Uso do óleo essencial de citronela (Cymbopogon winterianus) no controle biológico do pulgão preto do feijoeiro (Aphis craccivora) (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

Abstract

The objective of this work was to study the action of citronella essential oil on black bean aphid, evaluating whether it can be an alternative for the rational control of Aphis craccivora. The experiment was conducted at the Entomology and Beekeeping Laboratory of the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Paraíba, located in the irrigated perimeter of São Gonçalo in Sousa-PB. The experiment was completely randomized with four treatments T0: control, being a mixture of water with neutral detergent at 1%; T1: this consists of a mixture of water, neutral detergent 1% and 0.5% citronella oil; T2: composed of a mixture of water, 1% neutral detergent and 1% citronella oil; T3: formed by a mixture of water, 1% neutral detergent and 1.5% citronella oil. Each treatment consisted of 10 replicates. In the statistical comparison of the means of the treatments, the T1 treatment composed of 0.5% of citronella oil and 1% of neutral detergent was not statistically significant when compared to the control formed by 1% of neutral detergent. The 1% citronella T2 treatment had a significant effect when compared to the samples treated with neutral detergent only at 1%, however, there was no significant difference when compared to T3 where the oil concentration was 1.5%. At the 1% concentration the citronella oil was sufficient to cause a mortality of 84.6% of the treated aphids, being preferred its use since there was no significant difference between the T3 treatment.