Does caraway repel peach aphids: an article
The peach aphid (Myzus persicae) has posed a constant challenge to the vitality of economically significant crops. Over recent decades, this pest has developed resistance to various chemical pesticides, necessitating the exploration of alternative, environmentally friendly pest management solutions. One direction to explore is plant essential oils, which have been under scrutiny for their potential efficacy against these resilient pests.
In a recent study, researchers delved into the efficacy of caraway (Carum carvi L.) seed essential oils as a potential repellent against the green peach aphid. The study, conducted using a bridge method and white cabbage as host plants, aimed to assess the repellent properties of three different types of caraway essential oils against these aphids.
Peach aphid (Myzus persicae). Photo IES.
The analysis revealed promising outcomes. Each of the selected caraway essential oils exhibited varying degrees of repellence against the aphids, signifying their potential as a deterrent. Notably, the essential oil with the highest concentration of D-limonene, a key component, demonstrated the most substantial repellent effect, showcasing a Repellency Index of +41%. This effect remained stable for a considerable duration, extending up to 330 minutes.
However, incorporating various surfactants in the formulation resulted in a setback, dampening the repellent effect during the testing period and exposing the complexity of crafting a viable, effective formulation.
Despite this challenge, the study offers a beacon of hope in the realm of organic pest management. Caraway essential oil emerges as a potential tool in combating green peach aphids, albeit with the need for further research and refinement to formulate it into a practical, market-ready product.
Read more in the article “In Vivo Bioassay of the Repellent Activity of Caraway Essential Oil against Green Peach Aphid”, published on MDPI “Insects” Special Issue “New Formulations of Natural Substances against Insect Pests”!
The research is a part of the project “Essential oil distillation
waste streams as a potential source of sustainable plant-based repellent
products” (No. Nr. 1.1.1.1/20/A/096). It is developed as a part of the
European Regional Development Fund programme 1.1.1.1 measure “Support
for applied research” and specific objective 1.1.1 “Improve research and
innovation capacity and the ability of Latvian research institutions to
attract external funding, by investing in human capital and
infrastructure”
Biorefining project results presented at GENP 2022 congress in Croatia
On 27-28 October, The 4th International Congress on “Green Extraction of Natural Products” (GENP2022) took place in Poreč, Croatia. It was organized by the University of Zagreb Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology.
The results of Biorefinery project presented in the GA congress
The 70th International Congress and Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA) was held in Thessaloniki, Greece, from 28 to 31 August this year. The aim of the annual congress is to broaden the existing knowledge and gain new experience in the field of natural substances, their products and research, as well as to establish new contacts with the industry in other countries.
How are insect tests carried out in the Applied Entomology Laboratory of IES?
In our previous article on the project “Essential oil distillation waste streams as a potential source of sustainable plant-based repellent products” we looked at the path of plant processing by-products, from seemingly low-value biomass to valuable water extracts, this time let’s explore the next step in the process – insect testing. Kristīne Berķe-Ļubinska, Head of the Laboratory of Applied Entomology of the Institute of Environmental Solutions, will guide us through this section of the project.
A repelling innovation: insect repellents from the waste of essential oil production
Zero-waste - Although this phrase suggests shopping in bulk, waste-free and strictly restricting consumption, this bioeconomy concept is particularly effective when implemented in a production environment. For example, materials that have before been written off as waste are now seen as potential raw materials for the development of innovative products. At the moment, at the Institute of Environmental Solutions, we give meaningful second life to the production by-products of our partners, the leading Baltic medicinal and aromatic plant grower "Field and Forest".
Developing cosmetic ingredient formulas from SIA “Field and Forest” extraction by-products
For a year already, Northern Europe’s
leading cosmetic and medicinal plant farming experts SIA “Field and
Forest” have been cooperating with the researchers of Institute for
Environmental Solutions and natural cosmetics raw material producer
SIA “Alternative plants”. The aim is to use secondary products
derived from a production process for developing new value-added
products for cosmetics industry.
Propagation of endangered plant species in IES’s climate control chamber
IES has developed a specially equipped climate control chamber for propagation of endangered medicinal and aromatic plants. The climate chamber helps to prepare the plants for further cultivation in organic farming.
SIA “Field and Forest” develops commercial cultivation technologies for ginseng and Chinese horseradish
Knowledge of the medicinal plants as an asset for development of future business
SIA “Field and Forest” develops zero-waste manufacturing technologies
Assessing concentrations of active compounds in three endangered medicinal plants
Endangered plant species with a high market potential were selected for this research – Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus Maxim.), common yew (Taxus baccata L.) and sea holly (Eryngium maritimum L.). They are also known for the long seed germination period that makes it difficult to grow them for commercial purposes. Therefore, IES’s researchers develop efficient and economically viable plant tissue propagation methods that can be applied for organic farming. Using this micro-propagation method new plantlets are grown in laboratory test tubes. Thus, helping to avoid the long seed germination that usually may take up to 18 months.
“The changes in plant chemical composition correlate with different plant propagation methods and their growing conditions. For example, wild Siberian ginseng is common in Russia and China. It is possible to cultivate this plant in other territories, however there might be significant changes in the plant’s chemical composition and concentrations of valuable active compounds. Therefore, in this research we are analysing not only three different plant species, but also different populations within the same species,” IES’s leading researcher Dr Ieva Mežaka highlights potential changes in plant active compound levels.
IES’s researchers were dedicated to find out which populations are rich source of highly valuable bioactive compounds. Therefore, they analyzed all three plant species in chemical laboratory. “We can see that all three plant species have populations with valuable active compounds. The difference is the concentration. Most interesting ones are those that contain higher levels,” Dr Ilva Nakurte, IES’s leading researcher and manager of laboratory of chemistry describes the importance of chemical analysis.
Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus Maxim.) Photo IES.
For chemical analysis of Siberian ginseng, researchers used leaves and roots of this species wild populations. They found two highly valuable compounds in the researched ginseng populations – eleuteroside B and eleuteroside E. The founded compounds are listed in European Pharmacopoeia (common standards for the quality of medicines and their components) with a real use in pharmaceutical industry. “In the previous researches, these active compounds have been found mainly in roots of Siberian ginseng. Our research results show that they are present in plant leaves as well,” Dr Ilva Nakurte describes results of ginseng chemical analysis.
Common yew (
Taxus baccata L) Photo IES
For common yew chemical analysis, researchers used different parts of the plant – leaves, twigs and combination of both. Previous researches show that most valuable active compounds of Common yew are taxanes and their derivatives. IES’s researchers have extracted 20 different taxane derivatives. Most valuable is paclitaxel, which is commonly used in pharmaceutical industry as a treatment for different cancer forms.
Sea holly (Eryngium maritimum L.) Photo IES
Chemical analysis has also been carried out on wild sea holly samples harvested in Latvia and Estonia. In total, more than 100 different valuable compounds have been derived from them. At the same time, IES’s researchers have found that there is significant variability in concentrations of active compound levels in different sea holly populations.
Researchers have also analyzed sea holly samples that are grown in laboratory test tubes. Other research papers describe sea holly roots and leaves as the most valuable source of active compounds. “Roots and leaves of the plants that have been grown in test tubes are relatively small, but we were able to do the analysis. We see that concentrations of active compounds in them are quite high. We have identified 7 to 10 active compounds with potential use in pharmaceutical, cosmetology, and food industries,” Dr. Ilva Nakurte describes research results.
Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus Maxim.) in IES’s experimental fields. Image: Institute for Environmental Solutions.
By assessing bioactive compound levels in plant samples, especially those that are grown in laboratory, researchers can evaluate most valuable populations of the three species. Thus, they know which samples are suitable for further research – growing condition research in experimental fields. Bioactive compound level analysis in plants will continue throughout the research to assess the changes in plant development process. As a result, it will contribute to finding efficient and economically viable methods for growing Siberian ginseng, common yew and sea holly in organic farming.
The research on plant tissue culture application for commercial propagation of endangered medicinal plants is developed as a part of the European Regional Development Fund programme 1.1.1 "Improve research and innovation capacity and the ability of Latvian research institutions to attract external funding, by investing in human capital and infrastructure" 1.1.1.1. measure “Support for applied research”, No. 1.1.1.1/19/A/083.
More about the project here.
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New cleaning and personal hygiene products developed in international cooperation
Deriving cosmetic ingredients from medicinal chamomile distillation by-products
Adapting wild plant species to organic farming
Researchers from the SIA “Field and Forest” and the Institute for Environmental Solutions (IES) introduces 9 wild medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) species suitable for growing in organic farming. In March, researcher Dr Arta Kronberga was invited to share IES’s experience in the international conference “Breeding and seed sector innovations for organic food systems”.
Herbal waters-based household cleaning and personal hygiene products
The joint project of the Latvian organic farming and
essential oil production company SIA “Field and Forest” and the
largest Estonian household chemical company “Mayeri industries” AS
on the development of new liquid cleaning and personal hygiene
products is nearing completion. The newly created products – liquid
soap, universal cleaner, laundry softener and dishwashing detergent
– are based on SIA “Field and Forest” produced herbal waters as a
natural fragrance.
Organic insect repellents from medicinal plant essential oil by-products
Developing cosmetic ingredients from medicinal plant by-products
Researchers from the Institute for Environmental Solutions (IES) in cooperation with SIA "Alternative plants" develop high value-added bioactive cosmetic ingredients from by-products of medicinal plant processing and plant cell cultivation.
Developing growing technologies for endangered plants
Field and Forest develops innovative technologies for growing ginseng and Chinese horseradish in Latvia
SIA “Field and Forest” and Institute for Environmental Solutions (IES) researchers develops innovative technologies for growing ginseng and Chinese horseradish in Latvia’s climate conditions. Thus, allowing the tea producer SIA “Bargi” develop new value-added tea products.
Growing wild medicinal and aromatic spring plants in organic farming
Wild medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) have a high potential for domestification and growing in organic farming and further use in medicine, food and cosmetics. The Institute for Environmental Solutions (IES) in cooperation with agriculture experts and organic farming company SIA “Field and Forest”, as well as Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis study the potential of 9 wild spring MAP species growing in organic farming.