Vinícius Soares Sturza

Plastocrono e rendimento de feijão-de-vagem cultivado sob ambiente protegido e no ambiente externo em semeadura tardia no outono

Snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a horticultural crop that is enhanced during Fall in Rio Grande do Sul State, which can be favored by growing inside a plastic greenhouse (protected cropping). The estimation of the time interval between the appearance of two successive nodes on a dicot stem, known as plastochron, is important in modeling studies and for crop management. The objective of this study was to evaluate the plastochron and the yield of snap bean grown inside plastic greenhouse (protected environment) and in the open field. An experiment was carried out in Santa Maria, RS, Brazil, during the Fall 2009 in two environments: protected environment (plastic house covered with 100µm of thickness low density polyethylene) and in the open field. Solar radiation, air temperature, thermal time, the main stem node appearance (plastochron) and pod yield were determined. Solar radiation was, 26% lower in the protected environment, and minimum, mean and maximum air temperatures were greater in the protected environment. The plastochron was higher (lower node appearance rate) in the protected environment whereas pod yield was similar in the two environments. The reduction in solar irradiation, caused by the plastic cover, was pointed out as a major cause for the lower node appearance rate (greater plastochron) of the plants in the protected environment whereas reproductive growth in the protected environment was similar to the one in the open field most likely because of the increase in the diffuse fraction of solar radiation that partially compensated the plastic shading, and because of the less plants exposure to possible mechanic stresses as wind and hydraulic during the hottest hours of the day when water demand is the highest.

Ação de extratos de plantas na oviposição e na mortalidade da traça-das-crucíferas

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera, Yponomeutidae), is one of the most important insect pest species of the Brassicaceae family plants in Brazil and in the world. The use of insecticidal plants extracts in the control of this insect is a promising alternative. Therefore, this research goal is to evaluate, in laboratory, the plants extracts effect on the oviposition and mortality of P. xylostella. In order to analyze the effect on the oviposition, kale leaf pieces were treated, in cage, as following: aqueous extracts (10% p/v) of leaf of chinaberry (Melia azedarach), of branch of chinaberry, of tobacco powder (Nicotiana tabacum), besides DalNeem (commercial product, based on Azadirachta indica), at 10% v/v. Inside the cage, 50 adults of P. xylostella were put and, 48h later, the egg number per leaf was counted, in seven repetitions. A second assay was consisted of the exposition of three larvae to the same cited extracts, in glass tube with a kale leaf piece previously treated. Three glass tubes were used per treatment, with four repetitions. The number of death larvae was evaluated daily. The aqueous extracts of chinaberry leaf, chinaberry branch and tobacco powder, besides DalNeem, reduce the oviposition of P. xylostella and the use of tobacco powder extract, DalNeem and chinaberry branch extract result in efficient control of P. xylostella larvae after the second, fifth and sixth days after application, respectively.

Tamanho de amostra para a estimação da média de duração dos períodos larval, pupal e larval mais pupal de "Microtheca" spp. por bootstrap

The objective of this research was to determine the sample size (number of insects) to estimate the average duration for larval, pupal and larval + pupal periods for M. ochroloma and M. semilaevis. Adults of both species were collected at a 0.25ha experimental area of forage turnip (Raphanus sativus L.) and for laboratory rearing (temperature 25±2°C, relative humidity 60±10% and photoperiod 12 hours). Afterwards larval, pupal and larval + pupal periods were measured, in days, of 119 and 81 insects, respectively, M. ochroloma and M. semilaevis. It was calculated measures of central tendency and variability and determined the sample size using bootstrap with replacement of 10000 samples. For estimating the average larval, pupal and larval + pupal periods, with amplitude of bootstrap confidence interval of 95%, equal a day, 42 and 35 insects are sufficient, respectively for both M. ochroloma and M. semilaevis.

First record of larvae of Allograpta exotica Wiedemann (Diptera, Syrphidae) preying on Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera, Aphididae) in watermelon in Brazil

First record of larvae of Allograpta exotica Wiedemann (Diptera, Syrphidae) preying on Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera, Aphididae) in watermelon in Brazil. Brazil is one of the largest world producers of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thumb. Mansf.) and Aphis gossypii Glover, 1877 (Hemiptera, Aphididae) is among the most important pest on this crop. Larvae of Allograpta exotica Wiedemann, 1830 (Diptera, Syrphidae) were found preying on A. gossypii in watermelon crop, in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul State, what represents the first report of this tritrophic association in Brazil.

Effect of temperature on immatures of Stiretrus decastigmus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Stiretrus decastigmus (Herrich-Schaeffer) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an important predator of the insect pest Microtheca ochroloma Stal (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). The present study investigated the pre-imaginal development of S. decastigmus at different temperatures. The temperatures were: 20, 25, and 30 °C, with a relative humidity of 70 ± 10% and a photofase of 12 h, and the nymphs were fed larvae of M. ochroloma. We evaluated the duration and viability of the egg and nymphal stages, the duration of each instar, and the predation potential. The incubation time decreased with increasing temperature, and the viability was highest at 25 °C. The duration of the nymphal stage was inversely proportional to the temperature, ranging from 18 days at 30 °C to 40.6 days at 20 °C. The highest S. decastigmus predation rates were found at 20 °C (90.4 larvae) and 30 °C (72.5 larvae). S. decastigmus showed the highest viability and lowest consumption of larvae of M. ochroloma at 25 °C.

Infestation and natural parasitism of aphids in single and mixed pastures of black oats and ryegrass

Some species of aphids are major pests on cereal crops and grass pastures. Usually these pests are not adequately controlled in pasture lands that become sources of aphid infestations to cereal crops. The dynamics of aphids and the incidence of natural enemies are less known in pasture systems than in cereal fields. The objective of this work was to assess the aphid infestation and natural aphid parasitism in different pasture composition. Three hypotheses were tested: 1- the aphid species composition in pastures may vary according to the cereal species in the field; 2- the mixture of two plant species can modify the amount and diversity of aphids; 3- the plant species composition of pasture fields influences the parasitism of aphids. Empirical data were obtained from three Poaceae fields: black oats (Avena strigosa L.), ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.), and a mixed field of black oats and ryegrass. The most abundant aphid species was Rhopalosiphum padi followed by Sitobion avenae. Plant species composition increases the amount and the parasitism rates of aphids. The mixture of heavily infested black oats with a poorly infested ryegrass resulted in reduction of aphid infestation in comparison with heavily-infested single plant species field. This is possible because the conditions are favorable for the development of parasitoid populations. Aphidius colemani was the main parasitoid found in these areas.

Qualidade forrageira do capim-capivara em áreas de várzea, na região central do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Hymenachne amplexicaulis (capim-capivara) is a semi-aquatic stoloniferous grass which forms dense monospecific stands in seasonally flooded environments and along riverbanks in tropical and subtropical wetlands. For determining the bromatologic quality and digestibility of Hymenachne amplexicaulis grass placed in lowlands, samples were collected in Formigueiro, Santa Maria and Sao Vicente do Sul, municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil., Dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), organic matter (OM), mineral matter (MM), and organic matter digestibility (DOM) levels were determined in laboratory. The results for these variables, in mean values, were 23.24%, 7.42 (%DM), 67.01 (%DM), 35.75 (%DM), 91.44 (%DM), 8.55 (%DM) and 55.41% (DIVMO) respectively. H. amplexicaulis, sampled on Depressao Central lowland areas, has bromatologic quality for animal feeding; despite reduced both crude protein and digestibility values found at the stage evaluated.

Euplectrus furnius parasitizing Spodoptera frugiperda in maize in Brazil

Brazil is among the worlds biggest maize producers and fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is the main insect pest on this crop in the country. Despite the importance of its natural enemies, there still is a lack of information about parasitoids species that attack this insect-pest, such as larval parasitoids. This research reports Euplectrus furnius Walker (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) parasitizing S. fugiperda larvae on maize crop in Brazil.

Occurence of Phidotricha erigens Raganot, 1889 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in corn in Brazil

Among the factors that affect corn yields in Brazil is the occurrence of insect pests during the crop growth, especially during the reproductive phase, such as those that occur on ears. In other Latin America countries, among secondary insects is Phidotricha erigens Raganot, 1889 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), described to be attacking ears of corn in Peru and Colombia (Wille, 1943 apud Costa Lima, 1950, p. 83; Cajiao et al., 1984). In Brazil, it was misidentified as Pococera atramentalis Lederer, 1863 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) by Costa Lima (1950) (Vitor Osmar Becker, personal information) and it is reported in other cultivated species (Costa Lima, 1950; Nava et al., 2006), but there is no mention of any occurrence in corn. This work reports the first occurrence of P. erigens feeding on corn in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. An experiment of 680 m2 (34 m × 20 m) at an experimental area of “Universidade Federal de Santa Maria” (UFSM), in Santa Maria (29° 43’ S and 53° 43’ W, 95 m asl) was carried out from January to May, 2011. The central crop area was divided into 20 plots of 24 square meters each (6 m × 4 m), and the remaining area was used as side boundaries. Sampling was performed by taking two ears randomly per plot (40 ears/sample), on a daily basis, during almost all the reproductive subperiod, from the seventh day after silking (DAS) until the 26th DAS, with a total of 20 samples and 800 evaluated ears. Collected material was identified and sent to a laboratory, where an occurrence of larvae was observed on each ear. Afterwards, insects were counted, separated and kept individually in 100 mL plastic cups having an artificial diet until adult emergence for proper identification. A total of 30 P. erigens larvae were found, distributed in three different body size ranges: <0.5cm (22 larvae), 0.6 – 1cm (3 larvae) and >1 cm (5 larvae) and represented the second lowest rate among lepidopteran insects. Earworm, Helicoverpa zea Boddie, 1850; Fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and Dichomeris famulata Meyrick, 1914 (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) were also found, with a total of 308, 90 and 26 insects, respectively. P. erigens larvae occurred from the 13th to 26th DAS, which corresponded to 27.03.2011 to 09.04.2011dates (last sample), during the R3 and R4 corn reproductive stages. The highest infestation was on the 18th and 23rd DAS, with six larvae (Figure 1), totaling 15% and 12.5% of evaluated corn ears infested, respectively. Likewise on the 23rd DAS, it was the only sample in which more than one larva per ear was found (two larvae). The record of P. erigens feeding on corn in Brazil demonstrates the adaptability of this insect to Brazilian subtropical conditions. This characteristic added to the diversity of host crops leads to a concern for monitoring this species even as a secondary insect pest.

Primeiro registro de Aphis craccivora Koch 1854 (Hemiptera: Aphididae) sobre plantas daninhas em Santa Maria, RS

Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is an aphid pest which occurs in different crops and causes damages related to habit of sucking sap. In Brazil information about host weed species are rare, particulary in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) State. Weeds infested by aphids were found at an experimental area located at the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, in two different dates, February 22nd and March 25th 2010. In the second record (March 25th), each weed plant was measured and evaluated on the number of aphids. The aphid species was identified as Aphis craccivora and the host weed as Amaranthus hybridus Linnaeus, 1753 (Amaranthaceae), and Solanum americanum Mill, 1768 (Solanaceae). This is the first report of both A. hybridus and S. americanum hosting A. craccivora in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul State.