Sampling Methodology of a Key Pest: Technique and Sampling Unit for Evaluation of Leafhopper Dalbulus maidis Populations in Maize Crops

Cleovan Barbosa Pinto, Daiane das Graças do Carmo (), Juliana Lopes dos Santos, Marcelo Coutinho Picanço Filho, Juliana Magalhães Soares, Renato Almeida Sarmento, Eraldo Lima, Leandro Bacci and Marcelo Coutinho Picanço
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Cleovan Barbosa Pinto: Graduate Programme in Biotechnology and Biodiversity, Rede Bionorte, Federal University of Tocantins, Palmas 77650-000, Tocantins, Brazil
Daiane das Graças do Carmo: Department of Plant Science, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Juliana Lopes dos Santos: Graduate Programme in Biotechnology and Biodiversity, Rede Bionorte, Federal University of Tocantins, Palmas 77650-000, Tocantins, Brazil
Marcelo Coutinho Picanço Filho: Department of Entomology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Juliana Magalhães Soares: Department of Entomology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Renato Almeida Sarmento: Graduate Programme in Biotechnology and Biodiversity, Rede Bionorte, Federal University of Tocantins, Palmas 77650-000, Tocantins, Brazil
Eraldo Lima: Department of Entomology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Leandro Bacci: Department of Agronomic Engineering, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060-108, Sergipe, Brazil
Marcelo Coutinho Picanço: Department of Plant Science, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-13

Abstract: Maize ( Zea mays ) is the most consumed food in the world. The leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis , (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is one of the most important maize pests, and due to its direct and indirect damage, it can cause losses of up to 100%. Sampling plans are essential components for integrated pest management programs. The first two components to be determined in these plans are the sampling unit and the sampling technique. The sampling unit consists of determining the plant organ to be evaluated in the sampling and the techniques are the devices used to sample populations of pests in crops. Thus, the objective of this work was to select the unit and technique to be used in the sampling of D. maidis in maize crops. For this purpose, pest populations in plants at stages V4, V6, V8, and V10 were monitored in 16 commercial crops in the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes over two years. The sample units studied were the leaves at different positions in the canopy of the plants. The techniques studied were direct counting, shaking the apex of the plants in a plastic tray and using a beating cloth. In the process of selecting the unit and technique to be used in sampling populations of pests in crops, adequate criteria must be used. These criteria include precision, representativeness, sampling time and that the use of these components in the sampling plans should not cause damage to the plants. The most suitable sampling unit for evaluating these pest populations was the whorl leaves and the best technique was the direct counting. Therefore, the unit and technique selected in this work can be used in sampling plans for D. maidis in maize crops.

Keywords: Zea mays; Cicadellidae; direct count; maize whorl; sampling accuracy; sampling time; representative samples (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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