ANÁLISIS DE LOS PROBLEMAS CAUSADOS POR ARTRÓPODOS PLAGAS Y ENFERMEDADES VIRALES EN CULTIVO DE PIMIENTO (CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.) EN ECUADOR

Abstract

THE PEPPER (CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.), IS A VEGETABLE CONSUMED WORLDWIDE THAT IN RECENT YEARS PRODUCTION HAS INCREASED CONSIDERABLY IN ECUADOR, BOTH IN THE COASTAL AND ANDEAN REGIONS. LIKE OTHER CROPS, THE PEPPER IS AFFECTED BY INSECTS SUCH AS THRIPS (FRANKLINIELLA OCCIDENTALIS AND THRIPS TABACI), APHIDS (APHIS GOSSYPII AND MYZUS PERSICAE), WHITEFLIES (BEMISIA TABACI) AND MITES (TETRANYCHUS URTICAE AND POLYPHAGOTARSONEMUS LATUS), WHICH WOULD AFFECT YOUR PERFORMANCE. ALSO, THIS CROP IS AFFECTED BY VIRUSES. A BIBLIOGRAPHIC REVIEW WAS CARRIED OUT IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE MAIN PESTS, NATURAL ENEMIES AND VIRUSES THAT AFFECT PEPPERS IN ECUADOR. THE RESULTS SHOWED THE REPORT OF SEVEN SPECIES OF ARTHROPOD PESTS, AND 16 TAXA OF NATURAL ENEMIES. REGARDING THE VIROSIS, SIX SPECIES OF VIRUS WERE FOUND. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SEVERAL ALTERNATIVES FOR PEST MANAGEMENT, IN THE COUNTRY FARMERS PREFER TO USE MAINLY CHEMICAL CONTROL. THIS INFORMATION SERVES AS THE BASIS FOR THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ASSOCIATED ARTHROPODOFAUNA, AS WELL AS OF THE EXISTING VIRUSES AS A BASIS FOR DESIGNING MORE RATIONAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR EXISTING PROBLEMS.