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

Author(s):Show less -

Pascoli, Monica ^[1] ; de Albuquerque, Felicia Pereira ^[2] ; Calzavara, Anderson Kikuchi ^[3] ; Tinoco-Nunes, Bruno ^[4] ; Cruz Oliveira, Wanderson Henrique ^[4] ; Goncalves, Kelly Cristina ^[5] ; Polanczyk, Ricardo Antonio ^[5] ; Della Vechia, Jaqueline Franciosi ^[5] ; Soares de Matoss, Sidneia Terezinha ^[5] ; de Andrade, Daniel Junior ^[5] ; Oliveira, Halley Caixeta ^[3] ; Souza-Neto, Jayme A. ^[4] ; de Lima, Renata ^[6] ; Fraceto, Leonardo Fernandes ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ, UNESP, Inst Sci & Technol Sorocaba, Lab Environm Nanotechnol, Av 3 Marco 511, BR-18087180 Sorocaba, SP - Brazil

^[2] Sao Paulo State Univ, UNESP, Inst Sci & Technol Sorocaba, Sorocaba, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Londrina, Dept Anim & Plant Biol, Londrina, Parana - Brazil

^[4] Sao Paulo State Univ, UNESP, Sch Agr Sci, Cent Multiuser Lab, Dept Bioproc & Biotechnol, Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[5] Sao Paulo State Univ, UNESP, Coll Agr & Vet Sci, Dept Crop Protect, Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil

^[6] Univ Sorocaba, Lab Bioact Assessment & Toxicol Nanomat, Sorocaba, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE; v. 93, n. 2 JAN 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

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. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/21004-5 - Agriculture, micro/nanotechnology and environment: from evaluation of the mechanisms of action to studies of transport and toxicity
• Grantee: Leonardo Fernandes Fraceto
• Support type: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/11343-6 - Characterization of the microbiota-mediated anti-dengue mechanisms in wild Aedes aegypti populations
• Grantee: Jayme Augusto de Souza-Neto
• Support type: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/17120-4 - Toxicity evaluation and biological activity of zein nanoparticles containing the biocide azadirachtin
• Grantee: Mônica Pascoli
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate