International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya.
Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
J Econ Entomol. 2020 Jun 6;113(3):1279-1289. doi: 10.1093/jee/toaa002.
Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is one of the most devastating pests of tomato in both open field and greenhouse production settings that significantly reduce yield and quality of the fruit. Being a new invasive pest, information on the pest bio-ecology, including host-rage and effects of plant species on its various fitness traits are virtually lacking. This study involved a field survey to establish the realized host range and laboratory experiments to evaluate the preference for, and fitness effects of T. absoluta on different plant species. In the field, T. absoluta was recovered from only four solanaceous plant species: tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), eggplant (S. melongena L.), black nightshade (S. nigrum L.), and gubbain (S. dubium Fr.). In choice and no-choice tests, tomato was the most preferred host of T. absoluta having the highest number of eggs deposited, followed by black nightshade, French bean Phaseolus vulgaris L., and chilli pepper Capsicum frutescens. Larvae developed quickest on tomato followed by black nightshade and French bean. The percentage survival to adulthood was significantly higher on tomato, compared to survival on black nightshade and French bean. Rearing of T. absoluta on tomato or black nightshade had no significant effect on pupal mass and length as well as adult size for both sexes. Fecundity and longevity, as well as oviposition preference of T. absoluta, were not affected by rearing on different plants. These findings confirm the oligophagous nature of the pest with high preference to tomato.
烟粉虱（Meyrick）是番茄露天和温室生产中最具破坏性的害虫之一，它会显著降低果实的产量和质量。作为一种新的入侵害虫，关于其生物生态学的信息，包括寄主范围以及植物物种对其各种适应特征的影响，实际上是缺乏的。本研究包括田间调查以确定其实际的寄主范围，以及实验室实验以评估烟粉虱对不同植物物种的偏好和适应特征。在田间，仅从茄科的四种植物中回收了烟粉虱：番茄（Solanum lycopersicum L.）、茄子（S. melongena L.）、黑茄（S. nigrum L.）和野茄（S. dubium Fr.）。在选择和非选择测试中，番茄是烟粉虱最喜爱的寄主，产卵量最高，其次是黑茄、菜豆（Phaseolus vulgaris L.）和辣椒（Capsicum frutescens）。幼虫在番茄上发育最快，其次是黑茄和菜豆。与在黑茄和菜豆上的存活率相比，幼虫在番茄上的成虫存活率显著更高。在番茄或黑茄上饲养烟粉虱对雌雄蛹重和体长以及成虫大小均无显著影响。烟粉虱的繁殖力和寿命以及产卵偏好不受在不同植物上饲养的影响。这些发现证实了该害虫的寡食性，对番茄具有高度偏好。
