Abstract
In this study, we investigated the efficiency of T. brassicae and T. embryophagum in combination with bacterial suspension of B. thuringiensis against the tomato leafminer T. absoluta eggs in cage inside greenhouse (semi field) experiments. Four treatments were used (T. brassicae or T. embryophagum + T. absoluta) (T1), (B. thuringiensis + T. absoluta) (T2), (T. brassicae or T. embryophagum + B. thuringiensis + T. absoluta) (T3) and control (T4). The lowest number of T. absoluta mines (6.1, 0.5 mine per plant) were recorded in T3 for T. brassicae and T. embryophagum were significantly lower than those of all other treatments which were followed by T1 and T2, while the highest number of mines per plant (50.70) were recorded in control (T4). In addition, the parasitism rate, adults’ emergence, the number of females and adult longevity of two parasitoids were investigated. According to the obtained results, the highest parasitism rate was obtained for T. embryophagum when treated with Bt reared in the T. absoluta eggs (31.18%). However, no significant differences were detected between T. brassicae and T. embryophagum in mortality and adult emergence rates were found when they were treated with/ without Bt reared in the T. absoluta eggs in cage inside greenhouse. Also, the longevity of T. embryophagum was significantly better than T. brassicae p = 0.000. This is the first study to investigate T. embryophagum in cage inside greenhouse for parasitizing the eggs of T. absoluta and results of present study suggested that T. embryophagum with Bt could be more efficient for biocontrol of T. absoluta.
Highlights
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is the second most important vegetable crop next to potato
We investigated the efficiency of T. brassicae and T. embryophagum in combination with bacterial suspension of B. thuringiensis against the tomato leafminer T. absoluta eggs in cage inside greenhouse experiments
Significant difference was observed in the number of larval mines of plants treated with T. brassicae and T. embryophagum alone or in combination with B. thuringiensis (F = 78.385; df = 5; p ≤ 0.001), there was significant difference in the number of larval mines between two weeks in most experimental treatments (F = 4.524; df = 1; p ≤ 0.050)
Summary
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is the second most important vegetable crop next to potato. In 2013, world production of tomatoes was reduced to 163.4 million tonnes, with Iran accounting for 3.8% of the total [1]. This crop is attacked by a wide range of pests. The tomato leaf miner, T. absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), has been a long-time pest of open field and greenhouse tomato in South America [6] [7] [8]. This key pest started moving and invading towards the eastern regions, within being first reported from Spain in 2006. A variety of methods, including monitoring, mass trapping as well as the use of chemical, cultural, and biological factors have been developed for control of T. absoluta, each of which may contribute partially to reduce damage on cultivations
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