13 December 2022, US: Tuta absoluta (also known as Phthorimaea absoluta) is one of the most destructive plant-eating pests worldwide. It affects tomato plants and fresh tomatoes. And this causes high levels of crop loss. Without curbing its spread, its effects are devastating.
Tuta absoluta is a lepidopteran pest. It belongs to a group of insects that includes butterflies and moths. It causes significant crop losses in the Americas, where the pest originates. But recently, it has conquered Africa, Asia and Europe. This is due to the globalization of trade and commerce. It is well known that the movement of goods around the world contributes to the spread of pests and diseases.
Tuta absoluta has a significant impact on the economy. This makes his control critical. However, until now, management strategies have focused on chemical pesticides, leading to a high level of pesticide residues in the final product. In addition, another problem is that they pollute the environment and affect human health.
How can we manage Tuta absoluta without harming people or the environment?
Farmers are now using more sustainable strategies alongside chemical pest control. This involves an approach called biocontrol. Here, farmers use the natural enemies of pests against them. These natural enemies are also called biocontrol agents. They include many different organisms. For example, they include parasitoids. These are parasitic insects, such as small wasps, that live off other insects. They also include predatory arthropods (invertebrates) such as mites and insects. And they also include mushrooms that can kill insect pests.
Management of Tuta absoluta from a Plantwise perspective
The PlantwisePlus program led by CABI helps farmers address plant health problems. This includes Tuta absoluta. The program supports farmer advisory services, such as Plantwise plant clinics.
Herbalists run herbal clinics. Farmers can get practical plant health advice from the clinics. (Herbalists provide diagnosis and management advice for each crop). And this benefits farmers who need help with plant pests and diseases.
Plantwise in America
In Latin America and the Caribbean, Plantwise operates in the following countries:
Barbados
Bolivia
Brazil
Costa Rica
Grenada
Honduras
Jamaica
Nicaragua
PERU
Trinidad and Tobago
In Bolivia, plant clinics improve the technical knowledge of extension officers and farmers. There is evidence that the clinics have led to increased crop quality and yield.
In Bolivia and Costa Rica, Tuta absoluta is widespread. However, plant clinics enable us to understand the spread of pests. They help us identify the types of tomatoes that are most often affected. And it appears that the pest is most prevalent in Bolivia’s Santa Cruz department.
Management of pests such as Tuta absoluta in the Americas
In Bolivia, management approaches have changed for Tuta absoluta. Before 2021, chemical pesticides were the “things of the past” for pest control. But since 2012, herbalists have recommended that farmers use natural alternatives. The use of chemicals decreased, reaching levels between 35% and 49%. Meanwhile, alternative and more sustainable pest control practices grew. This included biological, ethological and cultural control.
Cultural control includes approaches such as crop rotation. It also includes pruning the lower leaves. And it can include the removal of crop residues and infected fruit. These approaches are part of integrated pest management (IPM).
In America, plant technicians and doctors were trained in IPM. Subsequently, farmers have steadily increased their use of IPM since 2014. IPM use reached levels of 35% and 31.8% in 2016 and 2017, respectively. These figures are similar to chemical control levels in 2016. Ethological control (use of pheromone traps) increased from 12% in 2014 to 15% in 2016. From 2017 to 2018, it reached from 25% to 27%.
Plantwise successfully controlling Tuta absoluta
Plantwise has changed the way farmers deal with pests. This includes Tuta absoluta. Farmers can supplement chemical control with more sustainable strategies. They can even completely replace chemical control. And this is partly due to the recommendations of herbalists.
These results should encourage governments to invest in natural pest control. It is definitely more efficient than managing the use and misuse of pesticides. This includes pollution, public health problems and re-emergence of pests.
Plantwise has given farmers the confidence to use natural pest control. Reducing the excessive use of insecticides on tomatoes gave excellent results. It shows the importance of providing growers with practical advice and the use of IPM to improve food safety and security. And overall, this improves the quality of life for farmers.
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