Biological and Cultural Factors Contributing to the Importance of Potato Tuber Moth on Tomatoes in Ethiopia

Abstract

Tomato has not been in the list of the major solanaceous hosts of the potato tuber moth (PTM). But, lately it has become one in some countries such as Ethiopia. A number of factors might have contributed for this. The current study was therefore conducted to determine whether or not: (1) PTM races specifically adapted to tomatoes have evolved, (2) potato-proximate tomato supports high PTM populations even in the presence of potato, and (3) growing tomatoes non-staked increases PTM pressure. According to the study, there was no significant difference in the total larval development time on tomato leaves between the PTM larvae from tomato and potato populations. PTM inflicted significantly lower damage on tomato planted in proximate with potato than on the potato. PTM pressure was significantly lower on staked than on non-staked tomatoes. The absence of tomato-adapted PTM race evolved, the common practice of growing tomatoes non-staked, and the absence of crop diversification involving the more attractive host plants (potato and/or tobacco) are the important biological and cultural factors that might have contributed to the establishment of PTM as a major pest of tomatoes in Ethiopia.