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Integration of resistant variety and biological agent to control tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), under greenhouse conditions

Abstract Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is considered as a major pest of tomato worldwide that causes significant losses in the crop production. This study aimed to evaluate integration of two effective and environmentally safe methods (host plant resistant and biological control) for sustainable management of the pest under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was conducted based on the factorial design with ten replicates under greenhouse conditions (22 ± 3°C, 50 ± 10 RH and 14 L:10 D photoperiod). Infestation to T. absoluta was conducted at the first-flowering stage of the plants by introducing a pair of newly emerged adults (one female and one male) per plant. Ten days later, the biological agent, Trichogramma brassicae, was released on the treatments by hanging a card contained 50 parasitized eggs in each replicate. Observation was performed weekly on ratio of infested leaves per plant (%), number of larvae/plant, number of mines/leaf and ratio of infested fruits/plant (%). Results indicated that the susceptible variety alone (Izmir) supported the highest ratio of infested leaves (42.92 ± 1.95%), number of larvae/plant (12.86 ± 0.71), number of mines/leaf (1.29 ± 0.07) and infested fruits/plant (18.8 ± 1.10%), whereas the lowest (6.12 ± 0.42%, 1.85 ± 0.13, 0.18 ± 0.02 and 0.12 ± 0.06%, respectively) were observed in combined resistant variety (Cherry) and parasitoid released treatment. Integration of these methods not only decreases damage caused on tomato leaflets and fruits, but also reduces insecticide applications which are adversely impact human health and environment.