Effect of different tomato cultivars on some biological characteristics of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1808) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under lab conditions

Abstract

Development, body weight and reproduction of the tomato fruit worm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), were studied at 26 ± 1°C; 60 ± 10 % RH and a light: dark cycle of 16:8 h on ten tomato cultivars: ‘Aras’, ‘Atrak’, ‘Korall’, ‘Mobil’, ‘Rio Grande Hed’, ‘Sivand’, ‘Super Chief’, ‘Super Mobil’, ‘Super Queen’ and ‘Super Urbana’ in the laboratory. The shortest larval duration was recorded on ‘Super Chief’ (18.98 ± 0.94 days) while the longest was seen on ‘Super Queen’(22.07 ± 0.32 days). The developmental time of immature stages ranged from 37.62 ± 0.24 days on ‘Super Chief’ to 42.69 ± 0.48 days on ‘Super Queen’. Pupal period ranged from 11.60 ± 0.32 days to 13.19 ± 0.15 days on ‘Aras’ and ‘Super Queen’, respectively. Maximum pupal weight was 323.67 ± 4.56 mg on ‘Aras’ and was minimum on ‘Super Queen’ (200.83 ± 3.03 mg). The maximum and minimum female longevity was observed on ‘Atrak’ (14.78 ± 0.39 days) and ‘Super Queen’ (12.77 ± 0.86 days), respectively. The life time of males ranged from 7.20 ± 0.20 days on ‘Super Mobil’ to 9.22 ± 0.17 days on ‘Mobil’. The mean number of eggs deposited on different cultivars varied with 360.25 ± 21.15 eggs on ‘Korall’ in 8.83 ± 0.43 days and 160.68 ± 22.37 eggs on ‘Super Queen’ in 8.35 ± 0.44 days. It could be concluded that ‘Korall’, followed by ‘Aras’ and ‘Super Chief’ were suitable and ‘Super Queen’ and ‘Super Urbana’ were unsuitable cultivars for growth and development of H. armigera larvae.

Keywords

• development period
• body weight
• fecundity
• tomato fruit worm
• tomato