Effect of Leaf Characteristics, Natural Enemies and Climatic Conditions on the Intensities of Myzus Persicae and Frankliniella Schulzei Attacks on Lycopersicon Esculentum

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of height within the canopy, leaf chemical composition, levels of leaf nitrogen and potassium, densities of leaf trichomes and crystalliferous idioblasts, natural enemies, total rainfall and median temperature on the intensities of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Homoptera: Aphididae) and Frankliniella schulzei (Trybon) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) attacks in six tomato plantations Lycopersicon esculentum var. "Santa Clara" in two counties in Brazil. Our results indicate that M. persicae can be an important tomato pest in regions of mild temperature while, F. schulzei, can be in higher temperature regions. F. schulzei tended to attack in the initial phase of the culture while M. persicae, from the middle to the final phases. Both M. persicae and F. schulzei concentrated their attack on the leaves in the apical part of the plants rather than in the middle and basal parts. Natural enemies, especially the parasite Adialytus spp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and spiders, can be important agents for the control of the aphid and thrips population in tomato, respectively. No correlation was detected between levels of leaf N and K, leaf chemical composition, leaf trichome (99.65% non-glandular), and crystalliferous idioblasts with these pests.