Integral vegetable production represents a sustainable crop management approach that combines preventive, biological and chemical measures, with pesticide application based strictly on economic thresholds. The greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) is one of the most significant pests of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), particularly in protected cultivation systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of spirotetramat, a systemic ketoenol insecticide, in controlling whitefly populations and to determine its residue levels in tomato fruits. The experiment was conducted in 2024 in Mužlja using a randomized block design with two tomato hybrids (Runner F1 and Pink Rock F1) and three treatments: untreated control, spirotetramat at 0.45 L ha⁻¹, and 0.75 L ha⁻¹ in the greenhouse. The number of live larvae and adults was assessed before treatment and at 2 and 8 days after application. Residue analysis in fruits was performed using ICP-MS and compared with EU maximum residue limits (MRLs). Spirotetramat application significantly reduced larval and adult populations in both hybrids. The higher dose (0.75 L ha⁻¹) achieved high and stable efficacy exceeding 85% as early as two days after treatment, while the lower dose (0.45 L ha⁻¹) provided moderate efficacy ranging from 65–72%. Statistical analysis confirmed a highly significant treatment effect (p ≤ 0.001), whereas the hybrid factor did not significantly influence efficacy. Residue analysis showed that spirotetramat concentrations in all fruit samples were below the EU MRL (2 mg kg-1) and below the limit of quantification (LOQ for 0.45 L ha⁻¹ was <0.15 mg kg-1, and for 0.70 L ha⁻¹ was <0.25 mg kg-1). The results indicate that spirotetramat is a highly effective and safe option for whitefly control in integral tomato production. Its use ensures efficient pest suppression without compromising fruit safety, supporting its inclusion in modern integrated pest management (IPM) programs.
Bajagić et al. (Thu,) studied this question.