Population Dynamics of the Leaf Miner Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptra: Gelechiidae) and its Parasitoids on Tomato Crop in Beni-Suef, Egypt
Population Dynamics of the Leaf Miner Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptra: Gelechiidae) and its Parasitoids on Tomato Crop in Beni-Suef, Egypt
Amany R. Sultan1, 2, Gamal A. Morsi2, Hoda El-Fayoumi1, Abdel-Azeem S. Abdel-Baki1*
ABSTRACT
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is the most common vegetables all over the word. In Egypt, tomato is extensively cultivated and considered one of the key pillars in the agricultural vegetables production. Pests are the main obstacle facing the tomato production worldwide. The tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta is one of the recent devastating exotic pests that is able to cause severe damage to the tomato crop and is very difficult to control. Therefore, the present study was aimed to evaluate seasonal population dynamics of the tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta and its parasitoids as well as the rate of parasitism, the parasitoids assemblages and the relative impact of parasitoids on its population over two seasons on tomato in the experimental farm of the Agriculture Research Center, Sids in Beni Suef Governorate, Egypt. During first plantation in the first plantation, The results revealed that T. absoluta started to appear after one month from the plantation on the 3rd August week and increased gradually to show 5 peaks in the 7th September, 2nd November, 30th November, 28th December and 11th January. During second plantation in the first season, the population of T. absoluta started very weak in 12th April and showed five peaks in 17th May, 31st May, 28th June, 12th July and 26th July. During first plantation in the second season, this pest revealed 5 peaks in 13th September, 4th October, 18th October, 20th and 31th January. During second plantation in the second season, T. absoluta exhibited five peaks in 17th April, 1st May, 29th May, 12th June and 10th July. The samples of T. absoluta collected in the present study were parasitized by Bracon sp., Pteromalus sp. and Eulophus sp. with maximum rate of parasitism reached to 51% with 5 peaks similar to these of T. absoluta. Therefore, we suggest that these parasitic species could be used in biological control of T. absoluta.
Keywords | Solanum lycopersicum, Biological control, Parasite, Prevalence
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August 2022
Vol. 10, Iss. 8, Pages 1659-1886
