Controlled release and nanotechnology techniques hold promising potential for propelling the pesticide industry toward the goals of green revolution. This study introduces the concept of atom economy into the multifunctionality of controlled-release formulations (CRFs) of pesticides from both economic and sustainable perspectives. In addition to their core function of controlling the release of active ingredient, carriers also provide additional benefits, including enhanced foliar adhesion and pesticide translocation, nutritional function, synergistic bioactivity, safety for nontarget organisms, crop stress alleviation, reduced soil leaching, soil remediation, and fluorescence visualization. These additional functions are highlighted and taken seriously. Through ingenious excogitation, the multifunctional CRFs of pesticides can achieve multiple objectives, enhancing input efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts. We tentatively blazed a trail by reviewing the recent advances in multifunctional CRFs of pesticides from the perspective of green chemistry. Additionally, potential development and implementation barriers of CRFs were discussed, emphasizing the necessity for robust field trials and comprehensive systems- level efficacy/biosafety evaluations to substantially boost the technical readiness and performance of multifunctional CRFs of pesticides. Our goal is to expand the multifunctional concept for pesticide formulations, thereby accelerating the development of global sustainable agrochemical products.

Insects carry out various behaviors, including searching for food, mates, and oviposition sites using their sensitive olfactory systems. Odorantreceptors (ORs) play critical roles during odor detection. In this study, we identified an OR (AlepOR14) in Athetis lepigone, which is clustered with a conserved HarmOR42- lineage in Lepidoptera. We cloned this OR gene and investigated its expression levels using real-time quantitative PCR. Our results indicated that the expression of AlepOR14 is biased toward antennae, with levels significantly higher in female antennae than in male antennae. Functional analysis using the Xenopus oocytes expression and voltage-clamp recording system demonstrated thatAlepOR14 robustly and sensitively responds to the critical floral scent volatile phenylacetaldehyde (PAA). In behavioral experiments, female adults are attracted by PAA. Our findings improve our general understanding of the relationship between moths and their host plants, and provide an idea for exploiting attractants of A. lepigone for biological control.

Chiral succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides have undergone rapid development and extensive application in plant protection. Due to the common existing differences in bioactivity, toxicity, and environmental behavior between the enantiomers of chiral pesticides, a comprehensive evaluation of chiral SDHI fungicides at the enantiomeric level is crucial for gaining a deeper understanding of the behavior of chiral pesticides and facilitating their rational application. This review summarizes the research advancements in analytical methods for chiral SDHI fungicides, and explores enantioselective differences in their bioactivity, toxicity, and enantioselective environmental behavior. These insights are intended to enhance the efficient utilization and risk management of these chiral fungicides.

The establishment and spread of alien species in new areas pose a potential threat to global food security. Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte is an invasive maize pest originally from Mexico, causing substantial economic damage to maize production across extensive areas of the United States and Europe. However, it has not yet invaded Asia or other regions. We used the Ensemble Model and Cellular Automaton to analyze the establishment and spread risk of this pest. The pest has not explored novel climates during past invasions, and the climatic ecological niche it occupied in Europe constitutes only a fraction of that in North America, indicating that the species still possesses the potential to spread further in Europe in the future. Currently, approximately 34% of global maize-growing areas are at risk, with 25.5% facing a high establishment risk. By 2060, a significant northward spread is projected to occur in North America and Europe, while only a sporadic spread is expected in South America, Asia, Africa, or Oceania. Therefore, the adaptation of transnational management strategies may be necessary to prevent and control the risk of introduction and spread of this important maize pest into new areas of global maize production.