Cyantraniliprole delivered by lignin-based and mesoporous silica nanoparticles to control the transmission of tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) and tomato severe rugose virus (ToSRV) by Bemisia tabaci MEAM1

• Grant number: 22/00500-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2022
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Jorge Alberto Marques Rezende
• Grantee: Felipe Franco de Oliveira
• Supervisor: Jason C. White
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Research place: Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 19/03899-0 - Evaluation of the epidemiological aspects of the tomato Golden Mosaic: potentials of possible reservoir and amplifier hosts and spatial dynamics of virus transmission by Bemisia tabaci MEAM1, BP.DR

Abstract

Tomato is considered one of the most important crops in Brazil, both from an economic and social perspective. Several diseases affect this important crop, with the most difficult being by viruses transmitted by Bemisia tabaci MEAM1, mainly due to the high degree of complexity and limited options for management. The crinivirus tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) and the begomovirus tomato severe rugose virus (ToSRV), has great importance due to its harmful interference in the development and yield of tomato plants. There are no virus-resistant tomato varieties. The primary method of managing the disease is chemical vector control, although this approach is highly inefficient and their incidences are still observed in commercial fields. This is largely because insecticides cannot prevent the introduction of the viruses into the crops, particularly due to the constant influx of viruliferous insects from outside treatment area. In addition, insecticides may not affect or kill the vector soon enough to prevent the virus inoculation in the plant. The growing demand for environmentally friendly control measures and the continuous need for ToCV and ToSRV control requires new approaches to reduce the volume and frequency of insecticide application on tomato crops, while simultaneously increasing efficiency. To that end, nanotechnology has demonstrated significant potential as a tool for controlling insects and possibly the transmission of plant viruses by these vectors. The use of active ingredients associated with nanoparticles (NP) can be of great help in improving the effectiveness of insecticides at preventing the introduction of the virus into crop fields. This study aims to improve the performance of the insecticide cyantraniliprole in the control of B. tabaci MEAM1 through the use of nanocarrier system to provide a sustainable reduction in ToCV and ToSRV transmission. It is expected that nanotechnology will enable the development of a new platform of formulations for pest control while simultaneously reducing negative impacts on humans and the environment. (AU)