Olive-growing and olive oil production are in the Mediterranean area particularly important. Every agricultural discipline has its own problems with pests and infections. In olive-growing is the main pest the olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae). Traditionally the farmers used an organophosphorus insecticide dimethoate. In this diploma thesis, the effects of dimethoate on the environment and on non-target organisms that are living in the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems are presented. Dimethoate affects the cholinergic nervous system, especially the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. It also affects the activity of different enzymes as carboxylase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase. Dimethoate affects growth, reproduction and cause even death. Because of these negative effects European commission banned dimethoate in 2019. There are other methods that can be used against the olive fruit fly. Some of them uses insecticides, even organophosphates, which are less harmful than dimethoate, but still toxic for non-target organisms. New methods need to be developed with minimal impact on the environment.
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