Pesticidal plant immunization

The plants absorb the pesticides and as a result they enter the food chain. Pests also become immune to them. Their gradual accumulation in the human body causes health problems. DDT and BHC have been banned in many countries for these reasons. 

In contrast, most of recently developed pesticides are systemicaUy active and therefore they penetrate the plant cuticle and move through the plant vascular system. Examples of systemic fungicides are benomyl and hexacona-zole. These systemic agents can not only protect a plant from attack but also inhibit or cure established infections. They are not affected by weathering and also confer immunity to all new plant growth. 

Compounds that are endocrine disrupters include natural animal hormones released into the environment, plant toxins or phytoestrogens, synthetic hormones present in sewage water and used for medical treatment (e.g., diethylstilbestrol), and several chemicals, including some pesticides and polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs). Endocrine disrupters enter the environment often as a by-product of many chemical and manufacturing processes and through waste disposal routes. Some evidence now suggests that effects of thyroid hormones and the immune system occur in addition to the disruptions of hormones that play a major part in the control of reproduction and development. 

The preparations are featured with combining probiotics and prebiotics (mannans and glucans on cell walls of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae), and phytobiotics of the medicinal plants - Echinacea purpurea and holy thistle. Echinacea has immunomodulatory properties. Echinacea preparations exhibit antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. When intaking the Echinacea preparations at metabolic disorders, at the impact of different chemical compounds of toxic nature, contained in the feed (heavy metals, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides), a stimulation of the immune system has been observed. 

Pesticides are chemicals or biological substances used to kill or control pests. They fall into three major classes insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. Others classes are rodenticides, nematicides, molluscicides, and acaricides. These chemicals can be natural compounds or synthetic ones. Pesticides may also be divided into contact and systemic pesticides. Pesticides that were earlier produced were of the contact type. They do not appreciably penetrate plant tissue, so they are susceptible to the effects of the weather and moreover new plant growth is not protected. Vice versa, most of the recently developed pesticides are systemically active. They move through the plant vascular system and thus they not only can protect a plant from attack but also inhibit or cure established infections. Systemic pesticides are not affected by weathering and also confer immunity to all new plant growth. In 1993, 57% of all the pesticides used in the United States were herbicides, while 23% and 12% were insecticides and fungicides, respectively [1]. 

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