First report of South American Tomato moth, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) on French bean from India

Abstract

In India, South American tomato moth, Tuta absoluta has been recorded infesting plants of solanaceae family in 2014. Larvae of T. absoluta were observed feeding on French beans, Phaseolus vulgaris during October 2016 in Bengaluru, India. Olfactometer bioassays revealed T. absoluta preferred P. vulgaris leaves when tomato leaves are significantly damaged by the pest. In choice test, with healthy tomato leaf versus healthy bean leaf, all larvae significantly preferred tomato leaf (P<0.0001). However when T. absoluta larvae and adults were offered with damaged tomato leaf and healthy bean leaf, the female adult and larvae significantly preferred bean leaf (P<0.02 and 0.04, respectively). This study revealed that T. absoluta is expanding its host range in India. With the expansion of T. absoluta damage to other than solanaceae, there is a need for constant monitoring of the pest in other crops also, particularly from Fabaceae family.