Shruti Bhaskar
Abstract
We all are aware of raising the use of chemical insecticides but these chemical insecticides are harmful to human health and also affect the nutritional value of crop. According to World Health Organization about 200,000 people killed worldwide due to use of chemical Insecticides. Insecticides plays very important role to control the population of pest which damage the crops. An alternative way is finding to control the population of pest that is usage of botanical biopesticides instead of chemical insecticides. The botanical biopesticides having certain bioactive compounds that act against pest and control the population of pest. The usage of botanical biopesticides regarded as one of the best methods of Integrated Pest Management. There are some traditionally used biopesticides such as Pyrethrum, Rotenone and Nicotinoids. These all three are bioactive compounds which is present in different plants and act against the pest. Pyrethrum was obtained from the flowers of Tanacetum cinerariaefolium. Pyrethrum effect the central nervous system of pest. It effects the electrical impulse transmission along axons. Pyrethrum affects the nerve cells and causes paralysis. Rotenone is a bioactive compound obtained from Lonchocarpus. Rotenone is stomach and contact poison. It causes the failure of respiratory functions by inhibiting the electron transport chain in mitochondria. Nicotinoids is a bioactive compound obtained from Nicotiana tabacum . Nicotinoids effects on the nervous system of pest causes blockage of acetylcholine receptors. Other than these there are some new botanical pesticides which causes death of pests. The botanical extracts of Azadirachtin indica (neem), essential oils are also very effective against the pest. Azadirachtin is a bioactive compound that present in neem and it is regarded as active compound of neem. Azadirachtin acts as Insect Growth Regulators (IGR) and causes malformation, inhibits growth and disrupts the moulting of insect at their larval stages and increase the mortality rate of pests. Neem is very effective against the pests like lice, mite, tick, bugs and cockroaches. Essential oils are called as secondary metabolites in plants. Plants itself releases certain compound to act against pests such as terpenes, alcohols and aromatic compounds. These compounds have toxic effect against pests and act on digestive system of pests. Pests are unable to feed which may contribute to mortality. Some essential oils which are obtained from aromatic plants having insect repellents properties. They alter insect growth and moulting and also effect on the behaviour of insects during their mating and oviposition. As insects are not unable to mate then their population ultimately declined.