Tritrophic interaction between the Mexican sunflower, the aphid Aphis gossypii and natural enemies in a greenhouse experiment

The establishment of invasive plants negatively affects natural environments. Invasive herbivores that attack weeds can be used as a form of biological control, but natural enemies of herbivores must be associated with this interaction to prevent the invasive phytophagous from become a local pest. We performed a greenhouse experiment to evaluate how the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii, a ok and invasive herbivore, affects the performance of the weed Tithonia diversifolia, the Mexican sunflower. We also examined the relationship between the aphid and local natural enemies. Seedlings of T. diversifolia were divided in two groups: one infested by the aphid and another not infested. After 22 days, we assessed the relationship between aphid abundance and the presence of natural enemies (Coccinelidae and Aphidius platensis) on infested plants, and compared the vegetative performance of the two seedling groups. Both natural enemies were positively related to high aphid density on infested plants. Plants infested by the aphid presented foliar necrosis and senescence, and a reduction of around 50% in leaf number, foliar area, shoot length and shoot, root and total plant weight compared to non-infested plants. These results indicate potential biological control of Mexican sunflower seedlings by the cotton aphid, and control of this aphid by the studied natural enemies.

Tritrophic interaction between the Mexican sunflower, the aphid Aphis gossypii and natural enemies in a greenhouse experiment

The establishment of invasive plants negatively affects natural environments. Invasive herbivores that attack weeds can be used as a form of biological control, but natural enemies of herbivores must be associated with this interaction to prevent the invasive phytophagous from become a local pest. We performed a greenhouse experiment to evaluate how the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii, a ok and invasive herbivore, affects the performance of the weed Tithonia diversifolia, the Mexican sunflower. We also examined the relationship between the aphid and local natural enemies. Seedlings of T. diversifolia were divided in two groups: one infested by the aphid and another not infested. After 22 days, we assessed the relationship between aphid abundance and the presence of natural enemies (Coccinelidae and Aphidius platensis) on infested plants, and compared the vegetative performance of the two seedling groups. Both natural enemies were positively related to high aphid density on infested plants. Plants infested by the aphid presented foliar necrosis and senescence, and a reduction of around 50% in leaf number, foliar area, shoot length and shoot, root and total plant weight compared to non-infested plants. These results indicate potential biological control of Mexican sunflower seedlings by the cotton aphid, and control of this aphid by the studied natural enemies.(AU)

Severidade de Alternaria helianthi na cultura do girassol em diferentesespaçamentos e população de plantas / Severity of Alternaria helianthi in sunfl ower crop in the row spaces and plant population

O objetivo da pesquisa foi avaliar a severidade da mancha-de-alternaria (Alternaria helianthi) na cultura do girassol semeado em diferentes densidades populacionais. Os experimentos foram conduzidos na Fazenda Experimental da Ressacada, em Florianópolis, SC, no ano agrícola 2009/2010. A semeadura foi efetuada com espaçamento de 0,5 e 1,0 m entre as linhas de plantio, mantendo-se 3,7; 4,9; 5,7 e 6,6 plantas por metro, resultando em 74 mil, 98 mil, 114 mil, 132 mil plantas por hectare para 0,5 m entre as linhas de plantio e 37 mil, 49 mil, 57 mil e 66 mil plantas por hectare para o espaçamento de 1,0 m. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 4 x 2 (quatro densidades de semeadura e dois espaçamentos entre linhas) com três repetições. A severidade foi avaliada com base em escala diagramática específica para mancha-de-alternaria em girassol. Os resultados indicaram não haver interação entre os fatores espaçamento entre linhas e densidade de semeadura na severidade da mancha-de-alternaria, mas mostraram haver efeito da densidade de plantio na severidade da doença, com os níveis de severidade aumentando juntamente ao aumento no número de plantas na linha de plantio, para os dois espaçamentos utilizados.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the severity of alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria helianthi) in sunflower crop sown in different densities. The experiments were conducted at the Ressacada Experimental Farm, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil, on the crop season of 2009/2010. Sowing was done at a spacing of 0.5 and 1.0 m between the rows, keeping 3.7, 4.9, 5.7 and 6.6 plants per meter, resulting in 74,000; 98,000; 114,000 and 132,000 plants per hectare to 0.5 m between the tree rows and 37,000; 49,000; 57,000 and 66,000 plants per hectare for the spacing of 1.0 m. The experimental design was in randomized blocks in a 4 x 2 factorial (four seeding rates and two row spacings) with three replicates. The severity was assessed based on diagrammatic scale for specific alternaria leaf spot in sunflower. The results indicated no interaction between the levels of severity with the variation of line spacing and distribution of plants on line, but showed effect of the distribution of plants on line in the severity, with the higher plant density in the line showed a higher severity, for the both spacing in the lines planting.

Severidade de Alternaria helianthi na cultura do girassol em diferentesespaçamentos e população de plantas / Severity of Alternaria helianthi in sunfl ower crop in the row spaces and plant population

O objetivo da pesquisa foi avaliar a severidade da mancha-de-alternaria (Alternaria helianthi) na cultura do girassol semeado em diferentes densidades populacionais. Os experimentos foram conduzidos na Fazenda Experimental da Ressacada, em Florianópolis, SC, no ano agrícola 2009/2010. A semeadura foi efetuada com espaçamento de 0,5 e 1,0 m entre as linhas de plantio, mantendo-se 3,7; 4,9; 5,7 e 6,6 plantas por metro, resultando em 74 mil, 98 mil, 114 mil, 132 mil plantas por hectare para 0,5 m entre as linhas de plantio e 37 mil, 49 mil, 57 mil e 66 mil plantas por hectare para o espaçamento de 1,0 m. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 4 x 2 (quatro densidades de semeadura e dois espaçamentos entre linhas) com três repetições. A severidade foi avaliada com base em escala diagramática específica para mancha-de-alternaria em girassol. Os resultados indicaram não haver interação entre os fatores espaçamento entre linhas e densidade de semeadura na severidade da mancha-de-alternaria, mas mostraram haver efeito da densidade de plantio na severidade da doença, com os níveis de severidade aumentando juntamente ao aumento no número de plantas na linha de plantio, para os dois espaçamentos utilizados.(AU)

The aim of this research was to evaluate the severity of alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria helianthi) in sunflower crop sown in different densities. The experiments were conducted at the Ressacada Experimental Farm, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil, on the crop season of 2009/2010. Sowing was done at a spacing of 0.5 and 1.0 m between the rows, keeping 3.7, 4.9, 5.7 and 6.6 plants per meter, resulting in 74,000; 98,000; 114,000 and 132,000 plants per hectare to 0.5 m between the tree rows and 37,000; 49,000; 57,000 and 66,000 plants per hectare for the spacing of 1.0 m. The experimental design was in randomized blocks in a 4 x 2 factorial (four seeding rates and two row spacings) with three replicates. The severity was assessed based on diagrammatic scale for specific alternaria leaf spot in sunflower. The results indicated no interaction between the levels of severity with the variation of line spacing and distribution of plants on line, but showed effect of the distribution of plants on line in the severity, with the higher plant density in the line showed a higher severity, for the both spacing in the lines planting.(AU)

Efeito do tratamento de sementes com inseticidas no controle de pragas iniciais e na qualidade fisiológica das sementes em girassol / The effect of various insecticides on the control of initial pests and on the physiological quality of sunflower seeds

Avaliou-se o uso de inseticidas em tratamento de sementes de girassol no controle das pragas Cerotoma arcuatus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) e Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) e a influência desses inseticidas na qualidade fisiológica das sementes, durante o armazenamento. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que tiodicarbe 600 g i.a./ 100 kg de sementes proporcionou aproximadamente 80, 100 e 85% de controle de A. gemmatalis de 1º ínstar, S. frugiperda de 2º ínstar e adultos de C. arcuatus, respectivamente. Entretanto, esse mesmo tratamento foi ineficiente no controle de lagartas de S. frugiperda de 3º ínstar e de B. tabaci. No controle de adultos de C. arcuatus, além de tiodicarbe 600 g i.a./100 kg sementes que apresentou bons resultados, tiodicarbe + imidacloprido 157,5 + 52,5 g i.a., tiametoxam 210 e 280 g i.a., imidacloprido 245 e fipronil 50 g i.a./100 kg de sementes apresentaram eficiência acima de 80% no controle dessa praga. No controle da A. gemmatalis apenas fipronil 50 g i.a./100 kg sementes e azadiractina 10 e 20 g. i.a./100 kg de sementes proporcionaram valores menores que 80% de controle, nas doses testadas, enquanto que, para o manejo da mosca-branca, nenhum dos tratamentos estudados proporcionou controle superior a 80%. Nenhum dos inseticidas avaliados nos diferentes tempos de armazenamento (até quatro meses após o tratamento) prejudicou a germinação e a emergência das sementes.

The aim of this study was to test various insecticides in the treatment of sunflower seeds for the control of Cerotoma arcuatus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and assessing their influence on the physiological quality of seeds during storage. The results showed that tiodicarb 600 g.a.i./100 kg of seeds achieved close to 80, 100 and 85% of control against first-instar A. gemmatalis, second instar S. frugiperda and adult C. arcuatus, respectively. However, this treatment was inefficient against third instar S. frugiperda and B. tabaci. Tiodicarb + imidacloprid 157.5 + 52.5; thiamethoxan 210; thiamethoxan 280; imidacloprid 245 and fipronil 50 g.a.i./100 kg of seeds also achieved 80% control against C. arcuatus adults. Against A. gemmatalis, only fipronil 50 g.a.i. and azarachtin 10 and 20 g.a.i./100 kg of seeds did not achieve more than 80% control. Against B. tabaci no tested treatment reached 80% of efficacy. None of the tested insecticides harmed seed germination or emergence during the different storage periods (up to 4 months after seed treatment).