Introduction

Tomatoes are a staple in gardens and kitchens worldwide, celebrated for their versatility and vibrant flavor. However, their cultivation comes with its challenges, particularly in managing the array of pests that can threaten a healthy yield. Effective pest management is crucial to ensure a bountiful and quality harvest. This blog will guide you through identifying common tomato pests, understanding their impact, and implementing practical and sustainable control methods. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a novice, these insights will help you protect your tomato plants and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Let's delve into the essentials of tomato pest management and secure a thriving garden.

Fruit Borer: Helicoverpa armigera

Symptoms of damage:

Young larvae feed on tender foliage

Mature larvae bore circular holes

Thrust only a part of its body into fruit and eat the inner content

Larval damageLarval damageAdult damaged fruit

Identification of pest:

Eggs: Eggs are sculptured and creamy white in colour, laid singly

Larva: Shows colour variation from greenish to brown. It has dark brown, grey lines on the body with lateral white lines and has dark band

Pupa: Brown in colour, occurs in soil, leaf, pod and crop debris

Adult: Female light pale brownish yellow stout moth, Male – Pale greenish moth V shaped speck.

Forewing: olive green to pale brown with a dark brown circular spot in the centre

Hindwing: is pale smoky white with a broad blackish outer margin

Management:

Collect and destroy the infected fruits and grown-up larvae

Grow simultaneously 40 days old American tall marigold and 25 days old tomato seedling at 1:16 rows

Setup pheromone trap with Helilure at 12/ha

Collection and destroy of damaged fruits and grown-up caterpillars.

Release Trichogramma pretiosum @ 1 lakh/ha at an interval of 7 days starting from flower initiation stage.

Spray HaNPV 1.5 x 1012 POBs/ha.

For Helicoverpa armigera: HaNPV 1.5 x 1012 POBs/ha i.e. NPV of H. armigera 0.43% AS @ 3.0 ml/lit or 2 % AS @ 1.0 ml per lit

For Spodoptera litura: Sl NPV 1.5 x 1012 POBs/ha

Provide poison bait with carbaryl 50 WP 1.25 kg, rice bran 12.5 kg, jaggery 1.25 kg and water 7.5 lit/ha

Spray Bacillus thuringiensis 2g/lit or any one of the following insecticides

Spray Azadirachtin 1.0 % EC (10000 ppm) 2.0 ml/ lit. or apply Bacillus thuringiensis 2g/lit. during evening hours.

Serpentine leaf miner: Liriomyza trifolii

Symptoms of damage:

Leaves with serpentine mines

Drying and dropping of leaves

Identification of pest:

Larva: Minute orange yellowish apodous maggots

Pupa: Yellowish brown pupates within mines

Adult: Pale yellow in colour

Management:

Collect and destroy mined leaves

Spray NSKE 5%

Spray Neem Seed Kernel Extract 5 %.

Cyantraniliprole 10.26 OD 1.8ml/lit.

Leaf eating caterpillar: Spodoptera litura

Symptoms of damage:

Young larva scrap leaves on ventral surface

Grownups defoliate crops

Identification of pest:

Egg: Masses appear golden brown

Larva: Pale greenish with dark markings, gregarious in the early stages

Adult: Brownish in colour, Forewings are brown colour with wavy white marking, Hind wings are white colour with a brown patch along the margin

Management:

Set up pheromone traps @ 12/ha.

Spray SlNPV 1.5 x 1012 POBs/ha

Spray Azadirachtin 1.0 % EC (10000 ppm) 2.0 ml/ lit. or apply Bacillus thuringiensis 2g/lit. during evening hours.

Plough the soil to expose and kill the pupae

Grow castor along border and irrigation channel as trap crop

Set up light trap @1/ha

Pheromone traps (Pherodin SL) @15/ ha to attract male moths

Collect and destroy egg masses in castor and tomato

Hand pick grown up larvae and kill them

Spray Sl NPV @ 1.5 X 1012 POBs / ha+2.5 Kg crude sugar+0.1 % teepol\

Poison bait: Rice bran 5 Kg + Molasses or Brown sugar 500g + Carbaryl 50 WP 500g+ 3lit of water/ha. Mix the ingredients well and are kept around the field in the evening hours

Spray chlorpyriphos 20 EC 2 lit/ha or dichlorovos 76 WSC 1 lit/ha

Summary

Tomato crops can be susceptible to various pests like fruit borers, leaf miners, and leaf eating caterpillars. These pests can damage leaves, fruits, and flowers, reducing yield. Thankfully, there are several management methods available. By implementing a combination of techniques like removing infested parts, using traps, applying organic sprays, and introducing beneficial insects, you can keep your tomato plants healthy and productive.

FAQs:

• What is the purpose of planting marigolds alongside tomatoes?

• How do pheromone traps help control tomato pests?

• When would be the best time to apply a spray like Azadirachtin or Bacillus thuringiensis?