Mating Disruption with Biodegradable Dispensers Complemented with Insecticide Sprays Allows an Effective Management of Tuta absoluta in Greenhouse Tomatoes

IPM approaches based on pheromone-based techniques for the management of the South American tomato pinworm, <i>Tuta absoluta</i> (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), are of great interest. We evaluated the effectiveness of mating disruption (MD) experiments against <i>T. absoluta</i> using a biodegradable pheromone dispenser (Isonet-T TT BIOX234) in greenhouse-grown tomatoes over two years in southern Italy. A base treatment alternating the most used insecticides for the pest, i.e., the farmer treatment schedule (FTS), was assigned as a reference, and two MD dispenser densities (i.e., 300 and 500 dispensers/ha) were compared with the MD commercial product Isonet T at 1000 units/ha. We conducted two trials on crops at a density of 37,000 plants/ha. Pest flights were monitored in summer-autumn 2023 and 2024 with pheromone-baited Delta traps. The FTS ensured a generally low level of <i>T. absoluta</i> attacks (about 1 leaflet/leaf and 1/300 fruits). Even so, mating disruption resulted in further appreciable reductions in the presence and attacks of the target pest: 89%, 76% and 52% fewer catches; 61%, 45% and 37% fewer mined leaflets; and 76%, 59% and 54% fewer attacked fruits, for Isonet-T TT 500, Isonet-T TT 300 and Isonet T 1000, respectively. Overall, MD biodegradable dispensers could be a valuable tool for controlling <i>T. absoluta</i> in greenhouse-grown tomatoes, while also reducing plastic waste in the agricultural setting.