Published in Scientific Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LXVII, Issue 1
Written by Maria TOADER, Emil GEORGESCU, Viorel ION, Cristina CIONGA, Cristina RADU, Lenuța Iuliana EPURE, Adrian Gheorghe BĂȘA
Maize crop ranks the first place in Romania as cultivated area, representing 2.3-2.5 million ha annually, this being subjected to the attack of several pests. Various researches conducted in different locations of Romania indicated that pests (Tanymecus dilaticollis, Agriotes spp. Helicoverpa armigera, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, Ostrinia nubilalis) can caused up to 100% losses in maize crops, especially because of those pests attacking in the first stages of vegetation. Recently, other very damaging pests have been reported to the maize crop as new threats or/and quarantine pests, which can cause major damages in the future, for example: Spodoptera frugiperda, Elasmopalpus lignosellus, Tylenchorhynchus claytoni, Chilo partellus. These new pests have established themselves in Europe, therefore the risk of spreading is very high. The data from literature were analysed on the pest short description, the damages produced to maize plants and the most effective control strategies through chemical, biological and cultural operations in the maize growing regions in Romania. It is important for growers to recognize all stages of these insects that attack maize crops, to making the correct decision by Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and/or other effective control methods.
[Read full article] [Citation]
