Bioatividade de cinza de eucalyptus dunnii no controle de sitophilus zeamais mots. (coleoptera: curculionidae) em sementes de milho armazenado

Abstract

Seed quality may be affected by the action of different agents during storage, including pests such as Sitophilus zeamais Mots., considered a major internal primary pest causing seed deterioration. The use of inert dusts to control pests is a technique that causes insect death by desiccation. This research aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Eucalyptus dunnii ash in relation to repellency, adult survival of S. zeamais, infestation, physiological analysis (germination, humidity and emergence speed index), ash LC50 and quantification of soluble silicon. The work was developed in the Entomology and Seed Germination laboratories and in the greenhouse of the Federal University of Fronteira Sul - UFFS, Campus Laranjeiras do Sul / PR. E. dunnii wood ash presented repellency to S. zeamais, and when compared to diatomaceous earth caused higher mortality in a shorter time, reduced grain loss, did not damage germination, emergence speed index and no change in moisture content. It has the highest soluble silicon content which with the ash dose of 5 g.kg-1 of the seeds is able to control the population of S. zeamais in 100%.