Neosilba Perezi (Romero & Ruppel, 1973) (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) Damage Simulation on the Production of Stem Cuttings and the Productive Aspects of Cassava

The loss caused by the shoot-fly (Neosilba perezi) was simulated through the elimination of the cassava`s terminal buds, with the objective to quantify this effect towards the roots productivity, flour production and propagative material production (stem cuts). The experimental design was random blocks, with three repetitions, in a factorial scheme with an additional treatment (10 × 4 + 1). Ten damage levels (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100%) were studied, including a witness treatment (0%). The cassavas were treated during each of the four seasons of the year. The studied variables were: root productivity (t ha-1), flour production (t ha-1) and number of stem cuttings with a diameter greater than 20 and 25 mm. The induced damage in the cassava`s meristem did not significantly affect the root, nor the flour production. However, the stem cuttings production demonstrated a linear decrease in relation to the apical meristem damage level.