Sustainable approach in bio-rational management of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Tanzania

The management of the invasive tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) requires innovative approaches to different life stages of the pest to protect tomato crop against damage and to maintain a healthy ecosystem.
The efficacy of four bio-rational products manufactured by Russell IPM, UK; Metarhizium anisophilae (Recharge), Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Antario) + Abamectin 0.1%, Abamectin 5%, (Biotrine) and Tuta pheromone lure (TUA-Optima, mass trapping) were tested against T. absoluta at Njiro, Kisongo and Usa-river in Arusha region, northern Tanzania.
The study was carried out from November 2014 to December 2015 in an open field of tomatoes (‘Anna’ F₁ cultivar). The treatments; Metarhizium anisophilae ground application, Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki + Abamectin 0.1%, Abamectin 5% foliar application, and Optima lure (mass trapping) as an integrated system were compared with commonly used insecticide Deltamethrin 25 g L^-1 and the control (untreated) in a randomized block design.
The bio-rational system targeting Tuta absoluta life stages; pupae by Metarhizium anisophilae, larva by Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki + Abamectin 0.1% and Abamectin 5%, and adult male by optima lure (mass trapping) was significantly effective (P<0.05) against the pest in Tanzania.

III All Africa Horticultural Congress

M. Chidege, N. Hassan, J. Abisgold, S. Al-Zaidi

Tuta absoluta, bio-rational, Tanzania, invasive insect pest

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1225.64