Seasonal incidence of tomato fruit borer and efficacy of chemical, Bio insecticides and HaNPV against Helicoverpa armigera in Tomato

An investigation was undertaken with an objective to assess the seasonal incidence and efficacy of chemical insecticides, NSKE and HaNPV against tomato fruit borer. The occurrence of tomato fruit borer in Rabi season commenced from 6th standard week (February second week) with an average 0.32 larvae per plant. It gradually increased and reached peak level of 5.98 larvae per plant at 12th standard week (March last week). Thereafter, declined trend was observed. The percent of fruit borer infestation during third, seventh and fourteenth day after spraying revealed that Spinosad 45% SC, Indoxcarb 14.5% SC and Chlorpyrifos 20 EC were found superior. Minimum per cent of fruit infestation was observed in spinosad 45% SC (7.37%) followed by indoxcarb 14.5% SC (12.54%) and chlorpyrifos 20 EC (13.76%) respectively. The highest yield was registered in sprays of spinosad 45% SC (198 q/ha) followed by indoxcarb 14.5% SC (180 q/ha) and chlorpyrifos 20 EC (169 q/ha) over 62 q/ha yield of untreated check.