Application of Pheromone is Potential Ecological Approach In Management of Tuta absoluta in Tomatoes: The Case of Ruaha River Basin in Iringa, Tanzania

Authors

Theonest Kombe, Dar Es Salaam University College of EducationFollow
Nicodemus D. Matojo, University of Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaFollow
Fikira KimbokotaFollow

Abstract

Tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is currently considered to be one of the most destructive insect pests of tomatoes worldwide. The present study was conducted in three study sites along Ruaha River Basin, Iringa, Tanzania, to assess community awareness about T. absoluta infestation and its management. The study also evaluated the susceptibility of three tomato varieties against T. absoluta in a greenhouse setting, as well as the effect of colours of traps and doses of pheromone in attracting T. absoluta in a field environment. The field survey revealed that 97% of the respondents were aware of the presence of T. absoluta; and 86.7% reported to use synthetic chemical pesticides as the sole means to control the pest. The susceptibility test indicated that commercially available tomatoes were more highly susceptible to T. absoluta as compared to the wild variety. Based on the field performance of the traps, the study revealed that white delta traps attracted more T. absoluta than red delta traps (p = 0.0002), in which traps with a dose of 0.8 mg of sex pheromone were more effective compared to those with 0.5 mg (p = 0.005). Therefore, the study recommends for the application of pheromone in the monitoring and management of T. absoluta, while emphasising on raising farmers’ awareness on the application of ecological techniques in managing the pest.

Recommended Citation

Kombe, Theonest; D. Matojo, Nicodemus; and Kimbokota, Fikira (2022) "Application of Pheromone is Potential Ecological Approach In Management of Tuta absoluta in Tomatoes: The Case of Ruaha River Basin in Iringa, Tanzania," Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 10 : No. 6 , Article 8.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.56279/jhss.v10.i6.7

Publication Date

3-10-2022

DOI

10.56279/jhss.v10.i6.7

Publisher

Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE)