Métodos de controle de ervas daninhas na cultura do abacaxizeiro

A study carried out at the National Research Center for Cassava and Fruits - CNPMF/EMBRAPA - at Cruz das Almas, Bahia, Brazil, in a randomized design with eight replications, to study weed control in pineapple (‘Pérola') crop in order to reduce the production costs, since labor force is a serious problem in many of Brazilian pineapple areas. Production data did not show significant difference among treatments, but an economic analysis indicated that the chemical weed control was better than the mechanic and physical methods, the same as the traditional hoe weeding and the plastic mulch in the double rows associated either with hoe weeding or weedicide between the rows.Experimento foi conduzido no Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Mandioca e Fruticultura (CNPMF) da Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA), Cruz das Almas, BA, em delineamento de blocos ao acaso com oito repetições, em que foram estudados diversos métodos de controle de ervas na cultura do abacaxi, como objetivo de reduzir os custos de mão-de-obra e de produção. A produção quantitativa e qualitativa não variou significativamente entre os tratamentos. Entretanto uma análise econômica comparativa evidenciou o controle químico das plantas invasoras como o trato cultural mais recomendado em relação ao método tradicional de combate às ervas (capina manual) e aos métodos modernos com uso de cobertura plástica do solo na linha de plantio associado à capina manual ou ao emprego de herbicida nas entrelinhas

Fusariose do abacaxizeiro: incidência no fruto em função da época de produção

Observations on the development of "fusariose" in commercial plantations of pineapple were carried out for two years. The heaviest losses, due to Fusarium moniliforme var. subglutinans, occurred in the months of August and September, while the mildest ones, from May to July.Foram feitas avaliações periódicas, por dois anos consecutivos, para quantificar a incidência de Fusarium moniliforme var. subglutinans em frutos de abacaxi, durante os meses de produção. Foi constatado que as maiores perdas, atribuídas ao patógeno, ocorreram nos meses de agosto e setembro, enquanto nas colheitas de maio a julho, a incidência do patógeno foi a mais reduzida do ano agrícola

The mites of pineapple (Ananas comosus (l.) Merril) in the State of Bahia, Brazil, and its insect fauna in the country

O Brasil e um dos grandes produtores mundiais de abacaxi (Ananas comosus (l.) Merril). Com a finalidade de se estudar a acarofauna do abacaxizeiro na Bahia e também sua entomofauna foi proposto este trabalho. Utilizou-se, como material para coleta de ácaros, mudas e inflorescências de abacaxizeiros da região de Coração de Maria - BA. Após a captura e montagem adequada dos ácaros, as preparações foram estudadas ao microscópio sob contraste de fase. Para o estudo da entomofauna foi realizada uma revisão da literatura nacional, apoiando-se inicialmente no IV Catálogo dos Insetos que Vivem nas Plantas do Brasil. Foram consultadas neste levantamento bibliográfico, as bibliotecas da Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, do Instituto Agronômico de Campinas, do Instituto Biológico de São Paulo e do serviço de comutação bibliográfica da Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária. Foram constatadas seis espécies de ácaros:Dolichotetranychus floridanus (Banks), Rhinoseius braziliensis(Baker e Yunker), Asca pineta De Leon, Hemicheyletia bakeri (Ehara), Chelachelessp. e Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank), e uma nova espécie foi descrita, denominada Steneotarsonemus crenulatus. Estas espécies parecem ser de importância secundária na cultura. Foram constatados no período de 1930 a 1980, no Brasil, 29 espécies de insetos associados ao abacaxizeiro; no entanto, apenas duas são consideradas pragas: Thecla basilides Geyer (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) e Dysmicoccus brevipes Cockerell (Homoptera: Peudococcidae), de ocorrência geral no pais. As demais parecem ser de ocorrência esporádica e de distribuição localizada.Brazil is one of the great world pineapples (Ananas comosus (l.) Merril). With the aim to study the pineapple mites in Bahia and its insect fauna was proposed this paper. Cuttings and inflorescences of pineapples from Coração de Maria area, State of Bahia, Brazil, were analized. After capture and appropriate mounting of the mites, the preparations were studied under a phase contrast microscope. A revision of the national literature was carried out in order to study the insect fauna. The basic source was the Quarto Catálogo dos Insetos que Vivem nas Plantas do Brasil. The Libraries of Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, of Instituto Agronômico de Campinas, of Instituto Biológico de São Paulo and the Service of bibliographic commutation of the Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária were consulted. Six species of mites were verified: Dolichotetranychus floridanus (Banks), Rhinoseius braziliensis (Baker & Yunker), Asca pineta De Leon, Hemicheyletia bakeri (Ehara), Chelacheles sp. and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank), and a new specie was described, namely Steneotarsonemus crenulatus. These species seem to be of secondary importance to that crop. Between 1930 and 1980, in Brazil, 29 insect species were found associated to the pineapple plant; however, only two are considered pests: Thecla Basilides Geyer (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) and Dysmicoccus brevipes Cockerell (Homoptera: Pseucoccidae) of general occurrence in the country. The other seem to be of sporadic and localized occurrence

Pérola and Smooth Cayenne pineapple cultivars in the state of Bahia, Brazil: growth, flowering, pests, diseases, yield and fruit quality aspects

Introduction. Pérola, the most important cultivar in Brazil and almost unknown in other countries, and Smooth Cayenne, the most grown cultivar in the world, belong to different pineapple groups with distinct botanical, morphological and agronomic characteristics. The principal characteristics and behavior of the cv. Pérola pineapple were analyzed, in comparison with the cv. Smooth Cayenne ones. Materials and methods. A comparison between Pérola and Smooth Cayenne was done, based upon results and observations made in studies carried out by Embrapa in Brazil, during the past 20 years. Results and discussion. The cv. Pérola plant usually has a smaller stem than the cv. Smooth Cayenne with a lower number of roots and leaves, but the `D' leaves are longer, wider and more erect. The peduncle is longer, holding a narrower, longer, cone-shaped fruit, with a whitish, less fibrous flesh and edible central core, lower acidity and higher [(total soluble solids) / (titrable acidity)] ratio and juice content. The cv. Pérola is more sensitive than the cv. Smooth Cayenne to natural and artificial flowering induction, but it is less susceptible to the wilt disease transmitted by mealy bugs and to the stem borer (Castnia icarus). Cv. Pérola produces many slips, but suckers appear later, are less uniform and less well-fixed to the mother plants, making it more difficult to get a good first ratoon crop. Conclusions. The yield potential of the cv. Pérola is lower than that of the cv. Smooth Cayenne, due to a lighter fruit and usually lower planting density used. Its production costs are also lower, especially due to cheaper planting materials and a lower number of pesticide applications. The overall performance of the cv. Pérola plants and fruits explains the wide use of this variety in Brazil and its potential use in other countries