Plant-Based Biopesticides Against Rice Green Leafhopper | IJB 2026

Diosa G. Alasaas,  Angelina T. Gonzales,  Ricardo Casauay, and Mayflor D. Compra, from the institute of the Philippines. Wrote a research article about, Plant-Based Biopesticides Against Rice Green Leafhopper. Entitled, Bioefficacy testing of indigenous plant-based biopesticides against green leafhopper (GLH) of rice. This research paper published by the International Journal of Biosciences | IJB. an open access scholarly research journal on Biosciences. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

In the Philippines, rice is the major staple crop but its production is affected by insect pests such as the rice green leafhopper (GLH). This study assessed the efficacy of three indigenous plant-based biopesticides namely: Hagonoy (Chromolaena odorata), Lantana (Lantana camara), and Makabuhay (Tinospora crispa) against GLH under laboratory and nursery conditions. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts were prepared at a ratio of 100 g plant material to 1 L solvent and applied at different concentrations. Based on the results of phytochemical analysis, it reveals that Lantana camara and Hagonoy contained the highest number of secondary metabolites in the aqueous and ethanolic extracts, respectively. Under laboratory conditions, Cypermethrin obtained the 100% GLH mortality, however the Makabuhay at 40 mL showed statistically comparable efficacy with 93.33% mortality after one hour of application. In nursery trials at 56 days after transplanting, all three plant extracts obtained mortality rates comparable to Cypermethrin. These findings indicate that the tested biopesticides, particularly Makabuhay, have potential as environmentally friendly alternatives for GLH management, although further field validation is recommended. 

Introduction

Rice production in the Philippines plays a vital role in ensuring the country's food security and contributing to its economy. The Philippines is among the world's leading rice-producing countries, accounting for approximately 2.8% of global rice production. Rice is the staple food of the Filipino population and serves as the primary source of dietary carbohydrates (Palanog et al., 2019). Beyond its nutritional value, rice provides what anthropologists describe as the physiological sensation of satiety. It is consumed daily by millions of Filipinos, particularly low-income households, and serves as the primary livelihood of millions of rice farmers throughout the country.

The annual per capita consumption of rice in the country is estimated at 109.5 kg, which provides 56% of the calories, 37% of the proteins, and 3.8% of the fats required per person per day . In the Philippines, rice is seen as an effective delivery system for food fortification because of its high per capita consumption (109 kg/person/day) Palanog et al., 2019. Similarly, Roy et al. (2011) reported that more than half of the world's population relies on rice as its primary staple food.

Despite its importance, rice production is constrained by several factors, including unfavorable climatic conditions and the incidence of insect pests and diseases. These problems significantly reduce crop productivity and farmers' income. Annually, farmers lose an estimated average of 37% of their rice yield due to insect pests, diseases, and weeds, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). To lessen these losses, many farmers are highly dependent on synthetic pesticides. However, this practice has resulted in several adverse effects such as the development of pesticide resistance, environmental pollution, pesticide residues in agricultural products, and detrimental on beneficial organisms and other nontarget species.

To reduce the massive use of chemical pesticides, several indigenous plant species possess natural pesticidal properties and offer effective, affordable, and environmentally safe. Plant species such as lantana (Lantana camara L.), hagonoy (Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King and H. Rob.), and makabuhay (Tinospora crispa (L.) Hook. f. and Thomson) contain bioactive compounds with insecticidal, antifeedant, and repellent properties that have demonstrated potential for managing insect pests (Ahmad et al., 2016; Raj and Syriac, 2016).

The development of indigenous plant-based biopesticides presents a promising opportunity to reduce dependence on synthetic pesticides while promoting sustainable rice production. Such ecofriendly pest management strategies can contribute to effective insect pest control, environmental conservation, improved farmer health and safety, and the long-term sustainability of rice farming systems in the Philippines. Thus, this study aimed to determine the effectiveness of indigenous plant based biopesticide against green leafhopper of rice, compare the efficacy of indigenous plant based biopesticide with the standard insecticide used for insect pest of rice, and generate bioefficacy data to support the registration of the product with Fertilizer Pesticides Authority (FPA) in the Philippines.

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Article source : Bioefficacy testing of indigenous plant-based biopesticides against green leafhopper (GLH) of rice