Plant Bio security for Tuta absoluta

1. Tuta absoluta (tomato leaf miner)
An introduced alien pest

2. INTRODUCTION
Recently, T. absoluta has entered into India, 2014

3. Alien species:
It is defined as “a species, subspecies or lower taxon, introduced outside its
natural past or present distribution; includes any part, gametes, seeds, eggs,
or propagules of such species that might survive and subsequently
reproduce”
(Source: Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)).
Invasive species:
It is described as “animals, plants or other organisms introduced by man into
places out of their natural range of distribution, where they become
established and disperse, generating a negative impact on the local
ecosystem and species.”
(Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)).
Invasive alien species:
It is defined as "an alien species whose introduction and/or spread threaten
biological diversity” (source: CBD). It is also called as alien invasive
species.

4. Taxonomic position of the pest
Common name : Tomato leaf miner, South American
tomato moth, South American tomato pinworm, Tomato
borer
Scientific name : Tuta absoluta (Meyrick)
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Arthropoda
Class : Insecta
Order : Lepidoptera
Family : Gelechiidae
Genus : Tuta
Species : absoluta

5. Adaptation to high
temperatures
Multivoltine
character
Short generation
time
10-12 generation
High biotic
potential
Resistance to
insecticide
No diapause
Different host
plants
(IRAC, 2014
Key points for its dominance
Larval behaviour
www.irac--‐online.org

6. Yield loss:
• 80-100%-
(Protected cultivation and
open fields)
(Sridhar et al., 2014, Bengaluru)
• Yield and fruit quality
impacted by direct feeding
• Secondary pathogens entry
through wounds
(Kaoud, 2014)
Economic Importance and yield loss
NBAIR, Bengaluru, 2016
Field damage

7. Economic damage due to extra control measures
In Spain, in the first year of introduction, pesticides
were applied 15 times per season
Raise the cost by 450 Euros/ha
When T. absoluta invades rest of the world, the
tomato pest management cost will go up by $ 500 M
per year
Retta et al., 2015, Ethiopia

9. Muniappan , 2013, Vergenia
Duration: 7 days
TLC-30-35 days
Duration: 8 days
Duration: 10 days
Female 10-15 days
Male 6-7 days

10. Muniappan , 2013, Vergenia
Table 1:Oviposition preference
Plant part Preference (%)
Leaves 73
Veins and
stems
21
Sepals 5
Fruits 1

11. Nature of damage and Symptoms
Ballal et al., 2016, NBAIR, Bangaluru
White patches Burnt appearance

12. Circular holePin holes on the fruit
T. absoluta H. armigera

13. Creates a wide, irregular mine Narrower and more circuitous
Blotch Serpentine mines
T. absoluta Liriomyza spp

14. Table 3: Extent of damage by T. absoluta
State % Fruit damage
Tamil Nadu 0.5-13.5
Karnataka 2-100
Maharashtra >50
Gujarat 5-12
Ballal et al., 2016, NBAIR, Bangaluru

15. Table 4. Survey on Tuta infestation in tomato fields (Feb–March, 2015)
Ballal et al., 2016, NBAIR, Bangaluru
State/district Place
Leaf mine
(Blotch) (%)
Fruit
damage (%)
Tamil Nadu
Dharmapuri
Palakodu 3.5–5 Nil
Krishnagiri Rayakottai, Kelamangalam, Ulimaranapalli 1–16.5 0.5–13.5
Coimbatore Iruttupallam, Alandurai, Thondamuthur Nil Nil
Dindugal Moolanur, Kaveriammapatti, Oddanchathiram Nil Nil
Karnataka
Chintamani Doddaulluru, Nandagudi Kadagaskanahalli,
Kuruhatti
3–11 5–12.5
Kolar Malur 90–100 90–100
Bengaluru Rural Devanahalli, Doddaballapur, Hessarghatta,
Rajanukunte, Hoskote
5.5–33.5 11–28.5
Bengaluru
Urban
Anekal, Jigini, Halehalli 4.5–27 2–17.0
Gujarat
Surendranagar Sayala, Limbudi 1–4.5 Nil
Rajkot Dhoraji, Gondal, Jetpur 2–3 Nil
Junagadh Vadal, Choki 5.5–17.0 5–12

16. Seasonal Incidence
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
Noofmothstrappedpertrap
Trap 1
Trap 2
Annual Report, NBAIR, 2015-16
Fig.1: Monitoring the incidence of tomato pinworm, T. absoluta
Location: Raichur, 2015
Water pan
Yellow sticky trap

17. Behavior
 Adults are most active at dusk and dawn
 Mating usually occurs the day after adults emerge, usually
at dawn (7.30 am)
 Flight range: 0.4 kilometers overnight
 Second instars larvae leave the mine and feeds on fruits
Mohammed et al., 2015,
Morocco

18. Table 7 : Host range of tomato leaf miner.
Host Common Name Source
Capsicum annuum L. Pepper Alimentarie Forestali, (2009)
Datura quercifolia Kunth Long-spined thorn
apple
EPPO (2005)
Datura stramonium L. Jimson weed Vargas (1970)
Nicotiana tabacum L. Tobacco Fernandez & Montagne (1990b)
Solanum lycopersicum L. Tomato Fernandez & Montagne (1990b)
Solanum melongena L. Eggplant Forestali (2009), Viggiani et al. (2009)
Solanum nigrum L. Black nightshade Vargas (1970)
Solanum tuberosum L. Potato Fernandez & Montagne, Pastrana
(1967), Corse (2009b), Maiche (2009)
Phaseolus vulgaris L. Common bean Alimentarie Forestali (2009)
Solanum americanum Miller American
nightshade
Fernandez & Montagne (1990b)
USDA–APHIS (2011)

19. Country Active ingredient Reference
Argentina Abamectin Lietti et al., 2005
Deltamethrin
Brazil Abamectin Siqueira et al., 2000
Cartap
Methamidophos Silva et al., 2011
Permethrin
Triflubenzuron
Indoxacarb
Bifenthrin
Chile Deltamethrin Salazar and Araya, 2001
Lamda cyhalothrin
Table 8. Insecticidal resistance reported on T. absoluta
Terzidis et al., 2014, UK

20. Economic Threshold Levels (ETLs)
Initiate the use of insecticide both in nursery and main field,
if the moth catches in the pheromone trap is exceeding 20-30
moths/trap/week.
NBAIR, Bangaluru, 2016

22.  Crop rotation
 Crop residue removal
 Selective removal and destruction of
infested plant material
 Wild host plants should be removed
and destroyed
Cultural practices
Retta and Berhe, 2015, Ethiopia

23. Pheromones
TLM Lure, PCIPheromone Dispenser
Sex pheromone component: (3E, 8Z, 11Z)-3,8,11-tetradecatrien-l-yl acetate
Miranda, 1999

24. Water trapWater trap
Different types of traps
Catch Tuta-9), Bengaluru

25. White delta trap Del-Ta Sticky Trap, PCI
Qlure -TUA Optical trap

26. Natural enemies reported on
Tuta absoluta
Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter
Neochrysocharis formosa
(Westwood)
Female of
Habrobacon sp
Female of Goniozus sp.
Trichogramma bactrae
parasiting T. absoluta egg
Ballal et al., 2016, NBAIR, Bangaluru

27. • Effectiveness of entomopathogens against T. absoluta
is poorly documented
• Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki which has been
used extensively
Entomopathogens
• Steinernema carpocapsae
• Steinernema feltiae
• Heterorhabditis bacteriophora have proved infecting
late larval instars
Entomopathogenic nematodes
Training in Integrated Pest Management, 2010, Spain
www.endure-network.eu

28. Table 14: Management of T. absoluta infestation on tomato (var. Elbasha 1077)
Insecticides
% Reduction (mean ± SE)
1st spray 2nd spray
3d* 10d Mean 3d 10d Mean
Spinosad 92.1±8.5a 100.0±0.0a 97.3a 100.0±0.0a 100.0±0.0a 100.0a
Abamectin +
Thiamethoxam
85.6±7.3ab 39.4±8.3b 61.7b 85.3±7.9b 34.2±6.5b 64.0b
Chlorpyrifos 70.8±11.7b 30.7±6.3b 54.8b 77.8±4.9b 23.1±3.6b 54.9b
Imidacloprid 17.8±3.6b 0.0±0.0c 8.8c 17.1±0.9c 2.1±1.7c 9.8c
*Periods after spray (days)
Samir et al., 2015

29. Surveillance Protocol for the Tomato Leaf Miner, Tuta absoluta,
for NAPPO Member Countries
• Guidelines for regional surveillance for the tomato leaf miner in North America
(Canada, Mexico and United States).
1. Purpose of the Survey
2. Information on the Target Pest
2.1 Pest name
• Scientific name: Tuta absoluta Meyrick
Common names: Tomato leaf miner, tomato borer, South American tomato
moth, South American tomato pinworm (English); palomilla del tomate
(Mexico), polilla del tomate, polilla perforadora, cogollero del tomate, gusano
minador del tomate, minador de hojas y tallos de la papa (Spanish); traça-do-
tomateiro ortuguese).
2.2 Life cycle
2.3 Target hosts
2.4 Pest distribution (www.tutaabsoluta.com)

30. 2.5 Pathways for introduction
Could be introduced to North America by the importation of
1)infested tomato fruit
2)tomato plants
3)and used tomato crates/packing boxes
 A pest risk management assessment carried out by the Plant Protection
Service of The Netherlands (Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food
Quality of the Netherlands, 2010) defines some ways in which T. absoluta
can spread.
1. Seedling
2. tomato and egg plant fruit
3. Production facilities
4. Farm equipment and transportation vehicles
3. Detection Surveys
3.1 Purpose
These guidelines are provided for member country implementation to help
in the early detection of Tuta absoluta should it arrive in North America
(Mexico, USA, and Canada).

31. 3.2 Target life stages
Primarily adult moths (trapping); complementary surveillance for
additional life stages may be useful but is not mandatory.
3.3 Timing and duration
• T. absoluta survey is directly linked to the tomato production cycle.
• survey should be implemented as soon as the tomato production cycle
starts
• In facilities not under a production cycle, traps can be placed as soon as
the trapping materials are available since tomato shipping is year round
in North America.
3.4 Target areas and site selection
• Tuta absoluta could be introduced to North America by the importation
of infested tomato fruit, tomato plants, and used tomato crates/packing
boxes, and of other hosts mentioned in 2.3 prioritized in order of
importance according to volume and risk.
• Facilities importing host materials listed above from the countries
mentioned in 2.4 should be considered for trapping.

32. 4. Delimiting Surveys
4.1 Purpose
• To establish the boundaries of an area considered to be infested by Tuta
absoluta.
4.2 Target life stages
• All stages (egg, larva, pupa, and adult).
4.3 Timing and duration
• The timing will be set by the date of the first detection that was observed
and how quickly a survey can be planned and organized.
4.4 Target areas and site selection
4.4.1 Description of the area that is to be surveyed
• The delimiting survey area could be an officially defined country, part of
a country or all or parts of several countries (ISPM 5
4.4.2 Identification of the district
4.4.3 Selection of places in the district, field sites, sampling sites and
sampling points.

33. 4.4.4 Site selection procedure
• Surveys are conducted in an ever-increasing radius from the initial detection
at locations and sites that may have had or currently contain a suitable
host(s) with a conducive climate or environment in which the pest can
establish and reproduce.
• In the case of T. absoluta, the delimiting survey would concentrate on
tomato field and greenhouse production and packing and distribution
facilities that handle host material.
5. Survey Methodology
5.1. Sampling procedures
5.1.1 Trap
5.1.2 Pheromone lure
• Pheromone type: Tomato Leafminer lure (Mixture of (3E,8Z,11Z)-3,8,11-
tetradecatrien-1-yl acetate and (3E,8Z)-tetradecadien-1-yl acetate) loaded on
rubber septum at a concentration of 0.5 mg.

34. 5.1.3 Trap placement and density
5.1.4 Servicing the trap
5.1.5 Data to be collected
5.1.6 Biosecurity precautions

35. 5.2 Diagnostic procedures
5.2.1 Data storage
5.2.2 Sample handling and laboratory submission
The target moths are very small (body length approximately 4-5 mm) with
banded antennae. A field screening aid is available at:
(http://caps.ceris.purdue.edu/screening/tuta_absoluta)
5.2.3 Sample preparation
5.2.4 Labelling samples for shipping
Indicate “Tomato Leaf miner Survey” on the sample container. Ship all samples
by express courier to the closest official NPPO diagnostic laboratory.
Laboratory notification through email is suggested to ensure sample is tracked
and properly handled.

36. 6. Phytosanitary Measures to be Applied upon Pest Detection
6.1 General phytosanitary measures
• ISPM 5 defines phytosanitary measure as: “any legislation, regulation or
official procedure having the purpose to prevent the introduction and/or
spread of quarantine pests, or to limit the economic impact of regulated non-
quarantine pest”.
• To avoid pest spread
• NAPPO countries should select appropriate phytosanitary measures taking
into consideration their efficacy to reduce the likelihood of pest
introductions.
Measures may include any combination of the following options:
− Tomato and/or secondary host commodities must be imported only in
commercial shipments.
− Tomato and/or secondary host commodities must be produced in pest free
facilities, for example, greenhouses or screen houses and packing houses
approved by the NPPO of the country of origin.
− Internationally bound tomatoes must be packed in insect-proof boxes or in
containers covered with an insect-proof mesh.

37. -- Greenhouses must have double doors and all ventilation systems and
openings must be covered with a 1.6 mm mesh (or smaller) to prevent pest
entry.
− Greenhouses must have traps with lures for Tuta absoluta at a minimum
density of 2 traps per hectare or equivalent, with no less than two traps per
greenhouse.
− Greenhouses must be inspected by the NPPO during export season to look for
T. absoluta.
− Records of these inspections must be kept by the NPPO.
− Tomatoes must be packed within 24 hours of been harvested, in approved
packing houses.
− When packing tomatoes destined to any country in the NAPPO region, only
tomatoes from NPPO approved facilities of the exporting country will be
accepted.
− Phytosanitary certificate issued by the NPPO of the country of origin. The
certificate must indicate that the commodity is free of
soil, plant residues (no calyx, vines, stems or leaflet).

38. 6.2 Options to prevent or reduce original crop infestation
The following measures may be included:
- Treatment of crop, field or place of production
- Plants growth in protected environments (greenhouses, isolation)
- Plants harvested at a specific age or time of the year
6.3 Options to ensure that the area, place, site of production or crop are pest
free
- Pest free areas. Requirements for pest free area status are described in ISPM
4: 1995.
- Pest free places of production or pest free production site. Requirements are
described in ISPM 10: 1999.

39. 6.4 Options within the importing country
• Preventive measures applied within the importing country may include:
6.5 Phytosanitary certificates and other compliance measures
• The issuance of phytosanitary certificates for export or re-export may be
required to offer an official assurance that the consignment is considered to
be free of Tuta absoluta (ISPM 12: 2011).
• Other compliance measures may be applied, according to a bilateral or
multilateral agreement.
6.6 Prohibition of commodities
• If no satisfactory measures can be found to reduce risk to an acceptable
level, prohibition of imported host products may be the final option. This
option should be considered only as a last resource.

40. Figure 1. Map of Nigeria showing States where T. absoluta is present or caused
economic damage to tomato plants.

44. • The symptoms of pest damage which occurred earlier than 2016 as
described by some respondents.
• Increase in crop value is capable of changing the status of attacking pests
from ‘potential pest status’ to the status of a ‘serious pest’, when little
damage become economically injurious.
• The optimum temperature for the development of T. absoluta is 27°C,
which is within the ambient temperature range in all agroecological
regions of Nigeria.
• Absence of an effective quarantine system.
• The few tomato stands around homes and backyard farms could serve as
pest reservoirs that are capable of relaying pests into another production
cycle, thereby potentially posing dangers to commercial farms which
might have earlier succeeded in suppressing pests.
INFERENCE

45. • Tomatoes were imported into Nigeria from some West African countries,
including Niger that has records of the presence of T. absoluta.
• The pattern of attack was considered a terrorist act by some respondents.
• A few of the respondents confirmed that their crops were overwhelmingly
invaded by pests from growers who deliberately left their farms to pests
without initiating control measures.
• The descriptions of some of the respondents resembled a scenario where
growers were contracted to cultivate large expanse of tomato in T. absoluta
endemic areas and deliberate abandonment of the farms for the pests to
breed and evade other areas.
• This can be classified as bio-augmentation and bio-conservation of existing
invasive pest numbers to wreak havoc- may be a potentially new form of
agro-bioterrorism, which does not involve the introduction of new pest
species.
• The lack of license and appropriate documentation of farm locations could
create a hurdle for pest management departments to effectively monitor pest
development, which may result into serious and widespread invasions.

46. • Development of new tools for rapid detection of pests, effective
monitoring systems, pest identification and reporting are very crucial.
• The time between introductions, whether by intent, accident or natural
causes and detection are very important in controlling spread.
• Issuance of licenses to growers could help in the development of data
base of existing farms and their locations, which are necessary in pest
surveillance and enforcement of standard operating procedures capable
of minimizing pest attacks.
• Investments in infrastructures capable of increasing pest prevention and
preparedness are very important.
CONCLUSION

47. Thank you