Biological Control of the Tomato Leafminer, Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera, gelechiidae)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Dept. of Natural Resources Inst. of African research & Studies Cairo University

2 Central Laboratory of Organic Agriculture, ARC, Giza, Egypt

3 Plant Protection Researches Institute, Agricultural Research Center

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy applied biological program“Spinosad+Trichogramma+ Pheromone "against the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on tomato plants under open-field conditions on two tomato varieties (Supper strean and Casle rock) and its effect on the productivity of the crop in both two varieties under study. Results indicated the efficacy biological control program on mean number male moths and number larvae of T. absolutain Supper strean was higher than Casle rock, which gave low numbers 15.8, 1.5for Supper strean comparing  with Casle rock (21.9 and 1.9), respectively. Also, showed the effect of biological control program on number of natural enemies after use yellow sticky traps and sweeping net traps, had little effect on two tomato varieties comparison untreated plot.The results indicated that the weight of 100 fruits was high in the two varieties but on Supper strean was higher than Casle rock.The use of biological control program reduced percentage reduction in both two varieties but it was in Casle rock recorded a decrease less than Supper strean.The current study recorded that the mean number fruits/plant was higher in two varieties, but Supper strean more than Casle rock. But yield production after applied biological program on Supper strean was more than Casle rock, comparison untreated plot. Residue of Spinosad was determined after 1, 3, 7, 10 and 15 days from application, the concentration of Spinosad 2 h after treatment was 0.223 mg/kg. The residues amount decreased to 0.118 mg/kg within the first 24 h after application following that period residues decreased to 0.092, 0.074, and 0.015 mg/kg, at 3, 7, and 10 days after treatment, respectively, but after 15 days from treatment contained no detectable amount of spinosad.

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