Relative bioefficacy of different insecticides against sucking pest complex of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum L.) and their effect on natural enemies present under field condition

Abstract

The field experiment was carried out on tomato in the Rabi season of 2019-20 at the Vegetable Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. The crop variety, Arka Vikas (Selection 22) was selected to evaluate the bioefficacy of nine different insecticidal treatments against the sucking pest complex and the natural enemies in tomato under field conditions. Two sprays at 15 days intervals of ten treatments with three replications were applied. The treatments were Diafenthiuron 50% WP, Abamectin 1.8% EC, Buprofezin 25% SC, Indoxacarb 14.5% SC, Spinosad 45% SC, Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC, Pymetrozine 50% WG, Flonicamid 50% WG, and Lancer Gold (50 + 1.8) % SP and control (water spray). Observations were recorded one day before and 1^st, 3^rd, 5^th, 7^th, 10^th, and 15^th days after each spray. For controlling Whitefly (B. tabaci), Lancer gold was observed to be the best (76.98%), followed by Pymetrozine (69.03%) and Flonicamid (59.39%). At the same time, Flonicamid was excellent (70.62%) in controlling Aphids (A. gossypii), followed by Lancer gold (67.15%) and Pymetrozine (65.48%). In case of a reduction of damage by Thrips (T. tabaci), Lancer gold showed the best result (75.60%), followed by Buprofezin (68.45%) and Flonicamid (65.69%). However, all the treatments showed minute toxicity for the natural enemies; yet Flonicamid and Lancer gold were significantly safer among all of them.