Development of New Nanostructured Materials Applied to Integrated Pest Management

Pest control in agricultural crops has largely relied on synthetic insecticides — such as carbamates, glyphosate, and organophosphates — which are directly linked to environmental contamination. Alternatively, pest control can be achieved using essential oils (EO); as natural products derived from plant secondary metabolites, they have a lower environmental impact. However, the volatility of these oils can limit their application due to their short duration of action in open environments. Consequently, there is a need to develop strategies that facilitate their use by reducing this volatility. One such strategy involves formulating mixtures containing oils and other materials that can mitigate their volatility. Bacterial cellulose (BC) offers a promising alternative due to its chemical structure and wide range of applications. In this study, mixtures of Melaleuca leucadendra essential oil and modified bacterial cellulose were prepared to evaluate volatilization time and insecticidal activity against Tetranychus urticae.