INVESTIGATIONS ON THE EFFECTS OF COMMONLY USED PESTICIDES ON TOMATO PLANT GROWTH

Abstract

Acetamiprid (ABA), imidacloprid (IM), abamectin (ABA), thiomethoxam (THM) and abamectin+chlorantraniliprole (ABAC) were applied on Hazera 5656 F1 (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) tomato variety under greenhouse conditions in Koycegiz region of Mugla. MDA, proline and H2O2 contents as well as SOD, POD and CAT activities raised with increasing pesticide doses. On the other hand, increasing the dose of pesticides, decreased DM %, total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents. The plants sprayed with ABAC-3 showed 56 % proline content as compared to the control plants. ABA-3 treated samples showed highest increase in super-oxide dismutase (SOD) activities while least decrease was shown by THM-1 treated samples. The highest doses of pesticides increased catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activities in most cases. The study concluded that use of high amounts of pesticides adversely affects the physiological and biochemical properties of tomato plants.