Entomopathogenic nematodes as biocontrol agents of Tuta absoluta on tomato plants / Hussein Ibrahem Hassanein Ibrahem ; Supervised Muhammad Shamseldean Mostafa Shamseldean , Nagwa Abdelhamid Abdelbary , Hassan Hassan Shalaby

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Agriculture - Department of Nematology

The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is an important pest of tomato crop in South America. It has recently been introduced to the Mediterranean area including Egypt. This devastative insect pest affecting tomato plantations. Therefore, this study was included the following: 1-Monitoring of Lepidopteran insect species associated with tomato plants. Four seasons from August 2011 till March 2013 have shown for the registration of a number of insect species, which follow two different families, Gelechiidae and Noctuidae. 2-study population fluctuation of Tuta absoluta(Meyrick) attacking tomato plants. Also, the effect of prevailing weather factors including maximum temperatures, minimum temperatures and relative humidity was studied. during August 2011 till March 2013. 3- The susceptibility of T. absoluta larvae and pupae to the entomopathogenic nematode species [Steinernema monticolum and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (HP88)] was determined in both the laboratory and the field. Leaf bioassays were conducted to evaluate the nematode{u2019}s efficiency in the laboratory to kill the insect larvae. The nematode, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (HP88) has killed 80% of the 4th instar larvae at 600 nematode infective juveniles (IJs)/ml. and 100% at 1200 IJs/ml. 72 hours post treatment. At the same time, when Steinernema monticolum infective juveniles were used in the laboratory at 600 nematode infective juveniles (IJs)/ml., 80-87% mortality was recorded on the 3rd and 4th instar larvae respectively

Issued also as CD