Perfil do produtor de pinha na Bahia, importância da broca-dos-frutos e eficiência de inseticidas no controle da praga

Abstract

The agribusiness of custard apple in Bahia is currently considered a primary economic activity. The fruit borer, Cerconota anonella (SEPP., 1830) (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) is the key plague of the crop, causing damage of up to 100% on the production. There is a lack of official data on producer and phytosanitary aspects and also there are no register of pesticides for that culture as well as information on the effectiveness of insecticides that can subsidize a request of usage extending of insecticides registered for other cultures. This work was developed with the following objectives: to characterize the profile of the producers of custard apple on the main producing regions of Bahia; to know the phytosanitary aspects of that culture, with emphasis on fruit borer; to estimate the efficacy of insecticides on the plague control under semiarid conditions of the Southwest of Bahia; and to determine the residue levels of efficient pesticides on the fruit. The results indicated that the custard apple culture in Bahia is established in small areas and the producers are older than 41, low education levels, with negligible participation in associations and or producer cooperatives, with use of low level of technology on the crops. The importance of phytosanitary problems varies depending on the producing regions. The control of the plague costs are 10 to 20% of total production cost. Chemical control is the most used for fruit borer control, with products mainly classified in Class II Toxicological and Environmental I. The spraying is begun on the small fruit phase, repeating this procedure for about five times until the harvest, without alternating insecticides during the process. The residue levels of imidacloprid at 21 and 30 days after application of the highest dose use to stay above the maximum allowed. The products do not fit the rules for requesting extension of Citrus to use to custard apple.