AMOSTRAGEM EM CULTIVARES DE ALGODÃO COM FOCO EM TRIPES NO MUNICÍPIO DE NOVA MUTUM (MT)

Abstract

Insects of the order Thysanoptera are among the most relevant phytosanitary constraints in intensive agricultural systems, particularly during early plant development, when they may impair vegetative vigor and affect crop performance. This study aimed to characterize the population dynamics of these insects in 21 commercial genotypes grown under field conditions and contrasting phytosanitary management regimes, seeking to identify differences in genotype susceptibility, temporal variation in infestation, and the composition of the species community associated with the production system. Assessments were carried out at different times throughout the crop cycle, allowing population fluctuation to be examined in relation to crop development and management strategy. The results revealed marked variation in infestation among genotypes and sampling periods, confirming that the occurrence of these insects is strongly influenced by the interaction between plant genotype, developmental stage, and chemical intervention. In general, population increase was observed in plots without insecticide application, whereas treated plots showed oscillating responses across evaluation dates, indicating that chemical control efficiency was not uniform throughout the cycle. In addition, consistent contrasts were detected among materials regarding cumulative infestation, indicating different levels of favorability to insect establishment. The species community was largely dominated by Frankliniella brevicaulis and Frankliniella schultzei, with lower representation of Arorathrips mexicanus and Caliothrips phaseoli. Cluster analysis revealed that the most infested genotypes were associated with greater abundance of the dominant species. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that infestation arises from a multifactorial process and reinforce the importance of integrated strategies combining the selection of less susceptible genotypes, temporal monitoring, and species-level identification of the associated entomofauna to improve phytosanitary decision-making.