Physico-chemical characteristics and productivity of tomato plants in function of nitrogen sources and doses / Características físico-químicas e produtividade do tomateiro em função de fontes e doses de nitrogênio

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen sources and rates on the physicochemical characteristics and yield of tomato plants. Forty hybrids were cultivated at 100 and 400 kg ha-1of N, combined with four sources (urea, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate and calcium), plus a treatment without N application in a randomized complete block design four replicates. Size, stem diameter, number of leaves, SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development), leaf nitrogen, number of fruits / plants, fruit firmness, bark thickness and average fruit size, ° BRIX, pH, calcium, potassium and sodium in fruits. There was an increase in SPAD index, Brix and longitudinal diameter of fruits as a function of the N dose. The use of ammonium nitrate and calcium provided stronger fruits. Urea and ammonium nitrate provided the highest pH value in tomato fruits. The application of the 100 kg ha-1 dose of N resulted in the highest potassium content in fruits. The highest productivity was obtained with the application of sources containing ammonium and the lowest in the control treatment. Sources and doses of nitrogen fertilizers influenced growth, productivity and parameters related to tomato quality.

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito das fontes e doses de nitrogênio nas características físico-químicas e produtividade do tomateiro. Foi cultivado o híbrido Forty com doses de 100 e 400 kg ha-1 de N, combinadas com quatro fontes (ureia, sulfato de amônio, nitrato de amônio e de cálcio), mais um tratamento sem aplicação de N em delineamento em blocos casualizados com quatro repetições. Avaliou-se altura, diâmetro do caule, número de folhas, SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development), nitrogênio na folha, número de frutos/plantas, firmeza do fruto, espessura da casca e tamanho médio dos frutos, °BRIX, pH, cálcio, potássio e sódio nos frutos. Houve incremento do índice SPAD, ºBrix e diâmetro longitudinal dos frutos em função da dose de N. A utilização do nitrato de amônio e de cálcio proporcionou frutos mais firmes. A ureia e o nitrato de amônio propiciaram o maior valor de pH em frutos de tomate. A aplicação da dose de 100 kg ha-1 de N acarretou o maior teor de potássio nos frutos. A maior produtividade foi obtida com a aplicação de fontes que continham amônio e a menor no tratamento controle. As fontes e as doses de fertilizantes nitrogenados influenciaram o crescimento, produtividade e os parâmetros relacionados à qualidade do tomate.

Exposure to Insecticides Reduces Populations of Rhynchophorus palmarum in Oil Palm Plantations with Bud Rot Disease.

The South American palm weevil (SAPW), Rhynchophorus palmarum Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is the main pest of Elaeis guineensis and damages palm trees with bud rot disease in the Americas. The effects of six neurotoxic insecticides (abamectin, carbaryl, deltamethrin, fipronil, imidacloprid and spinosad) were evaluated against SAPW for toxicity, survival, reproduction, and mortality. Abamectin (LC50 = 0.33 mg mL-1), Carbaryl (LC50 = 0.24 mg mL-1), deltamethrin (LC50 = 0.17 mg mL-1), and fipronil (LC50 = 0.42 mg mL-1) were the most toxic to SAPW. Adult survival was 95% without exposure to insecticides, decreasing to 78-65% in insects treated with the LC25 and 49-35% in insects exposed to LC50. Sublethal doses of carbaryl, fipronil and imidacloprid showed significant effect on the reproduction of this insect. Mortality of SAPW populations caused by insecticides had similar effects in the laboratory and field conditions. The results suggest that carbaryl, deltamethrin, fipronil, and imidacloprid caused significantly higher mortality as compared to the control in SAPW and may be used to control its populations in oil palm trees where bud rot appears as the key disease for SAPW attraction and infestation.

Side-effects of pesticides on the generalist endoparasitoid Palmistichus elaeisis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae).

New plant protection strategies focus on minimizing chemical pesticide use and increasing their compatibility with biological control agents. The objective was to evaluate the side-effects of glyphosate, diflubenzuron, malathion, tebuconazole and triflumuron (at 720, 45, 400, 150 and 20 g ai ha-1, respectively), pesticides authorized for soybean crops in Brazil, on the parasitoid Palmistichus elaeisis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) reared on Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The emergence and female numbers produced per P. elaeisis female were higher in A. gemmatalis pupae from caterpillars fed an artificial diet treated with glyphosate. However, emergence was lower than 50% when the caterpillars were fed on soybean leaves treated with glyphosate offered ad libitum (3-5 times). Palmistichus elaeisis died before parasiting A. gemmatalis pupae treated with malathion. Diflubenzuron reduced the P. elaesis sex ratio in the second generation. Tebuconazole and triflumuron did not cause side-effects on this parasitoid. A continuous exposure to glyphosate by the host may lead to side-effects on P. elaeisis emergence, but its moderate use is acceptable for this parasitoid. Diflubenzuron had severe transgenerational side-effects. Tebuconazole fungicide and triflumuron insecticide are compatible with P. elaeisis in sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) programs, while malathion can not be included in them.

Insecticidal activity of garlic essential oil and their constituents against the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae).

This study evaluated the insecticidal activity of garlic, Allium sativum Linnaeus (Amaryllidaceae) essential oil and their principal constituents on Tenebrio molitor. Garlic essential oil, diallyl disulfide, and diallyl sulfide oil were used to compare the lethal and repellent effects on larvae, pupae and adults of T. molitor. Six concentrations of garlic essential oil and their principal constituents were topically applied onto larvae, pupae and adults of this insect. Repellent effect and respiration rate of each constituent was evaluated. The chemical composition of garlic essential oil was also determined and primary compounds were dimethyl trisulfide (19.86%), diallyl disulfide (18.62%), diallyl sulfide (12.67%), diallyl tetrasulfide (11.34%), and 3-vinyl-[4H]-1,2-dithiin (10.11%). Garlic essential oil was toxic to T. molitor larva, followed by pupa and adult. In toxic compounds, diallyl disulfide was the most toxic than diallyl sulfide for pupa > larva > adult respectively and showing lethal effects at different time points. Garlic essential oil, diallyl disulfide and diallyl sulfide induced symptoms of intoxication and necrosis in larva, pupa, and adult of T. molitor between 20-40 h after exposure. Garlic essential oil and their compounds caused lethal and sublethal effects on T. molitor and, therefore, have the potential for pest control.

Interactions Between the Bud Rot Disease of Oil Palm and Rhynchophorus palmarum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Rhynchophorus palmarum (L.) causes great losses to the oil palm plantations, and therefore, the spatial and temporal distribution of this insect should be studied, to manage its populations. Insect sampling was done for 2 yr in an oil palm plantation from Colombia. In total, 60 pheromone traps were used in healthy palm trees and infected ones with the Bud Rot disease. On the other hand, developmental stages of this insect were quantified on healthy and diseased palms for two consecutive years. Number of adult R. palmarum per sampling was higher in the plantation with diseased palm trees, 3.85 and 74.7 insects per trap, than in those with healthy ones, 1.91 and 9.48 insects per trap, in the first and second years, respectively. After the integration of pheromone traps, there was a significant increase in the infestation level at all stages of development of the insect. For the first time, the presence of R. palmarum attracted to diseased palms is reported. The association between R. palmarum and the Bud Rot disease is a cause of death and great loss to the oil palm plantations.

Ocorrência e distribuição espacial e temporal do coleóptero Naupactus curtus em cafeeiros de Minas Gerais, Brasil / Occurrence, spatial and temporal distribution of the coleopteran Naupactus curtus on coffee plants from Minas Gerais, Brazil

Não há registro de Naupactus curtus em Minas Gerais, e as poucas ocorrências em outros Estados brasileiros são escassas de informações acerca da sua distribuição espacial em cafeeiros. Assim, este trabalho tem por objetivos relatar a ocorrência dessa praga em Minas Gerais e estudar a sua distribuição espacial e temporal em quatro lavouras de Coffea arabica, em Ponte Nova e Jaboticatubas. Os insetos foram monitorados mensalmente. N. curtus foi encontrado nessas duas áreas e apresentou maiores densidades nas bordas das lavouras.

There were no reports of Naupactus curtus in Minas Gerais, and the few occurrences in other Brazilian States bring is little of information about its spatial distribution on coffee plants. This work aimed to report the occurrence of this potential in Minas Gerais and study its their spatial and temporal distribution dynamics on crops of Coffea arabica. The study was conducted in coffee plants in Ponte Nova and Jaboticatubas, with the evaluation of density being monthly. N. curtus was found in two areas in Minas Gerais, presenting higher densities at the edges of the crops.