Santa Catarina Corn Monitoring Program identifies increased infectivity of leafhoppers

The most recent bulletin from the Monitora Milho SC Program identified corn leafhoppers infected with red stunt phytoplasma, pale stunt spiroplasma and stripe virus, diseases transmitted by this insect and which are capable of compromising grain production. . “The increase in infectivity is expected in this off-season and has already been observed in monitoring carried out in previous years”, explains Maria Cristina Canale Rappussi da Silva, researcher at Epagri/Cepaf responsible for analyzing the infectivity of captured insects.

It is recommended to regulate the harvesters well

The main recommendation at this time is that farmers regulate their harvesting machinery well, to avoid losses. This is because second harvest crops are in the reproductive phase, some are already close to harvest. “As the infectivity of the leafhopper is high, the risk of the pathogen being made viable for the following harvest is also high”, explains the researcher. She explains that grains lost during harvest can generate plants that grow spontaneously, known as volunteers, guaxos or tiguera, which will serve as shelter for the leafhopper and as a reservoir for pathogens to attack the next harvest. 

SC Corn Monitor Program 

The Action Committee Against Corn Leafhopper and Stunting Complex was created at the beginning of 2021, bringing together Epagri, Udesc, Cidasc, Ocesc, Fetaesc, Faesc, CropLife Brasil and the State Secretariat for Agriculture and Livestock. This committee implemented the Monitora Milho SC Program, with the objective of monitoring the populations and infectivity of the corn leafhopper in the State, through monitoring points installed in crops in Santa Catarina.

The Monitora Milho SC application, from Epagri, is available for free download for Android cell phones. To use, simply fill out a simple registration form, including email, and create a password. If you have any questions, contact Epagri in your municipality or the Research Center for Family Agriculture (Epagri/Cepaf).