Vol. 7, Issue 9, Part B (2025)

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important vegetable crops in India, but its productivity is severely constrained by the fruit borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The pest causes extensive damage by boring into fruits, resulting in yield losses of up to 50% and poor marketability. The present study was conducted during 2022-23 and 2023-24 on the “Assessment of Insecticides Performance for Managing Tomato Fruit Borer (H. armigera L.) Under Field Conditions”. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with eleven treatments and three replications. Tested formulations included Cyantraniliprole, Flubendiamide, Novaluron, Quinalphos, Fluxametamide, Indoxacarb, Phosalone, Chlorantraniliprole, Lambda-cyhalothrin, Azadirachtin, and an untreated control. Pre- and post-treatment observations were recorded on larval populations and fruit damage. Results across both years revealed that Chlorantraniliprole (18.5 SC at 150 ml/ha) consistently achieved the greatest reduction in larval populations and fruit damage, with mean infestation levels of only 6-8%. Indoxacarb (14.5 SC at 500 ml/ha) and Flubendiamide (20 WG at 100 ml/ha) also performed effectively, recording fruit damage between 10-18%. Fluxametamide provided moderate control, while conventional insecticides such as Quinalphos, Phosalone, and Lambda-cyhalothrin showed only partial suppression. Azadirachtin was least effective, with damage levels close to untreated control plots. Overall, the findings confirm that newer chemistries, particularly Chlorantraniliprole, offer superior protection against H. armigera and should be integrated into sustainable pest management programs for tomato cultivation.