Controlling Stored Products’ Pests with Plant Secondary Metabolites: A Review

Polyxeni Nikolaou, Paweł Marciniak, Zbigniew Adamski and Nikoletta Ntalli
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Polyxeni Nikolaou: Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6., 61-614 Poznań, Poland
Paweł Marciniak: Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6., 61-614 Poznań, Poland
Zbigniew Adamski: Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6., 61-614 Poznań, Poland
Nikoletta Ntalli: Department of Pesticides Control and Phytopharmacy, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 14561 Athens, Greece

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 9, 1-36

Abstract: To date, only a handful of pesticides have been authorized by the European Council for the protection of stored grains. Resistance issues and ecotoxicity concerns necessitate the development of ecofriendly tools in that direction. In this review, we refer to the recent findings on plant extracts and pure plant-derived substances with promising biological activity and the potential to be used as biopesticides for stored products. The main aim of biopesticides is to be effective against target pests, without harming humans and the environment. Many plant species, among those reported herein, are part of the human diet, and are thus not harmful to humans. Edible plant extracts produced with inorganic solvents represent safe candidates for use as repellants, fumigants or contact pesticides. Cinnamon, rosemary, parsley, garlic, oregano and basil are found in products destined for human consumption but also display significant biological activities. Interestingly, cinnamon is one of the most widely tested botanical matrixes, exhibiting the best lethal effects on almost all insect and mite taxa reported herein (Acaroidea, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera), followed by basil and garlic. Prunus persica, Azadirachta indica A. Juss and Carum sp. seem to be very promising too as miticides and/or insecticides, with A. indica already being represented commercially by a plant-derived acaricidal formulation.

Keywords: biopesticides; plant extracts; stored grain pests; insects; mites; grains; commodities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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