Uso de Azadirachta indica A.Juss e Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai no manejo de Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae), na cultura do milho

Abstract

The synthetic insecticide is the main method used to control Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith). However, the inadequate application of the insecticide has contributed to increase costs, reduction of the natural enemies, and selection of resistant populations, among other problems. Attempting to obtain alternative control of S. frugiperda more ecologically acceptable, the present work investigated the effects of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) and Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai (Bta) on S. frugiperda under laboratory, greenhouse and field conditions. In the field, the commercial formulations of Natuneem® (10 mL/L in 2005 and 15 mL/L in 2006) and Neemseto® (5 and 10 mL/L in 2005, and 10 and 15 mL/L in 2006) and the biological insecticide Xentari® (10 g/L in 2005 and 2006) were applied at 15, 30 and 45 and at 15, 25 e 35 days after plant emergency in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Thee evaluations consisted of using a scale of foliar injury from 0 to 5 prior each spray. In 2005, only Neemseto® 10 mL/L was efficient at 30 days. In 2006, Neemseto® 15 mL/L and Xentari® with average score of 0.93 and 0.98, respectively, were different from the control, which produced a score of 2.38 at 35 days after plant emergency. The greenhouse assay consisted of treatment of plants 40-days old with the insecticides Natuneem®, Neemseto® and Xentari® followed by artificial infestation with newly-hatched larvae of S. frugiperda. After 10 days, it was verified that the treatment were equally efficient, differing from the control, regarding to the injury score, as well as, the number of surviving larvae. In the last bioassays, in the laboratory, 10-days old S. frugiperda larvae were fed with corn leaves treated with the insecticides Natuneem®, Neemseto® and Xentari® at 2.5; 5.0; 7.5; 10 mL or g/mL and control (water). The effect of the insecticides increased as function of increasing concentration, causing higher larval mortality, longer period and lower larval weight. In some cases, reduction of pupa weight and viability and longevity of adults were also verified. Larvae 0-24 h old were more susceptible to the insecticides, as compared with 10-days old larvae.