Fariba Sohrabi

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is one of the most important pest of tomato crops. The objective of this work was to evaluate the damage of T. absoluta on ten tomato cultivars under field conditions. A randomized complete block design was used with three replications. The evaluated characteristics were leaflet damage, leaf damage, and overall plant damage at days 20, 40 and 60 after infestation, and trichome density on the leaves and stems. In addition, number of mines per leaf, holes on the stem and holes per fruit were assessed at the last sampling date. Significant differences were detected among the cultivars in the variables studied. The cultivars Raha, Quintini and ES9090F1 were grouped as resistant by cluster analysis. In addition, the high density of leaf trichomes in the two cultivars Raha and Quintini can be possible causes of resistance to T. absoluta. These cultivars are promising for use in plant breeding programs aim to control T. absoluta.