Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) larvae were fed on tomato leaves Lycopersicon hirsutum f. glabratum (PI 134417, resistant) and L. esculentum (cv. Santa Clara, susceptible) in order to obtain different instar larvae. Bioassays with tomato leaves of both genotypes untreated and treated with Beauveria bassiana (Bb) were conducted for each larval instar. Daily mortality was evaluated until the end of the larval phase. Feeding on PI 134417 reduced the larval survival of T. absoluta. When Bb was applied to the two genotypes of Lycopersicon, mortality occurred in all T. absoluta instars. Application of Bb on tomato leaves resulted synergistic or additive effects with the resistant genotype on larval survival. These effects depended on the instar the larvae fed on Bb-treated leaves.
Insecta; pinworm; plant resistance; entomopathogenic fungus
