Sustainable Management of Tetranychus urticae and Trialeurodes vaporariorum on Tomato and Cucumber Plants Using Rhamnolipids and Essential Oil-Based Biocontrol Agents

Rhamnolipids (RLs), biosurfactants produced by <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, have gained attention for their potential role in pest management. This study investigated the efficacy of RLs in controlling the two-spotted spider mite (<i>Tetranychus urticae</i>) and the whitefly (<i>Trialeurodes vaporariorum</i>), as well as a novel non-commercial essential oil-based product, Petir Kilat, on cucumber and tomato plants within a controlled greenhouse environment. The RLs were tested at concentrations of 1 mL/L and 2 mL/L, compared to commercial biopesticides including abamectin (ABAMAX) and Beauveria bassiana (NATURALIS). The results indicated that ABAMAX achieved the highest mortality rates for <i>T. urticae</i> and <i>T. vaporariorum</i>, with 100% mortality observed at 7 days. NATURALIS was also highly effective, particularly for whiteflies, though its efficacy declined over time. RLs showed a dose-dependent increase in mortality, with the higher concentration (2 mL/L) yielding more promising results, though not surpassing the commercial products. Petir Kilat, derived from orange essential oils, demonstrated significant control, particularly at higher concentrations, comparable to or exceeding the effectiveness of NATURALIS and ABAMAX in some cases. Statistical analyses revealed significant differences between treatments in most cases (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The findings underscore the potential of RLs and Petir Kilat as components of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. While RLs are effective, their performance suggests they are best used in combination with other control methods. The study highlights the need for further research to optimize the application of RLs and essential oil-based products to enhance their role in sustainable pest management practices.