Influence of liming on Cedrela odorata L. seedlings growth and attack by Hypsipyla grandella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Abstract

Cedrela odorata is one of the most important commercial Neotropical forestry species, harvested mainly from natural forest, what have taken the species to danger of extinction. Its commercial plantation is limited by Hypsipyla grandella attacks, which could reach 100% of individuals in a forest plantation (Figure 1). Inverse relation of available calcium concentration in the soil for C. odorata and attacks of H. grandella had been reported (da Silva et al., 2009). Some studies indicate that calcium and boron addition to the soil has a positive e ect in height growth of Swietenia macrophylla (da Silva Junior et al., 2014); nevertheless, some studies suggest that when growth is high there is an increase in attack probability (Newton et al., 1993). Then some clarity on this subject is required.