Life history and life table parameters of the Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on twelve commercial tomato cultivars under laboratory conditions

Tuta absoluta(Meyrick) is a serious pest of tomato throughout the world. The life history and the life table parameters of T. absolutawere studied on ۱۲ different commercial tomato cultivars. The longest larval developmental period (۱۲.۹۲ ± ۰.۱۱ days), the longest total developmental time (۲۶.۲۰ ± ۰.۲۲ days), the longest total pre-oviposition period (۲۹.۳۱ ± ۰.۶۳ days) and the shortest oviposition period (۵.۰۸ ± ۰.۴۳ days) were recorded on Korral cultivar. The highest pupal mortality was found on Korral (۲۳.۵۳%) and the lowest larval and pupal growth indices were observed on Korral (۶.۵۷and ۸.۸۷, respectively). The highest and the lowest overall mortalities were observed on Korral (۳۵.۰۰%) and on Valouro (۲۱.۶۷%), respectively. The lowest and the highest intrinsic rate of increase (rm) were found on Korral (۰.۱۰۴۶ ± ۰.۰۰۰۵ day-۱) and on Valouro (۰.۱۵۸۴ ± ۰.۰۰۰۲ day-۱) cultivars. Also the lowest finite rate of increase (λ) (۱.۱۱۰۲ day-۱) and the highest doubling time (۶.۶۳ days) of the tomato leafminer were observed on Korral cultivar. Therefore, it was concluded that among the ۱۲ tomato cultivars that were studied in this research, Korral was relatively unsuitable to T. absolutaand can be used in the integrated control programs (IPM) of this pest.

Keywords:

Tuta absoluta , Life history , Life table parameters , tomato cultivars