Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Plant protection product'

Control of pathogens by means of plant-derived plant protection products (PPPs) can be an effective, sustainable and environmentally friendly method of crop protection in organic agriculture. Larix decidua (European larch) bark is a by-product of the wood processing industry and provides a readily available, low cost and sustainable raw material. It was therefore planned to commercialise Larix extracts, containing two highly active diterpenoids (larixyl acetate and larixol) into a marketable PPP, Larixyne®, to combat grapevine downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) in organic farming. This thesis outlines the processes and knowledge developed in order to facilitate the commercialisation of Larixyne®: (i) Analytical protocols using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC-FID) techniques to quantify larixyl acetate, larixol and epimanool (the primary impurity) in Larix extracts were developed. (ii) Methods for large scale extraction and purification of active compounds from Larix were optimised in line with EU specifications for products with organic agricultural use. Through extraction with 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP), Larix bark contained extract compositions of up to 30.53% larixyl acetate and 8.45% larixol. Larixyl acetate and larixol extracts were isolated in sufficient quantity (8.0 kg) for large scale field trials. (iii) High-yield sources of larixyl acetate and larixol were evaluated and identified through screening a range of plant samples from central and northern Europe. Larix samples were found to vary in content of larixyl acetate (median 0.017% w/w, range 0.000 – 4.544% w/w), larixol (median 0.003% w/w, range 0.000 – 0.578% w/w), and epimanool (median 0.009% w/w, range 0.000 –0.752% w/w). (iv) The activity of larixyl acetate, larixol, epimanool and formulated products of Larix extracts against P. viticola on Vitis vinifera were demonstrated. Larixyl acetate and larixol exhibited excellent activity in vitro (mean MIC100 of 7 and 16 μg/mL) and in planta (EC50 0.2 – 0.7 mg/mL).

Risk assessment process is complex because it requires a multidisciplinary approach. In official European procedures, risk is assessed on standardised scenarios, where the territory, at different scale levels is described without taking into account the spatial variability of parameters. These approaches represent a powerful tool to characterize potential risk, anyway results obtained are not representative of actual site-specific conditions. The aim of this research was to analyse the main critical issues of agrochemicals risk assessment in terrestrial ecosystems. Different steps of agrochemicals risk assessment were considered and evaluated coupling field studies with predictive approaches. Different scale levels of risk assessment, with particular attention on exposure evaluation, were considered. Risk for pollinators was selected as a specific case of study and a procedure to assess exposure and risk for these organisms was developed.

The level of alteration in response to the same level of exposure can vary greatly among different ecosystems: in particular, effects provoked by chemicals are not only relying on their “absolute toxicity” and on their concentration, but also on the ecological vulnerability of the system. Vulnerability is often overlooked in current risk assessment procedure, but its knowledge is pivotal in site-specific studies, where the object of the protection is shifted from a generic scenario to a real ecological system. The study of ecological vulnerability confirms that risk assessment, as becoming site-specific, needs more ecological knowledge. In this path, the use of ecological and biological traits of organisms has proven to be a promising approach to evaluate the ecological vulnerability at different level of biological organization. In this work the issue of the ecological vulnerability has been considered from several different perspectives, using multiples methodologies and working at completely different scales. The leading thread is to show how an ecologically based approach can enhance our understanding of environmental processes and thus improving risk assessment methodologies.

The use of crop protection products (CPPs) is essential to improve crop production levels and feed the rising global population. Safety testing of CPPs is also essential to ensure that their use does not adversely affect human health or the environment. Currently, laboratory-based studies typically over-estimate the environmental persistence of CPPs in the environment. The inclusion of environmental variables that are currently omitted from laboratory studies, such as non-UV light, could reduce the disparity between laboratory and field degradation studies. The inclusion of light resulted in a significant reduction in extractable parent compound for benzovindiflupyr, chlorotoluron, prometryn, imidacloprid, and fludioxonil compared to dark conditions. In contrast, a significantly slower rate of cinosulfuron transformation was observed under light compared to dark conditions. In a separate experiment, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism showed that under light conditions, the soil surface (0-3 mm) harboured distinct phototroph, bacterial and fungal communities compared to the underlying bulk soil (3-12 mm), or dark incubated soil. 454 pyrosequencing revealed that light selected for diazotrophs at the soil surface, including Nostoc punctiforme, in addition to heterotrophic bacteria, particularly within the phylum Firmicutes. Metatranscriptomic analysis showed that light also selected for actively transcribing photosynthetic eukaryotes at the soil surface, such as Chlorophyceae and Saccharomycetes, in addition to heterotrophs, such as Nostocaceae. Finally, light selected for major soil functions such as photosynthesis, and reduced the alpha and beta diversity of predicted protein coding regions at the soil surface. This work has important implications for CPP regulatory studies and soil surface management practices.

Crude extracts of the seed kernels of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) are widely used as plant protection products. The active ingredient (a.i.) of these extracts is azadirachtin A (aza A). aza A is a phytochemical (botanical) complex secondary metabolite which, with it is multiple toxic effects on insects, protects the plant against predation. Aza A is present in only low concentration in neem oil, but makes up 20-50% in the NSKEs extracted by polar solvents from the kernels. However, when used as foliar sprays it is rapidly destroyed by sunlight, and might be more effective if it is used systemically. Therefore the aim of the project was to extend previous work and to prepare a pelleted version of the main commercially-available neem-seed kernel extract, NeemAzal®-Technical (NAT) produced by Trifolio GmbH, in preparation for the expected registration of the product in the UK in 2011. It was first necessary to purify a quantity of aza A for quantification of the a.i. pelleted material and in soil and plants in the rest of the project. In achieving high purity (over 98%) aza A, reverse phase chromatographic methods were used, and mass spectrometery was used to confirm purity and identification. A final quantity of 6.2 mg of azadirachtin A was obtained from 4 gm of NAT, a yield of 0.15%. If aza A and the other neem terpenoids are to be used to plant protection, they must have a low phytotoxicity. Effect of NAT on the germination and its ensuing seedling development of two commercially important crops, sugar beet and cabbage was examined. NAT did have an inhibitory effect on seedling growth at 10-3 M aza A. In order to explore the inhibitory affect of aza A, the second part of the chapter was to examine effect of aza A on mitosis of onion root tips. The limonoids in concentration of 10-3 M adversely affected the mitotic activity of onion root tip cells. This could be failure of microtubules polymerisation into microtubules, or some other biochemical effect. From the findings in this part of the project, it can be concluded that only at a concentration of 10-3 M is aza A toxic to plant young seedlings, but in practice this is unlikely to be a significant problem. The first part of Chapter 4 of the project was to lay the foundations for the behaviour of aza A in soil environment in both powder form and in 2 types of granular formulations. The half-life of azadirachtin in soil from this work was found to be 1.6 days which is consistent with the previous reports. This short half-life of aza A may be problematic in use as a PPP. The short persistence might be overcome by formulating neem materials in granules to achieve environmental stability and biological efficacy of application. The granular formulations used in the project showed controlled release characteristics. The release of azadirachtin into the soil water was in fact delayed by encapsulating it in pellets. Systemic uptake of aza A by roots and subsequent presence in the vascular system of plants was assessed. Aza A was transported and was more stable in the leaf areas of cabbage and sugar beet plants than in the soil, as the half-life was found to be 9 days. The concentration of aza A in the leaf-water was less than 10% of the solution bathing the roots. The final part of the project, the application of the pelleted NSKE to protect cabbage, in both glass house and field conditions, demonstrated that neem products in pelleted formulations could be used as effective, systemically applied PPP to control pests of cabbage. In the field tests, the protective effect of the neem extract could be shown over a period of at least 5 weeks after addition of the pellets to the soil. In conclusion, the short soil half-life of the neem a.i., aza A, in PPP could be overcome by a pelleted formulation, the composition of which can delay release of the a.i. The technology allows protection of crops from soil-borne, as well as foliar sucking and biting pest damage by controlled release into the soil to allow uptake into plant vascular system.

De nos jours, il y a une volonté générale de se tourner vers une agriculture plus respectueuse de l’environnement et du consommateur se traduisant notamment par une démarche de réduction des intrants chimiques. Dans un contexte de développement durable, la recherche de produits naturels pour lutter contre les maladies et les ravageurs suscite un regain d’intérêt. Dans cette thèse, des extraits hydro-alcooliques issus de coproduits de la vigne (sarment, cep, racine) et d’essences forestières (écorce d'épicéa, nœud de pin) se sont révélés être une excellente source de polyphénols bioactifs, en particulier en stilbènes complexes. En effet, ces extraits ont démontré un large spectre d’activités contre différentes maladies végétales. En particulier, un potentiel oomycide contre le mildiou de la vigne et une capacité insecticide contre un parasite des Solanacées sont rapportés. En outre, la pertinence de l'utilisation de la « chimie verte » pour extraire les stilbènes comme méthode alternative aux solvants organiques a été mise en évidence. Les présents résultats renforcent une voie de recherche originale pour faire progresser une viticulture et une agriculture plus durables, en utilisant des produits de biocontrôle moins toxiques et biodégradables, constituant ainsi une solution possible et réaliste pour lutter contre les pathogènes des plantes
Nowadays, is a priority to turn towards a more eco- and consumer friendly agriculture resulting in the reduction of the chemical inputs. In a context of a sustainable development, the investigation of natural products to fight against diseases and pests raised a renewed interest. In this thesis, hydroalcoholic extracts derived from grapevine (cane, wood, root) and forest species (spruce bark, pine knot) by-products have demonstrated to be a great source of bioactive polyphenols, and particularly in complex stilbenes. Indeed, these extracts have proved to confer a broad spectrum of activities against different major plant diseases. In particular, an oomycide potential against downy mildew of the vine and an insecticidal capacity against Solanaceae pest were reported. Furthermore, the relevant use of “green chemistry” to extract stilbenes as an alternative method of organic solvents has been highlighted. The present findings strengthen an original line of research to advance in a more sustainable viticulture and agriculture, using less toxic and biodegradable biocontrol products, being this a possible and realistic solution to combat plant pathogens

Protection management with the aid of plant protection products makes it possible to carry out pest control programs in agricultural environments and make them less hazardous for the cultivation of products on a large scale. However, when these programs are put into effect, only a small proportion of the sprayed products is really deposited on the target area while much of it is carried to neighboring regions. The scientific literature includes studies on the use of mathematical techniques to calculate the physical transformation and movement and provide a deposition estimate of the product. On the basis of this prediction, it is possible to configure a system which can allow the spraying to be carried out in normal weather conditions in the region for a satisfactory performance, although these conditions can undergo changes and make any statistical configuration unreliable. An alternative way of overcoming this problem, is to adapt the spray elements to the meteorological conditions while the protection management is being undertaken. However, the current techniques are operationally expensive in computational terms, which makes them unsuitable for situations where a short operational time is required. This thesis can be characterized as descriptive and seeks to allow deposition predictions to be made in a rapid and precise way. Thus it is hoped that the new approaches can enable the spray element to be adapted to the weather conditions while the protection management is being carried out. The study begins by attempting to reduce costs through a computational model of the environment that can speed up its execution. Subsequently, this computational model is used for predicting the rate of deposition as a fitness function in meta-heuristic algorithms and ensure that the mechanical behavior of the spray element can be adapted to the weather conditions while the management is put into effect. The results of this approach show that it can be adapted to environments with low variability. At the same time, it has a poor performance in environments with a high variability of weather conditions. A second approach is investigated and analyzed for this scenario, where the adaptation requires a reduced execution time. In this second approach, a trained machine learning technique is employed together with the results obtained from the first approach in different scenarios. These results show that this approach allows the spray element to be adapted in a way that is compatible with what was provided by the previous approach in less space of time.
O manejo de proteção com uso de produtos fitofarmacêuticos possibilita o controle de pragas em ambientes agrícolas, tornando-o menos nocivo para o desenvolvimento da cultura e com produção em grande escala. Porém, apenas uma pequena parte do produto pulverizado realmente é depositado na área alvo enquanto a maior parte do produto sofre deriva para regiões vizinhas. A literatura científica possui trabalhos com o uso de técnicas matemáticas para calcular a transformação física e movimento para estimar a deposição do produto. Com base nessa predição é possível configurar o sistema de pulverização para realizar a pulverização sob uma condição meteorológica comum na região para um desempenho satisfatório, mas as condições meteorológicas podem sofrer alterações e tornar qualquer configuração estática ineficiente. Uma alternativa para esse problema é realizar a adaptação da atuação do elemento pulverizador às condições meteorológicas durante a execução do manejo de proteção. Contudo, as técnicas existentes são computacionalmente custosas para serem executadas, tornando-as inadequadas para situações em que é requerido baixo tempo de execução. Esta tese se concentra no contexto descrito com objetivo de permitir a predição da deposição de forma rápida e precisa. Assim, espera-se que as novas abordagens sejam capazes de possibilitar a adaptação do elemento pulverizador às condições meteorológicas durante a realização do manejo de proteção. Este trabalho inicia com o processo de redução do custo de execução de um modelo computacional do ambiente, tornando sua execução mais rápida. Posteriormente, utiliza-se este modelo computacional para predição da deposição como função Fitness em algoritmos de meta-heurística para adaptar o comportamento do elemento pulverizador às condições meteorológicas durante a realização do manejo. Os resultados desta abordagem demonstram que é possível utilizá-la para realizar a adaptação em ambientes com baixa variabilidade. Por outro lado, pode apresentar baixo desempenho em ambientes com alta variabilidade nas condições meteorológicas. Uma segunda abordagem é investigada e analisada para este cenário, onde o processo de adaptação requer um tempo de execução reduzido. Nesta segunda abordagem é utilizado uma técnica de Aprendizado de Máquina treinada com os resultados gerados pela primeira abordagem em diferentes cenários. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que essa abordagem possibilita realizar a adaptação do elemento pulverizador compatível com a proporcionada pela abordagem anterior em um menor espaço de tempo.

Proefschrift--Faculteit der Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen en die der Geneeskunde--Universiteit Leiden, 2003.
Mention parallèle de titre ou de responsabilité : Schema voor het inschatten van de risico's van het gebruik van gewasbeschermingsmiddelen voor vogels en zoogdieren. Résumés en anglais et néerlandais. Bibliogr. en fin de chap.

Crop protection products (CPPs) are an essential component of modern agriculture, necessary to improve crop yield to feed the ever-increasing world population. Regulation and safety testing of CPPs entering the environment is mandatory to ensure that their use is not at the detriment of environmental or human health. Regulatory laboratory studies typically over-estimate the persistence of CPPs within the environment as they are not representative of environmental conditions. This study investigated the role of non-UV light on CPP degradation and the development of soil surface communities. The inclusion of non-UV light in laboratory studies impacted the degradation of fludioxonil and cinosulfuron, increasing and decreasing the rate of transformation relative to dark conditions, respectively. Further, the inclusion of light increased non-extractable residues (NER) formation in fludioxonil, paclobutrazol and benzovindiflupyr. In a field based degradation experiment, the availability of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) increased the transformation of benzovindiflupyr relative to when PAR was restricted. Further, the formation of paclobutrazol and benzovindiflupyr NERs was increased when PAR was not restricted, and the proportion of CPP remaining at the soil surface (0-5 mm) was higher when PAR was restricted. Targeted amplicon sequencing (Illumina MiSeq) revealed that bacterial and phototrophic communities at the soil surface changed with time, and that communities formed when PAR was available were structurally distinct relative to communities when PAR was restricted. In a further experiment, analysis of bacterial and phototrophic communities under crops with differing canopy characteristics showed that distinct communities formed at the soil surface relative to bulk soil, and that phototrophic communities of bare soil and under low-density canopies were structurally distinct to those that formed under high-density canopies. This work has potential implications for regulatory CPP degradation studies, and furthers the understanding of soil surface community development in temperate environments.

Mestrado em Engenharia Agronómica - Instituto Superior de Agronomia
The sustainable use of plant protection products is the proper management of their remnants, including effluents resulting from cleaning of sprayers. The aim of this study was the adaptation of the management system of fitossanitary effluent - Héliosec® – to the Herdade Vale da Rosa conditions, as a solution to a more sustainable production. To this end, collection of field data and simulation of several scenarios have been performed in the system optimization perspective. In the simulations, it was found that the direct introduction, where washing is carried out, allows to obtain better results, corresponding to a more efficient practice. However, the real data show that it‘s also possible to use an intermediate storage that will improve the management of fitossanitary effluent. Given the washing systems analyzed it‘s recommended to wash by spray pressure due to reduction of water consumption. In the evaluation of simulated data versus real data it was found that effluent evaporation is faster in the real situation, this difference was statistically verified. This study highlights the possibility of implementing the Héliosec® system in the study farm, and also allows verifying that this system can be used in similar explorations, contributing to the future legislative framework

Les produits phytopharmaceutiques, communément appelés pesticides, sont utilisés pour lutter contre les organismes nuisibles aux plantes et, ce faisant, assurer les rendements agricoles et les approvisionnements alimentaires. L'encadrement juridique français de ces produits s'est donc d'abord intéressé à garantir leur efficacité. Dans un second temps seulement, il a cherché à limiter les risques qu'ils présentent pour la santé et l'environnement. Depuis la stratégie thématique communautaire sur l'utilisation durable des pesticides, l'objectif qui lui est assigné est plus ambitieux, car il s'agit de réduire la dépendance de l'agriculture aux pesticides. Au-delà de la réduction des quantités de produits utilisées, il devient alors nécessaire d'adopter de nouvelles pratiques de lutte et, plus encore, de nouvelles méthodes agronomiques permettant de prévenir l'apparition et le développement des nuisibles. Or, les règles relatives à la mise sur le marché des produits phytopharmaceutiques, coeur du dispositif juridique, si elles réduisent le niveau de risque acceptable pour la santé et l'environnement des pesticides, peinent à atteindre cet objectif. Il en va de même du nouvel encadrement de l'utilisation des pesticides, pourtant plus prometteur. Pour réorienter les pratiques agricoles, il s'avère nécessaire de faire appel aux ressources de l'ensemble du droit agricole. Or, qu'il s'agisse du recours aux instruments de marché ou du cadre très structurant de la politique agricole commune, l'intégration, certes croissante, des préoccupations sanitaires et environnementales reste à un niveau encore insuffisant pour modifier substantiellement les pratiques
Plant protection products, also known as pesticides, are used to fight against offensive organisms on plants. By doing so, they also guarantee crop yield and food supplying. French legal framework has been genuinely built to ensure market efficiency to these products even before trying to limit their impact on health and environment. With the community thematic strategy on sustainable use of pesticides, its objective gets more aspiring as it now concerns the reduction of farming dependency on pesticides. But more than reducing the use of these products, it becomes necessary to implement new practices. Moreover, new agronomical methods have to be set up against pest emergence and its uncontrolled growth. Although market rules on plant protection products, which are in the core of the legal package, do lower the risk on health and environment, they hardly reach this goal. It is the same analysis with the yet promising legal framework on pesticides use. Calling on the entire resources of agricultural law becomes necessary in order to redirect farming practises. In spite of the help from both market instruments and the very structuring framework of the common agricultural policy, the growing integration of health and environmental concern stays at an unsufficient level to substantially change these practices

L'injection de produits de traitement des plantes (PPP) dans le tronc des arbres est une méthode alternative aux traitements phytosanitaires par pulvérisation aérienne. Cette méthode consiste à positionner les PPP dans le système vasculaire, le flux xylémien assurant la dispersion de la molécule dans l'arbre. Les résultats d'efficacité aléatoires de ces méthodes nécessitent de mieux comprendre le transfert et la distribution des PPP dans l'arbre afin d'optimiser les traitements. Une méthode non invasive, la micro-injection à l'aide d'une aiguille de faible diamètre, a été utilisée dans ce projet, et pour laquelle il s'agissait de déterminer la résilience de la blessure d'injection occasionnée par l'aiguille. Les blessures ont été analysées par imagerie sur des coupes de troncs de pommiers et de vignes. Les observations ont révélé la mise en place de barrières physico-chimiques isolant la blessure de l'atmosphère extérieur, avec compartimentation d'une zone impactée de faible volume tissulaire et une résilience assez rapide de la blessure sur pommiers. D'autre part, la cinétique de distribution de 3 substances actives, difénoconazole, imidaclopride et pyriméthanile, a été suivie après injection chez le pommier. Les analyses par LC-MS/MS ont montré une grande variabilité dans la distribution foliaire des substances actives et des concentrations dans les fruits inférieurs aux limites maximales de résidus. L'emploi de colorants ou de PPP radiomarqués a permis d'étudier les paramètres qui contrôlent la distribution. Ces essais ont montré que la sectorisation du système vasculaire et la trajectoire des faisceaux vasculaires régissent la distribution spatiale. En outre, la rétention des substances actives sur les vaisseaux de xylème est le facteur principal du faible transfert de certaines substances actives qui peut être amélioré par l'utilisation de tensio-actifs. Par ailleurs, l'efficacité de trois autres substances actives, thiabendazole, allicine, nanoparticules d'argent, a été testée in vitro contre différents champignons pathogènes en vue de leur utilisation par injection. Le thiabendazole, qui présentait la meilleure efficacité, et l'allicine semblent être de bons candidats pour cette utilisation. Ces travaux ont permis de montrer que la micro-injection était une méthode de traitement durable sans risque pour les arbres mais que des progrès dans les formulations devaient être encore faits pour obtenir une efficacité suffisante
Trunk injection of plant protection products (PPP) into trees is an alternative method to aerial spraying. This method consists in placing PPP in the vascular system, the sapflow ensuring the dispersion of the molecule in the tree. The random efficacy results of these methods require a better understanding of the transfer and distribution of PPP in the tree in order to optimize treatments. A non-invasive method, the micro-injection with a small diameter needle, was used in this project to determine the resilience of the injection wound caused by the needle. Wounds were analyzed by imaging on sections of apple tree trunks and vines. The establishment of physico-chemical barriers was observed on apple trees. The wound is then isolated from the external atmosphere by compartmentalization of a limited impacted tissue area and a quite rapid resilience of the wound. The distribution kinetics of three active ingredients (a.i) difenoconazole, imidacloprid and pyrimethanil, was monitored after injection in apple trees. Analyses by LC-MS/MS showed a high variability in the foliar distribution of a.i. and concentrations in fruits were below the maximum residue limit. Dyes or radiolabeled PPP were used to study the parameters that control the distribution. These results showed that sectorization of the vascular system and patterns of water flow govern the spatial distribution. In addition, the retention of a.i. on xylem vessels is the main factor explaining the low transfer of some a.i. which can be improved by using surfactants. Furthermore, the efficacy of three others a.i., thiabendazole, allicin and silver nanoparticles, has been tested invitro against various pathogenic fungi to be used by injection. Thiabendazole, which had the highest efficacy, and allicin appeared to be good candidates for this purpose. This work showed that micro-injection was a lasting treatment method without risk for the trees. Further progress in PPP formulations are nevertheless still needed to achieve sufficient efficacy

The traditional procedures for the ecotoxicological risk assessment are general, schematic and simplified and, for these reason, they are powerful tools for regulation purposes. Anyway, they don't take into account the actual consequences on natural communities, the interactions among populations within the community or the indirect effects of a contamination. The need of more "ecological realism" into them is thus felt. Recently, the application of the vulnerability concept, instead of sensitivity, and the use of biological characteristics (traits) of organisms for predicting it represent steps towards the introduction of more ecological realism in ecotoxicology. In the present work the traditional ecotoxicological procedures were used in different compartments in the same area, considering the stress given by plant protection products. Then, based on the previous step, some innovative aspects were applied on the soil compartment. Natural communities were investigated for assessing the actual consequences of the stress and possible indirect effects on the food web. The recent trait-based and vulnerability approaches were applied and the results compared each other. A vulnerability analysis procedure to a mixture of plant protection products for soil community was also developed.

La réalisation des barrières anti-pollution pour protéger le sol et les nappes phréatiques contre diverses sources de contamination repose d'abord sur l'imperméabilité des barrières et aussi sur leur capacité à retenir des espèces polluantes migrant vers l'extérieur lorsque l'on confère aux matériaux constitutifs de la barrière des propriétés spécifiques de rétention. Dans le cadre d'un programme de recherche pour la mise au point d'un nouveau produit Ecosol (commercialisé par l'entreprise Soletanche) sous forme de granules pour des barrières anti-pollution, nous avons réalisé une étude du procédé de fabrication et de la caractérisation des propriétés des produits. La fabrication a été effectuée au moyen d'un plateau granulateur. Plusieurs paramètres liés a cet appareil ainsi qu'aux matériaux à granuler ont montré leur influence aussi bien sur la production que sur les caractéristiques mécaniques et physiques des granules: la position d'alimentation en eau et en poudre, le débit d'alimentation, l'angle d'inclinaison et la vitesse de rotation du plateau, la proportion de ciment et d'argile dans le mélange. En ce qui concerne la capacité de rétention des granules en métaux lourds (CD#2#+, PB#2#+, ZN#2#+), les facteurs concernant les granules, le milieu et les polluants sont à prendre en considération. Grace à la méthode des plans d'expériences, nous avons pu planifier rigoureusement le nombre d'essais et la façon de les exécuter. De ce fait, nous avons limite ce nombre au minimum nécessaire en gardant toutes les possibilités d'en tirer les informations souhaitées avec une bonne précision. Le calcul des effets des facteurs et des interactions a permis d'établir des modèles représentant le procédé de fabrication des granules et leurs caractéristiques. Dans le premier chapitre, nous passons en revue les problèmes actuels de traitement et de stockage des déchets, de protection et de traitement des eaux ainsi que les lois en vigueur relative à ces sujets. Le deuxième chapitre est consacré à la théorie de l'aglomération tandis que le troisième est orienté vers le plateau régulateur, l'appareil utilisé par la suite pour fabriquer les granules. La théorie de l'agglomération nous permet de connaître les mécanismes de la granulation, la cinétique de ce procédé et les techniques d'évaluation des produits ainsi fabriqués. Quand au plateau granulateur, c'est un des appareils les plus utilisés dans l'histoire de la granulation. Nous étudions alors les paramètres liés au matériel et à la matière première à granuler car ces facteurs vont décider du taux de production et des caractéristiques des granules obtenus. Nous suivrons tout au long du chapitre 4 la méthode des plans d'expériences en général et celle développée par Taguchi en particulier. Ensuite nous examinons les étapes nécessaires pour élaborer un plan d'expérience répondant à notre besoin, la technique d'exécution de ces expériences et enfin les calculs et l'interprétation des résultats. Le chapitre 5 présente la fabrication et la détermination des propriétés mécaniques et physiques des granules. Le dernier chapitre est consacré aux essais de rétention des métaux lourds (Cd, Pb et Zn) par des granules. En premier lieu, nous résumons les mécanismes de rétention des métaux lourds par des mélanges argiles-ciment : l'absorption et la précipitation. En se fondant sur les connaissances des travaux antérieurs dans ce domaine et sur les paramètres propres à notre sujet, nous établissons un plan d'expériences que nous réalisons en vue de déterminer la capacité des granules en matière de rétention des métaux lourds. L'interpétation des résultats obetnus nous permet d'abord d'identifier les facteurs pouvant intervenir dans la rétention, et aussi de classer les métaux étudiés dans l'ordre d'affinité.

Analyse des polypeptides obtenus par traduction in vitro d'arn messagers extraits de racines non nodulees, de nodosites fixatrices d'azote ou de nodosites non fixatrices. Etude de l'expression des genes codant pour les leghemoglobines et analyse de l'organisation de ces genes chez medicago sativa, des hybrides somatiques, et chez des legumineuses apparentees. Utilisation de sondes d'adn isolees d'autres especes de plantes pour suivre l'expression des genes codant pour des proteines connues pour jouer un role dans la symbiose (glutamine synthetase) ou les interactions plantes-microorganismes (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, chalcone synthase, extensine)

Os avanços na mecanização agrícola têm contribuído para o crescimento da produtividade agrícola do país, garantindo ao Brasil lugar de destaque na produção agrícola de alimentos, fibras e energia. A aplicação de produtos fitossanitários tem contribuído para esse aumento garantindo a proteção de plantas dentro do ciclo de produção agrícola. Controladores eletrônicos têm sido utilizados nas aplicações de produtos fitossanitários na agricultura moderna, surgindo à necessidade de estudos do seu desempenho. O tempo de resposta é o principal parâmetro, pois determina a eficiência do sistema de controle. Desta forma, objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o tempo de resposta de um controlador eletrônico de pulverização variando as velocidades de deslocamento e taxas de aplicação, em baixas, médias e altas vazões. As mudanças de velocidade de deslocamento e as de taxa de aplicação influenciaram nos tempos de resposta no controlador eletrônico de pulverização. Os tempos de resposta obtidos do controlador eletrônicos de pulverização para mudanças de velocidade e taxa de aplicação variaram de 2 a 9 e 1,5 a 8 segundos respectivamente. A exatidão do sistema de controle eletrônico de pulverização para as mudança de velocidade foi de ± 2% e para as mudanças de taxas de aplicação de ± 4%. O controlador eletrônico de pulverização obteve menor tempo resposta em altas vazões e maiores velocidades.
Advances in agricultural mechanization contributed to the growth of productivity in the country farms, leading Brazil to a significant position in the agricultural production of food, fibre and energy. A fraction of these results had been ensured by employment of plant protection products within the cycle of agricultural production. In this context, electronic controllers have been used in spraying applications and creating a demand for studies of their performance. Response time in actual applications is a key parameter determining the efficiency of the control system. The objective of this work was to study the response time of an electronic controller of: varying displacement speeds, spraying, and application rates; working at low, medium and high flows. Influences in the response time were found for speed changes and the application rates in spray electronic controller. Ranging from 2 to 9 and 1.5 to 8 seconds respectively. The accuracy of electronic spray control system for gear change was up to 2% and to changes in application rates up to 4%. Time responses for the electronic controller were lower for high flow rates and speeds.

La lutte pour le plus grand bénéfice à moindre coût est supposée transformer tout organisme mutualiste en tricheur. Or l'ubiquité et la diversité des mutualismes contredisent ces prédictions théoriques, suggérant l'existence de mécanismes favorisant la stabilité de ces relations. Nous avons étudié l'association spécifique et obligatoire entre la plante Hirtella physophora et les fourmis Allomerus decemarticulatus. Par des approches mêlant écologie de terrain et biologie moléculaire, nous avons mis en évidence un conflit qui se manifeste via le comportement de castration parasitaire des fourmis. Ce conflit est maintenu sous contrôle par des mécanismes de sanctions et de fidélité au partenaire. Le résultat de leur mise en œuvre est modulé par des interactions avec d'autres organismes, eux aussi impliqués dans l'association. Notre étude met en lumière l'importance de l'appréhension des différentes dimensions écologiques, spatiales et temporelles dans la compréhension de la trajectoire évolutive d'un système d'interactions
The struggle to attain more for less is supposed to transform every mutualist into a cheater. However, mutualisms are ubiquitous and of major importance in ecosystems, suggesting the existence of mechanisms enhancing the maintenance of such relationships. We focused on the obligatory specific association between the plant Hirtella physophora (Chrysobalanaceae) and the ants Allomerus decemarticulatus (Myrmicineae). By combining field ecology and molecular biology, we highlighted a conflict that results in the parasitic castration behaviour of ants. This conflict is controlled thanks to sanctions and partner fidelity feedback. The outcome of these mechanism is affected by interactions with other organisms that are involved in the relationship. This study highlights the importance of investigating the ecological, spatial and temporal dimensions in order to understand the evolutionary fate of a mutualistic relationship

Федченко, О. О. Ефективність застосування регуляторів росту у технології вирощування жита озимого на чорноземах опідзолених Північного Лісостепу : випускна кваліфікаційна робота : 201 "Агрономія" / О. О. Федченко ; керівник роботи Л. А. Шевченко ; НУ "Чернігівська політехніка", кафедра аграрних технологій та лісового господарства. – Чернігів, 2021. – 54 с.
Озиме жито – важлива продовольча і кормова культура, яка має високу потенційну врожайність. Перед агрономами й постає завдання – зменшити розрив між потенційною та фактичною врожайністю озимого жита. Саме тому в останні роки пошук напрямків підвищення ефективності виробництва зерна жита шляхом оптимізації елементів технології вирощування є необхідним і актуальним. Результати досліду показали, що застосування регуляторів росту на посівах озимого жита призводить до збільшення врожайності і покращення якості зерна.
Winter rye is an important food and fodder crop that has a high potential yield. Agronomists face the task of reducing the gap between the potential and actual yields of winter rye. That is why in recent years the search for ways to improve the efficiency of rye grain production by optimizing the elements of cultivation technology is necessary and relevant.

Плотнікова, О. В. Оптимізація елементів технологія вирощування соняшнику на прикладі СВК «Полісся» Чернігівського району : випускна кваліфікаційна робота : 201 "Агрономія" / О. В. Плотнікова ; керівник роботи К. М. Кудряшова ; НУ "Чернігівська політехніка", кафедра аграрних технологій та лісового господарства. – Чернігів, 2021. – 53 с.
У першому розділі обґрунтована тема за літературними джерелами. Наведена детальна інформація по соняшнику, стан та перспективи його вирощування в Україні та світі ,описані біологічні та сортові особливості культури. У другому розділі наведена характеристика господарства СВК «Полісся». Подані загальні відомості про господарство, охарактеризовано ґрунтово-кліматичні умови та представлена технологія вирощування культур. Недоліки в технології вирощування соняшнику та рекомендовані заходи її поліпшення наведені у розділі 3. У 4 розділі проведена економічна оцінка запропонованих заходів технології вирощування соняшнику. Отже, за результатами досліджень приріст чистого доходу соняшнику виріс на 18,1%. А під час заміни закордонних ЗЗР вітчизняними виявлено, що система захисту в господарстві коштує 2828 грн/га, а запропонована – 1128 грн/га.
The first section substantiates the topic of literary sources. Detailed information on sunflower, the state and prospects of its cultivation in Ukraine and the world, biological and varietal features of culture are described. The second section describes the economy of Polissya Agricultural Complex. General information about the farm is given, soil and climatic conditions are characterized and the technology of growing crops is presented. Shortcomings in the technology of sunflower cultivation and recommended measures to improve it are given in Section 3. Section 4 provides an economic evaluation of the proposed measures of sunflower cultivation technology. Thus, according to research, the increase in net income of sunflower increased by 18.1%. And during the replacement of foreign PPE with domestic ones, it was found that the system of protection in the farm costs 2828 UAH / ha, and the proposed - 1128 UAH / ha.

This diploma thesis focuses on the statistical examination of properties of plant protection products at Agro-Artikel, s.r.o. Using the empirical distribution function, it focuses on the sales price and the shelf life of the products, tests the hypotheses about the properties of the products and the dependencies between them. The thesis also explores the results of the questionnaire survey and offers recommendations for the introduction of new products.

Les effets de différentes activités anthropiques (vignoble, cuverie) sur les populations fongiques du raisin au vin ont été étudiés. Afin de caractériser ces effets, il était nécessaire d’avoir accès à la diversité globale des populations (pyroséquençage et IR-TF) mais également à la diversité intraspécifique (IR-TF). La spectroscopie a ainsi été validée pour sa capacité à caractériser la population globale et à discriminer les souches pour trois espèces de levures non-Saccharomyces (NS). Pour la première fois, il est démontré que la baie de raisin constitue une source limitée pour les levures NS alors que la cuverie semble constituer une source importante; l’air étant un vecteur important de dissémination de ces levures. De plus, la persistance et la réimplantation des levures NS dans le moût l’année suivante ont été démontrées. Les activités anthropiques étudiées modifient la diversité fongique. Une biodiversité plus faible pour les raisins de la modalité biologique a été mesurée pour les 3 millésimes considérés. Les populations fongiques sont ensuite fortement remaniées par l’étape de pressurage/clarification et l’influence de la flore de cuverie est confirmée. L’ajout de SO2 modifie les dynamiques des populations et favorise la domination de l’espèce S. cerevisiae. L’analyse chimique non-ciblée des vins montre pour la première fois que ces derniers peuvent être discriminés à la fin de la fermentation alcoolique en fonction de la protection phytosanitaire, que ces fermentations aient eu lieu en présence ou non de SO2. Ainsi, l'existence dans les vins de signatures de diversité chimique et microbiologique liées au mode de protection au vignoble est mise en évidence
The effects of different anthropogenic activities (vineyard, winery) on fungal populations from grape to wine were studied. To characterize these effects, it was necessary to access to the overall diversity of populations (pyrosequencing and spectroscopy FT-IR) but also to intra-specific diversity (FT-IR). Spectroscopy FT-IR has been validated for their ability to characterize the global population and to discriminate the strains for three species of non-Saccharomyces yeasts (NS). For the first time, it is shown that the grape berry is a limited source for NS yeasts while the winery seems to be a significant source; the air is an important vector for dissemination of these yeasts. In addition, persistence of NS yeast strains from year to year in the winery has been demonstrated. The studied anthropogenic activities modify the fungal diversity. Thus, lower biodiversity of grapes from organic modality was measured for the three vintages considered. The pressing / clarification step revises strongly fungal populations and the influence of the winery flora is confirmed. The addition of SO2 changes the population dynamics and favors the dominance of the species S. cerevisiae. The non-targeted chemical analysis shows, for the first time, that these wines can be distinguished at the end of the alcoholic fermentation (with or without SO2) depending on plant protection. Thus, the existence in wines of chemical and microbiological signatures associated with vineyard protection mode is highlighted

Molte attività antropiche danno origine a problemi ambientali per i quali è necessario trovare soluzioni. La presenza di sostanze indesiderabili nell'acqua, infatti, può rappresentare un rischio per la salute e l'igiene sia degli uomini che degli animali. È quindi fondamentale trovare metodi per evitare gli inquinanti di queste matrici, in modo da renderli compatibili con il mantenimento di condizioni ambientali adeguate e salutari. Questa tesi si propone di valutare la qualità delle acque sotterranee di un'area in cui la qualità dell'acqua non è mai stata studiata, in particolare indagando la presenza di pesticidi e nitrati al fine di comprendere l’impatto della viticoltura sull'inquinamento delle acque sotterranee. Questo studio nasce dalla necessità di migliorare la governance delle acque e di implementare le migliori pratiche di gestione e misure di mitigazione per prevenire l'inquinamento delle acque e quello ambientale. I risultati degli studi di monitoraggio hanno mostrato una contaminazione delle acque sotterranee da parte di pesticidi e nitrati e quindi è stata effettuata una valutazione della fonte di contaminazione da pesticidi e nitrati attraverso studi isotopici di N e O di NO3-, e attraverso analisi idrologiche utilizzando il modello CRITERIA 3D. Come una delle principali conclusioni del lavoro si può affermare che la presenza di pesticidi nelle acque sotterranee in un’area ad attività vitivinicola intensa, non può essere correlata solo alle proprietà e al destino chimico-ambientale delle sostanze o alle condizioni pedoclimatiche, ma anche al comportamento dell'utilizzatore finale. In effetti, la fonte di contaminazione valutata, è risultata essere dovuta sia a una contaminazione diffusa che a una contaminazione puntiforme. Per quanto riguarda l'influenza della fertilizzazione a base di azoto sulla presenza di nitrati nelle acque sotterranee, i risultati hanno mostrato un'elevata vulnerabilità dell'acquifero ai cambiamenti esterni. Dalle indagini isotopiche è emerso che la maggior parte dell'NO3- rilevato nelle acque sotterranee, deriva dall'utilizzo di fertilizzanti azotati inorganici, in accordo con le pratiche di uso del suolo e di viticoltura dichiarate dagli agricoltori della zona. Il risultato più importante dello studio, tuttavia, è stato che alla fine del processo, l'approccio multi-actor e la strategia di coinvolgimento adottati, hanno avuto successo nel migliorare gli atteggiamenti verso pratiche più sostenibili.
Many anthropic activities give rise to environmental problems for which it is necessary to find solutions. The presence of undesirable substances in water, indeed, can pose a risk to the health and hygiene of both men and animals. It is, therefore, essential to find methods in order to avoid pollutants from these matrices, so as to make them compatible with the maintenance of healthy environmental conditions. This thesis aims to assessing the groundwater quality of an area in which the quality of water was never studied, particularly investigating the occurrence of pesticides and nitrate in order to understand the grant of viticulture on water pollution. This study derives from the necessity to improve the water governance and to implement the best management practices and mitigation measures to prevent groundwater and environmental pollution. The results of monitoring studies showed a contamination of groundwater by pesticides and nitrate and thus an evaluation of PPPs and nitrates source contamination was carried out through isotopic studies of N and O of NO3- , and through hydrologic analysis by use of the model CRITERIA 3D. As one of the main conclusions of the work, the occurrence of PPPs in groundwater in areas with intensive viticultural activities cannot be related just to chemical environmental fate properties or pedoclimatic conditions, but also to end-user behavior. In fact, the contamination source evaluated, resulted to be due to both diffuse and point-source contamination. For what concerns the influence of nitrogen-based fertilization on nitrate occurrence in groundwater, the results showed a high vulnerability of the aquifer to external changes. Isotopic investigations showed that most of the NO3- detected in the groundwater, derived from the use of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers, in agreement with the land use and viticulture practices declared by the farmers. The most important result of the study, however, was that at the end of the overall process, the multi-actor approach and engagement strategy adopted were successful in improving attitudes to more sustainable practices.

Cette thèse porte sur la régulation des innovations en Europe. Elle examine en particulier l'impact économique des procédures d'Autorisation de Mise sur le Marché (AMM) sur les comportements des acteurs économiques à savoir les firmes innovantes. Il s'agit d'un travail appliqué au secteur de la santé des plantes dans lequel l'AMM joue un rôle central. En effet, dans ce secteur, la mise sur le marché des pesticides est subordonnée à une autorisation officielle. Les procédures d'autorisation de mise sur le marché (AMM) des nouveaux produits consistent à vérifier qu'ils n'ont pas d'effets toxiques inacceptables sur la santé et l'environnement et à définir des conditions d'utilisation dans lesquelles ces produits sont réputés efficaces. En Europe, ces procédures sont instruites par des autorités européennes ou nationales. Dans le cas des pesticides, les matières actives sont autorisées à l'échelle européenne, les spécialités commerciales le sont à l'échelle nationale, par reconnaissance mutuelle au sein d'une zone géographique. Au cours des dernières décennies, les exigences dans le domaine des risques sanitaires ont conduit à un renforcement des contraintes imposées pour la mise en marché des produits phytosanitaires. Ces exigences renforcées ont conduit à une réduction du nombre de molécules autorisées en rapport au nombre de molécules potentiellement efficaces. Par exemple, le nombre de molécules pesticides autorisées a été réduit de moitié (de 800 à 400) au cours des dix dernières années. C'est pourquoi, l'objet principal de cette recherche est d'étudier les effets des procédures d'AMM sur le comportement des firmes agrochimiques. Cette recherche s'articule autour de trois chapitres. Le premier chapitre est théorique. Il analyse les interactions stratégiques entre les agences de régulation des pesticides dans un contexte d'autorisation de mise sur le marché par reconnaissance mutuelle. Le chapitre 2 est à la fois théorique et empirique et porte sur les délais de mise sur le marché des substances actives phytosanitaires. Dans le chapitre 3, nous examinons, à l'aide d'un modèle théorique, l'impact de la régulation des pesticides sur les incitations des firmes agrochimiques à investir en R&D
This thesis focuses on the regulation of innovations in Europe. In particular, it analyses the economic impact of the market approval procedures on the behavior of economic actors such as innovative firms. This is an applied work in the health sector of plants in which the market approval procedures play a central role. Indeed, in this area, the introduction on the market of pesticides is subject to an official approval. The market approval procedures for new products are to ensure that they do not have unacceptable toxic effects on human health and the environment and to define the conditions of use in which these products were efficient. In Europe, these procedures are investigated by European or national authorities. In the case of pesticides, the active substances are approved at EU level and the pesticides formulation at the national level through mutual recognition within a geographic area. In recent decades, the requirements in the field of health risks have led to a strengthening of the constraints imposed on the approval of pesticides. These stringent requirements have led to a reduction in the number of approved molecules relative to the number of molecules potentially efficient. For example, the number of approved actives substances was reduced by half (800 to 400) over the last ten years. Therefore, the main purpose of this research is to study the effects of market approval procedures on the behavior of agrochemical companies. This research is based on three chapters. The first chapter is theoretical. It analyses the strategic interactions between pesticide regulatory agencies in the context of market approval through the mutual recognition system. The chapter 2 is both a theoretical and an empirical work. It examines the examination delays of plant protection active substances. In Chapter 3, we examine, using a theoretical model, the impact of the regulation of pesticides on the incentives of agrochemical companies to invest in R & D

Pharmaka werden nach ihrer Einnahme bzw. Verabreichung über verschiedene Pfade in die Umwelt eingetragen. Obwohl Arzneimittel zu den toxikologisch best-untersuchten und -charakterisierten Stoffen gehören, ist ihre Wirkung auf die Umwelt und die darin lebenden Organismen weit weniger gut untersucht. Wenn in der Literatur Daten zur Ökotoxizität vorhanden sind, so beziehen sich diese meist nur auf die Wirkung von Einzelstoffen. In der Umwelt sind die Organismen jedoch gegenüber Mischungen exponiert. Aufgrund der geschilderten Problematik wurden eine Reihe von Arzneimitteln unterschiedlicher Indikationsgruppen einzeln und in Kombination mit dem Embryotest mit dem Zebrabärbling (Danio rerio, DarT) untersucht. Dieses Testsystem wurde durch Schulte & Nagel (1994) als Alternativmethode zum akuten Fischtest nach OECD 203 entwickelt und bietet den Vorteil neben letalen auch eine Reihe von subletalen Endpunkten erfassen zu können. Es handelt sich zudem nach dem deutschen Tierschutzgesetz nicht um einen Tierversuch. Die generelle Vergleichbarkeit der ermittelten Werte mit Daten aus akuten Fischtests nach OECD 203 sowie die Anwendbarkeit für verschiedenste Fragestellungen konnten in einer Reihe von Studien gezeigt werden (Nagel, 2002). Für die hier vorgestellten Untersuchungen wurden zunächst 32 Pharmaka und drei Pflanzenschutzmittel als Einzelstoffe mit dem DarT untersucht. Basierend auf den Ergebnissen der Einzelstofftests wurden Mischungen sowohl aus Substanzen mit ähnlichen als auch unähnlichen Wirkmechanismen getestet. Es zeigte sich, dass unabhängig vom Wirkmechanismus die Mischungstoxizität durch das Konzept der Konzentrationsadditivität gut vorhergesagt wurde, während das Konzept der Unabhängigen Wirkung die Mischungstoxizität unterschätzte. Ebenfalls konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Kombination der Stoffe auf Basis der NOEC, die im DarT anhand der Herzschlagfrequenz nach 48 Stunden ermittelt wird, zu deutlichen Mischungseffekten führt.

Деркач, Д. С. Оптимізація елементів технології вирощування соняшнику на прикладі СК «Нива» Менського району : випускна кваліфікаційна робота : 201 "Агрономія" / Д. С. Деркач ; керівник роботи В. І. Канівець ; НУ "Чернігівська політехніка", кафедра аграрних технологій та лісового господарства. – Чернігів, 2021. – 56 с.
Тема кваліфікаційної роботи: «Оптимізація елементів вирощування соняшнику на прикладі СК «Нива»» У розділі 1 обґрунтовується в загальному тема за літературними джерелами. У 2 розділі описані об'єкти та методи досліджень, схема та мета проведення виробничого досліду. Виконано опис технології вирощування соняшнику у досліді. Описано підбір пестицидів за діючою речовиною та наведено їх характеристику. Проведена характеристика природно-кліматичних умов та ґрунтів господарства. У 3 розділі описані результати досліджень, вплив систем захисту на урожайність соняшнику. Економічна ефективність запропонованих заходів по вирощуванню соняшнику наведена у 3 розділі. Об’єм дипломної роботи (проекту) 55 сторінок друкованого тексту, 1 рисунок, 15 таблиць, 50 джерело використаної літератури. Досліджуваною культурою був соняшник, а саме заходи з поліпшення технології вирощування в господарстві найефективніші схеми гербіцидного та фунгіцидного захисту, підбір гібриду.
Section 1 substantiates in general the topic of literary sources. Section 2 describes the objects and methods of research, the scheme and purpose of the production experiment. The description of sunflower growing technology in the experiment is made. The selection of pesticides by the active substance is described and their characteristics are given. The characteristic of natural-climatic conditions and soils of economy is carried out. Section 3 describes the results of research, the impact of protection systems on sunflower yield. The economic efficiency of the proposed measures for growing sunflower is given in section 3. Thesis volume (project) 55 pages of printed text, 1 figure, 15 tables, 50 sources of used literature. The studied crop was sunflower, namely measures to improve the technology of cultivation on the farm, the most effective schemes of herbicide and fungicide protection, selection of hybrids.

La prima parte dell’elaborato presenta le origini e lo sviluppo delle politiche di valutazione del rischio per le sostanze chimiche. Dopo un primo inquadramento storico, l’attenzione è stata dedicata a temi emergenti come la valutazione delle incertezze, la necessità di integrazione delle valutazioni del rischio per l’uomo e per l'ambiente. La seconda parte presenta l’evoluzione delle politiche di valutazione del rischio dei prodotti fitosanitari, soprattutto a livello europeo (dall’applicazione della direttiva 91/414 all’attuale regolamento 1107/2009), con particolare attenzione all’applicazione del principio di precauzione. Il terzo capitolo approfondisce le fasi e gli approcci delle attuali procedure di valutazione ambientale del rischio dei pesticidi usati a livello europeo e americano; è stato in particolar modo esplorato il tema dell’individuazione degli obiettivi specifici di protezione in fase preliminare di valutazione del rischio. Il quarto capitolo tratta di un tema attualmente molto dibattuto, ovvero la valutazione dei potenziali effetti combinati sugli organismi non bersaglio esposti a più sostanze attive simultaneamente. Infine, l’obiettivo del quinto capitolo è quello di valutare la contaminazione ambientale dovuta all’applicazione di fungicidi a base rame su melo. A tale scopo è stato testato un nuovo modello per il calcolo integrato dell’esposizioni umana e ambientale MERLIN – Expo, sviluppato grazie al progetto europeo 4FUN. I risultati ottenuti per le acque superficiali e il sedimento sono stati confrontati con i risultati degli attuali modelli usati in Unione Europea, i modelli FOCUS. Le simulazioni probabilistiche hanno anche permesso di effettuare valutazioni di incertezza e sensitività sui parametri utilizzati nelle simulazioni.
This PhD thesis is a multidisciplinary work on the risk assessment of plant protection products including both legislative and scientific aspects. The first part of the thesis introduces the origin of risk assessment procedures with a wide glance on the whole process of risk analysis to protect the humans and the environment. The accent is put on emerging issues and trends, such as the uncertainties appraisal, the necessity of integration between human and environmental impacts without ignoring socio- economic and behavioural factors. The second chapter deals with the origin and development of global risk assessment policies on pesticides. It focuses in particular on European policies, from the original Directive 91/414 to the current Regulation 1107/2009 and the application of the precautionary principle. A brief comparison with US approaches for risk assessment is also presented. The third chapter gives an overview on the risk assessment procedures that nowadays provide the highest achievable protection for the environment, starting with the definition of clear and specific protection goals. The fourth chapter addresses the issue of combined risk assessment of pesticides: current approaches for the evaluation of effects on non-target organisms are analysed. The last chapter is dedicated to the estimation of the environmental contamination following the application of copper –based fungicides sprayed on orchards by using MERLIN - Expo, which is a multimedia model developed in the frame of the FP7 EU project 4FUN. The performance of the MERLIN- Expo software in estimating the contamination of the metal is also analysed through a comparison with the currently used FOCUS standard models for the calculation of pesticides concentrations in surface water and sediment. Both deterministic and probabilistic simulations have been run; the latter has allowed to perform uncertainty and sensitivity assessment.

Le dépérissement du pommier est une maladie tellurique causée par plusieurs espèces Pythiacée. Il est responsable de graves dommages et de pertes d'arbres dans de nombreux vergers en Tunisie. Comme la lutte chimique contre cette maladie pose des problèmes éco toxicologiques et les moyens prophylactiques ont des efficacités limitées, d’autres moyens de lutte sont activement recherchés. L’objectif de cette thèse était d’identifier un nouvel agent de lutte biologique contre les oomycètes responsables de cette maladie à partir d’une collection d’isolats fongiques et bactériens Tunisiens comme alternative au contrôle chimique. Les isolats fongiques étudiés appartenaient aux genres Trichoderma, Aspergillus et Penicillium spp., les isolats bactériens appartenaient au genre Bacillus spp. clade subtilis. Les isolats fongiques ont fortement inhibé la croissance in vitro des Pythiacées (> 40%) par rapport aux isolats bactériens ; en particulier, les filtrats de culture des isolats A. westerdijkiae A7 et T. simmonsii A2. L'évaluation de l’activité préventive et curative contre les Pythiacées sur des porte-greffes du pommier de ces deux isolats fongiques et de la souche Bacillus B2 a montré que T. simmonsii A2 était le plus efficace lorsqu'il était appliqué à titre préventif. De même, la combinaison de la souche Bacillus B2 et de l’isolat A. westerdijkiae A7 a induit une bonne protection contre les Pythiacées en préventif. La combinaison des isolats T. simmonsii A2 et A. westerdijkiae A7 a entraîné une meilleure protection en traitement curatif, alors que la combinaison des trois isolats ensemble réduisait fortement l’activité protectrice. Notre étude révèle le potentiel des isolats Tunisiens, seuls ou en combinaison, en tant qu'agents de lutte biologique contre le dépérissement du pommier ainsi qu'un effet bénéfique supplémentaire sur la croissance végétale observé au niveau des racines et de la longueur des tiges. Ainsi, nous avons sélectionnés les meilleurs candidats agissant par antibiose pour l'identification des principaux agents actifs responsables de l'activité anti-oomycète. L'isolat A. westerdijkiae A7 a été retenu avec 100% d'inhibition de la croissance mycélienne des isolats de Pythiacées testés. Plusieurs étapes de purification successives du filtrat de culture ont permis d’identifier l'acide pénicillique (acide 3-méhoxy-5-méthyl-4-oxo-2,5-hexadiénoïque) en tant que principale molécule responsable de l’inhibition la croissance mycélienne des Pythiacées testées. Étant donné que l’acide pénicillique possède des propriétés toxiques pour la santé humaine et animale, l’isolat A. westerdijkiae A7 ne pourra pas être utilisé en tant que BCA puisqu’il produit cette mycotoxine malgré nos résultats prometteurs in planta. L’ensemble de ces travaux montre le potentiel anti-oomycète des micro-organismes in vitro qui peut différer de l’activité protectrice contre les Pythiacées in planta. Ils révèlent également la nécessité de caractériser l’ingrédient actif pour les études de toxicité nécessaire au développement d’un produit de bio-contrôle
Apple dieback is a telluric disease caused by several Pythiaceae species. It is responsible for serious damage and loss of trees in many orchards in Tunisia. As the chemical control of this disease poses eco-toxicological problems and the prophylactic means have limited effectiveness, other means of fight are actively sought. The objective of this thesis was to identify a new biological control agent against oomycetes responsible for this disease from a collection of Tunisian fungal and bacterial isolates as an alternative to chemical control. The fungal isolates studied belonged to the genera Trichoderma, Aspergillus and Penicillium spp., The bacterial isolates to the genus Bacillus spp. clade subtilis. Fungal isolates strongly inhibited the growth of Pythiaceae in vitro (> 40%) compared to bacterial isolates; in particular, the culture filtrates of isolates A. westerdijkiae A7 and T. simmonsii A2. The evaluation of the preventive and curative activity against Pythiaceae on apple rootstocks of these two fungal isolates and of the Bacillus B2 strain showed that T. simmonsii A2 was the most effective when applied preventively. Likewise, the combination of the Bacillus B2 strain and the A. westerdijkiae A7 isolate induced good protection against Pythiaceae as a preventive measure. The combination of the T. simmonsii A2 and A. westerdijkiae A7 isolates resulted in better protection in curative therapy, while the combination of the three isolates together greatly reduced the protective activity. Our study reveals the potential of Tunisian isolates, alone or in combination, as biological control agents against apple dieback as well as an additional beneficial effect on plant growth observed at the level of the roots and the length of the stems. Thus, we have selected the best candidates acting by antibiosis for the identification of the main active agents responsible for anti-oomycete activity. The A. westerdijkiae A7 isolate was retained with 100% inhibition of mycelial growth of the Pythiaceae isolates tested. Several successive purification steps of the culture filtrate made it possible to identify penicillic acid (3-mehoxy-5-methyl-4-oxo-2,5-hexadienoic acid) as the main molecule responsible for inhibiting growth mycelia of the Pythiaceae tested. Since penicillic acid has toxic properties for human and animal health, isolate A. westerdijkiae A7 cannot be used as BCA since it produces this mycotoxin despite our promising results in planta. All of this work shows the anti-oomycete potential of microorganisms in vitro, which may differ from the protective activity against Pythiaceae in planta. They also reveal the need to characterize the active molecule for the toxicity studies necessary for the development of a biocontrol product

Mestrado em Toxicologia e Ecotoxicologia
Tem-se assistido a um uso potencialmente abusivo de produtos fitofarmacêuticos, com consequentes efeitos ambientais. Assim, o desenvolvimento de produtos mais eficazes e amigos do ambiente é um dos grandes desafios da atualidade. Neste contexto, este trabalho teve como principais objetivos: (i) avaliar a toxicidade dos formulantes ou adjuvantes utilizados nas formulações dos produtos comerciais, utilizando um herbicida modelo (Winner Top®), de forma a verificar se a designação destes ingredientes como “inertes” é realmente cabível; (ii) desenvolver uma nova metodologia para a formulação dos produtos comerciais visando a manipulação do rácio dos seus constituintes, mantendo a eficácia contra as espécies alvo e exercendo, ao mesmo tempo, menor toxicidade sobre organismos não-alvo. Os ingredientes ativos do Winner Top® (nicosulfurão e terbutilazina) foram testados individualmente e em mistura, considerando o rácio usado na formulação comercial e rácios alternativos. A formulação comercial foi também testada para análise da contribuição dos formulantes para a toxicidade do herbicida. Duas espécies de algas (Raphidocelis subcapitata e Chlorella vulgaris) e duas espécies de macrófitas (Lemna minor and Lemna gibba) foram selecionadas como organismos não-alvo para estes testes, que avaliaram os efeitos dos tóxicos no seu crescimento. Foi também realizado um teste de vigor vegetativo com um organismo alvo, a beldroega (Portulaca oleracea), para se testar a eficácia de formulações alternativas à do composto comercial. Estas formulações foram estabelecidas tendo em conta as concentrações de cada ingrediente que não exerciam efeitos intoleráveis em Lemna minor. Os testes de toxicidade individual revelaram que a terbutilazina foi o principal inibidor de crescimento para as microalgas e o nicosulfurão para as macrófitas. Por outro lado, a mistura dos ingredientes ativos no mesmo rácio da formulação comercial foi aparentemente mais tóxica do que a formulação comercial. Logo, os formulantes do Winner Top® não serão inertes. Por outro lado, o teste de toxicidade de misturas sinalizou que a combinação dos ingredientes ativos tem uma ação antagonista, dependente do nível de efeito, na inibição do crescimento do organismo não-alvo. Estas evidências reforçam as recomendações que têm vindo a ser feitas acerca da necessidade de considerar as formulações, e não os seus componentes isoladamente, na análise de risco prévia à autorização de comercialização de pesticidas. A eficácia, contra a espécie alvo, de formulações alternativas seleccionadas foi equivalente ou em alguns casos superior à da formulação usada no composto comercial, tendo-se verificado que um dos ingredientes ativos não adiciona potencial letal relevante à formulação. Estes resultados permitem sugerir que a manipulação racional do rácio entre os constituintes das formulações comerciais, tendo por base os efeitos ambientais esperados, pode ser uma alternativa para as indústrias de agroquímicos que pretendam desenvolver formulações mais amigas do ambiente. É importante notar ainda que, considerando o exemplo estudado, esta modificação do modus operandi no desenvolvimento das formulações não implicaria perda de eficácia do produto final.
A potentially abusive use of plant protection products with consequent environmental effects has been reported. Thus, the development of more efficient and environmentally friendlier products is a major challenge nowadays. In this context, the main objectives of this study were: (i) to evaluate the toxicity of formulants or adjuvants used in the commercial products using a model herbicide (Winner Top®), in order to verify whether they are as inert as they are supposed to be; (ii) to develop a new methodology to rule the formulation of commercial products focused at the manipulation of the ratio between its constituents that can maintain the efficacy against the target pests but having reduced environmental toxicity. Winner Top®’s active ingredients (nicosulfuron and terbuthylazine) were tested singly and in mixture, considering the ratio used in the commercial formulation and alternative ratios. The commercial formulation was also tested to assess the contribution of formulants to the overall toxicity of the herbicide. Two microalgae (Raphidocelis subcapitata and Chlorella vulgaris) and two macrophytes (Lemna minor and Lemna gibba) were used as non-target organisms in these tests intending to evaluate growth inhibition. A vegetative vigour test was also performed with a target organism, the purslane (Portulaca oleracea), in order to test the efficacy of alternative formulations to that used in the commercial product. These formulations were established taking into account the concentrations of each ingredient that did not have intolerable effects on Lemna minor. Single chemical tests revealed that terbuthylazine was the strongest microalgae growth inhibitor and nicosulfuron was the strongest macrophyte growth inhibitor. On the other hand, the mixture of the a.i.s at the formulation ratio was apparently more toxic than the commercial formulation, thus Winner Top® formulants are not inert. On the other hand, mixture toxicity tests indicated that the combination of the active ingredients has a effect-level dependent antagonistic action in inhibiting the growth of non-target organisms. These evidences reinforce the need to consider the formulations, rather than only their isolated components, in risk assessment prior to the authorization for pesticides marketing. The efficacy against the target species of tested alternative formulations was equivalent or higher than that of the commercial formulation. Moreover, one of the active ingredients does not add any relevant lethal potential to the formulation. These results suggest that the rational manipulation of the ratio between formulation components, based on expected environmental effects, may be an alternative for agrochemical industries that aim to develop environmentally friendly formulations. Considering the present example, it is also noteworthy that this modification of the modus operandi in the development of pesticide formulations does not necessarily imply losses in efficacy.

L'objectiu general d'aquesta tesi és desenvolupar un mètode dinàmic de dosificació de productes fitosanitaris que permeti incrementar significativament l'eficiència d'aplicació, reduir les pèrdues i disminuir la variabilitat de les deposicions sense disminuir l'eficàcia de les aplicacions en plantacions fructícoles. El mètode proposat es basa en la caracterització electrònica de les dimensions de la capçada i en dosificar el producte fitosanitari de forma variable, contínua i en temps real. Aquest objectiu s'ha establert a partir de la formulació de tres hipòtesis de partida sustentades en la revisió bibliogràfica i els coneixements previs del grup de recerca en el que s'emmarca aquest treball. La Hipòtesi 1 sosté que les capçades de les explotacions fructícoles intensives actuals de la zona de Lleida i similars presenten una variabilitat dimensional elevada i que aquest fet contribueix a la variabilitat de les deposicions de productes fitosanitaris. La Hipòtesi 2 sosté que és possible implementar un polvoritzador equipat amb la tecnologia necessària per a la dosificació variable contínua en temps real que permeti adaptar la dosi aplicada a les característiques geomètriques de la capçada de la plantació. I la Hipòtesi 3 sosté que un mètode dinàmic de dosificació per a l'aplicació de productes fitosanitaris pot aconseguir aplicacions equivalents o millors que les que es realitzen actualment amb mètodes i equips convencionals en termes d'eficàcia del tractament, d'eficiència d'aplicació, de variabilitat de les deposicions i de respecte pel medi ambient.

Una vegada desenvolupat el mètode de dosificació variable, ha estat necessari implementar un prototipus de polvoritzador capaç d'executar-lo en condicions de camp per tal de procedir a la seva validació. La irrupció de l'electrònica en l'agricultura i la seva progressiva implantació des de les darreries del segle passat han permès materialitzar el prototipus emmarcant-lo en el que avui es coneix com a tecnologies de dosificació variable en el context de l'agricultura de precisió. De tots els aspectes que contempla aquesta pràctica, aquesta tesi doctoral s'enquadra en l'agricultura de precisió basada en sensors i en temps real. El prototipus consta d'un sistema per a la caracterització electrònica de la capçada, d'un sistema electrònic de regulació i d'actuadors que possibiliten la dosificació del brou fitosanitari en funció de les seves dimensions.

Els resultats obtinguts han validat les tres hipòtesis de partida i han satisfet tant l'objectiu general com els objectius específics plantejats. El sistema per a la caracterització de la capçada ha posat de manifest coeficients de variació d'entre el 30% i el 60% en plantacions de perers i pomers. Els assajos de validació finals han mostrat que hi ha una tendència clara a que els tractaments amb dosificació variable es comportin més favorablement que els tractaments convencionals. L'increment d'eficiència d'aplicació dels vuit tractaments variables analitzats ha estat d'entre l'1,37%, en el cas més desfavorable, i el 57,13%. Les pèrdues totals s'han vist reduïdes entre el 5,13% i el 55,72%. Tanmateix, durant la realització dels assajos i l'anàlisi dels resultats s'han identificat algunes mancances i es proposen una sèrie de millores per tal de solucionar-les. Tot i que el resultat d'aquesta tesi no és d'aplicació comercial immediata, s'ha validat un mètode i una tecnologia que poden representar un avenç vers la innovació i la implantació de la fructicultura de precisió.
El objetivo general de esta tesis es desarrollar un método dinámico de dosificación de productos fitosanitarios que permita incrementar significativamente la eficiencia de aplicación, reducir las pérdidas y disminuir la variabilidad de las deposiciones sin disminuir la eficacia de las aplicaciones en plantaciones frutícolas. El método propuesto se basa en la caracterización electrónica de las dimensiones de la copa y en dosificar el producto fitosanitario de forma variable, continua y en tiempo real. Este objetivo se ha establecido a partir de la formulación de tres hipótesis de partida sustentadas en la revisión bibliográfica y los conocimientos previos del grupo de investigación en el que se enmarca este trabajo. La Hipótesis 1 sostiene que las copas de las explotaciones frutícolas intensivas actuales de la zona de Lleida y similares presentan una variabilidad dimensional elevada y que ello contribuye a la variabilidad de las deposiciones. La Hipótesis 2 sostiene que es posible implementar un pulverizador equipado con la tecnología necesaria para la dosificación variable continua en tiempo real que permita adaptar la dosis aplicada a las características geométricas de las copas de la plantación. Y la Hipótesis 3 sostiene que un método dinámico de dosificación para la aplicación de productos fitosanitarios puede conseguir aplicaciones equivalentes o mejores que las que se realizan actualmente con métodos y equipos convencionales en términos de eficacia del tratamiento, de eficiencia de aplicación, de variabilidad de las deposiciones y de respeto por el medio ambiente.

Una vez desarrollado el método de dosificación variable, ha sido necesario implementar un prototipo de pulverizador capaz de ejecutarlo en condiciones de campo para proceder a su validación. La irrupción de la electrónica en la agricultura y su progresiva implantación desde finales del siglo pasado han permitido materializar el prototipo enmarcándolo en lo que hoy se conoce como tecnologías de dosificación variable en el contexto de la agricultura de precisión. De todos los aspectos que contempla esta práctica, esta tesis doctoral se encuadra en la agricultura de precisión basada en sensores y en tiempo real. El prototipo consta de un sistema para la caracterización electrónica de la copa, de un sistema electrónico de regulación y de actuadores que posibilitan la dosificación del caldo fitosanitario en función de sus dimensiones.

Los resultados obtenidos han validado las tres hipótesis de partida y han satisfecho tanto el objetivo general como los objetivos específicos planteados. El sistema para la caracterización de la copa ha puesto de manifiesto coeficientes de variación de entre el 30% y el 60% en plantaciones de peras y manzanos. Los ensayos de validación finales han mostrado que hay una tendencia clara a que los tratamientos con dosificación variable se comporten más favorablemente que los tratamientos convencionales. El incremento de eficiencia de aplicación de los ocho tratamientos variables analizados ha sido de entre el 1,37%, en el caso más desfavorable, y el 57,13%. Las pérdidas totales se han visto reducidas entre el 5,13% y el 55,72%. Sin embargo, durante la realización de los ensayos el análisis de los resultados se han identificado algunas carencias y se propone una serie de mejoras para solucionarlas. Aunque el resultado de esta tesis no es de aplicación comercial inmediata, se ha validado un método y una tecnología que pueden representar un avance hacia la innovación y la implantación de la fruticultura de precisión.
The overall objective of this thesis is to develop a dynamic method to dose plant protection products in fruit orchards. This method should significantly increase the application efficiency, reduce losses and decrease the variability of the deposition without reducing the efficacy of applications. The proposed method is based on electronic characterization of canopy dimensions and on variable rate dosage of plant protection products in a continuous and real time mode. This goal has been established from the formulation of three hypotheses grounded in the literature review and in the knowledge of the research group on which this work is framed. Hypothesis 1 holds that canopies of current intensive fruit farms in Lleida and similar areas have a high dimensional variability and that this fact contributes to the variability of deposition of plant protection products. Hypothesis 2 holds that it is possible to implement a sprayer equipped with the proper technology to dose plant protection products in a continuous variable rate and real time manner to adapt the applied dose to the geometric characteristics of trees. Hypothesis 3 holds that applications based on a dynamic method for plant protection products dosage can achieve equivalent or better results than those performed with conventional methods and equipment in terms of efficacy, application efficiency, variability of deposits and respect to the environment.

Once a method of variable dosage was developed, it was necessary to implement a prototype sprayer able to execute the variable rate method in field conditions for validation. The advent of electronics in agriculture and its progressive adoption from the end of the last century have made it possible for the prototype to materialize, framing it in what today is known as variable rate technologies in the context of precision agriculture. From all aspects included in that practice, this thesis is focused on the real time sensor-based precision agriculture. The prototype consists of a system for the electronic characterization of the canopy, an electronic system to control the process, and actuators to vary the sprayed flow rate according to canopy dimensions.

The results have validated the three hypotheses and have met both the general and the specific objectives. The system for the electronic characterization of canopies has shown coefficients of variation between 30% and 60% in pear and apple orchards. The final validation tests show that there is a clear tendency of variable rate treatments to behave more favourably than conventional applications. The eight variable rate treatments analyzed, showed an increase in application efficiency from 1.37% to 57.13% and a reduction in total losses (to the ground and drift) from 5.13% to 55.72%. However, during the performance of trials and the analysis of the results some defects have been identified and a list of improvements to solve them is proposed. Although the outcome of this thesis is not of immediate commercial application, a method and a technology have been validated that could represent a step towards innovation and implementation in precision horticulture/fructiculture.

Dans le contexte de la contamination quasi-généralisée des eaux de surface par les médicaments, les travaux de cette thèse portent sur l’étude des niveaux de concentration et du devenir de ces micropolluants organiques dans la Garonne estuarienne, recevant les effluents traités de l’agglomération bordelaise. Après le développement et la validation des outils analytiques associés à la détection multi-résidus dans les matrices eau et sédiment, la composition et la variabilité des effluents urbains bordelais ont été caractérisées, avant et après traitement en station d’épuration. La contamination globale des compartiments eau, matières en suspension et sédiment a ensuite été évaluée sur une rivière périurbaine de l’agglomération. Par ailleurs, le suivi réalisé en Gironde montre l’importance relative des apports amont et urbains et met en évidence la dégradation in-situ de certains médicaments, par ailleurs confirmée par une expérience d’incubation d’eau estuarienne réalisée in-vitro
Ubiquitous presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment is of great concern. In this Ph.D. work, occurrence and fate of these organic contaminants were studied in the estuarine Garonne River, receiving treated effluents of the Bordeaux urban area (France). After developing and validating the analytical methods for multi-residue detection of 53 pharmaceuticals in water and sediment, composition and variability of the Bordeaux wastewater treatment plant influents and effluents were characterized. Presence of analytes in river water, suspended solids and sediments was then investigated on a periurban river located in the suburbs of Bordeaux. Besides, a long-term monitoring of estuarine Garonne River revealed the relative importance of local and upstream inputs and clearly showed a seasonal in-situ degradation of certain pharmaceuticals. This degradation was further confirmed and examined through batch experiments simulating the mixing conditions of wastewater and estuarine river water, highlighting the importance of suspended solid concentration in biodegradation rates

Dissertação de Mestrado em Biologia apresentada à Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Os impactos das actividades antropogénicas, como o uso de pesticidas, na biodiversidade e, consequentemente, na provisão de serviços do Ecossistema são bem conhecidos nas sociedades. Os pesticidas são usados para proteger as culturas contra potenciais pragas, que de outra forma poderiam representar uma grande ameaça para as populações humanas ao alimentar-se delas e, consequentemente, destruindo-as.Os potencias efeitos adversos de usar pesticidas, nomeadamente, em organismos do solo que não são alvo destes ainda não são bem conhecidos mas poderão tornar-se contraprodutivos a longo prazo. Estes organismos contribuem para uma variedade de funções do Ecossistema do solo, tal como a decomposição de matéria orgânica que por sua vez influencia a fertilidade do solo, que é vista como um serviço essencial dos Ecossistemas para a Humanidade.A Autoridade Europeia para a Segurança Alimentar juntamente com os Estados Membros, criaram mecanismos para avaliar o impacto dos pesticidas nos Ecossistemas. A avaliação do risco em organismos não-alvo do solo expostos a Produtos Fitofarmacêuticos é feita através de uma metodologia complexa que começa com testes laboratoriais padronizados com espécies indicadoras e prossegue com testes mais complexos e análises em mais espécies se o risco calculado para elas for elevado nos níveis mais baixos de testagem.Neste trabalho foram usados dois insecticidas: o Coragen SC 20 e o Movento O-TEQ que têm como substâncias activas o Clorantraniliprole, e o Espirotetramato, respectivamente. Estas duas substâncias pertencem a novas classes químicas desenvolvidas com o objectivo de serem mais seguras para o Ambiente.Os principais objectivos deste trabalho foram: 1) avaliar os efeitos destes insecticidas em comunidades de microartrópodes usando testes de comunidades, nomeadamente identificar possíveis mudanças na abundância e na composição das comunidades; 2) avaliar a influência/relevância do modo de acção dos dois insecticidas nos dados de efeitos provocados ao nível da comunidade; 3) perceber até que ponto as doses recomendadas dos dois insecticidas afectam as comunidades do solo; 4) perceber até que ponto os testes de comunidades, comparando com os testes de uma única espécie, permitem ir mais além em termos de dados em relação aos efeitos dos Produtos Fitofarmacêuticos.O solo e as amostras contendo a comunidade natural de microartrópodes foram colectados na Herdade do Freixo-do-Meio (Alentejo, Sul de Portugal). Dois testes de comunidades foram realizados, um para cada insecticida. Os insecticidas foram misturados no solo e um gradiente de concentrações foi preparado: 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.4, 1.2, 4, 13, 45, 150, e 500 mg i.a./kg. Após este passo, os microcosmos contendo o solo e os organismos foram incubados em condições de laboratório durante 6 semanas, após as quais, os microartrópodes foram novamente extraídos. Apenas ácaros e colêmbolos foram encontrados em número suficiente para permitir a avaliação dos efeitos. Os colêmbolos foram classificados de acordo com os seus traços morfológicos e os ácaros foram divididos em 4 ordens: Oribatida, Astigmata, Prostigmata e Mesostigmata.Para o teste com o Coragen SC 20, tanto ácaros como colêmbolos foram afectados ao longo do gradiente de contaminação. Isto reflectiu-se em mudanças no perfil taxonómico dos ácaros e mudanças na composição funcional dos colêmbolos. Os colêmbolos foram mais sensíveis com base nos valores de toxicidade derivados: EC₁₀ = 10.46 mg i.a/kg e NOEC = 4 mg i.a./kg; reflectindo-se também num grande descréscimo na abundância. Por outro lado, os ácaros não foram directamente afectados pela toxicidade com base nos valores: EC₁₀ = 497 mg i.a./kg e NOEC = 150 mg i.a/kg; inclusive, os ácaros do grupo Oribatida tiveram um grande aumento de abundância.Em relação ao teste com o Movento O-TEQ os efeitos foram menos evidentes. Foi observada uma mudança no perfil taxonómico dos ácaros ao longo do gradiente de contaminação, nomeadamente em doses mais altas, onde os Astigmata tiveram um grande decréscimo na abundância e os Oribatida tornaram-se mais dominantes. Os ácaros foram bastante mais sensíveis comparando com o primeiro teste com o Coragen SC 20, com base nos valores EC₁₀ = 18.98 mg i.a./kg e NOEC = 0.4 mg i.a./kg. Contrariamente, os colêmbolos não foram praticamente afectados com base nos valores EC₁₀ = 196.53 mg i.a./kg e NOEC = 150 mg i.a./kg; os seus números até aumentaram em doses mais altas, excepto na última. Não ocorreram mudanças na composição da comunidade de colêmbolos, com base nos valores de mT calculados, o que tem a ver com o facto de que a maioria da espécies presentes na comunidade tinha traços morfológicos semelhantes.
The impact of anthropogenic activities, like the use of pesticides, on biodiversity and, consequently, on the provision of Ecosystem services are well known in societies. Pesticides are used to protect crops against potentially harmful organisms that can represent a great threat to Human populations by feeding and, consequently, destructing them.The potential side effects of using them, for example, on non-target soil organisms are not very clear but they might turn to be counterproductive in the long run. These organisms contribute to a range of Ecosystem functions such as the decomposition of organic matter which in turn influences soil fertility, an essential Ecosystem service for Humanity.The European Food Safety Authority together with the Member States, created mechanisms to assess the impact of pesticides on Ecosystems. The risk assessment of non-target soil organisms exposed to Plant Protection Products comprises a complex methodology that includes a tiered approach and begins with standard laboratory tests with standard indicator species and moves on with more complex tests and analysis on more species if the risk indicated to them is high in lower tiers.In this work, it was used two insecticides: Coragen SC 20 and Movento O-TEQ which have Chlorantraniliprole and Spirotetramat as active substances, respectively. These two substances belong to recent chemical classes developed to be safer to the Environment.The main objectives were to 1) evaluate the effects of these two insecticides on communities of microarthropods using community tests, including changes in abundance and possible shifts in community composition; 2) evaluate the influence/relevance of the mode of action of the two insecticides in the effect data provoked at the community level; 3) understand how far the recommended doses of both insecticides affect soil communities; 4) understand how far community tests, comparing with single-species tests, permit to go beyond in terms of effect data on PPPs.The soil and soil cores containing the natural community of microarthropods were collected at Herdade Freixo do Meio (Alentejo, South of Portugal). Two community tests were performed, one for each insecticide. Insecticides were mixed into the soil and a gradient of concentrations was prepared: 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.4, 1.2, 4, 13, 45, 150, and 500 mg a.i./kg. The microarthropods of three soil cores were extracted directly to test the soil. After this step, the soil microcosms were incubated under laboratory conditions for 6 weeks, after which microarthropods were extracted again. Only Acari and Collembola were present in sufficient numbers to be assessed. Collembolans were classified according to morphological traits and mites according to 4 orders: Oribatida, Astigmata, Prostigmata, and Mesostigmata.For the test with Coragen SC 20 mites and collembolans were affected along the contamination gradient with shifts in the taxonomic profile of mites and changes in the functional composition of collembolans. Collembolans were more sensitive based on the toxic values derived: EC₁₀ = 10.46 mg a.i./kg and NOEC = 4 mg/kg; reflected by a strong decrease in abundance. On the other hand, mites were not directly affected based on EC₁₀ = 497 mg a.i./kg and NOEC = 150 mg a.i./kg; Oribatida had a strong increase in numbers.Regarding the test with Movento O-TEQ effects were less evident, a shift in the taxonomic profile of mites was observable, namely at higher doses were Astigmata had a strong decrease and Oribatida become more dominant. Mites were much more sensitive compared with the first test with Coragen SC 20, based on EC₁₀ = 18.98 mg a.i./kg and NOEC = 0.4 mg a.i./kg. In contrast, collembolans were practically unaffected based on EC₁₀ = 196.53 mg a.i./kg and NOEC = 150 mg a.i./kg; their numbers even increased at higher doses, except at the last. A shift in the community composition of collembolans did not occur based on the mT values derived and this was due to the fact most species had similar traits.

Specific information towards each fungicidal active ingredient and its effects on all local organisms, whether they’re pathogens, non-target organisms or crops is still largely lacking. In this study, the potential effects of azoxystrobin, tebuconazole and a commercial formulation with these two active ingredients combined, known as Custodia 320 SC, were tested on two fungal species, Pyrenophora teres and Rhynchosporium secalis, both well known worldwide pathogens responsible for worldwide losses in important crops such as barley and rye. The results indicated significant resistance to both active ingredients by P. teres, with tebuconazole-treated cultures showing the lowest inhibition in the growth response. R. secalis showed also low and poorly variable growth inhibition rates for both fungicides, never reaching to 50% inhibition in comparison to the respective control. These results were obtained considering exposure concentration ranges within the limits of water solubility for both compounds and including concentrations that correspond to typical application rates used in the field to treat affected crops. Nevertheless, bacterial contamination in early trials allowed to observe that under these conditions the efficacy of the fungicides is superior (fungal growth inhibition rate over 50%) until a certain level of exposure, from which onwards the efficacy is again limited; this effect can be explained by a reduction of the fungi resistance capacity in competitive scenarios. The efficacy of the combined active ingredients was lower than equivalent treatments in trials where they were applied singly, suggesting the possibility of antagonistic interactions between azoxystrobin and tebuconazole. Additionally, the comparison of effects promoted by the combination of the active substances with their equivalent combinations applied via commercial formulation demonstrated that the formulants other than the active substances used in the commercial formulation do not promote their efficacy when the target organisms are P. teres or R. secalis.
Informação específica sobre cada ingrediente ativo fungicida, e os seus efeitos combinados em todos os organismos potencialmente afetados, quer sejam patogénicos, organismos não-alvo ou colheitas é ainda limitada. Neste estudo, os efeitos potenciais da azoxystrobina, do tebuconazole e de uma formulação comercial com a combinação destes dois ingredientes ativos, Custodia 320 SC, foram testados em duas espécies fúngicas, Pyrenophora teres e Rhynchosporium secalis, ambos fungos patogénicos conhecidos mundialmente por grandes perdas em colheitas agrícolas importantes como o centeio e a cevada. Os resultados indicaram resistência significativa a ambos os ingredientes ativos por P. teres, com as culturas tratadas com tebuconazole a demonstrarem as mais baixas taxas de inibição do crescimento relativamente ao respetivo controlo. R. secalis mostrou também taxas baixas e pouco variáveis de inibição de crescimento em resposta à exposição a cada um dos fungicidas, nunca chegando aos 50% de inibição em relação ao respetivo controlo. Estes resultados foram obtidos para gamas de concentrações de exposição dentro dos limites de solubilidade em água dos compostos e que incluíram concentrações que refletem as taxas de aplicação utilizadas para tratamento de culturas. Não obstante, a contaminação bacteriana em ensaios iniciais permitiu observar que, nestas condições, a eficácia dos fungicidas é superior (inibição de crescimento dos fungos alvo de mais de 50%) até um determinado nível de exposição, a partir do qual a eficácia se torna de novo muito limitada; este efeito será explicável pela redução da capacidade de resistência dos fungos aos fungicidas em cenários competitivos. A eficácia da combinação dos ingredientes ativos foi inferior à dos tratamentos equivalentes em que os mesmos foram aplicados individualmente, sugerindo a possibilidade de ocorrência de interações antagonísticas entre a azoxystrobina e o tebuconazole. Adicionalmente, a comparação dos efeitos de combinações de ingredientes ativos com as combinações equivalentes aplicadas através da formulação comercial demonstra que os restantes formulantes não promovem a eficácia dos ingredientes ativos quando as espécies alvo são P. teres ou R. secalis.
Mestrado em Microbiologia

Este trabalho tem como tema central a aplicação da ferramenta de Análise dos Modos de Falha e Efeitos (FMEA) para avaliar e melhorar a eficiência da gestão dos armazéns de distribuição e venda de Produtos Fitofarmacêuticos (PF) ao abrigo do actual quadro jurídico, imposto através do Decreto-Lei 173/2005, decreto este que veio colmatar a grave lacuna que existia em relação ao licenciamento dessa actividade. Para melhor enquadrar o tema, definiu-se o conceito de PF. Os PF são produtos químicos, que acarretam riscos inerentes à sua natureza, identificaram-se esses riscos e as medias de prevenção/protecção a utilizar. A armazenagem de PF, como parte inseparável da venda destes produtos, é abordada, não só do ponto de vista dos riscos e como os minimizar, mas também, do ponto de vista da gestão de armazém, sendo esta, uma medida organizacional que visa minimizar o risco na manipulação dos PF. Da mesma maneira, definiu-se o conceito da FMEA, possíveis campos de aplicação, os elementos básicos que a compõem e as etapas de implementação. Concluiu-se que é viável a utilização do uso da FMEA na determinação das medidas correctivas para a maximização da redução dos riscos na actividade de armazenista e venda de PF.
This work is focused on the application of the tool Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) to evaluate and improve the efficiency of warehouse management concerning the distribution and sale of Plant Protection Products (PPP) under the current legal framework, which was imposed through the Decree-Law 173/2005 of 21st October. This Decree has come to bridge the serious gap that existed in relation to the licensing of such activity. To get a better frame of the issue, the concept of PPP was defined. The PPP are chemicals that bring about inherent risks, and these risks were identified as well as the prevention/protection measures to be used. The storage of PPP, seen as an inseparable part of the sale of these products, is addressed not only from the point of view of their risks and how to minimize them, but also from the point of view of the warehouse management, which is an organizational measure that seeks to minimize the manipulation risk of PPP. Likewise, it was defined the concept of FMEA, as well as its possible fields of application, the basic elements that compose it and its implementation stages. It was concluded that it is viable to use FMEA in the determination of corrective measures to maximize risk reduction in the activity of storing and selling PPP.

Este trabalho de projecto pretende exemplificar, no quadro da evolução do papel do Estado e da administração pública, o desenvolvimento de um sistema tecnológico de informação e comunicação de suporte a uma actividade de licenciamento (neste caso de produtos fitofarmacêuticos), tendo em conta os preceitos do New Public Management e do New Public Service. Procura-se exemplificar as opções a tomar no âmbito da procura de ganhos de eficiência e da melhoria de prestação de serviços ao cliente (no âmbito do NPM), bem como no aperfeiçoamento da divulgação de informação a todos os stakeholders, tendente ao seu envolvimento, no espírito do NPS. É caracterizada a gestão da informação no sistema de homologação de produtos fitofarmacêuticos em Portugal, são identificados os constrangimentos da organização e propostas medidas de resolução, designadamente através da reengenharia de procedimentos e da utilização das tecnologias de informação e comunicação, no sentido da máxima desmaterialização de um conjunto de procedimentos de licenciamento, que são exigentes dos pontos de vista técnico e legal, tanto para as entidades requerentes, como para a entidade reguladora. É abordada a questão da necessidade de interligação de sistemas de gestão documental, de gestão de fluxo de trabalho e de gestão de conteúdos, como requisito essencial, não só numa perspectiva dos procedimentos de licenciamento em causa, mas também da sua integração na actividade da organização, nomeadamente com o sistema de avaliação de desempenho organizacional e individual. Finalmente, são expostos os resultados esperados do sistema tecnológico de informação proposto, designadamente no tocante às melhorias esperadas na eficácia, na eficiência e na qualidade da governança do sistema de homologação de produtos fitofarmacêuticos. É apresentada uma análise ambiental (ou SWOT), são elencadas as metas já alcançadas e propostos desenvolvimentos futuros.
This work aims at exemplifying, in the scope of the evolution of the roles of State and public administration, the development of a technological information and communication system to support a licensing activity (in this case of plant protection products), having in mind the precepts of New Public Management and New Public Service. It is intended to show the options to make in the search for efficiency gains and the amelioration of the services provided to the costumer (in the sense of NPM), as well as in the improvement of the transmission of information to all stakeholders, aimed at their involvement, in the logic of NPS. The management of information in the Portuguese plant protection system is described, constraints of the organisation identified and resolution measures proposed, namely through process reengineering and use of information and communication technologies in the direction of the maximum dematerialisation of a set of licensing procedures, that are demanding from the technical and from the legal points of view, either for the applicants or for the regulating authority. The need of interconnection of document, workflow and website management is discussed as an essential prerequisite, not only in a perspective of the licensing procedures contemplated, but also their integration in the activity of the organization, namely with the organizational and individual performance evaluation system. Finally, the expected results of the technological information system proposed are discussed, namely the improvements expected regarding efficacy, efficiency and quality of governance of the authorisation system of plant protection products. A SWOT analysis is presented, already achieved milestones are detailed and future developments proposed.

Pharmaka werden nach ihrer Einnahme bzw. Verabreichung über verschiedene Pfade in die Umwelt eingetragen. Obwohl Arzneimittel zu den toxikologisch best-untersuchten und -charakterisierten Stoffen gehören, ist ihre Wirkung auf die Umwelt und die darin lebenden Organismen weit weniger gut untersucht. Wenn in der Literatur Daten zur Ökotoxizität vorhanden sind, so beziehen sich diese meist nur auf die Wirkung von Einzelstoffen. In der Umwelt sind die Organismen jedoch gegenüber Mischungen exponiert. Aufgrund der geschilderten Problematik wurden eine Reihe von Arzneimitteln unterschiedlicher Indikationsgruppen einzeln und in Kombination mit dem Embryotest mit dem Zebrabärbling (Danio rerio, DarT) untersucht. Dieses Testsystem wurde durch Schulte & Nagel (1994) als Alternativmethode zum akuten Fischtest nach OECD 203 entwickelt und bietet den Vorteil neben letalen auch eine Reihe von subletalen Endpunkten erfassen zu können. Es handelt sich zudem nach dem deutschen Tierschutzgesetz nicht um einen Tierversuch. Die generelle Vergleichbarkeit der ermittelten Werte mit Daten aus akuten Fischtests nach OECD 203 sowie die Anwendbarkeit für verschiedenste Fragestellungen konnten in einer Reihe von Studien gezeigt werden (Nagel, 2002). Für die hier vorgestellten Untersuchungen wurden zunächst 32 Pharmaka und drei Pflanzenschutzmittel als Einzelstoffe mit dem DarT untersucht. Basierend auf den Ergebnissen der Einzelstofftests wurden Mischungen sowohl aus Substanzen mit ähnlichen als auch unähnlichen Wirkmechanismen getestet. Es zeigte sich, dass unabhängig vom Wirkmechanismus die Mischungstoxizität durch das Konzept der Konzentrationsadditivität gut vorhergesagt wurde, während das Konzept der Unabhängigen Wirkung die Mischungstoxizität unterschätzte. Ebenfalls konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Kombination der Stoffe auf Basis der NOEC, die im DarT anhand der Herzschlagfrequenz nach 48 Stunden ermittelt wird, zu deutlichen Mischungseffekten führt.