Use of biorational insecticides for the control of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) infestations on open field tomato

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), the tomato leaf miner, isone of the most devastating pests affecting tomato crops in Italy. Managementof T. absoluta was assessed in open-field tests using three biorational insecticides,Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, and Beauveriabassiana, and a combination of three synthetic insecticides, Emamectin, Indoxacarband Metaflumizone, as a control treatment. Our results showed thatonly the combination of Azadirachtin – B. thuringiensis was able to reduce theimpact of tomato leaf miner on the fruit’s marketable production similarly tothe control treatment. This finding suggests that biorational insecticides are agood alternative to synthetic ones. Possible use of biorational insecticides inthe management of tomato leaf miner in organic farming system is discussed.