Corn rootworms (CRW) are among the most destructive pests in corn production across the Corn Belt, causing considerable damage through larval feeding on roots. While crop rotation and Bt technologies are widely adopted management strategies, their effectiveness is increasingly compromised by the pest's evolution of resistance and behavioral adaptability. Chemical insecticides applied at planting to target larvae directly serve as an additional tool for corn rootworm control. In this study, we evaluated the performance of various insecticides, applied in-furrow, for managing corn rootworms by assessing Node Injury Scale (NIS), lodging rates, and grain yields from 2020 to 2024. We found that Mode of Action (MOA) 3A insecticides (sodium channel modulators), such as Force Evo (tefluthrin) and Capture LFR (bifenthrin), did not provide substantial efficacy in reducing NIS and lodging rates. In contrast, MOA 1B+3A insecticides (acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors + sodium channel modulators), such as INDEX (chlorethoxyfos + bifenthrin) and AZTEC HC (tebupirimphos + cyfluthrin), significantly reduced CRW larval damage, particularly under high pest pressure in 2020, 2021 and 2023. Differences in insecticide concentrations did not significantly impact larval control efficacy. Additionally, seasonal rainfall during larval hatching and variation in cumulative corn growing degree days (GDD) strongly influenced the root injury and lodging outcomes. Lower GDD likely limits root regeneration, increasing lodging risk under CRW pressure. These findings demonstrate the values of in-furrow insecticides in managing corn rootworms, particularly under high pest pressure and provide valuable insights for developing integrated pest management strategies to sustain effective CRW larval control and improve crop productivity.

The global escalation of soil salinization has led to increased water erosion, adversely impacting plant growth and development. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are highly conserved proteins found across a wide range of organisms. When biological organisms are stimulated by the external environment, they will express themselves in large quantities. HSPs play a pivotal role in mediating plant responses to abiotic stress. This study identified 22 members of the PcHsp20 gene family with complete open reading frames (ORFs) through transcriptomic analysis conducted under Pugionium cornutum salt stress, and evaluated their expression levels. Notably, PcHsp18.1 was significantly upregulated in the leaves of Pugionium cornutum (L.) Gaertn. Based on this, we cloned the PcHsp18.1 gene and determined through subcellular localization that PcHsp18.1 is localized in both the cytoplasm and nuclear membrane. Subsequently, we transformed the PcHsp18.1 gene into Arabidopsis thaliana to investigate its involvement in the response to salt stress. The results indicated that the overexpressing (OE) plants exhibited improved growth conditions, higher seed germination rates, increased root lengths, a greater number of lateral roots, reduced relative conductivity, and elevated relative chlorophyll content compared to the wild-type (WT) plants. These findings suggesting that the transgenic line possesses enhanced salt tolerance. Moreover, the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and relative conductivity in the overexpressing (OE) plants were significantly lower than those observed in the wild-type (WT) plants, suggesting a reduced extent of damage to their cell membranes. In comparison to the wild type (WT), the transgenic line (OE) exhibited elevated activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), along with increased proline content, suggesting that the transgenic plants possess enhanced resistance to abiotic stress and a greater capacity for scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). Meanwhile, salt treatment resulted in the significant expression of stress-related genes in the transgenic plants. These results indicate that PcHsp18.1 positively regulates salt stress in Arabidopsis.

While various studies have attempted to investigate the efficacy of biochars in enhancing plant seedlings, research on the application of biochar specifically for Coffea arabica L. seedlings in drought conditions remains restricted. To reveal the mitigation of biochar in the Coffee. seedlings under drought stress, the impacts of different biochar doses on soil physicochemical, biological, and hydrological parameters, as well as the growth of Coffee seedlings were evaluated. To mimic the effect of drought stress, utilizing three different levels of water holding capacity (20 %, 40 %, and 60 % of WHC) was performed with three different corncob biochar application rates of 1 %, 2.5 %, and 5 % w/w of soil. The results revealed that corncob biochar application increased pH, cation exchange capacity and organic matter. While soil microbial respiration, microbial biomass carbon, and dissolved organic carbon had increased in application biochar 1 and 5 % under both drought and no drought conditions. Corncob biochar at 1 % application rate enhanced the growth and chlorophyll content under drought condition significantly (p < 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed between biochar application and water holding capacity on membrane damage and total soluble sugar content under drought conditions. The relative water and proline content had increased in biochar application at 1 %. Based on these findings, the application of biochar into coffee seedling production systems may help mitigate the adverse effects of water scarcity while promoting long-term soil health and agricultural resilience, particularly in tropical and subtropical highland regions where climate change-induced drought events are becoming more frequent.

Corn silk (CS), an agricultural byproduct obtained after the processing of corn, is usually dumped as waste. Worldwide there is a growing concern to utilise this waste for making value-added products. This work tried to improve the functional properties of corn silk fibres and utilise them to fabricate biocomposites for automotive applications. Raw corn silk fibres were alkali treated (2%, 45 min) to achieve around 11% improvement in tensile strength, 14% improvement in elongation-at-break and 26% reduction in initial modulus. The alkali-treated fibres were further processed to prepare bi-directional carded webs which were ultimately reinforced in PLA matrix utilising compression-moulding technology. The biocomposites developed with different mass fractions (10% to 50%) of alkali-treated corn silk fibres were evaluated for their functional properties. The biocomposite, formulated with 40% mass fractions of treated corn silk fibre and poly(lactic) acid, exhibited the highest mechanical performance-tensile strength (74.57 MPa), Young's modulus (4.28 GPa), Flexural strength (442.45 MPa), breaking elongation (2.04%) and impact strength (3.2 kJ/m2). The biocomposites were also found to be thermally stable with no significant weight loss till 319 degrees C and 98.49% final weight loss at the end of 780 degrees C. Those biocomposites exhibited biodegradability with 2.73% weight loss and 13.11% strength loss in 30 days of burial in soil. The biocomposite reinforced with 40% alkali-treated corn silk fibres demonstrated high potential for automotive namely door panels, exterior under-floor panels, instrument panels, internal engine covers, packaging trays, seat backs, etc. Moreover, this study advances sustainable biocomposites by enhancing CS fibre properties, achieving superior mechanical strength, thermal stability, and biodegradability for automotive applications.

This research investigated the production of biodegradable plastic films made from a blend of carrageenan and corn starch biopolymers. The procedure included producing bioplastic resin pellets using a single screw extrusion at a 110 degrees C temperature, followed by hot compression at a temperature of 160 degrees C to form a biodegradable plastic film. The project aimed to develop a continuous biodegradable plastic production method, particularly made from carrageenan, which is more adaptable for commercial-scale production. The carrageenan/corn starch films were prepared with various compositions, ranging from formulations dominated by carrageenan (56:14% w/w) to those dominated by corn starch (14:56% w/w), with the addition of a constant amount of glycerol (30% w/w) as a plasticizer. After the films were obtained, each of the samples was evaluated for their physico-mechanical properties, chemical structure, water sensitivity, and soil biodegradability. In general, an increase in corn starch content within the film matrix led to an enhancement of the overall properties of the resulting film. The film with the highest corn starch content exhibited tensile strength and elongation at break values that were 49% and 163% higher, respectively, compared to the film with the lowest corn starch content. Additionally, these samples demonstrated improved thermal stability, with a 12% increase in the thermal decomposition temperature, and enhanced barrier properties, as evidenced by a 6% reduction in water vapor permeability and a 72% decrease in water uptake. This is mainly due to the inherent molecular structure of corn starch, particularly due to its long straight-glucose chains. On the other hand, carrageenan increased the biodegradability rate of the films. These findings demonstrate the potential of carrageenan/corn starch blends as promising candidates for future packaging materials.

The increasing environmental impact of traditional cement production necessitates the exploration of sustainable alternatives in construction materials. This paper investigates corncob ash (CCA), an agro-waste by-product, as a viable substitute for cement in several construction and building material applications such as concrete, masonry, geopolymer materials, and soil stabilization. A comprehensive review of existing literature reveals that CCA enhances the mechanical properties of these materials, such as compressive strength and durability, and significantly reduces the carbon footprint associated with conventional cement production. The findings indicate that incorporating CCA improves workability and resistance to aggressive environmental conditions, positioning it as a promising material for sustainable construction. Furthermore, the paper identifies gaps in current research, particularly concerning long-term performance and standardization of testing methods. Future research directions are proposed, including optimization of processing techniques, life cycle assessments, and real-world applications, to fully leverage the potential of CCA in promoting environmentally friendly construction practices. Overall, this study underscores the critical role of CCA in advancing sustainability within the construction industry.

Corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea Boddie (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a common herbivore that causes economic damage to agronomic and specialty crops across North America. The interannual abundance of H. zea is closely linked to climactic variables that influence overwintering survival, as well as within-season host plant availability that drives generational population increases. Although the abiotic and biotic drivers of H. zea populations have been well documented, prior temporal H. zea modeling studies have largely focused on mechanistic/simulation approaches, long term distribution characterization, or degree day-based phenology within the growing season. While these modeling approaches provide insight into H. zea population ecology, growers remain interested in approaches that forecast the interannual magnitude of moth flights which is a key knowledge gap limiting early warning before crops are planted. Our study used trap data from 48 site-by-year combinations distributed across North Carolina between 2008 and 2021 to forecast H. zea abundance in advance of the growing season. To do this, meteorological data from weather stations were combined with crop and soil data to create predictor variables for a random forest H. zea forecasting model. Overall model performance was strong (R2 = 0.92, RMSE = 350) and demonstrates a first step toward development of contemporary model-based forecasting tools that enable proactive approaches in support of integrated pest management plans. Similar methods could be applied at a larger spatial extent by leveraging national gridded climate and crop data paired with trap counts to expand forecasting models throughout the H. zea overwintering range.

The salinization of sulfate saline soil in frozen regions can lead to severe potential environmental hazards, such as increased salt heaving and collapsibility. Corn stalk ash (CSA), a typical agricultural waste that is non-polluting to soil, groundwater, and the environment, possesses high pozzolanic activity and is a potential amendment for sulfate saline soil. To verify the feasibility of using CSA to improve sulfate saline soil, a series of experiments were conducted to study the effects of CSA content, salt content, and freeze-thaw cycles on the mechanical properties of the improved soils. A statistical damage constitutive model was established that comprehensively considers the coupled effects of freeze-thaw, salinity, moisture, and loading to more accurately describe the improvement effects of CSA. The study shows that CSA is highly effective in improving sulfate saline soil. The application of this method can significantly increase the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of sulfate saline soil and greatly enhance their freeze-thaw resistance. The best improvement effect was observed with a CSA content of 15%. Furthermore, the coupled statistical damage constitutive model more accurately and intuitively analyzed the entire deformation and failure process of the improved soil under coupled effects, showing that the addition of CSA enhances the brittle characteristics of the improved soil while reducing its plastic deformation and ductile failure characteristics. In summary, the method of using CSA to improve sulfate saline soil is highly effective and environmentally friendly, providing a theoretical basis for improving sulfate saline soil in seasonally frozen regions.

This paper aimed to determine the attack caused by WCR (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Le Conte) and its control by chemical treatments on soil and vegetation. The research was carried out in eastern Romania between 2023 and 2024, where two trials were conducted in the experimental field of the Agricultural Research and Development Station Secuieni-Neamt, where three granular insecticides applied to the soil against larvae and three chemical insecticides used on vegetation against adults were tested. Among the granular insecticides tested, the Force G (tefluthrin 15 g/kg) insecticide stood out with the best results, significantly reducing the number of larvae/plant (1 larva/plant) and, at the same time, the absence of the swan neck symptom was also recorded. Regarding insecticides applied to vegetation, the best results were obtained with the insecticide Inazuma (acetamiprid 100 g/kg + lambda-cyhalothrin 30 g/kg), which recorded a very good efficacy in combating adults of the species (95.4%). In conclusion, applying chemical treatments to soil and vegetation is necessary to control the attack by western corn rootworm (WCR).

Plant species can have ecological impacts on co-occurring species by altering their resistance to natural enemies. Associational resistance occurs when one species reduces enemy damage to neighboring species, whereas associational susceptibility increases enemy damage to neighboring species. In a previous study, Ipomoea tricolor 'Pearly Gates' plants, endosymbiotic with alkaloid-producing Periglandula fungi developed fewer nematode galls and produced less biomass than non-endosymbiotic plants. To explore whether endosymbiont-mediated resistance could extend to neighboring species, we grew endosymbiotic or non-endosymbiotic I. tricolor with corn (Zea mays) in soil inoculated with Southern root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) or no inoculation controls. Both nematode and endosymbiont treatments reduced total plant biomass per pot, but corn produced significantly more biomass in the nematode addition treatment when morning glory was endosymbiotic, consistent with associational resistance. These results suggest that the Periglandula endosymbiont of I. tricolor can enhance the growth of co-occurring plants in the presence of natural enemies.