1 - Phytosanitary Resources

Pathways
absoluta (Sixsmith, 2010). As observed in Europe, once T. absoluta is
introduced into greenhouse production or produce packing stations, it can
become established in regions otherwise considered too cold for survival.
Human-Assisted Spread
Human-assisted spread of Tuta absoluta can be helped in a number of ways.
Simply failing to secure greenhouses, produce packing sites, or tomato
processing plants, with insect screening or double-entry doors can assist in the
spread of the moth. In addition, eggs, larvae, pupae, and adult moths, can be
introduced to these environments on clothing or contaminated pots, carts, or
greenhouse tools. Therefore, it is important to thoroughly inspect and clean
these items before entering enclosed tomato production areas, produce packing
areas, or tomato processing plants. Refer to Cultural Control on page 6-3 for
additional information.
If already present in tomato production sites, human-assisted spread of Tuta
absoluta to packing centers, processing plants, or wholesale vegetable markets
can occur through the movement of infested tomato fruit. Furthermore, tomato
containers used for shipping and the shipping vehicles themselves are
pathways for spread. As described in Cultural Control on page 6-3, it is
important that crates and vehicles be inspected and cleaned before shipping
tomatoes to other sites. Infested packing and shipping containers have been the
biggest problem facing growers in the UK. This problem can be mitigated by
using non-returnable tomato packing boxes and by assembling and storing new
(clean) boxes in areas away from infested crates (Sixsmith, 2010).
If Tuta absoluta were introduced into the plants-for-planting pathway in the
United States, dispersal could be rapid since millions of tomato transplants are
produced and shipped around the country each year. For example, the Florida
containerized vegetable transplant industry produced 519 million tomato
transplants in 1990 (Vavrina and Summerhill, 1992). These transplants were
distributed to 34 States and 2 countries. Eggplant transplants can also serve as
a pathway. For example, in Italy (Campania), T. absoluta was found on tomato
and eggplant seedlings in March of 2009 (Ministero delle Politiche Agricole
Ailmentari e Forestali, 2009).
Movement of Tuta absoluta on ornamental Solanaceae in the nursery trade is
also possible since plants belonging to the genera Capsicum, Datura,
Nicotiana, and Solanum are sold as ornamentals. Examples of these are:
Capsicum annuum (ornamental pepper), Datura inoxia (syn.: Datura metel)
(angel’s trumpet), Nicotiana alata (flowering tobacco), and Solanum
pseudo-capsicum (Jerusalem cherry).
8-18 Tomato Leafminer 6/2011
Emergency and Domestic Programs