EFFECT OF TWO PLANT EXTRACTS AND FOUR AROMATIC OILS ON Tuta absoluta POPULATION AND PRODUCTIVITY OF TOMATO CULTIVAR GOLD STONE

Plants extracts and essential oils were used in pest management in different crops against various pests. Under field conditions, we examined the effect of two plant extracts and four essential aromatic oils on the response of tomato hybrid cultivar Gold Stone to Tuta absoluta infestation. Also, their effects on some growth characteristics of tomato plants as well as their total phenolic compounds and total flavonoids contents were explored in the two successive summer seasons of 2011 and 2012. The treatments were Lemon grass extract (Cymbopogon citratus) at 25 gm /L., Garlic extract (Allium sativum) at 5ml / L., Eucalyptus oil (Eucalyptus spp.) at 0.5%, Rue oil (Ruta graveolens) at 0.5%, Anise oil (Ocimum basilicum) at 0.5%, Basil oil (Pimpinella anisum) at 0.5%. Ethyl acetate (Solvent) and tap water (Control). The plants were sprayed three times at two week intervals starting after 40 days from transplanting. All treatments reduced population density of Tuta absoluta significantly. The highest reduction was recorded by garlic extract followed by lemon grass extract and basil oil. Lemon grass extract significantly increased L-ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) contents in tomato fruits followed by basil oil. Also, garlic extract increased the yield of tomato significantly followed by eucalyptus oil in the first season while in the second season, anise oil followed by garlic extract were insignificantly increased the fruit yield than the other tested treatments. On the other hand, garlic extract recorded the highest values of total phenolic compounds (TPCs) and total flavonoids (TFs) in unifested and infested – treated tomato leaves.