Summary
This study investigates the potential of plant-derived essential oils from Mentha rotundifolia and Chrysanthemum coronarium as biopesticide alternatives against Tuta absoluta, an invasive and economically damaging pest of tomato crops. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, the authors characterise the volatile chemical profiles of both oils and assess their insecticidal activity against the pest under controlled laboratory conditions. The findings are likely to contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting botanical insecticides as candidates for integrated pest management in horticulture.
UK applicability
Tuta absoluta is an established and regulated pest threat in UK glasshouse tomato production, making research into botanical insecticides of direct relevance to UK growers and IPM programmes. However, as a laboratory-based study conducted under North African conditions, further field validation under UK growing environments would be required before practical recommendations could be made.
Key measures
Essential oil chemical composition (% constituent identification via GC-MS); insecticidal mortality (%); lethal concentration (LC50/LC90, mg/L or µL/L); possibly repellency or fumigant activity indices
Outcomes reported
The study measured the chemical composition of essential oils extracted from Mentha rotundifolia and Chrysanthemum coronarium and evaluated their insecticidal efficacy against different life stages of Tuta absoluta, a major tomato pest. Likely reported mortality rates, lethal concentration values (LC50), and identified key bioactive constituents via GC-MS analysis.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.