Host plants record for tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) in Sudan |
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| Authors: | E S I Mohamed M E E Mahmoud M A M Elhaj S A Mohamed S Ekesi |
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| Institution: | 1. Shambat Research Station, Agricultural Research Corporation, Khartoum North, Sudan;2. Kassala and Gash Research Station, Agricultural Research Corporation, Kassala State, Sudan;3. Omdurman Islamic University, Omdurman, Sudan;4. International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya |
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| Abstract: | This paper presents the results from a survey that was carried out to determine the host plants of tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in five States in Sudan. This survey was carried out in greenhouses and open‐field vegetable production areas between the years 2011 and 2014 using pheromone traps. The survey showed that the main host plant of T. absoluta is tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), but it also attacks potato (Solanum tuberosum), eggplant (S. melongena) Jimson weed (Datura stramonium) and S. dubium in the family Solanaceae, and broad bean (Vicia faba) and alfalfa plant (Medicago sativa) in the family Fabaceae. This paper is the first record of the following plans being hosts for T. absoluta: Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) in the family Cucurbitaceae, Physic nut (Jatropha curcas) in the family Euphorbiaceae, spiny amaranth (Amaranthus spinosus) in the family Amaranthaceae, Ramtouk (Xanthium brasilicum) in the family Asteraceae and S. dubium. The study showed that the leafminer male numbers and the symptoms were significantly increased in S. melongena and S. dubium after severe damage and complete loss of the main host, the tomato crop and these two species may be the preferred alternative host plants. |
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