EVALUATION OF BOTANICAL AND CHEMICAL INSECTICIDES TO CONTROL WHITEFLY (Bemisia tabaci, Gennadius.) AND GEMINIVIRUS IN TOMATO (Solanum esculentum, Mill.), IN TISMA, MASAYA

Abstract

The whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Genn) and Geminiviruses are the main agents causing severe phytosanitary damages for tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum, Mill) producers in Tisma, Masaya. This pest complex cause economic losses, thereby reducing yields by affecting fruit quality, which incurs in higher production costs. Based on this problem, in Tisma, Masaya, an experiment was conducted in the period from November 2010 to January 2011. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate botanical and chemical insecticides against whitefly-geminivirus complex. The evaluated insecticides were: Chrysanthemum, Madero Negro, Chili + Garlic + Soap, Engeo and Imidacloprid. The evaluated variables were: number of whiteflies per plant, incidence and severity of viral damage per plant. Main results indicate that Imidacloprid followed by Chrysanthemum had the lowest number of whitefly per plant. Imidacloprid had the lowest incidence and severity rates, compared evaluated treatments. The economic analysis determined that the treatments with the highest yields were Chrysanthemum with 32 578 kg ha^-1, followed by Engeo with 31 750 kg ha^-1 and Chili+Garlic+Soap with 30 625 kg ha^-1. Chrysanthemum had the highest net income with U.S. $ 7 546.90/ha followed by Engeo with 7 254.58 US $/ha. The marginal rate return analysis shows that Engeo had the highest marginal rate, obtaining 8,671.80% which means that 86.71 U.S. $ is obtained for every dollar invested.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/calera.v12i19.1184

La Calera Revista Científica Vol. 12. Nº 19, p. 96-106 / diciembre 2012