TRICHOMES CONFER RESISTANCE AGAINST HERBIVORY Cerotoma arcuata IN SOYBEAN CULTIVARS

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The use of soybean cultivars resistant to insect pest control is an alternative that reduces production costs and does not cause an imbalance in the agroecosystem. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate whether different planting densities influence the susceptibility of soybean to Cerotoma arcuata Oliver (Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae) in the state of Tocantins. To this end, preference tests with multiple choices were conducted on laboratory using soybean cultivars P98Y70, M8766RR and M9144RR. The preference of insects varied depending on the cultivar. Trichomes play an important role in the protection of plants to attack by C. arcuata, so that the cultivar M8766RR is resistant of the non-feeding preference of this defoliator   KEY-WORDS: insect-plant relationship, morphological defenses, resistance management.