Mr Mulama is a trained Agricultural specialist. His current areas of specialization are Crop protection, Seed systems and Food systems. He holds a Bachelors degree in Agriculture from UON and a Master of science in crop protection from UON.
Abstract
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a vegetable crop used widely in Kenyan.Tomato fruits have a wide range of nutritional and health benefits like reducing the probability of getting some diseases like cancer. Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is a tomato miner that attacks this vegetable crop. The pest affects tomato production that is done in greenhouses and field environments. Tuta absoluta larvae can inflict up to 100% tomato yield loss.The broad objective of the study was to contribute to the sustainable management ofTuta absoluta through use of environmentally friendly biopesticides for improved tomato productivity. Five tomato varieties, Eden, Rio Grande, M82, Money-maker and Cal-J,were evaluated for the effect on Metarhizium anisopliae characteristics.The adjuvantsevaluated for the effect on the radial growth of M. anisopliae were Nonylphenol ethoxylate 15%, Tween 80, and liquid soap. The laboratory assay was conducted using Tuta absoluta larvae extracted from tomato fruits. The larvae were treated with Metarhizium anisopliae conidia of densities, 1.2 x 102cfu/ml, 1.2 x 103cfu/ml, 1.2 x 104cfu/ml and 1.2 x 106cfu/ml. potential of Metarhizium anisopliae to manage Tuta absoluta under greenhouse and filed conditions were also evaluated.
The evaluated tomato varieties showed retention of viable conidia of Metarhizium anisopliae on their leaves where Rio grande variety significantly (p<0.05) retained the most colonies.Adjuvants, Nonylphenol ethoxylate 15% and Tween 80, significantly (p<0.05) increased the radial growth of Metarhizium anisopliae ICIPE 69 and ICIPE 78 isolates, compared to control. Metarhizium anisopliae significantly managed Tuta absoluta population under laboratory greenhouse and field conditions.
Research Supervisors
Dr. Dora Kilalo
