Validation and Evaluation of Reference Genes for Quantitative Real-Time PCR Analysis in (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) is a widely applied technique for accurately assessing the expression of target genes. In practice, the evaluation of gene expression requires appropriate reference genes. To screen reliable reference genes for evaluating gene expression via qRT-PCR in , a notorious migratory pest across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Australia, we assessed the expression stability of 13 candidate reference genes in using the ΔCt method, BestKeeper, Normfinder, GeNorm, and the web-based comprehensive platform RefFinder.

Nano-Micro Core-Shell Fibers for Efficient Pest Trapping.

Insect sex pheromones as an alternative to chemical pesticides hold promising prospects in pest control. However, their burst release and duration need to be optimized. Herein, pheromone-loaded core-shell fibers composed of degradable polycaprolactone and polyhydroxybutyrate were prepared by coaxial electrospinning.

Identification of sex pheromone in Macdunnoughia crassisigna Warren (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and field optimization of the sex attractant.

Background: Sex pheromones have proven to be a viable tool for monitoring and controlling pests and is an important part of integrated pest management (IPM). The noctuid moth Macdunnoughia crassisigna Warren poses a significant threat as a defoliator pest, impacting soybean and cruciferous vegetable production and quality in East Asia. However, a lack of comprehensive knowledge about its sexual chemical signaling hampers the development of semiochemical-based IPM approaches for M.

Biodegradable electrospun fibers as sustained-release carriers of insect pheromones for field trapping of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Background: Insect pheromones are highly effective and environmentally friendly, and are widely used in the monitoring and trapping of pests. However, many researchers have found that various factors such as ultraviolet light and temperature in the field environment can accelerate the volatilization of pheromones, thus affecting the actual control effect. In recent years, electrospinning technology has demonstrated remarkable potential in the preparation of sustained carriers.

Optimization and field evaluation of sex-pheromone of potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).

Background: The potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella is a key pest of potato and tobacco in China. We compared the sex pheromone titers released by P. operculella female, and the electroantennogram (EAG) responses of male antennae to pheromone compounds under laboratory conditions.

Identification and field verification of an aggregation pheromone from the white-spotted flower chafer, Protaetia brevitarsis Lewis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).

The white-spotted flower chafer (WSFC), Protaetia brevitarsis Lewis, is native to East Asia. Although their larvae are considered a potential resource insect for degrading plant residues, producing protein fodder, and processing to traditional medicine, adult WSFCs inflict damage to dozens of fruit and economic crops. The control of the WSFC still relies heavily on pesticides and the inefficient manual extraction of adults.

Influence of the neonicotinoid insecticide thiamethoxam on soil bacterial community composition and metabolic function.

Understanding of neonicotinoid insecticides toxicity on non-target organisms, such as bees, has indirectly promoted their soil treatment use. However, their effect on soil ecosystems haven't fully understood. Here, based on 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing and metagenomics, the effects of neonicotinoid insecticide thiamethoxam on bacterial communities and metabolic functions in two types of soils were studied.

Spatial and temporal distribution, degradation, and metabolism of three neonicotinoid insecticides on different parts, especially pests' target feeding parts of apple tree.

Background: Neonicotinoid insecticides (NIs) have been recently banned in some countries because of increased pest resistance and deleterious risks to non-target organisms. Recent studies considered all parts of crops as a whole part in plant protection. However, there are few reports focused on the distribution and metabolic trends of NIs on target feeding sites of different pests in apple orchards.

Identification and field evaluation of the sex pheromone of Apolygus lucorum (Hemiptera: Miridae) in China.

Background: The plant bug, Apolygus lucorum Meyer-Dür, has begun a resurgence and has become a key pest in cotton in northern China, with the wide-scale adoption of transgenic Bt cotton. We attempted to develop a new approach to the control of this plant bug by identifying and utilizing its sex pheromone.

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Isotope-labeled internal standards and grouping scheme for determination of neonicotinoid insecticides and their metabolites in fruits, vegetables and cereals - A compensation of matrix effects.

Neonicotinoid insecticides (NIs) are widely used. However they produce high levels of residues and are toxic to non-target organisms, especially when their metabolites exhibit comparable or elevated toxicities. In this study, we established a multi-residue analytical method for analyzing 20 compounds - 8 NIs and their 11 major toxic metabolites.

Distribution, Dissipation, and Metabolism of Neonicotinoid Insecticides in the Cotton Ecosystem under Foliar Spray and Root Irrigation.

The uptake, distribution, metabolism, and degradation of three neonicotinoid insecticides (NIs)-imidacloprid (IMI), acetamiprid (ACE), and thiamethoxam (THI) in different parts of cotton plants were investigated under field conditions. Insecticides were either applied by foliar spraying or root irrigation. Foliar application resulted in high tissue concentration (average tissue concentration ratio, TCR: 46.

Synthesis and antifungal activity of novel pyrazolines and isoxazolines derived from cuminaldehyde.

Two series of novel cuminaldehyde derivatives containing pyrazoline and isoxazoline moieties have been designed and synthesized. All of the compounds were characterized H-NMR,C-NMR, and HRMS. The antifungal activities were evaluated against six plant-pathogenic fungi.

Design, Synthesis and Insecticide Activity of Novel Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors: Triazolinone and Phthalimide Heterodimers.

Based on the "cluster effect" and the structure characters of acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.

Modeling of the Phytophthora capsici cellulose synthase 3 and its inhibitors activity assay.

Background: Phytophthora capsici is a devastating pathogen for crop. Cellulose synthase 3 (CesA3) is a target for many potential fungicides such as valinamide derivatives. However, the 3-dimensional structure (3-DS) of CesA3 in Phytophthora capsici was still unknown.

Identification and expression of candidate chemosensory receptors in the white-spotted flower chafer, Protaetia brevitarsis.

Accurate detection and recognition of chemical signals play extremely important roles for insects in their survival and reproduction. Chemosensory receptors, including odorant receptors (ORs), ionotropic receptors (IRs) and gustatory receptors (GRs), are involved in detection of volatile signals. In the present study, we aimed to identify candidate chemosensory receptors, and RNA-seq technology was employed to sequence the antennal transcriptome of Protaetia brevitarsis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae), a native agricultural and horticultural pest in East-Asia.

Synthesis and bioactivity studies of sex pheromone analogs of the diamond back moth, Plutella xylostella.

Background: Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L., is a very important pest of cruciferous vegetables causing excessive economic losses worldwide. Bioactivities of halo-, diazo-, and cyclopropane acetates of P.

Potential exposure to clothianidin and risk assessment of manual users of treated soil.

Background: Treated soil is the second most prevalent application technique for all registered pesticides in China. Some developing countries also adopt this method. However, the safety of this scenario has not been reported in the literature.

Attraction of Coffee Bean Weevil, Araecerus fasciculatus, to Volatiles from the Industrial Yeast Kluyveromyces lactis.

The coffee bean weevil (CBW), Araecerus fasciculatus (De Geer, 1775) (Coleoptera: Anthribidae) is an important pest of stored products such as grains, coffee beans, cassava, and traditional Chinese medicine materials. In China, CBW causes large losses of Daqu, a traditional Chinese liquor fermentation starter, and, unfortunately, the use of conventional insecticides against CBW is not suitable in Daqu storage. We found CBW to be highly attracted to fermenting yeast cultures, such as Kluyveromyces lactis.

Design, synthesis and bioactivity of novel phthalimide derivatives as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

A series of novel phthalimide derivatives related to benzylpiperazine were synthesized and evaluated as cholinesterase inhibitors. The results showed that all compounds were able to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE), with two of them dramatically inhibiting butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). Most compounds exhibited potent anti-AChE activity in the range of nM concentrations.

Synthesis and biological activity of novel benzimidazole derivatives as potential antifungal agents.

In the present study, a series of novel benzimidazole derivatives containing chrysanthemum acid moieties was designed and synthesized. Preliminary investigation of biological activity indicated that all of the compounds exhibited lower activity than that of beta-cypermethrin against and ; meanwhile, they showed good inhibitory activity against and . The fungicidal activity of compound against was approximately equal to that of thiabendazole and was twice as active against as was thiabendazole.

2-Amino-6-chloro-N-methyl-benzamide.

In the title compound, C8H9ClN2O, the dihedral angle between the benzene ring and the methyl-amide substituent is 68.39 (11)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming layers parallel to the ab plane.

Synthesis of C-13-labeled atrazine.

Atrazine is a long-lasting herbicide that has been shown to affect hormone levels in amphibians. Using the C-13 labeled atrazine to detect its residue is effective and essential. This study presents three steps for the synthesis of [(13) C3 ]atrazine, which starts from [(13) C]urea, and results in the incorporation of C-13 atoms at the 1, 3 and 5 positions of the S-triazine ring of atrazine.

Measurement of operator exposure to chlorpyrifos.

Background: To date, no research has been conducted to establish exposure levels for occupational pesticide operators under typical use scenarios in China. Through surrogate skin techniques (the whole-body method), the authors monitored dermal and inhalation exposure of pesticide applicators in China. In addition, the exposure of pesticide mixers was analysed.

2-Amino-N,3-dimethyl-benzamide.

In the title compound, C9H12N2O, the mean plane through the amide group and the benzene ring form a dihedral angle of 33.93 (7)°. An intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bond is present.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of organophosphorous-homodimers as dual binding site acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

The cluster effect is an effective strategy to explore new lead compounds, and has been successfully applied in rational drug design and screening. A series of novel organophosphorous-homodimers were designed and synthesized based on the dual-site structure characteristics of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The compounds were evaluated in vitro for their inhibitory activity to AChE extracted from Drosophila melanogaster and Musca domestic.