Effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the biological and demographic parameters of the tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta and the biochemical traits of tomato plants

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Plant Sciences, Moghan College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

2 Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

Abstract

Plant nutritional management can influence the biological performance and population dynamics of insect pests through alterations in the physiological and biochemical characteristics of the host plant. In the present study, the effects of different fertilizer sources, including humic acid, vermicompost, manure, nitrogen, and NPK, on the biological traits and life table parameters of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) as well as certain biochemical characteristics of tomato plants were investigated. The results revealed that fertilizer type had significant effects on the development, survival, reproduction, and population growth parameters of T. absoluta. The longest larval and pre-adult developmental periods, along with the lowest immature survival rates, were observed in the humic acid and vermicompost treatments. Furthermore, the lowest fecundity (280 egg), net reproductive rate (R0) (79.35 offspring), and intrinsic rate of increase (r) (0.101 day-1), were recorded in the humic acid treatment, whereas the highest values of these parameters were observed in the nitrogen treatment (363.03 egg, 217.82 offspring, and 0.146 day-1). Application of humic acid and vermicompost significantly increased chlorophyll, carotenoid, total phenolic, and total flavonoid contents in tomato leaves, which were associated with prolonged developmental duration and reduced population growth indices of pest. The findings of the present study demonstrated that humic acid and vermicompost treatments had the greatest potential to suppress the population growth of T. absoluta and could therefore be considered promising components of its integrated management.

Keywords

References

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Plant Pest Research
Volume 16, Issue 2
September 2026
Pages 1-17

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  • Receive Date: 12 June 2026
  • Revise Date: 14 July 2026
  • Accept Date: 14 July 2026

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