Development and Demonstration of an IPM Protocol for Fresh-Market Tomatoes

Abstract

1. Develop a set of IPM Elements for fresh-market tomatoes and a set of criteria for shifting form TOMCAST to late blight forecasting. 2. Set up side-by-side demonstrations at five locations comparing grower practices with the Cornell IPM protocols and evaluate late blight forecasting for tomatoes. 3. Identify needed improvements in the IPM procedures or late blight forecast to incorporate in future versions. 4. Evaluate tomato quality at harvest, number of insecticide and fungicide sprays, environmental impact, and cost of adopting IPM practices compared with the grower’s current practice.