Catalytic and mechanistic studies into the epoxidation of styrenes using manganese complexes of structurally similar polyamine ligands

The synthesis and catalytic activity of manganese(ii) complexes of two polyamine ligands is reported which highlights how a small structural change in the ligand affects the overall catalytic behaviour.</p

Protein feeding of Queensland fruit fly Bactrocera tryoni and cucumber fly Zeugodacus cucumis (Diptera: Tephritidae) on non-host vegetation: effect of plant species and bait height

Perimeter-baiting of non-crop vegetation using toxic protein baits was developed overseas as a technique for control of melon fly, Zeugodacus (Zeugodacus) cucurbitae (Coquillett) (formerly Bactrocera (Zeugodacus) cucurbitae), and evidence suggests that this technique may also be effective in Australia for control of local fruit fly species in vegetable crops. Using field cage trials and laboratory reared flies, primary data were generated to support this approach by testing fruit flies' feeding response to protein when applied to eight plant species (forage sorghum, grain sorghum, sweet corn, sugarcane, eggplant, cassava, lilly pilly and orange jessamine) and applied at three heights (1, 1.5 and 2 m). When compared across the plants, Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt), most commonly fed on protein bait applied to sugarcane and cassava, whereas more cucumber fly, Zeugodacus (Austrodacus) cucumis (French) (formerly Bactrocera (Austrodacus) cucumis), fed on bait applied to sweet corn and forage sorghum. When protein bait was applied at different heights, B. tryoni responded most to bait placed in the upper part of the plants (2 m), whereas Z. cucumis preferred bait placed lower on the plants (1 and 1.5 m). These results have implications for optimal placement of protein bait for best practice control of fruit flies in vegetable crops and suggest that the two species exhibit different foraging behaviours

Overlooked Scents: Chemical Profile of Soma, Volatile Emissions and Trails of the Green Tree Ant, Oecophylla smaragdina

The green tree ant, Oecophylla smaragdina, is one of only two recognized species of weaver ants. While the identity and functions of chemicals produced and emitted by its congener O. longinoda have been studied quite extensively and serve as a valuable model in chemical ecology research, little comparable information is available about O. smaragdina. Although some analyses of chemicals produced and emitted by O. smaragdina have been reported, the literature is fragmentary and incomplete for this species. To address this knowledge gap, and to enable comparisons in the chemical ecology of the two weaver ant species, we here describe diverse chemicals from the cuticle, Dufour’s glands, poison glands, head, headspace volatiles, and trails of O. smaragdina

New EU Regulations on pork labelling and their potential for improving a holistic food policy approach

The choice of food inevitably interferes on the nutritional and organic balance through the quality and the amount of certain nutrients. In addition, food contributes to the maintenance of cultural identities because food choices identify their fundamental aspects and has far-reaching implications on the availability of resources, with an inevitable impact on the fate of future generations. From this background comes the concept of “ethical food” that involves the understanding and awareness of food origin from a holistic point of view and therefore provides a useful tool to make responsible food choices. In the case of food of animal origin, this choice aims to ensure a farming animal welfare, the guarantee of human health and the environmental protection. In Europe, one of the tools to achieve this goal is the food labelling, whereby the information is clear, understandable and transparent, in accordance with specific Community rules. The Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 set out the principles, the requirements and the responsibilities, to provide an accurate and understandable information about food. On April 1 2015 the Commission Regulation (EU) No 1337/2013 entered into force, laying down additional rules for the labelling of pork, with the goal to increase transparency by providing precise information on the origin of swine products. It will be compulsory for food business operators who will indicate, on the label of the marketed meat, the place of animals’ rearing and slaughtering. In case of meat from animals born, raised and slaughtered in the same country, the place of birth will instead appear on a voluntary basis. A full and transparent information is the first step of the ´´right to know´´ way, assumed as an awareness passage to consumers able to make free but responsible choices. This option is essential for a full guarantee food policy inside the protection of free trade and can be considered a transition from a single rules legislation (food legislation) to a regulation systematic approach (food law)

Cucumber volatile blend, a promising female-biased lure for Bactrocera cucumis (French 1907) (Diptera: Tephritidae: Dacinae), a pest fruit fly that does not respond to male attractants

Bactrocera cucumis (French 1907), the ‘cucumber fruit fly’, is a horticultural pest in Australia that primarily infests cucurbits and has also been recorded from tomatoes, papaw and several other hosts. It does not respond to known male lures, cue-lure and methyl eugenol, making monitoring and control difficult. A cucumber volatile blend lure was recently developed in Hawaii and found to be an effective female-biased attractant for the melon fly B. cucurbitae. This lure was field tested in north Queensland, Australia in McPhail traps in comparison with orange ammonia, Cera Trap® and a control, and was found to more consistently trap B. cucumis than the other lures. B. cucumis were caught at 41% of the cucumber volatile lure trap clearances, compared with 27% of the orange ammonia, 18% of the Cera Trap and 16% of the control trap clearances. The cucumber volatile lure was more attractive to B. cucumis in low population densities and also trapped B. cucumis earlier on average than the other lures. Data analysed from the site with highest trap catches (Spring Creek) showed that the cucumber volatile lure caught significantly more B. cucumis than the other traps in four of the 11 trap clearance periods, and for the remaining clearances, no other trap type caught significantly more flies than the cucumber volatile lure. The cucumber volatile lure had a strong female-biased attraction but it was not significantly more female-biased than orange ammonia or Cera Trap. Cucumber volatile lure traps were cleaner to service resulting in better quality specimens than the orange ammonia trap or Cera Trap. These findings have potential implications for market access monitoring for determining pest freedom, and for biosecurity monitoring programmes in other countries that wish to detect B. cucumis early

Cucumber volatile blend, a promising female-biased lure for Bactrocera cucumis (French 1907) (Diptera: Tephritidae: Dacinae), a pest fruit fly that does not respond to male attractants

Bactrocera cucumis (French 1907), the ‘cucumber fruit fly’, is a horticultural pest in Australia that primarily infests cucurbits and has also been recorded from tomatoes, papaw and several other hosts. It does not respond to known male lures, cue-lure and methyl eugenol, making monitoring and control difficult. A cucumber volatile blend lure was recently developed in Hawaii and found to be an effective female-biased attractant for the melon fly B. cucurbitae. This lure was field tested in north Queensland, Australia in McPhail traps in comparison with orange ammonia, Cera Trap® and a control, and was found to more consistently trap B. cucumis than the other lures. B. cucumis were caught at 41% of the cucumber volatile lure trap clearances, compared with 27% of the orange ammonia, 18% of the Cera Trap and 16% of the control trap clearances. The cucumber volatile lure was more attractive to B. cucumis in low population densities and also trapped B. cucumis earlier on average than the other lures. Data analysed from the site with highest trap catches (Spring Creek) showed that the cucumber volatile lure caught significantly more B. cucumis than the other traps in four of the 11 trap clearance periods, and for the remaining clearances, no other trap type caught significantly more flies than the cucumber volatile lure. The cucumber volatile lure had a strong female-biased attraction but it was not significantly more female-biased than orange ammonia or Cera Trap. Cucumber volatile lure traps were cleaner to service resulting in better quality specimens than the orange ammonia trap or Cera Trap. These findings have potential implications for market access monitoring for determining pest freedom, and for biosecurity monitoring programmes in other countries that wish to detect B. cucumis early

Gedong Gincu mango farmer’s perceptions toward the advantages and obstacles of the modern market

Gedong gincu mango is an exotic fruit that can become an exclusive mango to supply the modern market. This paper aims to explore the perceptions of Gedong Gincu mango farmers toward their interests, advantages, and barriers to entering the modern market. The study was conducted in Indramayu and Cirebon Districts, West Java, during Juli‒Agustus 2019, with 102 farmers as respondents. This study applied a survey method for data collection using structured questionnaires. The data were descriptively analyzed with a focus on farmer’s perception of the modern market. The results showed that most respondents (>50%) in Indramayu and Cirebon Districts are interested in selling their mango to the modern market. The biggest advantages of the modern market are that they will get a higher price (75%), gain access to better quality seeds/seedlings (16.50%), and get technical assistance and new skills, especially for cultivating and handling yields (15.06%). This study also reveals factors that cause farmers reluctant to sell mangoes to the modern market. The main reason is that most farmers own small-scale farms, so they cannot meet modern market criteria (28.73%). Besides, farmers feel that the mango has low-quality products. Other farmers think they do not have the ability, experience, and sufficient information related to modern markets (14.94%). This study suggests that the government could encourage mango farmers to engage in the modern market by facilitating the training to improve farmer’s capability and provide a supplier who guarantees the supply’s payment and sustainability