ABSTRACT
In recent years, the use of essential oils (EOs) derived from aromatic plants as low-risk fungicides has increased considerably owing to their interest with organic growers and environmentally conscious consumers. The proposed method, based upon liquid-liquid extraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, is suitable for monitoring main components of EOs on zucchini fruits after protection treatments to control crop disease. The aim of this work is to find a rapid, simple and cheap procedure for screening analysis such as quality control of crops' edible portion.
Subject(s)
Cucurbita , Fungicides, Industrial/analysis , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods , Oils, Volatile/analysis , Cucurbita/microbiology , Fruit/chemistry , Fungicides, Industrial/chemistry , Limit of Detection , Liquid-Liquid Extraction , Oils, Volatile/chemistry , Plant Diseases/microbiologyABSTRACT
Over the last few years, there has been an increased interest in exploiting allelopathy in organic agriculture. The aim of this investigation was to examine the effects of essential oil mixtures in order to establish their allelopathic use in agriculture. Two mixtures of essential oils consisting respectively of tea tree oil (TTO) and clove plus rosemary (C + R) oils were tested. Phytotoxicity and genotoxicity tests on the root meristems of Vicia faba minor were performed. A phytotoxic influence was particularly relevant for C + R mixture, while genotoxicity tests revealed significant results with both C + R oil mixture and TTO. Phenotypic analysis on Vicia faba minor primary roots following C + R oil mixture treatment resulted in callose production, an early symptom attributed to lipid peroxidation. The approach described in this study, based on genotoxicity bioassays, might identify specific DNA damage induced by essential oil treatments. These tests may represent a powerful method to evaluate potential adverse effects of different mixtures of essential oils that might be useful in alternative agriculture. Future studies are focusing on the positive synergism of more complex mixtures of essential oils in order to reduce concentrations of potentially toxic components while at the same time maintaining efficacy in antimicrobial and antifungal management.
Subject(s)
Clove Oil/toxicity , Mutagens/toxicity , Oils, Volatile/toxicity , Tea Tree Oil/toxicity , Vicia faba/drug effects , Mutagenicity Tests , Plant Roots/drug effects , Plant Roots/growth & development , Vicia faba/growth & developmentABSTRACT
The aim of this work was to study the distribution of imidacloprid in soil and its translocation to roots and aerial parts of maize plant. The main objective was to assess imidacloprid residues in field environment, in order to provide data on honeybees exposure level to such an active substance. Imidacloprid has been detected and quantified by Triple Quadrupole HPLC-MS-MS. Pesticide persistence in the soil and its residues in pollen and in maize plants have been evaluated during the growing of maize plants developed from seeds dressed with Gaucho 350 FS (imidacloprid: 1.0 mg/seed). The sowing has been performed by means of a pneumatic precision drill. Samples have been collected at 30, 45, 60, 80, 130 days after the sowing, as pollen samples have been collected at the tasseling. Imidacloprid presence in aerial part of maize plant declined to 2-3 µg/kg 80 days after the sowing, while concentration in kernel at harvest was <1 µg/kg. Maize pollen represents an important part of protein supply of beehives, and it is of critical importance to bee foraging. The values detected (imidacloprid residues <1 µg/kg) showed that maize pollen source should not be relevant for acute toxicity impact on honey bees.
Subject(s)
Imidazoles/analysis , Insecticides/analysis , Nitro Compounds/analysis , Pesticide Residues/analysis , Zea mays/chemistry , Animals , Bees , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Imidazoles/chemistry , Insecticides/chemistry , Neonicotinoids , Nitro Compounds/chemistry , Plant Roots/chemistry , Pollen/chemistry , Seeds , Soil/analysis , Soil Pollutants/analysis , Soil Pollutants/chemistry , Tandem Mass SpectrometryABSTRACT
The aim of these trials was to study the distribution of dieldrin in soil and its translocation to roots and the aerial parts of vegetable crops grown in greenhouses and fields. The main objectives were to characterize dieldrin accumulation in plant tissues in relation to the levels of soil contamination; uptake capability among plants belonging to different species, varieties and cultivars. The presence of the contaminant was quantified by gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD) and confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The results showed a translocation of residues in cucurbitaceous fruits and flowers confirming that zucchini, cucumber and melon are crops with high uptake capability. The maximum level of dieldrin residue at 0.01 mg/kg was found to be a threshold value to safeguard the quality production of cucurbits. Tomato, lettuce and celery were identified as substitute crops to grow in contaminated fields.
