Abstract:
Demand of agricultural products is increasing day by day due to growing population. Every year about 20% of the agricultural products are wasted due to the attack of pests, therefore we are not getting the maximum productions of our crops, and here is great need to improve agricultural yield. Synthetic pesticides are used to control pests but these pesticides are highly toxic and can harm more than just the targeted “pests”. They are persistent in nature and exist in environment for a long time and presenting a continuous threat to human health, flora and fauna1, 2. They pollute ecosystem and cause several health issues to humans. Looking to the hazardous effects of chemical pesticides, there is a continuous search for the exploration of alternate cultural and biological control methods. One of the good alternates is the use of Phyto pesticides. Phyto-chemicals are natural insecticides derived from floral resources. Conventional techniques for pest management are now inadequate and new innovative management techniques have to be developed. Now a day's agriculture is facing major challenges of environmental contamination, pest resistance, bioaccumulation and health hazards. Nanotechnology is rising as a highly attractive tool to achieve the target of lowering the quantity of pesticide used by offering new methods for the formulation and delivery of pesticide active ingredients. In this study, facile, eco-friendly and green synthesis of CuO NPs was successfully achieved by using aqueous extract of Eucalyptus leaves. CuO-Chitosan nano-composites were prepared by embedding of CuO nano-particles in Chitosan polymer. Cu layered CuO-Chitosan nanocomposites were also prepared to enhance insecticidal effects. The synthesized nano-particles and nano-composites were characterized by using techniques like UV-Vis, FTIR, XRD, SEM and EDX. The effects of extract, CuO NPs and nano-composites were tested at different time intervals on the target insect pest i.e fruit flies (Bactrocera zonata). Percent mortality of extract (0,10,20,30,50), CuO NPs (20,30,40,50,70), CuO-Chitosan nano-composites (30,40,50,70,80) and CuO-Chitosan nanocomposites with Cu layer (40,50,60,80,90) at different concentrations (2ppm, 4ppm, 6ppm, 8ppm and 10ppm) were found effective. Data obtained indicated that the increasing concentration and exposure period caused increase in mortality (%). The LC50 values for CuO NPs, CuO-Chitosan nanocomposites and CuO-Chitosan nano-composites with Cu layer were found good. The results of this study showed that CuO NPs and nano-composites have good insecticidal properties and can be used as a valuable tool in pest management programs. They are safer than chemical pesticides and there is need of further studies to minimize the use of chemical pesticides and replace them by nanopesticides.
Page(s):
258-258
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Abstract Book on International Conference on Food and Applied Sciences (ICFAS-23) 3-5 August 23, Volume: 0, Issue: 0, Year: 2023