Abstract
This study evaluated the effectiveness of Huwa-San TR50 against all stages of Aculops lycopersici. This includes its side effects on the associated predatory mite, Neosiulus cucumeris. Huwa-San TR50 is a formulation of hydrogen peroxide, stabilized by the addition of a small quantity of silver and is extensively used as a disinfectant. It was found to be very effective in killing A. lycopersici with no significant effect on N. cucumeris. Under greenhouse conditions, the mortality percentages were 81.17, 84.11, 92.74 and 95.10% for A. lycopersici and 15.86, 23.45, 33.33 and 58.19% for N. cucumeris after one week of exposure to 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000ppm of Huwa-San TR50, respectively. Under laboratory conditions, the mortality percentages were 83.24, 85.13, 94.21 and 97.36% for A. lycopersici and 17.14, 27.55, 37.14 and 59.37% for N. cucumeris at 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 ppm of Huwa-San TR50, respectively. In addition, Huwa-San TR50 caused a concentration dependent reduction in the percentage of egg hatching. The percentages of larvae hatching from eggs of A. lycopersici were 73.42, 56.92, 25.41 and 17.97 under greenhouse conditions and 68, 53.14, 23.51 and 15.18 under laboratory conditions at 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000ppm of Huwa-San TR50 after one week of treatment compared with the control (well water), respectively. The application of Huwa-San TR50 showed a promising safety profile when compared to other acaricides, as it spared predatory mites at concentrations which had a high lethality to tomato russet mites. Hence, Huwa-San TR50 can be utilized in the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program as an acaricide agent.