Potential of cover crops for the attraction of predators in the cultivation of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. Flavicarpa Sims.)

Abstract

Aiming to promote biological control in organic passion fruit crops, this work aimed to know the
attractiveness of cover crops to predators. The experiment was conducted in Seropédica, RJ,
from April 2015 to February 2016. The crop was associated with forage peanuts (Arachis pintoi),
crotalaria (Crotalaria spectabilis) and spontaneous vegetation (control), cultivated between
the lines, using a block design and four replicates. Predators were collected by motorized sucker
every three weeks for five months. The three hedge plants attracted predators. There was
no significant difference in the mean number of predators in the three coverages. In general,
the main families of predators collected were: Formicidae (Hymenoptera) and the Araneae of
the families Oxyopidae, Thomisidae, Araneidae, Eutichuridae.