Organic and conventional fertilisation procedures on the nitrate, antioxidants and pesticide content in parts of vegetables

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Model approach for estimating potato pesticide bioconcentration factor

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Alelopatia de Leucena sobre soja e plantas invasoras

With the advance of agriculture, there was consequent rising in environment degradation. Therefore, It is interesting the use of plants which have in their chemical composition substances capable of helping in the control of weeds to minimize the use of pesticides. Hence, the objective of this paper was to evaluate solutions of leucena extract on weeds that are frequent on soybean crop. The treatments were leucena extracts at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% at room temperature water and water heated to 80 degrees C. The extracts were obtained by crushing 200g of leucena leaves and mixing them with one liter of distilled water with the help of a blender. Seeds were kept in B.O.D. at a temperature of 25 degrees C, with a photoperiod of 12 hours of light. Evaluations were done oil a daily basis, from the first to the last day of the experiment, varying according to the species. Results show a negative interference of the extracts, both hot and cold, in the root length of Ipomoea grandifolia, in the percentage of germination and in the root length of Arrowleaf sida and Hair beggarticks. There was no negative interference in the analyzed parameters for soybean seeds. Thus, the results indicate allelopatic potential of Leucaena leuucocephala as an alternative for the management of weeds without interfering on the development of the soybean crop.

Influência de herbicidas em macrófitas aquáticas

The effects of the herbicides atrazine, 2,4-D, glyphosate (direct and rodeo) and trifluralin were determined on the growth and death of fronds of the aquatic macrophytes Spirodela punctata (G.F.W. Meyer) Thompson and Salvinia minima Baker, through three series of concentrations of each herbicide in climatic chamber (3000 lux, 12/12 hours photoperiod, temperature 23 ± 1°C). After seven days, the concentrations of series 1 (0.025, 0.125, 0.625 and 3.125 mg.L -1) inhibited the growth of Salvinia minima. In Spirodela punctata, only the herbicides rodeo and trifluralin caused growth inhibition. These concentrations did not caused death of fronds in the species. The concentrations of series 2 (40, 60, 80 and 100 mg.L -1) of the herbicides 2,4-D, direct e trifluralin decreased growth of Salvinia minima; death of fronds was caused by 2,4-D and trifluralin to Salvinia minima, and by direct and trifluralin to Spirodela punctata. For the series 3 (200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 mg.L -1), the herbicide 2,4-D caused growth decrease of both species. The herbicides rodeo and trifluralin showed to be the most lethal for both species. The herbicide atrazine caused death of fronds in Spirodela punctata.

Determination of 2,4-D and dicamba in food crops by MEKC

The determination of 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and Dicamba (2-methoxy-3,6-dichlorobenzoic acid) residues in sugar cane, rice and corn was performed by a supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) method using CO2/acetone as extraction mix and an SFE apparatus developed in our laboratory. The extracts were cleaned up after extraction by both liquid- liquid partition and a Florisil column. Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) coupled with ultraviolet on-column detection was used for the analysis of these pesticides. The detection limits were improved by the preparation of a special detection cell with an increased pathlength that gave detection limits of ca. 0.6 pg for 2,4-D and Dicamba. Our results demonstrated that capillary electrophoresis can be a powerful new analytical tool for pesticide residue analysis.

Características da pulverização produzida por pontas Yamaho da série 'D'

This study evaluated the characteristics of spray produced by Yamaho nozzle tip'D'series. The droplet size of nozzle tips D3, D4, D5, D6 and D8 were evaluated at 703, 1.050, 1.406, 1.758, 2.110, 2.461 e 2.813 kPa pressures (100, 200, 250; 350, e 400 psi) by means of laser equipment, as well as the flow rate of nozzle tip at the pressures of 702, 1.125, 1.406, 1.828, 2.110, 2.532 e 2.813 kPa (100, 160, 200, 260,300; 360 e 400 psi) which were compared with values indicated by manufacturer. The droplet produced at all pressures presented a very fine spray, which in agriculture may promote losses by evaporation and drift. For all nozzle tips, except D8 in pressures 1.828, 2.532 e 2.813 kPa, the difference between the observed flow rate indicated by the manufacturer was higher than 5%. The paper demonstrates that the nozzle tip tested, in spite of not having uniform flow rate, may promote the contamination of spray operator and environment due to the droplet spectrum produced.

Nanostructured films of perylene derivatives: High performance materials for taste sensor applications

Four perylene derivatives (PTCD) have been used as transducing materials in taste sensors fabricated with nanostructured Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films deposited onto interdigitated gold electrodes. The Langmuir monolayers of PTCDs display considerable collapse pressures, with areas per molecule indicative of an edge-on or head-on arrangement for the molecules at the air/water interface. The sensing units for the electronic tongue were produced from 5-layer LB films of the four PTCDs, whose electrical response was characterized with impedance spectroscopy. The distinct responses of the PTCDs, attributed to differences in their molecular structures, allowed one to obtain a finger printing system that was able to distinguish tastes (salty, sweet, bitter and sour) at 1 μM concentrations, which, in some cases, are three orders of magnitude below the human threshold. Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) data analysis, the electronic tongue also detected trace amounts of a pesticide and could distinguish among samples of ultrapure, distilled and tap water, and two brands of mineral water. © 2004 by American Scientific Publishers. All rights reserved.

A simplified procedure for determination of clofentezine residues in fruits by liquid chromatography with UV detection

A rapid and sensitive method is described for the determination of clofentezine residues in apple, papaya, mango and orange. The procedure is based on the extraction of the sample with a hexane:ethyl acetate mixture (1:1, v/v) and liquid chromatographic analysis using UV detection. Mean recoveries from 4 replicates of fortified fruit samples ranged from 81% to 96%, with coefficients of variation from 8.9% to 12.5%. The detection and quantification limits of the method were of 0.05 and 0.1 mg kg-1, respectively.

Effects of hand weeding strip and nitrogen fertilizer on corn plants

The objective of the present research was to evaluate effects of different strip weed control associated with nitrogen fertilizer on corn applied after planting. The experiment was set and conducted in Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil, and the hybrid planted was Dekalb 333-B. A completely randomized block design with four replications was used. Experimental plots were disposed as a factorial scheme 2 x 2 x 4, constituted by two types of weeding on row (with or without manual hoeing), two types of weeding on inter-row (with or without manual hoeing), and four nitrogen levels applied after planting (00, 60, 90, and 120 kg ha-1). Plots were composed by six rows with 5 m length. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied at 35 days after emergence (d.a.e). For weed community it was evaluated: weed density, dominancy, frequency, and relative importance. The main weed species were: Brachiaria plantiginea, Amaranthus retroflexus, Bidens pilosa, Cyperus rotunds, Brachiaria decumbens, Euphorbia heterofila, Oxalis latifolia, Acanthospermum hispidum, Commelina benghalensis. It was evaluated corn height at 40 and 100 d.a.e., first ear insertion height at 100 d.a.e., and final grain yield at harvesting. Plants and first ear insertion height were affected when nitrogen fertilizer was not applied. Treatments without weed control showed that weed interfered negatively with plants height. There were no correlation between weeds and nitrogen fertilizer for all parameters evaluated. Parcels without weed showed the highest ear weights and final grain production. Treatments that received nitrogen fertilizer, independently of studied arrangement, provided higher yields.

Absorption and translocation of 2,4-D in plants of Memora peregrina

The objective of this work was to evaluate absorption and translocation of the herbicide 2,4-D in plants of Memora peregrina. The herbicide 2,4-D was used alone with the formulation DMA 806 BR and associated with the herbicide picloram in the commercial product Padron. Levels of radioactivity on the treated leaves were determined in sample obtained after washing them with methanol and chloroform at different times after the application of the radiolabelled formulation (1, 2, 4, 8, 24, and 48 h). Translocation was evaluated by cutting plants between stem and root. The parts obtained were: root, stem, leaf treated, leaves above the leaf treated, leaves below the leaf treated, and leaf opposite of the leaf treated. These parts were weighted, dried, ground, burnt, and radioactivity in the samples was determined. The results suggest that the translocation of the radioactive herbicide 2,4-D was insignificant in plants of M. peregrina in the two treatments evaluated. Absorption of 14C 2,4-D in the treatment with DMA 806 BR and the mixture of DMA 806 BR plus Padron had the same behavior. These observations explain the inefficient control obtained with this herbicide in plant species under study.

Deposition and leaching of tebuthiuron on sugar cane straw applied with and without alkyl polyglycoside adjuvant

A laboratory experiment was carried out aiming to study the effects of an alkyl polyglycoside adjuvant (APG) on deposition and leaching of the herbicide tebuthiuron applied on sugar cane straw. Tebuthiuron, at concentration of 1200 mg L-1, was applied separately and in tank mix with the APG adjuvant, at concentrations of 0.07 and 0.09% (wt v-1), using a spraying volume of 204 L ha-1. A precipitation equivalent to 20 mm of rain was simulated, 24 h after the applications, to evaluate the herbicide leaching. The quantification of tebuthiuron was carried out by the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It was observed that the addition of APG adjuvant at 0.07% (wt v-1) provided an increase of 11.5% in the deposition of tebuthiuron on straw, reduction of 50.4% in the drift of the herbicide and it did not affect significantly the leached amount (68.5%), when compared with the treatment where tebuthiuron was applied alone (70.8%). At the concentration of 0.09% (wt v-1), the APG adjuvant caused an increase of 22.7% in the deposition; it reduced the drift of the herbicide by 99.9% and reduced the leached amount by 7.6% thereby increasing the retention of the herbicide by straw.

An alternative LC-UV procedure for the determination of prochloraz residues in fruits

An alternative method using liquid chromatography with UV detection for the determination of prochloraz as 2,4,6-trichlorophenol in mango, papaya and orange is described. Ethyl acetate, acetone and dichloromethane were tested for extraction of prochloraz from the fruits. After extraction the residue of prochloraz was derivatized with pyridine hydrochloride. The analysis was carried out using liquid chromatography with UV detection and gas chromatography with electron-capture detection. Average recoveries of prochloraz from spiked fruits (0.1 and 0.2 mg kg-1) ranged from 80% to 94% with relative standard deviations between 5.6% and 12.6% (n=8). Detection and quantification limits were 0.05 and 0.1 mg kg-1, respectively. The LC-UV method was applied to mango and papaya samples submitted to dip treatment with a prochloraz formulation under laboratory conditions. In addition, fruit samples obtained from local markets were analysed. ©2005 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.

Ação de pesticidas em Metarhizium anisopliae no solo

The present study aimed to analyze the action of some acaricides, fungicides, insecticides and herbicides containing different active ingredients on Metarhizium anisopliae Metsch. (Sorokin) inoculated into autoclaved soil. The action of the pesticides was evaluated based on the fungal respiratory activity. The first assessment was done at 48h after inoculation. The pesticides were then added and respiratory activity was determined nine times every 48h and an additional five times every 4 days. Except for the fungicides, no significant effect (P > 0.05) of the pesticides on M. anisopliae was observed. A reduction in CO2 production was observed for the mancozeb treatment from day 4 to day 6 of incubation, and for tebuconazol between days 4 and 6, 8 and 10, and 32 and 36. The same was observed for copper oxychloride between days 10 and 12 and 32 and 36, and for chlorothalonyl between 8 and 10, 10 and 12, and 32 and 36 days of incubation. Identical effect occurred for the acaricides abamectin and fenbutatin oxide, with a reduction in CO2 production between 20 and 24 days of incubation. The herbicides glyphosate, trifluralin and ametrin reduced the respiratory activity of the fungus between days 10 and 12, while the insecticide trichlorfon reduced respiratory activity only from 32 to 40 days of incubation. The results indicate that the toxic action of pesticides on the fungus in soil is small, suggesting that this pest control bioagent can be used in combination with pesticides without compromising its activity.

Método multiresiduo para determinar pesticidas en frutas por extracción con fluido supercrítico

A rapid and reliable method for the determination of 25 compounds selected from four classes of pesticides in samples of fresh apples, grapes, pears, and strawberries purchased at a local supermarket, is presented. The study describes two different methods of extraction: solid-liquid extraction with acetone and supercritical fluid extraction. Clean-up was based on aminopropyl cartridge extraction followed by gas chromatography with an electron capture detector for simultaneous determinations. Confirmatory analysis was carried out by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry in the selected-ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Extraction efficiencies were directly compared and the methods were applied to the analysis of real samples. Recoveries for a majority of pesticides from standard samples at enrichment levels of 0.04-0.10 mg/ kg ranged from 77 to 96 % for both methods. The supercritical fluid extraction method showed good limits of detection (less than 0.01 mg/kg, depending on the pesticide and matrix) as well as minimizing environmental concerns, time, and laboratory effort. © 2006 Centro de Información Tecnológica.