Evaluation of antibiosis resistance in six tomato cultivars to Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Abstract The two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae (Koch) is a devastating and polyphagous pest of tomato in Bangladesh and other growing regions. This study investigated the impact of six new tomato cultivars (BARI Tomato-2, BARI Tomato-5, BARI Tomato-9, BARI Tomato-10, BARI Tomato-11 and F1 hybrid) on the life history and population growth parameters of TSSM at 25 ± 2°C and a photoperiod of 16:8 hours (L:D) with 60 ± 10% relative humidity. The age-stage, two-sex life table method was employed to explore these parameters. The immature developmental times of TSSM were longest on BARI Tomato-11 (13.45 days) and shortest on BARI Tomato-2 (11.96 days). Fecundity varied significantly among the cultivars, with the lowest observed on BARI Tomato-9 (60.0 eggs female⁻¹) and the highest on BARI Tomato-5 (74.56 eggs female⁻¹). Female longevity also differed across cultivars, with the shortest lifespan on BARI Tomato-2 (20.40 days) and the longest on BARI Tomato-5 (22.33 days). The net reproductive rate (R0) varied from 45.51 on BARI Tomato-2 to 57.51 eggs individual⁻¹ on BARI Tomato-5. The finite rate of increase (λ) was highest on BARI Tomato-5 (1.2790 day⁻¹) and lowest on BARI Tomato-11 (1.2567 day⁻¹). The lowest and highest intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) was 0.2285 day⁻¹ and 0.2461 day⁻¹ on BARI Tomato-11 and BARI Tomato-5, respectively. The estimated values for mean generation time (T) were lowest on BARI Tomato-2 (15.77 days) and highest (17.57 days) on BARI Tomato-11 (17.57 days). A comparison of TSSM demographic data on six tomato cultivars revealed that BARI Tomato-11 and BARI Tomato-5 were resistant and susceptible cultivars to TSSM. The findings of this research could provide new valuable information for designing a comprehensive IPM strategy for controlling T. urticae infestation in tomato cultivation.