The biological control of spinach noctuids moths can be accomplished through the use of the entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). The nematodes are generally distributed with traditional boom sprayers, though specific references about possible damage of these living organisms due to the action of the mechanical components of the sprayer are not available. This work aims to evaluate the effects of a spray application, with a conventional hydraulic sprayer on the viability of Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser). Field trial with applications of EPN alone and in a mixture with Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) were carried out for evaluating their level of control against noctuid moths in spinach and the effects of distribution on the nematode viability. The results demonstrate that the survival of nematodes was not affected by the spray application and furthermore the treatment with EPN alone and the mixture EPN+Bt showed no significant differences with respect to the control. These treatments were not significantly different from the chemicals ones.

/pdf/foliar-application-of-nematodes-for-noctuid-moths-control-in-49f5ayc9ag.pdf

Foliar application of nematodes for noctuid moths control in spinach with traditional boom sprayer

Optical sensing techniques have become important tools in agricultural engineering to enhance human health and welfare by increasing farm productivity and controlling agronomic practices. If nutrients needed for human health could be monitored in real time, the amount of these nutrients contained in vegetables could be controlled to some extent by adjusting the growth conditions in green houses or open fields. The authors have developed viable methods to detect the water and vitamin B2 content in living plants using optical reflection, absorption, or fluorescence monitoring. Compact and mobile equipment has also been developed for this purpose. The equipment consists of light emitting diodes (LEDs), a compact spectrometer, and a fibre optic system with a lens. The optical reflection from, absorption in, or fluorescence from growing leaves were monitored under LED illumination, and the water or vitamin B2 content could then be measured in growing vegetables. The vegetables used were mainly Jew’s mallows (Corchorus olitorius) and leaf lettuces, which were grown in our laboratory atmosphere. The applicability of these techniques to growing vegetables to benefit human health and welfare is demonstrated in this paper, based on practical data.

/pdf/monitoring-technique-for-vitamin-b2-and-water-content-in-4ovfj4twli.pdf

Monitoring technique for vitamin B2 and water content in plants for producing vegetables

モロヘイヤの葉中に含まれるビタミンB2を非破壊かつリアルタイムで検出することを目的として, UV-LED光をモロヘイヤに照射し, モロヘイヤから発生する蛍光観測可能な光学系を構築した. その結果として, 以下の結果を得た. 本測定法では, モロヘイヤから蛍光観察に要した時間は, 500 msであり, 従来の破壊検査法であるクロマトグラフィー法(数分から数十分)と比較しても非常に短時間の測定である. 本光学系では, リアルタイム計測も可能である. 1.モロヘイヤからの蛍光スペクトルで, 波長530 nmにピークを持つビタミンB2由来の蛍光を観測した. 2.紫外線障害が生じない励起光強度で最大の強度を320 μW mm-2と求め, 当該強度においても, 波長530 nmに蛍光ピークを持つ蛍光スペクトルを観測した. 以上のことから, 紫外光をモロヘイヤに照射することで, 生育過程中のモロヘイヤから非破壊かつリアルタイムでビタミンB2の検出を行えることを示した.

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/shita/23/4/23_4_152/_pdf

K. Yogo

Papers

Vitamin B2 detection in living Jew's mallow (Corchorus olitorius) using UV-excited fluorescence monitoring.