Population Dynamics Study of T. absoluta in Western Shewa of Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is an important pest infesting Solanaceous plants all over the world. It became a problem on tomato crop since 2012 in Ethiopia. For enhancing the IPM control of this pest, very few studies have been conducted for assessing seasonal abundance and spatial distribution in Ethiopia. This study aims to monitor the population fluctuation and infestation rate of T. absoluta on tomato crop under glasshouse and open field conditions. Different stages of T. absoluta were investigated in glasshouse during three plantation periods in 2015-2016 and four plantation periods for open-field study in 2015-2017. Different stages of T. absoluta were investigated in glasshouse and open fields during 2015 to 2017 for six and four plantation periods, respectively. At August 2016 the highest populations of T. absoluta per plant were recorded under glasshouse whereas under open fields the highest populations of T. absoluta per plant were recorded at December and March during 2015-2016. Low number of T. absoluta was recorded in the first cropping cycle at December 2015 and 2016. The field study showed that T. absoluta population progress is increasing during tomato phenologic cycle, the period of peak activities of T. absoluta compromise at vegetative time with flowering and early fruit setting stages of the crop.