Increased susceptibility of the tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta to tomato plants strengthened with silver nanoparticles

Subject Areas : Journal of Animal Biology

Zahra Riaz Abdullah al-Tarsha ¹ , Shima Rahmani ^{2 *}

1 - Department of Plant Protection, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Department of Plant Protection, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2025-05-22 Accepted : 2025-08-03 Published : 2025-08-12

Keywords: Leaf-miner, silver nanoparticles, tomatoes, insecticide,

Abstract :

The tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta, is a significant pest of plants in the Solanaceae family, particularly tomatoes, and can destroy the entire crop if not managed properly. Because the frequent use of chemical insecticides is sometimes ineffective due to the concealed life of the insect during the larval stage, the potential for resistance, and undesirable environmental effects, it is advised to explore suitable and biocompatible alternative methods to combat this pest. One strategy to address this issue involves enhancing the host plant's resistance using silver nanoparticles. In this study, concentrations of 200, 400, 600, and 800 ppm of silver particles (39. 50 nm) were employed to develop and bolster the resistance of tomato plants against this moth pest. For this purpose, several physiological indicators of tomato plants were assessed. Additionally, several biological characteristics of the pest were examined, including the number of eggs laid and the mortality rates of eggs and larvae. The results indicated that as the concentration of nanoparticles increased, the antioxidant enzymes peroxidase and superoxide dismutase exhibited an upward trend. However, no significant changes were observed in the enzymes polyphenol oxidase and catalase. Furthermore, with increasing concentrations of silver nanoparticles, the total phenol content increased while the anthocyanin content decreased significantly (P < 0.05); however, no changes were noted in the total carbohydrate content. Moreover, significantly fewer eggs were laid in the group treated with silver nanoparticles, and the mean percentage of embryonic and larval mortality was lower (P < 0.05). This effect was particularly pronounced at the higher concentrations of 600 and 800 ppm. Hence, the application of silver nanoparticles can contribute to making tomato plants resistant to T. absoluta, and it could likely be used in the future as a safe alternative to conventional insecticides.

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