ABSTRACT
The fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum affects the soybean crop by causing yield loss. However, quantification of such damage still demands studies due to the interaction with the environment where the disease is inserted. Thus, the present paper has as objective to quantify in observational studies, by meta-analysis, the influence of the pathogen on soybean crop and to analyze the viability of chemical control with the fungicide fluazinam. The conducted observational trials accounted for 121 during the seasons 2011/2012 to 2014/2015, in which each study consisted of a plot with application and another plot without application of the fungicide fluazinam. Grouping the studies according to cultivars and crop season, 16 data entries (K = 16) were established for meta-analysis in random models. There were differences between the cultivars evaluated for yield in response to fungicide application. Moreover, as meta-analytical estimate, there was a positive response at 243.44 kg.ha-1, with amplitude from 142.83 to 344.05 kg.ha-1. For the studied region, in the south of Paraná State, Brazil, the probability for yield increase was 88.3%, and for an increase of 60, 120, 300 and 600 kg.ha-1 the probability was 81.5; 72.2; 69.9; 39.1 and 4.1 %, respectively. Considering R$ 70.00 the cost of soybean bag and R$ 160.00.ha-1 the cost of fungicide application, 69.9 % was estimated as the probability of financial return when using the fungicide. Thus, fluazinam application contributed to increase soybean yield against S. sclerotiorum incidence.
Keywords
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum; white mold; random effects model; observational studies
