Abstract Tomato plants host various herbivores, including the Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), recently introduced into South and Central America. It is a harmful pest for tomato crops, damaging mainly the flowers and fruits. The assessment of losses and the establishment of economic injury level (EIL) and economic threshold (ET) are core steps toward establishing a control program. We determined losses caused by H. armigera on processing tomato and estimated EIL/ET values. Trials were run during two growing seasons using tomato plants caged in the field. The field cage experiment consisted of six densities of H. armigera second instar larvae (0, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 larvae per row meter) at two infestations periods spaced 15 d apart with the first infestation done 90 d after transplanting. The larvae were placed individually on the third upper fully developed leaf. The number of healthy and damaged fruits, size, and weight of the fruits were measured. Yield losses as a function of infestation of 1–24 larvae per row meter ranged from 4 to 34% and resulted in a yield reduction of 1.22–12.77 kg per row meter. The EIL ranged from 1.41 to 1.72 and from 2.11 to 2.58 larvae per row meter of plants in 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons, respectively. Helicoverpa armigera causes significant reduction of tomato yield. These EIL values will enable better control decision-making in processing tomato.

中文翻译：

---

巴西加工番茄中旧世界棉铃虫（鳞翅目：夜蛾科）的经济伤害水平测定

摘要 番茄植物寄宿着各种食草动物，包括最近引入南美洲和中美洲的棉铃虫（Hübner）（鳞翅目：夜蛾科）。它是番茄作物的害虫，主要危害花卉和果实。损失的评估以及经济伤害水平 (EIL) 和经济阈值 (ET) 的建立是建立控制计划的核心步骤。我们确定了棉铃虫对加工番茄造成的损失，并估算了 EIL/ET 值。在两个生长季节使用笼在田间的番茄植株进行试验。田间笼养试验由6种密度的棉铃虫二龄幼虫（每行米0、1、3、6、12和24只幼虫）组成，分两次侵染期，间隔15天，第一次侵染在移栽后90天进行. 幼虫被单独放置在第三个完全发育的上部叶片上。测量健康和受损果实的数量、果实的大小和重量。作为每行米 1-24 只幼虫侵染的函数，产量损失为 4% 到 34%，导致每行米产量减少 1.22-12.77 公斤。在 2017 年和 2018 年种植季节，每行米植物的 EIL 范围分别为 1.41 至 1.72 和 2.11 至 2.58 个幼虫。棉铃虫导致番茄产量显着降低。这些 EIL 值将有助于更好地控制番茄加工决策。作为每行米 1-24 只幼虫侵染的函数，产量损失为 4% 到 34%，导致每行米产量减少 1.22-12.77 公斤。在 2017 年和 2018 年种植季节，每行米植物的 EIL 范围分别为 1.41 至 1.72 和 2.11 至 2.58 个幼虫。棉铃虫导致番茄产量显着降低。这些 EIL 值将有助于更好地控制番茄加工决策。作为每行米 1-24 只幼虫侵染的函数，产量损失为 4% 到 34%，导致每行米产量减少 1.22-12.77 公斤。在 2017 年和 2018 年种植季节，每行米植物的 EIL 范围分别为 1.41 至 1.72 和 2.11 至 2.58 个幼虫。棉铃虫导致番茄产量显着降低。这些 EIL 值将有助于更好地控制番茄加工决策。