Challenge of Utilization Vegetal Extracts as Natural Plant Protection Products

Abstract

Natural plant protection products (known as biopesticides), derived from natural materials (plants, bacterial strains, and certain minerals) that can be used to control pests, are an alternative to plant protection chemicals (known as pesticides) due to certain advantages: less toxic to humans and the environment, no release/leaching of harmful residues, and usually much specific to the target pests. This review focuses on the systematization of information highlighting the main advantages related to the natural plant protection products used, the extractive methods of obtaining them, their physical-chemical analysis methodology, the specific constituents responsible for their pesticide effects, the mechanisms of action, and methods for direct application on vegetable crops or on seeds stored in warehouses, in order to eliminate the adverse effects occurred in the case of plant protection chemicals use. Special attention has been accorded to natural plant protection products from the spontaneous flora of Moldova (Romania’s macroeconomic region NE), which can be considered a resource of valuable secondary metabolites, especially in the form of vegetable essential oils, with biological effects and biopesticide routes of action. All presented information concludes that biopesticides can successfully replace the chemical plant protection products on small farms and especially in silos (seeds and cereals).

Repellent Effect of the Pandanus (<em>Pandanus amaryllifolius</em> Roxb.) and Neem (<em>Az</em><em>adirachta indica</em>) Against Rice Weevil <em>Sitophilus oryzae</em> L. (Coleoptera, Curculionidae)

“…This is following previous research Das et al, [24]; Klys et al, [25]; Fernando and Karunatne [27]; Abtew et al, [35] which reported that the repellency of insects of insecticides can still have an effect on 1 until 24 hours after application and after that time the effect will not be too high on repellency. This phenomenon is since insecticides can evaporate over time, thereby reducing their repellency to target insects, which is in this case are S.oryzae [36][37].…”

Plant extracts - importance in sustainable agriculture

“…The application of PPPs gained immense popularity due to their economic, rapid, and effective increment of crop yields and to the decrement of losses from many pests, diseases, and weeds (Pogǎcean and Gavrilescu, 2009;Oruonye and Okrikata, 2010;Pavlis et al, 2010;Labite et al, 2011;Berk et al, 2016;Suteu et al, 2020). However, their widespread usage caused an adverse effect on the environment and led to its quality deterioration, the initiation and intensification of deep soil degradation processes, air contamination, insect losses, exposure of non-target organisms to mixtures of toxic residues, insect/pathogen/weed resistance, and chronic negative effects on human and animal health (Koul et al, 2008;Pogǎcean and Gavrilescu, 2009;Zanellato et al, 2009;Oruonye and Okrikata, 2010;Pavlis et al, 2010;Bajpai et al, 2011;Ibáñez and Blázquez, 2018;Hassauer and Roosen, 2020;Suteu et al, 2020;Zioga et al, 2020). Moreover, pesticides can be immobilised in soil and affect its organic matter and composition of the microbial community (Jouini et al, 2020).…”

“…Moreover, pesticides can be immobilised in soil and affect its organic matter and composition of the microbial community (Jouini et al, 2020). Another significant threat associated with the utilisation of this type of products is the contamination of food as well as groundwater, which safeness and quality are essential because it is widely used for domestic and agricultural purposes (Pavlis et al, 2010;Labite et al, 2011;Berk et al, 2016;Suciu et al, 2020;Suteu et al, 2020). The estimated annual usage of pesticides is 2.5 million tonnes while the damages caused by them reach $100 billion globally (Koul et al, 2008;Saroj et al, 2019).…”

“…They preserve the biological diversity of predators, reduce environmental pollution, and health risks (Jeyapandi and Shunmugavelu, 2020). They exhibit high efficacy against a wide range of pests and diseases, multiple action mechanisms, and low toxicity against non-target organisms (Suteu et al, 2020). It is been proven that the aromatic secondary metabolites (e.g., coumarins, flavones, flavonoids, flavonols, phenolic acids, phenols, tannins, and quinones), synthesised by plants, are highly active against pathogens (Gurjar et al, 2012;Jeyapandi and Shunmugavelu, 2020) which are responsible for the most of the plant diseases (Shuping and Eloff, 2017).…”

Allelopathic, Phytotoxic, and Insecticidal Effects of Thymus proximus Serg. Essential Oil and Its Major Constituents

“…Essential oils (EOs) are mixtures of plant-derived secondary metabolites that are extensively applied in food preservation and medical practices for thousands of years (Majewska et al, 2019 ; Suteu et al, 2020 ; Giunti et al, 2021 ). Many aromatic plants are known for their extraordinary ability to produce a large amount of EOs that can repel grazers, kill pests, or inhibit the growth of competing plants growing in the neighborhood (Willmer et al, 2009 ; Aungtikun et al, 2021 ; Han et al, 2021 ; Sousa et al, 2021 ).…”