Evaluation of Integrated Management Practices of South American Tomato Leaf Miner Tuta absoluta in Tomato

Tomato is grown in an area of 36000 ha in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. South American tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta has become major pest in tomato growing areas causing 50-60% damage. Even though pest damage starts from seedling stage, damage is not noticed by farmers till fruiting stage due to the pest feeding habit, and spraying chemicals repeatedly at this stage is of no use. Moreover, it causes environmental pollution and pesticide residual effects on consumers. Hence, an on-farm trial on integrated management of the Tuta absoluta was conducted during Rabi, 2020-21. The IPM practices included were installation of pheromone traps @ 25 per hectare; spraying neem oil @ 5 ml/l, twice @20 and 40 DAT and need based chemical sprays. In IPM plots, pest damage was low in crop grown under single row planting i.e., 9% followed by double row planting i.e., 12.6% whereas in farmers practice it was 21.5% and 24.3% in single row planting and double row planting respectively in crop planted during December, 2020. Crop planted during January suffered more than December planted cropi.e., in IPM plots it was 12.5% & 15.5% whereas in farmers practice it was 27.6 and 31.2% in single row planting and double row planting respectively. In December planted crop, Fruit yield of 54.2t/ha and 52.8t/ha was recorded in IPM and farmers practice respectively. In January planted crop it was 51t/ha and 49.5t/ha in IPM and farmers practice respectively. IPM along with planting of crop during December under single row method of planting found to be effective in managing the pest.