Determination of The Prevalence and Population Development of Tomato Leafminer [Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)] in Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Planting Areas of Sanliurfa Province

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the extensity, development of population and the state of damage of tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)) in total eight tomato fields located in the villages of Goktepe of Central Sanliurfa, Meteler of Birecik, Kepirce of Bozova, Yalcinkaya of Ceylanpinar, Ovacik of Hilvan, Kucuk Yucelen of Siverek, Aligor of Suruc and Ciftciler of Viransehir in 2011. To determine the extensity of tomato leaf miner each of the 5 districts in the village tomato field was checked by observation whether adult or larvae found in fields T. absoluta. The result showed that tomato leaf miner was common in all the districts. The highest density of tomato leaf miner adult population quantities were 630, 800, 400, 965, 211, 600, 215 and 96 pcs/week in Goktepe of Central Sanliurfa, Meteler of Birecik, Kepirce of Bozova, Yalcinkaya of Ceylanpinar, Ovacik of Hilvan, Kucuk Yucelen of Siverek, Aligor of Suruc and Ciftciler of Viransehir, respectively. Tomato leaf miner harmed the fruits, particularly total in 1st and 2nd harvest of tomato (the end of August- the beginning of September) , if precautions were not taken. Moreover, it was recorded that if the adult population was quite dense in the fields study conducted, there aren’t any undamaged leaves and fruits from T. absoluta.