1 research outputs found
Not Available
Not AvailableBiopesticides are considered to be safe, target specific, biodegradable and eco-friendly. These, especially
Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (neem) based biopesticides, are mainly used as emulsified concentrate (EC). There is
growing interest in nano emulsions based on phytochemical mixtures due to their better efficacy compared to
conventional biopesticides. A. indica seed oil and Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle (Citronella) oil are known to
have pest control properties. However, their utilization is often restricted due to relatively low water solubility.
This drawback can be overcome by encapsulating oils in oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions or nano emulsions using
low or high energy methods. In this study, various nano emulsions of crude neem and citronella oils with
surfactants were developed and characterised by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Transmission Electron
Microscope (TEM). Composition of various ingredients of nano emulsions was standardised. TEM study showed
the spherical shape of neem and citronella oil nano emulsions. The average size of droplets of neem nano
emulsion (NNE) with different percentage of citronella oil ranged from 11.23 ± 3.86 nm to 17.80 ± 4.52 nm
while that of citronella nano emulsion (CNE) with different percentage of neem oil ranged from 8.12 ± 2.80 nm
to 12.04 ± 3.74 nm. It was found that increase in surfactant ratio to neem oil or citronella oil decreases the size
of droplets in nano emulsions. Further, in vitro antifungal study of against Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotium rolfsii
was carried out by poisoned food technique. Results showed that neem nano emulsion 10 (NNE10) and citronella
nano emulsion 10 (CNE10) were most active against R. solani (ED50 13.67 mg L−1 and 25.64 mg L−1) and S.
rolfsii (ED50 14.71 mg L−1 and 20.88 mg L−1). The standardization of the composition and development of citronella
essential oil and neem oil based nano emulsions and their antifungal activity against these two fungi has
been reported for the first time.Not Availabl