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Abstract Using resistant/ tolerant tomato cultivars are one of the most important methods alternative to insecticides in integrated pest management towards Tuta absoluta Meyrick. To investigate the resistant/ tolerant tomato cultivars to T. absoluta, screening some the biological characteristics of the tested insect pest on six different tomato cultivars in Egypt (tomato- 86, tomato- Alissa, tomato- Fayarouz, tomato- Omniya, tomato- 036 and tomato- GS) under controlled laboratory. The obtained results indicated that tomato- GS cultivar was the most suitable and susceptible, while tomato- 86 cultivar was the most resistant to T. absoluta infestation. Biochemical and molecular diagnoses of different tomato cultivars susceptible and resistant to T. absoluta infestation were also characterized. Generally, it was found that all biochemicals constituents and molecular characterization in tomato leaves that responsible for the resistance to T. absoluta infestation were present highly significant levels in tomato- 86 compared with other tomato cultivars. Fertilization effects with both nitrogen and potassium on T. absoluta infestation were studied. It was noticed that more nitrogen fertilizer levels led to more T. absoluta infestation, whereas the most potassium fertilize led to the lowest T. absoluta infestation. On the same trend, effect of addition the recommended insecticide (spinosad) and mineral oil (kz- oil) for T. absoluta control were also studied. The results indicated that the mixture of spinosad with KZ-oil was the most effectiveness followed by spinosad alone compared with KZ-oil within 14 days of post-treatment interval to T. absoluta. |