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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #193445
Title: PLANT ESSENTIAL OILS AND PARTICLE FILMS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF TOMATO SPOTTED WILT ON TOMATOES

Author
item Reitz, Stuart
item MAIORINO, GIUSEPPINA - UNIV STUDI DELLA BASILIC
item MOMOL, M - UNIV OF FL, QUINCY
item OLSON, STEVE - UNIV OF FL, QUINCY
item SPRENKEL, RICHARD - UNIV OF FL, QUINCY
item CRESCENZI, ANIELLO - UNIV STUDI DELLA BASILICA

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/5/2006
Publication Date: 6/20/2006
Citation: Reitz, S.R., Maiorino, G., Momol, M.T., Olson, S., Sprenkel, R., Crescenzi, A. 2006. Plant essential oils and particle films for the management of tomato spotted wilt on tomatoes. Phytopathology 96:S97.

Interpretive Summary: Tomato spotted wilt virus, which is transmitted by thrips, is a limiting factor for tomato production worldwide. Scientists from the Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, the University of Florida, and the Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy are investigating the use of plant essential oils and kaolin-based particle films as more sustainable and biologically benign control methods for thrips and tomato spotted wilt than current insecticide based methods. Field tests compared the plant essential oils, geraniol, lemon grass oil, and tea tree oil to standard insecticide controls. These field tests showed when the plant essential oils are combined with kaolin particle films, they provide control of adult thrips and tomato spotted wilt comparable to standard insecticide programs. Yields, measured as cartons per acre, were also comparable between the combined essential oil and kaolin treatments and the standard insecticide treatment. These findings indicate the potential for successfully reducing insecticide use on tomatoes through the use of naturally occurring products, such as plant essential oils and kaolin.

Technical Abstract: We examined the effects of three different plant essential oils and kaolin based particle films on the incidence of tomato spotted wilt and flower thrips in field grown tomatoes. The three plant essential oils tested were geraniol, lemon grass oil, and tea tree oil, and were applied at 250 ppm twice per week. The plant essential oil treatments were compared with a grower standard insecticide treatment and an untreated control. All treatments were applied with and without Surround, a kaolin-based particle film, in a 5 x 2 factorial design. When combined with Surround, the three plant essential oils controlled adult thrips and the incidence of tomato spotted wilt as well as the grower standard treatment. Surround significantly increased yield (kg/ha). When applied with Surround, the plant essential oils produced yields similar to the grower standard treatment.