Resistance mechanisms of sugarcane cultivars to spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata

The spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stål) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) is one of the most important pests of sugarcane in Brazil. Measures for population control are currently restricted to the use of chemical insecticides and fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, in part because very little information exists regarding resistance of sugarcane cultivars. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate resistance mechanisms of 12 different sugarcane cultivars to M. fimbriolata to provide information for growers for pest management. Isolated buds of each cultivar were planted in pots and kept in a greenhouse for approximately three months. The pots were then moved to climate test chambers (26 ± 1 ºC; 70 ± 10 % relative humidity; 12 h photoperiod) to carry out laboratory tests to evaluate adult feeding and female oviposition preferences (using both free-choice and no-choice tests) as well as the effects of cultivars on nymph development and cultivars tolerance to pest attack. The least attractive cultivars for adult feeding were IACSP96-2042 and IAC91-1099. Cultivars IACSP96-2042, IACSP96-3060 and IACSP94-2101 received the fewest eggs in the free-choice and no-choice oviposition tests and exhibited some level of antixenosis resistance. Cultivar IAC91-1099 showed the highest level of antibiosis resistance with a nymph survival rate in the roots of only 20 %. Finally, cultivar IACSP94-2094 appears to be tolerant to M. fimbriolata, as it did not show significant reductions in aboveground biomass weight, despite showing reduced leaf chlorophyll levels following pest attack

Distribuição espacial e dinâmica populacional de Sphenophorus levis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) em cana-de-açúcar

The knowledge of the population dynamics and insect distribution pattern in agricultural ecosystems is important for the development of more effective management strategies, assisting in better decision making. The objective of this work was to study the spatial distribution and population dynamics of Sphenophorus levis Vaurie (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in sugarcane. In the study of spatial distribution, sampling was performed in 14 commercial areas of sugarcane, evaluating 100 sampling points per area through the trenches of 50 x 50 x 30 cm made in the line, for counting larvae, pupae, and S. levis adults and their damage, represented by the percentage of rhizomes damaged. In areas 6 to 14, at the time of sampling, baits were distributed for adult counts present outside the rhizomes. The spatial distribution was studied by geostatistical analysis. For the study of population dynamics, we used a commercial area of sugarcane in 2nd cut cultivated with SP81-3250 variety in the city of Américo Brasilense, SP. Monthly samples were taken through the opening 20 trenches in the cane row, 50 x 50 x 30 cm, for counting biological forms of pest present in the rhizome (larvae, pupae and adults). In the same occasion 20 baits were distributed in the area to count adults. The larvae, total biological forms (larvae + pupae + adults) and the damage S. levis were agregate, while pupae and adults distributed randomly in the field. The range of values obtained and the kriging interpolation maps showed large variability in insect populations and their damage in all studied areas. Based on the mid-range obtained for the variables studied, it is suggested that to estimate insect populations and their damage the sampling points should be spaced at 40 m. All the insect biological forms were found in the area during the year, however, the population peaks of adults occurred in rainy and warm time of year, in February and March, while larvae and pupae in more ...O conhecimento da dinâmica populacional e do padrão de distribuição de insetos em ecossistemas agrícolas é importante para o desenvolvimento de estratégias de manejo mais eficazes, auxiliando em uma melhor tomada de decisão. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a distribuição espacial e a dinâmica populacional de Sphenophorus levis Vaurie (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) em cana-de-açúcar. No estudo da distribuição espacial, foram realizadas amostragens em 14 áreas comerciais de cana-de-açúcar, avaliando 100 pontos de amostragem por área, através de trincheiras na linha de cana de 50 x 50 x 30 cm, para contagem de larvas, pupas e adultos de S. levis e de seus danos, representados pela porcentagem de rizomas danificados pela praga. Nas áreas 6 a 14, na ocasião da amostragem, foram distribuídas iscas para contagem dos adultos presentes fora dos rizomas. A distribuição espacial foi estudada através da análise geoestatística. Para o estudo da dinâmica populacional, foi utilizada uma área comercial de cana soca em 2° corte cultivada com a variedade SP81-3250, no município de Américo Brasilense, SP. Foram feitas amostragens mensais através da abertura de 20 trincheiras na linha de cana, de 50 x 50 x 30 cm, para contagem de formas biológicas da praga presentes no rizoma (larvas, pupas e adultos). Nas mesmas ocasiões foram distribuídas na área 20 iscas, para contagem dos adultos. As larvas, formas biológicas totais (larvas + pupas + adultos) e o dano de S. levis distribuíram-se de maneira agregada, enquanto pupas e adultos distribuíram-se aleatoriamente em campo. Os valores de alcance obtidos e os mapas de interpolação por krigagem mostraram grande variabilidade das populações do inseto e seu dano em todas as áreas estudadas. Com base no alcance médio obtido para as variáveis estudadas, sugere-se que para estimar as populações do inseto e seu dano em canaviais os pontos de amostragem devem ser..

Infestation of Anthonomus grandis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on re-sprout of cotton plants

The destruction of cotton crop residues at the end of the crop cycle is a key strategy for the phytosanitary crop management, since its off-season re-sprout can provide sites for feeding and oviposition of pests such as the boll weevil. This study aimed to evaluate the re-sprout capacity of cotton cultivars, as well as their infestation by Anthonomus grandis. A randomized blocks design, in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement, with three cultivars (FM 910, DeltaOPAL and NuOPAL), two mowing heights (10 cm and 20 cm) and four replications, was used. Weekly evaluations were carried out for measuring the percentage of plant re-sprout for both mowing heights, percentage of flower buds infested by the boll weevil and number of adults per re-sprout. Plants mowed at 10 cm presented a lower sprout capacity and consequently less flower buds, reducing the boll weevil population density in the area, while plants mowed at 20 cm showed high re-sprouts rates, seven days after mowing. The FM 910 cultivar had the highest number of re-sprout plants, while the DeltaOPAL cultivar showed the highest number of flower buds and adults per plant, as well as the highest percentage of buds damaged by the boll weevil