Effects of endophytic Trichoderma asperellum seed treatment and temperature on life history traits and population growth of Trialeurodes vaporariorum on tomato

Abstract The greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a major pest of tomato production worldwide, causing direct feeding damage and indirectly transmitting economically important plant viruses. This study evaluated the effects of endophytic Trichoderma asperellum seed treatment on the development, survival, reproduction, and demographic performance of T . vaporariorum on two tomato cultivars (Kilele F1 and Riogrande) under three constant temperature regimes (20, 25, and 30°C). Seeds were treated with T. asperellum , thiamethoxam (positive control), or sterile distilled water (negative control) in a factorial experiment with four replications per treatment combination. Endophytic colonization of tomato tissues by T. asperellum was confirmed through fungal re- isolation. Life- history traits were evaluated, and stage-specific fertility life tables were constructed to estimate net reproductive rate (R 0 ), the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r m ), mean generation time (T), finite rate of increase (λ), and doubling time (DT). Seed treatment with T. asperellum significantly prolonged immature development (up to 9 days), increased nymphal mortality, reduced adult longevity and fecundity, and suppressed population growth of T. vaporariorum across all temperatures ( p < 0.05). Demographic parameters (R 0 , rₘ, and λ) were significantly lower in T. asperellum -treated plants ( p < 0.05), whereas T and DT increased significantly ( p < 0.05). Although less effective than thiamethoxam, T. asperellum increased mortality and reduced fecundity by up to 25% and 64%, respectively. These findings demonstrate the potential of endophytic T. asperellum as an environmentally sustainable component of integrated management strategies for T. vaporariorum in tomato production.