The objective was to assess the influence of lime sulfur residues on the acaricidal efficiency against Brevipalpus phoenicis mite. Initially, the experiment was conducted in a citrus orchard where 10 plants presenting scab fruits were selected. Secondly, the application of lime sulfur (8mg a.i. L-1 of water) was performed in five plants, and the other five plants remained without application. Next lime sulfur application, 64 fruits in the plants with lime sulfur application were protected with plastic cups and others 64 fruits also were protected in the plants without lime sulfur application with plastic cups. After 30 days of field application, fruits were harvested and transported to the laboratory. These fruits were partially waxed, leaving an arena of approximately 2.5cm in diameter with scab and without paraffin and entrapped with entomological glue. Afterwards, acaricides application were done following the concentration expressed in mg of active ingredient per liter of water: propargite (720mg), fenbutatin oxide (400mg), cyhexatin (250mg), azocyclotin (250mg), fenpyroximate (50mg), dicofol (960mg), dinocap (738mg) and control treatment by using the petri dish-Potter tower method. After 1, 7 and 16 days of application, ten B. phoenicis were transferred per fruit, in order to evaluate their mortality, 24 and 48 hours after the transferences. The lime sulfur residue did not affect the acaricides efficiency.
Citrus leprosis; chemical control; citriculture
