Abstract
The tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta, is a devastating pest that causes severe yield losses in tomato cultivation, threatening food security (SDG 2: Zero Hunger). Reliance on chemical insecticides has led to resistance development and environmental concerns, highlighting the need for sustainable pest management strategies that promote responsible consumption and production (SDG 12). In this context, the present study focused on the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using hexane extracts of Annona squamosa seeds and evaluated their potential as an eco-friendly insecticidal agent. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized physiochemically and structurally using UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, EDX, and SEM analyses. The UV–Vis spectrum confirmed nanoparticle formation; FTIR analysis identified functional groups responsible for reduction and stabilization; XRD revealed the crystalline nature; and SEM/EDX showed spherical morphology with elemental silver signals. Insecticidal bioassays against T. absoluta demonstrated significant larval mortality of up to 96.66% within 48 h at 90 ppm. Biochemical assays revealed alterations in detoxification enzymes, with catalase (CAT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) showing enhanced activity after 24 h of exposure, suggesting oxidative stress induction and enzyme modulation. Safety evaluation on the non-target organism Eudrilus eugeniae revealed low toxicity of 8.33% after 24 h when treated with nanoparticles synthesized from the hexane extract, highlighting environmental safety and supporting life on land and biodiversity conservation (SDG 15). Furthermore, molecular docking studies indicated strong binding affinities of bioactive phytochemicals from A. squamosa with key insect enzyme targets, such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE), supporting their role in nanoparticle-mediated toxicity. This study demonstrates the insecticidal efficacy and mode of action of A. squamosa-derived AgNPs. The findings support their potential as safe, sustainable nano-pesticides for managing T. absoluta, contributing to sustainable agriculture (SDG 2), promoting innovative, eco-friendly technologies (SDG 9), and fostering environmental sustainability (SDG 12, 15).