Removal of seed leaves in tomato during transplantation to restrict the infestation of serpentine leaf miner, Liriomyza trifolii Burgess

The present study explores the potential of removal of seed leaves (cotyledons) during transplantation in tomato on the incidence of serpentine leaf miner, Liriomyza trifolii Burgess. The plants, where the seed leaves were removed consistently, recorded lower infestation of L. trifolii over a period of three weeks (0+0.00, 9.70+2.00, 24.10+2.86 mines per plant, respectively) compared to the plants transplanted along with the seed leaves (4.30+0.83,20.10+2.32, 38.90+5.93 mines/plant, respectively). This study establishes the bencficial role of removal of seed leaves in the management of L. trifolii in tomato.