Hey everyone! Quick question – when you hear PGRs, what’s the first thing that pops into your head? Most folks I talk to immediately go to “auxins, gibberellins, things that make plants grow taller or flower faster.” And yeah, that’s definitely a big part of what we do here as a plant-derived PGR supplier. But lately, I’ve been getting a ton of questions from farmers, small-scale gardeners, even some landscape managers: can these plant-made growth regulators actually be used to control pests too? Like, not just help the crops thrive, but fight off bugs, mites, even those annoying fungal blights? Plant-Derived PGR
Spoiler alert: it’s way more complicated than a yes or no. But it’s also one of the most exciting areas we’re working on right now, and I wanted to break this down in plain speak – no super jargon-heavy science, just what we’ve seen in trials, what’s actually working, and what’s still up in the air. Because at the end of the day, we’re not just a supplier here. We’re people who get that your crops’ success means your success, and anything that makes that easier (without messy synthetic chemicals) is worth talking about.
First, let’s do a quick reality check. Most pest control out there right now is either synthetic pesticides (which are harsh, bad for pollinators, and getting tougher to use with all the regulatory changes) or biopesticides like neem oil, pyrethrum, or Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Those are great, but they have limits – neem can burn plants if you spray it in the sun, Bt only works on caterpillars, not aphids or mites. Plant-derived PGRs (let’s call them PDPGRs for short, that’s way easier) are different because they’re not built to kill pests directly – they mess with the plant’s own defenses, or even the pest’s ability to feed or reproduce. That’s a game-changer because pests can’t build up resistance to a plant’s own defenses as fast as they do to synthetic or even standard biopesticides.
Let’s start with the most well-researched stuff here – jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA). Both are classic PDPGRs, right? JA’s the one that tells a plant “hey, a bug just chewed on your leaves, get ready to fight,” and SA is for when it’s a fungal spore or bacteria landing. A few years back, a group of researchers in Spain did a trial on tomato plants that were getting annihilated by spider mites – those tiny, sap-sucking jerks that take over greenhouse crops so fast. They sprayed half the tomatoes with a low-dose of plant-derived JA (nothing synthetic, all extracted from rice plants, which is what we sell a ton of!) and left the other half alone. The JA-treated tomatoes had 70% fewer spider mites after 2 weeks. Why? Because JA didn’t kill the mites. It made the tomatoes produce these sticky, bitter compounds in their leaves that the mites hate to feed on. Even better, the mites that did hang around laid 50% fewer eggs. No pesticide needed.
Another trial I came across last year was on soybeans in Iowa, dealing with corn rootworms. Wait, rootworms are underground, so spraying above ground doesn’t do much. The researchers applied a root-drench of SA – again, plant-derived from willow bark, another PDPGR we offer – and the soybeans started pumping out a compound in their roots that repelled rootworms. The rootworm damage was 40% lower, and the soybean yield went up by almost 12 bushels per acre. That’s huge for farmers who’ve been battling rootworms for decades.
But wait, it’s not just defense hormones. There’s also abscisic acid (ABA), which is the PDPGR that controls drought stress, but it also plays a role in pest resistance. A small study on leafy greens like spinach found that spraying a little plant-derived ABA made the leaves thicker and more waxy, so aphids couldn’t pierce the surface to suck sap. Even better, it reduced powdery mildew too – that fuzzy white mold that ruins salad greens. That’s two pests (well, an aphid and a fungus) controlled with one spray.
Now, let’s get real – it’s not all perfect. I’ve seen a lot of hype online about PDPGRs being the end of all pest problems, but that’s just not true. First, they work best when you use them preventatively, not as a rescue spray. If you already have a full-blown aphid infestation, a single JA spray won’t wipe them all out – it just stops them from spreading as fast. Second, they’re super crop-specific. What works on tomatoes might not work on grapes, and what works on soybeans won’t do squat on wheat. Third, the dose is everything. Too little, and the plant doesn’t trigger its defenses. Too much, and you can mess up the plant’s growth – like, if you overdo JA on roses, you get way too many thorns and the flowers don’t bloom right. We’ve been refining our extraction processes for years to get consistent, safe doses that work for different crops, which is what makes us different from just buying random plant extracts from a random seller.
I also want to talk about something called tritrophic interactions, because that’s a big win I didn’t expect when we first started testing. Tritrophic means the interaction between plants, pests, and the pest’s natural enemies – like ladybugs, lacewings, parasitic wasps. A trial in France on apple orchards found that spraying a low dose of SA (plant-derived, of course) on apple trees didn’t just repel aphids – it also made the leaves release a smell that attracts ladybugs. So not only were fewer aphids moving in, the ladybugs that were drawn by the smell ate the ones that did show up. That’s like free, natural pest control you get just by treating your plants’ PGR levels. Way better than using synthetic pesticides that kill ladybugs along with aphids.
Of course, there are gaps in the science here, which is why we’re still testing this stuff every day. For example, how do these PDPGRs work in different climates? If you’re farming in a super hot, dry area, does JA work the same as it does in a cool greenhouse? We’ve done some trials in Texas on hot-weather tomatoes, and so far it’s been solid, but we’re still working on adjusting doses for different temperatures. Also, what about long-term use? If you spray PDPGRs on your crops every month, will the plants eventually stop responding? Early data says no, because it’s triggering their own natural defense pathways, not overwhelming them, but we’re still tracking that.
Wait, and let’s address the elephant in the room: is this safe? Because that’s the biggest reason people are shifting away from synthetic pesticides. PDPGRs are derived from plants, right? So when you spray them on crops, they break down super fast – like, most of them are gone within 7 to 10 days, no toxic residue left. We’ve had third-party testing done, and our PDPGRs are safe for bees, birds, mammals, even fish. That’s a huge deal for organic farmers too – most of our products are OMRI-listed, so they can be used in certified organic operations. That’s a market that’s growing like crazy, and farmers in that space are hungry for alternatives to synthetic pest control.
Let me throw in a quick example of a customer we’ve worked with to make this real. Last year, a small organic vegetable farm in Ohio was dealing with a massive cabbage looper problem – those green caterpillars that eat holes in broccoli, kale, and cabbage. They’d been using Bt, but the looper was building up resistance, and they were losing 20% of their crop. We suggested they add a plant-derived JA spray to their regular Bt routine, applied when the transplants went out. The result? Their crop loss dropped to 5% that season, and they didn’t have to use extra Bt. They saved money, their produce was organic, and the customers loved that their veggies had no synthetic residues. That’s exactly the kind of win we care about.
But again, it’s not a silver bullet. If you have a severe, existing pest infestation, PDPGRs work best as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) plan, not alone. Pair them with neem oil, encourage beneficial insects, rotate crops, and use PDPGRs as that extra layer of defense. That’s how you get the best results without harming the environment.
So to circle back to the original question: can plant-derived PGRs be used to control plant pests? The short answer is yes – but not in the way you think. They don’t act like traditional pesticides that kill bugs on contact. They work by boosting the plant’s own natural defenses, repelling pests, attracting beneficial insects, and even reducing the damage from fungal pathogens. They’re safe for the environment, safe for pollinators, and great for organic operations, which is why we’re so passionate about them.
If you’re a farmer, gardener, or landscape manager who’s tired of synthetic pesticides harming your crops or the planet, and you want to try a more natural approach with PDPGRs, we’re here to help. We’ve got data sheets for different crops, can help you figure out the right dose for your specific situation, and can work with you to build an IPM plan that fits your needs. No pushy sales stuff, just real advice based on the trials and work we’ve done with other growers.
If you’re ready to chat about how plant-derived PGRs can help you control pests while keeping your crops healthy, feel free to reach out and connect with us to discuss your needs. We’re happy to answer any questions you have, walk you through our products, or even share more trial data we’ve compiled.
Microbial Pesticides References
- Zhang, Y., et al. (2021). Plant-derived jasmonic acid for spider mite management in greenhouse tomatoes. Journal of Applied Entomology, 145(8), 987-995.
- Lopez, M., et al. (2022). Salicylic acid root drenches reduce corn rootworm damage in field-grown soybeans. Crop Protection, 156, 105987.
- Dubois, K., et al. (2020). Tritrophic interactions induced by salicylic acid in apple orchards enhance natural enemy attraction to aphid pests. Biological Control, 151, 104382.
- Miller, S. A., et al. (2023). Abscisic acid applications reduce aphid infestations and powdery mildew severity in leafy greens. HortScience, 58(3), 412-418.
- OMRI. (2024). Organic Materials Review Institute Listings: Plant-Derived Growth Regulators. Accessed June 2024.
Grow Plus Crop Protection Co., Ltd.
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