Biological Control Strategies for Invasive Pests in Tomato Crops

Tomato cultivation worldwide is threatened by invasive pests such as the tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta), which can inflict severe yield losses and undermine food security. Biological control offers an environmentally sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides by deploying natural enemies, microbial agents and habitat-based tactics. Predatory mirids and minute egg parasitoids can suppress larval and egg populations, while entomopathogenic fungi and bacteria target pests at different life stages. Companion planting and the manipulation of plant volatiles enhance the attraction of beneficial arthropods and deter pests. Integrating these approaches within an ecological framework reduces reliance on synthetic insecticides, curbs resistance development and preserves non-target organisms. Recent advances in climatic modelling, genetic tracing and molecular ecology are refining the deployment of biocontrol agents, enabling region-specific strategies that anticipate pest emergence and spread under evolving environmental conditions.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Temperature-dependent risk models have been developed to predict the establishment potential and generational frequency of invasive tomato pests under present and future climates. By simulating indices for establishment, generation number and activity, researchers have identified regions where biological control efforts should be prioritised, revealing a latitudinal shift in high-risk areas driven by warming trends. Such projections guide the timing and selection of biocontrol interventions in glasshouse and open-field systems.

Genetic studies tracing the invasion route of the tomato borer demonstrate that a single source population has colonised multiple continents. The resulting genetic uniformity suggests that biocontrol agents screened against one population may perform consistently elsewhere. This insight supports the identification of broadly effective natural enemies and streamlines quarantine measures by pinpointing the original pest source.

Biological Control Strategies for Invasive Pests in Tomato Crops publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in biological control strategies for invasive pests in tomato crops across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Tritrophic interaction: The dynamic relationship among plants, herbivorous pests and their natural enemies, mediated by chemical cues and behavioural responses.

Entomopathogens: Microbial organisms, such as bacteria or fungi, that infect and kill insect pests and are applied as biological insecticides.

Phenology model: A computational framework that relates temperature and other climatic variables to the timing and frequency of an organism’s life stages.

Volatile organic compounds: Low-molecular-weight chemicals released by plants that can attract or repel insects, influencing pest and predator behaviour.

References

1. Non-host plant odors influence the tritrophic interaction between tomato, its foliar herbivore Tuta absoluta and mirid predator Nesidiocoris tenuis. Frontiers in Plant Science (2023).
2. Biology, classification, and entomopathogen-based management and their mode of action on Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) in Asia. Frontiers in Microbiology (2024).
3. Predicting the impact of climate change on the potential distribution of the invasive tomato pinworm Phthorimaea absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Scientific Reports (2023).
4. Assessing European Egg Parasitoids as a Mean of Controlling the Invasive South American Tomato Pinworm Tuta absoluta. PLOS ONE (2012).
5. The tomato borer, Tuta absoluta, invading the Mediterranean Basin, originates from a single introduction from Central Chile. Scientific Reports (2015).