Neem Oil and Bacillus thuringiensis as Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Synthetic Pesticides in Maize Fields | ||
| Journal of Plant Protection and Pathology | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 08 November 2025 PDF (383.48 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/jppp.2025.424455.1386 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Nashwa M. Hussein* ; M. I. Sergany | ||
| Pesticides Dept. Fac. of Agric., Mansoura Univ. Dk. Egypt. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| The present study conducted to assess the residue levels chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid, lambada-cyhalothrin, oil neem and Bacillus thuringiensis in maize. In addition, tested the effect their effect on plant growth, and antioxidant responses. The residue monitoring showed that chlorpyrifos and imidacloprid persisted the longest period after application, with half-lives of 28.2 and 22.7 days ، respectively, and both exceeded maximum residue limits. Lambda-cyhalothrin (17.9days) stayed within safe levels, while no residues were detected for neem oil or Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), highlighting their environmental safety. Plant growth clearly reflected these differences. Chlorpyrifos reduced plant height to 189.2 cm compared with the control (218.3 cm) and yield to 7.42 t/ha (a 24.5% drop), followed by imidacloprid (195.6 cm; 7.85 t/ha; 20.1% loss respectively) and lambda-cyhalothrin (205.3 cm; 8.42 t/ha; 14.3% loss respectively). In contrast, neem oil (214.9 cm; 9.48 t/ha; 3.6% loss) and Bt(216.4 cm; 9.64 t/ha; only 1.9% loss) compare to the growth and yield close in the untreated control. The antioxidant profile took the same pattern where, Chlorpyrifos and imidacloprid triggered oxidative stress, lowering DPPH scavenging activity (42.0–44.3%) and phenolic content (1.82–1.91 mg GAE/g), while raising malondialdehyde (12.8–14.2 nmol/g). Neem oil and Bt had the opposite effect, boosting antioxidant activity (67.5% and 63.2%) and phenolics (3.03 and 2.89 mg GAE/g), while keeping lipid peroxidation much lower (6.9–7.2nmol/g). Overall, synthetic pesticides resulted in high residues compared to bio insecticides. Moreover, synthetic pesticides stressed the plants while the tested biopesticides proved safer, supporting both plant health and antioxidant defenses. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| synthetic pesticides; biopesticides; pesticide residue | ||
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