ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTS POTENTIALITY FOR CERESPORAL SPOT CONTROL IN CHILI PEPPER GROWN IN SLOPE AREA

Abstract

In recent decades, more sustainable farming systems, that is, less dependent on the pesticides use, have been developed, in response to society demands for food with minimal natural resources degradation. Thus, the research has been testing several products, among which many have already been used by farmers in past decades.

The objective was to evaluate the alternative products effect on the Cercospora capsici control in pepper plants in a slope area. Capsicum frutescens plants were sprayed with Viçosa solution (1.5%), Bordalese solution (1.5%), sulfur-calcium solution (1%), sodium bicarbonate (0.2 M), neem oil (5%), raw milk (20%), methyl thiophanate (0.7 g/L) and water (control treatment). Severity, area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), plant crown height and diameters, yield, length, diameter and mean fruit weight were determined. The Viçosa, Bordalesa and calcium sulphate solutions and raw milk, at the concentrations used, were efficient in reducing the brown eye spot severity in chili peppers cultivated in slope areas, did not cause toxicity to the environment, to the applicator and to the consumer, and thus, met to the pepper growers demands who seek to produce chili peppers in a sustainable way. The Bordalesa solution was the most promising, because in addition to the efficiency in controlling brown eye spot in chili pepper, it was easier to prepare and cheaper to obtain.