Control of Tomato Fruitworm (Helicoverpaarmigera H.)

The effects of cypermethrin, dimethoate and neem extracts were investigated during the dry and wet periods of 2012 cropping seasons in Samaru, Zaria. The design used was Randomized Complete Research Design. Five treatments were used; Cypermethrin, dimethoate, neem seed extract, neem leaf extract and a control where no insecticidal spray was carried out. The treatments wee replicated four times. Parameters recorded were, number of holed tomato fruits, number of damaged tomato fruits, weight of tomato fruits and size of tomato fruits. The result of the experiment indicated that plots sprayed with dimethoate had the least number of holed and damaged fruit, followed by cypermethrin and neem seed extract in both the dry and wet seasons. There was no significance difference (P<0.05) between cypermthrin and neem seed extract. Therefore, further studies should be carried out to determine the efficacy of different concentrations of neem seed extract on the insect pest. Probably higher concentrations can effectively protect tomato fruit against the worm, and this can be part of the management strategy for the insect pest since neem products are environmentally friendly