PROPOSTA DE CONTROLE DA CIGARRINHA-DO-MILHO ATRAVÉS DE MÉTODOS ALTERNATIVOS EM ORIZONA (GOIÁS)

Abstract

Pathogens transmitted by the corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis, cause irreversible damage to sweet corn plants. Entomophagous fungi, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, are important biocontrol agents and an alternative, in addition to synthetic insecticides. The mixture of fungi with silicate compounds has been reported to be synergistic in the control of some insect pests and mites, but without results against D. maidis. The control efficiency (CE%) of D. maidis treated with Beauveria bassiana, Bb (T1), Metarhizium anisopliae, Ma (T2), potassium silicate (K2SiO3), KSil (T3), Bb + KSil (T4), Ma + KSil (T5), and the formulated insecticidal premix thiametoxam (neonicotinoid) + lambda-cyhalothrin (pyrethroid) (T6), in sweet corn plants, was evaluated. The field trial was carried out in a randomized block design with four replications. D. maidis samplings were performed at 0, 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 days after application (DAA) of treatments with yellow adhesive traps. Ma and the insecticide (78% to 30%) showed better CE% for D. maidis with a very similarity over time. The similar effect of Metarhizium anisopliae with the insecticide indicated the promise of this microbial agent in the control of Dalbulus maidis in sweet corn plants.