ISHS Acta Horticulturae 190: Symposium on Tomato Production on Arid Land
PESTS AND DISEASES IN TOMATO CULTIVARS IN ZAMBIA, THEIR SEASONAL OCCURENCE AND POSSIBLE CONTROL |
| Authors: | D.S. Mingochi, A. Jensen |
| Abstract:
Tomato is one of the most important vegetable crops in Zambia grown both commercially and on a small scale. Highest yields are obtained in the dry season under irrigation and lowest during the rainy season from end of October to end of March. The most important diseases in the rainy season are: Early blight (Alternaria solani) and late blight (Phytophthora infestans) in areas and years with high rainfall; Fusarium wilt (F. Oxysporum), bacterial canker (Corynebacterium michiganense) and bacterial leafspot (Xanthomonas vesicatoria). In the dry season mostly bacterial leafspot is prevalent under sprinkler irrigation. The most important pests are: Root-knot nematode (Meloidogynespp), American bollworm (Heliothis armigera), and red spidermite (Tetranychus sp). Damage is especially devastating in the warm seasons. Spidermites have recently become an increasing problem also in the cold dry season, and chemical control is difficult. The introduction of predator mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis) has not so far been a success. Experiments on chemical control of American bollworm have shown good effect on the pyrethroids. Experiments on control of pests and diseases during winter have only incosistently given increases in yields. The importance of selection of cultivars resistant to diseases are discussed in a review of the cultivar trials in the three seasons for the past 4 years. | |
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