Field evaluation of biopesticides against whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) in tomato

Abstract

The efficacy of different biocontrol agents, botanicals and a biorational insecticide were evaluated against whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in tomato under field conditions at Shivamogga, Karnataka during two seasons (Rabi 2018-2019 and summer 2019-2020). The results revealed that spiromesifen 240 SC @ 0.7 ml/L was the most effective in reducing the B. tabaci population i.e., 85.12 and 85.16 % reduction over untreated control during Rabi and summer, respectively followed by azadirachtin 5% @ 2 ml/l with reduction of 68.61 and 66.32 % over untreated control during Rabi and summer, respectively. The response of these treatments was also observed on the yield attributes, with highest fruit yield of 53.67 t/ha (6 pickings) in spiromesifen treatment followed by azadirachtin (52.93 t/ha), but the highest Benifit: Cost ratio was noticed in azadirachtin 5% (1:3.41), followed by spiromesifen 240 SC (1:3.38).