Damage caused by Costalimaita ferruginea (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in access of guava trees cultivated in organic system

Brazil is one of the largest world producers of guava (Psidium guajava), with emphasis in the São Paulo State. Damages caused by consumption of food with agrochemicals residues have required the development of cultivars resistant and/or tolerant to pests.  The present study aimed to evaluate the damage caused by yellow beetle (C. ferruginea) in access of guava trees cultivated in organic system, in order to identify potential insect resistance materials. The experiment was developed in Apta North Centre in Pindorama, São Paulo State (21 º 11’ 9” s and 48 º 54’ 25” w), in plants belonging to Active Germplasm Bank, containing 85 access. In three plants of each access were randomly evaluated 10 leaves containing the symptom of attack by C. ferruginea (perforated leaves, lacy-looking). Each leaf had its area measurement with leaf area meter CID Bio-science, model CI-202. After obtaining the total area, the leaf was covered with duct tape to cover the holes left by the insect, simulating the foliar leaf area without symptoms. The percentage of leaf area consumed by the insect was obtained by the difference between the readings. The evaluations were conducted five times between November 2012 and February 2013. The means of damage of each access in each assessment were compared by Scott-Knott test at 5% probability. The average of evaluations allowed the separation of access in 5 groups, with leaf area losses ranging from 22% to the materials more susceptible to 3.5% for the more tolerant, which constituted the majority, with an emphasis to commercial materials Kumagai, Paluma and IAC-4.

Acknowledgements: To Fapesp, by financial assistance in the conduct of this research