Avaliação do enxofre como desalojante para Spodoptera frugiperda: uma solução para o milho doce?

Abstract

The cultivation of Zea mays (var. Saccharata) (Poaceae) in the Brazilian Midwest has real prospects for expansion. However, sweet corn plants are susceptible to attack by the corn cartridge caterpillar, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Recommended control strategies involve synthetic insecticides, but this insect takes shelter inside the corn leaves, making it difficult to control. Sulfur-based products have the potential to expose (dislodge) these caterpillars and have even been used in farming practice for this purpose. However, doses and dosages of sulfur, as well as its mixture with insecticides, still raise doubts on the part of farmers. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the number of caterpillars dislodged and inside the cartridge for Spodoptera frugiperda exposed via leaf spray, under different combinations of doses, dosages and mixtures (or not) of Enxofert WG and Espinosade products, under field conditions. The spraying with different arrangements between treatments occurred via leaf, under experimental design in causalized blocks. Absolute control without product applications was used. The full doses of Enxofert WG provided a larger number of caterpillars outside the cartridge compared to the low doses (regardless of the dosages used). Considerations about the use of sulfur as a dislodger, including its efficiency in different doses and dosages, in addition to the mixture with the insecticide (or not) are discussed.