Efficacy of Botanical Extracts and a Synthetic Insecticide against Tomato Leaf Miner (Tuta Absoluta) (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on Tomato

Abstract

Tomato is the most important crop all over the world. Due to several factors to minimize the production of the crops. Large number of insect pests attack from vegetative to reproductive growth of the plant. The present experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of different plant extracts and chemical insecticide against tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta)during 2021 at the Agriculture Research Institute (ARI), Mingora Swat. The insecticides used with concentration i.e.Eucalyptus leaves extract (10%), Tobacco leaves extract (10%), Onion bulb extract (20%), Garlic cloves extract (10%), Neem leaves extract (10%) and a synthetic insecticide Lambda cyhalothrin (2.5% EC) were spraying three times at 14 days interval. The experiment was Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. The minimum mean percent damage was recorded in plot treated with lambda cyhalothrin (5.56), followed by neem leaves extract (9.73), Onion bulb (12.80), Eucalyptus leaves (13.25), Tobacco leaves (13.56) and Garlic bulb (13.61)respectively. The maximum mean percent damage was observed in untreated plot (37.02).  The highest yield and CBR was reported in plot treated with lambdacyhalothrin (2761.7 kg ha^-1, 1: 5.93) and followed by Neem extract (2279 kgha^-1, 1: 4.55). All the insecticides reduce the percent damage of tomato leaves but chemical insecticides Lambda cyhalothrin gave better result as the rest of the other botanical extracts against tomato leaf miner. The insecticides Lambda cyhalothrin is recommended for quicker action while botanical extracts are recommended for safe control of tomato leaf miner and environment.