Evaluation of the Potential for Injury to a Japanese Tomato Variety by the Zoophytophagous Bug Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter)

Abstract

The zoophytophagous bug Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter), a promising natural enemy of small insect pests, is known to injure tomato plants under certain conditions by its phytophagy. However, there is little information on damage by this mirid bug to tomato varieties cultivated in Japan. In this study, we evaluated the potential for injury by N. tenuis to Japanese tomato variety ‘Momotaro York’. We exposed one N. tenuis adult for 14–15 days to each part of tomato plants, namely, the seedlings, the growing points, and the trusses with flower buds, flowers, and immature fruits. In the seedlings, wounds and necrotic rings appeared on the leaves and stems, but no damage was observed on the fruits harvested after transplanting. The bugs did not affect the growing points and the trusses of tomato plants. These results suggested the low possibilities for damage by N. tenuis to this tomato variety