Use of essential oil for post-harvest pest control.

Abstract

Abstract Since past few decades, application of essential oils (EOs) was explored experimentally for the management of postharvest pests and diseases. However, uses of essential oils face a series of problems, including regulatory obstruction to commercialization (such as cost of toxicological and environmental assessments) or the way that efficiency of essential oils toward pests and diseases is not as evident or clear as that seen with the present available forms. This review highlights several issues extending from EOs chemistry to their bioactivity potential. The mechanism of action of EOs is also discussed to provide better understanding about their functions and improve the scope for the establishment of commercial opportunities in the form of natural biocontrol agents/botanical pesticides.