetic acid and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol was observed. EAG dose–response tests using the main plant VOC showed B. hilaris antennal responses to benzaldehyde, octanal, nonanal, and acetic acid, which indicates a role of these compounds in host location
Uso de energía en el sector de alimentos
No full text"En el presente trabajo se analiza en profundidad los distintos consumos de energía del sistema de alimentos, haciendo foco en lo posible en Argentina, uno de los principales productores mundiales. El consumo de energía en estos sistemas está íntimamente vinculado al desarrollo de los sistemas conocidos como industriales, donde la producción se basa en el uso de insumos de fabricación externa y el producto final suele atravesar etapas de procesamiento antes de ser transportado para su venta al consumidor final. Los sistemas industriales han sido muy ventajosos en términos económicos durante muchos años, pero en años más recientes se ha demostrado que la producción de alimentos no ha resultado inmune a los crecientes e inestables precios observados en el petróleo y sus derivados utilizados en dicha industria. Como conclusión del trabajo, se señala que los consumos de energía en el sector de alimentos son importantes y necesarios para asegurar un aprovisionamiento de alimentos suficiente para el mayor porcentaje de la población mundial posible. También se evidencia que existen diversas posibilidades de disminuir los mismos sin afectar en mayor medida la productividad"."This study analysis the different energy uses in the food production system in depth, with special focus in Argentina, one the world's foremost food producers. Energy use in these systems in intimately related to the development of industrial systems, in which production is based in the use of external inputs and several stages of processing are involved before the final product is delivered to final consumers. Industrial systems have proven to be very convenient for decades, but in recent years the rise and instability of oil products prices have affected them significantly. The main conclusion reached by this study is that energy uses in the food production system are important and necessary to ensure a sufficient food supply for the greatest proportion of the world's population possible. It is also evidenced that are diverse alternatives for reductions in energy consumption without affecting productivity".Proyecto final Ingeniería Industrial (grado) - Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, 200
Next-generation methods for early disease detection in crops. A review
No full textBackground: Plant pathogens are commonly identified in the field by the typical disease symptoms that they can cause. The efficient early detection and identification of pathogens are essential procedures to adopt effective management practices that reduce or prevent their spread in order to mitigate the negative impacts of the disease. Herein, in this review were presented and discussed the traditional and innovative methods for early detection of the pathogen. In addition, they highlighted the major advantages and limitations of current technologies. Results: traditional techniques of diagnosis used for plant pathogen identification are focused typically on the DNA, RNA (when molecular methods), and proteins or peptides (when serological methods) of the pathogens. Serological methods based on mainly enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are the most common method used for pathogen detection due to their high-throughput potential and low cost. This technique is not particularly reliable and sufficiently sensitive for many pathogens detection during the asymptomatic stage of infection. For non-cultivable pathogens in the laboratory, nucleic acid-based technology is the best choice for consistent pathogen detection or identification. Lateral flow systems are innovative tools that allow fast and accurate results even in the field conditions, but they have sensitivity issues to be overcome. PCR assays performed on last-generation portable thermocyclers may provide rapid detection results in situ. Conclusion: The advent of portable instruments can speed pathogen detection, reduce commercial costs, and potentially can revolutionize plant pathology. This review provides information on current methodologies and procedures for the effective detection of different plant pathogens. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Next‐generation methods for early disease detection in crops. A review
No full text: Plant pathogens are commonly identified in the field by the typical disease symptoms that they can cause. The efficient early detection and identification of pathogens are essential procedures to adopt effective management practices that reduce or prevent their spread in order to mitigate the negative impacts of the disease. In this review, the traditional and innovative methods for early detection of the plant pathogens highlighting their major advantages and limitations are presented and discussed. Traditional techniques of diagnosis used for plant pathogen identification are focused typically on the DNA, RNA (when molecular methods), and proteins or peptides (when serological methods) of the pathogens. Serological methods based on mainly enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are the most common method used for pathogen detection due to their high-throughput potential and low cost. This technique is not particularly reliable and sufficiently sensitive for many pathogens detection during the asymptomatic stage of infection. For non-cultivable pathogens in the laboratory, nucleic acid-based technology is the best choice for consistent pathogen detection or identification. Lateral flow systems are innovative tools that allow fast and accurate results even in field conditions, but they have sensitivity issues to be overcome. PCR assays performed on last-generation portable thermocyclers may provide rapid detection results in situ. The advent of portable instruments can speed pathogen detection, reduce commercial costs, and potentially revolutionize plant pathology. This review provides information on current methodologies and procedures for the effective detection of different plant pathogens. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry
Development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the identification of the invasive wood borer Aromia bungii (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from frass
No full textThe red-necked longhorn beetle Aromia bungii (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is native to east Asia, where it is a major pest of cultivated and ornamental species of the genus Prunus. Morphological or molecular discrimination of adults or larval specimens is required to identify this invasive wood borer. However, recovering larval stages of the pest from trunks and branches causes extensive damage to plants and is timewasting. An alternative approach consists in applying non-invasive molecular diagnostic tools to biological traces (i.e., fecal pellets, frass). In this way, infestations in host plants can be detected without destructive methods. This paper presents a protocol based on both real-time and visual loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), using DNA of A. bungii extracted from fecal particles in larval frass. Laboratory validations demonstrated the robustness of the protocols adopted and their reliability was confirmed performing an inter-lab blind panel. The LAMP assay and the qPCR SYBR Green method using the F3/B3 LAMP external primers were equally sensitive, and both were more sensitive than the conventional PCR (sensitivity > 103 to the same starting matrix). The visual LAMP protocol, due to the relatively easy performance of the method, could be a useful tool to apply in rapid monitoring of A. bungii and in the management of its outbreaks
O equilíbrio entre o elemento irracional e racional na ideia de sagrado em Rudolf Otto
No full textThe purpose of this dissertation is to elucidate in what way the rational and the irrational elements frame the human notion of the sacred, according to the philosopher Rudolf Otto. Marked by XX Century s rule of reason, Otto reacts to the Enlightenment, which interprets the sacred solely as metaphysical, moral and evolutional formulations. After the Kantian critique, the knowledge path becomes an impossible way to the understanding of the sacred and of the religious phenomenon. Thus, the author recaptures the sentiment as the origin and the openness of the human search for the divine. Since the experience of the nouminous belongs to the sphere of the sentiment, it follows that it is understood, constituted and characterized by the irrational aspect, for the religious experience has the peculiarity of the mysterious. Given this argument, Otto responds to the Enlightenment Age stating that the mystery of the sacred shall never be encompassed by reason alone. On the other hand, a religion based exclusively on sentiment contributes to the emergence of various self-denominated miraculous, magical religious practices. The theological reflections of such religions tend to mix capitalist exchanges and divine promises of prosperity. Otto reveals himself as a supremely important philosopher in the analysis of many contemporary religious practices which emphasize the emotional aspect. In such religions the exclusion of reason is evident, which the author rejects as inconceivable, given the argument that the rational element is a fundamental component of religion. Hence, Otto s intention, as well as that of this dissertation, is to demonstrate that the religious experience is composed both by the irrational and the rational elements and that only when these two aspects are in a state of healthy balance it is possible to achieve a profound experience of the divine.Pretende-se elucidar, a partir do pensador Rudolf Otto, de que maneira o elemento racional e irracional compõem a noção humana de sagrado. Otto, marcado pelo século XX, responde ao Iluminismo, que interpreta o sagrado apenas como formulações metafísicas, morais e evolutivas. Após a crítica kantiana, a via do conhecimento tornou-se um o caminho impossível para compreensão do sagrado e do fenômeno religioso. Por isso, o autor resgata o sentimento como origem e abertura do humano na busca pelo divino. A experiência do numinoso por está situada no âmbito do sentir passa a ser compreendida, constituída e caracterizada pelo atributo irracional uma vez que a vivência da religião possui peculiaridade do misterioso. Nesse sentido, então, Otto responde à Era do Esclarecimento afirmando que o mistério do sagrado jamais será abarcado pela razão. Em contrapartida, uma religião demasiadamente baseada apenas no sentimento fez com emergisse no contexto religioso contemporâneo muitas práticas religiosas mágicas e que se auto-intitulam milagrosas. Geralmente, as reflexões teológicas dessas religiões mesclam trocas capitalistas e prósperas bênçãos divinas. Otto torna-se um pensador de suma importância para analisar muitas práticas religiosas atuais, como dito acima, que enfatizam em excesso o aspecto emotivista na religião. Em tais posturas religiosas percebe-se a exclusão da racionalidade na religião, que para o autor em questão é algo inconcebível uma vez que ele atesta que o elemento racional é componente fundamental da religião. Portanto, o intuito de Otto e também dessa dissertação, é mostrar que a experiência religiosa é composta pelo elemento irracional e racional e somente quando ambos aspectos estão em sadio equilíbrio é que se faz uma profunda vivência do divino
