The reaction to the tomato pinworm (Tuta absoluta) of five F3 progenies of the crossing between Lycopersicon esculentum cv. IPA-6 and L. hirsutum f. glabratum PI 134418 was evaluated. The fouler area injured by T. absoluta in cm², number of fouler trichomes type VI per mm² on adaxial and abaxial faces and the number of galleries per leaflet were evaluated. Injured fouler area, number of fouler trichomes type VI of adaxial and abaxial faces and the number of galleries of T. absoluta have great possibilities of future genetic gains, once they present wide genotype variability, with elevated values of determination coefficient and magnitude higher than the unit for the variation index. The phenotypic correlation among the fouler area consumed by T. absoluta and the trichomes densities of the adaxial and abaxial faces of the leaves were negative and significant, as well as between the fouler area and the number of mines of T. absoluta per leaflet. A positive and significant correlation for trichomes densities on both fouler faces was also verified. This suggests that the resistance is related to a greater number of foliar trichomes type VI.
Tuta absoluta; pest resistance; trichomes; genotypic variability
