A new feature of the laboratory model plant Nicotiana benthamiana: Dead‐end trap for sustainable field pest control

Abstract

Societal Impact StatementConventional pest management measures release large amounts of chemical or plastic pollutants into the environment. Nicotiana benthamiana, a commonly employed laboratory model plant, demonstrated remarkable lethality and attractiveness towards several important Hemiptera and Thysanoptera insect pests. Field trials showed that the N. benthamiana plants can be used as a dead‐end trap to successfully control these pests, comparable to commercial plastic sticky traps. Notably, the N. benthamiana in the field grew well without negatively impacting crop growth, natural enemies, and pollinators. This study unearths a new benefit of N. benthamiana and develops an easy‐to‐apply and sustainable strategy for field pest control.Summary Hemiptera and Thysanoptera insects pose persistent threats to agricultural production. Conventional management strategies involve the release of chemical or plastic agents, causing adverse environmental and global health issues. Notably, Nicotiana benthamiana, a globally utilized model plant, exhibits remarkable lethal effects and attraction towards these pests. In this study, we explored the potential of using N. benthamiana for Hemiptera and Thysanoptera pest control in the laboratory and field. Through net cover and three field assays over 2 years, we demonstrated the efficacy and benefits of using N. benthamiana as a field‐deployed pest control dead‐end trap. N. benthamiana demonstrated nearly 100% lethality to whiteflies, aphids, and thrips, with emitted volatiles attracting these insects. Field trials showed that potted and planted N. benthamiana blocks and traps whiteflies and thrips from several Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae crops effectively, comparable to common commercial yellow and blue sticky boards. Moreover, N. benthamiana in the field exhibited robust growth in commercial greenhouses without negatively impacting crop growth, natural enemies, and pollinators. Our study introduces an innovative, easily implementable, and sustainable approach for controlling Hemiptera and Thysanoptera pests. Moreover, it unveils the novel utility of N. benthamiana in field‐based pest management.