Post by kctomato on Jan 26, 2008 18:46:40 GMT -5
Attractiveness of 'Allure' tomato,Lycopersicon esculentum to Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decimlineata.
Kerr, E.A. Stokes Seeds, Box 10, St. Catharines, Ont. Can. L2R 6R6
Colorado potato beetles are an increasing problem with tomatoes. Both adults and larvae eat the leaves. Sometimes the fruits are nibbled enough to allow rots to enter. Potato beetles are attracted to the ornamental tomato 'Allure" which contains the wooly genet Womz. This attractiveness of the wooly gene was first noted in 1987 (Kerr, 1989) late in the season when the weather was cold. At first it was suggested that the beetles were just trying to find a place to keep their tarsi warm. This didn't seem to be a scientific explanation for cold-blooded insects. Besides, later observations indicated they were even more attracted in warm weather. Eigenbrode et al. (1993) have reported that Womz is more susceptible to beet armyworm than most other tomatoes. It is probably that 'Allure' givesoff an odor which people cannot detect. In our 1993 trials (sprayed once for potato beetle control before records were taken) (Table 1) almost every beetle from 1 ha (2 1/2 acres) accumulated on four rows of ‘Allure’. These rows were in different parts of the fields. Colorado potato beetles also fed on potatoes and eggplant but we do not have information on their relative attractiveness. ‘Allure’ was introduced as an ornamental tomato tobe used primarily in home gardens. When Colorado potato beetles are controlled it produces a bushy plant sp about two feet in diameter. The plants are productive yielding small roundish fruits about two inches in diameter. The color is tangerine t. The attractive long whitish hairs of Womz also produce "peach fuz” on the fruit. This cultivar also has the gene alb which gives ornamental white blotches and sectors in the leaves especially when the plants are young. The flavor is more spritely or acidic than most North American cultivars. However it is better than most of the tomatoes obtainable in Ontario in the winter. It is expected that ‘Allure’ will find its main use as anornamental for flower gardens or patios. It will be appreciated where insecticides are not used and as an IPM (integrated pest management) trap crop for concentrating Colorado potato beetles from a wide area.
Literature Cited: Kerr, E.A. 1989. Susceptibility to Colorado potato beetles in 'Wooly" tomatoes. TGC Report 39:20. Eigenbrode, S.D., J.T. Trumble and R.A. Jones. 1993. Resistance to beet armyworm, lemipterans and Liriomyza spp. in Lycopersicon accessions. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 118(4):525-530.
Kerr, E.A. Stokes Seeds, Box 10, St. Catharines, Ont. Can. L2R 6R6
Colorado potato beetles are an increasing problem with tomatoes. Both adults and larvae eat the leaves. Sometimes the fruits are nibbled enough to allow rots to enter. Potato beetles are attracted to the ornamental tomato 'Allure" which contains the wooly genet Womz. This attractiveness of the wooly gene was first noted in 1987 (Kerr, 1989) late in the season when the weather was cold. At first it was suggested that the beetles were just trying to find a place to keep their tarsi warm. This didn't seem to be a scientific explanation for cold-blooded insects. Besides, later observations indicated they were even more attracted in warm weather. Eigenbrode et al. (1993) have reported that Womz is more susceptible to beet armyworm than most other tomatoes. It is probably that 'Allure' givesoff an odor which people cannot detect. In our 1993 trials (sprayed once for potato beetle control before records were taken) (Table 1) almost every beetle from 1 ha (2 1/2 acres) accumulated on four rows of ‘Allure’. These rows were in different parts of the fields. Colorado potato beetles also fed on potatoes and eggplant but we do not have information on their relative attractiveness. ‘Allure’ was introduced as an ornamental tomato tobe used primarily in home gardens. When Colorado potato beetles are controlled it produces a bushy plant sp about two feet in diameter. The plants are productive yielding small roundish fruits about two inches in diameter. The color is tangerine t. The attractive long whitish hairs of Womz also produce "peach fuz” on the fruit. This cultivar also has the gene alb which gives ornamental white blotches and sectors in the leaves especially when the plants are young. The flavor is more spritely or acidic than most North American cultivars. However it is better than most of the tomatoes obtainable in Ontario in the winter. It is expected that ‘Allure’ will find its main use as anornamental for flower gardens or patios. It will be appreciated where insecticides are not used and as an IPM (integrated pest management) trap crop for concentrating Colorado potato beetles from a wide area.
Literature Cited: Kerr, E.A. 1989. Susceptibility to Colorado potato beetles in 'Wooly" tomatoes. TGC Report 39:20. Eigenbrode, S.D., J.T. Trumble and R.A. Jones. 1993. Resistance to beet armyworm, lemipterans and Liriomyza spp. in Lycopersicon accessions. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 118(4):525-530.
