Investigation of an algae-derived polymer as a pollinator-friendly pesticide adjuvant
Abstract Chemical applications in croplands can be a major source of pesticide exposure to pollinators, including off-target drift. Adjuvants are added to pesticides to improve spray characteristics. The major goal of this study was to identify the possibility of using sodium alginate (SA) as a drif...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10558-1 |
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| author | Narayanan Kannan Yu-Cheng Zhu |
| author_facet | Narayanan Kannan Yu-Cheng Zhu |
| author_sort | Narayanan Kannan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Chemical applications in croplands can be a major source of pesticide exposure to pollinators, including off-target drift. Adjuvants are added to pesticides to improve spray characteristics. The major goal of this study was to identify the possibility of using sodium alginate (SA) as a drift-reducing pesticide adjuvant that is less/nontoxic to honeybees than polyacrylamide (PAM) an industry standard. The toxicity bioassay experiments were carried out with six- to eight-day-old, caged honeybee workers. Each cage contained 20 honeybees. Caged bees were treated with adjuvant, insecticide, adjuvant + insecticide, and a water only as a control, using a modified Potter Spray Tower. The insecticides imidacloprid and bifenthrin were used at three different concentrations (LC25, LC50, and LC75). Two different concentrations of the adjuvants SA and PAM were tested. The 48-hour mortality results were recorded. Our results indicate noticeable reductions in bee killing when SA is used as an insecticide adjuvant instead of PAM. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5e58e2f628c2430ea6c1a745aad530ff |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-5e58e2f628c2430ea6c1a745aad530ff2025-08-20T03:04:34ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-011511810.1038/s41598-025-10558-1Investigation of an algae-derived polymer as a pollinator-friendly pesticide adjuvantNarayanan Kannan0Yu-Cheng Zhu1USDA-ARS-Pollinator Health in Southern Crop Ecosystems Research UnitUSDA-ARS-Pollinator Health in Southern Crop Ecosystems Research UnitAbstract Chemical applications in croplands can be a major source of pesticide exposure to pollinators, including off-target drift. Adjuvants are added to pesticides to improve spray characteristics. The major goal of this study was to identify the possibility of using sodium alginate (SA) as a drift-reducing pesticide adjuvant that is less/nontoxic to honeybees than polyacrylamide (PAM) an industry standard. The toxicity bioassay experiments were carried out with six- to eight-day-old, caged honeybee workers. Each cage contained 20 honeybees. Caged bees were treated with adjuvant, insecticide, adjuvant + insecticide, and a water only as a control, using a modified Potter Spray Tower. The insecticides imidacloprid and bifenthrin were used at three different concentrations (LC25, LC50, and LC75). Two different concentrations of the adjuvants SA and PAM were tested. The 48-hour mortality results were recorded. Our results indicate noticeable reductions in bee killing when SA is used as an insecticide adjuvant instead of PAM.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10558-1InsecticideHoneybeeSprayDriftToxicityBioassay |
| spellingShingle | Narayanan Kannan Yu-Cheng Zhu Investigation of an algae-derived polymer as a pollinator-friendly pesticide adjuvant Scientific Reports Insecticide Honeybee Spray Drift Toxicity Bioassay |
| title | Investigation of an algae-derived polymer as a pollinator-friendly pesticide adjuvant |
| title_full | Investigation of an algae-derived polymer as a pollinator-friendly pesticide adjuvant |
| title_fullStr | Investigation of an algae-derived polymer as a pollinator-friendly pesticide adjuvant |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation of an algae-derived polymer as a pollinator-friendly pesticide adjuvant |
| title_short | Investigation of an algae-derived polymer as a pollinator-friendly pesticide adjuvant |
| title_sort | investigation of an algae derived polymer as a pollinator friendly pesticide adjuvant |
| topic | Insecticide Honeybee Spray Drift Toxicity Bioassay |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10558-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT narayanankannan investigationofanalgaederivedpolymerasapollinatorfriendlypesticideadjuvant AT yuchengzhu investigationofanalgaederivedpolymerasapollinatorfriendlypesticideadjuvant |