Controle de Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller, 1873) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) com Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman &Platner, 1983 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) em batata, em condições de campo e no armazém / Control of Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller, 1873) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) by Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman &Platner, 1983 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in potato, under field and storage conditions

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2006

RESUMO

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important food source, being the 4th most consumed food after rice, wheat and maize. Potato is attacked by many insect pests and diseases; therefore, demanding high investments in pesticides in order to get a good production. Among the major insect pests, the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller, 1873) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is one of the most important. It causes severe losses in potato production, both in field and storage. Due to both the appearance of resistant populations to commonly used pesticides and the environmental impact caused by them, the demand for alternative control methods has increased in recent years. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman &Platner, 1983 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in controlling P. operculella in field, besides providing initial information concerning its utilization to control the potato tuber moth in storage. Trials were carried out under field and semifield conditions, by the utilization of cages inside a greenhouse. The results showed that there is great potential in the use of T. atopovirilia for controlling P. operculella in field. The dispersion capacity of T. atopovirilia 24 hours after release was 8.5 m, with a dispersion area of 97.6 m2. Based on these results, a minimum of 100 release points per hectare is necessary for uniform dispersal of T. atopovirilia and, consequently, an effective control of P. operculella. The quantity of 400,000 parasitoids per hectare, released twice a week, after the presence of the pest was observed, proved to be adequate for controlling P. operculella in field. Regarding the trials for controlling the moth in potato boxes, in storage, it was observed that the size of the potato boxes has an effect on P. operculella and T. atopovirilia behavior P. operculella oviposited, preferably, in the layer ranging from 5.0 to 20.0 cm of depth, in the potato boxes used. T. atopovirilia showed little horizontal mobility and ascending movement, parasitizing mainly the eggs of P. operculella found on the top layer in potato boxes. Taking into account the oviposition site of P. operculella and the dispersal of T. atopovirilia in in potato boxes used in storage, the present study points out the potential of using T. atopovirilia for controlling P. operculella in storage, and that further studies on release techniques, in storage, should be carried out in order to obtain optimal control.

ASSUNTO(S)

controle biológico traças tricogramatideo batata biological control months insect - parasitoid agricultural storage armazenamento agrícola potato tricogramatideo inseto – parasitoide

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