The potential of nanobiopesticide based on zein nanoparticles and neem oil for enhanced control of agricultural pests

• Published in: Journal of pest science Vol. 93; no. 2; pp. 793 - 806
• Main Authors: Pascoli, Mônica, de Albuquerque, Felícia Pereira, Calzavara, Anderson Kikuchi, Tinoco-Nunes, Bruno, Oliveira, Wanderson Henrique Cruz, Gonçalves, Kelly Cristina, Polanczyk, Ricardo Antônio, Vechia, Jaqueline Franciosi Della, de Matos, Sidnéia Terezinha Soares, de Andrade, Daniel Júnior, Oliveira, Halley Caixeta, Souza-Neto, Jayme A., de Lima, Renata, Fraceto, Leonardo Fernandes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-03-2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural management; Agriculture; Bemisia tabaci; Biological activity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Ecology; Encapsulation; Entomology; Forestry; Life Sciences; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Neem; Neem oil; Original Paper; Pest control; Pesticides; Pests; Phytotoxicity; Plant Pathology; Plant Sciences; Polydispersity; Stability; Sustainable agriculture; Toxicity; Vegetable oils; Zein; Nanoscale; Pest control; Phytotoxicity; Azadirachtin; Sustainable development; Biological activity
• ISSN: 1612-4758; 1612-4766
• DOI: 10.1007/s10340-020-01194-x

Nanomaterials composed of natural matrices associated with biopesticides have promising applications in sustainable agriculture. In this study, the biopesticide neem oil was encapsulated in zein nanoparticles in order to improve its stability and efficiency. Assays of phytotoxicity (using
Phaseolus vulgaris
) and biological activity against three pests (
Acanthoscelides obtectus
,
Bemisia tabaci
, and
Tetranychus urticae
) were also performed. The neem oil-loaded zein nanoparticles presented 198 ± 16 nm, polydispersity index of around 0.2, satisfactory physicochemical stability, together with high encapsulation efficiency (> 80%). Pre- and postemergence treatments using this new system did not cause any phytotoxic effects toward
P. vulgaris
. The neem oil nanobiopesticide exhibited mortality effects on
B. tabaci
and
T. urticae
, while the effect against
A. obtectus
was significantly increased, compared to plain neem oil. The results of the characterization, toxicity, and biological activity studies showed the promising potential of these neem oil-loaded zein nanoparticles for the use in pest management in sustainable agriculture after the required toxicological assessments.