Improvement of integrated management against Tuta absoluta by using new egg parasitoids

Do Thi Khanh, Hong; Tiradon, Marion; Colombel, Etty; Bonnet, Adrien; Chailleux, Anaïs; Desneux, Nicolas; Tabone, Elisabeth

Improvement of integrated management against Tuta absoluta by using new egg parasitoids

2011

The tomato borer, Tuta absoluta, is an invasive pest causing important loss on tomato productionThe tomato borer, Tuta absoluta, is an invasive pest causing important loss on tomato production in many countries. Newly introduced in France on tomato crops (2008), the number of infested zones has quickly increased. Many alternative methods of protection exist in France and are used in IPM, mostly for biological control (predator: Macrolophus pygmaeus, egg parasitoid: Trichogramma achaeae). However, while limiting the damage, they are quite expensive. So, it is important and urgent to find a new efficient biological solution which is less expensive and safe for the environment. With a funding from the French Ministry of Agriculture (CASDAR), we are looking for a new beneficial oophagous parasitoid. Initially oophagous parasitoids from our collection at INRA PACA were used to compare parasitoid performance against T. absoluta. Experiments were performed on tomato leaves at 25 ± 1°C, RH 75 ± 5 % and 16L: 8hD in order to evaluate emergence rate, fecundity and longevity of parasitoid females. First results of Trichogramma strains efficiency in the lab will be presented and compared to T. achaeae. We hope to find a more efficient species, which can be stored at low temperature and which is adapted to the harsh conditions of tomato crops. The development of this new strategy will be integrated into the IPM method currently available on tomato crops. For this, coordinated actions mobilizing research organisations, development institutes, and private companies, were established.

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