01826naa a2200145 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001910000110006024500980007126000090016952013620017865300120154065300190155277301090157110818872011-11-08       2008    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d1 aEpagri  aSigatoka Warning System for Banana Areas in the South of the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil.  c2008  aBanana is the most important fruit produced in the South Coast of the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. There are 8,500 ha cultivated mainly by small holders. The climate is subtropical presenting annual mean air temperature of 20°C, ranging from 15°C in July to 24°C in January, and annual precipitation around 1,600 mm with no dry season. Yellow Sigatoka still is the main foliar disease affecting the banana crops in the South Coast of Santa Catarina. To manage the disease, a warning system was gradually implemented in different sites of this region, assisting most of the banana producer areas. The warning system is based on the biological forecasting system of Bureau, Marin & Guzman (1992) which considers biological and climatic variables. In this method, 10 plants are selected in a representative plot of the local conditions and are observed every 7 (hot periods) or 15 days (cold periods) to provide information about the disease progression. The adoption of the system proportionate a significant reduction in the number of sprays from 6-7 to 3-4 per year. Fungicide applications, diseased leaf removal, weed control, equilibrated fertilizations, sucker management are the control practices recommended. The results were passed to growers and technicians through e-mails, SMS messages, phone calls and road signs located in important roads.  aControl  aMycosphaerella  tIn: REUNIAO INTERNACIONAL ACORBAT, 18., 2008, Guayaquil. Proceedings... Guayquil: Acorbta, 2008. p. 1-5.