{"id":508,"date":"2026-10-09T12:25:06","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T04:25:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wijnvergelijken.com\/blog\/?p=508"},"modified":"2026-10-09T12:25:06","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T04:25:06","slug":"can-plant-derived-pgrs-be-used-to-control-plant-pests-4052-22c6ba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.wijnvergelijken.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/09\/can-plant-derived-pgrs-be-used-to-control-plant-pests-4052-22c6ba\/","title":{"rendered":"Can plant – derived PGRs be used to control plant pests?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey everyone! Quick question \u2013 when you hear PGRs, what\u2019s the first thing that pops into your head? Most folks I talk to immediately go to \u201cauxins, gibberellins, things that make plants grow taller or flower faster.\u201d And yeah, that\u2019s definitely a big part of what we do here as a plant-derived PGR supplier. But lately, I\u2019ve 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<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Spoiler alert: it\u2019s way more complicated than a yes or no. But it\u2019s also one of the most exciting areas we\u2019re working on right now, and I wanted to break this down in plain speak \u2013 no super jargon-heavy science, just what we\u2019ve seen in trials, what\u2019s actually working, and what\u2019s still up in the air. Because at the end of the day, we\u2019re not just a supplier here. We\u2019re people who get that your crops\u2019 success means your success, and anything that makes that easier (without messy synthetic chemicals) is worth talking about.<\/p>\n

First, let\u2019s 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 \u2013 neem can burn plants if you spray it in the sun, Bt only works on caterpillars, not aphids or mites. Plant-derived PGRs (let\u2019s call them PDPGRs for short, that\u2019s way easier) are different because they\u2019re not built to kill pests directly \u2013 they mess with the plant\u2019s own defenses, or even the pest\u2019s ability to feed or reproduce. That\u2019s a game-changer because pests can\u2019t build up resistance to a plant\u2019s own defenses as fast as they do to synthetic or even standard biopesticides.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the most well-researched stuff here \u2013 jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA). Both are classic PDPGRs, right? JA\u2019s the one that tells a plant \u201chey, a bug just chewed on your leaves, get ready to fight,\u201d and SA is for when it\u2019s 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 \u2013 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t do much. The researchers applied a root-drench of SA \u2013 again, plant-derived from willow bark, another PDPGR we offer \u2013 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\u2019s huge for farmers who\u2019ve been battling rootworms for decades.<\/p>\n

But wait, it\u2019s not just defense hormones. There\u2019s 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\u2019t pierce the surface to suck sap. Even better, it reduced powdery mildew too \u2013 that fuzzy white mold that ruins salad greens. That\u2019s two pests (well, an aphid and a fungus) controlled with one spray.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s get real \u2013 it\u2019s not all perfect. I\u2019ve seen a lot of hype online about PDPGRs being the end of all pest problems, but that\u2019s 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\u2019t wipe them all out \u2013 it just stops them from spreading as fast. Second, they\u2019re super crop-specific. What works on tomatoes might not work on grapes, and what works on soybeans won\u2019t do squat on wheat. Third, the dose is everything. Too little, and the plant doesn\u2019t trigger its defenses. Too much, and you can mess up the plant\u2019s growth \u2013 like, if you overdo JA on roses, you get way too many thorns and the flowers don\u2019t bloom right. We\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n

I also want to talk about something called tritrophic interactions, because that\u2019s a big win I didn\u2019t expect when we first started testing. Tritrophic means the interaction between plants, pests, and the pest\u2019s natural enemies \u2013 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\u2019t just repel aphids \u2013 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\u2019s like free, natural pest control you get just by treating your plants\u2019 PGR levels. Way better than using synthetic pesticides that kill ladybugs along with aphids.<\/p>\n

Of course, there are gaps in the science here, which is why we\u2019re still testing this stuff every day. For example, how do these PDPGRs work in different climates? If you\u2019re farming in a super hot, dry area, does JA work the same as it does in a cool greenhouse? We\u2019ve done some trials in Texas on hot-weather tomatoes, and so far it\u2019s been solid, but we\u2019re 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\u2019s triggering their own natural defense pathways, not overwhelming them, but we\u2019re still tracking that.<\/p>\n

Wait, and let\u2019s address the elephant in the room: is this safe? Because that\u2019s 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 \u2013 like, most of them are gone within 7 to 10 days, no toxic residue left. We\u2019ve had third-party testing done, and our PDPGRs are safe for bees, birds, mammals, even fish. That\u2019s a huge deal for organic farmers too \u2013 most of our products are OMRI-listed, so they can be used in certified organic operations. That\u2019s a market that\u2019s growing like crazy, and farmers in that space are hungry for alternatives to synthetic pest control.<\/p>\n

Let me throw in a quick example of a customer we\u2019ve worked with to make this real. Last year, a small organic vegetable farm in Ohio was dealing with a massive cabbage looper problem \u2013 those green caterpillars that eat holes in broccoli, kale, and cabbage. They\u2019d 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\u2019t have to use extra Bt. They saved money, their produce was organic, and the customers loved that their veggies had no synthetic residues. That\u2019s exactly the kind of win we care about.<\/p>\n

But again, it\u2019s 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\u2019s how you get the best results without harming the environment.<\/p>\n

So to circle back to the original question: can plant-derived PGRs be used to control plant pests? The short answer is yes \u2013 but not in the way you think. They don\u2019t act like traditional pesticides that kill bugs on contact. They work by boosting the plant\u2019s own natural defenses, repelling pests, attracting beneficial insects, and even reducing the damage from fungal pathogens. They\u2019re safe for the environment, safe for pollinators, and great for organic operations, which is why we\u2019re so passionate about them.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a farmer, gardener, or landscape manager who\u2019s tired of synthetic pesticides harming your crops or the planet, and you want to try a more natural approach with PDPGRs, we\u2019re here to help. We\u2019ve 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\u2019ve done with other growers.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re 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\u2019re happy to answer any questions you have, walk you through our products, or even share more trial data we\u2019ve compiled.<\/p>\n

Microbial Pesticides<\/a> References<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Zhang, Y., et al. (2021). Plant-derived jasmonic acid for spider mite management in greenhouse tomatoes. Journal of Applied Entomology, 145(8), 987-995.<\/li>\n
  2. Lopez, M., et al. (2022). Salicylic acid root drenches reduce corn rootworm damage in field-grown soybeans. Crop Protection, 156, 105987.<\/li>\n
  3. 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.<\/li>\n
  4. Miller, S. A., et al. (2023). Abscisic acid applications reduce aphid infestations and powdery mildew severity in leafy greens. HortScience, 58(3), 412-418.<\/li>\n
  5. OMRI. (2024). Organic Materials Review Institute Listings: Plant-Derived Growth Regulators. Accessed June 2024.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Grow Plus Crop Protection Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    As one of the most professional plant-derived pgr manufacturers and suppliers in China, we’re featured by quality products and good service. Please rest assured to wholesale bulk plant-derived pgr at competitive price from our factory. Also, quotation is available.
    Address: Room 1101, Building 26, Zhongke Innovation Plaza, No. 150 Pubin Road, Pukou District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Provience
    E-mail: Lily@natur-sim.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.gpglo.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Hey everyone! Quick question \u2013 when you hear PGRs, what\u2019s the first thing that pops into … Can plant – derived PGRs be used to control plant pests?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":324,"featured_media":508,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[471],"class_list":["post-508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-plant-derived-pgr-455a-238034"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.wijnvergelijken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/508","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.wijnvergelijken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.wijnvergelijken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.wijnvergelijken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/324"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.wijnvergelijken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=508"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.wijnvergelijken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/508\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.wijnvergelijken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/508"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.wijnvergelijken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=508"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.wijnvergelijken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=508"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.wijnvergelijken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}