Xiaojing Yang , Baixin Song

Modern Agricultural Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Molecular Entomology, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 2   doi: 10.5376/me.2024.15.0008
Received: 08 Mar., 2024    Accepted: 09 Apr., 2024    Published: 20 Apr., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Yang X.J., and Song B.X., 2024, Utilization of natural plant volatiles for pest control in maize, Molecular Entomology, 15(2): 61-68 (doi: 10.5376/me.2024.15.0008)

Maize is a critical staple crop globally, but pest infestations present a significant challenge to its cultivation, often leading to reduced yields. Conventional pest control methods, particularly synthetic pesticides, have raised environmental and health concerns, prompting interest in alternative approaches. This study explores the utilization of natural plant volatiles for pest control in maize, focusing on essential oils, terpenoids, alkaloids, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that have pest-repelling properties. The mechanisms through which plant volatiles affect insect pests-such as disrupting olfaction and behavior, inducing repellency, and interacting synergistically with other pest control agents-are examined. Field trials were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of plant volatiles against key maize pests, with a comparative analysis against synthetic pesticides. This study also explores the benefits and challenges of using natural volatiles in integrated pest management (IPM), particularly for smallholder farmers. Results demonstrate that plant volatiles are environmentally sustainable, reduce chemical inputs, and offer a promising tool for future pest control strategies. However, large-scale implementation remains a challenge, requiring further research on formulation, delivery methods, and potential genetic modifications to enhance volatile production in maize varieties.

Maize; Natural plant volatiles; Pest control; Volatile organic compounds; Integrated pest management