Evaluación del manejo etológico y biológico de mosca blanca (Trialeurodes sp.) en el cultivo de jamaica (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.).

Abstract

The white fly Trialeurodes sp. is one of the pests that affects the hibiscus crop Hibicus sabdariffa L., causing a decrease in quality. Farmers in Sucúa canton mainly use chemical synthesis inputs to control it but they damage the safety and quality of this product. This research aimed to evaluate the ethological and biological management to control the whitefly (Trialeurodes sp.) in the established crop of hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdarifa L). It was carried out in Morona Santiago province, Sucúa canton, parish Seipa during 65 days. The factors studied were two controls: biological (Lecanitic 0.5 grams per liter) and ethological (yellow photochromatic traps). The design was randomized complete blocks (RCB) with three treatments and three replicates. The application of the treatments was carried out from the 17th to the 20th week after transplanting. As a result, the best percentage of efficacy in nymph and adult control was obtained with the biological control (Lecanitic) with 52.93% percent and 22.07 %, respectively. From the point of view of production, the best treatment is the biological one (Lecanitic) considering the number of productive branches, number of calyxes per plant and weight of fruit in grams per plant, for which averages of 12.53, 124.56 and 1014.45 were obtained, respectively. The best benefit-cost ratio was for the biological control (Lecanitic) with USD 1.89. It is concluded that the application of biological control (Lecanitic) mainly affected the development of adults, as the mode of action of Lecanicillium lecanii causes septicaemia in the insects it infects. Considering the percentages of efficacy, productivity and the benefit-cost ratio, it is concluded that the best treatment is biological control (Lecanitic) for whitefly management.