Efficacy of newer molecules for the management of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)-An invasive pest on tomato

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of newer molecules in the management of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) an invasive pest on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Miller) at ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru. The results revealed that foliar and fruit damage by T. absoluta larvae was observed in all the insecticide treatments, though leaf damage across treatments was statistically insignificant. Sampling of harvested tomatoes indicated the pinworm damage to range from 0.54 to 22. 6 %. The insecticides viz., cyazypyr @ 1.8 ml/L, rynaxypyr @ 0.3 ml/L and indoxacarb @ 1 ml/L recorded least fruit damage (0.54, 0.76 and 0.95 per cent respectively) compared to other insecticides. The highest healthy fruit yield was recorded in cyazypyr @ 1.8 ml/L (111.33 tonnes/ha) followed by rynaxypyr @ 0.3 ml/L (108 tonnes/ha) and indoxacarb @ 1 ml/L (99.98 tonnes/ha). Future pest management ventures should be aimed at economically and ecologically viable strategies with a thrust on insecticide resistance management.