Determinación de la dinámica poblacional de Bactericera cockerelli Sulc en el cultivo de tomate de árbol (Solanum betaceum Cav.) en tres localidades de la provincia de Tungurahua

Abstract

This research project was carried out in coordination with the Institute of Agricultural Research (INIAP), with its Fruit Growing program, in the towns of Valle Hermoso, Cusua and Pueblo Viejo, located in the province of Tungurahua The objective of this research was to determine the population dynamics of the insect Bactericera cockerelli Sulc in the tree tomato (Solanum betaceum Cav.) crop. To fulfill the purpose of the investigation, a distant design was established in the field, where 10 plants were selected, from which 3 reference leaves were taken, one in the upper part, another in the middle part and a last one in the lower part of the foliar zone of the plant in order to conduct the direct monitoring of eggs and nymphs of the insect B. cockerelli, this process was carried out with the naked eye by the help of a magnifying glass. In addition, two yellow HORIVER traps were placed in each plot to conduct the indirect monitoring of adult B. cockerelli insects, after 8 weeks, the traps were taken to the entomology laboratory of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the Technical University of Ambato for the correct identification of adult insects with the help of the stereoscope. The results were interpreted in Excel with simple descriptive statistics, where in the town of Pueblo Viejo a total of 444 eggs, 142 nymphs and 49 adults of the pest insect were obtained, followed by Valle Hermoso with an absolute of 37 eggs, 10 nymphs and 3 adults and finally Cusua with a result of 0 eggs, 0 nymphs and 0 adults concluding that the locality with the largest population of the insect B, cockerelli, is in Pueblo Viejo, Quero province of Tungurahua due to the presence of host plants, shorter planting distance and adjacent crops affected by the pest.