A natural pesticide: Ginkgo biloba

Organic market gardeners could look forward to the development of a new, natural pest control thanks to University of Waikato student research. The extract from the ginkgo biloba tree has revealed its potential to act as an environmentally friendly pesticide.

University of Waikato's biochemical engineering student Richard Gubb conducted the research under the supervision of Professor Alan Langdon and Dr. Giridhar Nair.

 
Mr Gubb said the ginkgo biloba was one of the oldest trees on earth, and often referred to as a living fossil. Part of the reason for its longevity was its high resistance to pests, which was attributed to toxic compounds produced naturally by the tree.

 
Mr Gubb's project successfully demonstrated the feasibility of using aqueous, organic ginkgo biloba extract as a natural pesticide.

 
Lab tests showed snails were repelled from eating lettuce leaves coated with the extract. Further research is now proposed.