Surveillance on the Sucking Insect Pests and their Natural Enemies on Tomato Crop

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the experimental area of Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam during 2013. The Roma variety was cultivated for this purpose, the all agronomic practices were carried out accordingly. The temperature 15-24ºC and relative humidity 45-68% was recorded during research work. The results of the present experiment showed that sucking insect pests as well as natural enemies’ population was observed through out cropping season from 1^st week of March to 1^st week of May 2013. The results reveled that the maximum population of whitefly (5.5±0.16/leaf) was recorded followed by jassid (4.7±0.21/leaf), aphid (4.4±0.37/leaf) and thrip (2.9±0.17/leaf) on tomato crop. However, the maximum population chrysoperla carniea (1.2±0.16/plant) was recorded followed by spider (2.6±0.23/plant) and lady bird beetle (2.5±0.22/plant) was recorded on tomato crop. The results further reveled that the over all impact of relative humidity on the most of the insect pests showed negative correlation. However, the temperature showed that over all positive impact of all the insect pests and predators except whitefly and spider.

Key Word: Solanum lycopersicum, Surveillance, sucking insect pest, Predators