Resistance of different tomato cultivars to the two_spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), is one of the most important pests of tomato crops. Using resistant cultivars is a useful control method against the pest in integrated pest management programs. In this study, resistance of the tomato cultivars Super Chief, Super Strain B, Korral, Khorram, HAS 2274, Super H, Calji, Early Urbana Y and Mobil to two-spotted spider mite were evaluated under laboratory conditions at 25 ± 2 °C, 60 ± 10% R.H. and a photoperiod of 16: 8 (L: D).The shortest pre-adult stage was recorded on Super Strain B. Female life span ranged from 26.47 to 30.40 days, on Super Chief and Early Urbana Y, respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was from 0.091 to 0.163 day-1 which the lowest rm was observed on Super Chief and the highest rm was on Super Strain B. The lowest net reproductive rate (R0) and finite rate of increase (λ) belonged to Super Chief cultivar. Super Chief cultivar showed the highest antibiosis resistance against the two-spotted spider mite.