Sustainable approach in bio-rational management of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Tanzania

M. Chidege, N. Hassan, J. Abisgold, S. Al-Zaidi
The management of the invasive tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) requires innovative approaches to different life stages of the pest to protect tomato crop against damage and to maintain a healthy ecosystem. The efficacy of four bio-rational products manufactured by Russell IPM, UK; Metarhizium anisophilae (Recharge), Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Antario) + Abamectin 0.1%, Abamectin 5%, (Biotrine) and Tuta pheromone lure (TUA-Optima, mass trapping) were tested against T. absoluta at Njiro, Kisongo and Usa-river in Arusha region, northern Tanzania. The study was carried out from November 2014 to December 2015 in an open field of tomatoes ('Anna' F1 cultivar). The treatments; Metarhizium anisophilae ground application, Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki + Abamectin 0.1%, Abamectin 5% foliar application, and Optima lure (mass trapping) as an integrated system were compared with commonly used insecticide Deltamethrin 25 g L-1 and the control (untreated) in a randomized block design. The bio-rational system targeting Tuta absoluta life stages; pupae by Metarhizium anisophilae, larva by Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki + Abamectin 0.1% and Abamectin 5%, and adult male by optima lure (mass trapping) was significantly effective (P<0.05) against the pest in Tanzania.
Chidege, M., Hassan, N., Abisgold, J. and Al-Zaidi, S. (2018). Sustainable approach in bio-rational management of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Tanzania. Acta Hortic. 1225, 451-456
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1225.64
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1225.64
Tuta absoluta, bio-rational, Tanzania, invasive insect pest
English

Acta Horticulturae