Efficacy of insecticides in fruit borer control and residues on sugar apple fruit

Alessandro Da Silva Oliveira,Antônio Souza Do Nascimento,Maria Aparecida Castellani,Aldenise Alves Moreira,Mateus Silva Azevedo,Vitoriano Gusmão Oliveira

doi:10.1590/0034-737x201764020004

Alessandro Da Silva Oliveira, Antônio Souza Do Nascimento + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-737x201764020004

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Journal: Revista Ceres	Publication Date: Apr 1, 2017
License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Southwest Bahia State University

Abstract

ABSTRACT Bahia is the Brazilian state with the largest production of sugar apple fruits (Annona squamosa L.), and fruit borer (Cerconota anonella, Sepp. 1830) is a key crop pest. Insecticides are the main strategy for pest control even though there are no pesticides registered for this crop. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of insecticides to control fruit borer and determine the levels of insecticide residues in sugar apple fruits aiming at requesting the extension of authorization to use insecticide products in this crop. The experiment was conducted in an eight-year-old irrigated orchard (2 × 4 m) located in Anagé, Bahia, Brazil. The experimental design was a randomized block design with 10 treatments (three insecticides with three doses and a control with water) and 5 replications. Each plot was composed of four plants but only the two central ones were assessed. Insecticides and doses (g a.i. 100 L−1 water) were Bacillus thuringiensis: 0.8, 1.7, and 2.5; triflumuron: 2.4, 3.6, and 4.8; and imidacloprid: 4.0, 10.0, and 16.0. Nine sprayings were carried out at fortnightly intervals with a costal sprayer with constant pressure, JA-2 nozzle, and with jet directed to the fruits. Ten assessments were performed in order to observe fruit borer presence in 30 previously marked fruits per plot. Imidacloprid, at the highest studied dose, was the only effective treatment. Analyses of imidacloprid residues, at 21 and 30 days after the highest dose application, indicated levels higher than the maximum limit allowed. Insecticides under the conditions tested do not meet the norms for requesting the extension of authorization to use insecticides for citrus in sugar apple fruits.

Highlights

Annonaceae comprises a group of plants standing out worldwide for producing high commercial value fruits either for fresh or processed market, as well as for production of bioactive compounds
The three main Annonaceae species produce in Brazil are sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.), soursop (Annona muricata L.), and atemoya (Annona cherimola Mill. × Annona squamosa L.) (Lemos, 2014)
Since several crops are in the same situation as Annonaceae, the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), together with the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA), and the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) published a Joint Normative Instruction (INC), No 01 of February 23, 2010 (Brasil, 2010). It establishes the guidelines and requirements for authorization for agrochemicals and their components already registered in crops with insufficient phytosanitary support, as well as the maximum residue limit allowed. For this reason and considering the increasing importance of sugar apple to Bahia state, this study aimed to assess the efficacy of insecticides to control fruit borer and determine the residue levels of efficient insecticides in sugar apple fruits aiming at requesting the extension of authorization to use insecticide products in this crop

Summary

Introduction

Annonaceae comprises a group of plants standing out worldwide for producing high commercial value fruits either for fresh or processed market, as well as for production of bioactive compounds. The three main Annonaceae species produce in Brazil are sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.), soursop (Annona muricata L.), and atemoya In the Neotropical region, fruit borer (Cerconota anonella, Sepp., 1830, Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) is one of the most important pest species of Annona, requiring fruit growers to adopt mainly chemical control to suppress its population (Silva et al, 2006). In Brazil, this insect has become more important due to an increasing consumption of Annonaceae fruits, occupying a primary pest status (Hamada et al, 1998; Braga Sobrinho et al, 1998, Bittencourt et al, 2007). Caterpillars take shelter within fruit natural cracks, protecting themselves with silk threads; they scrape fruit surface and, after 3 to 4 days, penetrate into them (Bittencourt et al, 2007)

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