arative Biology of Tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Lep.: Gelechiidae) on four different tomato cultivars

In this research, Biological characteristics, reproduction and growth population parameters of the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lep.: Gelechiidae) were determined on four tomato cultivars, Urbana, Apollo, Kingston and Falat, under controlled laboratory conditions at 25±1 °C, 60±5 % RH and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. There were significant differences in developmental period and female longevity on the four tomato cultivars (P<0.05). The life span was longest on Falat (33.64 ± 0.87 days) among the four cultivars. The survival rates (lx) in newly emerged adults were 0.73, 0.85, 0.59 and 0.94 % on Urbana, Apollo, Kingston and Falat cultivars, respectively. The net fecundity and fertility rates were significantly higher on Falat cultivar (176.06 ±18.27 and 153.80 ±12.65 eggs/lifetime). The net reproduction rate (R0) was significantly affected by different tomato cultivar being highest on Falat (69.48 ± 5.87) and lowest on Kingston (37.54 ± 5.76). The highest intrinsic rates of increase (rm) were observed on Falat (0.22 ± 0.003) was significantly different with other cultivars. Our findings showed that the development and demographic parameters of tomato leafminer T. absoluta were influenced by different cultivars. Comparing these parameters on different cultivars, can be a big step in delivery of resistant cultivars.

Keywords:

Tomato , Tuta absoluta , biology , reproduction , cultivar .