Bioactivity of Annona mucosa Jacq. derivatives on Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

• Grant number: 17/19146-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): November 01, 2017
• Effective date (End): October 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Edson Luiz Lopes Baldin
• Grantee: Matheus Gerage Sacilotto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas (FCA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] is a major crop in Brazil, and its grains presents a wide range of uses, being useful since to human nutrition until to oil and biodiesel production. Among the biggest producers of soybean in the world, Brazil stands out at the second position, with 95,631 million tons harvested in 2015/16, staying back only the United States. Although soybean shows expressive numbers, the production of this grain can be affected by several factors and the occurrence of insect pests is a great problem for the crop. Responsible for causing serious harms to the farmers, soybean looper Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) stands out as key pest for soybean cultivation. The control of this caterpillar has been reached through successive sprayings of synthetic insecticides, which may cause serious damages to environment and human health, besides selecting resistant populations of the insect. In this unbalanced scenario, many studies have been developed aiming provide more sustainable alternatives to pest control at crops. In this way, the use of botanical insecticides has been considered as promising strategy in the integrated pest management (IPM). Among the benefits of this practice stands out the higher preservation of the agroecosystem besides good control levels of insect pests. Belonging to Annonaceae family, the species Annona mucosa Jacq. Express high insecticide potential obtained through some of its derivatives, being pointed as important candidate in botanical insecticides production. Considering the C. includens' importance for soybean crop in Brazil and the difficulties associated with its management, this project aims to evaluate the bioactivity of ethanolic seed extracts of A. mucosa (SEAM) on C. includens in laboratory and greenhouse. Thus, the effects of incorporated-to-diet SEAM on biological aspects of C. includens' neonates will be evaluated in laboratory. In assay with plants inside greenhouse, the bioactivity of SEAM on C. includens' neonates will be evaluated in comparison with a commercial insecticide recommended to soybean crop. (AU)