Effect of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin, on demographic fitness of the tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

The aim of the present study was to determine the deleterious effects of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae (isolate DEMI 001), on biological and population parameters of the tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), offspring arising from treated third-instar larvae. The results revealed that the duration of immature stages (egg to adult emergence) in the F1 generation was significantly affected by sub-lethal concentration (LC10, LC20, and LC30) and increased in all treatments than the control. In addition, the longevity of moth adults and fecundity of females developed after the fungus-treated larvae were significantly affected. The intrinsic and finite rates of increase (r(m) and lambda, respectively) decreased by increasing the conidial concentration. However, the mean generation time (T) and doubling time (DT) were high in insect treatments. The findings clarified adverse effects of M. anisopliae (isolate DEMI 001) treatment on the demographic fitness of T. absoluta in the next generation.