DEVELOPMENT, FECUNDITY AND POPULATION PARAMETERS OF Tuta absoluta (MEYRICK) (LEPIDOPTERA: GELECHIIDAE) ON DIFFERENT SOLANACEAE HOST PLANTS

Tomato leaf miner [Tula absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)] is a major pest of tomato and damage to the other cultivated Solanaceae family plants. In this study, the effects of three host plants from Solanaceae (including the species Solanum lycopersicum L., Solanum melongena L. and Nicotiana tabacum L.) on the life table parameters of T. absoluta were determined. All of the experiments were conducted in climatic cabins with 25 +/- 1 degrees C. relative humidity 65 +/- 5% and 16L: 8D hour photoperiod. Pre -adult development times, lifespan, pupal period, adult longevity and fecundity of females were also designated. As a result from the experiments, S. lycopersicum was determined the most susceptible species among the studied plants, as expected. According to the life table parameters. N. tabacum was determined as the most effective host plant for intrinsic rate of increase (r), net reproductive rate (R-0), mean generation time (T), gross reproduction rate (GRR), population doubling time (DT) and finite rate of increase (lambda). Additionally, N. tabacum was also effective of on egg and larval development, total longevity and fecundity of the T. absoluta. Life table parameters of the pest reared on S. melongena has been observed between the other two species. For determining the life curves of the pest on studied host plants. Weibull distribution model was applied on age specific survival rates (l(x)) and significant differences were observed on the three host plants. Findings from the study can be useful for agricultural practices of the studied plants and helps to developing an integrated pest management strategy in the future.