Innovative Functional Plastic Films as Cover for Stonewool Grow Blocks and Their Effect on Tomato Hydroponic Cultivation

Abstract

Alkaloid compounds derived from tomato cultivation wastes (leaves, stems, etc.) are proposed as natural pesticides in this study. The tomato waste derived alkaloids (tomatidine and tomatine) were encapsulated in LDPE films through an extrusion process, in order to develop polymeric films with a pesticide action as covers for the stonewool grow blocks used in hydroponic tomato cultivation. A reduced attraction of mealybugs and the presence of their larvae in the leaves in relation to the control culture, as well as improved productivity, was observed, with the total marketable production of the tested plants being higher.

Keywords

• alkaloids
• antimicrobial properties
• natural pesticides
• polymeric films
• application in the field