Indirect selection to 2-tridecanone content and its relation to tomato pinworm resistance

This work had the objective to verify the relation between 2-tridecanone (2 -TD) in selected plants and resistance level to tomato pinworm (Tuta absolu ta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)) in advanced generations of L ycopersicon spp. interspecific crosses. It was used a tomato population (F4 RC2 generation) segregant for 2-TD, a methyl ketone that controls the resis tance of the tomato pinworm. Materials were selected and evaluated for a no n-preference mechanism of resistance. Three genotypes with high level of th e allelochemic 2-TD (H11, H12, 1113), two with low level (LO1, LO2) and two check genotypes were used. After a controlled infestation, oviposition pre ference, type and percent of leaflet damage, and damage index caused by the tomato pinworm were evaluated. plants with high level of 2-TD (H11, H13) h ad a low progression of leaflet damage by Tuta absoluta. The LO1 genotype w as much attacked by the tomato pinworm, while the LO2 genotype was accident ally attacked by acari of the Terranychus genus, probably causing a dispute between the two arthropods. It was concluded that 2-TD high levels are ass ociated to non-preference ovipositions and feeding resistance mechanisms to tomato pinworm.