Researchers in Iran Produce Pesticide from Walnut Worm Pheromones

Mohammad Hadi Ghasemi, Ph.D. in chemistry and a university professor in Tehran, said that producing the insecticide was the result of the implementation of a project entitled "indigenization and completion of the technical know-how to produce pheromone to combat walnut tree worm pest" done at the Tehran University Jihad Organization, to fight non-toxically against the walnut tree pest.

He stated that chemical communication in insects (pheromones) is the most important way to find mating partners, hosts, food, understanding dangerous situations and repelling enemies, adding, “Therefore, in the fight against this pest, the use of chemical signals is superior compared to visual and sound signals.”

“Due to the economic importance of insect sex pheromones, so far, these substances have been identified in different types of agricultural pests,” the researcher also said.

He stated that the full cycle of pheromone technology includes laboratory phases (synthesis and analysis), formulation (determining the optimal amount of pheromone components), preparation of dispenser (pheromone distributor) and operational tests on the field.

Ghasemi continued to say that in his project, each of the above-mentioned steps was taken one after another.

“In the first step, by examining commercial equivalents [available in the market] and reviewing the resources, the main components of the sex pheromone of the [walnut tree]worm were synthesized and analyzed,” he said, adding, “In the second step, all types of formulations relating to the pheromone of the worm pest were reviewed and from among them, the optimal formulation was selected for the tests.”

“In the third step, the types of dispensers were studied in terms of type, dimensions, constituent chemicals, accessibility and commercialization capability, and among the types of dispensers, plastic louvres had optimal operating conditions, which were prepared in the required number,” he explained more.

“Also, in order to determine the amount of pheromone released by the dispensers, favored tests were performed using the wind tunnel. Wind speed, temperature, humidity, type of dispenser, preservative and its amount are factors affecting the results of wind tunnel tests,” the chemistry professor continued.

He went on to note that, due to the great importance of food and environmental security, agricultural chemistry (agrochemistry) is attracting more and more attention all over the world and in Iran.

 “If modern technologies based on agricultural chemistry are used optimally, it will have tremendous effects on the country's food security cycle and agricultural economy,” the professor also said.

According to Ghasemi, since the second half of the 20th century, integrated pest management has evolved as a main and logical strategy to deal with insects and other living organisms that threaten human well-being.

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