Use of fungicides such as pencycuron

Fungicides are not applied to ware tubers prior to storage for control of black scurf.　Instead, fungicide treatment of seed, with products containing pencycuron or tolclofos-methyl, has given excellent protection of developing sprouts from both seed and soil-borne inoculum.　
However, corresponding increases in yield are rare.　Tolclofos-methyl was detected in one sample in the PRC survey of salad potatoes in 1995, but pencycuron has not been sought.

The fungicide azoxystrobin applied to the soil at planting has been shown to give effective reduction of black dot and black scurf, and it has recently been granted full approval following two seasons’ commercial use under an off-label approval (SOLA).　Azoxystrobin was not　looked for in the 2003 and 2004 PRC surveys.　However, residues are apparently being found by industry.　

Yangzhou pioneer chemical CO.,LTD.

Soil persistence studies with [14C]dicamba, propanil and bromoxynil in herbicidal mixtures

By: Axel Hengefeld and Reinhard Nast
The persistence of bromoxynil (3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile), [14C]dicamba (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic-7-14C acid) and propanil [N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)propionamide] at rates equivalent to 1 kg ha−1, were studied under Laboratory conditions in a clay loam, a heavy clay and a sandy loam at 85% of field capacity and at 20±1 degree, both singly and in the presence of herbicides normally applied with these chemicals as tank-mix or split-mix components.

Yangzhou pioneer chemical CO.,LTD.

Chinese apples to be checked for pesticides in Vietnam

At a meeting in Ha Noi yesterday, June 18, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam directed the Plant Protection Department to promptly have official information regarding the tainted wrapping paper of Chinese apples. Teams may be sent to China for trustworthy information.
Increased checks on Fuji apples imported from China should be an urgent task, Minister Cao Duc Phat said.
Chinese media reported last week that papers used to wrap the apples were coated with the pesticides Tuzet and arsenic fungicide, which cause harm to human health.
The pesticides are meant to protect the surface of the apples and keep out diseases that could hurt the crop yield.
The department"s director Nguyen Xuan Hong said wrapping apples from the time they are young until they are ripe was common, but keeping them in pesticide bags was barred.
He also said Chinese officials had collected 2.7 million fruit wrapping bags, and closed down violated bag manufacturers.
The department has guided two testing centres to get samples of Fuji apples sold in Ha Noi and HCM City for testing. The results will be provided to the department in the next four days.
Hong also said that the number of apples imported from China was not high at this time, while the import soared between October and March.
China is the world"s biggest supplier of Fuji apples, with 40 per cent of the global supply.
The department also said that checks on imported fruit and vegetables since earlier this year showed that 105 out of 415 samples tested contained residue of 24 different chemicals, but all were at allowable levels.

Yangzhou pioneer chemical CO.,LTD.

About pencycuron： an evaluation of pesticide stress induced proteins in three cyanobacterial species-anabaena fertilissima, aulosira fertilissima and westiellopsis prolifica using sds-page

By :Nirmal Kumar, J.I., Anubhuti Bora,Manmeet Kaur Amb and Rita N. Kumar
The whole-cell protein-profiling technique was evaluated for studying differences in banding pattern of three different species of Cyanobacteria i.e.　Anabaena fertilissima, Aulosira fertilissima and　Westiellopsis prolifica under the influence of four different pesticides-2,4-D (Ethyl Ester of 2,4-Dichloro Phenoxy Acetic Acid), Pencycuron (N-[(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]-N-cyclopentyl-N"–phenylurea), Endosulfan (6,7,8,9,10,10hexachloro-1,5,5a,6,9,9a-hexahydro-6,9-methano-2,4,3-benzodioxathiepine-3-oxide) and Tebuconazole (1-(4-Chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-3-(1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)pentan-3-ol).　
Whole-cell extracts were obtained by sonication treatment (Sonifier cell disruptor -Branson Digital Sonifier S-450D, USA) and were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). SDS-PAGE analyses of the total protein profile of　An. fertilissima, Au. fertilissima and W.prolifica showed a linear decrease in the protein content with increasing pesticide stress when administered to different concentrations of 2, 4-D, Pencycuron, Endosulfan and Tebuconazole. The results indicate that different stressors exert specific effects on cyanobacterial protein synthesis. Analysis of whole-cell protein profiles was shown to be a relatively simple,easy, and reproducible procedure for the reliable and fast differentiation and identification of the cyanobacterial species

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Dicamba, stress, and distorted soybean leaves

by Bob Hartzler, Department of Agronomy

A fairly common occurrence in late June and July is the appearance of distorted leaves on soybean plants. The most common cause of this response is exposure to a growth regulator herbicide (2,4-D; dicamba; etc.). Dicamba is the most commonly used growth regulator herbicide in Iowa crop production, and is present in numerous products (Banvel, Clarity, Marksman, Distinct, Status, and many others).
Soybeans may be exposed to dicamba in three ways: spray particle drift, vapor drift (volatilization), and sprayer contamination. Injury from spray drift or sprayer contamination usually is fairly straightforward in diagnosing, but questions often arise regarding volatilization. Volatilization occurs when dicamba is sprayed, lands on the target site, but later evaporates and moves from the treated field. The potential for volatilization is affected by many factors. As temperatures exceed 85 °F, the threat of volatilization increases.　
Dicamba is more likely to evaporate off corn leaves than soil, so the risk increases with late applications of dicamba to corn since more product will be intercepted by corn leaves. Risk of volatilization varies among dicamba formulations, with the dimethlyamine salt (Banvel) greater than the diglycolamine salt (Clarity) or sodium salt (Distinct, Status). Studies have shown that the majority of volatilization occurs within 2-3 days of application. Determining the potential for yield impact from growth regulator herbicides shortly after exposure is difficult, but if only two or three leaves show slight distortion, it is likely yields will not be affected. Studies found that if soybean height at the end of the season was not affected, then yields usually were not affected by dicamba exposure.It generally is accepted that occasionally soybeans will develop symptoms similar to that of growth regulator herbicides in the absence of the herbicide. These symptoms typically occur during stress or periods of rapid fluctuating weather. Under these conditions, the symptoms typically appear uniformly across a field, rather than displaying a spray or drift pattern. With this type of response, the cupping is relatively minor and limited to one or two leaves.


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China ABACHEM to set foot in pesticide business

Source:Agropages.com

According to a bulletin of board of directors of ABA Chemicals (ABACHEM), a Chinese chemicals manufacturer, ABACHEM plans to launch a J/V with Jiangsu JIANNONG Agrochemical Co., Ltd., (Jiangsu JIANNONG), a pesticide manufacturer in Jiangsu Province.
ABACHEM plans to make an investment of RMB100 million Yuan (cash and less than RMB10 million Yuan equivalent equipment) for a 75% controlling share while Jiangsu JIANNONG contributes its trademark, patent, know-how and part of equipment which are evaluated to be RMB33.33 million Yuan for a 25% share. As per the agreement, Jiangsu JIANNONG is obliged to transfer its pesticide production-oriented qualification, trademark, domain name, all related businesses and majority of employees to the J/V.
ABACHEM was established in 2006, specializing in production of premium intermediates and APIs mainly in the contract-manufacturing manner. The company has built up its cooperative relations with world-prime pharmaceutical and pesticide enterprises, now the main pesticide intermediate business of ABACHEM is to supply BPP to DuPont. BPP is an advanced intermediate of chlorantraniliprole, a novel pesticide.
Jiangsu JIANNONG was established in 2001, mainly produces agrochemicals of several major series over 30 varieties including insecticide, fungicide, plant growth regulator, herbicide and fine chemicals which are quite popular in the market home and abroad, backed up by its known brand image and broad marketing channels.
As regards to future operations, the J/V will inherit all customer portfolio and marketing channels from Jiangsu JIANNONG while integrating ABACHEM’s pesticide contract-manufacturing advantage to target at novel and high-efficient pesticide market and be dedicated to becoming China’s leading pesticide technical and product formulation contract-manufacturing provider.

Yangzhou pioneer chemical CO.,LTD.

Abtou pencycuron: Identification, Infection Process and Telemorph Formation of the Pathogen of Chinese Amaranth Leaf Spot in Taiwan

A new leaf spot disease of Chinese amaranth (Amaranth mangotanus L.) caused by Rhizoctonia solani was frequently observed at the so-called organic farms in Taiwan during the summer season. The hyphae of RSA-03 and RSA-09 isolates obtained from Chinese amaranth leaf spot were able to anastomose in high frequency (> 70%) with R. solani AG 2-2 IIIB (ATCC 76124), but in low frequency (< 5%) with R. solani AG 2-1 (ATCC 76168), AG 2-2 IV (ATCC 76125), AG 2-3 (R6) and AG BI (ATCC 76132). When five isolates from Chinese amaranth leaf spot were respectively cultured in liquid glucose asparagine (GA) medium with or without thiamine-HCl, they were auxtrophic for thiamine-HCl and more closely resembled the ATCC 76124 isolate of R. solani AG 2-2 IIIB. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth of RSA-09 isolate from Chinese amaranth leaf spot was similar to one of R. solani AG 2-2 IIIB (ATCC 76124). Inoculation tests revealed that both RSA-03 and RSA-09 from Chinese amaranth leaf spot and R. solani AG 2-2 IIIB (ATCC 76124) were pathogenic to Chinese amaranth. Based on the anastomosis, thiamine-HCl requirement, growth temperature, and pathogenicity tests, the isolates from Chinese amaranth leaf spot were recommended as R. solani AG 2-2 IIIB. According to Koch’s postulates tests, it was proved that the Chinese amaranth leaf spot was caused by the basidiospores of T. cucumeris, the telemorph of R. solani AG 2-2 IIIB. The basidiospores (105 spore/ml) of the pathogen were sprayed to leaf surface of Chinese amaranth. The inoculated plants were put in the moist chamber at 28℃. Primary lesions appeared as small, circular water-soaked spots on leaves of Chinese amaranth six days after inoculation. After additional incubation, claw-like lesions growing out from the primary lesions expanded into the leaves tissues and caused secondary lesions with large-sized irregular necrotic spots. When Chinese amaranth leaves were inoculated, basidiospores of the pathogen germinated and penetrated into the epidermal cell walls nine hours after inoculation. Mass mycelia were formed 18hrs after inoculation, then development of mass mycelia into stroma-like structure 21hrs after inoculation. In the study, Naito’s soil-over-culture method for production of hymenia was modified. It was found that the peat moss and soil-over culture method (PSC method) was much more effective in producing hymenia of T. cucumeris RSA-03 and RSA-09. The procedures of PSC method were as follows: (1) to inoculate the fungus onto potato- yeast extract-dextrose agar plate in a 9-cm petri dish, (2) to incubate at 28℃for 4 days until the fungal colony covered the agar plate surface, (3) the agar plate surface was covered with 90ml soil [included 40% (v/v) BVB No. 4 peat moss and maintained the soil moisture at 40 ~ 50% (v/v)], (4) experiments were kept in moist chamber. After 4-day-incubation hymenial formation was observed. The PSC method was suitable for hymenial formation of the pathogen and able to markedly produce 3-4 fold hymenial amount compared to Naito’s soil-over-culture method. The factors affecting hymenial formation of the pathogen included temperature, humidity, light, aeration, and culture substrate. The temperatures were favorable for R. solani RSA-03 and RSA-09 hymenial formation at 24 ~ 28℃and the covered soil was at pH 5 ~ 7. The amendments of covered soil with various organic and inorganic materials, antagonists, and fungicides did significantly influence the hymenia formation of T. cucumeris RSA-03 and RSA-09. The hymenia of the fungus were completely inhibited in the covered soils amended with 1﹪(v/v) fish meal, tea seed pomace and chinaberry meal. Amendments of covered soil with Stretomyces padanus PMS-702, S. sioyaensis PMS-502, S. saraceticus SS-31 and S. misionensis PMS 101 also inhibited hymenial formation, but Bacillus pumilus PMB-102, B. thermoglucosidasius PMB-101 and B. subtilis BS-001 did not. The fungicides, mancozeb, benomyl, carbendazim, flutolanil, PCNB, iprodione and pencycuron were significantly effective in inhibiting the hymenial formation.

Yangzhou pioneer chemical CO.,LTD. 

About dicamba: Cancer incidence among pesticide applicators exposed to dicamba in the agricultural health study

BACKGROUND:
Dicamba is an herbicide commonly applied to crops in the United States and abroad. We evaluated cancer incidence among pesticide applicators exposed to dicamba in the Agricultural Health Study, a prospective cohort of licensed pesticide applicators in North Carolina and Iowa.
METHODS:
Detailed pesticide exposure information was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire completed from 1993 to 1997. Cancer incidence was followed through 31 December 2002 by linkage to state cancer registries. We used Poisson regression to estimate rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals for cancer subtypes by tertiles of dicamba exposure. Two dicamba exposure metrics were used: lifetime exposure days and intensity-weighted lifetime exposure days (lifetime days x intensity score).
RESULTS:
A total of 41,969 applicators were included in the analysis, and 22,036 (52.5%) reported ever using dicamba. Exposure was not associated with overall cancer incidence nor were there strong associations with any specific type of cancer. When the reference group comprised low-exposed applicators, we observed a positive trend in risk between lifetime exposure days and lung cancer (p = 0.02), but none of the individual point estimates was significantly elevated. We also observed significant trends of increasing risk for colon cancer for both lifetime exposure days and intensity-weighted lifetime days, although these results are largely due to elevated risk at the highest exposure level. There was no apparent risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
CONCLUSIONS:
Although associations between exposure and lung and colon cancer were observed, we did not find clear evidence for an association between dicamba exposure and cancer risk.

Yangzhou pioneer chemical CO.,LTD. 

US pesticide and produce companies sued over banana pesticide

Source:Bloomberg

Dole Food Co., Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. and Dow Chemical Co. are being sued by more than 1,000 banana plantation workers from Costa Rica, Ecuador and Panama in a new round of cases claiming injury from a pesticide.
Eight separate complaints filed since May 31 in federal court in Delaware over the use of dibromochloropropane.
The pesticide, which was banned in the US back in 1979, was sprayed on fields to eliminate nematode worms. Workers claim they were not advised to wear protective clothing and were never warned they were in any danger.
Around 16,000 Latin American workers have sued over similar cases in US courts over the last 20 years. However, most cases are dismissed with judges saying that they must use the courts in their native countries.
In 2010, a California appeals Judge threw out a $2.3 million 2007 verdict after Dole argued that the plaintiffs had lied about becoming sterile as a result of spraying chemicals.

Yangzhou pioneer chemical CO.,LTD. 

About pencycuron：Compatibility of Beauveria bassiana with chemical pesticides for the control of the coffee root mealybug Dysmicoccus texensis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

BY：Vanessa Andaló; Alcides Moino Jr.; Lenira V.C. Santa-Cecília; Giselle C. Souza

Several chemical substances are used to control insects, diseases and weeds, however many of these products are toxic to mankind and the animals, besides reducing the potential of pest control by predators, parasitoids and pathogens. The integrated control using selective chemical pesticides and entomopathogenic fungi is a viable strategy, however some of these products can impact these microorganisms, reducing vegetative growth, viability and sporulation. The objectives of this work were to evaluate the effect of chemical pesticides used in the coffee crop on the entomopatogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (isolate UEL 114), for the control of the cofee root mealybug. A fungal suspension of 1 x 107 viable conidia/ml was added to solutions of the products at the recommended concentrations. After 1h, conidia were inoculated onto PDA medium, and quantification of germinated conidia assessed after 20h. The vegetative growth and sporulation were appraised eight days after the fungus inoculation onto PDA medium containing the products at recommended concentrations and maintained at the temperature of 25 ± 1ºC, 12h photofase and 70 ± 10% relative humidity. The mean diameter of the colonies was measured and conidial production quantified in a Neubauer chamber. Azafenidyne, Quintozene, Symazine + Ametryne, 2,4-D, Acetochlor and Oxyfluorfen affected the conidial germination. Thiamethoxan, Imidacloprid, Carbofuran and Pencycuron were compatible; whereas Glyphosate, Dimetilurea, Azafenidine, Quintozene, Symazine + Ametryne, 2,4-D, Acetochlor and Oxyfluorfen significantly impacted vegetative growth and sporulation of B. bassiana UEL 114.



Yangzhou pioneer chemical CO.,LTD.

Dicamba monooxygenase: structural insights into a dynamic Rieske oxygenase that catalyzes an exocyclic monooxygenation

Dicamba (2-methoxy-3,6-dichlorobenzoic acid) O-demethylase (DMO) is the terminal Rieske oxygenase of a three-component system that includes a ferredoxin and a reductase. It catalyzes the NADH-dependent oxidative demethylation of the broad leaf herbicide dicamba. DMO represents the first crystal structure of a Rieske non-heme iron oxygenase that performs an exocyclic monooxygenation, incorporating O(2) into a side-chain moiety and not a ring system. The structure reveals a 3-fold symmetric trimer (alpha(3)) in the crystallographic asymmetric unit with similar arrangement of neighboring inter-subunit Rieske domain and non-heme iron site enabling electron transport consistent with other structurally characterized Rieske oxygenases. While the Rieske domain is similar, differences are observed in the catalytic domain, which is smaller in sequence length than those described previously, yet possessing an active-site cavity of larger volume when compared to oxygenases with larger substrates. Consistent with the amphipathic substrate, the active site is designed to interact with both the carboxylate and aromatic ring with both key polar and hydrophobic interactions observed. DMO structures were solved with and without substrate (dicamba), product (3,6-dichlorosalicylic acid), and either cobalt or iron in the non-heme iron site. The substitution of cobalt for iron revealed an uncommon mode of non-heme iron binding trapped by the non-catalytic Co(2+), which, we postulate, may be transiently present in the native enzyme during the catalytic cycle. Thus, we present four DMO structures with resolutions ranging from 1.95 to 2.2 A, which, in sum, provide a snapshot of a dynamic enzyme where metal binding and substrate binding are coupled to observed structural changes in the non-heme iron and catalytic sites. 

Yangzhou pioneer chemical CO.,LTD.

France bans Syngenta pesticide linked to bee decline

Source:Farmers Weekly Interactive

The French government has banned a pesticide linked to the decline of bees that is widely used to treat oilseed rape.
Cruiser OSR (active ingredients: thiamethoxam + fludioxonil + metalaxyl-M), which contains the neonicotinoid insecticide thiamethoxam, was banned for use on oilseed rape by the French Ministry of Agriculture.
Made by the Swiss agrichemical company Syngenta, Cruiser OSR is a seed treatment, which is coated onto the rape seeds.
The decision to ban Cruiser follows two studies earlier this year, in the UK and France, which found evidence that neonicotinoids contain chemicals that disorientate bees and prevent them from finding their way back to hives, causing colony collapse disorder.
Announcing the ban, France"s Ministry of Agriculture said it would be pushing for a European-wide ban with the European Commission and the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA).
Bees are vitally important to agriculture for pollinating our food crops and maintaining biodiversity in the rural environment.
A recent Friends of the Earth report estimated bees are worth £510m a year to the UK economy.
However, bee numbers have been declining worldwide in recent years and conservationists claim that pesticides are a contributing factor, in particular neonicotinoids.
Syngenta has less than two weeks to submit its own evidence before any ban in France is implemented. The company said called the ban "a dark day for French and European agriculture".
In its defence, Syngenta claimed no cases of bee mortality have been identified as being linked to Cruiser OSR - although 650,000ha of treated seeds are grown in France.
DEFRA said it was investigating the reports before deciding whether to act in line with its pesticide safety policy.
"We are assessing recent studies on neonicotinoids and will report our findings very shortly," a spokesman said.
"The UK has a robust system for testing and reviewing pesticide use and if the evidence shows the need for action, we will not hesitate to act."
Cruiser is available to use in the UK as a broad spectrum seed treatment, providing fungicidal and insecticidal use on oilseed rape, fodder rape and mustard.

Yangzhou pioneer chemical CO.,LTD.

About pencycuron: Action mode Fungicide chemical group Common name

Action mode Fungicide chemical group Common name Nontarget effects Lipid, sterol, and other membrane components Lipid Aromatic hydrocarbons Dicloran Mutagen to Salmonella typhimurium [12] Etridiazole Retards nitrification by affecting ammonium oxidizers [13] Sterol Triazoles Triadimefon Long-term inhibiting effects on soil bacterial community [7] Triticonazole Increases total number of bacteria in soil [15] Cinnamic acid amide Dimethomorph Impacts nitrifying and ammonifying bacterial activities in sandy soils [17] Triazole Hexaconazole Impacts bacterial activities related to N cycling [19] Morpholine Fenpropimorph Inhibit general bacterial activity in wetland [16] Triazole Propiconazole Tebuconazole May retard plant-growth-promoting effects of Azospirillum brasilense on its hostplant [20] Intracellular membrane components Hydrochloride Acriflavine Thickens peripheral and cross cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus [18] Amino acid and protein synthesis Glucopyranosyl antibiotic Streptomycin Inhibits amino acid synthesis in bacteria [3] and is neurotoxic to amphibian [4] Tetracycline antibiotic Oxytetracycline Also used as bactericide [21] Signal transduction Phenylpyrroles Fludioxonil Toxic to algae [22] and potential risk to prokaryotes [23] Dicarboximides Iprodione Affects signal transduction in bacteria [24] Vinclozolin Inhibits total bacterial growth [25] Respiration NADH oxido-reductase (Complex I) inhibitors Pyrimidinamines Diflumetorim Unknown Succinate- dehydrogenase (Complex II) inhibitors Pyridine carboxamides Boscalid May affect growth of prokaryotes [26] Benzamides Flutolanil Gxathiin carboxamides Carboxin Inhibits denitrifying bacterial activity in wetland sediment [16] Oxidative phosphorylation uncouplers 2,6-dinitroanilines Fluazinam Have a potential risk to environmental microorganisms [27] Dinitrophenyl crotonate Dinocap Inhibits ammonifying bacterial activity and stimulate general bacterial respiration in soil [28] Mitosis and cell division Inhibitor of spindle microtubules assembly Methyl benzimidazole carbamate Benomyl May affect nitrifying bacteria [29] and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi [30] Carbendazim Reduces the diversity of soil bacteria [31] Phenylurea Pencycuron May affect metabolically activated soil bacteria in short term [32]4 ISRN Ecology Table 1: Continued. Action mode Fungicide chemical group Common name Nontarget effects Nucleic acids synthesis RNA polymerase I inhibitors Acylalanines Metalaxyl Affects activities of ammonifying and nitrifying bacteria in soil [33] Oxazolidinones Oxadixyl Unknown Adenosin- deaminase inhibitors Hydroxypyrimidines Ethirimol Unknown Phthalonitrile Chlorothalonil Impacts bacterial activities related to N cycling [29] Multisite activity Dithiocarbamate Mancozeb Impacts bacterial activities related to nitrogen cycling [17] and carbon cycling [28] in soils Phthalimide CaptanI nhibits denitrifying bacterial Dithiocarbamate Thiramactivity [16] Anthraquinone Dithianon Reduces bacterial diversity in soil [34] Copper Copper sulfate Reduces the number of bacteria and streptomycetes in sandy soil [35]  

Yangzhou pioneer chemical CO.,LTD 

Comparison of 2,4-D and dicamba treatments for embryo development and plant regeneration in crosses between Lolium multiflorum Lam. and Dactylis glomerata L.

BY：Toshinori Komatsu, Kazuhiro Uchiyama, Akira Arakawa, Kazuhiro Tase We compared the effects of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) and 6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid (dicamba) treatments on embryo development and plant regeneration in crosses between Lolium multiflorum Lam. and Dactylis glomerata L. Two embryos (1.1% of pollinated florets) were obtained after 2,4-D treatment for 2 days. They germinated on hormone-free Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 1 g L−1 yeast extract, 70 g L−1 sucrose and 6 g L−1 agar, and developed into green seedlings. dicamba treatment for 2 days gave higher frequencies of embryo development (4.3% of pollinated florets) than did 2,4-D treatment, but only one embryo (0.4% of pollinated florets) germinated on hormone-free MS agar medium, and no seedling was obtained. These results show that 2,4-D is more effective than dicamba at producing F1 hybrids on hormone-free MS agar medium. The F1 plant was intermediate between the parents in height, inflorescence morphology and lower leaf appearance. The folding of leaves in young shoots and the number of glumes resembled those of D. glomerata. Anthers did not dehisce. The F1 plant was an aneuploid with 26 chromosomes. The mean chromosome association was 0.04 trivalents, 10.36 bivalents and 5.16 univalents at metaphase I in pollen mother cells.

Yangzhou pioneer chemical CO.,LTD 

NMFS issues final Biological Opinion for pesticides harming salmon

Source:U.S. EPA News Release
On May 31, 2012, US EPA received the National Marine Fisheries Service"s (NMFS") final Biological Opinion relative to the potential effects of the dinitroanaline herbicides oryzalin, pendimethalin and trifluralin on federally listed threatened or endangered Pacific salmon and steelhead and their designated critical habitat.

In the Biological Opinion, NMFS concluded that oryzalin, pendimethalin, and trifluralin are likely to jeopardize the continued existence of some listed Pacific salmonids, and adversely modify designated critical habitat of some listed salmonids. NMFS considered comments and incorporated suggestions from EPA, the states, the pesticide industry, grower groups and other stakeholders to complete this Biological Opinion. The Biological Opinion provides a one-year timeframe for implementation. EPA will consider the opinion and take appropriate steps to protect threatened and endangered species from pesticide risks.

Yangzhou pioneer chemical CO.,LTD 

About pencycuron : Pathogenicity and Survival of Colletotrichum higginsianum, the Causal Agent of Crucifer Anthracnose

BY：Sun cai yu
Anthracnose disease of pak choi [Brassica rapa L. subsp. chinensis (L.) Hanelt] is a common disease in organic farm in Taiwan. It can cause a leaf spot on several species of Brassicaceae. Colletotrichum higginsianum and C. gloeosporioides could be isolated　the disease leaves. C. higginsianum could infect unwounded pak choi leaf, wounded mango leaf and tomato fruit. Comparatively, C. gloeosporioides could infect unwounded mango leaf and unwounded tomato fruit but cause leaf chlorosis on wounded pak choi leaf. It may be weak pathogen on pak choi. A standard area diagram showed the levels of 0.07, 3, 10, 25 and 50% was developed for assessing disease severity in this study. The accuracy and precision of disease assessment were improved when standard area program was used. Nine Brassica spp. crops were inoculated with C. higginsianum. Pak choi and turnip were more susceptible than leaf mustard, cabbage and radish. Among seventeen cultivars of Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis, the most susceptible cultivars were Tsai-Yu, Chief, Gai-liang-Yi-Tiao-Gen and Feng-Jhen; the most resistant cultivar was 606 chingensai. Fifteen nitrogenous compounds and eighteen carbohydrates were evaluated for their efficacy on growth of C. higginsianum. The colony color was brightest when the pathogen was cultured on the medium with ammonium phosphate as nitrogen source. The conidial germination was most improved by high methoxy pectin (HMP) as carbon source, and 3% (w/v) HMP was effective in enhancing growth of the pathogen. Among the eleven antimicrobial agents tested, streptomycin sulfate, chloramphenicol, metalaxyl , pencycuron and thiabendazole showed less adverse effect on growth of C. higginsianum but could suppress Trichoderma sp. and other fungi. Based on these results, a HMP- ammonium phosphate semiselective medium (designated as the HA semiselective medium) consisting of 30 g high methoxy pectin, 2 g monoammonium phosphate, 1 g K2HPO4, 0.5 g KCl, 0.5 g MgSO4.7H2O, 0.01 g FeSO4.7H2O, 15 g agar, 200 μg mL-1 metalaxyl, 300 μg mL-1 pencycuron, 1μg mL-1 thiabendazole, 100 μg mL-1 chloramphenicol and 200 μg mL-1 streptomycin sulfate, and pH value of medium was adjusted to pH 6.0 by KOH before autoclaving. C. higginsianum was able to be accurately detected　artificially infested soil and distinguished easily　other Colletotrichum spp. by using HA semiselective medium. C. higginsianum could be detected　infective leaves of pak choi, peat moss, old world diamond-flower, purple cudweed and nightshade by using HA semiselective medium. Population of the pathogen increased on Cardamine parviflora, Hedyotis corymbosa, Cyperus rotundus and Amaranthus viridis, and decreased slightly on Rorippa indica. Naked conidia of the pathogen showed less survival ability in soil than it colonized in leaves of pak choi. Cow manure enhanced the proliferation of the pathogen in soil. Seed meals were significantly effective to enhance or maintain the survival of the pathogen in soil. The pathogen declined faster in infected debris buried at 5 and 10 cm depths in soil than those placed on the soil surface.

Yangzhou pioneer chemical CO.,LTD. 

Dicamba and Sugar Effects on CallusInduction and Plant Regeneration from Mature Embryo Culture of Wheat

BY：Jiang-ping REN, Ph D, Xin-guo WANG, Jun YIN
To establish a highly efficient plantregeneration system for wheat genetic transformation, the effects of three different concentrations of dicamba and two different sugar types on callusinduction and plantregeneration from matureembryocultures were evaluated. Callusinduction and plantregeneration were obtained from matureembryos of two commercial cultivars Zhoumai 18 and Yumai 34 (Triticum aestivum L.) cultured on L3 basal medium. The results showed that the efficiency of matureembryoculture was significantly influenced by the genotypes, sugar types and dicamba concentrations. 4 mg L−1dicamba proved the best effective for inducing embryogenic callus and also gave the highest proportion of plants regenerated across the two cultivars. Substitution of maltose by sucrose significantly improved the plantregeneration efficiency in both cultivars. There was a significant interaction between genotype-by-sugar types, and sugar types-bydicamba concentrations. Overall, Zhoumai 18 gave the highest frequency of plantregeneration (82.65%) when dicamba concentration was 4.0 mg L−1 and with sucrose in initial callusinduction. These results will facilitate genetic transformation work with elite wheat.

Yangzhou pioneer chemical CO.,LTD. 

France to ban a Syngenta pesticide to protect bees

Source:Reuters

France said it plans to ban a pesticide made by Syngenta that is widely used to treat rapeseed crops after scientists suggested it could pose danger to bees.
A sharp decline in bee populations across the world in recent years, partly due to a phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder, has prompted criticism of pesticide use, although research has yet to show clearly the causes of falling bee numbers.
France intends to withdraw the permit of the Cruiser OSR (active ingredients: thiamethoxam + fludioxonil + metalaxyl-M) pesticide used for coating rape seeds, pending a two-week period during which Syngenta can submit its own evidence, Agriculture Minister Stephane Le Foll said on Friday.
The decision was based on a report from French health and safety agency ANSES, which went along with recent scientific findings suggesting that a sub-lethal dose of thiamethoxam, a molecule contained in Cruiser, made bees more likely to lose their way and die.
"To protect rapeseed plants there exist alternatives to coating seeds that are already widely used. If the withdrawal of the authorisation (for Cruiser OSR) is confirmed, farmers will therefore have solutions to call on," Le Foll said in a statement.
Syngenta rejected the move as based on a single study and not backed up by field observations.
"Currently in France you have 650,000 hectares that are cultivated (with Cruiser-treated rapeseed), and there are no cases of bee mortality identified as being linked to Cruiser," Laurent Peron, head of corporate communication for Syngenta France said.
This crop area amounts to nearly half of about 1.5 million hectares of rapeseed sown in France. In Europe, more than 3 million hectares of rapeseed use Cruiser, including in Germany, Peron said.
France seeks EU review
France is the largest crop producer in the European Union and with Germany is the leading EU grower of rapeseed, used for making vegetable oil and biodiesel fuel.
The French ban on the pesticide will take effect before the start of the next rapeseed sowing campaign in late summer, a farm ministry official said, stressing that it would not affect versions of Cruiser used for other crops such as maize (corn).
France also has asked the European Commission to reconsider its criteria for authorising Cruiser for rapeseed ahead of the next sowing campaign, Le Foll said.
In its report, ANSES said while exposure of bees to thiamethoxam in actual field conditions was lower than in the recent study on bee navigation, a similar level could not be excluded in some circumstances.
More research is needed at European level on the impact on bees as well as a broader review of the neonicotinoid family of substances to which thiamethoxam belongs, it said.
In a separate opinion published on Friday, the European Food Safety Authority said doses of neonicotinoids tested in the bee research were above the highest residue levels actually recorded in plant nectar, adding that more studies were needed to evaluate exposure in different field situations.
Dave Goulson of Stirling University in Scotland, who led another recent study on risks to bees from neonicotinoids, said there was growing evidence that these chemicals may play a role.
"It would be massively oversimplifying to say that these chemicals are the only cause of bee decline, although it is clear they are a part of the problem," Dave said.

Yangzhou pioneer chemical CO.,LTD. 

About pencycuron: Anastomosis groups ofRhizoctonia solani on potato in central México and potential for biological and chemical control

BY: G. Virgen-Calleros, V. Olalde-Portugal and D. E. Carling

Anastomosis group (AG) identity ofRhizoctonia solani isolates collected from potato plants growing near Leon, Guanajuato, in central Mexico was determined. In samples from 15 fields, we found AG-3 and AG-4 with a frequency of 73.5% and 26.5% respectively. AG-4 was found only during the flowering stage of plant growth, whereas AG-3 was present on plants at every stage of development. The efficacy againstR. solani, in vitro andin situ, of certain biocontrol agents (Bacillus subtilis, Gliocladium virens) and fungicides (Pencycuron, Tolcoflos-methyl, Fluazinam, Azoxystrobin) was assessed. CertainBacillus strains collected from the field inhibitedin vitro growth of isolates of certain AGs. Only Pencycuron and Tolcoflos-methyl inhibited AG-3 100%in vitro, whereas in the field, Azoxystrobin and Pencycuron showed the highest efficacy against development of sclerotia on tubers.

Se identificaron los grupos de anastomosis (AGs) deRhizoctonia solani en papa en la región de León, México. Se encontró la presencia de 2 grupos de anastomosis, AG-3 con una frecuencia de 73.5% encontrándose en todas las etapas del cultivo y AG-4 con frecuencia de 26.5%, encontrandóse en la etapa de floración. También se determinó el efectoin vitro ein situ de agentes de biocontrol y fungicidas sobre algunos AGs deR.solani aislados de papa. Así mismo se encontró que existen cepas deBacillus específicas sobre la inhibiciónin vitro de diferentes AGs. Por otra parte, se observó que sólo pencycuron y tolcoflos-metil mostraron 100% de inhibiciónin vitro sobre el AG-3. En condiciones de campo se determinó que azoxystrobin y pencycuron fueron los fungicidas con mayor eficiencia en el control deR. solani.  

Yangzhou pioneer chemical CO.,LTD. 

About dicamba: dmo methods and compositions

The invention provides for identification and use of crystal structures of Dicamba monooxygenase (DMO) that may be complexed with iron or cobalt cofactor and substrate (dicamba), or product (DCSA) in order to define residues important for enzymatic structure and function. Methods of using such structures are described. Data storage media comprising the crystal structural coordinate information are also described. 

Yangzhou pioneer chemical CO.,LTD.