Host range of the invasive tomato pest Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on solanaceous crops and weeds in Tanzania
Keywords:
Leafminer, exotic pest, IPM, East Africa, eggplant, Phthorimaea operculellaAbstract
The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), a devastating pest of tomato, invaded Tanzania in 2014. There is now a pressing need to determine the extent of T. absoluta infestations in tomato, other solanaceous crops, and wild plants of Tanzania, to support research and to develop pest management programs. In Sep and Oct 2015, we visited 15 randomly selected villages in 4 leading tomato-producing districts (Arumeru, Lushoto, Kilolo, and Mvomero) and sampled fields representing 9 solanaceous crops and weeds. Tuta absoluta was present in all 4 districts. Overall, in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) T. absoluta established 1.0 ± 1.3 (mean ± standard deviation) mines per leaf and damaged 15 ± 15% of fruits; in eggplant (aubergine) (Solanum melongena L.) it established 0.3 ± 0.7 mines per leaf and damaged 0 ± 0% of fruits; in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) T. absoluta established 0.17 ± 0.1 mines per leaf; and in 2 African nightshades (Solanum nigrum L. and Solanum americanum Mill.) T. absoluta established 0.02 ± 0.03 mines per leaf (fruits of the latter 2 were not sampled). Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and African eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum L.) were not affected by T. absoluta. We found 3 solanaceous weeds in the vicinity of T. absoluta-infested fields in Arumeru District: Solanum incanum L., Datura stramonium L., and Nicandara physalodes (L.) Gaertn. None of these species were infested by T. absoluta; however, the latter 2 were infested by Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), which has habits and larvae that resemble those of T. absoluta.
Resumen
El minador del tomate, Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), una plaga devastadora de tomate, invadió Tanzania en el 2014. Actualmente existe una necesidad apremiante de determinar la extensión de la infestación de T. absoluta en tomate y otros cultivos de solanáceas y plantas silvestres de Tanzania para apoyar la investigación y el desarrollo de programas de manejo de plagas. En sep y oct del 2015, visitamos 15 aldeas seleccionadas al azar en 4 distritos productores de tomate (Arumeru, Lushoto, Kilolo, y Mvomero) y muestreamos campos que representan 9 cultivos de solanáceas y malezas. Tuta absoluta estuvo presente en los 4 distritos. En general, en tomate (Solanum lycopersicum L.), T. absoluta estableció 1.0 ± 1.3 (media ± desviación estándar) minas por hoja y dañó 15 ± 15% de las frutas; en berenjena (Solanum melongena L.) estableció 0.3 ± 0.7 minas por hoja y dañó 0 ± 0% de las frutas; en papa (Solanum tuberosum L.) estableció 0.17 ± 0.1 minas por hoja; y en 2 especies de tomatillo de diablo africano (Solanum nigrum L. y Solanum americanum Mill.) estableció 0.02 ± 0.03 minas por hoja (no se tomaron muestras de los frutos de los últimos 2). El chile dulce (Capsicum annuum L.) y la berenjena africana (Solanum aethiopicum L.) no se vieron afectadas por T. absoluta. Encontramos 3 malezas solanáceas cerca de los campos infestados de T. absoluta en el distrito de Arumeru: Solanum incanum L., Datura stramonium L. y Nicandara physalodes (L.) Scop. Ninguna de estas especies fue infestada por T. absoluta; sin embargo, estos últimos 2 fueron infestados por Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), que tiene hábitos y larvas que se asemejan a T. absoluta.
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