Extrato de própolis de Apis mellifera no controle de fitopatógenos, e sobre o manejo de doenças e o desempenho agronômico de alface

Abstract

The agroecological cultivation of vegetables, including lettuce, is relevant for family food security and also for generating income and work in the context of family farming. Several diseases can occur in this culture and compromise the quality of the final product. The use of propolis in the management of phytopathogens, as well as its potential in activating plant defense mechanisms, has been studied for some crops. In the case of lettuce, however, studies on the potential of propolis for the crop are rare. The objectives of this research were to study the potential of green propolis and brown propolis from Apis mellifera in the management of lettuce diseases, as well as its effect on the induction of biochemical defense mechanisms and to evaluate the commercial performance of lettuce cultivation under field conditions. perspective of ecological transition. The experiments were carried out at the Phytopathology Laboratory and at the experimental area of the Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Campus Laranjeiras do Sul-PR. Flat lettuce cultivar Elisa was cultivated. Both, brown propolis and green propolis promoted the inhibition of phytopathogens in vitro. For the results of the experiments in growth chamber with young lettuce plants, there was no significant difference in the severity of brown eyespot, downy mildew, rhizoctoniosis and white mold between the types and concentrations of propolis. Only in the first evaluation of rhizoctoniosis did 4% green propolis reduce the number of dead leaves. In the field, there was only a low occurrence of brown eyespot and 4% green propolis was the most effective in controlling it. In the activation of defense mechanisms in lettuce, there was no significant difference between types of propolis and different concentrations and control. In the commercial evaluation, propolis did not interfere with the total fresh mass and, although the plants were below the expectation regarding size, they presented a performance evaluated as of first quality.