ABSTRACT Euxesta sp. (corn-silk fly) is a highly polyphagous insect genus that affects horticultural crops, fruit trees, and industrial crops. It causes huge economic losses in sweet corn (maize). Damage is caused by larvae feeding on corn silk, kernels and the remainder of the cob. Chemical treatments applied to maize crops are often not effective; therefore, efforts to control the fly must focus on finding alternative methods, such as biological control. The aim of this work was to determine the effects of Euxestophaga argentinensis (Hymenoptera, Figitidae) parasitism on corn-silk fly larvae, in two different planting dates: late winter and late summer. Samples were taken during spring and autumn in a commercial Bt sweet corn for two consecutive years. A total of 20 ears of corn per sample were collected at random and were placed in plastic trays, stored at 22 ± 2°C and 70 ± 5% RH and exposed to a 14:10 h photoperiod. Euxesta eluta and Euxesta mazorca pupae were separated, placed in separate plastic vials and periodically checked for emergence of adult flies and parasitoids. E. eluta has greater potential to damage sweet corn crops than E. mazorca. Parasitism was higher in late winter than in late summer, while only E. eluta was parasitized.

RESUMEN Euxesta spp. (mosca de la mazorca) es un género de insectos altamente polífagos que afectan los cultivos hortícolas, árboles frutales y cultivos industriales. En el maíz dulce causa altas pérdidas económicas. El daño es causado por la alimentación de la larva sobre los estigmas, granos y restos de la mazorca. Los tratamientos químicos aplicados a los cultivos del maíz frecuentemente no son efectivos, por lo tanto los esfuerzos en el control deben focalizarse en métodos alternativos, como el control biológico. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar el efecto del parasitoide Euxestophaga argentinensis (Hymenoptera, Figitidae) sobre las larvas de la mosca, en dos épocas de siembra: fin de invierno y fin de verano, en lotes comerciales de maíz dulce Bt, en dos años consecutivos. Un total de 20 mazorcas de maíz por muestreo fueron recolectados al azar y se colocaron en bolsas plásticas herméticas y fueron mantenidos en laboratorio a 22 ± 2°C, 70 ± 5% RH y a 14:10 h de luz:oscuridad. Las pupas de E. eluta y E. mazorca fueron colocadas individualmente en tubos plásticos y revisados periódicamente hasta la emergencia del adulto de la mosca o del parasitoide. E. eluta tiene mayor potencial de daño que E. mazorca en los cultivos de maíz dulce. El parasitismo fue mayor en los cultivos sembrados en verano que en los de invierno tardío y solo E. eluta fue parasitada.

The aim of this work was to quantify frost damage and the reproductive and vegetative behaviour of some Citrus species after intense frost events registered between June 7th and 8th 2012. After the frost events, trees showed severe fruit drop, partial or total defoliation and eventually, tree death. Growth response during the following growing season showed that percentage of sprouting (y) was inversely related to defoliation (x) caused by frost (y=146. 32-0.92x). Flowering intensity was reduced in the majority of the citrus varieties tested, with a relative increase of vegetative and leafy shoots. Fruit set was increased (69-92%) in relation with years without frost occurrence with the exception of tangerines. Fruit yield of each variety was related with its mean flowering intensity at the central area of Santa Fe. Those cultivars which normally reach high flowering intensities (>250 flowers per 100 nodes) showed higher fruit yield, up to 67% compared to non-frost years. In the other hand, cultivars which normally reach lower flowering intensities showed low fruit yields (<26.3- 84.5%) in comparison with non-frost years.

En la región central de Santa Fe, durante los días 7 y 8 de junio del año 2012 se produjeron heladas advectivas de gran intensidad y duración. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue caracterizar los daños por heladas y el comportamiento vegetativo y reproductivo de diferentes variedades de cítricos, durante la siguiente estación de crecimiento. En las plantaciones se reportaron pérdidas de fruta, defoliaciones y hasta muerte de plantas. La brotación del siguiente ciclo (y) estuvo inversamente relacionada con la defoliación (x) producida (y=146,32-0,92x). Se observó una reducida intensidad de floración con predominio de brotes vegetativos y generativos con hojas. El cuajado de los frutos aumentó entre un 69 a 92% en relación con los valores medios de la zona, a excepción de las mandarinas. El rendimiento alcanzado por cada variedad luego de los daños por fuertes heladas se relacionó con su intensidad de floración media en la zona. Las varie- dades que normalmente desarrollan intensidades de floración superiores a 250 flores cada 100 nudos en años sin fuertes heladas presentaron un rendimiento superior a su valor promedio. En cambio, aquellas que normalmente presentan menores intensidades de floración tuvieron disminuciones de rendimiento entre un 26,3 y 84,5% respecto de su valor medio.

Na região centro-leste do estado de Santa Fé, Argentina, para a expansão dos frutais é preciso introduzir variedades de baixo requerimento de frio. O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar o comportamento durante as fases de crescimento e frutificação de variedades de pêssego (Prunus persica L. Batsch) e nectarina com requerimentos de frio que variam entre 150-650 horas de frio (CH). As variedades de pêssego de baixa necessidade de frio (< 450 CH) mostraram maior densidade de flores (22.0-56.5 flores m-1), de estabelecimento de frutos (26.0-56.7%), e rendimento de fruta (9.3-36.6 kg por planta) comparado com variedades de pêssego com necessidade de frio maior (>500 CH). As variedades de maior necessidade de frio tiveram a vantagem da floração, e o estabelecimento dos frutos aconteceu depois do período de risco de geadas. Porém, essas variedades não têm satisfeita sua necessidade de frio, apresentando comportamento vegetativo e reprodutivo inadequado. As variedades de baixa necessidade de frio brotaram entre 4 a 31 de julho e o período de plena floração aconteceu entre 14 de julho a 4 de agosto. A colheita de fruta começou em 19 de outubro com o cv. 'Flordastar', e sua duração foi de 58 dias. Para as variedades de baixa necessidade de frio o período de colheita foi dez dias mais curto.

In Santa Fe, the central-east area of Argentina, the expansion of fruit tree crops requires the introduction and evaluation of low chilling varieties. The aims of this study was to characterize the phenological behaviour and the reproductive traits of peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) and nectarine varieties with chilling requirements ranging from 150 to 650 chilling hours (CH). Low chilling varieties (< 450 CH) had higher flower density (22.0-56.5 flowers m-1), fruit set (26.0-56.7%), fruit yield (9.3-36.6 kg per plant), and low coefficient of fruit yield variability than varieties with a higher chilling requirement (>500 CH). The phenology of high chilling requirement varieties had the advantage that blooming and fruit set happened after the period of late frost occurrence. However, they did not satisfy their chilling requirement, showing an inadequate vegetative and reproductive behaviour. Low chilling varieties began to sprout during July, and the period of full bloom occurred from July 14th to August 4th. Fruit harvest was initiated on October 19th with the cv. 'Flordastar' and it extended for 58 days. However, on low chilling varieties the harvest time was reduced in ten days. Flower density, fruit set and fruit yield showed a negative relationship with the chilling requirement of the variety.