Damage to the corn crop due to the reduction of leaf area by artificial defoliation and diseases

ABSTRACT Damage caused by diseases that occur during the vegetative stages of corn results in decreased grain yield, and chemical control is one of the strategies to allow damage reduction. The objective of this study was to quantify the damage to corn plants as a function of leaf area reduction caused by the disease complex, associated or not with leaf removal from different positions in the plant. The experiment was carried out in the field, in a completely randomized block design with four replicates and 10 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments. The first factor corresponded to the association of two fungicides at different doses, combined with artificial defoliation at the first fungicide spraying. The second factor consisted of application at different stages (VT, R1 and R2). The used hybrid was Formula TL®, which is susceptible to cercosporiosis, polysora rust and white spot. Disease progress, leaf area index and grain yield were evaluated. Preventive application of fungicides (phenological stage VT), regardless of leaf removal from the plant, provided less disease progress and less damage. Higher significant values of grain mass and yield were obtained with fungicide application without leaf removal, regardless of the phenological stage receiving the application.