Effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on life history parameters of the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta on two tomato cultivars

The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta, represents a significant threat to tomato production, particularly in greenhouse environments across various regions globally. Enhancing tomato production necessitates using fertilization inputs, which in turn may impact plant-insect interactions through bottom-up effects. This study examines the impact of conventional fertilizers, including humic, vermicompost, nitrogen, and NPK, applied at their recommended dosages, on the life history traits of T. absoluta in two tomato cultivars under controlled laboratory settings. Significant variations were observed in the pre-adult period, fecundity, oviposition period, and life table parameters of T. absoluta among the different fertilization treatments. In both cultivars, the most prolonged pre-adult period was recorded on the plants that received NPK treatment (28.4–33.3 day). Moreover, T. absoluta displayed the highest fecundity rates on control treatment (341.0–377.4 egg) and the lowest on NPK treatment (71.5–116.6 egg). The control group demonstrated the highest net reproductive rate (R₀), while the NPK treatments showed the lowest (22.6–38.9 offspring). The NPK treatment yielded the lowest intrinsic rate of increase (r) (0.096–0.098 day⁻¹). Different fertilizer treatments significantly influenced chemical composition of tomato leaves such as total chlorophyll, phenol, and flavonoid contents. The NPK treatment had the highest chemical contents, whereas the control treatment recorded the lowest levels. The potential association between chemical content and the life history attributes of T. absoluta is explored. The findings enhance our understanding of the interactions between crop fertilization practices and the efficacy of T. absoluta, which may prove advantageous in developing integrated pest management (IPM) programs for this pest.