Effect of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin, on demographic fitness of the tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Maryam Alikhani,Shahzad Iranipour,Seyed Ali Safavi

doi:10.1186/s41938-019-0121-0

Maryam Alikhani, Shahzad Iranipour + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s41938-019-0121-0

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the deleterious effects of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae (isolate DEMI 001), on biological and population parameters of the tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), offspring arising from treated third-instar larvae. The results revealed that the duration of immature stages (egg to adult emergence) in the F1 generation was significantly affected by sub-lethal concentration (LC10, LC20, and LC30) and increased in all treatments than the control. In addition, the longevity of moth adults and fecundity of females developed after the fungus-treated larvae were significantly affected. The intrinsic and finite rates of increase (rm and λ, respectively) decreased by increasing the conidial concentration. However, the mean generation time (T) and doubling time (DT) were high in insect treatments. The findings clarified adverse effects of M. anisopliae (isolate DEMI 001) treatment on the demographic fitness of T. absoluta in the next generation.

Highlights

The pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is considered one of the key pests of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) in many parts of the world (Tropea-Garsia et al 2012 and Zappala et al 2013)
Because no research was carried out exploring the effect of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) on fitness cost of the tomato leaf miner, the present study aimed to evaluate deleterious effects of M. anisopliae on development, survival, and fecundity of T. absoluta in progeny derived from third-instar larvae exposed to EPF
These findings indicate that M. anisopliae had pathogenic and virulence effects on third-instar larvae of T. absoluta

Summary

Introduction

The pinworm (leaf-miner), Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is considered one of the key pests of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) in many parts of the world (Tropea-Garsia et al 2012 and Zappala et al 2013). T. absoluta larvae are hidden inside different parts of leaves, stems, shoots, and flowers of host plants (Lee et al 2014). This feeding behavior allowed the pest to be safe from chemical insecticides. Developing resistance to insecticides and the side effects of chemicals on inoculation and conservation of biological control agents have led to the use of other methods to control the pest (Urbaneja et al 2012).

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