POSSIBILITY FOR MONITORING THE COTTON BOLLWORM (HELICOVERPA ARMIGERA HÜBNER) IN TOMATO GROWN IN FIELD THROUGH THE USE OF PHEROMONE TRAPS

Abstract

The cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera Hb.) is a dangerous pest in tomato grown in the field. The control is difficult because of the hidden way of life of the caterpillars after they enter in fruits. Determining the appropriate treatment periods is essential for efficient control of cotton bollworm. Pheromone traps gives the opportunity for monitoring the pest and accurately determine the moment of treatment. During the period 2016-2019 studies to establish the attractiveness of Russian pheromone traps with different pheromone content were conducted at the Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute, Plovdiv in cotton bollworm in tomato grown in the field. Among the studied pheromone trap variants it was established that the best attractiveness to the adult individuals of the cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera Hb.) is described in the pheromone trap with content of 2,91 mg Z11-hexadecenal + 0,09 mg Z9-hexadecenal in the dispenser on the whole surface (29). The following variants are 2,91 mg Z11-hexadecenal + 0,09 mg Z9-hexadecenal center (26) and 1,94 mg Z11-hexadecenal + 0,06 mg Z9-hexadecenal over the whole surface (19).