Host Range and Effects of Plant Species on Preference and Fitness of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Gamal E A Idriss; Hannalene du Plessis; Fathiya M Khamis; Sunday Ekesi; Chrysantus M Tanga; Samira A Mohamed

doi:10.1093/jee/toaa002

Host Range and Effects of Plant Species on Preference and Fitness of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Journal of Economic Entomology ◽

10.1093/jee/toaa002 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 113 (3) ◽

pp. 1279-1289 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Gamal E A Idriss ◽

Hannalene du Plessis ◽

Fathiya M Khamis ◽

Sunday Ekesi ◽

Chrysantus M Tanga ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Host Range ◽

Plant Species ◽

Oviposition Preference ◽

French Bean ◽

Tuta Absoluta ◽

Invasive Pest ◽

Adult Size ◽

Chilli Pepper ◽

Black Nightshade ◽

Percentage Survival

Abstract 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.

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Biological performance and oviposition preference of tomato pinworm Tuta absoluta when offered a range of Solanaceous host plants

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-80434-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Gerson A. Silva ◽

Elenir A. Queiroz ◽

Lucas P. Arcanjo ◽

Mayara C. Lopes ◽

Tamiris A. Araújo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Host Plants ◽

Tuta Absoluta ◽

Green Pepper ◽

Wild Tomato ◽

Black Nightshade ◽

Wide Range ◽

American Black ◽

Biological Performance ◽

Tomato Pinworm

AbstractThe tomato pinworm Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechuidae) is native to South America and has now become the main tomato pest in Europe, Africa and Asia. The wide range of host plants attacked by this pest has been reported as one of the main reasons for the success of this important insect species. However, the information currently available on the biological performance of T. absoluta on Solanaceae has been obtained from a limited number of host species. The Solanaceae family is composed of thousands of species, many of which are potential hosts for T. absoluta. Our results showed that the highest oviposition rates occurred on cultivated tomato plants, potato and wild tomato. The lowest rates occurred on “gilo”, “jurubeba”, green pepper and pepper. The highest survival rates of the immature stages occurred on potato and the lowest on pepper, green pepper and “jurubeba”. Female fertility, following infestation of the different plant species, was highest for insects that developed on tomato or potato and the lowest rates were seen on American black nightshade. The net reproductive rate and the intrinsic growth rate were highest on potato and tomato. Cluster analysis grouped tomato and potato as highly susceptible to attack, American black nightshade, juá, eggplant, gilo and wild tomato as moderately susceptible, whilst pepper, green pepper and jurubeba were categorized as resistant to T. absoluta. These results clearly demonstrate that the choice of solanaceous host plant species has a direct impact on the fitness parameters of the tomato pinworm as well as survival potential, dispersion and establishment at new sites. These results are important for the planning of integrated pest management strategies.

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The potential of host plants for biological control of Tuta absoluta by the predator Dicyphus errans

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485316001036 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 107 (3) ◽

pp. 340-348 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

B.L. Ingegno ◽

V. Candian ◽

I. Psomadelis ◽

N. Bodino ◽

L. Tavella

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Host Plants ◽

Biocontrol Agent ◽

Tuta Absoluta ◽

Generalist Predator ◽

Economic Threshold ◽

Black Nightshade ◽

Companion Plant ◽

Cultivated Plant ◽

Exotic Pest

AbstractDicyphus errans (Wolff) has been shown to be a suitable biocontrol agent for Tuta absoluta (Meyrick). This generalist predator shares various host plants with the exotic pest, and these interactions could be exploited to enhance pest control. Therefore, host preference, survival rate and development times of the predator and prey were investigated on crop and non-crop plant species. Among the tested plants, the favourite hosts were Solanum species for T. absoluta, and herb Robert, European black nightshade, courgette and tomato for D. errans. Tuta absoluta accepted the same plant species as hosts for oviposition, but it never developed on herb Robert and courgette in all the experiments. Based on our results, we would suggest the use of courgette and herb Robert in consociation with tomato and as a companion plant, respectively, which may keep pest densities below the economic threshold. Moreover, the omnivorous and widespread D. errans could be a key predator of this exotic pest, allowing a high encounter probability on several cultivated and non-cultivated plant species.

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Biological and Host Range Characteristics of Lysathia flavipes (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a Candidate Biological Control Agent of Invasive Ludwigia spp. (Onagraceae) in the USA

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12050471 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 471

Author(s):

Angelica M. Reddy ◽

Paul D. Pratt ◽

Brenda J. Grewell ◽

Nathan E. Harms ◽

Ximena Cibils-Stewart ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Host Range ◽

Plant Species ◽

Biocontrol Agent ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Control Agent ◽

Native Plant ◽

Native Plant Species ◽

The Usa ◽

Physical And Chemical

Exotic water primroses (Ludwigia spp.) are aggressive invaders in aquatic ecosystems worldwide. To date, management of exotic Ludwigia spp. has been limited to physical and chemical control methods. Biological control provides an alternative approach for the management of invasive Ludwigia spp. but little is known regarding the natural enemies of these exotic plants. Herein the biology and host range of Lysathia flavipes (Boheman), a herbivorous beetle associated with Ludwigia spp. in Argentina and Uruguay, was studied to determine its suitability as a biocontrol agent for multiple closely related target weeds in the USA. The beetle matures from egg to adult in 19.9 ± 1.4 days at 25 °C; females lived 86.3 ± 35.6 days and laid 1510.6 ± 543.4 eggs over their lifespans. No-choice development and oviposition tests were conducted using four Ludwigia species and seven native plant species. Lysathia flavipes showed little discrimination between plant species: larvae aggressively fed and completed development, and the resulting females (F1 generation) oviposited viable eggs on most plant species regardless of origin. These results indicate that L. flavipes is not sufficiently host-specific for further consideration as a biocontrol agent of exotic Ludwigia spp. in the USA and further testing is not warranted.

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Transmission characteristics and host range of the clover yellow edge agent

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b76-126 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 54 (11) ◽

pp. 1171-1179 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

L.N. Chiykowski

Keyword(s):

Host Range ◽

Plant Species ◽

Infected Plant ◽

Transmission Characteristics

A disease of clover, designated as clover yellow edge (CYE), was transmitted by Aphrodes bicinctus (Schrank) but not by the leafhoppers Scaphytopius acutus (Say), Macrosteles fascifrons (Stal), Agallia constricta Van Duzee, and Agallia quadripunctata Prov. or a Cercopid sp. Transmission by A. bicinctus, given various acquisition access periods on infected clover as nymphs, increased from 29% for 1 day to 67% for 14 days for females and from 42% for 1 day to 72% for 14 days for males. When leafhoppers were given similar acquisition access periods as adults, transmission ranged from 5% for 1 day to 24% for 14 days for females and from 25% for 1 day to 33% for 14 days for males. Inoculative female leafhoppers, given inoculation access periods ranging from 0.5 h to 96 h, began transmitting with 1-h feeds (29%) and reached a maximum with 96-h feeds (88%). Inoculative males began transmitting with 8-h feeds (50%) and reached a maximum with 48-h feeds (83%), the longest time tested. The average preinfective period for female and male leafhoppers tested individually was 42.2 days and 40.1 days, respectively. Once an insect became inoculative, it continued to transmit until death.Of the 31 plant species in 12 families tested as hosts of the clover yellow edge agent (CYEA). 15 species in 6 families developed symptoms. The most commonly observed symptoms were chlorosis or yellowing of leaf margins and reduction in the size of flowers and leaves. Aphrodes bicinctus transmitted CYEA to clover from eight of eight infected plant species tested as source hosts.

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Species composition and host range of fruit-infesting flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in northern Ghana

International Journal of Tropical Insect Science ◽

10.1017/s1742758415000090 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 35 (03) ◽

pp. 137-151 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

K.B. Badii ◽

M.K. Billah ◽

K. Afreh-Nuamah ◽

D. Obeng-Ofori

Keyword(s):

Host Range ◽

Plant Species ◽

Host Plants ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Fruit Fly ◽

Fruit Flies ◽

Northern Ghana ◽

Accurate Information ◽

Wild Host ◽

Fruit Samples

An important aspect of fruit fly management is accurate information on the species and their host spectrum. Studies were conducted between October 2011 and September 2013 to determine the host range and species diversity of pest fruit flies in the northern savannah ecology of Ghana. Fruit samples from 80 potential host plants (wild and cultivated) were collected and incubated for fly emergence; 65 (81.5%) of the plant species were positive to fruit flies. From records in Africa, 11 plant species were reported to be new hosts to the African invader fly,Bactrocera invadens(Drew, Tsuruta and White, 2005). This study documented the first records ofDacus ciliatus(Loew) andTrirhithrum nigerrimum(Bezzi) in northern Ghana although both species have been previously reported in other parts of the country. Infestation byB. invadenswas higher in the cultivated fruits;Ceratitis cosyradominated in most wild fruits. Cucurbitaceae were mainly infested by three species ofDacusandBactroceracucurbitae, a specialized cucurbit feeder. Among the commercial fruit species, the highest infestations were observed in mango, tomato, sweet pepper and watermelon, whereas marula plum, soursop, tropical almond, sycamore fig, African peach, shea nut, persimmon, icacina and albarillo dominated the wild host flora. The widespread availability of host plants and the incidence of diverse fly species in the ecology call for particular attention to their impact on commercial fruits and the development of sustainable management strategies against these economically important pests in Ghana.

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Tuta absoluta. [Distribution Map].

Distribution Maps of Plant Pests ◽

10.1079/dmpp/20093167386 ◽

2009 ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Datura Stramonium ◽

Solanum Nigrum ◽

Balearic Islands ◽

Tuta Absoluta ◽

Rio Grande Do Sul ◽

Distribution Map ◽

Nicotiana Glauca ◽

Black Nightshade ◽

New Distribution ◽

Distribution In Europe

Abstract A new distribution map is provided for Tuta absoluta (Meyrick). Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae. Hosts: tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), potato (Solanum tuberosum), jimsonweed (Datura stramonium), tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca) and black nightshade (Solanum nigrum). Information is given on the geographical distribution in Europe (France (Mainland France), Italy (Mainland Italy, Sardinia, Sicily), Netherlands, Spain (Balearic Islands, Mainland Spain)), Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia), South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil (Bahia, Ceara Espirito Santo, Goias, Minas Gerais, Parana, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo), Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela).

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Host Range Evolution of Potyviruses: A Global Phylogenetic Analysis

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v12010111 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 111 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Benoît Moury ◽

Cécile Desbiez

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Host Range ◽

Plant Species ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Ecological Factors ◽

Plant Viruses ◽

Range Data ◽

Disease Emergence ◽

Host Range Evolution ◽

Ecological Mechanisms

Virus host range, i.e., the number and diversity of host species of viruses, is an important determinant of disease emergence and of the efficiency of disease control strategies. However, for plant viruses, little is known about the genetic or ecological factors involved in the evolution of host range. Using available genome sequences and host range data, we performed a phylogenetic analysis of host range evolution in the genus Potyvirus, a large group of plant RNA viruses that has undergone a radiative evolution circa 7000 years ago, contemporaneously with agriculture intensification in mid Holocene. Maximum likelihood inference based on a set of 59 potyviruses and 38 plant species showed frequent host range changes during potyvirus evolution, with 4.6 changes per plant species on average, including 3.1 host gains and 1.5 host loss. These changes were quite recent, 74% of them being inferred on the terminal branches of the potyvirus tree. The most striking result was the high frequency of correlated host gains occurring repeatedly in different branches of the potyvirus tree, which raises the question of the dependence of the molecular and/or ecological mechanisms involved in adaptation to different plant species.

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Exploring the Mechanisms of the Spatiotemporal Invasion of Tuta absoluta in Asia

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture10040124 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 124 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ritter A. Guimapi ◽

Ramasamy Srinivasan ◽

Henri E. Tonnang ◽

Paola Sotelo-Cardona ◽

Samira A. Mohamed

Keyword(s):

High Speed ◽

Real Life ◽

Initial Point ◽

The Philippines ◽

Control Measures ◽

Tuta Absoluta ◽

Invasive Pest ◽

Spread Pattern ◽

People Movement ◽

Not At Risk

International crop exchange always brings the risk of introducing pests to countries where they are not yet present. The invasive pest Tuta absoluta (Meyrick 1917), after taking just a decade (2008–2017) to invade the entire Africa continent, is now continuing its expansion in Asia. From its first detection in Turkey (2009), the pest has extended its range of invasion at a very high speed of progression to the southeast part of Asia. This study adopted the cellular automata modelling method used to successfully predict the spatiotemporal invasion of T. absoluta in Africa to find out if the invasive pest is propagating with a similar pattern of spread in Asia. Using land cover vegetation, temperature, relative humidity and the natural flight ability of Tuta absoluta, we simulated the spread pattern considering Turkey as the initial point in Asia. The model revealed that it would take about 20 years for the pest to reach the southeast part of Asia, unlike real life where it took just about 10 years (2009–2018). This can be explained by international crop trade, especially in tomatoes, and movement of people, suggesting that recommendations and advice from the previous invasion in Europe and Africa were not implemented or not seriously taken into account. Moreover, some countries like Taiwan and the Philippines with suitable environmental condition for the establishment of T. absoluta are not at risk of natural invasion by flight, but quarantine measure must be put in place to avoid invasion by crop transportation or people movement. The results can assist policy makers to better understand the different mechanisms of invasion of T. absoluta in Asia, and therefore adjust or adapt control measures that fit well with the dynamic of the invasive pest observed.

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