Silicon fertilization as a tool to control diamondback moth in cabbage plants

Resumo

Integrated pest management strategies are among the factors promoting plant resistance to pests, and mineral fertilization with silicon may increase this resistance. Thus, the objective of this research was to evaluate the control of diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera, Plutellidae) through foliar fertilization with silicon in cabbage crops. The experiment was conducted in the vegetable producing area of the Agua Limpa Farm of the University of Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil. The experimental design was a randomized block with nine treatments and four replicates, totaling 36 plots. The treatments applied consisted of Agrosilicon® (10.5% Si) (T1), Sifol® (12% Si) (T2), Decis® 25 EC (Deltamethrin 25 g L^-1) (T3), Dipel® SC (Bacillus thuringiensis, 33.60 g L^-1) (T4), Agrosilicon® + Decis® (T5), Agrosilicon® + Dipel® (T6), Sifol® + Decis® (T7), Sifol® + Dipel® (T8) and a Control (T9). Foliar fertilization with Agrosilicon® and Sifol ® were performed weekly and the insecticides Decis® and Dipel® were applied according to the damage level established for DBM in cabbage crops. Foliar fertilizations with silicon, singly or in combination with chemical and biological insecticides - T2, T7 and T8, were the best strategy to control DBM, resulting in the lowest number of caterpillars per plant, lowest leaf damages and best aesthetic value of plants. Foliar fertilization with silicon has significant potential to control diamondback moth in cabbage crops.