No abstract

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of several household practices (washing with water or acidic, alkaline, and oxidizing solutions, and peeling) in minimizing pesticide residue contamination of tomatoes, as well as the impact on the quality of the treated fruit. Tests were performed using two systemic fungicides (azoxystrobin and difenoconazole) and one contact fungicide (chlorothalonil). Solid-liquid extraction with low temperature partition (SLE/LTP) and liquid-liquid extraction with low temperature partition (LLE/LTP) were used to prepare the samples for pesticides determination by gas chromatography. Washing the tomatoes with water removed approximately 44% of chlorothalonil, 26% of difenoconazole, and 17% of azoxystrobin. Sodium bicarbonate (5%) and acetic acid (5%) solutions were more efficient, removing between 32 and 83% of the residues, while peeling removed from 68 to 88% of the pesticides. The washing solutions altered some fruit quality parameters, including acidity and chroma, and also caused weight loss. Acetic acid (0.15 and 5%) and hypochlorite (1%) solutions had the greatest effect on these parameters.

The present study aimed to optimize ozone (O) treatments, as gas and dissolved in water, to remove difenoconazole and linuron in carrots. We employed a central composite design to study three variables governing the efficacy of treatments: O concentration, temperature and treatment time. The temperature did not influence the efficacy of treatments. The removal percentage of pesticides increases with increases in ozone concentration and the time of treatment. O application promoted the removal of more than 80% of pesticides when the roots were exposed for approximately 120min at 5 and 10mgL, respectively, in treatments with O as gas and dissolved in water. After storage, pesticide removal was higher than 98% for difenoconazole and 95% for linuron. The degradation products from the pesticides resulting from treatment were monitored, but none were found. This is the first report demonstrating the removal of difenoconazole and linuron from carrots by ozone.

No abstract

The essential oil of basil (Ocimum basilicum) has significant biological activity against insect pests and can be extracted through various techniques. This work aimed to optimize and validate the extraction process of the essential oil of O. basilicum submitted to different drying temperatures of the leaves and extracted by the combination of a Clevenger method and ultrasound. The biological activity of the extracted oil under different conditions was evaluated for potential control of Sitophilus zeamais. The extraction method was optimized according to the sonication time by ultrasound (0, 8, 19, 31 and 38 min) and hydrodistillation (20, 30, 45, 60 and 70 min) and drying temperature (20, 30, 45, 60 and 70 °C). The bioactivity of the essential oil was assessed against adults of S. zeamais and the effects of each variable and its interactions on the mortality of the insects were evaluated. The best yield of essential oil was obtained with the longest sonication and hydrodistillation times and the lowest drying temperature of leaves. Higher toxicity of the essential oil against S. zeamais was obtained by the use of ultrasound for its extraction. The identification and the relative percentage of the compounds of the essential oil were performed with a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass selective detector. The performance of the method was assessed by studying selectivity, linearity, limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ), precision and accuracy. The LOD and LOQ values for linalool were 2.19 and 6.62 µg mL−1 and for estragole 2.001 and 6.063 µg mL−1, respectively. The coefficients of determination (R2) were >0.99. The average recoveries ranged between 71 and 106%, with coefficient of variation ≤6.4%.

Given the insecticidal potential of eugenol as a fumigant, this work aimed to determine the diffusion coefficient of eugenol emanating from a pure standard solution (99%), as well as from clove essential oil ( Eugenia caryophillata Thunb. (Myrtaceae)) through rice grain; to chemically analyse the volatile composition of commercially available eugenol and clove essential oil; and to evaluate the mortality of Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: curculionidae) after exposure to eugenol inside a test chamber filled with rice. The solid phase microextraction method of extracting and quantifying eugenol by gas chromatography presented a good analytical response for the quantification of the analyte. There was no significant difference between the diffusion coefficient of eugenol diffusing from pure eugenol or from clove essential oil. The diffusion coefficient of eugenol through rice with the conditions herein adopted is 1.09 × 10 −3 cm 2 s −1 . The characterization of clove essential oil confirmed the presence of eugenol as its major component (74.25%). A difference was observed in the composition of the distinct phases evaluated. The exposure of adult S. zeamais to diffused eugenol from pure eugenol over seven days resulted in significantly higher mortality rates (~37%) than eugenol diffused from clove essential oil (~11%). No differences in mortality rates were observed in individuals placed at different positions inside the test chamber during eugenol fumigation.

Vigna unguiculata , one of the most important legumes, mainly in underdeveloped countries, is susceptible to post-harvest losses in storage by Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius, 1775) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). The work evaluated the toxicity, inhibition of oviposition, instantaneous rate of population growth (r i ) and the development of fumigated C. maculatus with the essential oil of Vanillosmopsis arborea and its major constituent, α -bisabolol. The experimental units consisted of 0.8 L flasks treated with concentrations of 1.2–11.2 μL L −1 of air of the essential oil of V. arborea or its major constituent applied to disks of filter paper. α -Bisabolol was quantified as 409.33 mL L −1 of the essential oil. The development rate of C. maculatus was evaluated by daily adult counts. Oviposition was evaluated at lethal concentrations (LC 50 , LC 25 , LC 10 and LC 1 ). The LC 50 and LC 95 of the essential oil of V. arborea and α -bisabolol were 5.23 and 12.97 μL L −1 of air and 2.47 and 8.82 μL L −1 of air, respectively. At some concentrations, the α -bisabolol was more toxic to males than to females of the insect. Increased concentrations of the essential oil reduced the r i , rate of development, oviposition, and number of eggs of C. maculatus and therefore have potential for pest control.

The use of plant essential oils has been shown to efficiently control insect pests of stored beans, significantly reducing the threats associated with synthetic insecticides. Here, we evaluated the potential of applications of essential oils of clove, Syzygium aromaticum L., and cinnamon, Cinnamomum zeylanicum L., to control Callosobruchus maculatus, considered as one of the most cosmopolitan pests of stored beans. Using four combinations of couples (i.e., unexposed couples, exposed females, exposed males, and exposed couples), we also evaluated how sublethal exposure to these essential oils impacted C. maculatus oviposition. Bioassays results revealed that both essential oils exhibited insecticidal activities similar to the synthetic pyrethroid insecticide deltamethrin. Furthermore, oil dosage increments proportionately decreased the growth rate and reduced the losses in bean weight caused by cowpea weevils, and offspring emergence was almost abolished when parents were exposed to the LD20 of each essential oil. Finally, significant oviposition impairments were perceived only in couples where females were exposed (i.e., females exposed and exposed couples) to the LD20 of cinnamon and clove essential oils. Thus, by exhibiting similar insecticidal activities as synthetic insecticides and by significantly affecting the oviposition of sublethally exposed C. maculatus females, the cinnamon and clove essential oils represent valuable tools with potential of integration into the management of C. maculatus infestations.