Specific Determination and Evaluation of the Damage of the Tamarind Fruit Borer (Tamarindus indica L.) in Villaflores, Chiapas, Mexico

摘要

The cultivation of tamarind in the producing regions of Mexico and in backyard trees is affected by insects that feed on the fruit, causing losses in yield and quality; Among the insects is the tamarind fruit and seed borer. The objective of this work was to specifically determine and evaluate the damage caused by the fruit borer. Samples were carried out in 10 tamarind trees, five trees in a backyard and five trees in a plantation established in the alvaro Obregon community of the municipality of Villaflores, Chiapas. The collections were made directly and through the fruits with signs of the presence of the borer. For the evaluation of the damage, the total fruits of 10 trees were collected where the total number of fruits and the number of fruits infested by the borer were quantified and in this way the percentage of damaged fruits was calculated. The tamarind fruit borer was determined as the Caryedon gonagra (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) species, originally from the old world Africa, of the monophyletic group, because which is reported for the states of Colima and Morelos, this report is considered the first record for the State of Chiapas. Adults are 4 to 6 mm in length, and are characterized by presenting the prothorax in a subrectangular shape, the body slightly elongated, with golden pubescence with black or light brown spots, sometimes with small dark brown spots scattered throughout the body. differing especially in the elytra and hind legs. In the field, the initial infestation of the tamarind fruit borer in the state of Chiapas occurs at the beginning of November when the female oviposits the eggs in the middle of the tree on the tamarind pods, regardless of size. and fruit development. The damage begins when the larva penetrates the pod reaching the seed of the fruit, until reaching the adult stage, affecting 7,108 fruits, which is equivalent to 26,400 g, which represents 35.76% of the total production per tree. Regarding the weight of the tamarind fruit by C. gonagra, there is a reduction in weight of 9.341 g tree-1, that is, it affects 11.24% the production of tamarind per tree.