Interações entre desempenho produtivo e sanidade fitossanitária da graviola (Annona muricara ) no Baixo Sul da Bahia

Bahia, especially the Lower South region, is one of Brazil’s main soursop production centers, with a strong emphasis on family farming. This study aimed to map the main pests affecting the crop, morphologically describe phytosanitary agents, and update data on producers, cultivated area, estimated production, and pesticide-related practices. Given the lack of technical studies on phytosanitary issues in the municipalities of Gandu, Teolândia, Presidente Tancredo Neves, and Wenceslau Guimarães, this research is essential to support more effective management strategies. A total of 205 properties were inspected during the 2023 harvest. In the second stage, the use, storage, and disposal of pesticides were evaluated. A reduction was observed in the number of active producers (from 205 to 105) and in cultivated area (from 522.5 ha to 255.75 ha), impacting production, which decreased from over 7,500 tons to 3,886.91 tons. The main causes identified were crop replacement by more profitable ones, such as cocoa and banana, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the decline, there was an increase in average productivity, from 14.35 to 15.20 t/ha. The main pests and diseases identified were Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Cercospora annonae, Sclerotium coffeicola, Cerconota anonella, and Cratosomus spp. Improper pesticide storage was the main issue identified, although most producers use and dispose of them correctly. The study concludes that it provides relevant information for phytosanitary control and guidance on the safe management of agricultural pesticides, contributing to the strengthening of soursop cultivation in the region.