OVIPOSITIONAL RESPONSE OF TOMATO FRUIT WORM (HELICOVERPA ARMIGERA) (HUBNER) TO DIFFERENT TOMATO GENOTYPES UNDER AGRO-ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA - PAKISTAN

The present study on ovipositional response of tomato fruit worm (Helicoverpa armigera) (Hub) to different tomato genotypes was conducted at the New Developmental Farm of Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan during 2009 and 2010. For this purpose, 14 commercially available tomato genotypes, viz. Mission 102, Sultan, 027, Chinar, GS 5575, Sourabh, T 7008, R 165, RK 101, Riogrande, Roma, Bambino, Super Classic and Roma VF were tested under field conditions. Oviposition was higher during 2009 than 2010. The moth preferred to lay more eggs on abaxial leaf surface (1.30 to 2.23 eggs per plant) than adaxial leaf surface (0.81 to 1.37 eggs per plant). Mean number of eggs laid were highest on Sourabh (3.46 eggs per plant) and lowest on Bambino (2.13 eggs per plant).