Leafminer Control on Tomato in West-Central Florida, Fall 1987

Abstract

Abstract Transplants were set 3 Sep, 18 inches apart on 2.5 ft wide by 6 inches high beds of Eau Gallie fine sand covered with white polyethylene mulch. Plots consisted of 10 plants and treatments were replicated 4 times in a randomized complete block design. Foliar treatments were made 13, 20, 27 Oct, 4, 10, 17 and 24 Nov with a 2.5 gal hand-held CO2 powered sprayer which was operated at 40 psi and delivered 110-135 gal/acre (gallonage increased as the plants grew). Experimental treatments requiring soil application were made 21 Sep by removing the plastic mulch, applying the treatment at 70 gal/acre, recovering the soil beds with plastic mulch and transplanting. All plots were sprayed with Lahnate 1.8 L at 0.45 lb (AI)/acre on 23, 27 Oct, 5, 9 and 18 Nov for control of armyworms. On 30 Oct and 16 Nov, the numbers of large (greater than 0.5 inch in length) and small (0.5 inch or less) leafmines were counted during a 2 min search per plot. From 30 Nov to 4 Dec, the number of living and dead leafminer larvae were counted on the terminal three leaflets of the seventh leaf from the top of one branch/plant/plot. Fruit were harvested from all plots on 1 Dec and again from soil treatment plots on 14 Dec. The number and weight of fruit were determined and yield data for the 2 harvest dates for the soil treatments were combined.