HOST-PLANT ACCEPTANCE, FECUNDITY AND LONGEVITY OF Tetranychus evansi (Acari: Tetranychidae) ON SELECTED TOMATO ACCESSIONS

Abstract

Seventomato (Lycopersicon sp.) accessions wereevaluated for their resistance to thetomato red spider mite, Tetranychus evansi Baker and Pritchard, in the laboratory. Data recorded was: (i) trichome density and (ii) fecundity and longevity. Whole potted intact tomato plants were used for the olfactometer bioassays, while leaf disk sections were used for the glass bridge bioassays. There was a significant (P<0.05) negative correlation between fecundity and longevity with the density of trichome types I and IV. Significantly more females chose the direction with ‘Money Maker’ (susceptible accession) when compared to other accessions. Thus, trichome density and plant-emitted volatiles seem to play an important role in host- plant selection of spider mites.