Botanical Insecticides for Crop Protection: Major Classes and Possible Mechanisms of Action
Sorabh Chaudhary, Sunil Kumar Yadav, Pankaj Verma, Sushma Sagar, Mehi Lal
Abstract
Botanical insecticides, derived from plant-based bioactive compounds with insecticidal activities, have been used to protect crops for more than a century. Synthetic insecticides have become essential in modern agricultural practices because they act quickly, are cost-effective, easy to use, and effective against a wide range of harmful species of insects and pests. Synthetic insecticides, once beneficial, have now become a threat to human health and the environment due to their toxic nature and environmental impact, and hence, botanical pesticides can be utilized as a substitute to synthetic chemical pesticides. Botanicals are easily available, biodegradable, have a broad spectrum of activity, are inexpensive, and have low toxicity to humans and non-target organisms. Various plants species including neem, pyrethrum, garlic, citrus, etc., contains various types of plant secondary metabolites including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, essential oils, glycosides, esters, etc., were popular botanicals. These metabolites exhibited different physical/chemical characteristics and mechanisms of action and affect the insects in various ways such as insecticides, repellents, antifeedants, toxicants, growth retardants, herbicides, and attractants. This chapter describes the in-depth knowledge of various classes of bioinsecticides and their possible mode of actions.