Di-2-ethylhexylphthalate May Be a Natural Product, Rather than a Pollutant

Di-2-ethylhexylphtalate is an ester of phthalic acid that has been used as plasticizer in many materials. Due to the extended use, it has been persistently found in different environments being classified as a pollutant with some risks for human health. However, in the last years, it has been found that this compound is produced by plants or microorganisms like bacteria or fungi. This finding opened a serious debate about the origin of this compound and questioned if it is a real pollutant or a natural metabolite with some biological activities that could help us in several ways. This review tries to give some data of the different points of view about this question

Genetically Modified Plants Based on <em>Bacillus</em> Genes and Commercial <em>Bacillus</em>-Based Biopesticides for Sustainable Agriculture

Due to the increase in the global population, there is an urgent call to enhance the crop production through sustainable agriculture. Biological control is a possible solution. There are many examples of biological control agents applied to different crops that have improved their yield or quality, including vegetable and fruit crops and ornamental plants. The Bacillus species have been used as powerful tools since they suppress plant pathogens and promote plant growth as well. During the last five decades, B. thuringiensis has been used as biopesticide in several crops. However, it has some disadvantages such as its instability under field conditions due to sunlight; therefore, frequent applications are necessary, making its use more expensive. To solve this problem, genetically modified crops have been employed to allow the plant to express the toxin in the whole plant. Genetic engineering is a method used to make changes in the genetic material of an organism using scientific techniques. Therefore, genetic engineering opens up opportunities for creating genetically modified plants to increase crop yields and avoid pests. Genetically modified (GM) crops have been cultivated during the last three decades. Transgenic plant technology can be used to address global food scarcity, particularly in developing countries. Genetically modified organisms are a controversial topic that needs to be considered more carefully. Many toxicology studies have confirmed that Bt microbial formulations are safe for consumption. In this review, we will revise the application of Bacillus genes and Bacillus formulations to crops and their safety for human health to provide a more comprehensive understanding of this topic

Crystal structure of (E)-1-(2-nitrobenzylidene)-2,2-diphenylhydrazine

The title compound, C19H15N3O2, shows an E conformation of the imine bond. The dihedral angle between the planes of the phenyl rings in the diphenylhydrazine groups is 88.52 (4)°. The 2-nitrobenzene ring shows a torsion angle of 10.17 (8)° with the C=N—N plane. A short intramolecular C—H...O contact occurs. In the crystal, only van der Waals contacts occur between the molecules