Associação de Heterorhabditis amazonensis (Nematoda: Rhabditida) e inseticidas sistêmicos no controle de Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) em laboratório e cultivo protegido

Abstract

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) are organisms that live in the soil, are favorable for the control of underground pests or that spend at least a phase of their cycle in this environment, however these nematodes also have potential to be used to control pests that damage the aerial part of the when conditions are appropriate. In addition, in conventional agriculture, the use of chemicals is unavoidable, so it is important to know the possibilities of joint applications between insecticides and EPN. Thus, the present work had the objective of evaluating two different application intervals of Heterorhabditis amazonensis JPM4 combined with insecticides applied via soil in the control of T. absoluta larvae, to analyze the nematode compatibility with insecticides applied via soil in the tomato crop and the combined application of insecticides and EPN in T. absoluta pupae control in soil in laboratory and protected environment. For the application interval assay the applications were made weekly and fortnightly until the total destruction of the plants with weekly T. absoluta infestations. In the compatibility test, the viability and infectivity of EPN after contact with the insecticides were evaluated, and the synergic, additive and antagonistic effect of the application was evaluated for the combined application in T. absoluta pupae control. The weekly and biweekly application of H. amazonensis combined with insecticides and water is effective in the control of T. absoluta larvae. The combined application of insecticides and nematodes provides better plant development. The products tested are compatible with the EPN. The combined application of nematode with insecticides has an additive effect under laboratory conditions and is effective in controlling pupae in protected culture