Integrated Pest Management in sweet potato crop

Abstract

One of the main limiting factors in the production of sweet potatoes is the occurrence of pest insects that attack leaves, stems and roots. The adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) is based on preserving and enhancing natural pest mortality factors and monitoring populations of pests and natural enemies. However, for this crop there are no well-defined sampling plans and, therefore, the implementation of IPM is hampered. The objective of this work was to determine the best techniques and sample units and to carry out surveys of pests and natural enemies that occur in sweet potato crops in Sergipe. The techniques tested were direct count and tray beat. Already to determine the sample unit, random branches were selected in each plant. Direct counting was the adopted technique and the best units were the first and second sheets. Thus, this work proved to be promising for IPM in sweet potato crops.