Eucalyptus essential oil as a natural pesticide

• Published in: Forest ecology and management Vol. 256; no. 12; pp. 2166 - 2174
• Main Authors: Batish, Daizy R., Singh, Harminder Pal, Kohli, Ravinder Kumar, Kaur, Shalinder
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 10.12.2008; [Amsterdam]: Elsevier Science; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; antifungal properties; Antimicrobial activity; antimicrobial properties; Biological and medical sciences; biopesticides; chemical composition; Chemical control; Environment friendly pest control; Essential oils; Eucalyptus; Eucalyptus species; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Herbicidal activity; herbicidal properties; insect repellents; Insecticidal/insect-repellent activity; Myrtaceae; nematicidal properties; Nematoda; nontimber forest products; Parasitic plants. Weeds; pest control; pesticidal properties; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Synecology; Terrestrial ecosystems; toxicity; Weeds; Australia; Antimicrobial activity; Herbicidal activity; Insecticidal/insect-repellent activity; Environment friendly pest control; Essential oils; Eucalyptus species; Insecticide; Insecta; Natural; Antimicrobial agent; Eucalyptus; Pest management; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Myrtaceae; Repellent; Essential oil; Species; Vegetals; Pesticides; Forest ecology; Woody plant; Herbicide; Arthropoda; Forestry; Spermatophyta; Invertebrata; Environmental protection
• ISSN: 0378-1127; 1872-7042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2008.08.008

Eucalyptus (family Myrtaceae), an Australian native, represented by around 700 species is a genus of tall, evergreen and magnificent trees cultivated world over for its oil, gum, pulp, timber, medicine and aesthetic value. Among the various wood and non-wood products, essential oil found in its foliage is the most important one and finds extensive use in food, perfumery and pharmaceutical industry. In addition, the oil possesses a wide spectrum of biological activity including anti-microbial, fungicidal, insecticidal/insect repellent, herbicidal, acaricidal and nematicidal. The present paper discusses this environmentally benign pest control using eucalyptus oils against bacteria, fungi, insects, nematodes, weeds and mites. The use of eucalyptus oil as a natural pesticide is of immense significance in view of the environmental and toxicological implications of the indiscriminate use of synthetic pesticides and overcoming/reducing the problem of increasing pest resistance.