MOHINDER SINGHMONIKA2021-08-072021-08-072021-07https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810171529ABSTRACT The present investigation “Studies on seasonal incidence of insect pests of tomato and ecofriendly management of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick)” was conducted during 2019 and 2020. During the surveys, tomato pinworm (Tuta absoluta), whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum), aphids (Myzus persicae and Macrosiphum euphorbiae), serpentine leaf miner (Liriomyzia trifolii), and fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera) were recorded during both years. The aphid species M. persicae was recorded in low hills, whereas, M. euphorbiae was found to infest tomato in mid hills. Higher pest infestations were recorded on tomato in mid hills as compared to low hills of Himachal Pradesh. Coccinellids and spiders were recorded major natural enemies in tomato crop. The peak populations of these insect pests and natural enemies were observed between 2nd fortnight of June and 1st fortnight of July. Positive correlation of whitefly population was found with minimum temperature (r = 0.473), while maximum temperature exhibited positive and significant correlation (r = 0.473, r = 0.605) with aphid population and serpentine leaf miner infestation. The fruit borer population showed positive and significant correlation with maximum temperature (r = 0.483), while it was negative with minimum temperature (r = - 0.500) and relative humidity (r = - 0.721). The number of T. absoluta mines per leaf was positively and significantly correlated with minimum temperature (r = 0.487, r = 0.470 in 2019 & 2020, respectively). Out of 15 tomato genotypes screened against T. absoluta , 4 genotypes namely, BWR - 1, BWR -5, EC - 526146 and TM - 7 were found resistant, whereas 8 genotypes including CLN - 2116, EC - 5863, Solan lalima, B -1. TH - 19, FT - 5, TM - 23 and EC - 521041 were partially resistant and 3 genotypes namely, CLN - 2070, TH - 05 and TM - 15 were susceptible. Three sprays of spinosad or Coragen or one spray of econeem and two sprays of spinosad were found effective against whiteflies and aphids, whereas against tomato fruit borer, tomato pinworm and serpentine leaf miner, Coragen gave the best results, followed by spinosad.EnglishThesis