The development of fruits in paper bags aims at the control of pests, reduction of pesticide residues and the management of qualitative aspects. This work evaluates the efficacy of paper bags in combination with deodorant tablets and garlic clove on the control of the pest agents Neoleucinodes elegantalis, Helicoverpa zea and Tuta absoluta on bunches of tomatoes. Five treatments were set up: paper bags carrying deodorant tablets, paper bags with garlic cloves, paper bags containing no repellent, control without repellent and control with the insecticide methamidophos. The results were assessed by the number of caterpillars found on the fruits. Fruits protected in wax-paper bags and fruits exposed directly to methamidophos during application were compared in regard to the maximum tolerable residue. The use of paper bags reduced the number of caterpillars of N. elegantalis and H. zea per fruit. Pesticide residues on fruits without bags were six times higher than the maximum tolerable. Fruits within paper bags presented residue levels three times lower than the maximum. The use of paper bags for protection of tomato fruits did not alter fruit characteristics. Considering the costs, the use of paper bags for tomato cropping requires higher initial investment, but it supplies a differential market with higher prices.
Lycopersicon esculentum; Neoleucinodes elegantalis; Helicoverpa zea; Tuta absoluta; production cost
