Development and validation of Integrated Pest Management modules against South American tomato moth, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in India: Blending non-insecticidal, nature friendly tools

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the nine different Integrated Pest Management (IPM) modules including standard check and control against South American tomato moth, Tuta absoluta on cv. 'NS-501' of tomato. Module 7 (Pheromone traps @20/ha, Metarhizium anisopliae @3ml/L, Spinosad (45% SC) @0.2ml/L and Azadirachtin (1% EC) @ 2ml/L) followed standard check (Indoxacarb (14.5SC)@0.75ml/L, Flubendiamide (480SC) @0.2ml/L, Cyantraniliprole (10.26 OD)@0.3ml/L, Spinetoram (11.7 SC)@0.75ml/L) and Module 6 (Pheromone traps @20/ha, M. anisopliae @3ml/L, Azadirachtin (1% EC) @ 2ml/L and Spinosad (45% SC) @0.2ml/L) were found effective in reducing T. absoluta population. The highest yield (59.31 t) was obtained from Module 7 compared to farmer's practice i.e., standard check (52.92 t) and control (20.61 t). Highest Cost-Benefit ratio were obtained from Module 7 (1:3.25) compared to standard check (1:2.72) and control (1:1.47).