Sustainable Management of Nesidiocoris tenuis in tomato

Sustainable management of Nesidiocoris tenuis in tomato

The Mirid bug Nesidiocoris tenuis has become a serious problem in tomato cultivation in recent years. Although this bug fights whitefly and tomato leafminer, the insect causes such damage in the crop that growers tend to label it as a pest rather than a predator. These Mediterranean predators prick fruits and flowers and create necrotic rings, causing stems to break down and production to stagnate. They also hinder the growth of the plant, cause deformities, poor fruit setting, irregularly shaped fruits and sucking spots on the fruits. At present, Nesidiocoris tenuis can only be tackled by frequent spraying with broad spectrum chemical insecticides, which poses a risk to human health and the environment. In addition, the frequent use of chemicals encourages the development of resistance and disrupts the entire biological pest control system, thus giving other pests free rein.

The main objective of this PhD research is to develop an innovative integrated pest management (IPM) strategy for N. tenuis. The strategies used are selected on the basis of sustainability, effectiveness and applicability in conventional tomato cultivation. Concretely, work will be carried out on the level of detection, prevention and control, with a focus on the use of endophytic fungi and bacteria, among other things. Recent research has shown that certain endophytic microorganisms can indirectly protect plants against diseases and pests.