ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Influence of Insecticides on Physiological
and Biochemical Processes in Peach
Leaves (Prunus persica L.)
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University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Submission date: 2024-02-26
Final revision date: 2024-06-29
Acceptance date: 2024-07-24
Online publication date: 2024-11-13
Corresponding author
Slavica Vuković
University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
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ABSTRACT
Inappropriate insecticide application can lead to harmful effects on cultivated plants, causing
disruptions in physiological and enzymatic processes that ultimately impact overall yield
and result in the presence of pesticide residues. During 2020, the influence of six insecticides
(cyantraniliprole, chlorantraniliprole, spinetoram, indoxacarb, deltamethrin, pyriproxyfen,
and acetamiprid) on the chlorophyll, carotenoids, hydrogen-peroxide, and malondialdehyde in peach
leaves was assessed. Insecticides were applied in the recommended dose for the control of Grapholita
molesta, the main peach pest. The leaves were sampled three and seven days after the treatment,
and laboratory analysis of physiological and biochemical parameters was performed by spectrophotometer
on the same day. The obtained results indicate that after three days, chlorophyll (a+b) content decreased
(6.9-43.1%), while the carotenoid content increased (3.9-27.4%), compared to the control. After seven
days, chlorophyll (a+b) decreased from 7.3 to 38.4%, and also carotenoid in the treatments with
deltamethrin, pyriproxyfen, and acetamiprid (3.2-30.6%), while the other treatments showed an increase
(3.2-41.9%). The highest increase in hydrogen-peroxide concentration was obtained in the treatments
with spinetoram and deltamethrin (50-85%) after seven days. The concentration of malondialdehyde
in all samples was higher after three days (31-39.3 nmol/g) compared to the concentration seven days
after treatment (30-22.5 nmol/g). Results showed different biochemical reactions in peach leaves due to
the applied insecticides. Insecticides caused significant changes in the pigment content; however, these
changes were transient, so it is assumed that they do not remarkably affect the plant.