Green Insect Control: The Potential Impact of Plant Essential Oils

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 December 2024 | Viewed by 5438

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project (ChIP), School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Interests: plant essential oils; plant extracts; bioactive compounds; phytochemistry; isolation; synthesis; biological properties
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Guest Editor

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Guest Editor
School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine (SBVM), University of Camerino (UNICAM), Camerino, Italy
Interests: insects; essential oils; insecticides

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The search for innovative and safe bioinsecticides is continuously growing. Indeed, the risks associated with the use of conventional insecticides triggered interest in developing sustainable alternatives for insect control. In this context, plant essential oils (EOs) are gaining a substantial traction as potential novel bioinsecticides. These products have an established history of human use, mainly as fragrances or flavoring substances. Their range of application has recently expanded to phytopharmaceuticals as well as in foods and beverages. EOs have already demonstrated potential in the management of noxious insects. Moreover, they boast relative safety to human health and non-target organisms, low persistence in the environment, multiple modes of action, and often broad availability. EOs for insect control as well as the development of formulative tools for their correct application are still under investigation. This Special Issue of Plants will focus on the insecticidal properties of plant EOs, their extraction, chemical characterization, and safety. Furthermore, it will focus on the development of innovative formulative systems of EOs to be employed for insect control strategies, analyzing the real-world future applications of these plant-derived products.

Dr. Eleonora Spinozzi
Dr. Nickolas G. Kavallieratos
Dr. Paolo Rossi
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • essential oils (EOs)
  • bioinsecticides
  • insecticidal activity
  • formulations
  • safety

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 4605 KiB  
Article
Toxicity of Piper hispidinervum Essential Oil to Callosobruchus maculatus and Cowpea Bean Quality
by Maria Suely Siqueira Ferraz, Lêda Rita D’Antonino Faroni, Adalberto Hipólito de Sousa, Fernanda Fernandes Heleno, Marcus Vinicius de Assis Silva and Ernandes Rodrigues de Alencar
Plants 2024, 13(22), 3148; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13223148 - 9 Nov 2024
Viewed by 419
Abstract
Essential oils and their major compounds have been studied to protect stored grains, especially for the control of insects. In this context, this research aimed to investigate the fumigation and contact toxicities of the essential oil of Piper hispidinervum C. DC. (Piperaceae [...] Read more.
Essential oils and their major compounds have been studied to protect stored grains, especially for the control of insects. In this context, this research aimed to investigate the fumigation and contact toxicities of the essential oil of Piper hispidinervum C. DC. (Piperaceae) (sin. Piper hispidum Sw.) to Callosobruchus maculatus adult individuals and the effect on insect progeny. We also assessed the essential oil’s effect on stored-cowpea quality. The fumigation bioassay used essential oil at 14.3, 57.1, 100.0, 142.9, and 185.7 µL/L of air, whereas the contact bioassay tested concentrations of 60, 80, 100, 120, and 140 µL/kg. Insect mortality was appraised after four days (fumigation) or one day (contact). In turn, oviposition and emergence rates were evaluated after seven (fumigation) or fifty (contact) days of storage. Grain quality was also analyzed after 50 days of storage. Safrole was confirmed as the primary compound of the essential oil. P. hispidinervum essential oil proved its fumigant and contact toxicities to C. maculatus adult individuals. The concentrations lethal to 50 and 95% of the population were, respectively, 91.23 and 242.59 µL/L of air (fumigation) and 101.51 and 208.52 µL/kg of cowpeas (contact). In both application forms, C. maculatus oviposition and progeny rates declined with the increase in the essential oil concentration. Furthermore, cowpea bean quality was preserved even at sublethal doses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Insect Control: The Potential Impact of Plant Essential Oils)
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11 pages, 299 KiB  
Article
Insecticidal Activity of Some Major Essential Oil Components against Metopolophium dirhodum and Its Predators
by Roman Pavela and Matěj Novák
Plants 2024, 13(13), 1863; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13131863 - 5 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1201
Abstract
Essential oils (EOs) are plant metabolites with important insecticidal effects. Nevertheless, information on the efficacy of the major substances on aphids and their natural enemies is still missing. The objective of this paper is, therefore, to identify the efficacy of selected EO majority [...] Read more.
Essential oils (EOs) are plant metabolites with important insecticidal effects. Nevertheless, information on the efficacy of the major substances on aphids and their natural enemies is still missing. The objective of this paper is, therefore, to identify the efficacy of selected EO majority substances—β-citronellol, carvacrol, isoeugenol, and linalool, including their binary mixtures—on the mortality and fertility of the aphid Metopolophium dirhodum, an important cereal pest. The best efficacy was proven for the binary mixture of β-citronellol and linalool (1:1 ratio), for which the estimated LC50(90) is 0.56(1.58) mL L−1. This binary mixture applied in sublethal concentrations significantly reduced aphid fertility. It was found that the phenomenon can be attributed to β-citronellol, as the females treated with LC30 laid 45.9% fewer nymphs, on average, compared to the control. Although β-citronellol and linalool, including their 1:1 mixture, showed very good efficacy on aphid mortality, they were, on the other hand, very friendly to the larvae of Aphidoletes aphidimyza and Chrysoperla carnea, which are important aphid predators. Based on our results, the newly discovered synergically acting binary mixture β-citronellol/linalool can be recommended as an efficient substance suitable for the further development of botanical insecticides used against aphids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Insect Control: The Potential Impact of Plant Essential Oils)
15 pages, 2578 KiB  
Article
Contributions of γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Receptors for the Activities of Pectis brevipedunculata Essential Oil against Drosophila suzukii and Pollinator Bees
by Sabrina Helena da Cruz Araujo, Javier Guillermo Mantilla-Afanador, Thiago Svacina, Tarciza Fernandes Nascimento, Aldilene da Silva Lima, Marcos Bispo Pinheiro Camara, Luis Oswaldo Viteri Jumbo, Gil Rodrigues dos Santos, Cláudia Quintino da Rocha and Eugênio Eduardo de Oliveira
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1392; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101392 - 17 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1525
Abstract
The γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors play pivotal roles in the transmission of neuronal information in the nervous system of insects, which has led these proteins to be targeted by synthetic and natural products. Here, we assessed the insecticidal potential of the essential oil [...] Read more.
The γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors play pivotal roles in the transmission of neuronal information in the nervous system of insects, which has led these proteins to be targeted by synthetic and natural products. Here, we assessed the insecticidal potential of the essential oil of Pectis brevipedunculata (Gardner) Sch. Bip., a neotropical Asteraceae plant used in traditional medicine, for controlling Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) adults by feeding exposure. By using in silico approaches, we disentangle the contribution of GABA receptors and other potential neuronal targets (e.g., acetylcholinesterase, glutathione-S-transferases) in insects that may explain the essential oil differential activities against D. suzukii and two essential pollinator bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus and Partamona helleri Friese). Neral (26.7%) and geranial (33.9%) were the main essential oil components which killed D. suzukii with an estimated median lethal concentration (LC50) of 2.25 µL/mL. Both pollinator forager bee species, which would likely contact this compound in the field, were more tolerant to the essential oil and did not have their diet consumptions affected by the essential oil. Based on the molecular predictions for the three potential targets and the essential oil main components, a higher affinity of interaction with the GABA receptors of D. suzukii (geranial −6.2 kcal/mol; neral −5.8 kcal/mol) in relation to A. mellifera (geranial −5.2 kcal/mol; neral −4.9 kcal/mol) would contribute to explaining the difference in toxicities observed in the bioassays. Collectively, our findings indicated the involvement of GABA receptors in the potential of P. brevipedunculata essential oil as an alternative tool for controlling D. suzukii. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Insect Control: The Potential Impact of Plant Essential Oils)
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28 pages, 405 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Efficacy of Four Apiaceae Essential Oils against Nine Stored-Product Pests in Wheat Protection
by Nickolas G. Kavallieratos, Nikoleta Eleftheriadou, Maria C. Boukouvala, Anna Skourti, Constantin S. Filintas, Demeter Lorentha S. Gidari, Filippo Maggi, Paolo Rossi, Ettore Drenaggi, Mohammad Reza Morshedloo, Marta Ferrati and Eleonora Spinozzi
Plants 2024, 13(4), 533; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13040533 - 15 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1595
Abstract
The Apiaceae family, known for aromatic plants producing bioactive essential oils (EOs), holds significance across sectors, including agrochemicals. This study evaluated the insecticidal potential of four Apiaceae EOs from Crithmum maritimum L., Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague ex Turrill, Smyrnium olusatrum L., and Elwendia persica (Boiss.) [...] Read more.
The Apiaceae family, known for aromatic plants producing bioactive essential oils (EOs), holds significance across sectors, including agrochemicals. This study evaluated the insecticidal potential of four Apiaceae EOs from Crithmum maritimum L., Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague ex Turrill, Smyrnium olusatrum L., and Elwendia persica (Boiss.) Pimenov and Kljuykov against various significant storage pests (Sitophilus oryzae (L.), Trogoderma granarium Everts, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), T. confusum Jacquelin du Val, Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.), Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer), Acarus siro L., and Tenebrio molitor L.) on wheat. Insect mortality rates were monitored at intervals of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 days. Smyrnium olusatrum EO exhibited the highest efficacy, followed by T. ammi, C. maritimum, and E. persica EOs, although efficacy varied by species, developmental stage, and concentration. Notably, complete mortality occurred for several pests at 1000 ppm of S. olusatrum and T. ammi EOs. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis revealed key compounds in these EOs, including myrcene, germacrone, and curzerene in S. olusatrum EO, and thymol, γ-terpinene, and p-cymene in T. ammi EO. These findings emphasize their potential as botanical insecticides. Smyrnium olusatrum and T. ammi EOs emerge as promising eco-friendly pest management options due to their efficacy, highlighted compound composition, and availability of biomass from both wild and cultivated sources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Insect Control: The Potential Impact of Plant Essential Oils)
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