Dhr. Wiratno: “Effectiveness and safety of botanical pesticides applied in black pepper (Piper nigrum) plantations”

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22 Oct 2008 13:30
Unit: Wageningen University
Location: Aula, building 362, Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Organisation: Wageningen University
Promotor: prof.dr. I.M.C.M Rietjens (Toxicology)
Promotor: Prof.dr. A.J. Murk
Co Promotor: Dr. Daono Taniwiryono (Indonesian Biotechnology Research Institute for Estate Crops)

 The health and environmental risks of synthetic pesticides in pepper plantations on Bangka Island predominantly arise from unwise use and low awareness of the associated risks. Therefore a change in habits and safer pesticides are needed. Fortunately, botanical pesticides pose lower risks for human and environmental health than chemical pesticides because the mode of action of botanical pesticides is often based on their repellent activity and inhibition of feeding and not on direct toxicity. Mulch of clove bud is a potent botanical approach to fight the most problematic underground pest of black pepper, the root-knot nematode (M. incognita), and equally effective as the currently recommended synthetic pesticides. The emulsified botanical pesticide formulation containing extracts of pyrethrum, sweet flag and clove is very effective to control two main above ground pepper pests D. piperis, and D. hewetti. For the third major black pepper pest, L. piperis, another approach has to be developed. Although decreased health risks are to be expected for the farmer and the environment when synthetic pesticides are being replaced by botanical pesticides, this still has to be studied further. Based on safety assessment no health risk is to be expected for the consumer of pepper berries treated with the botanical formulation.
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