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CORESTA Congress, Edinburgh, 2010, AP 23

Parasitoid wasps applications in insect pest management in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) growing sites in South Brazil

DORFEY C.; KOHLER K.
University of Santa Cruz do Sul (Unisc), Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil

This study aims to inventory the biodiversity of hymenopterans parasitoids associated with tobacco according to the cultivation method (organic and conventional); examine the host-parasitoid relationships in tobacco crops; check the effect of adjacent vegetation on populations of parasitoids and determine parasitoid species with potential applicability in IPM programs. In the 2007/2008, 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 tobacco harvests Malaise and Pit-Fall traps were installed in 12 organic and conventional tobacco fields in Southern Brazil. In the 07/08 tobacco harvest, in the states of Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul, a total of 179.551 arthropods were sampled distributed in 29 taxa. The order Hymenoptera was represented by 5.305 individuals (except Formicidae ) belonging to 36 families. The occurrence of similar parasitoid families in both regions was recorded, showing that despite the climatic characteristics, there is a unique fauna of parasitoids associated with tobacco. In the 08/09 harvest 260.936 arthropods were sampled, distributed in 26 taxa. Hymenoptera corresponded to 22.432 individuals (except Formicidae ) belonging to 47 families, of which 98.4% are parasitoids, thus presenting a high diversity of native natural enemies occurring associated with organic and conventional tobacco crops. Regarding the 09/10 tobacco harvest, already 30% of the collections were identified, totalizing 98.365 arthropods distributed in 30 taxa, of which 7.081 are hymenopterans belonging to 33 parasitoid families. Field and laboratory observations showed the association of parasitoid wasps' species parasitizing eggs, larvae and/or adults of specific tobacco pests, enabling the elaboration of new IPM techniques to be tested in the 2010/2011 tobacco harvest. The increase in the number of individuals collected in the border areas of the tobacco fields support the effect of adjacent vegetation on insect populations, providing alternative food resources, shelter and nesting sites, showing the potential of specific native vegetation in the IPM of tobacco produced organically.