Efficacy of Native Entomopathogenic Nematodes on the Larvae of Tomato Leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Çiğdem Gözel,İsmail Kasap,Uğur Gözel

doi:10.15832/ankutbd.519686

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of native entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs); Steinernema affine 46 (Bovien, 1937), S. feltiae 879 (Filipjev, 1934), S. carpocapsae 1133 (Weiser, 1955) and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora 1144 (Poinar, 1976) on the larvae of tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick). Bioassays were conducted in the laboratory at four different temperatures (10, 15, 20 and 25±1 oC) in the plates and 30 infective juveniles (IJs) were inoculated to a single T. absoluta larva for each nematode species. After nematode inoculation, larvae were checked on the 3rd, 5th, 7th days and mortalities were recorded. All nematode species used in the study showed the lowest efficacy on the 3rd control day at 10 oC and the highest efficacy on the 7th day at 25 oC. S. feltiae 879 was found as the most efficient species with the highest mortality (91.67%) among EPNs used in the study. The results proved that T. absoluta larvae are highly susceptible to EPNs and the control of the pest by EPNs on this stage is successful.

Highlights

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is the most popular home garden and one of the most widely cultivated and important vegetables grown around the world both outdoors and in greenhouses for fresh consumption and processing due to its taste, color, flavor, and nutrient contents, but requires protection from a variety of pests.The tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is highly damaging to tomato plants causes nearly 100% yield losses in absence of control methods applied
The findings of the study showed that the larvae of T. absoluta were susceptible to four entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) isolates used in this study
Among the species used in the study the most efficient species was found as S. feltiae 879 with 91.67% and the least efficient species was found as S. affine 46 with 83.33% (Table 1-3)

Summary

Introduction

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is the most popular home garden and one of the most widely cultivated and important vegetables grown around the world both outdoors and in greenhouses for fresh consumption and processing due to its taste, color, flavor, and nutrient contents, but requires protection from a variety of pests. The tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is highly damaging to tomato plants causes nearly 100% yield losses in absence of control methods applied. T. absoluta, originated in South America, entered Europe (Spain) at the end of 2006. Spread rapidly in many other countries, was included in the EPPO A2 list due to its current distribution in the region (Roditakis et al 2010). It caused significant crop losses in tomato production (Kılıç 2010; Kasap et al 2011)

Methods

Results

Conclusion