CONTROL OF TOMATO LEAFMINER, Tuta absoluta (MEYRICK) USING CHEMICAL AND ECO-FRIENDLY INSECTICIDES

Abstract

ABSTRACT Tomato crops (Solanaceae), usually attacked by many insectspecies, including the tomato leafminer, Tutaabsoluta (Meyrick), where its larvae cause damage up to 80-100% by making tunnels in all tomato parts.The physico-chemical properties of 12 commercial insecticides (five EC, four SC, two SG, and one WG) as well as nine naturally formulated compounds (seven EC and two W/O/W) were measured.All the tested formulations passed the tests except Action Phos and Pestbanscince they failed in the foam formation test. The efficiency of these formulations was examined against T.absoluta under laboratory and field conditions. The laboratory evaluation of the testedcommercial insecticides demonstrated thatthe non-conventional insecticides Emperor and Coragen, achieved the superior efficiency with the least LC90 values of 1.66 and 1.82 ppm, respectively, followed by Proclaim, Radiant, Vapcomic, and Challenger that gave high efficacy with LC90 values of 3.72, 4.84, 8.09, and 164.56 ppm, respectively. Alsothe naturally formulated compoundswere arranged in a descending order according to LC90 values as follows:Thymo "w/o/w" >Corian>Origo>Sagix> Rosa >Nimbecidine>Thymo "EC" >Cura>Mentho>Basi.The most promising commercial insecticides (Emperor, Coragen, Radiant, Vapcomic, and Challenger) as well as six naturally formulated compoundsThymo "w/o/w",Corian,Origo,Sagix, Rosa, andNimbecidine were applied in the field.