Best ways to control Shoot and Fruit Borer in Tomato

Explore the impact of fruit and shoot borer on tomato crops, including symptoms, lifecycle, and effective control measures. Learn how to protect your tomato plants from this destructive pest to ensure a healthy and bountiful harvest.

What is shoot and fruit borer pest in tomato crop?
Fruit borer is a serious pest of tomato as it reduces yield by up to 40%. The young are greenish to brown, with dark lines about the size of half of finger. Adult females are yellow moths with dark brown spots on wings.The caterpillars do the damage. The young caterpillars feed only on leaves; later, when they reach the third stage in their development they feed on flower buds and fruits, boring holes in them. Damaged fruits are invaded by fungi and bacteria causing rots, and the fruits fall.

Classification of Shoot and Fruit Borer in Tomato:

Type	Pest
Scientific Name	Helicoverpa armigera
Common Name	Tomato fruit borer, cotton bollworm
Major affected states	Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.

Damage-causing Stage of Fruit and Shoot Borer:

• The attacking stage of a fruit borer in tomato is at the larval (caterpillar) stage, as this is the phase during which the pest causes direct damage to the fruit.
• The fruit borer lays eggs on or near the tomato fruit, and when the eggs hatch, the young caterpillars feed only on leaves; later, when they reach the third stage in their development they feed on flower buds and fruits, boring holes in them.

Advantageous Conditions for Fruit and Shoot Borer pests:

• Tomato fruit borers tends to live in warm temperatures. The optimal temperature range for their development is often between 20 to 30 degrees Celsius (68 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit).
• The presence of crop residues, especially from the previous tomato crop, can provide overwintering sites for pupae.

Symptoms of damage of Fruit and Shoot Borer pests :

• Young larvae feed on tender foliage
• Mature larvae bore circular holes
• Thrust only a part of its body into fruit and eat the inner content

Control measures for Shoot and fruit borer in tomato:

The control measures for Shoot and Fruit borer in Tomato includes cultural, biological and chemical methods of control.

Cultural control measure of Shoot and Fruit Borer in Tomato:

• Collect and destroy infected fruits and mature larvae.
• Grow 40-day-old American tall marigold and 25-day-old tomato seedlings in a 1:16 row ratio.
• Set up pheromone traps using Helilure at a density of 12 traps per hectare.
• Remove and dispose of damaged fruits and mature caterpillars.

Biological Control Measure of Shoot and Fruit Borer in Tomato:

• Apply Katyayani Bt Bio Larvicide Liquid, Bio Pesticide @5-10 ml in 1 Liter of water for foliar spray.

Chemical Control Measures of Shoot and Fruit Borer in Tomato:

Products	Technical name	Type	Stage	Dose	Method
Finish It		Organic	All Stages	apply 100 ml of this product per acre through drip irrigation. 100 ml diluted in 100 litres of water is used per acre of land	Foilar
BT BIO LARVICIDE		Bio	All stages	1.5-2.5 kg/Acre & Spray	Foilar
EMA5	Emamectin benzoate 5 % SG	Chemical	Apply the insecticide when the incidence of Larvae is first observed and repeat applications as necessary.	For Domestic Use take 1 Gram of Ema5 per 1 Litre of Water. For Large Applications 80-100 grams per Acre Foliar Spray.	Foilar
CHLORO20	Chloropyriphos 20 % EC	Chemical	When identified	500 to 1200 ML Per Ac	foliar spray, soil drenching, seedling dip, and seed treatment.
AAKRAMAK PLUS	Novaluron 5.25% + Indoxacarb 4.5% SC	Chemical	When identified	2 ml / Lit	Foilar
FLUBEN	Flubendiamide 39.35 % sc	Chemical	Early stages of Square formation	40-50ml/acre	Foilar

FAQs Related to Shoot & Fruit Borer In Tomato

Q. How do you control Shoot and Fruit Borer in Tomato?

A. Control fruit and shoot borer in tomatoes by rotating crops, removing affected debris, and inspecting plants regularly. Handpick larvae, use pheromone traps, and apply targeted insecticides when necessary.

Q. Which is the best fungicide for Shoot and Fruit Borer in Tomato?

A. The best fungicide for Shoot and Fruit Borer in tomatoes are Katyayani Ema 5 and Katyayani Chloro 20.

Q. What are the symptoms of Shoot and Fruit Borer in Tomato?

A. Symptoms of fruit and shoot borer in tomatoes include wilting of shoots, entry holes in stems, and scarring on fruits. Infected fruits may become soft and sunken, often containing visible larvae.