Overview

In efforts to reduce labor costs attributed to the weekly removal of damages shoots and fruits of eggplant to minimize damage by and populations of Leucinodes orbonalis, the varying frequencies of shoot and fruit removal were tested together with the triweekly insecticide (Brodan) application. In two farmers’ fields and at the PhilRice Central Experimental Station, weekly removal of damaged shoot and fruit continued to be the best option for farmers’ adoption. Yields of total and healthy fruits were highest, and the amount of damaged fruit and fruit borer larval densities were lowest in this treatment, followed by triweekly insecticide application. In terms of actual production of marketable fruits, the biweekly removal of damaged shoots and fruits is a fairly good (third) option for farmers to adopt.