Assessment of Damage and Yield Losses of Tomato Fruit Borer and its Biorational Management

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the damage and yield losses caused by tomato fruit borer and its biorational management at ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong during 2012-13 and 2013-14. The infestation and yield loss of fruit borer was more in tomato cultivated inside polyhouse (20.50-26.26 % and 25.17-28.46 %) than open field condition (14.54-20.76 % and 17.22-20.50 %). Average of 44.25 to 110.25 adults/trap of Spodoptera litura were trapped per week through sex pheromone trap. Amongst the biopesticides evaluated, spinosad 45 SC @ 0.4 ml/l was found to be the most effective for controlling fruit borer (75.62 % larval reduction over control after 14 days of second spraying) with less fruit damage (5.46 %) and higher yield (28.42 t/ha).