PROTECTION OF SWEET CORN FROM OSTRINIA NUBILALIS HBN. AND HELICOVERPA ARMIGERA HBN.

Abstract

O. nubilalis and H. armigera regularly occur and cause significant damages in corn crops in Serbia, particularly under global warming conditions. Several measures are applied against these pests (crop rotation, tolerant and resistant hybrids, monitoring, forecast, chemical measures). Larvae damage stem, panicle and ear, which favour development of saprophytes and secondary infections by mycotoxin producing, pathogenic fungi. The aim of the paper was to test the efficacy of the insecticides azadirachtin and indoxacarb in sweet corn protection against the mentioned pests. The trials were conducted in 2014 at two localities (Becej B. and PoIjanice P.) on sweet corn, hybrid Enterprise according to standard OEPP methods (PP1/13; 1/152; 1/135). Products on the basis of azadirachtin (10 g a.i./I of product) at a rate of 0.4 and 0.5% and indoxacarb (150 g a.i./I of product) at a rate of 0.25 I/ha, were applied. Treatments were conducted on the 5th of August with tractor sprayers (high clearance). The plot size was 5000 m². Three assessments were made. The first one prior to treatment, on 25 randomly selected plants per replicate, and the number of O. nubilalis and H. armigera egg masses and larvae on silk was registered. In the second assessment (18th of August), on 20 randomly selected plants per replicate, the number of damaged plants and the number of vital larvae was registered. In the third assessment, immediately before harvest (28th of August, i.e. 12th of September) on 20 randomly selected plants per replicate, the number of plants broken below ear (fallen on the ground), damaged ears and vital larvae, was determined. Results are presented as means, efficacy (E%) according to Abbott and significance of differences by LSD test (5%). At B locality egg masses of O. nubilalis were registered on ear silk on 13-19% of plants and larvae on 3-7%, and larvae of H. armigera on 2-4%. At P locality egg masses of O. nubilalis were present on 34-40.8% of plants. After 13 days from treatment, at B locality the percentage of damaged plants was 3.8-7.5% and at a significantly lower level compared to control where 40.0% of damaged plants was recorded. Vital larvae of O. nubilalis were present on 1.3-31% of plants, depending on the insecticide and application rate, and in the control on 41.3%. At P locality the percentage of damaged plants per treatment ranged from 20 to 46.3% depending on insecticide and application rate, and in the control 63.8%, and the presence of vital larvae of O. nubilalis on 16.3-21.3% of plants, and in the control on 53.5%. Immediately before harvest, at B locality azadirachtin efficacy, depending on application rate and counted parameters, was 88.5-92.5%; 66.7-72.9% and 69.1-75.2%. Efficacy of indoxacarb in general was 75-100%. At P locality, efficacy of azadirachtin depending on application rate and counted parameters, was 77.8-88.9%; 66.5-83.3% and 44.1-74.6%, while efficacy of this insecticide in general amounted 91.5-100%.