Evaluating intraguild interaction between Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) on conventional maize

• Grant number: 16/02391-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2016
• End date: May 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Edson Luiz Lopes Baldin
• Grantee: Sara Isa Vieira Kuchta de Almeida
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas (FCA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Among cereals grown in Brazil, corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the most expressive. Due to their physiological characteristics, this crop has a high yield potential, accounting for a significant portion of the national agribusiness. Among the factors limiting crop yield, the incidence of pests stands out as a major, compromising the performance of the crops in the field. The records of the season 2014/15 reveal a national production of approximately 209.5 million tonnes and a cultivated area of 58.04 million hectares. Yield must register an increase of 6.4% compared to last year, increasing 3.6 tons per hectare. The most damage in corn are caused by Lepidoptera species as corn earworm Helicoverpa zea (Boddie, 1850) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), which can compromisse over 90% of corn ears produced in the field, and also the old world boolworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner, 1805) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), recently identified in Brazil, and that surprised farmers and researchers for its high potential for damage, especially on corn, soybeans and cotton crops. A better understanding of the inter and intra specific interactions between lepidopteran pests in intensive crops can help identify species in the field, and as a result, can help choose the most effective strategies in the Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The objective of this study is to evaluate aspects of the interaction between the species H. zea and H. armigera, occupying the same guild in maize. Competition bioassays will be performed in different settings and conducted under laboratory and field conditions on conventional maize. (AU)