Functional Response of Trichogramma evanescens Parasitizing Tomato Leaf Miner, Tuta absoluta on Three Tomato Varieties

Authors
R. Ghorbani 1
A. A. Seraj 2
H. Allahyari 3
S. Farrokhi 4
1 Department of Plant Protection Research, Lorestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Khorramabad, Islamic Republic of Iran.
2 Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahwaz, Ahvaz, Islamic Republic of IRAN.
3 Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Islamic Republic of Iran.
4 Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization, AREEO, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Abstract
The egg parasitoid, Trichogramma evanescens Westwood, is used for inundative releases in biological control programs against the tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta Meyrick, in agro-ecosystems. One of the most important host-parasitoid interactions is functional response that its type and parameters are affected by different factors including host plant characteristics. In this research, functional response of T. evanescens to different egg densities (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64) of T. absoluta was investigated in a growth chamber (26±2°C, 50±10% RH, and 16:8 hours L:D photoperiod), on three varieties of tomato (Mobil, Riogrande, and Early Urbana-703). Type of functional response was determined by logistic regression and its parameters, i.e. searching efficiency and handling time, were calculated by nonlinear regression model using SAS software. Functional response of this parasitoid was type III on Mobil and Riogrande and type II on Early Urbana- 703. Searching efficiency (a) for each host density was 0.0368, 0.0736, 0.1472, 0.2944, 0.5888, and 1.1776 on Mobil, and 0.0374, 0.0748, 0.1469, 0.2992, 0.5984, and 1.1968 h-1 on Riogrande varieties, respectively. Also, on Early Urbana-703, the attack rate was 0.1045 h-1. The handling time was 1.0276, 1.1017, and 1.3289 hours with maximum parasitism of 23.3, 21.7, and 18.06 eggs on these varieties, respectively. It is suggested that physical structure of Early Urbana-703 variety may interfere with the parasitoid’s performance, resulting in an impaired searching efficiency and parasitism ability. Some applied aspects of the findings are discussed.

Keywords

Subjects

1. Adarkwah, C., Nyarko, G., Opoku, N., Badii, B. K., Addai, I. K., Prozell, S., Ulrichs, Ch. and Scheoller, M. 2015. Effectiveness of the Egg Parasitoid Trichogramma evanescens Preventing Rice Moth from Infesting Stored Bagged Commodities. J. Stored Prod. Res., 61: 102-107.
2. Allahyari, H., Fard, P. A. and Nozari, J. 2004. Effects of Host on Func‌tional Response of Offspring in Two Populations of Trissolcus grandis on the Sun Pest. J. Appl. Entomol., 128 (1): 39–43.
3. Amer, R. A. M., Hatem, A. E. and El-Sanady, M. A. 2012. Microbial Control of the Tomato Leaf-Miner, Tuta absoluta (Povolny) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) by Biopesticides in Relation to Some Biological Parameters. Egypt. J. Biolo. Pest Control, 22: 161-167.
4. ArbabTafti, R., Sahragard, A., Salehi, L. and Asgari, Sh. 2004. Study on Functional Response of Trichogramma brassicae Bezdenko (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) to Different Densities of Sitotroga cerealella Olivier (Lepidoptera: Gelechidae) Eggs. J. Agric. Sci., 1(1): 1-8.
5. Arno, J. and Gabarra, R. 2011. Side Effects of Selected Insecticides on the Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) Predators Macrolophus pygmaeus and Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae). J. Pest Sci., 84: 513-520.
6. Bjorksten, T. A. and Hoffmann, A. A., 1998. Separating the Effects of Experience, Size, Egg Load and Genotype on Host Response in Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). J. Insect Behav., 11: 129-148.
7. Cagnotti, C. L., Viscarret, M. M., Riquelme, M. B. Botto, E. N., Carabajal, L. Z., Segura, D. F. and Lopez, S. N. 2012. Effects of X-rays on Tuta absoluta for Use in Inherited Sterility Programmers. J. Pest Sci., 85: 413-421.
8. Chailleux, A., Biondi, A., Han, P., Tabone, E. and Desneux, N. 2013. Suitability of the Pest-Plant System Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)-Tomato for Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) Parasitoids and Insights for Biological Control. J. Econ. Entomol., 106(6): 2310-2321.
9. Chamani, N. 2015. Laboratory Evaluation of Egg’s Parasitism of Tomato Leaf Miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lep: Gelechiidae) by Several Species of Trichogramma spp. MSc. Thesis, Isfahan University of Technology, 145 PP.
10. Cocco, A., Deliperi, S. and Delrio, G. 2013. Control of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Greenhouse Tomato Crops Using the Mating Disruption Technique. J. Appl. Entomol., 137: 16-28.
11. DeClercq, P., Mohaghegh, J. and Trriy L. 2000. Effect of Host Plant on the Functional Response of the Predator Podisus nigrispinus (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). Biol. Control, 18: 65-70.
12. Davoodi Dehkordi, S. and Sahragard, A. 2013. Functional Response of Hippodamia variegata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) to Different Densities of Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in an Open Patch Design. J. Agr. Sci. Tech., 15: 651-659.
13. Desneux, N., Wajnberg, E., Wyckhuys, K. A. G., Burgio, G., Arpaia, S., Narvaez-Vasquez, C. A., Gonzalez–Cabrera, J., Ruescas, D. C., Tabone, E., Frandon, 2010. Biological Invasion of European Tomato Crops by Tuta absoluta: Ecology, Geographic Expansion and Prospects for Biological Control. J. Pest Sci., 83: 197-215.
14. Desneux, N., M. G. Luna, T. Guillemaud, and A. Urbaneja. 2011. The Invasive South American Tomato Pinworm, Tuta absoluta, Continues to Spread in Afro-Eurasia and Beyond: The New Threat to Tomato World Production. J. Pest Sci., 84: 403-408.
15. Erdogan, P. and Babaroglu, N. 2014. Life Table of the Tomato Leaf Miner, Tuta absulata (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). J. Agric. Faculty Gaziosmanpasa Univ., 31(2): 80-89.
16. Faria, C. A., Torres, J. B., Fernandes, A. M. V. and Farias, A. M. I. 2008. Parasitism of Tuta absoluta in Tomato Plants by Trichogramma pretiosum Riley in Response to Host Density and Plant Structures. Cienc. Rural Santa Maria, 38(6): 1504-1509.
17. Farrokhi, S., Ashouri, A., Shirazi, J, Allahyari, H and Huigens, M. E. 2010. A Comparative Study on the Functional Response of Wolbachia-Infected and Uninfected Forms of the Parasitoid Wasp Trichogramma brassicae. J. Insect Sci., 10(167): 1-11.
18. Fathi, S. A. A., Solhi, N., Golizadeh, A. and Hassanpour, M. 2015. Comparison of Life History Parameters of Tomato Leaf Miner, Tuta absoluta (Lep.: Gelechiidae) on Five Cultivars of Tomato. Iran. J. Plant Protec. Sci., 46(1): 141-149.
19. Ghorbani, R. 2015. Study of Some Biological Characteristics of Trichogramma evanescens on Tomato Leafminer (Tuta absoluta) Control in Laboratory Conditions. PhD., Thesis. Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, 154 PP.
20. Ghorbani, R., Seraj, A. A., Allahyari, H. and Farokhi, Sh. 2015. Population Growth and Life Table Parameters of Leaf Miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lep.: Gelechiidae) on Two Varieties of Tomato. Plant Pest Res., 5(4): 53-61.
21. Gingras, D. and Boivin, G. 2002. Effect of Plant Structure, Host Density and Foraging Duration on Host Finding by Trichogramma evanescens (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Environ. Entomol., 31(6): 1153-1157.
22. Guenaoui, Y., Bensaad, F. and Ouezzani, K. 2010. First Experiences in Managing Tomato Leaf Miner Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in the Northwest Area of the Country. Preliminary Studies in Biological Control by Use of Indigenous Natural Enemies. Phyto. Espana, 217: 112-113
23. Guo, X. 1986. Bionomics of Trichogramma ostriniae Pang et Chen. Chin. J. Biol. Control, 2: 148-152.
24. Hassell, M. P. 1982. What Is Searching Efficiency? Ann. Appl. Biol., 101: 170-175.
25. Holling, C. S. 1959. Some Characteristics of Simple Types of Predation and Parasitism. Can. Entomol., 91: 385-398.
26. Holling, C. S. 1965. The Functional Response of Predators to Prey Density and Its Role in Mimicry and Population Regulation. Mem. Entomol. Soc. Can., 45: 1-60.
27. Javadi Khedri, S., Khanjani, M., Hosseini, M. A., Leite, G. L. D. and Jafari, M. 2014. Role of Different Trichome Style in the Resistance of Lycopersicon hirsutum Genotypes to Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Ecol. Mont., 1(1): 55-63.
28. Juliano, S. A. 2001. Nonlinear Curve Fitting: Predation and Functional Response Curve. In: “Design and Analysis of Ecological Experiments”, (Eds.): Scheiner, S. M. and Gurevitch, J. Oxford University Press, New York, PP. 178–216.
29. Kalyebi, A., Overholt, W. A., Schulthess, F., Mueke, J. M., Hassan, S. A. and Sithanantham, S. 2005. Functional Response of Six Indigenous Trichogrammatid Egg Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in Kenya: Influence of Temperature and Relative Humidity. Biol. Control, 32: 164-171.
30. Karami Jamur, T. and Shishehbor, P. 2012. Host Plant Effects on the Functional Response of Stethorus gilvifrons to Strawberry Spider Mites. Biocontrol Sci. Tech., 22: 101-110.
31. Krips, O. E., Kleijn, P. W., Willems, P. E. L., Gols, J. Z. and Dicke, M.1999. Leaf Hairs Influence Searching Efficiency and Predation Rate of the Predatory Mite Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Exp. Appl. Acarol., 23: 119-133.
32. Messina, F. J. and Hanks, J. B. 1998. Host Plant Alters the Shape of the Functional Response of an Aphid Predator (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Environ. Entomol., 27: 1196-1202.
33. Mills, N. J. and Lacan, I. 2004. Ratio Dependence in the Functional Response of Insect Parasitoids: Evidence from Trichogramma minutum Foraging for Eggs in Small Host Patches. Ecol. Entomol., 29: 208-216.
34. Moezipour. M., Kafil, M. and Allahyari, H. 2008. Functional Response of Trichogramma brassicae at Different Temperatures and Relative Humidities. B. Insectol., 61(2): 245-250.
35. Monteith, L. G. 1960. Influence of Plants Other than the Food Plants on Their Host on Host-Finding by Tachinid Parasites. Can. Entomol. 92: 641-652.
36. Murdoch, W. W. 1969. Switching in General Predators: Experiments on Predator Specificity and Stability of Prey Populations. Ecol. Monogr., 39: 335-364.
37. Nikbin, R., Sahragard, A. and Hosseini, M. 2014. Age-Specific Functional Response of Trichogramma brassicae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) Parasiting Different Egg Densities of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). J. Agr. Sci. Tech., 16: 1205-1216.
38. Price, P. W., Bouton, C. E., Gross, P., McPheron, B. A., Thompson, J. N. and Weis, A. E. 1980. Interaction between Three Trophic Levels: Influence of Plants on Interaction between Insect Herbivores and Natural Enemies. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst., 11: 41-65.
39. Reay-Jones, F. P. F., Rochat, J., Goebel, R. and Tabone, E. 2006. Functional Response of Trichogramma chilonis to Galleria mellonella and Chilo sacchariphagus Eggs. Entomol. Exp. Appl., 118: 229–236.
40. Rogers, D. 1972. Random Search and Insect Population Models. J. Anim. Ecol., 41: 369-383.
41. Salek Ebrahimi, H. and Gharekhani, GH. H. 2014. Effect of Generation and Tomato Plant Cultivar on Development of Tomato Leaf Miner, Tuta absulata (Meyrick) (Lep.: Gelechiidae). Agri. Pest Manage., 1(2): 52- 58.
42. SAS Institute. 2004. The GLIMMIX Procedure. SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA. http://support.sas.com/rnd/app/da/glimmix.html.
43. Savino, V., Coviella, E. C. and Luna, M. G. 2012. Reproductive Biology and Functional Response of Dineulophus phtorimaeae, a Natural Enemy of the Tomato Moth, Tuta absoluta. J. Insect Sci., 12(153): 1-14.
44. Smith, S. M. 1996. Biological Control with Trichogramma: Advances, Successes, and Their Potential Use. Annu. Rev. Entomol., 41: 375-406.
45. Thorpe, K. W. 1985. Effects of Height and Habitat Type on Egg Parasitism by Trichogramma minutum and T. pretiosum (Hymenoptera:Trichogrammatidae). Agri. Eco. Environ., 12: 117-126.
46. Wang, B. and Ferro, D. N. 1998. Functional Response of Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) to Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) under Laboratory and Field Conditions. Environ. Entomol., 27: 752-758.
Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
Volume 21, Issue 1
January and February 2019
Pages 117-127