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VOL. 1, ISSUE 1 (2025)
Synergistic effects of biocontrol agents on Tuta absoluta: Integrated approaches for sustainable pest management
Authors
Faten AA Badr
Abstract
The tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta
(Meyrick), has emerged as one of the most devastating pests of solanaceous
crops worldwide, causing significant economic losses in tomato production
systems. Traditional chemical control methods have proven inadequate due to the
pest's rapid development of resistance and its cryptic feeding behavior within
leaf mesophyll tissues. This study investigates the synergistic effects of
combining multiple biocontrol agents, including entomopathogenic fungi (Beauveria
bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae), parasitoid wasps (Trichogramma
achaeae, Necremnus tutae), and predatory arthropods (Macrolophus
pygmaeus, Nesidiocoris tenuis) for enhanced control of T.
absoluta. Our research employed laboratory bioassays, greenhouse trials,
and field experiments to evaluate mortality rates, population suppression, and
economic thresholds under various biocontrol combinations. Results demonstrated
that integrated biocontrol approaches achieved 78-92% pest suppression compared
to 45-65% for single-agent treatments. The combination of B. bassiana
with T. achaeae showed the highest synergistic index (SI = 2.3), while
triple combinations including predatory mirid bugs enhanced long-term
population stability. These findings provide evidence-based recommendations for
sustainable T. absoluta management strategies that reduce reliance on
synthetic pesticides while maintaining crop productivity and ecosystem health.
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Pages:15-20
How to cite this article:
Faten AA Badr "Synergistic effects of biocontrol agents on <i>Tuta absoluta</i>: Integrated approaches for sustainable pest management". World Journal of Entomology, Vol 1, Issue 1, 2025, Pages 15-20
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