Crop protection in tomato production
Plant breeders are increasingly introducing varieties that are resistant to, or offer partial resistance to, a range of diseases, such as Verticillium wilt, Septoria, Fusarium, Alternaria, Stemphylium and tobacco mosaic virus, as well as nematodes.
Growers can minimize the impact of diseases such as blight by using appropriate fungicide programmes. Integrated Crop Management techniques that keep the foliage dry, and dew free, or maintain good airflow in greenhouses, will help minimize outbreaks of diseases such as Botrytis and Blight.
Sterilization of soils, hot water treatment of seeds and appropriate use with bactericides will minimize bacterial canker and bacterial spot.
Insect pests such as whitefly, thrips and red spider mite are more difficult to control as a result of increasingly widespread resistance to pesticides. Within the enclosed environment of the greenhouse, predator insects and bio-pesticides are increasingly useful tools.
In soil grown crops, weed control is essential to reduce competition for moisture and nutrients.
