Education

Ph.D. (Entomology) (1981), University of California, Davis
M.Sc. (Zoology) (1977), University of British Columbia
B.Sc. (Zoology) (1975), University of British Columbia

Research Interests

• Development of botanical insecticides and antifeedants. Collaborating with university and industrial partners, we have investigated the development of botanical insecticides derived from the neem tree (Azadirachta indica), from medicinal plants and timber species of southeast Asia and Central America, and from tall oil, a byproduct of the pulp and paper industry. Studies have included isolation and identification of active principles, modes-of-action against pest insects, effects on natural enemies and fish, and efficacy under greenhouse and field conditions. We are currently collaborating on the development of essential oil-based pesticides for EcoSMART Technologies Inc. (USA).

• Behavioral and physiological effects of plant defensive chemicals on insects. We have investigated the effects of mixtures of plant chemicals on insect feeding and on the development of resistance to botanical insecticides. Studies have characterized habituation to feeding deterrents in caterpillars, the metabolism of plant defensive chemicals by herbivorous insects, and the pharmacokinetics and fate of plant chemicals in insects. 

Research Projects

• Development of essential oil-based pesticides: we are developing insecticides, miticides, fungicides and herbicides using various plant essential oils as the active ingredients. EcoSMART Technologies sells products of this type for the agricultural, industrial and consumer markets in the USA. We are developing improved agricultural pesticides through enhanced formulations and in mixture with other botanical products. We are also investigating the behavioral effects of monoterpenoids in insects and the environmental fate of these compounds.

• Development of non-toxic crop protection chemicals that mimic naturally occurring bioactive odorants and tastants, and that are relatively easily prepared from commodity chemicals. Because host plant detection is essential to the larval and adult stages of this moth species consequently leading to crop damage, we are targeting this chemical communication system with aromatic odorants that interfere with larval feeding or the oviposition behavior of adult moths, without causing toxic effects to the insect (in collaboration with Prof. Erika Plettner, Simon Fraser University). 

Teaching

APBI/BIOL 327 - Introduction to Entomology 
APBI 428 - Integrated Pest Management 
PHAR 448 - Environmental & Cellular Toxicology (25%) 
PLNT 532 - Advanced Insect Physiology

Research Publications 2005-2009

Refereed Research Papers (last five years)

Akhtar, Y., I. Shikano and M.B. Isman (2009) Topical application of a plant extract to different life stages of Trichoplusia ni fails to influence feeding or oviposition behaviour. Entomol. exp. appl. 132: 275-282.

Jiang, Z., Y. Akhtar, R. Bradbury, X. Zhang and M.B. Isman (2009) Comparative toxicity of essential oils of Litsea pungens and Litsea cubeba and blends of their major constituents against the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni. J. Agric. Food Chem. 57: 4833-4837.

Shikano I. and M.B. Isman (2009) A sensitive period for larval gustatory memory influencing subsequent oviposition choice by the cabbage looper moth, Trichoplusia ni. Animal Behaviour 77: 247-251.

Cutler, G.C., K. Ramanaidu, T. Astakie and M.B. Isman. (2009) Green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae), reproduction during exposure to sublethal concentrations of imidacloprid and azadirachtin. Pest Mgmt. Sci. 65: 205-209.

Isman, M.B., J.A. Wilson and R. Bradbury. (2008) Insecticidal activities of commercial rosemary oils (Rosmarinus officinalis) against larvae of Pseudaletia unipuncta and Trichoplusia ni in relation to their chemical compositions. Pharmaceut. Biol. 46: 82- 87.

Sackett, T.E., G.H.N. Towers and M.B. Isman. (2007) Effects of furoquinoline alkaloids on the growth and feeding of two polyphagous lepidopterans. Chemoecology 17: 97-101.

Akhtar, Y., Y.-R. Yeoung and M.B. Isman. (2008) Comparative bioactivity of selected extracts from Meliaceae and some commercial botanical insecticides against two noctuid caterpillars, Trichoplusia ni and Pseudaletia unipuncta. Phytochemistry Reviews 7: 77-88.

Akhtar, Y., M.B. Isman, P.M. Daduraru, S. Nagabandi, R. Nair and E. Plettner. (2007) Screening of dialkoxy benzenes and disubstituted cyclopentene derivatives against the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni, for the discovery of new feeding and oviposition deterrents. J. Agric. Food Chem. 55: 10323-10330.

Cameron, J.H., M.B. Isman and M.K. Upadhyaya (2007). Variability in response to toosendanin in a laboratory colony of Trichoplusia ni. Phytoparasitica 35: 119-122

Miresmailli, S. and M.B. Isman. (2006) Efficacy and persistence of rosemary oil as an acaricide against twospotted spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) on greenhouse tomato. J. Econ. Entomol. 99: 2015-2023.

Srikrishnaraj, K.A. and M.B. Isman (2006) Toxicity of a crude seed extract of Annona squamosa (Annonaceae) to larvae of Aedes aegypti and A. atropalpus (Diptera: Culicidae). Biopestic. Int. 2: 73-78.

Bainard, L.D., M.B. Isman and M.K. Upadhyaya (2006) Phytotoxicity of clove oil and its primary constituent eugenol and the role of leaf epicuticular wax in the susceptibility to these essential oils. Weed Sci. 54: 833-837.

Miresmailli, S., R. Bradbury and M.B. Isman. (2006) Comparative toxicity of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil and blends of its major constituents against Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) on two different host plants. Pest Mgmt. Sci., 62: 366-371.

Wilson, J.A. and M.B. Isman. (2006) Influence of essential oils on toxicity and pharmacokinetics of the plant toxin thymol in the larvae of Tricholplusia ni. Can. Entomol. 138: 578-589.

Waliwitiya, R., R.S. Vernon, M.B. Isman and A. Riseman. (2005) Screening of monoterpenoids to guard corn seeds/seedlings from Agriotes obscurus (Coleoptera: Elateridae) feeding injury. Biopestic. Intl. 1: 185-192.

Waliwitiya, R., M.B. Isman, R.S. Vernon and A. Riseman. (2005) Insecticidal activity of selected monoterpenoids and rosemary oil to Agriotes obscurus (Coleoptera: Elateridae). J. Econ. Entomol. 98: 1560-1565.

Passreiter, C.M., Y. Akhtar and M.B. Isman. (2005) Insecticidal activity of the essential oil of Ligusticum mutellina roots. Z. Naturforsch. 60c: 411-414.

Yeoung, Y.-R., Y. Akhtar and M.B. Isman. (2005) Evaluation of bioassay methods to determine mortality of cabbage loopers, Trichoplusia ni (Noctuidae), from two botanical insecticides. Biopestic. Intl. 1: 38-45.

Chow, J.K., Y. Akhtar and M.B. Isman. The effects of larval experience with a complex plant latex on subsequent feeding and oviposition by the cabbage looper moth: Trichoplusia ni (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Chemoecology, in press.

Passreiter, C.M., Y. Akhtar and M.B. Isman. Insecticidal activity of the essential oil of Ligusticum mutellina roots. Z. Naturforsch., in press.

Wilson, J.A. and M.B. Isman. Influence of essential oils on toxicity and pharmacokinetics of the plant toxin thymol in the larvae of Tricholplusia ni. Can. Entomol., in press.

Wanner, K.W., D.A. Theilmann, M.B. Isman, Q. Feng and E. Plettner. (2005) Developmental expression patterns of four chemosensory protein genes from the Eastern spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana. Insect Molec. Biol. 14: 289-300.
 

Refereed Review Papers (last four years)

Isman (2010) Botanical insecticides, deterrents, repellents and oils. In: Industrial Crops and Uses (B. Singh, ed.), CAB International, in press.
Miresmailli, M., D. Badulescu, M. Mahdaviani, R.H. Zumar and M.B. Isman (2010) Integrating plant chemical ecology, sensors and artificial intelligence for accurate pest monitoring. In: Tomatoes: Agricultural Practices, Pathogen Interactions and Health Effects (E.D. Aube and F.H. Poole, eds.), Nova, New York, in press.

Isman, M.B. (2008) Botanical insecticides: For richer, for poorer. Pest Mgmt Sci. 64: 8-11.

Isman, M.B., C.M. Machial, S. Miresmailli and L.D. Bainard (2007) Essential oil-based pesticides: new insights from old chemistry, pp. 201-209. In: Pesticide Chemistry (H. Ohkawa, H. Miyagawa and P. Lee, eds.), Wiley-VCH, Weinheim.

Isman, M.B. and Y. Akhtar (2007) Plant natural products as a source for developing environmentally acceptable insecticides, pp. 235-248. In: Insecticides Design Using Advanced Technologies (I. Ishaaya, R. Nauen and A.R. Horowitz, eds.), Springer Verlag, Berlin.

Isman, M.B. (2006) Pesticides based on plant essential oils: From traditional practice to commercialization, pp. 29-44 In: Naturally Occurring Bioactive Compounds, M. Rai and M.C. Carpinella (eds.), Elsevier BV.

Isman, M.B. (2006) The role of botanical insecticides, deterrents and repellents in modern agriculture and an increasingly regulated world. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 51: 45-66.

Isman, M.B. (2005) Tropical forests as sources of natural insecticides. Rec. Adv. Phytochem. 39: 145-161.

Isman, M.B. (2005) Problems and opportunities for the commercialization of botanical insecticides, pp. 283-291. In: Biopesticides of Plant Origin, C. Regnault-Roger, B.J.R. Philogene and C.Vincent (eds.), Lavoisier Tech & Doc.
 

Additional Activities

2011 Gold Medal Award, Entomological Society of Canada

2004 Peter Wall Distinguished Scholar, Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies, UBC

Editorial Board Member: Journal of Economic Entomology (Subject Editor, Ecotoxicology),

Environmental Entomology, Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Phytoparasitica, Biopesticides International