Efficacy of the Product Spinosad an Insecticide Used in the Control of Tomato Leafminer (Tuta absoluta – Meyrick, 1917)

Abstract

Product Spinosad was applied at doses varying between 48 to 120 g a.i./ha (one or 2 times at 14 days interval) against tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta, in tomato (Prekos F1) grown in plastic tunnels. Observations concerning product phytotoxicity, % of attacked area/leaf and plant, were made at one week after each treatment, and 4 weeks after first treatment. Efficacy was determined from the average of the two indicators monitored. Best results (99.8 %) were obtained from spinosad at 120 g a.i./ha 28 days after a single application. Comparison standard-control emamectin-benzoate used once at a rate of 14.25 g a.i./ha had comparable efficacy (99.0%) at the same evaluation, while a second standard product, imidacloprid at 200 g a.i./ha rate only reached 81.9 % after 28 days. No phytotoxic effects were observed.