Insect Control on Fresh Market Tomatoes in West-Central Florida, Fall 1993

Abstract

Abstract Transplants were set 10 Sep, 18 inches apart on 8-inch-high beds of EauGallie fine sand covered with white polyethylene mulch. Each plot consisted of a single 15 ft row with rows on 5 ft centers. Treatments were replicated 4 times in a randomized complete block design and were applied with a 2.5 gal, hand-held CO2-powered sprayer on 29 Sep, 8, 12, 20, 27 Oct, 5, 12, 17 Nov, 1, 8, and 18 Dec. The sprayer was operated at 60 psi and delivered 60 gpa for the first two applications, 90 gpa the next four applications, and 120 gpa for the remaining applications using a single nozzle fitted with a D-5 disk and #45 core. On 7 Dec, the numbers of leafmines and leaf rolls of the tomato pinworm were counted by two persons in a 2 min. whole plant search. On 14-15 Dec, the numbers of small (<0.5 inch long) and large leafmines (>0.5 inch long) were counted by two trained observers in a 1 minute whole plant search. Pinworm and leafminer damage counts of both persons were totalled. Fruit were harvested on 22 Nov, 3, 14, and 28 Dec. The number and weight of undamaged fruit and the number and weight of fruit damaged by armyworm and tomato pinworm larvae were determined.