EVALUATION OF AQUEOUS NEEM (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) SEED EXTRACT AND PIRIMIPHOS-METHYL FOR CONTROL OF TOMATO FRUITWORM, Heliocoverpa (Heliothis) armigera (Hubner) IN MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA

ield trial was conducted from October 1997 to April 1998 in Maiduguri, Nigeria, to evaluate the relative effectiveness of aqueous neem seed extract (ANSE) and pirimiphos-methyl (PMM) (Actellic 25 EC) In controlling tomato fruitworm, Helicdverpa (Heliothis) armigera (Hubner) in irrigated tomato. ANSE and PMM significantly reduced the populations of H. armigera larvae and the number and weight of damaged tomato fruits. Application of ANSE at the rate of 2.65 g/m2 or PMM at 1.75 mg ai.i./m2 provided better protection of fruits than application of 1.65 g/m2 of ANSE. Yield of marketable fruits increased with -occasional exceptions, but damage and loss of fruits decreased as the hot season (characterised by higher temperatures and longer daylight periods) approached.