EVALUATION OF NEEM (AZADRACHTA INDICA SEED A. JUSS) OIL FOR CONTROL OF TOMATO FRUITWORM, HELICOVERPA (HELIOTHIS) ARMIGERA (HUBNER) IN MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA

Field trial was conducted from October 1998 to March 1999 in Maiduguri, Nigeria to evaluate the effectiveness o f neem seed oil (NSO) applied in water emulsified with soap in controlling tomato fruitworm, Helicoverpa (Heliothis) armigera in irrigated tomato. NSO significantly reduced the populations o f H. armigera larvae and the number and weight of damaged tomato fruits. NSO applied at the rate o f 20 ml/4 m2 provided better protection of fruits with less phytotoxicity than application at the rate o f 30 ml/4 nt. Yield of market able fruits increased with occasional exceptions, but damage and loss o f fruits decreased as the hot season (characterised by higher temperatures and longer day-lengths) approached.