Essential oils as bioinsecticides and their application in organic agriculture
Authors:
Jelena Golijan Pantović
(University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia)
,
Vera Popović
(Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Belgrade, Serbia)
,
Snežana Jovanović
(Maize Research Institute “Zemun Polje”, Belgrade, Slobodana Bajića 1, 11185 Belgrade, Serbia)
,
Ljubica Šarčević-Todosijević
(Sanitary Medical School of Applied Sciences “Visan“, Tošin bunar 7a, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia)
,
Aleksandar Popović
(Maize Research Institute “Zemun Polje”, Belgrade, Slobodana Bajića 1, 11185 Belgrade, Serbia)
,
Željko Lakić
(University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Agriculture, Agricultural Institute Banja Luka, Knjaza Milosa bb, 78000, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
,
Jela Ikanović
(Institute for Science Application in Agriculture, Blv. despota Stefana 68b, Belgrade, Serbia)
Abstract
Uncontrolled pesticide use in agriculture pollutes the environment and has harmful consequences on food chain participants. Health-safe plant production, without residues of carcinogenic and toxic pesticides, is a priority in food production. In addition, plant pests (insects) are becoming increasingly resistant to existing chemical pesticides. In order to grow healthy crops, the application of pesticides has to be decreased, while preventive and biological control should be intensified, i.e. biopesticides should be used instead of chemical ones. In addition to microbiological preparations, plant essential oils are also intensively used as biopesticides. The present study indicates that it is possible to use essential oils in organic agriculture as natural agents in the control of harmful insects. In vitro and in vivo studies indicate the existence of significant insecticidal effects of plant essential oils. Mono- and sesquiterpene components of essential oils are mainly neurotoxic to insects. However, despite this, the number of commercially available preparations is limited. It is necessary to better regulate the legislation on organic agriculture, as well as to additionally test the action modes of these oils.
Keywords: plant production, pests, biological control
How to Cite:
Golijan Pantović, J., Popović, V., Jovanović, S., Šarčević-Todosijević, L., Popović, A., Lakić, Ž. & Ikanović, J., (2025) “Essential oils as bioinsecticides and their application in organic agriculture”, Lekovite Sirovine 45(1), 1–10. doi: https://doi.org/10.61652/leksir2545337G
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Funding
- Name
- Ministarstvo Prosvete, Nauke i Tehnološkog Razvoja
- FundRef ID
- https://doi.org/10.13039/501100004564
- Funding Statement
-
This paper is the result of research conducted under the Agreement on the Implementation and Financing of Scientific Research, signed in 2025 between the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia and the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, agreement registration number: 451-03-137/2025-03/200116 and 451-03-136/2025-03/200032 and 451-03-136/2025-03/200045; and Bilateral Project Serbia and Croatia (2025-2026): Alternative and fodder plants as a source of protein and functional food; and Project Bulgaria and Serbia (2024-2027): Intercropping in maize growing for sustainable agriculture.
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