Impact of Insecticides on Secondary Outbreak of Tomato Russet Mites, 1983

Abstract

Abstract Tests were conducted at the Univ. of California South Coast Field St. in Orange County, Calif. Tomato seedlings were transplanted 13 Jul. on 5-ft centers and grown as bush tomatoes. Topically applied irrigation was utilized for 2 weeks following transplant, after which time plants were drip irrigated. Experimental plots consisted of four rows which were 40 ft long, each plot separated by a 5-ft buffer. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Insecticide applications were initiated at flowering (22 Aug.) and continued on a weekly basis for 7 weeks (3 Oct.), except for the SD compounds which were not applied the 5th week (19 Sep.). Materials were applied with a tractor mounted boom sprayer calibrated to deliver 100 gal/acre at 100 lb/in2. All treatments included 0.04% spreader sticker (Leaf Act 40). Three days following the last treatment, plots were evaluated for russet mite damage. Four plants per plot were randomly selected and rated on a 1 to 10 scale based on the percentage of total tissue damaged.