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Integrated Pest Management—from Chemicals to Green Management
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Integrated Pest Management—from Chemicals to Green Management

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 4551

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Farman Ullah

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
Interests: plant protection; integrated pest management; genetic pest management; ecotoxicology; insect physiology and toxicology; stress-induced hormesis; invasion biology; molecular toxicology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xiaowei Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
Interests: agricultural entomology; pest management; chemical ecology; biological control; invasion biology
Prof. Dr. Yaobin Lu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MOA of China and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
2. Institute of Bio-Interaction, Xianghu Laboratory, Hangzhou 311258, China
Interests: plant protection; integrated pest management; ecotoxicology; insect physiology and toxicology; invasion biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Insect pests inflict significant damage to agricultural products intended for human consumption and animal feed worldwide. They have made remarkable biological and evolutionary adaptations to withstand different stress conditions. Chemical insecticides have been widely used for controlling insect pests and are still considered a major option in integrated pest management programs. However, indiscriminate chemical applications have promoted serious problems, such as resistance development, hormetic effects, non-target effects, environmental pollution, etc. Although novel insecticides with good efficiency against insect pests are still available, their continuous application may cause the same problems. Therefore, we believe that improving the overall and in-depth knowledge about chemical insecticide applications and green management options might be crucial to tackling these challenges.

This Special Issue, entitled "Integrated Pest Management—from Chemicals to Green Management", is open to all researchers, as we are aiming to collate articles that promote in-depth knowledge on specific subject areas. We welcome all types of submissions, including original research articles, reviews, mini reviews, perspectives, methodologies, and opinion articles, that present research covering (but not limited to) the following topics:

  1. Recent advances in integrated pest management.
  2. Insecticide resistance development and associated fitness costs in insect pests.
  3. The underlying resistance mechanisms of commonly used insecticides.
  4. Insecticide-induced sublethal or hormetic effects on insect pests.
  5. The transgenerational sublethal effects of insecticides and insights from biological and molecular perspectives.
  6. Advances in nanodelivery systems for pesticides to increase toxicity and selectivity for controlling insect pests.
  7. Genetic pest management.
  8. Recent advances in the nanocarrier-mediated RNAi of lethal genes to control insect pests.
  9. Non-target effects of chemical insecticides affecting the biological control services.

Dr. Farman Ullah
Dr. Xiaowei Li
Prof. Dr. Yaobin Lü
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • integrated pest management
  • the development of insecticide resistance
  • resistance mechanisms
  • ecotoxicology
  • sublethal or hormetic effects
  • molecular toxicology
  • transgenerational sublethal effects
  • genetic pest management
  • non-target effects of insecticides
  • biological control
  • RNAi-mediated insect pest control
  • green management

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 5215 KiB  
Article
Azadirachtin-Based Biopesticide Affects Fitness and Ovarian Development of the Natural Enemy Ceraeochrysa claveri (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)
by Bertha Gastelbondo-Pastrana, Marilucia Santorum, Elton Luiz Scudeler, Fábio Henrique Fernandes, Erasmo Manuel Alvis, Linda Chams-Chams and Daniela Carvalho dos Santos
Plants 2025, 14(3), 416; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14030416 - 31 Jan 2025
Viewed by 385
Abstract
Plant-derived biopesticides have gained attention in agriculture as a pest control method that minimizes the negative effects caused by conventional synthetic insecticides to natural enemies. Azamax™ is one of the most commercialized biopesticides in Brazil, but little is known about its effects on [...] Read more.
Plant-derived biopesticides have gained attention in agriculture as a pest control method that minimizes the negative effects caused by conventional synthetic insecticides to natural enemies. Azamax™ is one of the most commercialized biopesticides in Brazil, but little is known about its effects on non-target insects such as Ceraeochrysa claveri, a non-target insect that is economically important as a pest predator, used in this study. To evaluate the toxic effects of azadirachtin on fitness and ovarian development, a total of 450 C. claveri larvae were exposed by ingestion to subdoses (36 mg/L (0.3%) and 60 mg/L (0.5%) of azadirachtin for 15 days and after that, biological parameters and ovarian development were analyzed. The doses tested corresponded to the minimum and maximum concentrations used in the field. The results demonstrated that both tested doses of the biopesticide significantly reduced survival rates, delayed and extended larval and pupal development times, caused malformations in the body, altered the ultrastructure of adult ovaries, and induced cell death in ovarian follicles. Azamax™, a biopesticide marketed as a reduced-risk insecticide, was shown to have detrimental effects on the lifespan and ovarian development of C. claveri. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Pest Management—from Chemicals to Green Management)
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18 pages, 6919 KiB  
Article
Behavioral, Physiological, and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Adaptation of Helicoverpa armigera to the Fruits of a Marginal Host: Walnut (Juglans regia)
by Haiqiang Li, Xinzheng Huang, Long Yang, Haining Liu, Bing Liu and Yanhui Lu
Plants 2024, 13(19), 2761; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13192761 - 1 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1066
Abstract
In northwest China, changes in cultivation patterns and the scarcity of preferred hosts have forced Helicoverpa armigera to feed on the marginal host walnut (Juglans regia). However, the mechanisms allowing this adaptation remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the behavioral, physiological, [...] Read more.
In northwest China, changes in cultivation patterns and the scarcity of preferred hosts have forced Helicoverpa armigera to feed on the marginal host walnut (Juglans regia). However, the mechanisms allowing this adaptation remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the behavioral, physiological, and molecular mechanisms underlying the local adaptation of this pest to walnut fruits. The green husk and shell generally contained higher levels of phytochemicals than the kernel. Bioassays revealed that the phytochemical-rich green husk and shell were less preferred, reduced larval fitness and growth, and elevated the activity of detoxification enzymes compared to the nutrient-rich kernel, which were further supported by a larger number of upregulated detoxification genes in insects fed green husks or shells based on transcriptome sequencing. Together, these data suggest that P450 genes (LOC110371778) may be crucial to H. armigera adaptation to the phytochemicals of walnuts. Our findings provide significant insight into the adaptation of H. armigera to walnut, an alternative host of lower quality. Meanwhile, our study provides a theoretical basis for managing resistance to H. armigera larvae in walnut trees and is instrumental in developing comprehensive integrated pest management strategies for this pest in walnut orchards and other agricultural systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Pest Management—from Chemicals to Green Management)
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14 pages, 20250 KiB  
Article
Comparative Transcriptomics Revealed Physalis floridana Rydb. Influences on the Immune System of the 28-Spotted Ladybird Beetle (Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata)
by Xianzhong Wang, Liwen Guan, Tianwen Wang, Liuhe Yu, Shuangle Wang, Biner He, Bin Tang and Jiangjie Lu
Plants 2024, 13(19), 2711; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13192711 - 27 Sep 2024
Viewed by 724
Abstract
Physalis floridana Rydb., a member of the Solanaceae family, is renowned for its diverse secondary metabolites, including physalins and withanolides. The 28-spotted ladybird beetle (Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata) is a notorious pest severely damaging Solanaceous crops. This study demonstrates that P. floridana Rydb. [...] Read more.
Physalis floridana Rydb., a member of the Solanaceae family, is renowned for its diverse secondary metabolites, including physalins and withanolides. The 28-spotted ladybird beetle (Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata) is a notorious pest severely damaging Solanaceous crops. This study demonstrates that P. floridana Rydb. significantly impacts on the development and reproductive suppression of H. vigintioctopunctata. A comparative transcriptome analysis was performed by feeding H. vigintioctopunctata larvae on P. floridana Rydb., Solanum nigrum L., Solanum tuberosum L., and Solanum lycopersicum L. The results reveal that larvae fed on P. floridana Rydb. exhibit numerous differentially expressed genes, which are notably enriched in pathways related to energy metabolism, immunity, and detoxification. These functions and pathways are less enriched in larvae fed by other hosts. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) indicates that feeding on P. floridana Rydb. influences the expression of specific genes involved in the Toll and IMD signaling pathways, impacting the immune system of H. vigintioctopunctata larvae. This study provides transcriptomic insights into larval responses to different diets and suggests that the effect of P. floridana Rydb. on the immune system of H. vigintioctopunctata is a key defense mechanism against herbivores. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Pest Management—from Chemicals to Green Management)
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13 pages, 1870 KiB  
Article
Thiamethoxam-Induced Intergenerational Sublethal Effects on the Life History and Feeding Behavior of Rhopalosiphum padi
by Hina Gul, Ihsan ul Haq, Ali Güncan, Arzlan Abbas, Shanza Khan, Aqsa Yaseen, Farman Ullah, Nicolas Desneux and Xiaoxia Liu
Plants 2024, 13(6), 865; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13060865 - 17 Mar 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1235
Abstract
Thiamethoxam, a second-generation neonicotinoid insecticide is widely used for controlling sap-sucking insect pests including Rhopalosiphum padi. The current study aimed to investigate the life-history parameters and feeding behavior of R. padi following treatments with sublethal concentrations of thiamethoxam. The lethal concentration 50 [...] Read more.
Thiamethoxam, a second-generation neonicotinoid insecticide is widely used for controlling sap-sucking insect pests including Rhopalosiphum padi. The current study aimed to investigate the life-history parameters and feeding behavior of R. padi following treatments with sublethal concentrations of thiamethoxam. The lethal concentration 50 (LC50) value of thiamethoxam against adult R. padi was 11.458 mg L−1 after 48 h exposure. The sublethal concentrations of thiamethoxam (LC5 and LC10) significantly decreased the adult longevity, fecundity, and reproductive days in the directly exposed aphids (F0 generation). In the progeny R. padi (F1), the developmental durations and total prereproductive period (TPRP) were decreased while the adult longevity, fecundity, and reproductive days (RPd) were increased at both thiamethoxam concentrations. The demographic parameters including the net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and finite rate of increase (λ) were prolonged only at the LC5 of thiamethoxam. The EPG results indicated that the sublethal concentrations of thiamethoxam increases the total duration of non-probing (Np) while reducing the total duration of E2 in directly exposed aphids (F0). Interestingly, the E2 were significantly increased in the progeny generation (F1) descending from previously exposed parental aphids (F0). Overall, this study showed that thiamethoxam exhibited high toxicity against directly exposed individuals (F0), while inducing intergenerational hormetic effects on the progeny generation (F1) of R. padi. These findings provided crucial details about thiamethoxam-induced hormetic effects that might be useful in managing resurgences of this key pest. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Pest Management—from Chemicals to Green Management)
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Review

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21 pages, 1791 KiB  
Review
Floral Resource Integration: Enhancing Biocontrol of Tuta absoluta Within Sustainable IPM Frameworks
by Moazam Hyder, Inzamam Ul Haq, Muhammad Younas, Muhammad Adeel Ghafar, Muhammad Rehan Akhtar, Zubair Ahmed, Aslam Bukero and Youming Hou
Plants 2025, 14(3), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14030319 - 22 Jan 2025
Viewed by 476
Abstract
The tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta, is a pest threatening global tomato production. This pest’s adaptability and resistance to chemical insecticides have necessitated integrated pest management (IPM) strategies prioritizing sustainable alternatives. This review explores the role of biological control agents (BCAs) in [...] Read more.
The tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta, is a pest threatening global tomato production. This pest’s adaptability and resistance to chemical insecticides have necessitated integrated pest management (IPM) strategies prioritizing sustainable alternatives. This review explores the role of biological control agents (BCAs) in managing T. absoluta populations, emphasizing the integration of floral resources to enhance their efficacy. Predatory mirids such as Macrolophus pygmaeus and Nesidiocoris tenuis and parasitoids such as N. artynes and Trichogramma spp. are pivotal in pest suppression; however, their performance depends on nutritional and habitat support. Floral resources provide essential sugars and proteins, improving the longevity, fecundity, and predation efficiency of these BCAs. This review synthesizes case studies highlighting the benefits of selected flowering plants, such as Lobularia maritima and Fagopyrum esculentum, in supporting predator and parasitoid populations while minimizing advantages to T. absoluta. Mechanisms such as nectar quality, floral accessibility, and spatial–temporal resource availability are explored in detail. Additionally, the challenges of selective floral attraction, microbial impacts on nectar composition, and the unintended support of non-target organisms are discussed. This review proposes targeted floral management strategies to optimize BCA performance within IPM systems by integrating ecological and chemical insights. This approach offers a pathway toward reducing chemical pesticide reliance, fostering sustainable agriculture, and mitigating the economic impacts of T. absoluta infestations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Pest Management—from Chemicals to Green Management)
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