Plant Protect. Sci., X:X | DOI: 10.17221/90/2025-PPS

Azadirachtin as a sustainable tool for zero pesticide residue production: Residue dissipation in open-field tomato productionOriginal Paper

Tahseen Chikte ORCID...¹, Václav Psota ORCID...³, Michal Kumšta², Tomáš Kopta ORCID...¹

¹ Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University, Lednice, Czech Republic

² Department of Viticulture and Enology, Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University, Lednice, Czech Republic

³ Farma Bezdinek s.r.o., Dolni Lutyne, Czech Republic

The growing demand for vegetables free from pesticide residues has fuelled the search for sustainable pest management solutions. This study assessed the efficacy of azadirachtin, a neem-derived biopesticide, in achieving no detectable pesticide residues in tomato production under open-field conditions. The experiment, conducted from April to September 2024, included a systematic application and residue analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The results showed that azadirachtin degraded rapidly, with residual levels in leaves, green fruits, and mature fruits falling below the detection threshold (0.01 mg/kg) after 8–10 days following treatment. The statistical analysis revealed strong time-dependent residue dissipation, with little systemic buildup in fruit tissues. The findings suggest that azadirachtin is a viable, environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic pesticides, aligning with food safety requirements and customer preferences for pesticide residue-free fruit. Future research should investigate the ecological factors that affect degradation rates to optimise its application in diverse agro-climatic conditions.

Keywords: pesticide-free vegetables; sustainable pest management; neem-derived biopesticide; liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS); residue analysis; synthetic pesticides; degradation rate

Received: June 6, 2025; Revised: September 29, 2025; Accepted: October 10, 2025; Prepublished online: March 27, 2026