Use Of Synthetic Pesticides Research Articles

Pemanfaatan Limbah Organik Pada Budidaya Tanaman Sayuran Menuju Pertanian Yang Ramah Lingkungan di Kabupaten Polewali Mandar

The vegetable crop cultivation in Polewali Mandar Regency has a great opportunity due to the high market demand for vegetable products. Environmental issues are a global concern for the competitiveness of agricultural products. The quality of organic agriculture or environmentally friendly product has become a concern for consumers regarding food safety, health, and long-life habituation . The farming community in Galung Lombok village, Tinambung District, Polewali Mandar Regency depends highly on the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides. On the other hand, harvest waste, household waste and coconut water as a byproduct of coconut processing have not been utilised effectively. Thus, this community service program aimed to utilise household organic waste as organic fertiliser and utilise coconut water as plant growth hormone; as well as educate farmers in implementing environmentally-friendly agricultural businesses. The method used were counselling, training, discussion and demonstration to 25 farmers. The program was able to increase the motivation and knowledge of farmers to implement the cultivation of environmentally friendly vegetable crops by using organic fertilizer from household waste and ZPT from coconut water. The vegetable crop cultivation in Polewali Mandar Regency has a great opportunity due to the high market demand for vegetable products. Environmental issues are a global concern for the competitiveness of agricultural products. The quality of organic agriculture or environmentally friendly product has become a concern for consumers regarding food safety, health and long-life habituation . The farming community in Galung Lombok village, Tinambung District, Polewali Mandar Regency depends highly on the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides. On the other hand, harvest waste, household waste and coconut water as a byproduct of coconut processing have not been utilised effectively. Thus, this community service program aimed to utilise household organic waste as organic fertiliser and utilise coconut water as plant growth hormone; as well as educate farmers in implementing environmentally-friendly agricultural businesses. The method used were counselling, training, discussion and demonstration to 25 farmers. The program was able to increase the motivation and knowledge of farmers to implement the cultivation of environmentally friendly vegetable crops by using organic fertilizer from household waste and ZPT from coconut water.

Contrasting National Plant Protection Needs, Perceptions and Techno-Scientific Capabilities in the Asia-Pacific Region

Pests and pathogens inflict considerable losses in global agri-food production and regularly trigger the (indiscriminate) use of synthetic pesticides. In the Asia-Pacific, endemic and invasive organisms compromise crop yields, degrade farm profitability and cause undesirable social-environmental impacts. In this study, we systematically assess the thematic foci, coherence and inclusiveness of plant protection programs of 11 Asia-Pacific countries. Among 23 economically important diseases and 55 pests, survey respondents identified rice blast, rice brown planthopper, citrus greening disease, Tephritid fruit flies and fall armyworm as threats of regional allure. These organisms are thought to lower crop yields by 20–35% and cause management expenditures up to US$2,250 per hectare and year. Though decision-makers are familiar with integrated pest management (IPM), national programs are invariably skewed toward curative pesticide-intensive control. Pesticide reductions up to 50–100% are felt to be feasible and potentially can be attained through full-fledged IPM campaigns and amended policies. To rationalize farmers' pesticide use, decision criteria (e.g., economic thresholds) wait to be defined for multiple crop x pest systems and (participatory) training needs to be conducted e.g., on (pest, disease) symptom recognition or field-level scouting. Efforts are equally needed to amend stakeholder perceptions on ecologically based measures e.g., biological control. Given that several Asia–Pacific countries possess robust techno-scientific capacities in various IPM domains (e.g., taxonomy, molecular diagnostics, socioeconomics), they can take on an active role in regionally coordinated campaigns. As such, one can reinvigorate IPM and ensure that preventative, non-chemical pest management ultimately becomes the norm instead of the exception throughout the Asia–Pacific.

Jasmonic Acid-Treated Cotton Plant Leaves Impair Larvae Growth Performance, Activities of Detoxification Enzymes, and Insect Humoral Immunity of Cotton Bollworm.

Enhancement of plant defense by exogenous elicitors is a promising tool for integrated pest management strategy. In the present study, cotton plants were treated with different concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0mM) of the natural plant defense elicitor, jasmonic acid (JA), and defense-related indicators in the plants were then determined. The cotton bollworm larvae were fed with JA-treated cotton leaves and larvae performances were discussed in terms of larvae relative growth rate (RGR), larval duration, pupal mass, humoral immunity, and activities of a target enzyme, three detoxification enzymes and two metabolic enzymes. Research results showed that JA treatment increased the contents of gossypol and H2O2, and decreased that of the total soluble carbohydrates, and 0.1mM JA was more powerful in the induction of defense-related parameters. As a consequence, cotton bollworm larvae reared on JA-treated cotton leaves showed slower RGR, prolonged larvae duration, and decreased pupal mass. In addition, when larvae were fed with JA-treated cotton leaves, activities of phenoloxidae (an indicator of humoral immunity) and acetylcholinesterase (AchE, a target enzyme), alkaline phosphatases (ALP), acidic phosphatase (ACP), and three detoxification enzymes, carboxylesterase (CarE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and cytochrome P450 (P450), were all reduced compared to the control. Taken together, the results suggest that JA can be an alternative agent for pest management by delaying insect growth and inhibiting immune defense and detoxification capacity of the cotton bollworm, which may reduce the use of synthetic pesticides.

Commercially Important Pest Control Agents of Plant and Microbial Origin for The Management of Insect-Pests

The cultural practice was the only crop protection tool during the early days when agriculture came into existence followed by the use of natural pesticides, which included plant and mineral-based products. The earlier record showed that Sumerians used sulfur in 3000 BC while Greeks and Romans used ash, oil, and sulfur in 600BC as pest control agents. The first use of tobacco extract as a pest control product was recorded in the 1600s followed by the use of pyrethrum and other natural products for the protection of plants from pest and diseases. But after the discovery of synthetic pesticides in 1930 and onwards, many effective synthetic pesticides of organochlorine, organophosphate, carbamate, pyrethroid, and neonicotinoid groups dominated the market and the use of the cultural practices and natural products-based pest control agents declined. Now, the use of synthetic pesticides in agriculture is being discouraged due to their toxicity to non-target organisms, increasing pest resistance, undesirable environmental issues, persistence, and residues. The current regulations on synthetic pesticides are again driving the research and development on identification of alternative products, derived from plants and microbes which are effective, environmentally benign and safe to end-users. In fact, this situation is arising mainly due to misuse, over and unscientific uses of recommended pesticides, including spurious pesticides, however, without the use of synthetic pesticides, it will a challenge to feed the growing world population until effective biopesticides are made available to the end-users. Many organizations are refocusing to promote natural farming or organic agriculture in different parts of the world. Some of the natural extracts, oils, and molecules of plant origin and strobilurins, avermectins, spinosads, milbemycins from soil microbes including biocontrol agents identified as crop protection products are now available as effective substitutes to synthetic pesticides. The large-scale production of existing biopesticides and identification of newer biopesticides from microbial and plant resources need to be strengthened to support food security.

Supercritical Extraction of a Natural Pyrethrin-Rich Extract from Chrysanthemum Cinerariifolium Flowers to Be Impregnated into Polypropylene Films Intended for Agriculture Applications

The extensive use of synthetic pesticides and their addition to the field presents significant environmental problems that must be minimized. The use of natural insecticides and their addition using techniques that minimize their impact in the field are widely studied by the current scientific community. In this work an extraction method based on supercritical CO2 to obtain a pyrethrin-rich natural extract from different varieties of chrysanthemum flowers is analyzed. This extract would be used in a supercritical solvent impregnation (SSI) process to produce a commercial polypropylene (PP) film with insecticidal properties to be used in greenhouses. The extract selected for the impregnation process was that obtained from the Atlantis variety at 35 °C and 10 MPa pressure. The amount of insecticide impregnated into the polymer at 55 °C and under two different pressure levels (10 MPa and 40 MPa) have been determined. A batch impregnation method (BM) with 5 h constant impregnation time and low depressurization rates were used to favor the impregnation process. The results demonstrated that this procedure was suitable to produce pyrethrin-loaded PP films that could to be used in greenhouses as a protection against pests, while allowing a more rational and moderate use of other chemical pesticides.

Trunk injection delivery of dsRNA for RNAi-based pest control in apple trees.

BACKGROUNDRNA interference (RNAi) is a promising new approach for controlling insect pests without the use of synthetic pesticides. Trunk injection is a delivery system for woody plants that harnesses the vascular system of the tree to transport materials to the tree canopy. Full size apple trees were injected with double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA), and season‐long leaf samples were taken to measure the vascular mobility and temporal persistence of dsRNA, using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR).RESULTSThe qRT‐PCR results revealed that the quantities of dsRNA in the apple leaves of treated trees were significantly greater than those in the leaves of untreated trees for both 2019 and 2020 studies. The peak dsRNA concentration in 2019 was 242 pg/30 mg of leaf tissue, and in 2020 was 16.4 pg/30 mg. The persistence of dsRNA in the apple tree canopy in 2019 was at least 84 days, and in 2020 was at least 141 days.CONCLUSIONSThe highest mean measurement of dsRNA on a single date in 2019 was 242 pg, which is approximately equivalent to 8 ng/1 g leaf tissue. The projection using the highest replicate concentration from the same date is approximately equivalent to 27 ng/1 g leaf tissue, which may be sufficient to be considered biologically active. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Optimizing Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria to Improve the Relationship Between Above and Below Ground Biodiversity

Biodiversity plays a crucial role in ensuring environmental sustainability. Plantrhizosphere microbiome interactions are ecologically important because they can alter the biological, chemical, and physical properties of the soil, ultimately affecting plant productivity. To maintain soil function, bio-ameliorant technologies, new modern composting crop residues, and limited use of synthetic pesticides have all been used to boost microbial activity in the soil. Soil management biotechnology is the use of microbes to maintain soil function, resulting in increased plant productivity. It offers a novel way to deal with a wide range of issues that are currently unsolved by conventional technology. It is thought that an improved relationship between above and below ground biodiversity can contribute to the re-establishment of essential biological functions. The Indonesian Research Institute for Biotechnology and Bioindustry (IRIBB), PT Riset Perkebunan Nusantara, has been working on developing plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as a bio-ameliorant to improve the relationship between above and below ground biodiversity for sustainable management and increased plant productivity.
 Keywords: bio-ameliorant, biodiversity, biotechnology, rhizosphere, soil microbes

Weed Control in Organic Farming

Summary Over the past few years, both producers and consumers have become increasingly interested in organic farming because conventional agriculture relies so heavily on the use of synthetic pesticides, thus causing environmental pollution. Weeds, as inevitable "companions" of cultivated plants, represent a major, everlasting issue in plant production. As organic plant production is legally regulated, the control of undesirable plants such as weeds is further complicated. Using the relevant literature, the purpose of this study is to survey the existing weed control methods in organic crop production. In order to be certified, organic plants have to be grown in the farming system without the application of synthetic herbicides and other chemicals that are commonly used in conventional production. This means that crop growers have to apply non-chemical, alternative methods of weed suppression, i.e. weed control based on the combination of cropping practices, mechanical control, and the use of bioherbicides. There is a large number of plant extracts with bioherbicidal activity, the effect of which is mostly attributed to the biological phenomenon of allelopathy, rendering such weed control sustainable, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly. Although bioherbicides are successfully used in organic farming worldwide, there are no registered bioherbicides in Serbia to date (according to the data of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia). Both organic producers and experts should raise awareness of the importance of successful weed control to the health of cultivated plants, soil, beneficial organisms, and the entire ecosystem, which requires further research attention.

Chemical composition and bioactivities of thirteen non-host plant essential oils against Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

• Essential oils were isolated from 13 species of Chinese medicinal herbs and wild plants. • Five tested oils showed moderate to high bioactivities against DBM larvae. • The geranium and bishkatali oils exhibited remarkable toxicities to DBM larvae. • The basil oil revealed the highest antifeedant activity to DBM larvae. • The rue oil had strong inhibitory effects on the DBM larval growth. The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.), is a globally destructive pest of cruciferous vegetables. Excessive use of synthetic pesticides to control this species results in negative effects on the environment, human health, and nontargeted organisms. The essential oils (EOs) derived from plants may be developed as effective alternatives to conventional pesticides. In this study, thirteen EOs were extracted by hydrodistillation, respectively. Their chemical compositions were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Furthermore, the biological activities of EOs such as toxicity, antifeedant activity, and growth inhibition effect, toward DBM larvae were investigated. Against DBM second-instar larvae, the most toxic EO was Pelargonium graveolens (LC 50 = 0.36 μg/μl) after 72 hr of exposure, followed by Polygonum hydropiper (LC 50 = 0.53 μg/μl). The Ocimum basilicum EO exhibited the highest antifeedant effect to third-instar larvae at at all set concentrations. At 15 μg/μl, the EOs of Acorus calamus , O. basilicum , and P . graveolens completely inhibited the feeding activities of larvae (100%). The Ruta graveolens EO showed the lowest relative growth rate and the highest growth inhibition rate towards third-instar larvae at diverse concentrations. And the EOs of P. hydropiper , A. calamus , and O. basilicum showed promising growth inhibition activities. Overall, the five EOs ( P . graveolens , O. basilicum , R. graveolens , P. hydropiper , and A. calamus ) showed moderate to high bioactivity, whereas eight EOs were found to be less active against DBM larvae. These results indicate that the five tested EOs are promising to be developed as novel botanical insecticides to control DBM population.

Biopesticides in Organic Agriculture

Summary The central issuses in organic agricultural production are related to the plant protection sector. As the use of synthetic pesticides is not allowed in the organic system of agricultural production, biopesticides are considerd a natural, safe and environmentally friendly alternative. The purpose of this study is to identify the most important biological agents used as biopesticides in organic agriculture through a review of the relevant literature. Biopesticides are compounds made from microorganisms and various natural materials of plant and animal origin. Biological protection also includes the use of extracts of different plant species (such as essential oils) that have toxic effects on plant pathogens. This paper accounts for the most important types of biopesticides based on bacteria, fungi and viruses, which are licensed for use in the Republic of Serbia according to the Law on Organic Agriculture. Their mechanisms of action, possibilities of application and efficiency are described in the present study. The bacterium Bacillus subtilis is the most studied bacterial species used in biological protection, whereas the species Bacillus thuringiensis is predominantly used for the control of harmful insects. There is no doubt about the need for alternative protection systems in the future, which necessitates further scientific research. A sound application of biopesticides in combination with preventive protection measures would meet the requirements of safe agricultural production.

Trichoderma as a biostimulator and biocontrol agent against Fusarium in the production of cereal crops: Opportunities and possibilities

AbstractDespite technological advances in global agriculture in recent years, the problem of pathogenic fungi in the production of cereal crops continues to be an issue. Currently, the high variability of weather factors that are considered unusual for specific locations affect the growth and physiology of pathogens attacking cereal crops. One of the most common plant protection methods is the use of synthetic pesticides; however, there is growing controversy over this approach due to the build‐up of pesticides in the environment and the presence of their residues in food. The purpose of this literature review is to explore the current state of knowledge regarding the potential of using Trichoderma species as a biostimulator and for the biological protection of cereal crops against pathogenic fungi. Trichoderma fungi—through mycoparasitism, antibiosis and competition for space and nutrients—help to inhibit the growth of pathogens and have a positive impact on the growth of plants, including their root system, which is considered a desirable effect during drought episodes. It has also been demonstrated that Trichoderma fungi can convert Fusarium toxins into new metabolites that can be of lower toxicity. However, the highly limited number of in vivo studies investigating the use of these fungi for biocontrol in cereal crops remains an obstacle to the commercialization of Trichoderma fungi. It appears that the determination of their effectiveness in the biocontrol of cereal crops under variable weather and climate conditions presents a considerable challenge.

Quality Enhancement of Fruits and Vegetables through Organic Cultivation: A Review

Organic farming, which essentially excludes the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, is becoming popular worldwide. The covid-19 pandemic has positively impacted on the market due to growing awareness towards the healthy and nutritional diets. As a result, demand for organic fruits and vegetables has increased over the world. Organic fruits and vegetables are in higher demand than ever before, owing to lower production and rising global consumption. However, due to the high cost of production, organic fruit and vegetable supply is limited in comparison to demand. Several experiments were conducted for comparing the organic and conventional fruits and vegetables quality. The results obtained from the studies showed Vitamins like ascorbic acid and beta carotene, Total polyphenols, dry matter accumulation, fiber content and Total Soluble Solids were higher in organic fruits and vegetables than conventional farming. Other mineral nutrient contents like Ca, Mg, K, Cu, Fe, Zn, PO4, SO4 were found similar both in organic and conventional farm produce. Cooking of organic vegetables at high temperatures is not preferable because it shows higher polyphenols losses during cooking than conventional produces. Heavy metals contamination, pesticide residues, ammonium and nitrate contents were lower in organic produce than conventional crops. Organic foods are better for the environment and more nutritious. It can be concluded that organic crops have a lower amount of contaminants, but a higher quality compared to conventional crops.

Biopesticide Activity of Guayule Resin.

The extensive use of synthetic pesticides has created considerable concern for both human health and the environment, which has prompted the search for safer alternatives, such as the resin of guayule (Parthenium argentatum). Thus, in the present study, we aimed to test the biopesticide activity of crude guayule resin and three derived fractions and compare them to reference products that act against four of the most economically significant plant pests: Tetranychus urticae, Bemisia tabaci, Myzus persicae and Frankliniella occidentalis. None of the guayule products caused plant damage. The crude guayule resin and the hexane and ethyl acetate fractions displayed moderate to high contact mortality against T. urticae and B. tabaci, as well as moderate to high antifeedant activity against T. urticae, B. tabaci and M. persicae. No significant activity was observed against F. occidentalis. A correlation analysis of the activity and fraction composition revealed that guayulins C and D, isoargentatins A and B, argentatins A, B and D and an unknown compound C6 were likely responsible for the contact mortality. By contrast, the antifeedant activity appeared to be caused by guayulins A and B against T. urticae and B. tabaci and by guayulins C and D and argentatin B against M. persicae. The feeding reduction in F. occidentalis was associated with an unknown compound C2 and argentatin C. Therefore, guayule appears to be a promising novel biopesticide.

Evaluation of integrated pest management based techniques against insect pests associated with tomato at Uthal Balochistan, Pakistan

Insect pests are soft-bodied and tiny creatures with plant sap sucking habits that devastate various agricultural crops, fruit trees, ornamental plants and several vegetables. To control these insect pests four IPM techniques were used in tomato field with an aim to minimize the use of synthetic pesticides. Five colours of sticky traps (yellow, green, blue, black and red), Five different colours light trap (red, blue, yellow, green and white), three botanical insecticides (bitter Apple, tobacco, and neem seed extract) with 30% concentration and three synthetic insecticides (emmamectin benzoate, profenophos and bifenthrin) along with water as a control were used. A maximum pest population of jassid, whitefly, thrips, leaf minor, psyllid and flea beetle was observed on yellow sticky traps, while a minimum pest population of jassid, whitefly, thrips, leaf minor, psyllid and flea beetle was noticed on black and red sticky trap. However a highest pest population of fruit borer, psyllid, blister beetle, asparagus beetle, white fly, flea beetle and fruit fly was observed on white and yellow light colour as compared with others lights. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in jassid and earwings pest population on all given colure of lights. The minimum decreased population of white fly, Jassid, thrips and aphids was observed on all three inorganic pesticides as compared with all three organic pesticides and control group. Similarly pest populations reductions of white white fly, Jassid, thrips and aphid was found on all three organic pesticides neem seed, tobacco and bitter apple as compared to control group. We concluded that use of IPM techniques may be encouraged to suppress the insect pest population of tomato crop which could be ultimately positive for the environment

Farmers' Perceptions of Pesticide and Chemical Fertilizer use in Market Gardening in the Comoé River Watershed in Burkina Faso

Aims: Analyzing farmers' perceptions of the use of synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers in market gardening in the Comoé Province of Burkina Faso.
 Place and Duration of Study: The present study was carried out in the watershed of the Comoé River located in Burkina Faso in the western part of Africa. The study covered the period from March 12th to May 25th, 2019.
 Methodology: An individual survey of a sample of 204 market gardeners using synthetic chemicals? was conducted. It was supplemented by field observations. A survey form was designed and the questionnaire was integrated into an application (mWater) for data collection. The data collected was summarized by descriptive statistics.
 Results: Study showed that vegetable producers almost unanimously say it is necessary to use fertilizers and pesticides on their production sites. Some of the producers (18.87%) well? appreciate the use of fertilizers and synthetic pesticides on the sites. Nearly 94% also believe that the use of fertilizers improves soil fertility and helps to increase crop yields.
 As for the precautions taken by the gardeners while using synthetic pesticides, results of interviews showed that 96.57% of them do not use any protective equipment. In general, after treating their farms with synthetic pesticides, vegetable growers wash themselves at water points and clean their equipment in the field. Of all the producers interviewed, nearly 58% wash themselves at water points while 41% do so in the field. Furthermore, almost all the market gardeners (96%) refer to the nearest medical centre in case of symptoms related to the use of synthetic pesticides.
 Conclusion: with a view to the rational use of phytosanitary products and the safeguarding of the ecosystem, it is important to initiate and implement awareness campaigns among the gardeners.

Can Oecophylla smaragdina be used to suppress incidence of CVPD in citrus orchards in Indonesia?

AbstractCitrus vein phloem degeneration (CVPD) is the Indonesian name for the Asian form of the devastating and incurable citrus disease known internationally as huánglóngbìng. It is associated with a phloem-limited pathogen, ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas) and transmitted by the Asiatic citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri. ACP originated in South Asia but was first observed on citrus in 1900 in Java to where it may have been introduced decades earlier on lemon or lime seedlings brought from South Asia to reduce the incidence of scurvy among European sailors and in colonial settlements. CLas appears to have been introduced to the Pasar Minggu area of Jakarta in the 1940s from southern China, after it was introduced to Guangzhou, directly or indirectly, from South Asia in the late 1920s–early 1930s. Minimising incidence of the disease relies on planting pathogen-free trees, removal of infected trees, and unstainable use of synthetic pesticides that do not prevent spread of the disease. Parasitoids and predators of ACP are killed by the pesticides. Evidence from China and Việtnam suggests that effective management of the disease may be feasible if the weaver ant (semut rangrang), Oecophylla smaragdina, is deployed, cultivated, and managed in orchards.

Single-row exclusion nets: an alternative pest control method with no detectable impact on breeding bird assemblages in orchards bordered by hedgerows

Agricultural intensification has led to dramatic declines in bird populations. In particular, the acknowledged role of synthetic pesticides on direct bird intoxication or food resource depletion urges us to seek alternative crop protection methods. Pest exclusion netting systems have recently gained popularity among fruit growers as an efficient means of reducing pest attacks, allowing their transition to organic farming. Single-row exclusion nets, which only cover fruit trees and leave uncovered both the inter-row grassy strips and the hedges, are increasingly being used in apple orchards of Southern Europe. However, net-induced effects on wildlife remain unknown. This study is the first to assess the impacts of single-row exclusion nets on breeding bird communities. We hypothesized that the exclusion net effects would be weaker than those associated with synthetic pesticide use, except for bird species that forage in the tree canopy. We monitored breeding bird abundance, and species richness in 46 commercial apple orchards managed using integrated pest management (IPM) or organic standards with or without exclusion nets. We counted 705 birds belonging to 32 different species. Total bird abundance, the number of observed species, and the Chao1 estimate of species richness were influenced by orchard management strategy. Breeding bird assemblages in organic orchards were as numerous and diverse in both the presence and absence of exclusion nets. In contrast, both bird abundance and species richness were significantly decreased in IPM orchards. The abundance and species richness of bird assemblages and the abundance of a few individual species also increased with the number of hedgerows bordering the orchards. Our results demonstrate that single-row netting systems for organic farming represent an effective pest control strategy with no significant impact on bird communities and highlight the importance of hedgerows along the orchards’ edges.

Methyl Benzoate as a Promising, Environmentally Safe Insecticide: Current Status and Future Perspectives

The widespread use of synthetic chemical pesticides beginning in the late 1930s has contributed to the development of insecticide resistance of many important species of pest insects and plants. Recent trends in pesticide development have emphasized the use of more environmentally benign control methods that take into consideration environmental, food safety, and human health. Biopesticides (e.g., naturally occurring pesticidal compounds) are alternative pest management tools that normally have no negative impact on human health or the environment. Here we review methyl benzoate, a relatively new botanical insecticide that occurs naturally as a metabolite in plants, and whose odor is an attractant to some insects. Since 2016, many studies have shown that methyl benzoate is an effective pesticide against a range of different agricultural, stored product, and urban insect pests. Methyl benzoate has several important modes of action, including as a contact toxicant, a fumigant, an ovicidal toxin, an oviposition deterrent, a repellent, and an attractant. In this review, we summarize various modes of action of methyl benzoate and its toxicity or control potential against various kinds of arthropods, including agricultural pests and their natural enemies, and pollinators. We conclude that methyl benzoate is a very promising candidate for use in integrated pest management under either greenhouse or field conditions.

Pemberdayaan Masyarakat dalam Produksi Pestisida Organik Ramah Lingkungan

The use of synthetic pesticides in farming management has had a negative impact on the environment. In general, farmers still use synthetic pesticides, hence not environmentally friendly. Therefore, farming needs to be directed towards environmentally-friendly agricultural activities with the use of organic pesticides. However, the knowledge and skills of farmers in the production of organic pesticides are lacking. The aim of this program is to increase the knowledge and skills of farmer groups in producing organic pesticides. The implementation was applied in the form of training and demonstration of pesticide manufacture. The results of the activity showed that the knowledge and skills of farmers increased, and they were able to produce organic pesticides. The implication is that farmers can produce organic pesticides independently instead of using synthetic pesticides in farm management.

Perangkap Cahaya Sebagai Komponen Pengendalian Hama Terpadu Di Kelompok Wanita Tani Mawar Bodas Kota Tasikmalaya

The most common pest control carried out in the city of Tasikmalaya is by using synthetic pesticides. The concept of integrated pest control (IPM) in the community aims to suppress the use of synthetic pesticides. Application of IPM can be implemented by integrating various types of compatible controls based on economic, ecological, and social considerations. The use of light traps is one of IPM components that easy to implement to monitor the presence of insects in an agroecosystem. The use of this light-trapping technology received a positive response from partner communities, agricultural extension workers, and local governments. Based on the data collected during the implementation of this program, it is known that there is an increase in knowledge and skills and the use of light trapping technology in the partner community. There is an increase in knowledge related to terms and the use of light traps by 100%, an increase in knowledge about the time of applying light traps by 37.5%, an increase in respondents skills in assembling simple light traps by 100%, and the application of light trapping technology by partner communities by 88.9 %.