Rational Practices to Manage Boll Weevils Colonization and Population Growth on Family Farms in the Semiárido Region of Brazil

Because boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boh. develops partially protected inside cotton fruiting structures, once they become established in a field, they are difficult to control, even with nearly continuous insecticide spray. During two cotton-growing seasons in the Semiárido region of Pernambuco...

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Main Authors: Robério C. S. Neves, Felipe Colares, Jorge B. Torres, Roberta L. Santos, Cristina S. Bastos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2014-10-01
Series:Insects
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/5/4/818
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spelling doaj-361cf00265bc405dbf66147bb9cc542c2020-11-24T23:19:51ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502014-10-015481883110.3390/insects5040818insects5040818Rational Practices to Manage Boll Weevils Colonization and Population Growth on Family Farms in the Semiárido Region of BrazilRobério C. S. Neves0Felipe Colares1Jorge B. Torres2Roberta L. Santos3Cristina S. Bastos4Departamento de Agronomia-Entomologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco. Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, 52171-900, BrazilDepartamento de Agronomia-Entomologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco. Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, 52171-900, BrazilDepartamento de Agronomia-Entomologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco. Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, 52171-900, BrazilDepartamento de Fitotecnia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, s/n, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, 36570-000, BrazilInstituto Central de Ciências Ala Sul (ICC-Sul), Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária (FAV), Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, 70910-900, BrazilBecause boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boh. develops partially protected inside cotton fruiting structures, once they become established in a field, they are difficult to control, even with nearly continuous insecticide spray. During two cotton-growing seasons in the Semiárido region of Pernambuco State, Brazil, we tested the use of kaolin sprays to disrupt plant colonization through visual cue interference, combined with removal of fallen fruiting bodies to restrain boll weevil population growth after colonization. Kaolin spray under non-choice trials resulted in 2.2×, 4.4×, and 8.6× fewer weevils, oviposition and feeding punctures on kaolin-treated plants, respectively, despite demonstrating no statistical differences for colonization and population growth. Early season sprays in 2010 occurred during a period of rainfall, and hence, under our fixed spraying schedule no significant differences in boll weevil colonization were detected. In 2011, when kaolin sprays were not washed out by rain, delayed boll weevil colonization and reduction on attacked fruiting bodies were observed in eight out of 12 evaluations, and kaolin-treated plots had 2.7× fewer damaged fruiting bodies compared to untreated plots. Adoption of simple measures such as removal of fallen fruiting bodies and prompt reapplication of kaolin sprays after rainfall show promise in reducing boll weevil infestation.http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/5/4/818integrated pest managementphysical controlcultural controlkaolin
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Robério C. S. Neves
Felipe Colares
Jorge B. Torres
Roberta L. Santos
Cristina S. Bastos
spellingShingle Robério C. S. Neves
Felipe Colares
Jorge B. Torres
Roberta L. Santos
Cristina S. Bastos
Rational Practices to Manage Boll Weevils Colonization and Population Growth on Family Farms in the Semiárido Region of Brazil
Insects
integrated pest management
physical control
cultural control
kaolin
author_facet Robério C. S. Neves
Felipe Colares
Jorge B. Torres
Roberta L. Santos
Cristina S. Bastos
author_sort Robério C. S. Neves
title Rational Practices to Manage Boll Weevils Colonization and Population Growth on Family Farms in the Semiárido Region of Brazil
title_short Rational Practices to Manage Boll Weevils Colonization and Population Growth on Family Farms in the Semiárido Region of Brazil
title_full Rational Practices to Manage Boll Weevils Colonization and Population Growth on Family Farms in the Semiárido Region of Brazil
title_fullStr Rational Practices to Manage Boll Weevils Colonization and Population Growth on Family Farms in the Semiárido Region of Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Rational Practices to Manage Boll Weevils Colonization and Population Growth on Family Farms in the Semiárido Region of Brazil
title_sort rational practices to manage boll weevils colonization and population growth on family farms in the semiárido region of brazil
publisher MDPI AG
series Insects
issn 2075-4450
publishDate 2014-10-01
description Because boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boh. develops partially protected inside cotton fruiting structures, once they become established in a field, they are difficult to control, even with nearly continuous insecticide spray. During two cotton-growing seasons in the Semiárido region of Pernambuco State, Brazil, we tested the use of kaolin sprays to disrupt plant colonization through visual cue interference, combined with removal of fallen fruiting bodies to restrain boll weevil population growth after colonization. Kaolin spray under non-choice trials resulted in 2.2×, 4.4×, and 8.6× fewer weevils, oviposition and feeding punctures on kaolin-treated plants, respectively, despite demonstrating no statistical differences for colonization and population growth. Early season sprays in 2010 occurred during a period of rainfall, and hence, under our fixed spraying schedule no significant differences in boll weevil colonization were detected. In 2011, when kaolin sprays were not washed out by rain, delayed boll weevil colonization and reduction on attacked fruiting bodies were observed in eight out of 12 evaluations, and kaolin-treated plots had 2.7× fewer damaged fruiting bodies compared to untreated plots. Adoption of simple measures such as removal of fallen fruiting bodies and prompt reapplication of kaolin sprays after rainfall show promise in reducing boll weevil infestation.
topic integrated pest management
physical control
cultural control
kaolin
url http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/5/4/818
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