BACKGROUND Weed-resistance phenomena have increased dramatically in recent years. Bioherbicides can offer a sustainable alternative to chemical weed control but they often have low water solubility and therefore low efficacy in the field. The research reported here represents the first study on the field efficacy against weeds of a nanoencapsulated bioherbicide mimic of aminophenoxazinones, namely DiS-NH2 (2,2 '-disulphanediyldianiline). Field experiments were carried out across three different locations to evaluate the bioherbicide disulphide mimic at standard (T1, 0.75 g m(-2)) and double (T2, 1.5 g m(-2)) doses when compared to no weed control (NC) and chemical weed controlled (PC) in durum wheat. RESULTS The nanoencapsulated bioherbicide displayed better soil permeability than the free compound and also showed lower ecotoxicity on comparing the toxic doses on the Caenorhabditis elegans nematode model. It was found that T2 gave the best performance in terms of phytotoxicity (-57% weed biomass when compared with NC) and crop yield enhancement (3.2 versus 2.2 Mg ha(-1) grain yield), while T1 showed comparable results to PC. T1 and T2 did not cause shifts in weed communities and this is consistent with a broad spectrum of phytotoxicity. Moreover, the nanoparticle formulation tested in this study provided stable results across all three locations. CONCLUSION It is reported here for the first time that a nanoencapsulated DiS-NH2 bioherbicide mimic provided an efficient post-emergence and contact bioherbicide that can control a wide range of weed species in durum wheat without damaging the crop. The mimic also has low ecotoxicity and improved soil permeability. (c) 2025 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

The global spread of Fall Armyworm (FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda) has posed significant challenges to crop productivity and food security, with current pest management relying heavily on synthetic pesticides. This study explores the green synthesis of neem extract and neem oil-based Azadirachtin nanopesticides using cellulose acetate (CA) as a carrier polymer, focusing on their efficacy against FAW. The objective was to assess whether CA-NEP (neem extract nanopesticides) and CA-NOL (neem oil nanopesticide) formulations were effective at FAW control with minimal ecological impact. The nanopesticides were synthesized by electrospinning at concentrations of 5 %, 10 %, 20 %, 33 %, and 50 % (w/w) and characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. Azadirachtin content was quantified using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy. CA-NEP and CA-NOL followed first-order, and Korsmeyer-Peppas release kinetics, respectively. Feeding bioassays showed high FAW mortality rates, with 20 %-50 % CA-NEP achieving greater than 40 % mortality in less than 3 days and 50 % CA-NEP reaching 100 % mortality by day five. The mortality rates of FAW due to feeding on CA-NOL-treated corn leaves reached 40 % after 4 and 6 days, respectively, for 50 % and 33 % CA-NOL. Placing nanopesticide fibers next to corn seeds during planting significantly reduced FAW leaf damage. The lethal dose 50 (LD50) analyses showed that 13 % CA-NEP is the optimal concentration for FAW control. Environmental safety assessments on earthworms showed no acute or chronic toxicity, indicating that the nanopesticides suit ecologically sensitive areas. Therefore, these nanopesticide formulations provide a promising, eco-friendly alternative for sustainable FAW control and management with enhanced efficacy and safety.

Using microbial cells for bioremediation requires evaluating suitable inoculation techniques and their effects. This study applied liquid and encapsulated in alginate beads inocula of A. vinelandii in agricultural soil to evaluate chlorpyrifos (CP) degradation and its impact on cytotoxic and genotoxic effects. Allium sativum cells and Eisenia foetida organisms were used as biomarkers for toxicological evaluations. Changes in the mitotic index and nuclear abnormalities in A. sativum cells were used for toxicity determinations. The percentage survival of E. foetida was calculated. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography was used to detect CP. The initial CP concentration (250 mg/kg) decreased by 92% when inoculated with liquid A. vinelandi and by 82% with A. vinelandii encapsulated after 14 d. A 60% decrease in cytotoxic and genotoxic damage to A. sativum cells was detected in treatments inoculated with A. vinelandii. The survival rate of E. foetida was improved by 33% when inoculated with free A. vinelandii compared to contaminated soil. Encapsulation as an inoculation strategy extended the viability of A. vinelandii compared to free inoculation. Both free and encapsulated inocula of A. vinelandii effectively degrade CP in soil and decrease its toxic effects. This study contributed by identifying sustainable agricultural alternatives for the inoculation and bioremediation of agricultural soils.

The root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) is an obligate plant parasite and is one of the largest threats to the Australian sweetpotato industry, causing crop losses of up to 57% of marketable yield. In this study, two potential fungal biocontrol agents were encapsulated in alginate granules and their nematophagous activity was assessed in a laboratory-based microcosm experiment. Both species of fungi significantly reduced numbers of root-knot nematodes in red ferrosol soil. A greater reduction was observed in untreated field soil prior to introduction of root-knot nematodes and fungal biocontrol agents compared to soil that had been heat-sterilised. In a ten-week glasshouse experiment, no significant difference in the root-knot nematode populations in sweetpotato roots and soil was found between fungal biocontrol agent and control treatments. There was a trend towards an increase in the sweetpotato storage root weight and reduction in storage root damage in fungal biocontrol agent compared to control treatments, and both yield and damage levels were similar to those achieved from the use of chemical nematicide treatments. These results demonstrate the need for greater understanding of the interactions between soil biological populations and introduced nematophagous fungi if effective biocontrol is to be consistently achieved with these bioagents under field conditions.

In this study, starch (ST), chitosan (CH), spider silk (SW), and their hybrid composite bioplastics were fabricated and examined for physicochemical and mechanical properties. The essential oils (EOs) of Rosmarinus officinalis were encapsulated to enhance their biological application. The prepared composite films were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques such as XRD, SEM, GCMS-, UV-VIS, TGA, and FTIR spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity of the prepared film was tested against S. aureus bacterial and C. albican fungal strains which showed a greater zone of inhibition for the composite film encapsulated with EOs. The biodegradability of the synthesized film was evaluated for 60 days in soil under laboratory conditions. The composite film containing spider web and essential oil significantly improved mechanical properties. The physicochemical results, such as moisture, solubility, swelling, transmittance, opacity, and water vapor permeability, of the prepared bioplastic were comparable with those of the control plastic. The EO-based film had greater antioxidant activity against DPPH, hydrogen peroxide, and phosphomolybdenum assays, with an inhibition range of 60-70 %. The addition of spider web and essential oil to the chitosan/ starch film significantly increased the shelf life of injera and tomatoes for 7 and 10 days, respectively for the EO-based film. The biodegradability of the synthesized film has shown a great reduction in the weight and growth of microorganisms. In general, the CH/ST/SW and CH/ST/ SW/EOs composite films have greater mechanical, biological, physicochemical, and potential improvement of food shelf life applied as either coating or packaging material.

Bacteria are used in a range of sectors, such as wastewater treatment, bioremediation, or as soil additives. For these applications, live bacteria are encapsulated to protect them from mechanical damage and desiccation. Unlike other types of cargo, bacteria are not always required to be released because when encapsulated, they can interface with their environment and fulfill their roles via molecular transport through the capsule walls. The aims of encapsulation are then shifted away from delaying release to making capsules that are mechanically robust while permitting sufficient diffusion to support the metabolic activity of the bacteria. Here, we produced covalent hydrogel capsules from a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion of aqueous poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) in hexadecane containing a UV-radical initiator. Upon initiation, PEGDA polymerization begins at the W/O interface to produce hydrogel capsules. We discovered three classes of capsule microstructures with differing levels of macroporosity that could be tailored by changing the polymerization conditions. Systematic investigations showed how the UV energy input and the PEGDA macromonomer concentration can be used to selectively create honeycomb, sponge like, or dense spherical capsules. To explain the sponge-like structure, we propose a capsule formation mechanism based on diffusion-limited aggregation of PEGDA microbeads. The structures resemble random-walk simulations of sticky beads and, furthermore, satisfy the theoretical volume fractions required for percolation. We successfully encapsulated live Mycobacterium smegmatis within the sponge structures, demonstrating biocompatibility. Importantly, the internal hydrogel microstructure allows the growth of bacteria. This mechanistic understanding is paramount for designing robust covalent capsules while optimizing porosity within hydrogel structures.

Plant-beneficial bacteria (PBB) have emerged as a promising approach for assisting phytoremediation of heavy metal (HM)-contaminated soils. However, their colonization efficiency is often challenged by complex soil environments. In this study, we screened one rhizobacterium (Klebsiella variicola Y38) and one endophytic bacterium (Serratia surfactantfaciens Y15) isolated from HM-contaminated soils and plants for their high resistance to Cd and strong growth-promoting abilities. These strains were encapsulated individually or in combination with alginate and applied with Medicago sativa in Cd-contaminated soil pot experiments. The effectiveness of different bacterial formulations in promoting plant growth and enhancing Cd bioconcentration in M. sativa was evaluated. Results showed that PBB application enhanced plant growth and antioxidant capacity while reducing oxidative damage. Encapsulated formulations outperformed unencapsulated ones, with combined formulations yielding superior results to individual applications. Quantitative PCR indicated enhanced PBB colonization in Cdcontaminated soils with alginate encapsulation, potentially explaining the higher efficacy of alginateencapsulated PBB. Additionally, the bacterial agents modified Cd speciation in soils, resulting in increased Cd bioaccumulation in M. sativa by 217-337 %. The alginate-encapsulated mixed bacterial agent demonstrated optimal effectiveness, increasing the Cd transfer coefficient by 3.2-fold. Structural equation modeling and correlation analysis elucidated that K. variicola Y38 promoted Cd bioaccumulation in M. sativa roots by reducing oxidative damage and enhancing root growth, while S. surfactantfaciens Y15 facilitated Cd translocation to shoots, promoting shoot growth. The combined application of these bacteria leveraged the benefits of both strains. These findings contribute to diversifying strategies for effectively and sustainably remediating Cdcontaminated soils, while laying a foundation for future investigations into bacteria-assisted phytoremediation.

There is an urgent requirement for the improvement of the white leg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei; health-related indices; and immunity due to emerging diseases. Recently, probiotics have been playing an important role in L. vannamei health management. Therefore, the current pond trial was to evaluate the probiotic proficiency of commercial probiotic products of THIONIL (THIO) on the enhancement of the water, soil, growth, digestibility, survival, immune-related indices, and susceptibility of L. vannamei to infection. The study was carried out in the major shrimp culturing regions of Kavali, Nellore (Andhra Pradesh), and Ponneri (Tamil Nadu), India. Six groups (lacks/ha) of the experimental L. vannamei were allocated, including a control group (THIO 0%-untreated) and groups containing 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% of THIO that were encapsulated with commercial feed (CP Aqua). Bioassays were performed on PLs/ shrimp at various days interval of 0, 5, 25, 50, 100, and 123th to assess productivity, anti-vibrio activity, and digestive enzyme for digestibility, histological and immunological indices, and cytotoxicity in Artemia nauplii. Significant differences were observed in the increased growth (35.71 +/- 3.24 g/shrimp) and digestive parameters in 10% THIO-fed shrimp. Although in contrast to the control group, the other THIO-fed prawn groups also displayed appreciable development. The findings showed that, in comparison to the control, the gill, hepatopancreas, and stomach had reduced tissue damage with 10% THIO. Furthermore, Vibrio parahaemolyticus (0.008 x 10(4) cfu/g) and Vibrio harveyi (0.051 x 10(5) cfu/g) (vibriosis) were potentially resistant to the 10% THIO-fed group. In addition, THIO-fed prawns (10%) showed significant improvements in immune-related expresses (proPO, SOD, and SOA) in comparison to the control. In conclusion, the findings showed that the THIO treatment prawns significantly improved the quality of their water (pH, ammonia, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and DO) and soil (Pb, Cr, Hg, Mg, Cu, Fe, and Ni), increased and demonstrated protection against vibrio infections.