Water-Based Environmentally Friendly Pesticide Formulations Based on Cyclodextrin/Pesticide Loading System

Difenoconazole(DIF)is a representative variety of broad-spectrum triazole fungicides and liposoluble pesticides.However,the water solubility of DIF is so poor that its application is limited in plant protection.In addition,the conventional formulations of DIF always contain abundant organic solvents,which may cause pollution of the environment.In this study,two DIF/cyclodextrins(CDs)inclusion complexes(ICs)were successfully prepared,which were DIF/β-CD IC and DIF/hydroxypropyl-β-CD IC(DIF/HP-β-CD IC).The effect of cyclodextrins on the water solubility and the antifungal effect of liposoluble DIF pesticide were investigated.According to the phase solubility test,the molar ratio and apparent stability constant of ICs were obtained.Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,thermal gravity analysis,X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used systematically to characterize the formation and characteristics of ICs.The results noted that DIF successfully entered the cavities of two CDs.In addition,the antifungal effect test proved the better performance of DIF/HP-β-CD IC,which exceeded that of DIF emulsifiable concentrate.Therefore,our study provides informative direction for the intelligent use of liposoluble pesticides with cyclodextrins to develop water-based environmentally friendly formulations.

Microencapsulated chlorpyrifos: Degradation in soil and influence on soil microbial community structures

Degradation kinetics of microencapsulated chlorpyrifos （CPF-MC） in soil and its influence on soil microbial community structures were investigated by comparing with emulsifiable concentration of chlorpyrifos （CPF-EC） in laboratory. The residual periods of CPF-MC with fortification levels of 5 and 20 mg/kg reached 120 days in soil, both of the degradation curves did not fit the first-order model, and out-capsule residues of chlorpyrifos in soil were maintained at 1.76 （±0.33） and 5.92 （±1.20） mg/kg in the period between 15 and 60 days, respectively. The degradation kinetics of CPF-EC fit the first-order model, and the residual periods of 5 and 20 mg/kg treatments were 60 days. Bacterial community structures in soil treated with two concentrations of CPF-MC showed similarity to those of the control during the test period, as seen in the band number and relative intensities of the individual band on DGGE gels （p 〉 0.05）. Fungal community structures were slightly affected in the 5 mg/kg treatments and returned to the control levels after 30 days, but initially differed significantly from control in the 20 mg/kg treatments （p 〈 0.05） and did not recover to control levels until 90 days later. The CPF-EC significantly altered microbial community structures （p 〈 0.05） and effects did not disappear until 240 days later. The results indicated that the microcapsule technology prolonged the residue periods of chlorpyrifos in soil whereas it decreased its side-effects on soil microbes as compared with the emulsifiable concentration formulation.