APLICAÇÃO DE BIOLÓGICOS CONTRA TRIPES NO TOMATEIRO PARA PROCESSAMENTO INDUSTRIAL SOB DIFERENTES HORÁRIOS DE APLICAÇÃO, INCLUINDO A AVALIAÇÃO DE PROTETORES SOLARES

Abstract

Thrips (Thysanoptera) are a major phytosanitary constraint in tomato plants for processing fruits by the industry as raw material, requiring management strategies aligned with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. This field study evaluated the efficacy of microbial bioinputs and operational spray factors for thrips management in processing tomato plants (cv. CVR 8161). The experiment followed a randomized complete block design in a 4×2×2+2 factorial scheme (four entomopathogenic bioinput agents, presence or absence of a UV-protective sunscreen additive in the spray solution with the bioinputs, and two application times (12:00 AM and 5:00 PM), plus two controls (water and the insecticide profenofos + cypermethrin), totaling 18 treatments. Three weekly foliar sprays were performed, and thrips populations were assessed nine times using the beat-tray method on apical shoots. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models, with the treatments as a random effect and fixed factors (days after application, products, UV protector, and application time). Thrips populations increased over time, highlighting the modulatory role of the UV protector and application time in reducing mean infestation levels and stabilizing residual effects. The best combinations included the UV protector, particularly at 12:00 AM, showing competitive performance and, in several scenarios, outperforming the chemical standard. The treatment Beauveria bassiana + Cordyceps javanica with UV protector at 12:00 AM yielded the lowest adjusted mean of thrips infestation, indicating higher relative efficacy under high pest pressure.