Scientists have discovered that adding silicon to soil can transform tomato plants into highly effective pest killers potentially reducing the need for chemical pesticides. A new study reveals that silicon triggers a complex defense mechanism in tomato plants leading to the production of a mysterious sugary goo that lures and ultimately starves invasive pinworm larvae.
The South American tomato pinworm (Tuta absoluta), a pest responsible for billions of dollars in crop losses across four continents has developed resistance to many chemical pesticides. This has hit small-scale farmers in Africa particularly hard, according to researchers from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Kenya. Seeking an alternative scientists found that silicon nanoparticles significantly enhance tomatoes natural defenses.
When tomato plants were treated with silicon they excreted a dark sticky substance from tiny hair-like structures on their stems. This sugary “larval toffee” misled pinworm moths into laying eggs on stems rather than leaves. However substance lacked the right nutrients for caterpillar growth ultimately starving them. Additionally, the caterpillars’ droppings released gases that attracted natural predators further reducing pinworm survival.
The study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that silicon-based treatments could revolutionize pest control in agriculture. Researchers are now working on optimizing silicon formulations to boost crop yields while strengthening natural defenses against pests.
