BOTANICAL AND CHEMICAL PESTICIDES FOR THE CONTROL OF THE WHITE MITE (Polyphagotarsonemus latus Bank) (ACARINA: TARSONEMIDAE) IN GREEN PEPPER (Capsicum annuum L.), IN TISMA, MASAYA

Abstract

The broad mite (white mite) (Polyphagotarsonemus latus Bank), is one of the mostly severe phytosanitary problems for the pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) farmers in the municipality of Tisma, Masaya. This pest has caused important economic losses because it reduces the yields, therefore decreases the quality of the fruits and increases the production costs. In view of this problem in the municipality of Tisma with the purpose to assess the botanic and chemical products to manage the white mite in the peppers, a study was carried out between the months of July to October of year 2009, where some botanical and chemical products for the handling of the white mite were evaluated. The products evaluated were: chili pepper + soap, Oberon, Neem, Vertimec, Garlic + soap in comparison with the witness. The variables evaluated were: Population fluctuation of the white mite, incidence and severity of damage in each plant due to the white mite, yield (kg ha-1). Results obtained on this study, indicates that the Oberon treatment was the treatment with better control to white mites. In addition, Oberon resulted the treatment with the lowest percentage of incidence and severity caused by white mite. The economic analysis carried out in this study determined that the Oberon treatment was the one that presented the greater yield and was the one that obtained the greater net benefit. On the contrary, the treatment that presented the variable with the highest costs was the Vertimec treatment, followed by the Neem.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/calera.v13i20.1619