NEW APPROACHES FOR CONTROLLING TOMATO LEAFMINER, TUTA ABSOLUTA (MEYRICK) IN TOMATO FIELDS IN EGYPT

Abstract

Control methods were carried in Baltiem district, Kafrel-Sheikh Governorate from times during both Spring and Summer plantations, 2012. The efficacy of these control methods was recorded on the basis of reduction percentage in the larvae after periods of 2, 5, 7, 10 days from each application. The obtained results revealed that the highly increase in the reduction was occurred in Summer plantation verification with the number of larvae in Spring plantation. Based on reduction percentages in the number of larvae, the efficacy of the tested treatments could be descendingly arranged as follows Bacillus thuringiensis + Neem, B. thuringiensis + Trichogramma evanescens + mass trapping, B. thuringiensis + Trichoderma harzianum, T. harzianum + Neem, T. harzianum + mass trapping and T. evanescens + Neem. The corresponding value were 91.88, 90.18, 87.89, 85.69, 80.75 and 84.82 % for the above treatments, during Summer plantation and 88.49, 86.03, 84.78, 83.01, 79.88 and 82.82 % during Spring plantation. On the other hand, using baited traps of males moths using synthetic sex pheromones recorded the highest relative percentage were 10.91 and 10.76 % in Spring and Summer plantation, respectively. Where the lowest one recorded 2.74 and 2.71 % in Spring and Summer plantation. The highest healthy yield production recorded 9.555 ton/feddan in case of using B. thuringiensis + Neem, whereas the lowest healthy yield production recorded 5.580 ton/feddan when using T. evanescens + Neem. The corresponding general means of cost benefit 3317 and 1589 L.E/feddan, respectively. On the other hand, the healthy yield production in the untreated plot recorded 1.555 ton/ feddan.