Recent advances and review on use of botanicals from medicinal and aromatic plants in stored grain pest management

Abstract

Stored grain infestation is a very serious problem as various life stages of insects cause economic damage and deteriorates the quality of food grains and food products. There are number of stored grain insect pests that infest food grains in farmer stores and public warehouses and massively surge due to un-controlled environmental conditions and poor ware housing technology used. However, for suppression of multiplying insect population highly specific and more appropriate modern methods are to be used. Few important methods such as microwave and ionizing irradiation, pheromone baited traps, IGRs and use of entomopathogens are proved highly effective against stored grain insects. Botanicals have been used since time immemorial for protection of stored products against common pests. They acts as repellents, antifeedants, toxicants and behave as natural grain protectants by behaving as chemosterilants/reproduction inhibitors or insect growth and development inhibitors. Literature shows that some chemical constituents of these oils interfere with the nervous system in insects. Due to the recent surge in use of green pesticides, the use of plant based pesticides is gaining a lot of impetus. Considering the above points, the present review paper emphasises on the work done on use of botanicals to combat stored pest in food grains with special emphasis on the classification, the mode of action, recent advances in use of botanicals and the commercial and regulatory constrains.