Application of Phytochemicals in Green Sustainable Agriculture

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 1107

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco 50670-901, Brazil
Interests: bioactive compounds; crop protection; antimicrobial activity; insecticidal activity
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Guest Editor
Departamento de Morfologia e Fisiologia Animal, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco 52171-100, Brazil
Interests: bioactive compounds; crop protection; antimicrobial activity; insecticidal activity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Reducing the use of agricultural pesticides that are toxic to the environment is urgent. Sustainable alternatives are needed for the control and/or management of insects and pest microorganisms. Biotechnology comprises the use of bioagents (organisms and/or part of them, including partial or highly purified biomolecules) to develop products and technical tools that can be applied in different areas, including agriculture. Biomolecules such as proteins and secondary metabolites have been studied for their use in pest control, both as antimicrobial and insecticidal agents. Thus, biotechnology makes it possible to expand the panel of relevant molecules for sustainable use in industries. The indication of biomolecules as synergistic agents for their use in conjunction with pesticides and commercial drugs is currently a main focus in biotechnology. Another biotechnological and ecofriendly approach that has aroused interest is bioremediation, which consists of using living organisms, generally plants or microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, or microalgae), to degrade or immobilize contaminants, pollutants and toxins from soil, water, and other environments, restoring ecosystems. Additionally, nanobiotechnology enables the application of nanotechnology tools to study different biological phenomena and build different tools, such as nanoparticles, with different purposes. Although they are often treated as non-toxic agents, biomolecules can also be harmful to humans and the environment, depending on the dose and form of use. Thus, security assessments become essential.

Topics may include, but are not limited to:

  • Plant-derived insecticides.
  • Plant-derived antimicrobials for control of phytopathogens.
  • Plant-derived nematocidal agents.
  • Formulation strategies for use of phytochemicals in pest control.
  • Toxicity assessments of plant-derived pesticides.
  • Integrated pest management using phytochemicals.
  • Microbial or plant-assisted bioremediation.

Dr. Thiago Henrique Napoleão
Dr. Emmanuel Viana Pontual
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • biotechnology
  • natural products
  • bioactive compounds
  • applied biochemistry
  • agriculture

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 2863 KiB  
Article
Insecticidal Activity of Lectin Preparations from Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) Seeds Against Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)
by Nataly Diniz de Lima Santos, Patryck Érmerson Monteiro dos Santos, Thiago Lucas da Silva Lira, Aline Rodrigues da Silva Santos, Juliane Nancy de Oliveira Silva, Alícia Natalie Silva dos Santos, Marcus Mello Rego de Amorim, Mércia Rodrigues Barros, Luana Cassandra Breitenbach Barroso Coelho, Patrícia Maria Guedes Paiva, Thâmarah de Albuquerque Lima, Gustavo Ferreira Martins, Thiago Henrique Napoleão and Emmanuel Viana Pontual
Plants 2025, 14(4), 511; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14040511 - 7 Feb 2025
Viewed by 690
Abstract
The lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus, is a widespread pest in poultry farming, causing economic losses and facilitating the spread of pathogens. Current control methods rely heavily on synthetic insecticides, which raise environmental concerns and contribute to resistance. This study investigated the insecticidal [...] Read more.
The lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus, is a widespread pest in poultry farming, causing economic losses and facilitating the spread of pathogens. Current control methods rely heavily on synthetic insecticides, which raise environmental concerns and contribute to resistance. This study investigated the insecticidal potential of Moringa oleifera seed preparations, including an aqueous extract (AE), a protein-enriched fraction (PF), and an isolated lectin (WSMoL), against A. diaperinus. Contact assays demonstrated that AE and PF reduced adult survival by up to 90% and 100%, respectively, while WSMoL was effective only against larvae, causing 48% mortality. Ingestion assays showed that AE and PF reduced adult survival by 60% and 30%, respectively; impaired diet utilization; and caused significant weight loss. WSMoL exhibited antinutritional effects, including a 94% reduction in trypsin-like activity, but did not cause lethality, although it may impair long-term survival. Midgut histological analysis revealed epithelial disorganization, vacuolization, and nuclear condensation in the treated insects. These findings suggest that M. oleifera seed preparations are promising candidates for sustainable pest control, offering both lethal and sublethal effects on A. diaperinus. Future research should focus on the development of formulations and long-term impact assessments on pest populations and non-target organisms, paving the way for eco-friendly alternatives in integrated pest management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Phytochemicals in Green Sustainable Agriculture)
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