Leandro Bacci1, Ézio M Silva2, Gerson A Silva3, Laércio J Silva4, Jander F Rosado5, Richard I Samuels3, Marcelo C Picanço5. 1. Departamento de Engenharia Agronômica, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Brazil. 2. Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil. 3. Laboratório de Entomologia e Fitopatologia, Universidade Estadual Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 4. Departamento de Fitotecnia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil. 5. Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Little importance has been given to the role of natural mortality factors (biotic and abiotic) in the regulation of tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) populations. The present study determined the action of mortality factors on T. absoluta populations infesting cultivated tomato crops. Eighty ecological life tables for T. absoluta in field cultivated tomato plants were constructed and analyzed. RESULTS: Total T. absoluta mortality was 99.08%, with 38.76% mortality during the egg phase, 57.20% in the larva phase and 3.12% in the pupal phase. The main mortality factors during the egg stage were predation, parasitism and egg inviability. In the larval stage, the main mortality factors were predation, parasitism, entomopathogenic agents and physiological disorders. In the pupal stage, the main mortality factor was predation. The larvae of the third and fourth instar were more susceptible to the action of mortality factors and the predatory wasp, Protonectarina sylveirae, was the main insect predator of these larvae. CONCLUSIONS: The T. absoluta population is regulated under field conditions by the action of natural enemies of the larvae. The predatory wasp P. sylveirae is very important in the regulation of T. absoluta populations in open-field tomato crops in Brazil.
BACKGROUND: Little importance has been given to the role of natural mortality factors (biotic and abiotic) in the regulation of tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) populations. The present study determined the action of mortality factors on T. absoluta populations infesting cultivated tomato crops. Eighty ecological life tables for T. absoluta in field cultivated tomato plants were constructed and analyzed. RESULTS: Total T. absoluta mortality was 99.08%, with 38.76% mortality during the egg phase, 57.20% in the larva phase and 3.12% in the pupal phase. The main mortality factors during the egg stage were predation, parasitism and egg inviability. In the larval stage, the main mortality factors were predation, parasitism, entomopathogenic agents and physiological disorders. In the pupal stage, the main mortality factor was predation. The larvae of the third and fourth instar were more susceptible to the action of mortality factors and the predatory wasp, Protonectarina sylveirae, was the main insect predator of these larvae. CONCLUSIONS: The T. absoluta population is regulated under field conditions by the action of natural enemies of the larvae. The predatory wasp P. sylveirae is very important in the regulation of T. absoluta populations in open-field tomato crops in Brazil.
Authors: Gerson A Silva; Elenir A Queiroz; Lucas P Arcanjo; Mayara C Lopes; Tamiris A Araújo; Tarcisio S V Galdino; Richard I Samuels; Nilson Rodrigues-Silva; Marcelo C Picanço Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2021-01-13 Impact factor: 4.379