FATOR DE REPRODUÇÃO DE Pratylenchus brachyurus EM DIFERENTES HÍBRIDOS DE MILHO

Abstract

Nematode infestations in maize crops are responsible for significant losses in yield potential. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the reproduction factor of *Pratylenchus brachyurus* in different maize hybrids. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the GAPES Innovation and Technology Center (CIT GAPES) in Rio Verde, Goiás. A completely randomized design with four replicates was used to evaluate eight hybrids commonly grown in the region: B2800, AS1868, AS1820, MG063, MG593, DKB255, DKB360, and DKB335. Pots with an 8-liter capacity were filled with a mixture of soil, sand, and substrate in a 2:1:1 ratio. Inoculation with *P. brachyurus* was performed 7 days after emergence (DAE) using 500 juveniles per pot. At 56 DAE, nematodes were extracted from the soil and roots using Jenkins' method, and the reproduction factor (RF) was calculated based on the final population. Data were subjected to analysis of variance, and means were compared using Tukey's test at a 5% probability level. All hybrids exhibited an RF greater than 1.0, classifying them as nematode multipliers. The DKB360 hybrid stood out with the highest RF (11.6), differing statistically from the others. Conversely, DKB255 and AS1868 showed the lowest reproduction factors, making them the most recommended hybrids for areas with a history of *P. brachyurus* infestation.