Product Pest Management Research Articles

Plant‐Based Products as Control Agents of Stored Product Insect Pests: Prospects, Applications and Challenges

Stored product insect pests pose a significant threat to global food security and economic stability, as they cause substantial damage to stored grains and other food commodities. Traditional pest control methods often rely on chemical insecticides, which can have adverse effects on the environment, human health, and food safety. In light of these concerns, there is growing interest in exploring sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives for managing stored product insect pests. This abstract highlights the potential of plant-based products as a viable and environmentally friendly approach to control stored product insect pests. Plant-based products, such as botanical extracts and essential oils, are derived from various plant sources and have shown promise in repelling, deterring, and even killing insect pests. These products offer several advantages, including biodegradability, reduced chemical residues, and minimal harm to non-target organisms. This review summarizes recent research on the efficacy of plant-based products against a range of stored product insect pests, including but not limited to beetles, weevils, and moths. It discusses the mechanisms through which these products exert their pest control effects, such as disrupting insect behavior, affecting their reproduction, or inducing mortality. Moreover, the potential synergistic effects of combining plant-based products with other pest management strategies, like hermetic storage and modified atmospheres, are explored. In addition, this abstract examines the challenges and limitations associated with the use of plant-based products in pest management, including issues related to formulation, stability, and the need for further research to standardize application protocols. The economic feasibility and scalability of plant-based pest control methods are also considered. The findings presented in this abstract emphasize the importance of incorporating plant-based products into integrated pest management strategies for stored product insect pests. These products have the potential to contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to safeguarding global food reserves, while minimizing the risks associated with chemical pesticides. Further research and collaboration between the scientific community, agricultural industry, and policymakers are essential to harness the full potential of plant-based products in the fight against stored product insect pests.

Chapter 19. Biopesticides and Alternative Disease and Pest Management Products

Chapter 19 of the Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida

LABORATORY EVALUATION OF THE ADULTICIDAL AND NYMPHICIDAL ACTIVITY OF Aspergillus niger In Bemisia tabaci (HEMIPTERA: ALEYRODIDAE)

Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), is a widespread polyphagous insect pest and a dangerous vector for many viruses that cause plant diseases. Farmers urgently need safe pesticides to protect their crops and plants, making biopesticide a good alternative to chemicals. Biopesticides are part of an integrated pest management program and offer a safer, more natural alternative to chemical pesticides. Since biocides were introduced, several pest management products have been released, some of which dominate the market. The current laboratory study tested the biological agent Aspergillus niger at three concentrations (0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 con/ml) to manage and reduce Bemisia tabaci population density in greenhouses and field crops. Laboratory tests showed that the two isolates were highly virulent against Bemisia tabaci nymphs and adults. Mortality was significantly different from controls in relation to isolate concentrations and time. Culture filtrate concentration and duration affected nymph and adult mortality. The 100% concentrations of both An1 and An2 were superior to the remaining concentrations, giving mortality in nymphs of B.tabaci 48.88 and 45.55 for isolates (An1 and An2) respectively, 42.21 and 36.66 for isolates (An1 and An2) respectively in adults stage. Effect of duration on post treatment mortality, highest mortality in nymphs and adults occurred 9 days after treatment, 74.44 , 56.66% in nymph and 53.33, 45.55 in adults for isolates (An1and An2) respectively. Concerning the interaction between concentration and duration, as is clear from Tables (1) and (2), the mortality was highest at 1.00% concentration. After 9 days of treatment, the isolates (An1, An2) achieved mortality 86.66, 80.0 in nymphs and 73.33%, 63.33% in adults, respectively. These findings demonstrate A. niger's biopesticide potential.

SUSTAINABLE CONTROL OF CODLING MOTH, CYDIA POMONELLA L. IN SOME APPLE ORCHARDS OF BULGARIA

The codling moth (CM), Cydia pomonella L., is the key pest of pome fruits in Bulgaria. Reduction of pesticide use is an important consideration for human health as well as for conservation of biodiversity. Environmentally friendly methods such as semiochemicals are among the most promising. These trials were carried out during the years 2020 and 2021 in southeast Bulgaria to test the effectiveness of microencapsulated sprayable pheromones in apple orchards using CIDETRAK® CM MEC (pheromone) liquid formulations as well as the effectiveness of mating disruption (MD) using CIDETRAK® CMDA COMBO™ MESO™ -A dispensers at rate of 80 dispensers per ha. Monitoring of CM flights was implemented using pheromone or pheromone and kairomone lures with traps during the years of the study. The traps baited with standard PHEROCON® CM L2 lures were changed at 4-week intervals. We also used PHEROCON® CMDA COMBO™ - P + AA lures, which is a new product developed by Trécé Inc., USA for use in orchards with MD. The traps baited with PHEROCON® CM DA COMBO - P + AA lures were changed at 8-week intervals. The damage in the treatment plot increased slowly over time and even in late cultivars, fruit damage by CM was below the economical threshold from 0.1 to 0.2% in both years of the study. Comparatively, ten insecticide treatments were applied to the reference orchard located in the region during the season, targeting CM and other pests. Correspondingly, fruit damage at harvest in the reference orchard by CM was from 2.2 to 2.5%. The significance of differences in the damage rate between the trial and the reference orchard was estimated by Chi-square tests. These new products developed by Trécé Inc., USA can be used in organic farming and fits perfectly into any IPM system. The use of CIDETRAK® CM MEC and CIDETRAK® CMDA COMBO™ MESO™ - A dispensers will help growers to decrease the number of chemical treatments in the field. Introduction of these products for pest management should result in reduction of the use of conventional chemical insecticide treatments, thus resulting in less environmental pollution and improved food quality.

Risk assessment of RNAi-based pesticides to non-target organisms: Evaluating the effects of sequence similarity in the parasitoid wasp Telenomus podisi

RNA interference (RNAi)-based pesticides are promising novel pest management products that might reduce environmental impacts compared to other pesticides. Their sequence-guided mode of action facilitates a high species-selectivity, preventing harm on non-target organisms. However, there is currently no consensus on the minimum needed sequence similarity for efficient RNAi in insects and studies have shown that adverse effects in non-targets cannot always be ruled out a priori. This study investigates the effects of exposing the parasitoid wasp Telenomus podisi to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) which is lethal to its host, the Neotropical brown stink bug Euschistus heros. Feeding T. podisi with wasp-specific dsRNA targeting the vATPase A and actin-2 genes led to 76.4 ± 9.9% and 76.7 ± 8.8% mortality respectively, demonstrating that dietary RNAi is functional in T. podisi. When feeding T. podisi with E. heros-specific dsRNA targeting the same genes, no lethal or sublethal effects were observed. To link sequence similarity to potential gene silencing effects in the parasitoids, the expression of genes showing the highest degree of similarity (17–21 nucleotide matches) with these two target genes was monitored and was found unaffected by the E. heros-specific dsRNA. Our study confirms that RNAi was in this case highly specific and that for E. heros, RNAi-based pesticides can be used complementary to biological control in an integrated pest management context.

Non-food renewable and bioactive forest products for pest management: Valuation of agricultural properties of podophyllotoxin analogs derived from Podophyllum hexandrum as botanical pesticides

Due to appearance of pests resistance and negative effects on ecological environment, it is high desirable to explore candidate pesticides from non-food bioactive products. Here a series of succinic acid derivatives of podophyllotoxin derived from the renewable Sinopodophyllum hexandrum, were semisynthesized for pest management. The spatial configurations of three derivatives were determined by X-ray crystallography. Compounds IIIc and IIId (> 2-fold of podophyllotoxin) exhibited the most pronounced insecticidal activity. Compounds 5, IIIa and IIIb displayed > 11-fold promising acaricidal activity of podophyllotoxin. Especially compound IIIb showed the pronounced insecticidal and acaricidal activities. It will pave the way for further structural modifications and application of podophyllotoxins as potentially renewable botanical pesticidal agents in crop protection.

Impact of a synthetic fungicide (fosetyl-Al and propamocarb-hydrochloride) and a biopesticide (Clonostachys rosea) on soil bacterial, fungal, and protist communities

The use of synthetic pesticides in agriculture is increasingly debated. However, few studies have compared the impact of synthetic pesticides and alternative biopesticides on non-target soil microorganisms playing a central role in soil functioning.We conducted a mesocosm experiment and used high-throughput amplicon sequencing to test the impact of a fungal biopesticide and a synthetic fungicide on the diversity, the taxonomic and functional compositions, and co-occurrence patterns of soil bacterial, fungal and protist communities.Neither the synthetic pesticide nor the biopesticide had a significant effect on microbial α-diversity. However, both types of pesticides decreased the complexity of the soil microbial network. The two pesticides had contrasting impacts on the composition of microbial communities and the identity of key taxa as revealed by microbial network analyses. The biopesticide impacted keystone taxa that structured the soil microbial network. The synthetic pesticide modified biotic interactions favouring taxa that are less efficient at degrading organic compounds. This suggests that the biopesticides and the synthetic pesticide have different impact on soil functioning.Altogether, our study shows that pest management products may have functionally significant impacts on the soil microbiome even if microbial α-diversity is unaffected. It also illustrates the potential of high-throughput sequencing analyses to improve the ecotoxicological risk assessment of pesticides on non-target soil microorganisms.

Rethinking biorational insecticides for pest management: unintended effects and consequences.

Biorational insecticides are composed of natural products, including animals, plants, microbes, and minerals, or are their derivates. The use of biorational products for the management of insect pests has grown intensively in recent years, which has increased their popularity and share on the insecticide global market. Much of these recent increases in the use of biorational insecticides has been derived from the generalized perception that conventional insecticides have undesirable ecological and human health impacts. However, the idea of simply replacing synthetic compounds with biorational insecticides without considering their potential unintended effects can mislead their use and reduce the market life of such pest management tools. A systematic literature survey encompassing over 15 000 scientific manuscripts published between 1945 and 2019 reinforces the bias of focusing on studying the targeted effects while overlooking the potential detrimental effects of biorational products on human health and the environment (e.g. death and negative sublethal effects on pollinators and beneficial arthropods such as parasitoids and predators). Thus, the risks associated with biorational compounds (e.g. control failures, the evolution of resistance, shift in dominance, and outbreaks of secondary or primary pests) need to be revisited and the outcomes of such inquiry could be decisive for their future use in pest management programs. The shortcomings of regulatory processes, knowledge gaps, and the outlook for the use of the biorational products in pest management are discussed. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Evaluation of repellent and insecticidal properties of a novel granite dust product in crop protection

Inert rock dusts, such as diatomaceous earth, represent effective products for insect pest management. We investigated the properties of a novel granite dust product in different formulations as a repellent and insecticidal agent against two important horticultural crop pests (Plutella xylostella and Trichoplusia ni). Foliar application of granite dust (dry and in aqueous solution) reduced larval feeding damage of P. xylostella and T. ni on cabbage leaves. In the case of P. xylostella, aqueous formulation of granite dust with surfactant had a significant insecticidal effect on larvae. In oviposition bioassays, adult P. xylostella female insects oviposited significantly fewer eggs on cabbage leaves treated with granite dust than on control leaves. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, the potential use of granite dust as a pest management treatment providing repellent and insecticidal activities exceeding other mineral and dust-based pest management products.

Pesticidal plants in Africa: A global vision of new biological control products from local uses

Botanical insecticides provide a multitude of chemistries for the development of new pest management products. Despite relatively low rates of expansion of botanically based pesticides, regulatory changes in many parts of the world are driving a renaissance for the development of new natural pest control products that are safer for human health and the environment. Africa is arguably the continent with the most to gain from developing natural plant-based pesticides. Hundreds of indigenous and exotic species with pesticidal properties have been reported from Africa through various farmer surveys and subsequent research, many of which have been confirmed to be active against a range of arthropod pests. On-farm use of pesticidal plants, particularly among resource-poor small-holder farmers, is widespread and familiar to many African farmers. Until recently, the pyrethrum industry was dominated by East African production through small holder farmers, showing that non-food cash crop production of pesticidal plants is a realistic prospect in Africa when appropriate entrepreneurial investment and regulatory frameworks are established. This paper reviews the current status of research and commercialisation of pesticidal plant materials or botanically active substances that are used to control pests in Africa and establishes where major gaps lie and formulates a strategy for taking research forward.

Documenting Trends in Pest Management Practices on US Golf Courses

Core Ideas Pest management practices on golf course turf have changed since an initial survey was conducted in 2007. There is increased reliance on nonpesticide approaches to pest control. Pest management decision‐making is most influenced by information obtained from personal interactions, followed by websites and print publications. Since the initial 2007 survey on pest management practices at US golf courses, superintendents have reported increased reliance on nonpesticide approaches to pest control, including cultural practices (+66% increase), plant growth regulators (+44%), and biological control (+25%). Reliance on conventional pest control chemistries has increased slightly for fungicides (+4%) and herbicides (+2%), and has decreased slightly for insecticides (−4%) and, more dramatically, for nematicides (−15%). Pest management decision‐making is most influenced by information obtained from personal interactions (98% of respondents), followed by websites (87%) and print publications (79%). Superintendents reported relatively low impact of regulations on pest management programs in both 2007 and 2015, with even less impact reported in 2015 than in 2007. The most frequently cited local government regulations were for record keeping, storage, and pesticide posting–notification. Development of written pest management plans was largely a voluntary effort, with <15% initiated due to regulatory requirements. Since 2007, participation in costly projects such as development of written pesticide plans, improved pesticide storage facilities, and improved mixing–loading stations has decreased. Further improvements in pest management efficacy and safety will rely on greater investment by: (i) golf courses in staff education, as well as safety‐related facility improvements; (ii) universities and superintendent associations in research, outreach, and education on new pest management strategies; and (iii) companies in continued development of new, environmentally compatible, and efficacious pest management products.

Pheromone-Based Pest Management in China: Past, Present, and Future Prospects.

Semiochemical-based pest management technology has been widely used to monitor and control insect pests in agricultural, forestry, and public health sectors in the western world. It became a popular tool in the early 1970s with tremendous efforts in developing environment-friendly control technologies for the integrated pest management. However, in China, similar research lagged 15 to 20years and was not initiated until the late 1980s. In this review, we present the early history of pheromone research that has led to the current practical applications in China, particularly in the development of pheromone-based pest management products. We also provide information regarding the current status of pheromone-based product manufacturing, marketing, and regulatory issues related to local semiochemical industries, which may be useful to other international companies interested in pursuing business in China. In addition, we share some research topics that represent new directions of the present pheromone research to explore novel tools for advancing semiochemical-based pest management in China.

Introducing DuPont Exirel™ and Verimark™ new insect control products for pest management and optimizing yield in Florida citrus

DuPont™ Exirel™ and Verimark™ insect control contain DuPont™ Cyazypyr™ insecticide, the second active ingredient from the anthranilic diamide class of chemistry, and the first to control a cross-spectrum of insect pests including Lepidoptera, Dipteran leafminers, fruit flies, beetles, whiteflies, thrips, aphids, leafhoppers, psyllids and weevils, while conserving key predators and parasitoids.  Exirel™ and Verimark™ deliver a novel mode of action that impacts insect behavior by impairing muscle function.  Intoxicated insects stop feeding rapidly, resulting in excellent plant protection.  Exirel™ is designed for foliar applications to optimize leaf penetration and spray coverage.  Exirel™ applied at the major flush periods provides excellent protection against Asian citrus psyllid adult and nymphs and citrus leafminer for extended periods, generally 3-4 weeks.

Agrochemical Applications for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

The vast majority of pharmacognosy research is focused on drug discovery for human ailments. However, the discovery of new plant and animal protectants that have low mammalian and environmental toxicity are needed Worldwide. The availability biopesticides to protect humans and animals against insects and insect vectored diseases has come to the forefront following natural disasters such as tsunamis, tropical cyclones, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. Research emphasis at the US Department of Agriculture's Natural Product Utilization Research Group has been on the discovery and development of alternative approaches to utilizing natural plant products for pest management. Discovery and evaluation of natural product based biopesticides is largely dependent upon the availability of suitable miniaturized antifungal and insect bioassays and is a primary facilitator in coordinating the testing of limited source materials. Through research collaborations within the Agricultural Research Service we evaluate natural compounds and their analogs as fungicides against a wide variety of fungal plant pathogens, insecticides for fruits and ornamentals, as adult mosquito deterrents and toxicants, mosquito larvalcides, tick deterrents, and new baits to control imported fire ants. This presentation will focus on a number of chemical compounds and essential oils derived from aromatic and medicinal plants that have application as novel plant and animal protectants. Through a 10 year long ongoing collaboration with Turkish scientists we have collectively published more than 17 peer reviewed journal articles on medicinal and aromatic plants as unique botanical sources for new agrochemical applications.

A survey of phytotoxic microbial and plant metabolites as potential natural products for pest management.

Phytotoxic microbial metabolites produced by certain phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria, and a group of phytotoxic plant metabolites including Amaryllidacea alkaloids and some derivatives of these compounds were evaluated for algicide, bactericide, insecticide, fungicide, and herbicide activities in order to discover natural compounds for potential use in the management and control of several important agricultural and household structural pests. Among the various compounds evaluated: i) ophiobolin A was found to be the most promising for potential use as a selective algicide; ii) ungeremine was discovered to be bactericidal against certain species of fish pathogenic bacteria; iii) cycasin caused significant mortality in termites; iv) cavoxin, ophiobolin A, and sphaeropsidin A were most active towards species of plant pathogenic fungi; and v) lycorine and some of its analogues (1-O-acetyllycorine and lycorine chlorohydrate) were highly phytotoxic in the herbicide bioassay. Our results further demonstrated that plants and microbes can provide a diverse and natural source of compounds with potential use as pesticides.

Chemical composition and larvicidal activity of edible plant-derived essential oils against the pyrethroid-susceptible and -resistant strains of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Chemical composition and larvicidal activity of edible plant-derived essential oils against the pyrethroid-susceptible and -resistant strains of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Commercial opportunities for pesticides based on plant essential oils in agriculture, industry and consumer products

In spite of intensive research on plant natural products and insect-plant chemical interactions over the past three decades, only two new types of botanical insecticides have been commercialized with any success in the past 15 years, those based on neem seed extracts (azadirachtin), and those based on plant essential oils. Certain plant essential oils, obtained through steam distillation and rich in mono- and sesquiterpenes and related phenols, are widely used in the flavouring and fragrance industries and in aromatherapy. Some aromatic plants have traditionally been used for stored product protection, but the potential for development of pesticides from plant essential oils for use in a wide range of pest management applications has only recently been realized. Many plant essential oils and their major terpenoid constituents are neurotoxic to insects and mites and behaviourally active at sublethal concentrations. Most plant essential oils are complex mixtures. In our laboratory we have demonstrated that individual constituents of oils rarely account for a major share of the respective oil’s toxicity. Further, our results suggest synergy among constituents, including among those that appear non-toxic in isolation. Repellent effects may be particularly useful in applications against public health and domestic pests, but may be useful in specific agricultural applications as well. In all of these applications, there is a premium on human and animal safety that takes priority over absolute efficacy. In agriculture, the main market niche for essential oil-based pesticides is in organic food production, at least in developed countries, where there are fewer competing pest management products. There is also scope for mixing these oils with conventional insecticides and for enhancing their efficacy with natural synergists. Some examples of field efficacy against agricultural pests are discussed.

Research to realisation: the challenging path for novel pest management products in Australia

In this Overview, we explore the linkages between basic research and the commercial development of novel pest management products in Australia. Despite the large volume of research in fundamental and applied aspects of entomology, very few new pest management products are developed and commercialised in Australia. Reasons for this include demanding and expensive regulatory requirements which (as in many other countries) mean that commercial development is the province of large multinational agrochemical companies. We describe the Australian regulatory system and the opportunities and difficulties it can present, using examples from recently registered Australian products, Magnet® moth attractant and the MOOV® range of insect repellents. The science behind these products is described in a series of papers in this issue of Australian Journal of Entomology. We also explore some of the commercial imperatives in novel product development, and aspects of the interactions between researchers and commercial partners. Finally, we discuss potential advantages of Australia as a locale for commercial development of novel products.

Improving spray retention to enhance the efficacy of foliar-applied disease- and pest-management products in field and row crops

The deposition and retention of foliar-applied plant disease-management products and other pesticides in relation to spray application parameters have rarely been characterized. Most of the research in this area has been conducted on herbicides; however, extrapolation from herbicides to other pesticides, whose activity is generally more site specific, is not always possible. Complex interactions among spray parameters, product formulation, and the morphology and architecture of the target plant can affect distribution, retention, and efficacy of foliar-applied products. This review describes the factors that affect retention and performance of disease-management products on field and horticultural crops, with special emphasis on plant tissues with a vertical orientation (e.g., petioles of celery, Apium graveolens var. dulce, and heads of wheat, Triticum aestivum). Disease development on these vertical tissues can have a major impact on yield and quality (e.g., fusarium head blight on cereals), but spray coverage and retention are often too low to reduce infection success. Because of the complex interactions among spray parameters, product, and host, the optimum management strategy for a particular host-pathogen combination may be specific to that combination or even to a specific pesticide. More research in this area is required before generalizations will be possible. However, we conclude that the efficacy of foliar-applied disease-management products and other pesticides can be enhanced by optimizing spray application parameters-particularly nozzle orientation and droplet size. Key words: spray application, spray retention, spray coverage, nozzle design, nozzle performance, fungicides, insecticides, yield, quality, diseases, insect pests. Les paramètres relatifs à la pulvérisation et à la rétention de produits de lutte contre les maladies des plantes et d'autres pesticides ont rarement été définis. Dans ce domaine, la recherche a été principalement appliquée aux herbicides. Toutefois, en ce qui a trait aux autres pesticides, dont les principes actifs demandent habituellement plus de précision quant à l'application, il n'est pas toujours possible d'extrapoler le mode d'emploi des herbicides. Les interactions complexes entre les paramètres de pulvérisation, la formulation du produit ainsi que la morphologie et l'architecture de la plante cible peuvent influencer la distribution, la rétention et l'efficacité des pesticides foliaires. Ce compte rendu décrit les facteurs qui influencent la rétention et le comportement des produits destinés à la lutte contre les maladies des grandes cultures et des cultures horticoles, en portant une attention particulière aux tissus de la plante orientés verticalement (p. ex., pétioles de céleri, Apium graveolens var. dulce, et épis de blé, Triticum aestivum). Le développement de maladies sur ces tissus verticaux peut avoir de sérieuses répercussions sur le rendement et la qualité (p. ex., brûlure de l'épi causée par le fusarium chez les céréales). Malheureusement, les taux d'application et de rétention sont parfois trop faibles pour réduire la progression de l'infection. Étant donné les interactions complexes qui influencent les paramètres de pulvérisation, le produit et l'hôte, l'approche thérapeutique optimale quant à une combinaison hôte-pathogène précise peut être spécifique de cette combinaison, voire d'un pesticide particulier. Il faudra faire davantage de recherche dans ce domaine avant d'être en mesure d'énoncer une règle générale. Toutefois, nous déduisons que l'efficacité de la pulvérisation des produits de lutte contre les maladies foliaires et les organismes nuisibles peut être améliorée en optimisant les paramètres de pulvérisation, notamment l'orientation de buses et la grosseur des gouttelettes. Mots-clés : pulvérisation, rétention, couverture, conception des buses, débit des buses, fongicides, insecticides, rendement, qualité, maladies, insectes nuisibles.

Development of a Miniaturized 24-well Strawberry Leaf Disk Bioassay for Evaluating Natural Fungicides

There is great incentive to discover biologically active natural products from higher plants that are more effective than synthetic agrochemicals and are environmentally safe. Research emphasis at the US Department of Agriculture has therefore been on the development of alternative approaches to utilizing natural plant products in pest management. Discovery and evaluation of natural product fungicides is largely dependent upon the availability of miniaturized antifungal bioassays. We report on the development of a miniaturized 24-well leaf disk assay for evaluating plant extracts and pure compounds. Compounds applied directly to the leaf surface can be evaluated in a dose-response for fungicidal activity and phytotoxicity. The assay is sensitive to microgram quantities, can determine chemical sensitivity between fungal isolates, and adaptable to complex mixtures, lipophilic extracts, and non-polar compounds. The use of digital imaging and analytical software provided quantitative data and the ability to fine tune the data analysis. Identification of new potential lead compounds can be repeated quickly in time and real on-the-leaf-surface activity can be evaluated in high throughput formats and published in a reasonable time.