PLoS One
August 2022
The Brazilian palm fruits and hearts-of-palm of Euterpe edulis, E. oleracea and E. precatoria are an important source for agro-industrial production, due to overexploitation, conservation strategies are required to maintain genetic diversity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe most used pesticides have neurotoxic action on the neurotransmitter system of target and non-targeted insects, such as honeybees. However, honeybees have foremost importance worldwide, which has encouraged the development of tools to evaluate the action of specific pesticide molecules on their nervous system, providing accurate data on damage to their brain. In this sense, our study aimed to optimize in vitro honeybee nervous tissue culture to assess pesticide risks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe drastic decline of bees is associated with several factors, including the immune system suppression due to the increased exposure to pesticides. A widely used method to evaluate these effects on these insects' immune systems is the counting of circulating hemocytes in the hemolymph. However, the extraction of hemolymph from larvae is quite difficult, and the collected material is frequently contaminated with other tissues and gastrointestinal fluids, which complicates counting.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBees are important pollinators that help to maintain the biodiversity of wild and cultivated plants. However, the increased and inappropriate use of agrochemicals has caused an imbalance in the populations of these insects visiting flowers for pollen and nectar collection. Therefore, new research methods for understanding the mechanisms of action of pesticides and their impacts on the brains of bees, such as neurotoxicity and cellular changes, in response to different active characteristics and dosages of insecticides are necessary.
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