Combining Host Plant Resistance, Selective Insecticides, and Biological Control Agents for Integrated Management of Tuta absoluta

Abstract

Combination of pest management strategies that minimize pesticide use and conserve natural enemies is important for a sustainable environment. Overreliance on synthetic insecticides in the management of Tuta absoluta has led to pesticide resistance leading to difficulties in managing the pest. In this regard, alternative measures need to be put in place to reduce the effects of this pest. The objective of this study was, therefore, to assess the effectiveness of host plant resistance, biological control, and selective insecticides when used in combination, in the management of T. absoluta in tomato production. The study was set up in a greenhouse in a completely randomized design involving two tomato varieties, an insecticide (chlorantraniliprole), and a biological control agent(Macrolophus pygmaeus), applied singly or in combination. Data were collected on T. absoluta damage from the lower, intermediate, and upper leaves. The results from this study show that a combination of insecticide with a moderately resistant variety had a significantly lower T. absoluta damage as compared with a susceptible variety combined with an insecticide. However, the moderately resistant variety when combined with insecticide showed no effect when the biological control agent was added. The susceptible variety significantly reduced T. absoluta damage when combined with the biological control agent. These results indicate that treatment combinations in insect pest management can be utilized. The present study results indicate that using a moderately resistant variety (Riogrande VF) in combination with the insecticide chlorantraniliprole (Coragen®) and a susceptible variety (Pesa F1) in combination with the biological control agent (M. pygmaeus) can improve T. absoluta management. Under good habitat management, the susceptible variety will perform equally as the moderately resistant variety due to suppression of the T. absoluta populations by natural enemies. These findings show the importance of environmental conservation both by enhancing natural enemy abundance and use of selective insecticide in the management of T. absoluta in tomato production. Combinations in this present study are likely to reduce insecticide doses, thereby reducing the cost of production and enhancing environmental compatibility with natural enemies.

Transcriptomic analysis of the defense response in “Cabernet Sauvignon” grape leaf induced by Apolygus lucorum feeding

“…As a significant agricultural pest in China (Pan et al, 2013 ), Apolygus lucorum (Meyer‐Dür) has caused increasing harm to wine and grape cultivation areas in recent years, becoming one of the most important control targets for grapes (Pan et al, 2021 ). Currently, most of the cultivation areas use broad‐spectrum chemicals to kill A. lucorum (Stevens et al, 2012 ), which pollutes the environment and also leaves residue that is harmful to humans and other animals (Wangari Nderitu et al, 2020 ). In the long term, the effective way to fundamentally limit the damage caused by A. lucorum is to improve the resistance of crops to pests, such as by identifying resistance genes and cultivating new resistant varieties (Liu et al, 2019 ).…”

Farmers' perception and adoption of management practices against tomato damage by tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta) in Pokhara, Nepal

“…Different management practices against it include cultural, physical, chemical attractants (such as pheromone), botanicals (such as neem-based products, jholmola homemade biopesticide and biofertilizer), and chemical pesticides. Although the use of chemical pesticides is the most commonly used control measure against TLM, the development of resistance against common pesticides can be a limiting factor to its effectiveness (Upreti et al, 2020;Wangari Nderitu et al, 2020). Cultural methods, including proper greenhouse structures, removing infected organs, and avoiding alternate host plants, may be necessary for managing TLM (Desneux et al, 2010).…”

Conservation agriculture based crop management practices impact diversity and population dynamics of the insect-pests and their natural enemies in agroecosystems

“…However, the benefits of tillage could be temporary as long-term studies have shown degradation of soil structure, compaction, erosion of top soil, and extinction of soil-dwelling fauna as some of the consequences of it (Bhardwaj et al, 2016;Singh et al, 2020;Dey and Karmakar, 2021;Ghabeish et al, 2023). Other consequences of persistent use of conventional farming practices include depletion of natural resources (Kakraliya et al, 2018), biodiversity loss (Shaxson et al, 2008), environmental pollution (Stevens et al, 2012), and human health hazards (Nderitu et al, 2020). To minimize these negative impacts, particularly on soil and the environment, a new concept of farming called conservation agriculture (CA) took shape in the United States of America first and later spread throughout the world (Bhan and Behera, 2014).…”