No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Soybean is an important source of protein in animal feed, and growing demand for meat consumption worldwide has led to increased soybean production. Over 120 million metric tons of soybean were harvested in the United States in 2018, approximately one-third of the world production. In the Mid-Atlantic region, soybean is one of the most valuable field crops. Major foliar diseases that reduce soybean yield in the Mid-Atlantic region are frogeye leaf spot (FLS) and Cercospora leaf blight. In addition to crop rotation and host resistance, foliar fungicides, often with quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) active ingredients, are used to manage these soybean foliar diseases. Yield benefits of foliar fungicides have been inconsistent and this may be the result of low disease pressure, unfavorable environmental conditions for disease development, or the presence of fungal pathogen populations that have developed resistance to fungicides. The objectives of this research were 1) to develop a pyrosequencing-based assay to rapidly quantify QoI resistance frequencies in Cercospora sojina, the causal agent of FLS, 2) to examine the effects of fungicide application timings, disease pressure, and environmental factors on soybean yield, and 3) to develop a weather-based soybean foliar fungicide application decision aid for the Mid-Atlantic U.S. using a threshold decision rule. A pyrosequencing assay targeting the G143A mutation was designed, and a Virginia survey of C. sojina populations indicated that the G143A mutation conferring QoI resistance is widespread. In small plot fungicide application timing experiments, five weekly fungicide applications starting at beginning pod (R3) resulted in the greatest yield, but for single fungicide applications, R3 or 1 week after R3 resulted in the greatest yields. There was positive relationship between the cumulative number of disease favorable days (mean daily temperature 20-30°C and ≥ 10 hours of relative humidity >90%) from planting to R3 and disease severity at the full pod stage (r = 0.97, P = <0.01). Higher disease severity was associated with greater yield loss (r2 =0.53, P = 0.10) suggesting foliar fungicide applications are more likely to have yield benefits as the number of disease favorable days prior to R3 increase. A disease favorable-days threshold (FDT) using the environmental parameters indicated above was evaluated in on-farm experiments throughout Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Based on decision rules, FDT = 8 three weeks prior to R3 was the best predictor of a yield benefit with an R3 fungicide application. The decision aid was also able to correctly predict when a fungicide application would not be profitable ≥90% of the time. This weather-based decision aid along with monitoring of fungicide resistance development within the region will provide soybean growers in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. with tools to maximize yields and profitability. / Doctor of Philosophy / Soybean is the third most valuable field crop in the world, ranked only behind rice and wheat in value. Over 98% of the soybean crop is used for animal feed due to its high protein content. The United States is the largest soybean producer in the world, responsible for one-third of global production. Soybean is the top cash crop in the Mid-Atlantic region. Foliar fungal diseases can reduce the soybean yield by causing lesions on the leaves that reduce photosynthesis and cause premature defoliation. Frogeye leaf spot (FLS) caused by Cercospora sojina is a major yield reducing soybean foliar diseases in the Mid-Atlantic region. Foliar fungicides, often with quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) active ingredients, are used to manage the disease. However, fungicide efficacy has been inconsistent. Inconsistencies may be due to low disease pressure, improper application timing, or fungicide resistance. The purpose of this research was to investigate the fungicide efficacy inconsistencies and to develop management tools to improve yield and maximize profitability. Our objectives were to 1) develop a molecular assay to quantify frequencies of the mutation conferring fungicide resistance in Virginia populations of C. sojina, 2) examine the effects of fungicide application timings, disease severity, and weather on soybean yield, and 3) develop a weather-based soybean foliar fungicide application decision aid for the Mid-Atlantic U.S. The C. sojina fungicide resistance mutation was widespread in Virginia, but overall frequencies were relatively low compared to findings from Midwest and Southern states. In fungicide timing experiments, beginning pod (R3) applications resulted in the most consistent yield benefits, and disease severity and yield loss increased as the number of weather-based disease favorable days prior to R3 increased. We used data from on-farm experiments in Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware to develop a weather-based disease favorable-days threshold that increased the probability that a fungicide application at R3 would have a yield benefit in soybean. The results of our research have led improved fungal disease management recommendations for soybean in the Mid-Atlantic that will maximize yields and profitability.

To combat climate change, governments have pledged to become more dependent on renewable electricity production. However, the intermittency of renewable power generation requires modern grid-scale energy storage systems, which are currently being explored with lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, this technology faces significant safety, social, and financial concerns. As an alternative chemistry, aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) show much promise for grid-scale energy storage with their safe, inexpensive design. Major bottlenecks of ZIB performance include their limited practical specific capacity, and low capacity retention. Organic cathodes, specifically the use of redox-active quinone molecules, are an upcoming contender for customizable and simple ZIB cathode design that can be optimized for good performance. However, these cathodes are often plagued by capacity fade caused by quinone dissolution and inactivation. Grafting these quinone molecules to the supporting conductive carbon substrate via covalent bonding had been previously explored in LIB and supercapacitor electrode design as an effective way to mitigate capacity fade. In this work, the development of aqueous ZIB cathodes with 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (PQ) molecules grafted to carbon black substrates was done via a facile in-situ generated diazonium salt reaction synthesis technique. Electrochemical and material analysis confirmed the presence of covalent grafting. This grafting modification was compared to the standard cathode design of adsorbing the quinones on carbon substrates like Ketjenblack (KB) and Vulcan Black (VB). Battery cycling tests were performed and the grafted PQ-KB cells achieved a discharge capacity of 99 mAh g-1 after 1000 charge-discharge cycles with accelerated testing at a charge/discharge rate of 200 mA g-1 and 10 mA g-1. These cells maintained 67% of their initial capacity compared to the 55% for the adsorbed PQ on KB cells. This approach highlights the promise of grafting organic material as a technique to support organic cathodes for next-generation ZIB design. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc) / Renewable electricity production is necessary to mitigate climate change but the production of electricity through many renewables like wind and solar can vary significantly on any given day. Lithium-ion batteries are being explored for storing electricity for use on the grid, but they have many downsides including being flammable and expensive. Zinc-ion batteries are non-flammable and cost-effective alternatives to lithium-ion batteries. They are currently not as widely used as lithium-ion batteries because of their poorer performance. However, for storing electricity for power grids, with the correct selection of materials to make the battery, zinc-ion batteries can perform well enough to compete with lithium-ion batteries. This work investigates a modification of a material used in zinc-ion batteries, that allows the battery to maintain a higher capacity after many charge and discharge cycles.

Target spot, caused by Corynespora cassiicola, is a common lower canopy disease of soybean in the southern United States. Given the recent resurgence of target spot and increasing reports of resistance to the quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicide class within C. cassiicola, a survey of C. cassiicola from the Mississippi soybean production system was initiated in 2019 to determine the nature of its resistance mechanisms. A total of 819 monoconidial isolates were collected from 228 geographic field locations in 75 Mississippi counties. The molecular mechanism of resistance was determined using a PCR-RFLP analysis by comparing nucleotide sequences in the cytochrome b gene. The percentage of isolates containing the G143A substitution increased from 71.3% in 2016 to 93.5% in 2021. In all, 85.8% of the C. cassiicola isolates carried the G143A substitution. The EC50 values of QoI-resistant and -sensitive isolates to azoxystrobin varied significantly with QoI-sensitive isolates exhibiting lower EC50 values than QoI-resistant isolates. Moreover, results of fitness evaluations indicated that QoI-resistant isolates are more competitive than QoI-sensitive isolates and there were no fitness costs associated with QoI resistance in C. cassiicola. Additionally, the sensitivity of six C. cassiicola isolates to eight fungicide active ingredients in four fungicide classes were evaluated. Results indicated that three succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors benzovindiflupyr, fluxapyroxad, and pydiflumetofen were the most effective in inhibiting mycelial growth regardless of isolate phenotype followed by the methyl benzimidazole carbamate thiophanate-methyl, two demethylation inhibitors (DMI) difenoconazole and flutriafol, the QoI pyraclostrobin, and the DMI prothioconazole. Furthermore, the efficacy of seven commercial fungicides on target spot was evaluated in the greenhouse and field. Pydiflumetofen + difenoconazole, fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin, and thiophanate-methyl delayed disease progress and protected soybean yield, which indicated their effectiveness in managing target spot. Pydiflumetofen + difenoconazole also significantly reduced defoliation. Notably, fungicides applied at R3 were more effective in reducing disease severity and defoliation than additional growth stage timings. The current study revealed a reduction in C. cassiicola sensitivity to QoI fungicides and a shift to QoI-resistant populations exhibiting fitness advantages. Our findings provide pertinent information for growers as to which fungicides should be recommended to manage target spot.

L'usage des pesticides au sein de l'Union européenne est de plus en plus réglementé, et les rodonticides actuellement disponibles sur le marché sont responsables de nombreuses intoxications secondaires chez les prédateurs des rongeurs. Il est donc crucial aujourd'hui de trouver une alternative plus écologique aux molécules commerciales. Les travaux de recherches décrits dans cette thèse s'inscrivent dans ce contexte et présentent la mise au point de nouvelles voies d'accès à des structures coumariniques et leurs études biologiques. La molécule anticoagulante ciblée se devait d'être active sur rats sensibles et résistants, et d'avoir une rémanence faible dans l'organisme. Les synthèses chimiques ont été menées conjointement avec les tests biologiques, conduisant l'ensemble des études de façon convergente vers la production d'un lead. Trois nouveaux outils moléculaires ont été mis au point et ont permis la synthèse et l'évaluation d'un grand nombre de candidats. Les deux premières en catalyse homogène, sous micro-onde, ont permis de réduire le temps réactionnel nécessaire à la synthèse de 4-hydroxycoumarine substituée sur le carbone 3. La troisième méthodologie conduit par une approche séquentielle aux mêmes types de composés à l'échelle du gramme. Cette dernière ouvre également la porte à de nombreuses possibilités réactionnelles permettant d'envisager plus de diversité. Toutes les molécules ont été évaluées in vitro, sur différentes souches d'enzymes VKORC1 et ont offert une meilleure compréhension des interactions enzyme/inhibiteur. Après cette première évaluation, des tests in vivo ont été conduits sur une sélection de composés, et ont apporté des informations cruciales sur les relations structure/activité in vivo et structure/rémanence. Le meilleur composé synthétisé à ce jour semble répondre parfaitement aux différentes contraintes liées au cahier des charges établi initialement qui se basait sur une approche singlefeeding. Une stratégie multifeeding est aujourd'hui envisagée afin de mieux correspondre à la réalité du terrain. Sur la base de celle-ci, le nombre de composés décrit dans ce manuscrit potentiellement utilisable en tant que rodonticide se retrouve largement augmenté / To reduce the ecological impact of pesticides in UE many new legislations were put in place, in other hand, most of secondary intoxications of rodent's predators are due to rodenticides available on the market. That why it’s crucial to find alternative rodenticide more eco-friendly. This work describes optimization of new coumarinics compounds synthesis and their biological studies. The new anticoagulant should be active on wild and mutant rat, and must have a low hepatic persistence in the rat body. Organic syntheses were driven with biological studies and have converged to discover the lead. Three different new molecular tools were optimized and have allowed the synthesis and the evaluation of a large number of candidates. The first two through homogeneous catalysis by using micro-waves have reduced the time needed for the alkylation of 4-hydroxycoumarin on the carbon 3. The third methodology allows the synthesis of same kind of compounds in large scale. This methodology opens news potentials reactions to add structural diversity. All the molecules were evaluated in vitro on different types of VKORC1 and have participated to a better understanding of the enzyme/inhibitor interactions. After this first evaluation, in vivo tests were performed on a selection of candidates, and have brought a crucial structural relationship between structure and in vivo persistence/activity. The best compound produced by now seems to answer at all specifications established linked to the single-feeding strategy. Multiple-feeding strategy is today planned to better correspond to the field reality. On the base of this one the number of candidates usable as rodenticides is increased

A ce jour, les anticoagulants commerciaux souffrent de deux inconvénients majeurs : leur rémanence avec, pour certains d’entre eux, une demi-vie hépatique proche des 300 jours causant des intoxications secondaires sur les prédateurs des rongeurs, ainsi que le développement de nombreuses mutations génétiques causé par l’utilisation intensive de ces composés, rendant inopérant l’utilisation de certains AVKs commerciaux. Face à ce constat, l’Union Européenne envisage d’interdire l’utilisation de tels composés. La mission prioritaire est donc de trouver un anticoagulant capable de gérer les populations de rongeurs sans affecter leurs prédateurs. Les recherches mises en avant par Adrien Montagut (Thèse 2011-2014) ont permis d’aboutir à une structure type d’anticoagulants, dérivés de la 4-hydroxycoumarine. Actuellement, AMR361 a été testé in vitro sur l’ensemble des mutations de VKORC1 et in vivo sur rats sauvages, et constitue le premier AVK développé qui répond à l’ensemble des caractéristiques du cahier des charges initial. La première partie de mon projet de thèse consistait à compléter l’étude biologique sur le noyau 4-hydroxycoumarine en amenant de la diversité fonctionnelle sur la position para du noyau aromatique. D’un point de vue biologique, l’allongement du bras espaceur sur la chaîne latérale par l’utilisation de fonctions telles que les amides ou amides inversés ou l’introduction d’un groupement diméthyle sur le pont méthylène ont été étudiés afin d’analyser les paramètres d’efficacité et de rémanence. Cependant, la plupart des composés synthétisés appartenant à la famille des 4-hydroxycoumarines font déjà l’objet d’un brevet déposé par l’entreprise Liphatech en 1999. L’étude de nouveaux noyaux, dont certains sont analogues à la 4-hydroxycoumarine, de même que la fonctionnalisation du noyau 4-hydroxycoumarine sur la partie aromatique, a permis l’accès à des structures plus diverses. Ces perspectives originales pour l’innovation ont été introduites pour contourner les brevets déjà existants. / To date, commercial anticoagulants suffer from two major inconveniences: their persistence causing secondary poisoning of rodent predators and the development of many genetic mutations caused by the intensive use of these compounds. As a result, the European Union plans to prohibit the use of such compounds. Consequently, the priority task is to find an anticoagulant that can control the rodent populations without affecting their predators. The research of Dr. Adrien Montagut (PhD, 2011-2014) have led to the structure type of an anticoagulant derived from 4-hydroxycoumarin. Currently, AMR361 was tested in vitro on all VKORC1 mutations and in vivo on wild rats. It is the first AVK developed that responds to all the characteristics of the initial specification. The first part of my PhD was to complete the biological study on 4-hydroxycoumarin core by bringing functional diversity on the para position of the aromatic ring. From a biological point of view, the lengthening of the spacer arm on the side chain by use of various functions or the introduction of a dimethyl group on the methylene bridge were studied in order to analyze the effectiveness and persistence parameters. However, most of the synthesized compounds belonging to the family of 4-hydroxycoumarins are already described in a patent filed by Liphatech company in 1999. The study of new cores which are similar to the 4-hydroxycoumarin or the functionalization of the aromatic part of the 4-hydroxycoumarin has provided access to more diverse structures. These original possibilities for innovation have been introduced to circumvent existing patents.

Ce travail est consacré à la recherche et au développement de nouvelles molécules à viséepharmacologique en série naphtoquinonique en utilisant des réactions par transfert monoélectroniquede type SRN1 et des cyclisations radicalaires oxydatives induites par l'acétate de manganèse(III). Lapremière partie décrit l’étude de la réactivité SRN1 de la 2-(chlorométhyl)-3-méthoxynaphtoquinoneavec divers anions nitronates conduisant à la formation de produits de C-alkylation avec de bonsrendements. Ces derniers ont fait l’objet d’une réaction de réduction-cyclisation permettant la synthèsede nouveaux dérivés benzo[g]indol-5(3H)-ones. Dans la seconde partie, une nouvelle réactiond’oxydation initiée par l’acétate de manganèse(III) a été développée sur la 2-hydroxy-3-méthylnaphtoquinone dans des conditions opératoires douces. En effet, la réactivité originale de la 2-hydroxy-3-méthylnaphtoquinone avec divers alcènes aromatiques en présence de Mn(OAc)3 et dedioxygène, a permis pour la première fois en série naphtoquinonique, l’obtention de nouveaux dérivésoriginaux dihydronaphto[2,3-c][1,2]dioxine-5,10(3H,10aH)-diones sous forme d’un mélange dediastéréoisomères à potentialités antipaludiques. Un mécanisme réactionnel original a été proposé pourla formation de ces produits. / This work is focused on the research and development of new pharmacologicalmolecules in naphthoquinonic series, synthesized by single electron transfer reaction SRN1 ormanganese(III) acetate catalyzed oxidative radical cyclization. The first part describes the SRN1reactivity of 2-(chloromethyl)-3-methoxynaphthoquinone with various nitronate anions leading to theC-alkylation products. The reduction-cyclization reaction of the latter derivatives allowed us to obtainnew benzo[g]indol-5(3H)-one derivatives. In the second part, a new reaction initiated by Mn(OAc)3 on2-hydroxy-3-methylnaphthoquinone was developed under mild conditions. Indeed, the original reaction of2-hydroxy-3-methylnaphthoquinone with various aromatic alkenes in presence of dioxygen led to newdihydronaphtho[2,3-c][1,2]dioxine-5,10(3H,10aH)-dione derivatives as a mixture of diastereoisomerswith antimalarial potential. An original mechanism was proposed in order to explain the formation ofthese products.