1. Integrated Pest Management Strategies for Tomato Under Protected Structures
- Author
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Srinivasan Ramasamy and Manickam Ravishankar
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Integrated pest management ,Thrips ,biology ,Growing season ,Pesticide ,biology.organism_classification ,01 natural sciences ,Toxicology ,010602 entomology ,Biopesticide ,Agronomy ,PEST analysis ,Natural enemies ,Productivity ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
Although tomato is an important vegetable in many countries, its production may not be highly profitable to growers because of market gluts during the main growing season. Tomato produced in the off-season usually receives higher prices in the market. With protective structures such as net houses and polyhouses, growers can produce tomatoes during the off-season. These structures, if carefully constructed and maintained, increase productivity and returns per unit area, and keep pests away. However, structural flaws and improper management can result in pest damage levels inside protective structures similar to, or greater than, what is found in open field production. Armyworms, aphids, whiteflies, thrips, leafminers, spider mites, and root-knot nematodes are the major pests of tomato under protective structures. Because growers rely heavily on chemical pesticides to combat these pests, alternative integrated pest management (IPM) strategies are warranted. IPM component technologies such as cultural practices, colored sticky traps, sex pheromone traps, biopesticides, and natural enemies are highly effective in reducing the damage caused by pests. The bioecology and damage potential of major pests of tomato, and the most effective IPM technologies in managing these pests under protective structures are discussed in this chapter.
- Published
- 2018