Insect Control on Fresh Market Tomatoes in West-Central Florida, SPRING 1995

Abstract

Abstract Transplants were set 10 Mar, 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 RCB design and were applied with a 2.5 gal, hand-held CO2-powered sprayer on 3, 10, 17, 24 Apr, 1, 8, 15, 22, 31 May, 6 and 12 June. The sprayer was operated at 60 psi and delivered 60 gpa for the first two applications, 90 gpa the next two applications, and 120 gpa for the remaining applications using a single nozzle fitted with a D-5 disk and #25 core. On 10 May and 19 June, the numbers of tomato pinworm leaf rolls were counted by two persons in a 2 min. whole plot search. On 10 May, the numbers of Liriomyza spp. leafmines were counted by two trained observers in a 1 minute whole plot search. Pinworm and leafminer damage counts of both persons were totalled. Fruit were harvested on 10 May, 1, and 15 June. The number and weight of undamaged fruit and the number and weight of fruit damaged by armyworm larvae and flower thrips (fruit with five or more oviposition dimples on the blossom end) were determined.