Global Tomato Crops Under Siege as Researchers Seek Urgent Solutions

Tomato plants on four continents are already infected. This introduction of the South American tomato pinworm, or tomato leaf miner, was a huge blow to their continued existence. This new pest, Tuta absoluta, has caused the loss of billions of dollars in crops each year. During the past ten years, this invasive pest has spread and wreaked havoc on small-scale farmers in Africa. It stands as one of the largest economic irritants to farmers and the U.S. agricultural value chain. The pinworm’s increasing susceptibility to popular and widely applied deadly chemical pesticides highlights the growing demand for alternative management strategies.

The South American tomato pinworm is responsible for wide-spread destruction. Small-scale farmers, who often rely on the sale of their crops to make ends meet, are the most vulnerable to its effects. This pest has quickly made itself known as a serious issue in 11 countries across four continents. Our inability to kill it with traditional pesticides has pushed researchers to find creative ways to deal with it for a greater impact. According to Lawrence Datnoff, plant pathologist with Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, not all tomato plants absorb silicon equally well. This finding suggests a promising new strategy for controlling this devastating pest.

Their fellow scientists have been working diligently to develop new solutions. Among the most promising areas of study are the effects of silicon to induce plant resistance against the South American tomato pinworm. Further robust evidence is required to fully ascertain silicon’s effectiveness in this regard. Dr. Fathiya Khamis, a molecular biologist at ICIPE, underscores the urgency of developing innovative pest management strategies. This demand comes as a result of the pest’s resistance to commonly used chemical pesticides.

Smart management practices are key. The South American tomato pinworm would cause significant crop yield loss and would endanger farmers’ livelihoods. The pest’s known resistance to a number of traditional chemical controls leaves researchers challenged with discovering more sustainable, efficient alternatives.