Tomato
12 pests with registered control · 11 registered products
Fresh market and processing tomatoes are major horticultural crops grown across Australia in both open-field paddocks and protected cropping environments. Field production typically utilizes raised beds with drip irrigation and plastic mulch, using determinant or semi-indeterminant cultivars supported by stake-and-string trellising. High-tech protected cropping relies on indeterminate vine cultivars grown on substrates, allowing precise climate control and extended harvesting windows.
Processing tomatoes are grown broadacre in temperate irrigation districts for mechanical harvesting, requiring cultivars with uniform maturity and firm fruit traits. In contrast, fresh market production is distributed across diverse climatic zones to maintain continuous year-round domestic supply, ranging from outdoor winter cropping in frost-free northern regions to summer crops in southern districts.
Successful crop establishment depends on transplanting clean, healthy cell-grown seedlings into well-prepared soil or substrate. Agronomic management focuses on balanced crop nutrition, precise water management, canopy management, and strict hygiene to minimise disease build-up and virus transmission.
Growing regions
Queensland is the largest producer of fresh market field tomatoes, centered around Bowen, Bundaberg, the Lockyer Valley, and the Granite Belt (Stanthorpe). In Victoria, the Goulburn Valley is the traditional base for broadacre processing tomatoes, alongside fresh market production in outer Melbourne and northern districts. New South Wales produces fresh market tomatoes in northern coastal regions, the Sydney Basin, and the Riverina. South Australia features significant protected cropping density on the Adelaide Plains (Virginia), while Western Australia produces across Carnarvon, the Swan Valley, and Wanneroo.
Season
Tomato production operates year-round in Australia due to regional climate differences. Northern districts like Bowen and Bundaberg plant in autumn and winter for harvest from late autumn through spring (May to November). Temperate southern regions, including the Goulburn Valley and Riverina, plant in spring for summer and autumn harvest (December to April). Protected glasshouse facilities in southern states produce almost continuously, peaking from late spring through autumn. Local harvest dates vary by season and district.
Pests and diseases with registered control
| Pest or disease | Registered products | |
|---|---|---|
| Mites | 172 | View |
| Thrips | 132 | View |
| Botrytis (grey mould) | 111 | View |
| Powdery mildew | 55 | View |
| Anthracnose | 43 | View |
| Fruit fly | 20 | View |
| Phytophthora | 7 | View |
| Mealybug | 5 | View |
| Black spot (scab) | 1 | View |
| Downy mildew | 1 | View |
| Light brown apple moth | 1 | View |
| Scale | 1 | View |
Pest pressure in Australia
Chemical registration data highlights mites (172 registered products) and thrips (132 products) as the leading pest considerations for Australian tomato growers. Mites build rapidly in hot, dry conditions, while thrips represent a critical threat both through direct feeding damage and by vectoring viral diseases.
Fungal pressures are dominated by Botrytis (grey mould) with 111 registered products, particularly in humid field canopies or greenhouse environments. Powdery mildew (55 products) and Anthracnose (43 products) require active management during warm development periods to protect foliage and fruit quality.
Secondary pressures reflected in regulatory listings include Fruit fly (20 products) during fruit ripening, Phytophthora (7 products) under wet soil conditions, and Mealybug (5 products). Sporadic or niche registrations cover Black spot (scab), Downy mildew, Light brown apple moth, and Scale (1 registered product each).
Agronomy and orchard practice
Rigorous farm sanitation is fundamental to managing pest and disease pressure in tomatoes. Clean farm protocols, footbaths at greenhouse entrances, and machinery washdown procedures help prevent the entry of soil-borne pathogens and insect vectors. Prompt crop destruction and block clean-out immediately following final harvest eliminate carry-over inoculum for subsequent plantings.
Canopy and water management play a direct role in disease suppression. Trellising, selective leaf plucking, and side-shooting open the canopy to improve air circulation and spray penetration, reducing humidity favouring Botrytis. Utilizing drip irrigation rather than overhead sprinklers keeps foliage dry and mitigates root and stem rots like Phytophthora. Weekly crop scouting and yellow sticky trap monitoring allow growers to detect thrips and mite populations before they reach economic damage thresholds.
Common questions
- How do I determine the correct withholding period (WHP) for fresh market versus processing tomatoes?
- Always check the specific APVMA-approved label on the chemical container prior to application. Withholding periods can vary significantly depending on the active ingredient, crop destination, and whether the fruit is destined for immediate fresh sale or commercial processing. Record every application in your spray diary to demonstrate compliance.
- Why are there so many registered products listed for mites and thrips in tomatoes?
- Mites and thrips present high, continuous pressure in both open-field and greenhouse production across Australia. The high number of registered options reflects the industry's need for multiple chemical groups to manage multi-generational pest pressure and support resistance management strategies throughout the growing season.
- How should fungicide rotation be managed for Botrytis (grey mould)?
- To prevent resistance development, alternate between fungicides from different activity groups (as designated by the code on the product label). Avoid applying consecutive sprays from the same chemical group, and combine chemical control with physical canopy management to reduce internal humidity.
- What role does water volume play in effective spray coverage for tomato canopy diseases?
- Fungal pathogens such as Botrytis and Powdery mildew often establish inside dense foliage. Achieving thorough coverage of inner stems and lower leaves requires appropriate nozzle selection and calibrated application equipment. Refer to product labels for specific guidance on water volumes and boom setups.
- How can agronomic practices reduce Phytophthora risk in field tomatoes?
- Phytophthora is best managed through preventive cultural controls: plant on well-drained, raised beds, avoid over-irrigation, ensure clean irrigation water sources, and implement multi-year crop rotations with non-solanaceous crop species.