Abo Kaf, N., R. Youssef and R. Aboud. 2022. Survey and Identification of Some Eulophid Parasitoids (Hymenoptera) of Tomato Leaf Miner (Tuta absoluta) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) Along the Syrian Coast. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 40(2): 127-139. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-40.2.127139 The Eulophid (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) parasitoids of tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta) were collected from tomato fields in Latakia and Tartus provinces of Syria during the period 2019-2020. The collected parasitoids were identified to subfamilies, genera and species, and found to belong to three subfamilies: Tetrastichinae, Entedoninae, Eulophinae, and 5 Genera and 14 species: Stenomesius japonicas, 3 species from the genus Stenomesius, Hemiptarsenus unguicellus, Pnigalio agraules, and 6 species from the genus Pnigalio, Neochrysocharis formosa and one species from the genus Elasmus. The species Stenomesius japonicas and three species of genus Stenomesius, Hemiptarsenus unguicellus, Pnigalio agraules and Neochrysocharis formosa were recorded for the first time in Syria on tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta) on tomato plants. The most widely spread of these species was N. formosa (46.9%) and S. japonicus and 3 species from genus Stenomesius (45.7%), followed by 6 species from genus Pnigalio (4.35%), Elasmus sp. (1.37%), P. agraules (0.69%), and H. unguicellus (0.46%). Keywords: Tuta absoluta, Parasitoids, Eulophidae, Syria.

Background:The success of tissue culture-raised plantlets lies in their transfer from in vitro to in vivo phase as the step of hardening helps to improve the adaptive behavior of in vitro grown plantlets to the natural environment. But the overall success rates are quite low. ResultsThe present research has been done through bio-inoculation of two apple clonal rootstocks viz., G.41 and G.214 during hardening with Phosphate Solubilizing bacteria(B1) containing Azotobacter chroococcum and Bacillus polymyxawith four concentrations prepared by dissolving 1.0 ml,2.0ml,3.0ml and 4.0ml liquid formulation of Phosphate Solubilizing bacteria solution separately in 10.0 ml distilled water and adding that mixture to ellepot medium with cocopeat moss and Vascular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (B2) containing mycorrhizal propagules @ 60 spores/g with four concentrations prepared by dissolving 1.0 mg,2.0mg,3.0mg and 4.0mg powdered formulation of Vascular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza separately in 10.0 ml distilled water and adding that mixture to ellepot medium with cocopeat moss. Conclusion: After comparing two different bio-inoculants on two different rootstocks, it was found that out of the two rootstocks,G.41 showed maximum hardening with 4.0 ml of Phosphate Solubilizing bacteria than G.214.Meanwhile, G.214 depicted maximum hardening rates with 2.0 mg of Vascular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza than G.214.Thus, a protocol has been standardized for improving the hardening success under in vivo conditions for commercial purposes in both rootstocks.

Tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a key devastating pest worldwide, it has the capacity to develop on a wide range of Solanaceous plants but tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is considered to be its preferred host. This study was carried out at the Agricultural Scientific Research Centre in Latakia in 2019 to estimate biological parameters of T. absoluta and evaluate the effect of temperature in its development, longevity, reproduction in parthenogenesis. The experiments were carried out at constant temperatures (10, 20, 30˚ C), 60-65% RH, and photoperiod (16L: 8D). Biological parameters were analyzed according to the theory of age-stage two-sex life table by using the computer program TWO-SEX MSchart. The highest value of intrinsic rate of increase (r), the final increase rate (λ), and net reproductive rate (Ro) were 0.0439±0.0028 females/female/day, 1.0449±0.0029, and 7.01±0.8705 females/female/generation, respectively, at 20˚C. The lowest value of net reproductive rate (Ro) was 0.92±0.1250 females/female/generation at 30˚C. Generation time (T) was the longest (44.3±0.203 days) at 20˚C and decreased to 26.38±1.156 days at 30˚C. T. absoluta completed its development at all these temperatures. The results obtained showed that the effect of temperature on the insect development from egg to adult decreased with increased temperature. The shortest development period on egg, larva and pupa development was 3.95±0.149, 11.975±0.075 and 4.95±0.086 days, respectively, at 30˚C. This means that the development time from egg to adult was shorter (20.8±1.151 days) at 30˚C as compared to 34.51±0.127 days at 20˚C, and longest at 10˚C (125.4±1.211 days). The female longevity was longer (61.35±0.25 days) at 20˚C. The highest rate of fecundity was 12.98±1.072 eggs/unmated female, and the lowest was 2.19±0.152 eggs/unmated female at 30˚C. Moreover, the unmated females kept at 10˚C did not lay eggs, and unfertilized eggs (asexually produced eggs) laid by unmated females at 20 or 30˚C did not hatch. The adult pre-oviposition period (APOP) of unmated females was 2.57±0.1368 days at 20˚C and 4.31±0.2629 days at 30˚C, whereas the total APOP of females was 36.86±0.1844 days at 20˚C and 24.21±0.3039 days at 30˚C. Keywords: Tomato leaf miner, Life tables, asexual reproduction, Parthenogenesis, Syria

Background Considering the phenological aspects, Vitis vinifera has peculiar position in the plant kingdom exhibiting various phenophases from dormancy until senescence viz., budburst, bloom, berry-set, ripening and harvesting. Just like other systems of agriculture and horticulture, grape orchardists and scientists require various types of scales which are convenient, globally accepted, error-free and reliable to study its growth and development. Materials and methods In this study, the details of specific phenological stages of grapevine were measured with the help of Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt, und Chemische Industrie (BBCH) scale. The BBCH-scale employs decimal coding with additional drawings into it for defining the phenology of grapevine with first digit showing principal growth stage of growth and the second digit the secondary stage of growth corresponding to ordinal number or percentage value. Results In this study, the phenological stages of growth in grapevine covering the entire cycle of growth, from with sprouting and ending upon senescence were identified and discussed. The stages are divisible into seven principal growth stages; two representing vegetative phase (sprouting (0) and leaf development (1)) and four stages describing reproductive growth (inflorescence emergence (5), flowering (6), development of fruits (7), ripening of berries (8)) and last stage is for senescence (9) as per BBCH scale. In the principal stages of growth a total of 17 secondary stages of growth Conclusion The phonological growth stages of grapevine have been detailed as per BBCH scale via codings distinguishing its vegetative and reproductive cycle.