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Background <p>The tomato leafminer, <i>Tuta absoluta</i> (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a highly invasive pest that causes significant damages to tomato crops globally. Its resistance to commonly used chemical insecticides has made management increasingly difficult, prompting the need for sustainable, effective alternatives. This study investigated the efficacy of a Lebanese isolate of <i>Beauveria pseudobassiana</i> as a biological control agent against <i>T. absoluta</i>, compared its performance to <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> and conventional pesticide mixtures under both controlled, commercial production conditions</p> Results <p>Three preliminary cage experiments were conducted under controlled infestation conditions using larvae reared from field-collected adults. Conidial suspensions of <i>B. pseudobassiana</i> were applied following standard protocols. The fungal treatment achieved a 90.7% mortality rate at 20&#xa0;°C, closely matching <i>B. thuringiensis</i> (85.4%), and reached 100% mortality at 14&#xa0;°C. Subsequently, two field trials were carried out in commercial high-arched plastic tunnels under natural infestation. In these trials, <i>B. pseudobassiana</i> and <i>B. thuringiensis</i> significantly reduced leaf mine incidence, with control levels comparable to or exceeding those achieved by calendar-based chemical sprays. In fall production, <i>B. pseudobassiana</i> reduced leaf mines to 1.9 mines/leaf by week 11, outperforming chemical pesticides (3.6 mines/leaf) and performing similarly to <i>B. thuringiensis</i> (2.6 mines/leaf). In summer production, <i>B. pseudobassiana</i> maintained strong efficacy, resulting in 2.3 and 2.1 mines/leaf at weeks 3 and 4, respectively, compared to 3.1 and 5.8 mines/leaf for <i>B. thuringiensis</i>.</p> Conclusion <p>This is the first study to demonstrate the high efficacy of <i>B. pseudobassiana</i> in commercial tomato production, offering broader control than <i>B. thuringiensis</i>. These findings conclude that <i>B. pseudobassiana</i> is a viable alternative or complementary agent to <i>B. thuringiensis</i> in integrated pest management programs, supporting more sustainable tomato production, reduced insecticide use, and improved worker safety.</p>

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Effective control of tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) using the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria pseudobassiana Rehner & Humber in commercial high-arched plastic tunnels

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  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月30日

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  • Aya Fardoun,
  • Nour Ezzeddine,
  • Hagop S. Atamian,
  • Hana Sobh,
  • Houssam Shaib,
  • Yusuf Abou Jawdah

摘要

Background

The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a highly invasive pest that causes significant damages to tomato crops globally. Its resistance to commonly used chemical insecticides has made management increasingly difficult, prompting the need for sustainable, effective alternatives. This study investigated the efficacy of a Lebanese isolate of Beauveria pseudobassiana as a biological control agent against T. absoluta, compared its performance to Bacillus thuringiensis and conventional pesticide mixtures under both controlled, commercial production conditions

Results

Three preliminary cage experiments were conducted under controlled infestation conditions using larvae reared from field-collected adults. Conidial suspensions of B. pseudobassiana were applied following standard protocols. The fungal treatment achieved a 90.7% mortality rate at 20 °C, closely matching B. thuringiensis (85.4%), and reached 100% mortality at 14 °C. Subsequently, two field trials were carried out in commercial high-arched plastic tunnels under natural infestation. In these trials, B. pseudobassiana and B. thuringiensis significantly reduced leaf mine incidence, with control levels comparable to or exceeding those achieved by calendar-based chemical sprays. In fall production, B. pseudobassiana reduced leaf mines to 1.9 mines/leaf by week 11, outperforming chemical pesticides (3.6 mines/leaf) and performing similarly to B. thuringiensis (2.6 mines/leaf). In summer production, B. pseudobassiana maintained strong efficacy, resulting in 2.3 and 2.1 mines/leaf at weeks 3 and 4, respectively, compared to 3.1 and 5.8 mines/leaf for B. thuringiensis.

Conclusion

This is the first study to demonstrate the high efficacy of B. pseudobassiana in commercial tomato production, offering broader control than B. thuringiensis. These findings conclude that B. pseudobassiana is a viable alternative or complementary agent to B. thuringiensis in integrated pest management programs, supporting more sustainable tomato production, reduced insecticide use, and improved worker safety.