Carbon Nanotubes (CNTS) and Frankincense Nanoparticles as Promising Insecticides to Control Onion Thrips

Abstract

Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is one of the most common and devastating onion pests which is capable of causing substantial harm to onion crops. Synthetic pesticides are mainly used to control onion thrips. T. tabaci requires alternative, low-impact control measures since there are numerous difficulties with utilizing chemical pesticides, including pesticide resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the nanomaterial compounds on adults and nymphs of the T. tabaci in vivo and study their physiological changes caused by pesticides. The findings demonstrate that using nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and frankincense nanoparticles (FNPs), significantly impacts the number of onion thrips. It also has the potential to lower the risk of pesticide resistance. According to the preliminary results, using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) considerably increased the mortality rate of adults and nymphs of T. tabaci and decreased egg-hatching success. Carbon nanotube (CNTs) and frankincense nanoparticles showed a high death rate in adult and nymphal stages at a concentration of 0.05 percent. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) demonstrated exceptional mortality rates in adult and nymphal stages, with 90 and 50 percent at 5 mg/mL concentrations. Frankincense nanoparticles (FNPs) treatment demonstrated a high adult mortality rate of around 60 percent compared to the control treatment. Eggs of onion thrips showed different hatching success rates after treatment with CNTs and FNPs. The egg hatch rate did not exceed 40 percent of hatched eggs in the CNTs treatment compared to 90 percent in the control treatment. On the other hand, number of laid eggs per female did not differ significantly, indicating that none of the treatments affected the fecundity of the females. The ability of thrips to develop resistance to CNTs and frankincense compounds requires additional investigation. These natural products could be a suitable alternative to control destructive pests like onion thrips.