ISHS Acta Horticulturae 822: VI International Pineapple Symposium
BUD MOTH {STRYMON MEGARUS (GODART, 1824)} CAUSES SEVERE LOSSES IN YOUNG PLANTS OF PINEAPPLE CULTIVARS PÉROLA AND SMOOTH CAYENNE IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL |
| Authors: | D.C. de Faria, A.J.C. de Carvalho, R.I. Coelho, J.C. de Oliveira Júnior |
| Keywords: | Ananas comosus var. comosus, Smooth Cayenne, Pérola, types of planting material, pest, initial growth |
| Abstract:
The North region was responsible for 98.1% of the pineapples produced in the state of Rio de Janeiro in 2004, harvested in an area of 2,572 ha. The pineapple crop plays an important role in the economical and social area of this region, generating jobs and income for family agriculture. Aiming at evaluating the effect of nitrogen fertilization and types of planting material on the vegetative development and on sanitary and productive aspects of ‘Pérola’ and ‘Smooth Cayenne’ pineapple crops, an experiment was set up in the municipality of São Francisco do Itabapoana, Rio de Janeiro. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with a factorial scheme 4 x 9. Four doses of N (4, 8, 12 and 16 g plant-1 cycle-1) were studied, using urea as source, as well as nine types of planting material, being six of ‘Smooth Cayenne’ (crowns 250 to 400 g; slips 200 to 350 g; slips 350 to 500 g; suckers 300 to 450 g; suckers 450 to 600 g, and suckers 600 to 750 g) and three of ‘Pérola’ (crowns 150 to 250 g; slips 200 to 350 g, and slips 350 to 500 g), with four replications. The evaluation of initial plant growth until 120 days after planting showed positive effects of the nitrogen fertilization. From 120 to 140 days after planting, there was a very intense attack of fruit borer larvae (Strymon megarus) on plants of all treatments studied. The highest losses were observed in the cv. ‘Smooth Cayenne’ for plants originated from suckers, especially those of 600 g to 750 g, and the lowest from crowns, with death rates of 74.5% and 25.5%, respectively. The same occurred for plants of cv. ‘Pérola’ originated from 200 to 350 g slips and crowns, with death rates of 47.8% and 22.7%, respectively. It was shown that under certain circumstances the pineapple fruit borer may also be a severe pest for pineapple plants in their vegetative phase and that losses are higher for ‘Smooth Cayenne’ than ‘Pérola’ cultivars and lower for crowns than suckers or slips. | |
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