Evaluation of toxicity effect of essential oils on Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Aculops lycopersici Tryon (Acari: Eriophyidae)

Abstract: Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is one of the most notorious pests on tomato crops, worldwide, whereas Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) is a cosmopolitan pest together with Aculops lycopersici Tryon (Acari: Eriophyidae) which are the most important and difficult to control mite pests on tomato crops. Essential oils (EOs) have shown high potential in the control of several crop pests. This study aimed to investigate the toxicity effects of cardamomum (Elettaria cardamomum) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum) EOs emulsions on eggs of T. absoluta, on nymphs and adults of T. urticae and on A. lycopersici adults on tomato leaflets. The chemical profile of each EO was determined using GC-MS technique. Results showed that cardamomum EO (2 ‰) caused 33 % mortality on T. absoluta eggs. Clove EO (2 ‰) caused moderate mortality rate on nymphs of T. urticae while mortality on adults was relatively low (52 % and 14 %, respectively). Cardamomum EO (2 ‰) caused low mortality rate on both nymphs and adults of T. urticae. In case of A. lycopersici adults clove EO (4 ‰) caused high mortality rate (82 %) on tomato leaf disks. Therefore, the clove EO showed a high potential in the control of A. lycopersici followed by moderate effect on T. urticae.