Pest management trends in Spanish greenhouse tomatoes and prospects for biological control of whiteflies.

Abstract

Spain is a major tomato producer that harvested 3.7 million tons (296 million 25 Ib boxes) from 147,000 acres in 1998. Almost 40% of this production consisted of fresh roarket tomatoes grown in greenhouses on the southern Mediterranean coast in the communities of Andalucia and Murcia. Approximately 58% of these tomatoes were exported, primarily to northern Europe. Transplanting in greenhouses begins in Jate summer with a possible additional planting in late winter. Harvesting begins in October, peaks in March but continues through early summer. The best prices usually occur in winter when there is little competition from greenhouses in Northern Europe or elsewhere.