تاثیر مثبت پاشش برگی کود زیستی ورمی‌واش بر سلامت گیاه گوجه‌فرنگی و تأثیر منفی آن بر Tuta absoluta (Gelechiidae: Lepidoptera)

The tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a significant pest native to South America. This pest has a considerable impact on tomato production in many countries. This study examined the effects of vermiwash on the two-sex life table parameters of T. absoluta, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, detoxifying enzymes, and secondary metabolites in tomato plants. Tomato plants were sprayed three times at four-week intervals with a vermiwash solution at a ratio of 1:10 (vermiwash/water). Vermiwash significantly affected the population parameters of T. absoluta, the pest's enzyme activity, and the levels of secondary metabolites in the plant. The longest peradult duration was observed in insects feeding on plants treated with vermiwash (31.75 days). Additionally, feeding on vermiwash-treated plants led to a reduced preadult survival rate (0.40) compared to the control (0.80). Similarly, fecundity in the vermiwash treatment (75.50) was reduced compared to the control (96.92). Vermiwash treatment also significantly reduced the intrinsic rate of increase (r) (0.077 day-1) and the finite rate of increase (λ) (1.080 day-1) of the pest compared to the control (0.110 day-1 and 1.116 day-1, respectively). Measurements of antioxidant enzyme activities in larvae fed on treated plants showed a decrease in catalase (CAT) activity, while other antioxidants (peroxidase (POX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH)) increased. Moreover, the application of this biofertilizer significantly increased the activities of detoxifying enzymes, including glutathione S-transferases, general esterases, and cytochrome P450, in larvae fed on treated plants compared to the control. Secondary metabolites in tomato plants showed an increasing trend after the application of vermiwash. Given the negative effects of vermiwash on the biology and physiology of T. absoluta, it can be used in integrated pest management programs.