Farmers around the world use nearly four million tonnes of pesticides every year to protect crops from pests. While these chemicals help boost food production, they also harm the environment and lead to pests becoming resistant over time, making them harder to control.
A team of researchers, led by Professor Gen-ichiro Arimura from Tokyo University of Science, has discovered a possible solution. Their study focuses on spider mites, tiny pests that damage crops. The team found that certain natural substances in spider mite saliva can actually help plants strengthen their own defenses against these pests.
How It Works?
The two-spotted spider mite is a major problem for farmers because it reproduces quickly and easily develops resistance to pesticides. In earlier research, Arimura’s team identified two special molecules, Tet1 and Tet2, in spider mite saliva. These molecules trigger a plant’s natural defense system, making it harder for the mites to survive.
Now, the scientists have discovered two more similar molecules, Tet3 and Tet4. When plants are exposed to mites with higher levels of Tet3 and Tet4, they boost their natural defenses by producing chemicals that make them less appealing to pests.
Interestingly, the researchers also found that mites produce more of these molecules when feeding on their favorite plants, like beans, compared to less preferred plants, like cucumbers. This suggests that mites adjust their behavior depending on what they eat.
A Future Without Harmful Pesticides?
This discovery could lead to new natural ways to protect crops without relying on harmful pesticides. “Elicitors may be useful as biostimulants that can increase the potential pest resistance of plants,” said Professor Arimura.
If scientists can harness these natural plant defenses, farmers may one day have a safer, more sustainable way to keep crops healthy and protect food supplies—without damaging the environment.
