Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Propensity of the Tomato Leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), to Develop on Four Potato Plant Varieties

  • Published:
American Journal of Potato Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is now considered to be one of the most damaging invasive pests of tomatoes in the world. Tomato is regarded as the main host of T. absoluta, but the pest can also feed, develop and reproduce on other cultivated Solanaceae, such as potato (Solanum tuberosum L). In the present study, we examined the ability of T. absoluta to develop on four commonly cultivated varieties of potato, under laboratory conditions. The survival rate of T. absoluta did not differ between the five tested host plants (tomato: Solanum lycopersicum cv. Moneymaker; and potato: Solanum tuberosum cv. Spunta, Charlotte, Nicola, and Bintje), but its development time (egg to pupation) was significantly affected. Compared to tomato, development times were longer on Bintje and shorter on Nicola, Charlotte, and Spunta. These results show the high capacity of T. absoluta to develop on potato crops.

Resumen

El minador de la hoja en tomate, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), está considerado actualmente como una de las plagas invasivas de mayor daño en tomates en el mundo. Se considera al tomate como el hospedante principal de T. absoluta, pero la plaga también se puede alimentar, desarrollar y reproducir en otras Solanáceas cultivadas, como la papa (Solanum tuberosum L.). En el presente estudio examinamos la habilidad de T. absoluta para desarrollarse en cuatro variedades de papa cultivadas comunmente, bajo condiciones de laboratorio. El nivel de sobrevivencia de T. absoluta no difirió entre los cinco hospedantes probados (tomate: Solanum lycopersicum cv. Moneymaker; y papa: Solanum tuberosum cv. Spunta, Charlotte, Nicola, y Bintje), pero su tiempo de desarrollo (de huevo hasta pupa) se afectó significativamente. En comparación con el tomate, los tiempos de desarrollo fueron más largos en Bintje y más cortos en Nicola, Charlotte, y Spunta. Estos resultados muestran la alta capacidad de T. absoluta para desarrollarse en cultivos de papa.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agosta, S.J. 2006. On ecological fitting, plant-insect associations, herbivore host shifts, and host plant selection. Oikos 114(3): 556–565.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Almohamad, R., F.J. Verheggen, F. Francis, and E. Haubruge. 2007. Predatory hoverflies select their oviposition site according to aphid host plant and aphid species. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 125(1): 13–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Awmack, C.S., and S.R. Leather. 2002. Host plant quality and fecundity in herbivorous insects. vol 47.

  • Badaoui, M.A., and A. Berkani. 2010. Morphologie et comparaison des appareils génitaux de deux espèces invasives Tuta absoluta Meyrick 1917 et Phthorimaea operculella Zeller 1873 (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Faunistic Entomology 63(3): 191–194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bale, J.S., G.J. Masters, I.D. Hodkinson, C. Awmack, T.M. Bezemer, V.K. Brown, J. Butterfield, A. Buse, J.C. Coulson, J. Farrar, J.E.G. Good, R. Harrington, S. Hartley, T.H. Jones, R.L. Lindroth, M.C. Press, I. Symrnioudis, A.D. Watt, and J.B. Whittaker. 2002. Herbivory in global climate change research: Direct effects of rising temperature on insect herbivores. Glob Chang Biol 8(1): 1–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barrientos, Z., H. Apablaza, S.A. Norero, and P. Estay. 1998. Temperatura basse y constatne térmica de desarrollo de la polilla del tomate, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Ciencia e Investigacion Agraria 25: 133–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campos, R. 1976. Control quımico del “minador de hojas y tallos de la papa” (Scrobipalpula absoluta Meyrick) en el valle del Canete. Revista Peruana de Entomología 19: 102–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caparros Megido, R., E. Haubruge, and F.J. Verheggen. 2012. First evidence of deuterotokous parthenogenesis in the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Journal of Pest Science 85(4): 409–412.

    Google Scholar 

  • CAPS. 2010. Tuta absoluta: Identification aid. http://caps.ceris.purdue.edu/screening/tuta_absoluta_id.

  • Coelho, M.C.F., and F.H. França. 1987. Biologia e quetotaxia da larva e descrição da pupa e adulto da traça do tomateiro. Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira 22: 129–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colomo, M.V., and C.B. Dominga. 2006. Primer registro de un Exoristini (Diptera, Tachinidae) en Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae). Acta Zoológica Lilloana 50(1–2): 123–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colomo, M.V., C.B. Dominga, and J. Chocobar. 2002. El complejo de himenópteros parasitoides queatacan a la “polilla del tomate” Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) en la Argentina. Acta Zoológica Lilloana 46(1): 81–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Desneux, N., E. Wajnberg, K.A.G. Wyckhuys, G. Burgio, S. Arpaia, C.A. Narváez-Vasquez, J. González-Cabrera, D.C. Ruescas, E. Tabone, J. Frandon, J. Pizzol, C. Poncet, T. Cabello, and A. Urbaneja. 2010. Biological invasion of European tomato crops by Tuta absoluta: Ecology, geographic expansion and prospects for biological control. Journal Pest Science 83(3): 197–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desneux, N., M.G. Luna, T. Guillemaud, and A. Urbaneja. 2011. The invasive South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta, continues to spread in Afro-Eurasia and beyond: The new threat to tomato world production. Journal of Pest Science 84(4): 403–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EPPO/OEPP. 2005. Tuta absoluta - Data sheets on quarantine pests. http://www.eppo.int/QUARANTINE/insects/Tuta_absoluta/DS_Tuta_absoluta.pdf. Accessed 18/08/12

  • EPPO/OEPP. 2011. EPPO A1 and A2 list of pests recommended for regulation as quarantine pests.

  • FAO. 2010. Faostat. http://faostat.fao.org/site/339/default.aspx.

  • Galarza, J. 1984. Laboratory assessment of some solanaceous plants as possible food plants of the tomato moth Scrobipalpula absoluta. IDIA 421(424): 30–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia, M., and J. Espul. 1987. Bioecologia de la polilla del tomate (Scrobipalpula absoluta) en Mendoza, Republica Argentina. Revista de Investigaciones Agropecuarias INTA (Argentina) 18: 135–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, S.M., T.W. Sappington, M. Sétamou, and T.X. Liu. 2002. Beet armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) host plant preferences for oviposition. Environmental Entomology 31(1): 142–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gripenberg, S., P.J. Mayhew, M. Parnell, and T. Roslin. 2010. A meta-analysis of preference-performance relationships in phytophagous insects. Ecol Lett 13(3): 383–393.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hasan, F., and M.S. Ansari. 2011. Effects of different brassicaceous host plants on the fitness of Pieris brassicae (L.). Crop Prot 30(7): 854–862.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krainacker, D.A., J.R. Carey, and R.I. Vargas. 1987. Effect of larval host on life history traits of the mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata. Oecologia 73(4): 583–590.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leather, S.R. 1988. Size, Reproductive Potential and Fecundity in Insects: Things aren’t as Simple as They Seem. Oikos 51(3): 386–389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miranda, M.M.M., M. Picanço, J.C. Zanuncio, and R.N.C. Guedes. 1998. Ecological life table of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Biocontrol Science and Technology 8(4): 597–606.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, R. 1981. Insect behavior, resource exploitation and fitness. Annual Review of Entomology 26: 373–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrison, N., Walker, A., Baxter, I., Harveay-Samuel, T., Hdidi, A., Alphey, L. 2011. Investigating the potential of genetic control as part of an IPM approach for Tuta absoluta. In: International Symposium on management of Tuta absoluta, Agadir (Marocco), 2011. http://archives.eppo.int/MEETINGS/2011_conferences/tuta/38_Morrison/index.html

  • Mousseau, T.A., and H. Dingle. 1991. Maternal effects in insect life histories. Annual Review of Entomology 36(1): 511–534.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Notz, A.P. 1992. Distribution of eggs and larvae of Scrobipalpula absoluta in potato plants. Revista de la Facultad de Agronomía (Maracay) 18: 425–432.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pereyra, P.C., and N.E. Sánchez. 2006. Effect of two solanaceous plants on developmental and population parameters of the tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Neotropical Entomology 35(5): 671–676.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pradhan, S. 1946. Dynamics of temperature effect on insect development. Proceedings of the National Institute of Science of India 12(77): 385–404.

    Google Scholar 

  • Proffit, M., G. Birgersson, M. Bengtsson, R. Reis Jr., P. Witzgall, and E. Lima. 2011. Attraction and Oviposition of Tuta absoluta Females in Response to Tomato Leaf Volatiles. J Chem Ecol 37(6): 565–574.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Siqueira, H.A.A., R.N.C. Guedes, and M.C. Picanco. 2000. Cartap resistance and synergism in populations of Tuta absoluta (Lep., Gelechiidae). Journal of Applied Entomology 124(5–6): 233–238.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, J.N. 1988. Evolutionary ecology of the relationship between oviposition preference and performance of offspring in phytophagous insects. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 47(1): 3–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tropea Garzia G Physalis peruviana L. (Solanaceae), a host plant of Tuta absoluta in Italy. In: Castane C, Perdikis D (eds) Proceedings of the IOBC/WPRS Working Group “Integrated Control in Protected Crops”, Greece, 2009. 231–232

  • Unlu, L. 2012. Potato: A new host plant of Tuta absoluta Povolny (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Turkey. Pakistan Journal of Zoology 44(4): 1183–1184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Urbaneja, A., H. Montón, and O. Mollá. 2009. Suitability of the tomato borer Tuta absoluta as prey for Macrolophus pygmaeus and Nesidiocoris tenuis. Journal of Applied Entomology 133(4): 292–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valladares, G., and J.H. Lawton. 1991. Host-plant selection in the holly leaf-miner: does mother know best? J Anim Ecol 60(1): 227–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vargas, H. 1970. Observaciones sobre la biolog ́ıa y enemigos naturales de la polilla del tomate, Gnorimoschema absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Idesia 1: 75–110.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Service Public de Wallonie (SPW–DGO3, project D31-1263).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, University of Liege (Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech), Passage des Déportés 2, 5030, Gembloux, Belgium

    R. Caparros Megido, E. Haubruge & F. J. Verheggen

  2. Department of Applied Statistics, Computer Science and Mathematics, University of Liege (Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech), Passage des Déportés 2, 5030, Gembloux, Belgium

    Y. Brostaux

Authors
  1. R. Caparros Megido
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Y. Brostaux
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. Haubruge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. F. J. Verheggen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Caparros Megido.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Caparros Megido, R., Brostaux, Y., Haubruge, E. et al. Propensity of the Tomato Leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), to Develop on Four Potato Plant Varieties. Am. J. Potato Res. 90, 255–260 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-013-9300-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-013-9300-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation