IPM Processing tomatoes 2001, 1998-2001.

Jane Moran (Ag Victoria), (Insect component)

Sandra McDougall, Technical Specialist (Vegetables), and Karen Ryan (NSW Agriculture),

Ary Hoffman and Swarna Hewa-Kapuge (La Trobe University)

To futher develop the Integrated Pest Management strategy in Processing Tomatoes. Specifically to:

1. Evaluate new generation chemistries and biological insecticides on control of Heliothis and their impact on the beneficial egg parasitoid, Trichogramma.

2. To compare a Best Management Option strategy with a conventional grower strategy

3. To evaluate options for sap sucker control during establishment phase.

Conclusions

1. The new chemistries of Success® (spinosad), Avatar® (indoxacarb), Prodigy® (methoxyfenozide) and Proclaim® (emamectin benzoate) all controlled Helicoverpa spp. well.

2. A short acting organophosphate Naled®(dibrom) also was effective at controlling Helicoverpa spp.

3. The Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki product MVPII® gave some control of Helicoverpa spp. but was not as effective as the new chemistry trialed nor the comparative grower program. In a subsequent trial another Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki product Dipel® gave excellent control and the addition of a feeding stimulant, Pheast® and a sticker-extender NuFilm-17® didn’t improve its’ efficancy.

4. The Heliothis nuclear polyhedrosis virus, Gemstar® gave some control of Helicoverpa spp. but was not as effective as the other products trialed.

5. Gemstar®, the Bacillus thuringiensis products and Prodigy® had no negative impact on the egg parasitoid, Trichogramma in the field or in laboratory trials.

6. Avatar® and Proclaim® showed some indication of having some negative impact on Trichogramma in the laboratory but not in the field trials.

7. Success® and Naled® showed serious toxicity to Trichogramma in the laboratory but not in the field.

8. The comparative Grower treatment, using methomyl, synthetic pyrethroids and endosulfan had negative impacts on Trichogramma both in the field and the laboratory.

9. A comparative trial of a ‘Best Management Option’ using the then available ‘softer’ options of Success®, Bacillus thuringiensis products and Prodigy® was as effective as the Grower control but was more expensive.

10. No conclusions could be made for the sap-sucker products due to poor population pressure in the two trial years