Silicon Helps Tomatoes Fight the Pest Tuta absoluta

A team of entomologists and botanists from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology in Nairobi (Kenya) and the University of Pretoria (South Africa) has discovered that adding silicon to the soil can significantly assist tomato plants in combating the aggressive pest – the South American tomato moth Tuta absoluta.

This is reported by AgroReview

Threat from Tuta absoluta

This pest has migrated to North America, Europe, and Africa, where its larvae have become a major threat to crops, causing billions of dollars in damage each year. Despite numerous efforts, the pests have proven resistant to most chemical control methods, prompting scientists to seek new effective solutions.

The Impact of Silicon on Plants

Botanists have long been aware of the positive effects of silicon on certain plants in their fight against pests. The research team decided to investigate whether this chemical element could help tomatoes combat the moth larvae. They added various amounts of silicon to soil samples used for growing tomatoes and exposed them to the pest.

The study found that the addition of silicon promoted the formation of dark slime at the base of the fine hairs on the plant stems. Observations showed that the moths preferred to lay their eggs on this slime rather than on the plant leaves.

When the larvae hatched, they consumed the slime, which lacked nutrients, leading to their starvation and death.

The researchers also noted that the slime caused changes in the microbiome of the larvae, which in turn affected their excretions, releasing gases that attracted other insects that feed on the larvae. The research team emphasizes that their work is just the first step in using silicon to protect tomato plants and hopes for further testing to confirm its effectiveness.

Also read: Quarantine imposed in Mykolaiv region due to Tuta absoluta.