Damage Caused by Psyllids and Influence of Climatic Factors in Brazilian Accesses of Guava Trees Cultivated in Organic System

Abstract

The psyllid ( Triozoida sp.) is the primary pest of guava tree in the Central Northern region of S ? o Paulo State, Brazil. The variation of climatic factors may influence directly or indirectly the behavior of agricultural pests. The present work had objectives to evaluate the damages caused by psyllid in accesses of guava trees in order to identify materials with potential resistance to pest and the possible correlations of the damage with the meteorological factors, in an orchard of guava conducted in an organic system. Eighty-five guava accesses were evaluated. Each one was analyzed at random 10 leaves containing the symptom of the psyllid attack, through visual range of notes. The averages of the notes were compared by Scott-Knott test at 5% probability. The 25 accesses with the highest average damage of psyllid had the data submitted to correlation (Pearson), with the minimum and maximum temperature ( ° C), precipitation (mm) and relative humidity (%). Guava accesses used commercially were the most susceptible to the attack of psyllid, compared to the selections, with an emphasis to access “L4P14”, “L7P28” and “L8P32B”, which were the least attacked. The study of correlation between psyllid damages and meteorological factors, must be used the medium temperature, relative humidity and rainfall accumulated in the period of 14 days before the evaluations. There is a positive correlation between minimum temperasture, precipitation and relative humidity with the damage of psyllids in leaves of guava.