ASSOCIAÇÃO DE Chromobacterium subtsugae COM INSETICIDAS QUÍMICOS PARA O CONTROLE DE CIGARRINHA DO MILHO

Abstract

Corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important crops for the Brazilian economy, widely used in human food, animal feed, and industry. However, the corn leafhopper (Dalbulus maidis), a vector of pathogens. responsible for diseases such as pale stunt, red stunt, and maize rayado fino virus, has caused severe yield losses. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of biological control of the corn leafhopper using the bioinsecticide based on Chromobacterium subtsugae. The experiment was conducted at Fazenda Cupim, located in Cristalina – GO, under field conditions, using the sweet corn variety GSS 41490. The experimental design consisted of different treatments, applying Chromobacterium subtsugae technology “on farm” at recommended doses, comparing biological control with the farm’s standard chemical management. Applications were carried out during periods of lower solar incidence to ensure bioinput viability. The results demonstrated that the use of Chromobacterium subtsugae significantly reduced leafhopper populations compared to the control and the chemical treatment alone, evidencing the efficiency of the technology. It is concluded that the use of biological control with Chromobacterium subtsugae represents a sustainable and efficient alternative for managing the corn leafhopper, contributing to the reduction of chemical insecticide use and environmental preservation. Keywords: Biological control. Dalbulus maidis., Bioinputs. Sustainable, Management.