Plasma-activated water irrigation increases mortality of immature spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) on tomato plants
Abstract Supplementary irrigation with plasma-activated water (PAW) has been shown to boost seed germination and seedling vigor, and it has the potential to induce host plant resistance against pest populations, such as, two-spotted spider mites (TSSM) (Tetranychus urticae Koch). However, there is l...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05629-2 |
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| author | Patrice Jacob Savi Sydney Robertson Anil Mantri Bruno Augusto Mattar Carciofi George Amponsah Annor Christian Nansen |
| author_facet | Patrice Jacob Savi Sydney Robertson Anil Mantri Bruno Augusto Mattar Carciofi George Amponsah Annor Christian Nansen |
| author_sort | Patrice Jacob Savi |
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| description | Abstract Supplementary irrigation with plasma-activated water (PAW) has been shown to boost seed germination and seedling vigor, and it has the potential to induce host plant resistance against pest populations, such as, two-spotted spider mites (TSSM) (Tetranychus urticae Koch). However, there is limited knowledge about the relative susceptibility of TSSM life stages to supplementary PAW irrigation. Here, we used age two-sex life table analysis to examine demographic parameters on leaf discs from control tomato plants (no PAW irrigation) and from plants receiving supplementary PAW irrigation, PAW1 and PAW2 (treatment of water for 6.0 and 9.4 min with atmospheric plasma jet respectively). Immature TSSM mortality was significantly higher on PAW1 (52%) and PAW2 (26%) treatments compared to control (6%). Immature developmental duration, adult pre-oviposition period and total pre-oviposition periods, adult longevity, fecundity, and sex ratio were all significantly reduced in response to PAW irrigation. Life table analyses showed that intrinsic rate of increase (r), net reproductive rate (R 0), and finite rate of increase (λ) were significantly reduced on leaf discs from PAW-irrigated plants compared to control. Population modeling over a 60-day time showed a 10-11-fold reduction in TSSM populations on PAW-irrigated plants compared to control. These findings confirm the suppressive effects of supplementary PAW irrigation on TSSM population dynamics. Furthermore, results support the hypothesis that early-stage susceptibility, prolonged developmental times of individual life stages, and reduced fecundity are key factors driving PAW-based suppression of TSSM population dynamics. Thus, we conclude that supplementary PAW irrigation should be considered a potential component of long-term and sustainable pest management against TSSM and other major crop pests. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-b9c1df6fd19f4c75bb8f45c0b7f473042025-08-20T03:45:28ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-05629-2Plasma-activated water irrigation increases mortality of immature spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) on tomato plantsPatrice Jacob Savi0Sydney Robertson1Anil Mantri2Bruno Augusto Mattar Carciofi3George Amponsah Annor4Christian Nansen5Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Entomology and Nematology, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Entomology and Nematology, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, University of MinnesotaDepartment of Entomology and Nematology, University of CaliforniaAbstract Supplementary irrigation with plasma-activated water (PAW) has been shown to boost seed germination and seedling vigor, and it has the potential to induce host plant resistance against pest populations, such as, two-spotted spider mites (TSSM) (Tetranychus urticae Koch). However, there is limited knowledge about the relative susceptibility of TSSM life stages to supplementary PAW irrigation. Here, we used age two-sex life table analysis to examine demographic parameters on leaf discs from control tomato plants (no PAW irrigation) and from plants receiving supplementary PAW irrigation, PAW1 and PAW2 (treatment of water for 6.0 and 9.4 min with atmospheric plasma jet respectively). Immature TSSM mortality was significantly higher on PAW1 (52%) and PAW2 (26%) treatments compared to control (6%). Immature developmental duration, adult pre-oviposition period and total pre-oviposition periods, adult longevity, fecundity, and sex ratio were all significantly reduced in response to PAW irrigation. Life table analyses showed that intrinsic rate of increase (r), net reproductive rate (R 0), and finite rate of increase (λ) were significantly reduced on leaf discs from PAW-irrigated plants compared to control. Population modeling over a 60-day time showed a 10-11-fold reduction in TSSM populations on PAW-irrigated plants compared to control. These findings confirm the suppressive effects of supplementary PAW irrigation on TSSM population dynamics. Furthermore, results support the hypothesis that early-stage susceptibility, prolonged developmental times of individual life stages, and reduced fecundity are key factors driving PAW-based suppression of TSSM population dynamics. Thus, we conclude that supplementary PAW irrigation should be considered a potential component of long-term and sustainable pest management against TSSM and other major crop pests.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05629-2Life table parametersTwo-sex life table analysisPlant resistanceInnovative pest managementSustainable pest management |
| spellingShingle | Patrice Jacob Savi Sydney Robertson Anil Mantri Bruno Augusto Mattar Carciofi George Amponsah Annor Christian Nansen Plasma-activated water irrigation increases mortality of immature spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) on tomato plants Scientific Reports Life table parameters Two-sex life table analysis Plant resistance Innovative pest management Sustainable pest management |
| title | Plasma-activated water irrigation increases mortality of immature spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) on tomato plants |
| title_full | Plasma-activated water irrigation increases mortality of immature spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) on tomato plants |
| title_fullStr | Plasma-activated water irrigation increases mortality of immature spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) on tomato plants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Plasma-activated water irrigation increases mortality of immature spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) on tomato plants |
| title_short | Plasma-activated water irrigation increases mortality of immature spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) on tomato plants |
| title_sort | plasma activated water irrigation increases mortality of immature spider mites tetranychus urticae on tomato plants |
| topic | Life table parameters Two-sex life table analysis Plant resistance Innovative pest management Sustainable pest management |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05629-2 |
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