Microbial biological control of Phthorimaea (Tuta) absoluta: A systematic review and meta-analysis of entomopathogenic agents (2015–2026)

The tomato leaf miner Phthorimaea (Tuta) absoluta is a highly destructive invasive pest of tomato and a continuing driver of insecticide use and resistance in many productions. Microbial biological control agents propose directed tactics fitting with integrated pest management (IPM). Following PRISMA 2020, peer-reviewed studies (2015–2026) evaluating entomopathogenic bacteria (EPB), fungi (EPF), and nematodes (EPN) against P. absoluta were systematically reviewed. Fifty-four unique studies met the inclusion criteria. The primary meta-analysis was restricted to laboratory mortality outcomes and comprised 197 effect-size estimates from 45 independent publications. Log risk ratios were synthesized using a multilevel random-effect model with estimates nested within publications, restricted maximum-likelihood estimation, and study-clustered CR2 robust inference.Microbial treatments significantly increased mortality relative to untreated controls (RR = 13.65, 95 % CI: 9.43–19.78; 95 % prediction interval: 1.45–128.73; I2 = 78.35 %; p