Evaluation of the Effect of Intergrated Pest Management System on Disease and Pests on Tomato Grown Under Poly Tunnel Conditions

Abstract

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are one of the most commercially important vegetables grown worldwide. Tomatoes are an important vegetable crop. It is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, as well as nutritional antioxidants. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of an integrated pest management system on disease and pests on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) grown under poly tunnel conditions at Glorious Holdings (PVT) Ltd, Kandana, Sri Lanka, with the objective of evaluating the effect of integrated pest management system on disease and pests on tomato grown under poly tunnel conditions. The research was laid out in completely randomized design (CRD) with four treatments, and ten replicates of each treatment. The treatments combinations were as Tl - control- without using any pest and disease management, T2- using organic pest and disease management, T3 - using inorganic pest and disease management, T4 - integrated pest and disease Management. The results indicated a significant effect of the pest and disease management in treatments observations were recorded for number of branches, height of plants (cm), number of flowers, number of fruits, number of pests and diseases leaves The highest number of branches (36.9) was recorded in T+. The maximum height (137 .4) was recorded in T+. The highest number of flowers (31.5) was recorded in T+ and the lowest (2.6) recorded by Tz. The maximum number of fruits (7.6) was recorded in T+. Minimum number of fruits (0.9) was produced by Tr (Control).The treatment T+ is the most effective treatment in controlling whiteflies up to 12 weeks. The treatment T+ is the most effective treatment in controlling aphids up to 12 weeks. Tz, Tz and T+ treatments are effective in controlling caterpillars. The treatment T+is themost effective treatment in management of leaf curl disease up to 12 weeks. T4 treatment are especially effective in early blight disease management up to 12 weeks.T4 treatment are effective powdery mildew disease management also up to 12 weeks. Among the four treatments, Ta demonstrated the highest efficiency and is recommended as the preferred pest and disease management practice for the growth and quality production of tomato.