Difference of susceptibility to damage from tomato russet mite, Aculops lycopersici (Massee) (Acari: Eriophidae), among varieties within and between species in genus Lycopersicon

Abstract

Thirty-seven accessions from six species belonging to the genus Lycopersicon were tested for susceptibility to the tomato russet mite, Aculops lycopersici. Significant differences in damage index, but not in mite density, were found among cultivars of tomato, L. esculentum var. esculentum; the damage index of Hawaii 7996 was significantly lower than that of Jupiri and Ponderoza, and the damage index of Yellow-Piko was lower than that of Jupiri. When compared among species, mite densities and damage indices of wild Lycopersicon species were significantly lower than those of tomato cultivars. In particular, mite densities on 82000F of L. pennellii and PI127827 of L. hirsutum were very low (<2/leaflet). The damage indices of these accessions were also significantly lower than those of tomato cultivars. These resistant accessions can be important resources for breeding a tomato variety resistant to the tomato russet mite.