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Essential Oil-Based Nano-Biopesticides: Formulation and Bioactivity against the Confused Flour Beetle Tribolium confusum

Author

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  • Davide Palermo

    (Department of Agriculture, University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy)

  • Giulia Giunti

    (Department of Agriculture, University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy)

  • Francesca Laudani

    (Department of Agriculture, University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy)

  • Vincenzo Palmeri

    (Department of Agriculture, University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy)

  • Orlando Campolo

    (Department of Agriculture, University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy)

Abstract

Post-harvest pest control can rely on few approved pesticides and tools; hence, there is a rising interest in new sustainable, eco-friendly approaches. In this study, eight commercial essential oils (EOs) (anise Pimpinella anisum , artemisia Artemisia vulgaris , fennel Foenicum vulgare , garlic Allium sativum , lavender Lavandula angustifolia , mint Mentha piperita , rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis , and sage Salvia officinalis ) were selected for their bioactivity and commercial availability, and then formulated in nano-emulsions. Repellency and acute toxicity of the developed nano-formulations were tested against a key stored product pest, Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). All the developed nano-emulsions presented optimal physical characteristics (droplet dimension = 95.01–144.30 nm; PDI = 0.146–0.248). All the formulations were repellent over time tested against adult beetles, in area preference bioassays. The best repellent was the anise EO-based formulation (RC 50 = 0.033 mg). Mortality values from cold aerosol trials showed that the majority of tested EOs caused immediate acute toxicity, and garlic EO nano-emulsion caused the highest mortality of T. confusum adults (LC 50 = 0.486 mg/L of air). EO-based nano-insecticides, used as cold aerosol and gel, are promising control methods against stored product pests, which can be integrated and combined with other sustainable biorational approaches.

Suggested Citation

  • Davide Palermo & Giulia Giunti & Francesca Laudani & Vincenzo Palmeri & Orlando Campolo, 2021. "Essential Oil-Based Nano-Biopesticides: Formulation and Bioactivity against the Confused Flour Beetle Tribolium confusum," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-13, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:17:p:9746-:d:625574
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Christos A. Damalas & Spyridon D. Koutroubas, 2018. "Current Status and Recent Developments in Biopesticide Use," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-6, January.
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