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

Abstract

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is a serious pest of tomato throughout the world. The life history and the life table parameters of T. absoluta were studied on 12 different commercial tomato cultivars. The longest larval developmental period (12.92 ± 0.11 days), the longest total developmental time (26.20 ± 0.22 days), the longest total pre-oviposition period (29.31 ± 0.63 days) and the shortest oviposition period (5.08 ± 0.43 days) were recorded on Korral cultivar. The highest pupal mortality was found on Korral (23.53%) and the lowest larval and pupal growth indices were observed on Korral (6.57and 8.87, respectively). The highest and the lowest overall mortalities were observed on Korral (35.00%) and on Valouro (21.67%), respectively. The lowest and the highest intrinsic rate of increase (rm) were found on Korral (0.1046 ± 0.0005 day) and on Valouro (0.1584 ± 0.0002 day) cultivars. Also the lowest finite rate of increase (λ) (1.1102 day) and the highest doubling time (6.63 days) of the tomato leafminer were observed on Korral cultivar. Therefore, it was concluded that among the 12 tomato cultivars that were studied in this research, Korral was relatively unsuitable to T. absoluta and can be used in the integrated control programs (IPM) of this pest.