The combined effect of removing infected leaves and azadirachtin application in the control of theTomato moth, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of removing infected leaves and azadirachtin application (only to fruits) for the control of the Tomato moth, Tutaabsoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). The study was conducted in a 4 da tomato greenhouselocated at Dalama (Aydın Province, Turkey) in 2012. The treatments, termed Experimentalplot‟, Grower plot‟ and Control plot‟, were applied in a completely randomized blockdesign with four replications. When the first infestation was observed on the fruits, the firstapplication with azadirachtin (NeemAzal-T/S, at a concentration of 50 ml/10 L water) wasdone only to the fruits, and applications were repeated every 15 days so that a total of 3applications were applied in the growing season. The results showed that removing infectedleaves, together with azadirachtin application (only to fruits), reduced numbers of damagedfruits. When the treatments were compared for number, weight and rate of damaged fruits, the Experimental plots‟ were better than the other treatments.