Field efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes and egg wasps for biocontrol of tomato fruit worm, Helicoverpa zea, in Egypt
2009
Atwa, A.A.
The potential of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) and an egg parasitoid for biological control of the tomato fruit worm, Helicoveipa (= Heliothis) zea (Boddie) was evaluated under field conditions for three successive seasons (2005-2007). The EPNs, all strain of Steinemema carpocapsae (Weiser) (SC), the HP88 strain of Heterorhabiditis bacteriophora Poinar (HB) and the egg wasp Trichogramma evanescens (Westwood) (TE) were applied to control H. zea on tomato field. Three releases of each biological control agent were conducted at 10-day intervals, 15 days after tomato plants reach 30-50% effloresce. Fruit damage on untreated plots (control) was compared with plots treated by TE, SC or HB. Percentage of fruit damage was significantly reduced in all treatments when compared with untreated plants. However, the mean percentage fruit damage was significantly lower in TE-release plots when compared with plots treated with SC or HB. The obtained results suggest that using EPNs or egg wasps is a promising strategy to manage H. zea in tomato fields. SC nematode was more potent in decreasing the fruit damage than HB nematode. However, TE seems to be a potential biocontrol agent for the tomato fruit worm.
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