Evaluation of tomato cultivars to Helicoverpa armigera using two-sex life table parameters in laboratory

Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) is one of the most important pests of a wide range of agricultural crops worldwide. Resistance of 10 tomato cultivars (‘Primoearly,’ ‘Riogrand,’ ‘CaljN3,’ ‘Kingstone,’ ‘Earlyurbana,’ ‘Petomech,’ ‘EarlyurbanaY,’ ‘Mobil,’ ‘Imprial’ and ‘Petoearly’) to H. armigera was evaluated under laboratory conditions at 25±1°C, 60±5% RH and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) hours using age-stage, two-sex life table parameters. The larval period ranged from 19.96 on ‘Riogrand’ to 24.58days on ‘Imprial.’ The insects reared on ‘Imprial’ had the longest total preoviposition period (44.80days) and those reared on ‘Riogrand’ had the shortest one (35.44days). The longest adult longevity for female and male was observed on ‘EarlyurbanaY’ (14.40days) and ‘Kingstone’ (15.00days), respectively. Using age-stage, two-sex life table, the value of the net reproductive rate (R0) varied from 7.8 on ‘Imprial’ to 186.9 offspring per individual on ‘Petomech.’ The lowest value of the intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) was on ‘Imprial’ (0.0410 and 1.0423day−1, respectively) and the highest was on ‘Petomech’ (0.1274 and 1.1359day−1, respectively). The mean generation time (T) on different cultivars varied from 39.9 to 48.2days. The results revealed that ‘Petomech’ was the most susceptible (suitable) and ‘Imprial’ was the most resistant (unsuitable) cultivar to this pest among the tomato cultivars tested. [Display omitted] •Two-sex life table gives more details of demography compared with female-based one.•Tomato cultivars significantly affected performance of Helicoverpa armigera.•'Petomech' was the most susceptible (suitable) cultivar to Helicoverpa armigera.•'Imprial' was the most resistant (unsuitable) cultivar to Helicoverpa armigera.•Longer developmental time and higher mortality of pest on 'Imprial' led to lower r.