Tomato plants require dedicated care and attention to thrive. However, even with our best efforts, pests can still pose a threat to your crops. This article explores various pests that can impact your tomato plants while they are flowering and provides practical approaches to effectively safeguard your tomato crops against these pests. 

Common pests that could affect your tomato crops during flowering stage: 

Thrips 

Causal Organism: Thrips tabaci 

Symptoms

• These tiny insects feed on the leaves and fruits of your tomato plants. 
• They can also spread Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TOSPO), causing additional harm to your plants. 

Control Measures

• Spray Delegate Insecticide (Spinetoram 11.7% SC) at the rate of 1 ml per liter of water. (Or) 
• Use Admire Insecticide (Imidacloprid 70% WG) at the rate 0.4 to 0.6 ml per liter of water. (Or) 
• You can also use Gracia Insecticide (Fluxametamide 10% EC) at the rate of 0.5 to 0.8 ml per liter of water. 

Aphids 

Causal Organisms: Myzus persicae, Aphids gossypii 

Symptoms

• These pesky pests suck the sap from the tender leaves of tomato plants. 
• As a result of sucking, they cause deformed and stunted foliage. 

Control Measures

• Use Rogor Insecticide (Dimethoate 30% EC) at the rate of 1 to 2 ml per liter of water. (Or) 
• Spray Confidor Super Insecticide (Imidacloprid 30.5% SC) at the rate of 0.75 to 1 ml per liter of water. (Or) 
• Use Movento Energy Insecticide (Spirotetramat 11.01% + Imidacloprid 11.01% SC) at the rate of 1 to 2 ml per liter of water. 

Red Spider Mites 

Causal Organism: Tetranychus spp. 

Symptoms

• These mites suck the sap from the leaves, leading to reddish-brown and bronze-toned patches on the lower leaf surface. 
• Severe infestations can lead to the appearance of silken webbing on leaves, flowers and fruits, resulting in withered and dried foliage. 

Control Measures

• Use Floramite Insecticide (Bifenazate 240 SC) at the rate of 0.5 to 1 ml per liter of water, (Or) 
• Spray Pyromite Insecticide (Fenpyroximate 5% EC) at the rate of 1 to 1.25 ml per liter of water. (Or) 
• Use Magister Insecticide (Fenazaquin 10% EC) at the rate of 1 ml per liter of water. 

Whitefly 

Causal Organism: Bemisia tabaci  

Symptoms 

• Whiteflies can cause significant damage to tomato plants, resulting in distorted and malformed leaves. 
• Leaves may curl downward, dry up and plants may become stunted and bushy with shorter internodes. 

Control Measures

• Spray Pegasus Insecticide (Diafenthiuron 50% WP) at the rate of 0.5 to 0.75 gm per liter of water. (Or) 
• Use Lancergold Insecticide (Acephate 50% + Imidachloprid 1.8% SP) at the rate of 1.5 to 2 gm per liter of water. (Or) 
• Use Confidor Insecticide (Imidacloprid 17.8% SL) at the rate of 1 ml per liter of water.  

Mealybugs 

Causal Organism: Ferrisia virgata 

Symptoms

• Mealybugs are small insects, that form white, cottony clusters on tomato plant twigs and leaves. 
• They secrete a honeydew substance, which attracts other pests like ants and can lead to the growth of sooty mould on the plant.    
• They also feed on the sap of the tomato plant, further weakening them.  

Control Measures 

• Spray Transform Insecticide (Sulfoxaflor 21.8% SC) at the rate of 0.75 ml per liter of water. (Or) 
• Spray Dantotsu Insecticide (Clothianidin 50% WDG) at the rate of 0.5 gm per liter of water. (Or) 
• Spray Jump Insecticide (Fipronil 80% WG) at the rate of 0.3 gm per liter of water. 

Pinworms 

Causal Organism: Tuta absoluta 

Symptoms

• Pinworms infest the terminal buds, leaves and stems of the tomato plants by mining the surface tissues and flowers. 
• They lay eggs on the underside of the leaves.  
• Damage caused by them includes mining between the upper and lower leaf surfaces, causing clear patches filled with frass. 
• They also damage stems by boring into them.  

Control Measures 

• Spray Belt Expert Insecticide (Flubendiamide 19.92% + Thiacloprid 19.92% SC) at the rate of 0.3 to 0.5 ml per liter of water. (Or) 
• Spray Vayego Insecticide (Tetraniliprole 200 g/L SC) at the rate of 0.5 ml per liter of water. (Or) 
• Spray Exponus Insecticide (Broflanilide 300 G/L SC) at the rate of 25 ml per acre. 

Serpentine Leaf Miners 

Causal Organism: Liriomyza trifolii 

Symptoms  

• Serpentine leaf miners attack tomato leaves, creating a twisted mess of maggot-like mines. 
• It may also cause leaves to curl, dry out and eventually fall off. 

Control Measures

• Spray Sanvex sp Insecticide (Cartap Hydrochloride 50% SP) at the rate of 1.5 to 2 gm per liter of water. (Or) 
• Spray Ampligo Insecticide (Chlorantraniliprole 10 %+ Lambdacyhalothrin 5% ZC) at the rate of 0.5 to 0.6 ml per liter of water. (Or) 
• Spray Voliam Targo (Chlorantraniliprole 4.3% + Abamectin 1.7% w/w sc) at the rate of 1 ml per liter of water. 

Root Knot Nematodes 

Causal Organism: Meloidogyne incognita 

Symptoms

• Root knot nematodes infiltrate plant roots and cause root-knot galls, stunted root growth, and nutrient depletion, eventually leading to the death of the plant.  

Control Measures

• Use Velum Prime Nematicide (Flupyrum 34.48%SC) at the rate of 250 to 500 ml per acre during 55 to 60 days after planting. (Or) 
• Alternatively, enriching FarmYardManure with bio-pesticides can be beneficial. 
• Dosage of Biopesticides: 
  • Paecilomyces lilacinus – 2 to 3 kg/ton of FYM (Or) 
  • Pseudomonas fluorescens – 2 to 3 kg/ton of FYM (Or) 
  • Trichoderma viride or Trichoderma harzianum – 2 to 3 kg/ton of FYM 

Mix either of the above mentioned biopesticides with FYM and leave it in shade for 15 days at 25-30% moisture for the multiplication of beneficial microbes. Apply this mixture before transplanting tomato seedlings. 

Note: Taking proactive measures to control pests at the flowering stage is crucial for the successful growth of your tomato plants. Regularly monitor your plants for signs of pest damage and promptly intervene with the recommended insecticides. Remember to follow the instructions on the product labels and take appropriate safety precautions when using any insecticides.   

Conclusion 

Effective pest control during flowering stage is crucial for successful tomato cultivation. By implementing these expert-recommended strategies and carefully following dosage instructions, you can safeguard your tomato plants and ensure healthy growth. 

Maintaining your tomato plants, particularly during the fruiting stage, can be quite a challenge due to the heightened risk of pest infestations. In this article, we will explore the various pests that commonly attack tomato plants during this critical growth phase. Additionally, we will discuss effective control measures to safeguard your precious tomato crop. 

Common pests that could affect your tomato plants during the fruiting stage:  

Thrips

Causal Organism: Thrips tabaci  

Symptoms

• These tiny insects feed on both the leaves and fruits of your tomato plants. 
• They can also spread Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TOSPO), causing additional harm to your plants. 

Control Measures

• Spray Actara Insecticide (Thiamethoxam 25% WG) at the rate of 1 gm per liter of water. (Or) 
• Spray Osheen Insecticide (Dinotefuran 20% SG) or Police Insecticide (Fipronil 40% + Imidacloprid 40% WG) at the rate of 0.5 gm per liter of water. 

Red Spider Mite

Causal Organism: Tetranychus spp. 

Symptoms

• These mites feed on the sap from the leaves, resulting in reddish-brown and bronzy areas on the lower leaf surface. 
• Severe infestations can lead to the creation of silken webbing on leaves, flowers, and fruits, ultimately affecting flower and fruit formation. 
• The infested leaves, flowers, and fruits may wither and dry. 

Control Measures

• Use Borneo Insecticide (Etoxazole 10% SC) at the rate of 0.3 ml per liter of water. (Or) 
• Use Oberon Insecticide (Spiromesifen 22.9% SC) or Kunoichi Miticide (Cyenopyrafen 30% SC) at the rate of 0.5 ml per liter of water. 

Serpentine Leaf Miner

Causal Organism: Liriomyza trifolii 

Symptoms

• This pest causes distinctive serpentine patterns on the tomato leaves. 
• As they mine within the leaves, they cause curling, drying, and eventual leaf drop. 
• The yellowish-brown maggots can also mine into the leaves and pupate within the mines.   

Control Measures 

• Use Alika Insecticide (Thiamethoxam 12.6% + Lambda cyhalothrin 9.5% ZC) or Voliam Flexi Insecticide (Chlorantraniliprole 8.8% + Thiamethoxam 17.5% SC) at the rate of 1 ml per liter of water.  

Tomato Pinworm 

Causal Organism: Tuta absoluta 

Symptoms

• This notorious pest targets the terminal/apical buds, leaves, stems, and flowers of tomato plants. 
• The pinworm lays eggs on the underside of the leaves, and its larvae can cause significant damage by mining between the upper and lower leaf surfaces.  
• The appearance of clear patches that are often partially filled with frass. 
• They also cause damage to the tomato stem by boring into them and leaving frass at the stem nodes.  

Control Measures

• Use Vayego Insecticide (Tetraniliprole 200 g/L SC) at the rate of 0.5 ml per liter of water. (Or) 
• Use Exponus Insecticide (Broflanilide 300 G/L SC) at the of 25 ml per acre. (Or) 
• Use Coragen Insecticide (Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 % SC) at the rate of 0.3 ml per liter of water.  

Tomato Gram Pod Borer

Causal Organism: Helicoverpa armigera 

Symptoms  

• The larvae of this pest feed on the leaves and attack fruits, eating the internal tissues voraciously to be completely hollowed out. 
• While feeding, the caterpillar thrusts its head inside the fruit and leaves the rest of the body outside the fruit.  
• This single-gram pod borer is known to destroy 2-8 fruits. 

Control Measures 

• Use Belt Expert Insecticide (Flubendiamide 19.92% + Thiacloprid 19.925% SC) at the rate of 1 ml per liter of water. (Or) 
• Use Plethora Insecticide (Novaluron 5.25% + Indoxacarb 4.5% SC) or Cigna Insecticide (Lufenuron 5.4% EC) at the rate of 1.5 to 2 ml per liter of water. 

Tobacco Caterpillar

Causal Organism: Spodoptera litura 

Symptoms

• In its early stages, the caterpillars scrape the chlorophyll content of the leaves, leading to the papery white appearance. 
• Initially, irregular holes appear on leaves, which slowly results in skeletonization of leaves, leaving only veins and petioles.  
• As they grow, they become voracious feeders, creating irregular holes in both the leaves and fruits. 

Control Measures

• Use Sumipleo Insecticide (Pyridalyl 10% EC) at the rate of 1 to 1.5 ml per liter of water. (Or) 
• Use Plethora Insecticide (Novaluron 5.25% + Indoxacarb 4.5% SC) at the rate of 1.5 to 2 ml per liter of water. 

Root Knot Nematodes

Causal Organisms: Meloidogyne incognita and Meloidogyne javanica  

Symptoms

• Root-knot nematodes mainly infect plant roots. 
• They cause the development of root-knot galls, stunted root growth and nutrient depletion, ultimately leading to the death of the plant. 

Control Measures

• Use Velum Prime Nematicide (Flupyrm 34.48% SC) at the rate of 250 to 500 ml per acre. (Or)  
• Alternatively, you can also use any one of the below-mentioned enriched farmyard manure (FYM) to control Root Knot Nematodes. 
• Use Paecilomyces lilacainus and Trichoderma harzianum at the rate of 2 to 3 kg per ton of FYM. (Or) 
• Use Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma harzianum or Tricoderma viride at the rate of 3 to 5 kg per ton of FYM. 

Remember to leave this mixture in the shade for 15 days with adequate moisture to aid the multiplication of the beneficial microbes.

Using Traps and Lures for Trap Control

For those who prefer to avoid using chemicals, traps, and lures offer effective alternatives to control pests in tomato plants. Various traps and lures can target fruit flies, pinworms, and sucking pests in tomato plants.

Recommended Traps and Lures for Pest Control

• Use 10 to 12 Vegfly lures and traps per acre. 
• To control Tuta absoluta, use 12 to 15 pinworm lures per acre. 
• Use 8 to 10 Sawtooth traps per acre. 
• Alternatively, place 120 to 150 sticky traps (blue and yellow) per acre. These sticky traps are ideal for controlling sucking pests like thrips, mites, aphids, whiteflies, and jassids.  

Conclusion

By staying vigilant and employing the appropriate control measures, you can protect your tomato plants from these pests during the fruiting stage. Whether it is using insecticides, organic alternatives, or traps and lures, choose the best approach that suits your farming practices.

During the fruiting stage, your tomato plants enter the crucial period of growth and development, promising a rewarding harvest. However, this crucial phase is also susceptible to various diseases that can hinder the health and productivity of your tomato crops. In this article, we will explore some common diseases that can affect your tomato plants during the fruiting stage and provide effective treatments to ensure a healthy and successful tomato crop. 

Common diseases that could affect your tomato crops during fruiting stage include: 

Fusarium Wilt

Causal Organism: Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici  

Symptoms

• Yellowing of older leaves, wilting, browning and defoliation. 
• Dark brown streaks of vascular tissues can be observed when cutting an infected stem at the base.  
• This disease stunts growth, hampers fruit development and often leads to the premature death of the plants. 

Control Measures

• Uproot the infected wilt plants from the tomato field to prevent the further spread of the disease. 
• Avoid water stagnation and limit the use of nitrogenous fertilizers. 
• Use Multiplex Nisagra Bio Fungicide (Trichoderma viride 5% L.F) at the rate of 2 kg per acre.  
• Drench the affected area with Spectrum Fungicide (Azoxystrobin 11% + Tebuconazole 18.3 % SC) at the rate of 300 ml per acre. (Or) 
• Use Infinito Fungicide (Fluopicolide 5.56% + Propamocarb hydrochloride 55.6% SC) at the rate of 2 ml per liter of water. 

Early Blight 

Causal Organism: Alternaria solani 

Symptoms

• It appears as small black lesions on the older leaves, which gradually turn yellow and form leaf spots from the bottom of the leaves.  
• These spots may enlarge and exhibit concentric rings in a bull eye pattern, accompanied by a yellow halo in both foliage and fruits. 

Control Measures

• Use Revus Fungicide (Mandipropamid 23.4% SC) at the rate of 1.6 ml per liter of water. (Or) 
• Apply Antracol Fungicide (Propineb 70% WP) at the rate of 2 gm per liter of water. (Or) 
• Use Curzate Fungicide (Cymoxanil 8% + Mancozeb 64% WP) at the rate of 2 gm per liter of water. 

Late Blight

Causal Organism: Phytopthora infestans 

Symptoms

• It is characterized by small water-soaked regions, which quickly develop into purple-brown and oily blotches. 
• Greyish white mycelial growth can be observed on the undersides of the infected leaves, surrounding the blotches. 
• It spreads rapidly, affecting petioles, young stems and even fruits, resulting in significant losses in production. 

Control Measures

• Use Acrobat Complete Fungicide (Metiram 44% + Dimethomorph 9% WG) at the rate of 2 gm per liter of water. (Or) 
• Use Sectin Fungicide (Fenamidone 10% and Mancozeb 50% WG) at the rate of 2 gm per liter of water. (Or) 
• Use Zampro (Ametoctradin 27% + Dimethomorph 20.27%) at the rate of 2 gm per liter of water.  

Bacterial Leaf Spot

Causal Organism: Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria  

Symptoms

• It is characterized by the appearance of black or dark brown leaf spots with yellow halo on the fruits, which eventually turn from yellow or light green. 
• Larger leaf blotches, particularly on the leaf margins can be seen. 
• This disease can also affect twigs and green fruits. 

Control Measures

• Use Shamrock Overseas Borogold (Colloidal Nano Silver Technology) at the rate of 1.5 to 2 gm per liter of water. (Or) 
• Use Conika Fungicide (Kasugamycin 5% + Copper Oxychloride 45% WP) at the rate of 2 gm per liter of water. (Or) 
• Use Amistar Top Fungicide (Azoxystrobin 18.2% + Difenoconazole 11.4% SC) at the rate of 1.2 to 1.5 ml per liter of water. 

Tomato Spotted Wilt Disease

Causal Organism: Tomato spotted wilt virus 

Vector: Thrips (Thrips tabaci, Frankliniella  schultzii, Scirtothrips dorsali) 

Symptoms 

• Bronzing of the upper surface of the younger leaves, which finally turns into necrotic spots. 
• Downward cupping of the leaves and tip of the shoots show dieback symptoms. 
• Spots with concentric circles or circular markings can be seen on fruits. 
• On ripe fruit, chlorotic spots and blotches appear in alternate bands of red and yellow, often with concentric rings.  

Control Measures

There is no treatment for the plants infected with this virus. To prevent the spread of TSWV, it is crucial to monitor for thrips and tomato spotted wilt symptoms from the seedling stage and promptly remove and destroy infected plants. Additionally, the removal of weeds in the tomato field is recommended as they act as alternate hosts for thrips.  

Bacterial Wilt

Causal Organism: Ralstonia solanacearum 

Symptoms

• Within 2 to 3 days, terminal leaves start wilting, and later the entire plant may permanently wilt.  
• Vascular bundles may also exhibit brown discoloration, and bacterial ooze comes out when the freshly cut stem is placed in water. 

Control Measures

Control of Bacterial Wilt is quite difficult. One way to reduce the infection is to remove the infected plants by burning or burying. To prevent the further spread of the disease, increase calcium availability by liming or adding bleaching powder (Calcium hypochlorite) and avoid excessive irrigation. 

Powdery Mildew

Causal Organism: Leveillula taurica, Oidiopsis neolycopersici 

Symptoms

• Infected plants exhibit patchy white powdery growth on the lower surface of the older leaves, which can subsequently spread to both leaf surfaces, leading to chlorosis and defoliation.  

Control Measures

• Use Luna Experience Fungicide (Fluopyram 17.7% + Tebuconazole 17.7% SC) at the rate of 1 ml per liter of water. (Or) 
• Use Nissodium Fungicide (Cyflufenamid 5% EW) at the rate of 0.6 ml per liter. (Or) 
• Use Nativo Fungicide (Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25% WG) at the rate of 0.5 gm per liter of water. 

Note: Taking proactive measures to control diseases at the fruiting stage is crucial for the successful growth of your tomato plants. Regularly monitor your plants for signs of disease infection and promptly intervene with recommended fungicides. Remember to follow instructions on the product labels and take appropriate safety precautions when using any fungicides. 

Conclusion

To prevent and control these diseases, it is vital to practice proper sanitation, implement crop rotation and consider disease resistant tomato varieties. Chemical treatments can be employed alongside these preventive measures for disease management. With proper care and attention, your tomato plants will flourish and reward you with a plentiful harvest.