Future and Prospect use of Pyrethrum (Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium) as Part of the Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) Tool in Turkey

Abstract

Nowadays, immediate environmental friendly solutions such as the use of biopesticides and other methods to control and manage pests are well needed. They are imperative due to the continuous accumulation of toxic residues from synthetic insecticides into the environment, the contamination of global agro-ecosystem and resistance of certain insects and pathogens. The global renewed interest of botanical pesticides does not leave aside Turkey. Thus, many environmental reports pointed out contaminations in different regions of Turkey by chemical pesticide residues, like lambda-cyhalothrin in some conventional grapes farming in the Aegean region. The use of botanical pesticides like Pyrethrin extracted from Pyrethrum’s flowers (Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium) is part of sustainable agriculture goals to reduce the incidence of pests and diseases without any alteration to the natural balance. The purpose of this review is to analyse and identify the possibilities of Pyrethrum production in Turkey. Various research works around the world were compiled and some key informants were correlated to existing researches in Turkey. Subsequently, it was found that the Black-Sea region of Turkey has great potential in the growing and industrial production of Pyrethrum by its weather patterns (temperatures, pluviometry and humidity) and soil characteristics. The region has a similar climate with the East-African high-lands well-known for Pyrethrum production. Thus, the country has shown great technological advances and the capacity to produce vegetative and disease-free clones for other ornamental plants by using tissue culture techniques. Therefore, the multiplication of high-quality vegetative clones of Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium and their maintenance can sustain commercial and long term production of Pyrethrum in Turkey.