AN OVERVIEW ON FUNGAL DISEASES AND PESTS ON THE FIELD TOMATO CROPS IN ROMANIA

An inventory of the pathogenic fungi, pests and beneficial fauna is presented. The main fungi causing the economical losses in all regions are Alternaria porri (Ell.) Neerg. f.sp. solani (Ell. et Mart.) Neerg., Colletotrichum atramentarium (Berk. & Br.) Taub. and Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de By. The aphid species Macrosiphon euphorbiae Hott., Macrosiphon solani Kitt., Myzodes persicae Sulz., the Colorado beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say and the fruit borer Helicoverpa spp. are considered major pests for the tomato crops grown outdoors in Romania because of their damaging populations. An extremely important part in limiting the populations of these pests is played by different species of predators and parasites: the carabids represent 84.0% of the beneficial fauna, coccinelids are 12.0%, pentatomids - 2.8% and chrysopids - 1.2%. The aspects of bio-ecology, epidemiology, yield damages and control are discussed.