Insect Control on Fresh Market Tomatoes in West-Central Florida, Spring 1987

Abstract

Abstract Transplants were set 24 Feb, 18 inches apart on 2.5-ft-wide by 8-inch-high beds of EauGallie fine sand covered with black polyethylene mulch. Plots consisted of 10 staked plants and treatments were replicated 4 times in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were applied 25 Mar; 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 Apr; and 5, 11, and 19 May with a 2.5-gal, hand-held CO2-powered sprayer operated at 40 psi and delivering 65-140 gal/acre (volume increased as plants grew). Second applications were made each week for Dipel and ABG 6190 on 27 Mar; 3, 10, 17, and 24 Apr; and 1, 8, and 15 May. On 5 May, the numbers of thrips were counted in 10 flowers from each plot of selected treatments. On 21 May, the numbers of small (shorter 0.5 inch) and large (longer than 0.5 inch) leafminers were counted in a 1- minute visual search of each plot. On 20 May, the number of potato aphids was counted on the terminal leaflet of five leaves from each plot. Fruit were harvested on 26 May, and the number of undamaged fruit and the number of fruit damaged by noctuid larvae (principally the southern armyworm S. eridania (Cramer)) were determined. Percentage data were transformed by the arcsine square root of (%)(0.01) prior to analysis but are presented in the original scale.