Nano-technology for Real-Time Control of the Red Palm …
331
average temperature of infested date palm increased slightly with an increase in
the infestation level with the highest being 32.80 °C. It is evident that temperature
differences between infested date palm on one side and healthy date palm and ambient
atmosphere on the other side could well provide a platform for identifying infested
trees.
Real-time analysis of a thermal image (TI) reveals if the tree is healthy if it needs
cutting or other remedial actions or has to be felled. A uniform surface temperature
distribution is present and the TI shows a uniform coloring if the tree is being healthy,
but if the color is not uniform, then decay/cavities may be present. 4–5 thermal
images are normally enough to understand the conditions of a whole tree. A quick
assessment normally requires 2–3 min, while an in-depth analysis (with detailed
visual shootings, a record of the tree characteristics and details, etc.) which is less
than 10 min. The used technique requires less time than any other technologically
advanced investigation system. The system has been used in all weather conditions,
by night and day, in the summer and winter, with temperatures ranging from +2 to
+35 °C.
3.2.3 Nano-minerals Technology for Controlling RPW Under Climate
Change
There have been several setbacks in controlling RPW using synthetic insecticides.
The conventional pesticides are costly and may result in: high mammalian toxicity,
high level of persistence in the environment, health hazards, toxic residues on food,
adverse effects on non-target organisms and pest resistance as well as a toxic effect
for the users [48]. Therefore, the feasibility of new and more safety biopesticides
like natural oils, pathogenic bacteria, pheromones, and nematode is needed. Many
investigations have been conducted on the antifeedant effects, growth inhibition and
abnormal development in RPW caused by using natural insecticides with little or
no negative impacts on the environment and not toxic to mammals [49, 50]. “One
solution would be to replace synthetic chemicals with compounds that occur naturally
in plants” [51]. Khalid et al. [1] used the powders of Argel (Solenostemma argel Del.
Hyne.), usher (Calotropis procera Ait.), and two desert plants to control the insect
pests. They found that there was an increase in the mortality of the insect as well as
the yield of date palm. The antifeedant activity of three essential oils extracted from
two plants of the Asteraceae family namely, Crofton weed, Eupatorium adenophorum
Spreng and Indian wormwood, Artemisia nilagirica was evaluated by Paraj et al. [52].
The essential oils were found to be effective against the weevil. Several workers [53,
54] had also reported the efficacy of neem extracts against the weevil.
Materials at the nanoscale behave differently than the same material at the bulk
scale. Nanoparticles are used due to their special properties stemming from their
surface area, shape, electronic, and optical behavior. “Their size is typically between
1 and 100 nm for at least two of their dimensions” [55]. Titanium dioxide or Titanium (IV) oxide (TiO 2 , CAS no. 13463-67-7) exists in nature in one of three crystalline forms, which are anatase (CAS no. 1317-70-0), rutile (CAS no. 1317-80-2),
331
average temperature of infested date palm increased slightly with an increase in
the infestation level with the highest being 32.80 °C. It is evident that temperature
differences between infested date palm on one side and healthy date palm and ambient
atmosphere on the other side could well provide a platform for identifying infested
trees.
Real-time analysis of a thermal image (TI) reveals if the tree is healthy if it needs
cutting or other remedial actions or has to be felled. A uniform surface temperature
distribution is present and the TI shows a uniform coloring if the tree is being healthy,
but if the color is not uniform, then decay/cavities may be present. 4–5 thermal
images are normally enough to understand the conditions of a whole tree. A quick
assessment normally requires 2–3 min, while an in-depth analysis (with detailed
visual shootings, a record of the tree characteristics and details, etc.) which is less
than 10 min. The used technique requires less time than any other technologically
advanced investigation system. The system has been used in all weather conditions,
by night and day, in the summer and winter, with temperatures ranging from +2 to
+35 °C.
3.2.3 Nano-minerals Technology for Controlling RPW Under Climate
Change
There have been several setbacks in controlling RPW using synthetic insecticides.
The conventional pesticides are costly and may result in: high mammalian toxicity,
high level of persistence in the environment, health hazards, toxic residues on food,
adverse effects on non-target organisms and pest resistance as well as a toxic effect
for the users [48]. Therefore, the feasibility of new and more safety biopesticides
like natural oils, pathogenic bacteria, pheromones, and nematode is needed. Many
investigations have been conducted on the antifeedant effects, growth inhibition and
abnormal development in RPW caused by using natural insecticides with little or
no negative impacts on the environment and not toxic to mammals [49, 50]. “One
solution would be to replace synthetic chemicals with compounds that occur naturally
in plants” [51]. Khalid et al. [1] used the powders of Argel (Solenostemma argel Del.
Hyne.), usher (Calotropis procera Ait.), and two desert plants to control the insect
pests. They found that there was an increase in the mortality of the insect as well as
the yield of date palm. The antifeedant activity of three essential oils extracted from
two plants of the Asteraceae family namely, Crofton weed, Eupatorium adenophorum
Spreng and Indian wormwood, Artemisia nilagirica was evaluated by Paraj et al. [52].
The essential oils were found to be effective against the weevil. Several workers [53,
54] had also reported the efficacy of neem extracts against the weevil.
Materials at the nanoscale behave differently than the same material at the bulk
scale. Nanoparticles are used due to their special properties stemming from their
surface area, shape, electronic, and optical behavior. “Their size is typically between
1 and 100 nm for at least two of their dimensions” [55]. Titanium dioxide or Titanium (IV) oxide (TiO 2 , CAS no. 13463-67-7) exists in nature in one of three crystalline forms, which are anatase (CAS no. 1317-70-0), rutile (CAS no. 1317-80-2),