Research Article

Efficacy of Conventional Insecticides in Comparison with Indigenous Plant Extracts Against Sucking Insect Pests of Sunflower

Saad Rasheed1, Dilbar Hussain2, Usama Saleem1, Muhammad Usman1, Zeeshan Javed1, Saqlain Irshad1, Muhammad Imran1, Usama Bilal1, Saddam Hussain3, Rashid Ali1 and Muhammad Asrar1*

1Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan; 2Entomological Research Institute, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan; 3Department of Zoology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan.

Received | September 15, 2024; Accepted | December 04, 2024; Published | December 26, 2024

*Correspondence | Muhammad Asrar, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan; Email: [email protected]

Citation | Rasheed, S., D. Hussain, U. Saleem, M. Usman, Z. Javed, S. Irshad, M. Imran, U. Bilal, S. Hussain, R. Ali and M. Asrar. 2024. Efficacy of conventional insecticides in comparison with indigenous plant extracts against sucking insect pests of sunflower. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, 37(4): 403-410.

DOI | https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjar/2024/37.4.403.410

Keywords | Helianthus annuus, Whitefly, Jassid, Botanical extracts, Insecticides, IPM

Copyright: 2024 by the authors. Licensee ResearchersLinks Ltd, England, UK.

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Introduction

Agriculture is a cornerstone of Pakistan’s economy, contributing 22.9% to GDP and providing essential food, income, and employment for the rural population (Rasheed et al., 2024). This sector includes crops, livestock, fisheries, and forestry (Islam et al., 2023). Key crops such as cotton, wheat, rice, maize, sugarcane, and oilseeds like rapeseed-mustard, sesame, and sunflower are vital for food security and economic stability. These crops also play a crucial role in generating foreign exchange through exports, underscoring their significance in Pakistan’s agricultural landscape (Baig et al., 2023; Ali et al., 2020).

Oilseed crops play a vital role in Pakistan’s agricultural sector, with a study highlighting the variability and instability in the cultivation area, yield, and production of nine key oilseed crops, including cotton, rapeseed-mustard, sesame, and sunflower (Khan et al., 2024). Local oilseed production in Pakistan accounts for 0.507 million tonnes of the total 3.255 million tonnes, with the remaining 2.748 million tonnes imported. Pakistan primarily focuses on major oilseed crops like sunflower, canola, rapeseed, mustard, and cotton (Manzoor et al., 2024).

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), an annual plant in the Asteraceae family, is cultivated globally for its oilseeds and has over 70 species, introduced to Pakistan around 40 years ago, sunflower farming began in the 1980s with support from the Ghee Corporation of Pakistan (GCP). Initially considered non-traditional, it has since become a significant oilseed crop due to its high oil (50%) and protein content (15-21%) (Tabassum et al., 2020). It is also a rich source of essential vitamins, minerals, and tocopherols, providing nutrients such as magnesium, iron, copper, calcium, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, and selenium (Vasudha and Sarla, 2021). Sunflower farming in Pakistan covers 151 thousand acres, producing 87 thousand tonnes of seeds and 33 thousand tonnes of oil (Sher et al., 2022).

Sunflower productivity is notably impacted by insect pests, especially jassid (Amrasca biguttula biguttula) and whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), which are major causes of yield decline (Dake and Bhamare, 2019; Kamakshi et al., 2021). Whitefly feed on plant sap, excrete honeydew, and transmit viral diseases like sunflower necrosis, leading to wilting, stunted growth, and yellowing of leaves, all of which reduce yields (Solanki and Jha, 2018; Dake and Bhamare, 2019). Jassid cause leaf stunting, chlorosis, and hopperburn, resulting in wilting, decreased growth, and lower oil production due to sooty mold (Singh et al., 2018; Shettar and Jagadish, 2017; Mengal et al., 2021).

Chemical treatment is a key component of integrated pest management (IPM) to reduce yield loss in sunflowers caused by sucking pests (Mane et al., 2024). Insecticides like imidacloprid, flonicamid, acetamiprid, fipronil, and others are used against most of the sucking pests, among witch imidacloprid and acetamiprid proving most effective and cost-efficient against whitefly and leafhoppers (Halder et al., 2023). Insecticides, such as pyrethroids, generate free radicals that cause cellular damage, lipid peroxidation, and oxidative stress, potentially harming non-target organisms, including humans and biological agents. Antioxidants may help mitigate this oxidative stress, reducing pesticide-induced damage (Selamoglu et al., 2023). Similarly, nanoparticles used in phytoremediation can induce oxidative stress in plants by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are also linked to hypertension in humans (Hajipour et al., 2023). Additionally, pollutants and byproducts from textile dyes and treatment processes generate ROS, leading to oxidative stress that disrupts cellular function and damages tissues, ultimately affecting biodiversity and ecosystem health (Selamoglu, 2020). However, widespread use can lead to environmental contamination, health risks, resistance development and can disrupt ecosystems by harming beneficial organisms and need continuous effectiveness assessment (Mengal et al., 2021; Mutkule et al., 2023).

Over 2400 plants have been identified for their pest control properties, making botanical insecticides a viable alternative to synthetic options (Rajput et al., 2021; Khan et al., 2024). Extracts from neem, garlic, tobacco, black pepper, and eucalyptus show significant bio-pesticidal potential. Neem preparations are effective against various pests (Devi and Gogoi, 2023), eucalyptus contains synergistic components enhancing pesticide activity (Maris et al., 2022), black pepper’s bioactive compounds have broad insecticidal and antimicrobial applications (Sinha and Ray, 2021), and nicotine from tobacco is effective against multiple pests (Xia et al., 2021). Biopesticides, despite facing challenges, remain viable alternatives to traditional pesticides due to their low toxicity, biodegradability, and environmental safety. The present study was conducted to assess the efficacy of indigenous plant extracts and insecticides against sucking insect pests (whitefly and jassid) on sunflower.

Materials and Methods

Selection of area

The current study regarding the efficacy of conventional insecticides in comparison with indigenous plant extracts against sucking insects (Whitefly and Jassid) of Sunflower was conducted at the research area of Entomological Research Institute, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Preparation of plant extracts

Native plants, including neem, sufaida, tobacco, garlic, and black pepper were collected and washed under running tap water (Table 1). To preserve their effectiveness, the plant materials were transported to the lab and dried in the shade. Once adequately dried, they were finely ground using an electric blender and then sieved through a kitchen strainer to achieve a uniform consistency (Saleem et al., 2024). The ethanolic extracts were prepared by first weighing the plant material, which was then placed in a thimble inside a Soxhlet extractor. Ethanol was added to a round-bottom flask, and the Soxhlet apparatus was assembled. The flask was heated, causing ethanol to evaporate, condense, and repeatedly wash over the plant material, extracting its compounds over several hours. After extraction, the ethanol solution was transferred to a rotary evaporator, where the ethanol was evaporated under reduced pressure, leaving behind a concentrated extract. The concentrated extract was then diluted with a suitable solvent, usually distilled water, according to the desired dilution ratio. The solution was mixed thoroughly using a magnetic stirrer to ensure homogeneity. To ensure the spray solution was free of particles, the mixture was filtered again using a finer filter (Hussein et al., 2023).

Preparation of concentrations

The required concentrations were prepared by using the following formula and the diluted concentrations were used for subsequent experiment (Oblessuc and Melotto, 2020).

C1V1 = C2V2

Where; C1= given concentration; V1= volume of water which is required; C2= required concentration; V2= volume of a known quantity of water.

Various concentrations of plant extracts were prepared, including Neem leaf extract (50 ml/L, and 100 ml/L), Eucalyptus leaf extract (50 ml/L, and 100 ml/L), Tobacco leaf extract (50 ml/L, and 100 ml/L), Black Pepper (50 ml/L, and 100 ml/L), and Garlic extract (50 ml/L, and 100 ml/L). Additionally, Confidor 20SL 500 ml (Imidacloprid) was applied at a rate of 250ml per acre, DUMEI 50% WG (Flonicamid) at 50 g per acre, and a control group was included.

 

Table 2: Synthetic insecticides, dose ml/acre, mode of action and manufacturer names evaluated against whitefly and jassid.

S. No	Insecticides	Dose (ml/acre)	Mode of action	Brand name
1	DUMEI 50%WG (Flonicamid)	48-60 gm/acre	Disrupts the feeding behavior of pests by affecting their nervous system, causing starvation and death (Sakthiselvi et al., 2024).	Syngenta
2	Confidor 20SL 500ML (imidacloprid)	250ml/acre	Binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in insects, leading to overstimulation, paralysis, and death (Ali et al., 2024).	Bayer

 

Table 3: Field efficacy of plant extracts and insecticides against whitefly on sunflower.

Mean comparison of whitefly between plant extracts and insecticide treated plot
Treatments	Conc used	Time duration
		24 hours	48 hours	72 hours	1 week
Neem (Azadirachta indica)	50 ml/l	17.86 ± 6.19a	27.38± 2.06a	36.31 ± 7.22a	58.93 ± 3.09ab
Safeda (Eucalyptus globulus)	50 ml/l	10.68 ± 4.07a	13.46 ± 4.49ab	19.02 ± 5.22ab	29.70 ± 4.27c
Tambaku (Nicotiana tabacum)	50 ml/l	14.07 ± 5.13a	21.48 ± 1.28abc	28.52 ± 5.7abc	50.37 ± 8.98ab
Kali Mirch (Piper nigrum)	50 ml/l	12.04 ± 0.80a	15.74 ± 5.61bc	24.07 ± 1.60bc	40.28 ± 8.67bc
Lehsan (Allium sativum)	50 ml/l	8.12 ± 0.37a	10.9 ± 5.01bc	13.68 ± 5.18bc	24.35 ± 1.11cd
Neem (Azadirachta indica)	100 ml/l	34.92 ± 7.27a	45.24 ± 4.12a	54.76 ± 4.12a	80.16 ± 7.65a
Safeda (Eucalyptus globulus)	100 ml/l	18.52 ± 6.42ab	22.22 ± 3.21bc	25.93 ± 6.42bc	40.74 ± 6.42cd
Tambaku (Nicotiana tabacum)	100 ml/l	30.16 ± 2.75a	40.48 ± 10.91ab	45.24 ± 4.12a	70.63 ± 13.11ab
Kali Mirch (Piper nigrum)	100 ml/l	23.21 ± 9.28ab	32.14 ± 9.45abc	41.07 ± 3.09ab	58.93 ± 3.09bc
Lehsan (Allium sativum)	100 ml/l	15.28 ± 6.05ab	18.98 ± 5.61bc	23.14 ± 1.604c	38.43 ± 5.61d
DUMEI 50%WG (Flonicamid)	48-60 gm/acre	24.81 ± 4.49a	32.22 ± 5.1a	43.33 ± 7.06a	93.33 ± 3.9a
Confidor 20SL 500ML (Imidacloprid)	250ml/acre	20.71 ± 1.28a	27.78±5.9a	37.78 ± 15.4a	90 ± 2.9a
Control	-	4.76 ± 8.25b	8.76 ± 7.38b	16.46 ± 20.76a	20.42 ± 2.24a

 

Means sharing similar alphabets are not significantly different to each other.

 

Application of insecticides and plant extracts

When the number of insect pests in the crop reached the Economic Threshold Level (ETL), the prepared plant extracts were thoroughly mixed and sprayed to sunflower using a hand sprayer to ensure the even distribution. Table 2 summarize synthetic insecticides tested against whitefly and jassid.

Monitoring and data collection

The number of sucking pests, such as whitefly and Jassid, were routinely observed after pesticides and plant extract sprays were applied, and data was collected at regular intervals. To record the population of Whitefly and Jassid each replication, leaves from the top, middle, and bottom regions of chosen plants were collected. The percentage of population suppression as opposed to the control treatment was used to express the results. Prior to the introduction of treatments, observations were made on the same day both before and after treatment. Observations were made after 24, 48, 72 hours and 1 week of spraying and compared with control plot. The formula was used to calculate the percentage mortality of Jassid and Whitefly is (Saleem et al., 2023).

Statistical analysis

The recorded data were subjected to statistical analysis for comparing means and analysis of variance (ANOVA) by using SPSS software. Graphs were made to compare the percent mortality by Graphpad prism (Saleem et al., 2023).

Results and Discussion

Field efficacy of plant extracts and insecticides against whitefly on sunflower

Table 3 outlines whitefly mortality in sunflower plots treated with plant extracts and insecticides at 50 ml/L and 100 ml/L over time intervals of 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, and 1 week. At 50 ml/L, Azadirachta indica (Neem) showed the highest efficacy with 58.93% mortality at 1 week, followed by Nicotiana tabacum (Tobacco) at 50.37%, while Allium sativum (Garlic) had the lowest at 24.36%. At 100 ml/L, Neem reached 80.16% and Tobacco 70.63%, with increased efficacy across all treatments. The synthetic insecticides DUMEI (Flonicamid) and Confidor (Imidacloprid) were more effective, with DUMEI achieving 93.33% mortality at 1 week. The control group showed significantly lower mortality, peaking at 20.42% at 1 week. Figure 1 shows that higher concentrations of plant extracts and insecticides increase whitefly mortality, with insecticides being more effective. Neem and Tobacco extracts performed well at higher doses, but insecticides, especially Flonicamid, had the highest efficacy. Plant extracts can be sustainable alternatives; though higher concentrations are required to match insecticide performance.

 

Field efficacy of plant extracts and insecticides against jassid on sunflower

Table 3 presents the mean jassid populations observed in plots treated with various plant extracts and insecticides at concentrations of 50 ml/L and 100 ml/L over several time intervals: 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, and 1 week. The plant extracts include Neem, Eucalyptus, Tobacco, Black Pepper, and Garlic. The insecticides evaluated are DUMEI 50% WG (Flonicamid) and Confidor 20 SL (Imidacloprid) and a control group. At a concentration of 50 ml/L, jassid mortality rates were: 22.14% after 24 hours, 34.92% after 48 hours, 46.67% after 72 hours, and 60.48% after 1 week. For 100 ml/L, the rates increased to 31.57% at 24 hours, 40.15% at 48 hours, 57.07% at 72 hours, and 82.83% at 1 week. Insecticides were more effective, with DUMEI 50% WG (Flonicamid) reaching 92.93% mortality after 1 week and Confidor 20 SL (Imidacloprid) achieving 95.63%. The control group showed much lower mortality, peaking at 24.42% after 1 week, as detailed in Table 4. Figure 2 compares the effectiveness of plant extracts at 50 ml/L and 100 ml/L with insecticides in controlling jassid pests on sunflowers. It shows that while higher concentrations of plant extracts enhance jassid mortality, insecticides remain more effective overall. This indicates that although plant extracts are a sustainable option, higher doses are needed to match the effectiveness of chemical insecticides. Both plant extracts and insecticides are effective, with Flonicamid and Imidacloprid showing the highest efficacy.

 

The efficacy of conventional insecticides and indigenous plant extracts against sunflower pests, specifically whitefly and jassid, was assessed at the Entomological Research Institute, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Faisalabad, Pakistan. The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of botanical extracts with synthetic insecticides for integrated pest management (IPM). Results demonstrated that plant extracts, including neem and tobacco, were as effective as synthetic insecticides in managing both whitefly and jassid populations, supporting their potential as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical controls. Previous research by Mahmood et al. (2014) at the University of Karachi highlighted neem and tobacco extracts’ significant efficacy against whitefly and jassid, corroborated by the current study’s findings. Neem and tobacco extracts exhibited sustained efficacy, aligning with earlier results showing neem’s 91.50% reduction in whitefly populations and tobacco’s 92.62% reduction (Mahmood et al., 2014). Ali et al. (2016) reported Eucalyptus extract’s initial effectiveness against whitefly in brinjal but noted reduced efficacy with repeated applications. Similarly, Hussain (2022) found garlic and Eucalyptus

 

Table 4: Field efficacy of plant extracts and insecticides against jassid on Sunflower.

Mean comparison of Jassid between plant extracts and insecticide treated plot
Treatments	Conc used	Time duration
		24 hours	48 hours	72 hours	1 week
Neem (Azadirachta indica)	50 ml/l	22.14 ± 2.58a	34.92 ± 7.27a	46.67 ± 5.77a	60.48 ± 3.6a
Safeda (Eucalyptus globulus)	50 ml/l	12.82 ± 4.44ab	20.51 ± 4.44abc	28.21 ± 4.44bc	28.21 ± 4.44c
Tambaku (Nicotiana tabacum)	50 ml/l	18.52 ± 6.42a	25.93 ± 6.42ab	37.04 ± 6.42ab	51.85 ± 6.42ab
Kali Mirch (Piper nigrum)	50 ml/l	14.22 ± 4.66ab	18.88 ± 3.89bc	32.63 ± 3.23bc	38.23 ± 7.35bc
Lehsan (Allium sativum)	50 ml/l	9.79 ± 3.09ab	12.22 ± 5.09bc	21.67 ± 2.89c	26.67 ± 6.67c
Neem (Azadirachta indica)	100 ml/l	31.57 ± 5.88a	40.15 ± 6.2a	57.07 ± 2.19a	82.82 ± 0.87a
Safeda (Eucalyptus globulus)	100 ml/l	16.43 ± 4.7bc	26.5 ± 3.95ab	37.24 ± 8.91b	47.31 ± 9.88c
Tambaku (Nicotiana tabacum)	100 ml/l	24.09 ± 3.72ab	33.23 ± 3.18ab	42.68 ± 6.87ab	70.1 ± 8.71ab
Kali Mirch (Piper nigrum)	100 ml/l	18.8 ± 3.7abc	24.359 ± 1.11b	32.69 ± 9.31bc	56.84 ± 8.73bc
Lehsan (Allium sativum)	100 ml/l	13.28 ± 4.92bc	19.09 ± 7.28bc	27.12 ± 8.39bc	40.15 ± 6.2c
DUMEI 50%WG (Flonicamid)	48-60 gm/acre	24.81± 4.49a	32.22±5.1a	43.33±7.06a	93.33 ± 3.9a
Confidor 20SL 500ML (Imidacloprid)	250ml/acre	20.74 ± 1.28a	27.78 ± 5.9a	37.78 ± 5.45a	90 ± 2.9a
Control	-	4.76 ± 7.38b	8.76 ± 7.38b	12.46 ± 2.76a	24.4 ± 4.9a

 

Means sharing similar alphabets are not significantly different to each other.

 

extracts effective against whitefly, with garlic showing higher efficacy compared to Eucalyptus in sunflower. Iqbal et al. (2017) noted garlic’s superior performance over Eucalyptus against jassid on okra, which was consistent with the current study’s findings showing garlic’s higher mortality rates in jassid. Baig and Yousaf (2021) demonstrated neem and black pepper’s efficacy against whitefly, with black pepper also showing significant effectiveness against jassid. These results support black pepper’s potential as a viable biopesticide. Afzal et al. (2014) and Kamakshi et al. (2021) highlighted the effectiveness of imidacloprid and flonicamid, with imidacloprid showing substantial mortality rates against both pests. The current study reinforced these findings, showing high efficacy of DUMEI 50% WG (Flonicamid) and Confidor 20 SL (Imidacloprid) in managing both whitefly and jassid, thus enhancing sunflower yield compared to controls. Both plant extracts and synthetic insecticides offer effective solutions for managing sunflower pests. However, plant extracts, particularly neem and tobacco, present a sustainable alternative to conventional insecticides, while synthetic options like Flonicamid and Imidacloprid provide high efficacy in pest control.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The study at the Entomological Research Institute, AARI, Faisalabad, demonstrated that both botanical extracts and synthetic insecticides are effective in managing whitefly and jassid in sunflower crop, with Neem and Tobacco extracts emerging as promising alternatives due to their high mortality rates. Integrating these botanical options with synthetic insecticides within an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy can reduce chemical reliance and enhance crop yield. Recommendations include combining plant extracts and synthetic insecticides to bolster control and minimize resistance, rotating different treatments to prevent resistance, using environmentally friendly extracts like neem oil or garlic to protect beneficial insects, applying insecticides selectively during peak infestations to target hotspots, and regularly monitoring fields to adapt treatments based on pest dynamics.

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Muhammad Asrar, Associate Professor in the Department of Zoology at Government College University Faisalabad, my esteemed supervisor, for his invaluable guidance and support.

Novelty Statement

This study compares the efficacy of conventional insecticides with indigenous plant extracts in managing sucking insect pests of sunflower (Helianthus annuus). It explores the potential of plant extracts as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional chemical methods, offering new insights into effective and environmentally responsible pest control.

Author’s Contribution

Saad Rasheed: Conducted and experiment and data collection.

Dilbar Hussain: Mehodology.

Usama Saleem: Wrote abstract and reviewed.

Muhammad Usman: Formal analysis.

Zeeshan Javed: Conceptualization

Saqlain Irshad: Statistical analysis.

Muhammad Imran: Proof read.

Usama Bilal: Draw the graphs.

Saddam Hussain: Provided technical input.

Rashid Ali: Wrote conclusion.

Muhammad Asrar: Supervised the study.

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

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