Study on the effectiveness of chemical and biological agents to control tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta Meyrick, 1917)

Abstract

Abstract. In growing four tomato varieties in greenhouses, the effect of a conventional and integrated scheme for control of tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta Meyrick, 1917) was studied. Six consecutive treatments were performed at ten-day intervals. The conventional scheme includes the following products: Confidor Energy OD 0.08%, Ampligo 150 ZC 400 ml/ha, Coragen 20 SC 200 ml/ha, Exalt 25 SC 2400 ml/ha, Voliam Targo 063 SC 800 ml/ha and Voliam Targo 063 SC 800 ml/ha. In the integrated scheme the following products for plant protection are used – Confidor Energy OD 0.08%, Sineis 480 SC 250 ml/ha, Sineis 480 SC 250 ml/ha, Voliam Targo 063 SC 800 ml/ha, Neem Azal T/S 0.3% and Neem Azal T/S 0.3%. The effectiveness of the plant protection products against the tomato leaf miner, the degree of pest attack of the different varieties and the tomato productivity were studied in this experiment. It was established that in the conventional and in the integrated treatment scheme, the highest efficiency was shown by the product Voliam Targo 063 SC, applied in a dose of 800 ml/ha on the seventh day after spraying. The percentage of damaged plants was the lowest in the variety Clarosa F1 (4.00%), with the application of the conventional plant protection scheme. The results were similar in the integrated scheme – 6.00%, while in the control the degree of infestation reached 18.00%. The percentage of damaged fruits in both treatment schemes was 6.00%, significantly lower than in the control (24.00%). The highest tomato productivity was observed with the application of the conventional plant protection scheme in Manusa F1 variety.

Keywords

• biological and chemical products
• effectiveness
• integrated pest management
• tomato
• tuta absoluta