Evaluation the Efficacy of Botanical Insecticides in Controlling Tomato Boll Worm (Helicoverpa zea) and Leaf Minor (Tuta absoluta) in WesternTigray, Ethiopia

Aim of the study was to evaluate botanical insecticides to control tomato boll worm and leaf minor in western Tigray, Ethiopia. Field experiment was conducted during 2018/2020 in main crop growing season at Humera. A total of five treatments (Green miracle, Neembicidene, Melatonin, Gm+ Neembicidene and control no sprayed) were used in the field experiment. The experiment was laid out randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The mean yield had a significant difference at (p<0.001) among the botanical insecticides. The highest mean yield was obtained from Neembicidene (348.8) followed by green miracle (195.8) Malathion (183), Malathion+GM (162.8), and control (84.2) qtha-1 respectively. The highest severity recorded from control was 85.41% for leaf severity and 71.3% for fruit severity. However, lowest recorded severity 18.73% for leaves and 4.55% for fruits were calculated from Neembicidene. The highest percent population reduction after chemical spray was recorded from Neembicidene (85.07%). Therefore, Neembicidene botanical insecticide recommended and promoted to verification trial to control tomato bollworm and leaf minor.