Relation between fruit borer and the fusariosis incidence in pineapple fruits

Abstract

A field trial was carried out in Piüi, MG, Brazil, to study the efficiency of carbaryl (217 g/100 l) and acephate (75 g/100 l) insecticides when applied alone or in combination with the fungicide captafol (100 ml/100 I), during the flowering period of 'Perola' pineapple (Ananas comosus Merr.) plants in order to control the fruit borer (Thecla basalides Geyer 1837) and the fusariosis disease (Fusarium moniliforme Sheld., var. subglutinans Wr. & Rg). Insecticide applications without fungicide were sufficient to decrease significantly the fusariosis incidence in the fruits and the percentage of this incidence was equivalent to that observed when captafol was sprayed alone. Positive correlation index highly significant was also observed between fruit borer damage and fusariosis incidence.