Effect of different tomato cultivars on some biological characteristics of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1808) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under lab conditions

Development, body weight and reproduction of the tomato fruit worm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), were studied at 26 ± 1°C; 60 ± 10 % RH and a light: dark cycle of 16:8 h on ten tomato cultivars: ‘Aras’, ‘Atrak’, ‘Korall’, ‘Mobil’, ‘Rio Grande Hed’, ‘Sivand’, ‘Super Chief’, ‘Super Mobil’, ‘Super Queen’ and ‘Super Urbana’ in the laboratory. The shortest larval duration was recorded on ‘Super Chief’ (18.98 ± 0.94 days) while the longest was seen on ‘Super Queen’(22.07 ± 0.32 days). The developmental time of immature stages ranged from 37.62 ± 0.24 days on ‘Super Chief’ to 42.69 ± 0.48 days on ‘Super Queen’. Pupal period ranged from 11.60 ± 0.32 days to 13.19 ± 0.15 days on ‘Aras’ and ‘Super Queen’, respectively. Maximum pupal weight was 323.67 ± 4.56 mg on ‘Aras’ and was minimum on ‘Super Queen’ (200.83 ± 3.03 mg). The maximum and minimum female longevity was observed on ‘Atrak’ (14.78 ± 0.39 days) and ‘Super Queen’ (12.77 ± 0.86 days), respectively. The life time of males ranged from 7.20 ± 0.20 days on ‘Super Mobil’ to 9.22 ± 0.17 days on ‘Mobil’. The mean number of eggs deposited on different cultivars varied with 360.25 ± 21.15 eggs on ‘Korall’ in 8.83 ± 0.43 days and 160.68 ± 22.37 eggs on ‘Super Queen’ in 8.35 ± 0.44 days. It could be concluded that ‘Korall’, followed by ‘Aras’ and ‘Super Chief’ were suitable and ‘Super Queen’ and ‘Super Urbana’ were unsuitable cultivars for growth and development of H. armigera larvae.