Bioecology of Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith, 1757) in different cover crops.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the biological variables of Spodoptera frugiperda on species of cover crops. The experiments were conducted in laboratory and greenhouse using the following species: sunflower (Helianthus annuus), sun hemp (Crotalaria juncea), brachiaria (Urochloa decumbens e Urochloa ruziziensis), millet (Pennisetum americanum), black oat (Avena stringosa), white lupin (Lupinus albus), forage turnip (Rafanus sativus) and maize (Zea mays). In laboratory the S. frugiperda larval survival varied from 57%, on L. albus, to 93% on H. annuus and the survival of the pre-imaginal phase varied from 45% on U. decumbens to 81.6% on Z. mays. On C. juncea the larval biomass was lower and the development period of the young and larval stage was higher. The adaptation index was less on C. juncea in greenhouse and laboratory. In greenhouse the larval survival at 14 days was similar for all plants and at 21 days was the lowest on C. juncea. There was less accumulation of biomass at 14 days on C. juncea and at 21 days on C. juncea and A. stringosa. Regarding damage, C. juncea presented less susceptibility to Spodoptera frugiperda attack, which together with the other evaluated parameters, indicated this plant as the most appropriate for soil cover before cultivation of maize.

Natural parasitism of lepidopteran eggs by Trichogramma species (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in agricultural crops in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

The genus Trichogramma Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) includes insect egg parasitoids that are widely used throughout the world as control agents of pest insects. The aim of this study was to identify the species of Trichogramma naturally associated with the eggs of lepidopteran pests of the following agricultural and horticultural crops: collards, Brassica oleracea L. (Brassicales: Brassicaceae); papaya, Carica papaya L. (Capparales: Caricaceae); tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. (Solanales: Solanaceae); cassava, Manihot esculenta Crantz (Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae); banana, Musa sp. L. (Zingiberales: Musaceae); passion fruit, Passiflora sp. Degener (Malpighiales: Passifloraceae); sugarcane, Saccharum sp. L. (Poales: Poaceae); and corn (maize), Zea mays L. (Poales: Poaceae); and an invasive species (Sodom?s apple milkweed, Calotropis procera Aiton; Gentianales: Apocynaceae) in the semiarid region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. We report natural parasitism by Trichogramma in eggs of Agraulis vanillae vanillae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), Antichloris eriphia F. (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), Danaus sp. (L.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), Diatraea saccharalis F. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Erinnyis ello L. (Lepidopera: Sphingidae), and Protambulyx strigilis L. (Lepidopera: Sphingidae). In total, 2,242 specimens of Trichogramma were obtained, belonging to the species T. pretiosum Riley, T. manicobai Brun, Moraes & Soares, T. marandobai Brun, Moraes & Soares, and T. galloi Zucchi. These species of Trichogramma may be candidates for biological control programs of lepidopteran pests in the semiarid region of Minas Gerais and in other semiarid regions.

Annual crop rotation of tropical pastures with no-till soil as affectedby lime surface application.

Soil acidity and low natural fertility are the main limiting factors for grain production in tropical regionssuch as the Brazilian Cerrado. The application of lime to the surface of no-till soil can improve plant nutrition, dry matter production, crop yields and revenue. The present study, conducted at the Lageado Experimental Farm in Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil, is part of an ongoing research project initi-ated in 2002 to evaluate the long-term effects of the surface application of lime on the soil?s chemical attributes, nutrition and kernel/grain yield of peanut (Arachis hypogaea), white oat (Avena sativa L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) inter cropped with palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu), as well as the forage dry matter yield of palisade grass in winter/spring, its crude protein concentration, estimated meat production, and revenue in a tropical region with a dry winter during four growing seasons. The experiment was designed in randomized blocks with four replications. The treatments consisted of four rates of lime application (0, 1000, 2000 and 4000 kg ha−1), performed in November 2004. The surface application of limestone to the studied tropical no-till soil was efficient in reducing soil acidity from the surface down to a depth of 0.60 m and resulted in greater availability of P and K at the soil surface. Ca and Mg availability in the soil also increased with the lime application rate, up to a depth of 0.60 m. Nutrient absorption was enhanced with liming, especially regarding the nutrient uptake of K, Ca and Mg by plants.Significant increases in the yield components and kernel/grain yields of peanut, white oat and maize were obtained through the surface application of limestone. The lime rates estimated to achieve the maximum grain yield, especially in white oat and maize, were very close to the rates necessary to increase the base saturation of a soil sample collected at a depth of 0?0.20 m to 70%, indicating that the surface liming of 2000 kg ha−1is effective for the studied tropical no-till soil. This lime rate also increases the forage dry matter yield, crude protein concentration and estimated meat production during winter/spring in the maize-palisade grass inter cropping, provides the highest total and mean net profit during the four growing seasons, and can improve the long-term sustainability of tropical agriculture in the Brazilian Cerrado.

Desempenho de híbridos simples de milho para produtividade de grãos e forragem em região semiárida.

Resumo: A cultura do milho sofre grande instabilidade de cultivo em regiões semiáridas, ocasionada principalmente pela insuficiência de cultivares adaptadas somado a escassez pluviométrica. O presente trabalho tem por finalidade verificar o potencial de genótipos de híbridos de milho, comerciais e experimentais, quanto à produtividade de grãos e forragem nas condições semiárida Cearense. Na presente pesquisa, foram avaliados 36 genótipos de milho, sendo todos híbridos simples, desses, 32 são genótipos experimentais e quatro são comerciais. O delineamento utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso com duas repetições. As parcelas foram constituídas de duas linhas de quatro metros com densidade de aproximadamente 66.667 mil plantas ha-1 . Observou-se que o ciclo fenológico da cultivar não influencia na produtividade de grão e de forragem. O índice de seleção de níveis independentes é uma opção eficiente para identificar cultivares com aptidão para produção de forragem. [Simple hybrid performance of maize for grain and forage yield in semiarid region]. Abstract: The maize crop suffers great instability cultivation of in semi-arid regions, mainly occasioned by insufficient adapted cultivars. The present study aims to verify the potential of genotypes of maize hybrids, commercial and experimental, as the grain yield and forage in semiarid conditions in the Northeast. In the present survey were evaluated 36 genotypes of maize, all of simple hybrids of these, 32 are experimental genotypes and four are commercial. The design utilized was a randomized block design with two replications. The plots consisted of two lines of four meters with a density of approximately 66,667 plant ha-1 . It was observed that the phenological cycle of the cultivar does not influence the grain and forage yield. The independent levels selection index is an efficient option to identify cultivars with the suitability for forage production.

Correlações fenotípicas entre variáveis de variedades de milho em condições de semiárido na safra 2014.

Resumo: A cultura do milho sofre grande instabilidade de cultivo em regiões semiáridas, ocasionada, principalmente pela insuficiência de cultivares adaptadas. Á genética, busca a identificação de plantas mais adaptadas às condições em que serão cultivadas, para seleção de um melhor ideótipo. Verificou-se o potencial de variedades de milho, para produtividade de grãos e forragem, além de estimar as relações existentes entre os diferentes caracteres sob condição semiárida do norte do Ceará. Foram avaliados 30 tratamentos, sendo 25 variedades e cinco híbridos testemunhas. O Delineamento utilizado foi blocos ao acaso com duas repetições e com parcelas 0,75m entre linhas e 0,20 m entre plantas. Foram avaliadas 12 variáveis diferentes, em condições de pluviosidade de aproximadamente 500 mm e com períodos de estiagem inferiores a 10 dias até o estádio de florescimento. Identificou-se que em condições de baixa pluviosidade, as cultivares que apresentam maior teor de clorofila e massa fresca, proporcionam melhor desempenho produtivo e conforme observado não houve correlação entres as varriáveis Florescimento Feminino (MF) e Florescimento Masculino (FM) com produtividade de grão (PROD) e produção de Materia Seca (MS), desta forma vale salientar que nas condições em que o experimento , o ciclo fenológico não influênciou nos indices produtivos. [Phenotypic correlations between maize varieties variables in semi-arid conditions in the crop 2014]. Abstract: The corn crop suffers instability crop in semi-arid regions, caused mainly by the lack of adapted cultivars. Genetic seeks to identify more plants adapted to the conditions in which they are cultivated, for selecting a best ideotype. It was verified the potential of maize varieties for grain yield and foragein addition to to estimate the relationships between the different characters under semiarid conditions of northern Ceará. A total of 30 treatments, 25 varieties and five hybrids witnesses. We evaluated 30 treatments with 25 varieties and five hybrids as controls. The design was a randomized block design with two replications. With plots of 0.75 m between rows and 0.20 m between plants. We evaluated 12 different variables, conditions of approximately 500 mm and dry periods less than 10 days until the flowering stage. It was found that in low rainfall conditions, the cultivars with the greatest chlorophyll content and fresh pasta, provide better growth performance and as noted there was no correlation entres the Flowering varriáveis Female (MF) and Flowering Male (FM) with grain yield (PROD) and production of Dry Matter (DM), thus worth pointing out that under the conditions of the experiment, the phenological cycle did not influence the production indices

Materia orgânica e inoculação com Azospirillum na incorporação de N pelo milho

1982

Serologies use in the identification of insects predators prey.

This study aimed to produce antiserum for the main pests found in maize, Spodoptera frugiperda, Helicoverpa zea and armigera, Rhopalosiphum maidis, and uses it to determine their predators. Pest samples were macerated in 0.85% saline solution. The macerated were centrifuged and the supernatants were used as immunizing antigens to obtain the antiserum. For this purpose, a rabbit was immunized with 3.0 ml of the immunizing antigen on the lymph node region. Homologous serological tests were performed by double diffusion in agar. The homologous serological reactions were positive after seven days of antigen inoculation. The technique has sensitivity to detect predation of the pests studied. The tests were positive for a prey in the digestive tract of the predator to 96 hours of ingestion. Regarding the number of prey ingested there was no difference in the lines. It is concluded that after a single injection of antigen in rabbit lymph node region, it was possible to get an antiserum specific for pests of corn. Field tests showed that there was a certain food preference of Doru luteipes by S. frugiperda, Chrysoperla externa by aphid.

Caracterização molecular de bactérias promotoras do crescimento vegetal isoladas de milho por meio da amplificação do Gene nifH perfis de ARDRA.

Há poucas informações a respeito da diversidade e do potencial biotecnológico dos micro-organismos do solo no Semiárido, em especial daqueles envolvidos com processo de fixação biológica de nitrogênio. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a diversidade de uma coleção de bactérias associadas ao milho (Zea mays L.) em solos do Semiárido. As bactérias foram avaliadas quanto à amplificação de um fragmento do gene nifH por meio de PCR e pela técnica de ARDRA. Dentre as 72 bactérias testadas, 47 foram considerados nifH positivos e a análise dos perfis de ARDRA mostrou que o local de origem dos isolados foi fator determinante para o agrupamento das bactérias.