Vol. 12, Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
Nomi Sarmah, Anjumoni Devee, Junmoni Gayon, Ravishankar G, Gudipati Naveen, Tanjil Rahman, Ankita Saikia and Dionysios Perdikis

Abstract:
Phthorimaea absoluta is an important invasive pest that have been recorded from Indian subcontinent in 2014 and recently been found in northeast India as well. The voracious feeding nature of the larvae causes damage to the leaves as well as fruits. The larvae bores into the leaves and starts feeding leaving the epidermis, which makes it difficult to control by application of pesticides. With up a risk of upto 100% crop loss, P. absoluta becomes an important invasive pests. In case of fruits, the larvae make small holes beneath the sepal and starts feeding in the tunnel. Apart from tomato, it attacks several other solanaceous crops such as eggplant, potato, tobacco, jimson weed and the European black nightshade. It has also been reported from wild spinach, and sugar beet. The implementation of the preventive agronomic practices is highly encouraged in P. absoluta affected areas. The long-term use of the commercially available pesticides has led to resistance development against organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides. Biological control of P. absoluta greatly relies on the augmentation and conservation of natural enemies. Among them omnivorous mirid predators Nesidicoris tenuis, Macrolophus pygmaeus and Dicyphus errans and conservation of parasitoids like Diadegma pulchripes, Bracon osculator and Necremnus sp. have shown promising results.