Abstract
The present study deals with the impact of temperature on development, survival, reproduction and population growth of a recently invaded and the most destructive pest of tomato, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) with the aim to understand its possible expansion in different agro-climatic zones. Though T. absoluta was able to develop between 15° and 35°C, temperature around 25°-30°C was more suitable. Survival and fecundity were highest at 25°C and lowest at 35°C. Developmental threshold for different developmental stages of the pest varied from 6.2 to 9.5°C, while the thermal constant required by the insect to complete the development from egg to adult emergence was 500 degree-days. Population growth parameters were also influenced significantly by the rearing temperature. Intrinsic rate of increase, net reproductive rate and finite rate of increase was higher at 25° and 30°C as compared to other temperature regimes. The study concludes that T. absoluta can be a serious pest of tomato in mid-hills of north-western Himalayan region and the southern plains of India where temperatures varies between 15-35°C. Furthermore, the developmental threshold values indicate that the pest can develop and survive at temperatures as low as 6-9°C without entering the diapause as long as the food is available.
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