A Newly Emerged Pest of Tomato [Tomato Leaf Miner, Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)]: In Bangladesh – A Review on Its Problems and Management Strategies

Abstract

Worldwide, tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is one of the most devastating invasive pests of tomato crops. It is one of the most important biotic constraints for tomato production which may lead to the production loss up to 100% if it cannot be controlled. T. absoluta comprises four developmental stages: egg, larvae, pupa, and adult with a rapid growth rate. Among these larvae is the most devastating stage which affects the fruit, leaves, and stem. Recently, T. absoluta is turned into a key pest of tomato in Bangladesh. This pest was first detected by IPM lab, Horticulture Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, Bangladesh from a commercial tomato grower in the village of Chaklarhat (26019’N, 88043’E) under the Tunirhat union of Panchagarh Sadar Upazila, Panchagarh district of Bangladesh in May 2016. Since its introduction in 2016, there was no sound action plan implemented. Therefore, this paper focused on relevant scientific knowledge regarding its biology, potential damage and different control measures which will open the windows for future researches for efficient and sustainable management strategies against T. absoluta in Bangladesh.

A review on ecology, biology, and management of a detrimental pest, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

“…As of late, T. absoluta has been formally announced in South Asian nations like India (in Maharashtra) during October 2014, and in Nepal and Bangladesh during May 2016, separately. Further, it was found in West Asian nations including Iran in 2010 (Bastola et al, 2020;Huda et al, 2020;Khani et al, 2020;Wakil et al, 2018). Subsequently, it then spread extremely quickly all through the Mediterranean shores, including regions for North Africa and the Middle East (Desneux et al, 2011;Hogea, 2020;Jac, 2017).…”

“…Tomato leaf miner is thought to be native to central Chile, South America, and has been boundless in southern Europe, then, Asia in localized southern parts, the Middle East, and some African nations. At present, T. absoluta has been far-reaching practically all around the world on various solanaceous harvests (Desneux et al, 2011;Huda et al, 2020;Jac, 2017;Mansour et al, , 2019Mkonyi et al, 2020;Sanda et al, 2018) (Table 1). Nevertheless, introductions into new regions appear to be somehow linked to the importation of tomato fruits, with confirmed cases in Eurasia (UK, Netherlands, Romania, Russia, and Lithuania) (Desneux et al, 2010(Desneux et al, , 2011Hogea, 2020).…”

“…In a summarize, T. absoluta shows up as a significant danger to nations, whose tomato exports are significant for the economy, particularly exporters like Mexico, the USA, Canada, India, and China (Desneux et al, 2011). The fast dissemination of T. absolutes over wide geographic regions might be a consequence of different factors like its high biotic potential, endophytic feeding propensities, a wide scope of host plants, the intra-mainland dispersal assistance because of human transportation, and the artificial selection of insecticide-resistant populaces (Huda et al, 2020;Jac, 2017). Thence, the dissemination ability of this pest is substantial, due to which the distribution of this nuisance is throughout the world.…”

“…Throughout the country, it is a major factor behind the reduced production of tomatoes in both greenhouse and open field conditions (Gozel et al, 2020;Han et al, 2019;Munyua & Bream, 2017). It has turned into the most dangerous and a vital irritation for Solanaceae crop production in South America, Africa including Tanzania, and in few regions throughout the planet (Desneux et al, 2010;Jac, 2017;Huda et al, 2020). Tuta absoluta is recognized by different names in same and various areas of the world like; tomato leaf miner (TLM), South American tomato moth, tomato borer or South American tomato pinworm in South America, further Phthorimaea absoluta in Peru, and Gnorimoschema absoluta, Scrobipalpula absoluta, or Scrobipalpuloides absoluta throughout the world (Abdel-baky et al, 2021;Desneux et al, 2010;Hogea, 2020;Jac, 2017).…”

Stenomesius japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae): a new parasitoid of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Syria

“…The tomato leaf-miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a Neotropical oligophagous pest of cultivated and wild plants with a high preference for Solanaceae, especially tomato (Nurul Huda et al, 2020). This pest also attacks other cultivated plants including potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), sweet pepper (Solanum muricatum Aiton), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) (Desneux et al, 2010).…”