The development of a commercially-available Neem seed kernel extract as a soil-applied systemic granular plant protection product

My PhD. thesis, “The development of a commercially-available Neem seed kernel extract as a soil-applied systemic granular plant protection product” at (University of Glasgow, 2010), investigates the formulation of neem seed kernel extract (NSKE)—rich in the insect-toxic compound azadirachtin A (aza A)—into a pelleted, soil-applied delivery system. Farah achieved high-purity aza A and found that while foliar sprays degrade quickly in sunlight, the pelleted formulation enables a controlled release into the soil, enhancing systemic uptake and stability in plant tissues (with an aza A half-life of ~9 days in leaves vs. ~1.6 days in soil). Tests confirmed the formulation’s effectiveness in protecting cabbage from pests for at least five weeks under greenhouse and field conditions, offering a more durable and environmentally compatible plant protection strategy