Host preference of leaf minor and fruit borer, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on four solanaceous crop

The field study was carried out at Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Eritrea to find out the most preferable host of Tuta absoluta among the four solanaceae crop i.e. tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), potato (Solanum tuberosum), chili (Capsicum annuum) and datura (Datura stramonium) under protected and open field condition. The inference drawn on the basis of average number of larvae/leaf/plant and per twigs of different host plants revealed that the tomato plant harbouring maximum number of larvae per plant (44.27) and per twig (18.5) under open field condition and 61.4 on leaves and 19.27 on the twig under protected conditions was highly preferred by T. absoluta. Chili and datura under protected as well as in open field conditions was found to be least preferred.