Journal of Natural Pesticide Research最新文献

{"title":"Physicochemical properties of the endophytic fungus Neurospora sitophila and its interaction with Botrytis cinerea","authors":"Angel F. Huaman-Pilco ,&nbsp;Luz Quispe-Sanchez ,&nbsp;Aline C. Caetano ,&nbsp;Laydy M. Mena-Chacon ,&nbsp;Kelvin J. Llanos-Gómez ,&nbsp;Eryka Gaslac-Zumaeta ,&nbsp;Jherson Rojas-Vargas ,&nbsp;Nicolas Olivares-Valqui ,&nbsp;Manuel Oliva-Cruz","doi":"10.1016/j.napere.2025.100143","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.napere.2025.100143","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The endophytic fungus <em>Neurospora sitophila</em> has been identified as a promising natural source of antifungal compounds with potential application in sustainable crop protection. This study aimed to characterize <em>N. sitophila</em> through evaluation of its mycelial growth under varying temperatures and culture media, analysis of its secondary metabolites by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and assessment of its antagonistic potential against <em>Botrytis cinerea</em>, the causal agent of gray mold. Growth assays revealed that PDA and MEA media supported optimal mycelial development at 5, 25, and 37 °C. GC-MS profiling indicated a predominance of volatile ethyl esters (86.97 %), including ethyl 4-octenoate (29.54 %), ethyl heptanoate (14.80 %), and ethyl butanoate (8.59 %), compounds typically associated with a fruity aroma. Dual-culture with <em>B. cinerea</em> significantly enhanced the antioxidant activity of <em>N. sitophila</em>, with values 4.5 times higher than those observed in the pure culture. Similarly, the total phenolic content increased by 2.5 times. Additionally, depending on conditions<em>, N. sitophila</em> inhibited <em>B. cinerea</em> mycelial growth by 35.8 ± 6.8 % to 58.4 ± 6.2 %. These findings highlight the potential of <em>N. sitophila</em> as a biocontrol agent and a valuable source of bioactive metabolites for biotechnological and agricultural applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100809,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Pesticide Research","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100143"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144588331","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring Artemisia essential oils as natural larvicides for Culex mosquito control","authors":"Abdellatif Alami ,&nbsp;Yassine Ez zoubi ,&nbsp;Mouhcine Fadil ,&nbsp;Fatima zahrae Radi ,&nbsp;Meriem El Hallabi ,&nbsp;Mohammed Ouali Alami ,&nbsp;Abdellah Farah","doi":"10.1016/j.napere.2025.100141","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.napere.2025.100141","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Vector-borne diseases account for approximately 17 % of all infectious diseases, posing a significant threat to global health. Mosquitoes, among the most notorious vectors, transmit deadly pathogens such as West Nile virus, dengue, and malaria, contributing to over 700,000 deaths annually—disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. The overuse of synthetic pesticides has led to environmental pollution and widespread pest resistance, necessitating the development of eco-friendly alternatives, including plant-derived essential oils (EOs). <em>Artemisia</em> species (Asteraceae family) produce diverse bioactive compounds, such as terpenoids and sesquiterpene lactones, which demonstrate potent larvicidal activity against mosquito vectors like <em>Culex pipiens</em>. This review explores the botanical characteristics, chemical composition, and bioactive properties of <em>Artemisia</em> species, focusing on their EOs as natural bioinsecticides. Special attention is given to the larvicidal efficacy of <em>Artemisia</em> EOs against <em>C. pipiens</em> and recent advancements in encapsulation techniques to enhance their longevity and effectiveness. Given the escalating challenges of insecticide resistance and mosquito-borne diseases, <em>Artemisia</em> EOs represent a sustainable and promising alternative for integrated vector control strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100809,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Pesticide Research","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100141"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144563268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An experiment-based screening approach to formulate the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema glaseri in pellets with powder materials","authors":"Jaime Ruiz-Vega ,&nbsp;Carlos Inocencio Cortés-Martínez ,&nbsp;Ramón Román-Doval ,&nbsp;Manuel Alejandro Valdés-Madrigal ,&nbsp;Teodulfo Aquino-Bolaños","doi":"10.1016/j.napere.2025.100140","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.napere.2025.100140","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this work, a discrete choice sequential approach for the pelletisation of the entomopathogenic nematode <em>Steinernema glaseri</em> is investigated. First, the pellets were made with agricultural soil (S), sugarcane bagasse ash (A), and diatomaceous earth (DE) in different proportions. Then, the physical stability and moisture retention ability were evaluated to select the best combinations for the pelletisation of infective juveniles (IJs) and the survival and pathogenicity on <em>Galleria mellonella</em> larvae were determined. Second, clay (C) and/or sodium polyacrylate (SP) were added to the best combinations to improve the moisture retention and, the survival and pathogenicity on <em>Tenebrio molitor</em> larvae were evaluated. The initial combinations selected were S85:A15:DE0, S50:A15:DE35 and S80:A15:DE5. The highest mean survival time (16.1 days) of IJs was obtained with S50:C15:DE35 and the pathogenicity in <em>G. mellonella</em> was 20 ± 6.40 %. The S15:C50:A15:DE20:SP1 mixture stood out for its lower moisture loss (90.17 %) when SP (1 g per 100 g of the mixture) and C were added, the survival of <em>S. glaseri</em> increases to 26.4 ± 0.433 days and increased the pathogenicity on <em>T. molitor</em> to 42.5 ± 7.9 %.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100809,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Pesticide Research","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100140"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144517557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of eucalyptus oil as a sustainable biopesticide for population suppression of Sylepta derogata Fab (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), an okra pest","authors":"Kandaswamy Kalaivani","doi":"10.1016/j.napere.2025.100139","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.napere.2025.100139","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The extensive use of synthetic pesticides has led to insect resistance and adverse effects on human health and the environment. As a result, farmers increasingly prefer natural pesticides, which degrade easily without leaving harmful residues in soil and water. Eucalyptus oil, an eco-friendly botanical pesticide, serves as a promising alternative for sustainable pest management. This study evaluates the bio-pesticidal efficacy of commercially available eucalyptus essential oil against <em>Sylepta derogata</em>, a major pest of okra in Tamil Nadu. Laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the impact of eucalyptus oil at concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 ppm on different larval instars. A dose-dependent antifeedant effect was observed across all instars, with significant reductions in larval and pupal weight and length, alongside prolonged larval duration. Deformities in pupae and adults were also recorded. When insects in the 1st and 2nd instars were treated with 100 ppm of eucalyptus oil, a significantly high mortality of nearly 95 % was observed. This result suggests that strong larvicidal efficacy of eucalyptus oil at this concentration. Eucalyptus oil at 10 ppm significantly reduced survivorship, with a marked decline in population growth index compared to the untreated control. These findings suggest that eucalyptus oil exhibits potent pesticidal activity against <em>S. derogata</em> larvae and holds potential as a natural alternative for okra pest management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100809,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Pesticide Research","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100139"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144563804","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel herbicide improves functional outcomes in a conventional weed of summer crops: An alternative to Treflan®","authors":"Ali Nasiri ,&nbsp;Sina Fallah ,&nbsp;Alessandra Carrubba","doi":"10.1016/j.napere.2025.100138","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.napere.2025.100138","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The widespread use of chemical herbicides in agroecosystems poses significant environmental risks, driving the need for sustainable alternatives. This study evaluates the inhibitory effects of essential oil (EO) from the stem, leaf, and flower of <em>Echinophora cinerea</em> Boiss. (Apiaceae) on the seed germination of common amaranth (<em>Amaranthus retroflexus</em>), compared with Treflan®, a conventional herbicide. The results showed that concentrations of ≥ 1 µL/mL of <em>E. cinerea</em> EO completely inhibited seed germination, while lower concentrations (0.5 µL/mL) were significantly more effective than the control and Treflan®. Both treatments induced similar levels of malondialdehyde, electrolyte leakage, and hydrogen peroxide in <em>A. retroflexus</em>, with comparable cell viability and proline content (except for leaf EO). Radicle and plumule length in EO-treated plants were reduced by 58–65 % and 16–22 %, respectively, compared to Treflan®’s inhibition of 91 % and 76–85 %. Plumule fresh weight was similar in both EO and Treflan® treatments, though radicle fresh weight was lower with EO (<em>p</em> &gt; 0.05). EO derived from <em>E. cinerea</em> has significant growth inhibitory potential and can induce oxidative stress, making it an effective weed control tool. Overall, essential oil of <em>E. cinerea</em> can be considered as a bioherbicide with an extremely low inhibitory concentration (IC100 ≤ 1 µL/mL). Its effectiveness comparable to Treflan® in reducing weed growth at the same concentration highlights its potential for industrial production as a bioherbicide.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100809,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Pesticide Research","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100138"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144331139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustainable pest management with moroccan essential oils: Insights into insecticidal, behavioral effects, and factors influencing bioactivity","authors":"Houssam Annaz ,&nbsp;Noureddin Bouayad ,&nbsp;Ayoub Kounnoun ,&nbsp;Francesco Cacciola ,&nbsp;Kacem Rharrabe","doi":"10.1016/j.napere.2025.100137","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.napere.2025.100137","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Morocco is widely known for its biodiversity in flora, notably medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP). These plants are widely distributed across the country in different climates, latitudes, and altitudes, and have been reported for various biological activities. This review aims to showcase the insecticidal and behavioral effects of Moroccan essential oils (EO) extracted from different plant families against insect pests. All eligible studies were retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines using ‘Essential oil” and “Insect*” as keywords where 11,400 articles were found and only 58 studies met the aim of this review. The analysis of articles retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science revealed a strong dominance of EOs extracted from the Lamiaceae family, where <em>Mentha pulegium</em> and <em>Rosmarinus officinalis</em> appear as the most studied species. In terms of Insects, the Coleoptera order was the most species evaluated for different bioassays, where <em>Callosobruchus maculatus</em> and <em>Tribolium castaneum</em> were the most studied species. In terms of bioactivities, Moroccan EOs exhibited a potent insecticidal activity via fumigation, contact, ingestion, and topical application. These EOs also affected the behavior of insects, leading to repellent, feeding deterrent, and anti-settling effects. Besides, this review highlights the impact of several factors on reported bioactivities. These factors can be related to EOs such as harvest period, geographical distribution, plant part used, and others related to the insects, such as insect species, developmental stages, and sex of adults. In brief, the diversity of EOs extracted from Moroccan Plants shows a promising capacity for the development of sustainable, natural, and harmless solutions for the control of pests.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100809,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Pesticide Research","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100137"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144194652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of nanoemulsions from Oocotea odorifera (Vell.) rohwer through a low energy approach: An ecological larvicide against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus","authors":"Caio P. Fernandes ,&nbsp;Jonatas L. Duarte ,&nbsp;Desirane C. Bezerra ,&nbsp;Anna E.M.F.M. Oliveira ,&nbsp;Rodrigo A.S. Cruz ,&nbsp;Lisset Ortiz-Zamora ,&nbsp;Wanderlei do Amaral ,&nbsp;Cícero Deschamps ,&nbsp;Alessandra L. Valverde ,&nbsp;Lorane I.S. Hage-Melim ,&nbsp;Ricardo M.A. Ferreira ,&nbsp;Mateus A. Batista ,&nbsp;Raimundo N.P. Souto ,&nbsp;Luiz E. da Silva","doi":"10.1016/j.napere.2025.100136","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.napere.2025.100136","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Ocotea odorifera</em> is also known as sassafras and cinnamon sassafras. It was used as flavoring agent in beverages and other food industrial products, being now used in disinfectants and insecticides. The essential oil, of sassafras, as well as other Brazilian species, has great potential for the food industry, although it is occasionally affected by its volatile composition. New products, such as aqueous nano-emulsions, are considered extremely powerful since they enhance the properties of the oils. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop this type of colloidal systems with <em>O. odorifera</em> essential oil. The best results were achieved with blends of polysorbate 20/sorbitan monooleate (size diameter &lt;200 nm and polydispersity index &lt;0.1) and no major alterations were observed after the storage. The critical interpretation of the molecular characteristics of the phytochemicals of this essential oil presents an interesting analysis about these essential oil-based nano-emulsions. For <em>Aedes aegypti</em> the estimated LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values, are respectively, 37.646 and 46.3408 ppm; while for <em>Culex quinquefasciatus</em> the estimated LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values are 33.3365 and 47.8939 ppm, respectively. The low energy/ecofriendly approach using different non-ionic surfactants by a non-heating method is in accordance with a sustainable concept. Therefore, it opens perspectives for the preparation of sassafras nano-emulsions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100809,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Pesticide Research","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100136"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144221817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Moroccan brown algae as a source of bionematicidal against root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.)","authors":"Mouna Belmouden ,&nbsp;Khadija Bouftini ,&nbsp;Amina Braimi ,&nbsp;Bouchra El Aissaoui ,&nbsp;Mammass Bourassen ,&nbsp;Ibtissam Sabir ,&nbsp;Ilyass Filali Alaoui ,&nbsp;Tayeb Obidari ,&nbsp;Rachid Nmila ,&nbsp;El Hassan Mayad ,&nbsp;Halima Rchid","doi":"10.1016/j.napere.2025.100135","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.napere.2025.100135","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Root-knot nematodes (<em>Meloidogyne</em> spp.) pose a major threat to vegetable production in Morocco. In search of sustainable alternatives to synthetic nematicides, this study evaluated the <em>in vitro</em> nematicidal activity of ethanolic extracts from four Moroccan brown algae: <em>Cystoseira humilis</em>, <em>Cystoseira ericoides</em>, <em>Sargassum vulgare</em>, and <em>Sargassum muticum</em> at concentrations of 6, 8, and 10 mg/mL. The extracts of <em>S. vulgare</em> and <em>C. humilis</em> achieved the highest juvenile mortality (83 %) after 72 hours. <em>S. vulgare</em> also showed the greatest inhibition of egg hatching (82 %). Phytochemical analysis revealed that <em>C. humilis</em> and <em>C. ericoides</em> had the highest levels of total phenolics and flavonoids, while <em>S. vulgare</em> demonstrated strong nematicidal activity despite lower compound concentrations. These findings highlight the potential of <em>S. vulgare</em> and <em>Cystoseira</em> species as eco-friendly agents for managing <em>Meloidogyne spp.</em> Further <em>in vivo</em> studies are required to confirm their efficacy, determine optimal application methods, and establish effective dosages.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100809,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Pesticide Research","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100135"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144135133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biological control of Alternaria alternata MW970059, the causal agent of tomato rot, by Aspergillus nidulans MW732187 isolated from green household waste","authors":"Fatima Zahrae Moussaid ,&nbsp;Rachid Lahlali ,&nbsp;Said Ezrari ,&nbsp;Azeddin El Barnossi ,&nbsp;Abdelilah Iraqi Housseini","doi":"10.1016/j.napere.2025.100134","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.napere.2025.100134","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of fungal resistance to fungicides is a significant challenge in agricultural disease management, and the research axis is in current scientific discourse. The objective of the current study aims to search for new biological agents to control <em>Alternaria alternata</em> (<em>A. alternata</em>) causal agent of tomato rot. 73 fungal isolates where tested in the <em>in vitro</em> screening. <em>Aspergillus</em> sp. isolated from decayed tangerine peel microflora, showed the performing antagonistic strain against <em>A. alternata</em>. <em>Aspergillus</em> sp. exhibited significant inhibition of <em>A. alternata</em>; the growth fungal inhibition (%FI) rate was 66.66 ± 0.25 % causing various morphological mycelia changes, swellings, deformations and vacuolization. <em>A. alternata</em> and the antagonist <em>Aspergillus</em> sp. were identified based on morphology trails and molecular tool as <em>A. alternata</em> and <em>Aspergillus nidulans</em>, respectively. Cell-free supernatant (CFS) showed that the metabolites produced by <em>A. nidulans</em> are involved in the control of <em>A. alternata</em>. The half maximal effective concentration (EC₅₀) value of <em>A. alternata</em> was estimated at 1 % (v/v), the inhibition rate was 50.97 ± 0.85 %. Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR Spectrometry) analysis of organic (ethanol, methanol) and aqueous extracts of CFS revealed distinct characteristic peak values corresponding to various suggested functional groups in the extracts such as phenolic, lipids, and possibly proteins/peptides compounds. <em>In vivo</em> application of <em>A. nidulans</em> strain to tomato fruits significantly reduced postharvest decay caused by <em>A. alternata</em> by 41.34 % after the 10^th day of inoculation. Overall, the findings from this study suggest that <em>A. nidulans</em> strain may be a potential promising bio-agent to control the phytopathogen <em>A. alternata</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100809,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Pesticide Research","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100134"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144116813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Harnessing indigenous entomopathogenic fungi for biopesticide development against Tuta absoluta in Tanzania","authors":"Camila Renson ,&nbsp;Modester D. Nkungu ,&nbsp;Regina P. Mtei","doi":"10.1016/j.napere.2025.100133","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.napere.2025.100133","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The invasive pest <em>Tuta absoluta</em> (Meyrick) poses a significant risk to global tomato crops, particularly affecting Tanzania's food security and economy. Currently, control strategies for this pest rely on synthetic pesticides, which are ineffective and pose a great environmental threat to the ecosystem. This underscores the urgent need for search of ecofriendly alternative to combat this invasive pest. The agar plate method was employed for isolation and purification of fungi from the soil. From soil samples collected in Arusha's tomato fields, 36 fungal isolates were discovered, and subjected to rigorous morphological and biochemical characterization. Of these, 8 demonstrating enzyme activity capable of breaking down insect cuticles, indicating their potential as insecticides. These isolates were subjected molecular characterizations, including DNA sequencing and analyses using the BLAST program available at the National Center for Biological Information (NCBI), to ascertain their identity. The isolates showed 100 % similarity with <em>Aspergillus terreus</em>, <em>Penicillium steckii</em>, <em>Purpureocillium lilacinum, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus versicolor</em> of GeneBank accession numbers MN463005.1, MK179265.1, MN242828.1, MN559660.1 and MH270605.1, respectively. Bioassays conducted on <em>T. absoluta</em> larvae with spore suspensions of these fungi revealed significant larval mortality rates for <em>A. terreus</em>, <em>P. steckii</em>, and two strains of <em>P. lilacinum</em>, with <em>Penicillium steckii</em> achieving up to 100 % mortality at a concentration of 10⁷ spores/mL. The study findings highlight the potential of using native fungi, particularly <em>Aspergillus terreus</em>, <em>Penicillium steckii</em>, and <em>Purpureocillium lilacinum</em>, as effective biopesticides against <em>T. absoluta</em>, underscoring the importance of harnessing indigenous microbial resources for sustainable agricultural pest control and food security.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100809,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Pesticide Research","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 100133"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144105288","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}