TECHNOLOGY FOR THE APPLICATION OF CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS TO CONTROL THE CORN HIGHLINDER (Dalbulus maidis DeLONG & WOLCOTT, 1923) (HEMIPTERA: CICADELLIDAE)

• Grant number: 22/15350-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date until: March 01, 2023
• End date until: February 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Gilberto Raetano
• Grantee: Julia Carpin Ariozo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas (FCA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The corn crop can be attacked by several species of insect pests, from emergence to maturity. Currently, the corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis DeLong & Wolcott, 1923 (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) is considered one of the main pest insects of this crop due to the transmission of mollicutes (spiroplasma and phytoplasma) responsible for diseases known as pale and red stunt of corn. Currently, the stunting complex is considered one of the main phytosanitary challenges of the corn production chain in Brazil. The control of several pests of agricultural importance has become increasingly difficult due to the use of insecticides, possibly by populations of insect pests and vectors resistant to several active ingredients. Therefore, the use of other control tools has been optimized and, among them, biological control with entomopathogenic fungi has proved to be an alternative method for controlling the corn leafhopper. The genus Isaria has been widely used in biological control programs for insect pests such as whitefly. There are reports of improved efficiency in the control of insect pest species when chemical and biological control methods are associated. Therefore, the objective of this work will be to evaluate the effect of the association of chemical and biological products (Beauveria bassiana plus Isaria javanica) in the control of the corn leafhopper, using different application technologies in the corn crop.