Authors : Anaswara Anil; Farida Bala Tanko

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 1 - January

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/yuaakp48

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/2zcx5c65

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26jan566

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Plant exposure to smoke-derived bioactive compounds has been increasingly recognized for its regulatory effects on growth, stress tolerance, and defense signaling, yet its role as a dual-function intervention against both abiotic stress– induced growth inhibition and insect herbivory remains poorly defined. In this study, we investigated the effects of a controlled polyherbal fumigation system on plant growth performance and disease mitigation under stress-prone conditions. A standardized botanical smoke formulation composed of neem (Azadirachta indica), turmeric (Curcuma longa), Calotropis gigantea, Boswellia serrata, and vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) was applied using defined exposure protocols across multiple experimental settings. The study integrated controlled-environment and open-field experiments to evaluate growth responses in representative crop species, alongside targeted curative and preventive assessments against severe mealybug (Pseudococcidae) infestation. Plant morphometric traits, pest progression dynamics, and post-treatment recovery were systematically monitored to assess both physiological and protective outcomes of fumigation. The results demonstrate that short-duration, low-intensity herbal smoke exposure can simultaneously alleviate stress-associated growth suppression and disrupt insect persistence without observable phytotoxic effects. Additionally, fumigation generated a transient protective zone that reduced pest establishment in untreated neighbouring plants. Collectively, these findings support botanical fumigation as a scalable, low-input strategy with potential applications in sustainable agriculture, particularly in environments where heat stress and insect pressure co-occur.  Index Terms Herbal fumigation refers to the controlled combustion of plant-derived materials to generate bioactive smoke capable of modulating plant growth responses and suppressing insect pests. Smoke-mediated plant responses encompass physiological, developmental, and defensive changes induced by exposure to volatile compounds released during botanical combustion. Heat stress mitigation denotes strategies aimed at reducing temperature-induced growth inhibition through combined biochemical and microclimatic interventions. Integrated pest management (IPM) involves the suppression of insect populations using chemical-free, ecologically compatible approaches that minimize environmental impact. Mealybug control describes the disruption of phloem-feeding insect establishment, survival, and persistence via smoke-based deterrent and curative mechanisms. Plant–insect interactions refer to the dynamic responses between host plants and herbivorous insects under simultaneous abiotic and biotic stress conditions. Sustainable agriculture encompasses low-input cultivation practices designed to maintain long-term productivity, ecological balance, and resource efficiency.

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