ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a plant extract obtained from the leaves of the coffee tree infected Hemileia vastratrix (NEFID), zinc phosphite, zinc sulfate and the mixture of these nutrients with the extract NEFID in controlling powdery mildew in eucalyptus. The experiment was conducted in minigarden containing clonal ministumps hybrid Eucalyptus urophylla x Eucalyptus grandis (“urograndis”) acesita-144 considered highly susceptible to powdery mildew. The treatments consisted of NEFID extract, zinc sulfate or zinc phosphite and the combination of these nutrients with the extract in the proportions of 50:50, 25:75 and 75:25 respectively. The application of treatments and evaluations were made every 14 days. We also evaluated the effects of treatments on the production of cuttings and their rooting and direct fungitoxic action of treatments on Oidium eucalypti by scanning electron microscopy. All treatments were effective in controlling powdery mildew in ministumps eucalyptus, getting a control that ranged from 45-70% of the disease. The plant extract NEFID, zinc phosphite, the mixture of these two products and the treatment containing 25% zinc sulfate + 75% NEFID were those who had better control of powdery mildew, being more efficient than the fungicide pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole used for pathogen control. It was found that all treatments were fungitoxic, causing major changes in their morphology. The treatments did not affect the production of mini-cuttings and rooting.
Key words:
Oidium eucalypti; Eucalyptus spp; Alternative control; Scanning electron microscopy; Production and rooting of mini-cuttings
