ABSTRACT
Field vegetables occupy a preeminent place among crops, which are now being available throughout the year. Market demand is always high and of extremely relevant economic value. From Eurostat data of 1984, in the member countries of the European Communities, the production of only fresh vegetables reached about 30 million tons, without considering potatoes which alone reached the same production figure. Soon, with the foreseen enlargement to twelve countries with the adhesion of Spain and Portugal, 40 million tons will be produced, of which one-fourth is due only to tomatoes. The awareness of a rationalisation of the phytosanitary measures has lead to the application of integrated control, which reduces to a minimum the disturbing effects of treatments on the environment. It proves to be more efficacious because it is better aimed, taking into consideration a series of ecological and ethological parameters in the ecosystem considered, and to avoid the use of persistent products with toxic, nondegradable constituents or polluting effects.
