Tomato Leafminer (Tuta absoluta) an emerging agricultural pest: Control and management strategies: A Review

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an important vegetable crop for income of small-holder farmers. However, it is attacked by many insect pests that cause high economic losses. More than sixty five research technical papers were reviewed focus on control and management strategies of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). The aim of this review paper is to call for attentions and concerted actions of concerned sectors by describing the potential damage of the pest, its entry, pathways and its control methods. The pest is becoming one of the major key pests of tomato which account for its production loss of up to 80 to 100% if left unchecked. The pest have developed resistance to dozens of pesticides and therefore the (IPM) strategy that employs bio-chemical, biological, physical and cultural methods is the only best option we had at time. Therefore, a brief outlook of the future research and applications of indigenous T. absoluta biological control agents are widely discussed.