RESUMO
Introduction: Annona macroprophyllata Donn. Smith. (Annonaceae) (syn. Annona diversifolia Saff.) is a valued fruit tree species known as papausa. In Mexico and Central America, this fruit has become an important crop because of its tasty flavor and high pulp content. Its fruits are frequently damaged by the incidence of wasps of the genus Bephratelloides Girault (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae), which develop inside the seeds. Objective: To report the interaction of Bephratelloides cubensis Ashmead during its life cycle in fruits of A. macroprophyllata. Methods: We periodically collected fruits in different states of growth recording a) oviposition, b) the moment of evident infection, c) the development of the wasps inside the seeds, and d) their emergence as adults. We also determined the proportion of damaged fruits and seeds. Results: The data indicate that wasps preferred to oviposit on fruits with a diameter of less than 8 cm, oviposition was more frequent between 11:00 am and 03:00 pm., and there was 26 % infestation of fruits, and 9 % of seeds. Conclusion: It is an obligatory interaction for the wasp, the highest proportion of attack on fruits was in the early stages of fruit development and control actions should focus on the protection of these early stages.
Introducción: Annona macroprophyllata Donn. Smith. (Annonaceae) es una especie de árbol frutal, conocida como papausa. En México y América Central, esta fruta se ha convertido en un cultivo importante y valorado debido a su delicioso sabor y la cremosa textura de su pulpa. Sus frutos son frecuentemente dañados por la incidencia de avispas del género Bephratelloides Girault (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae), que se desarrollan dentro de las semillas. Objetivo: Describir la interacción de Bephratelloides cubensis Ashmead durante su ciclo de vida en frutos de A. macroprophyllata. Método: Recolectamos frutos en diferentes estados de crecimiento registrando a) la ovoposición, b) el momento de la infección evidente, c) el desarrollo de las avispas dentro de las semillas, y d) su emergencia como adultos. También determinamos la proporción de frutas y semillas dañadas. Resultados: Los datos indican que las avispas preferían ovipositar en frutas con un diámetro de menos de 8 cm, la oviposición era más frecuente entre las 11:00 a.m. y las 3:00 p.m., y que había un 26 % de la infestación en las frutas y un 9 % en semillas. Conclusión: Es una interacción obligada para la avispa y la mayor proporción de ataque a los frutos fue en las etapas tempranas de desarrollo de frutos y las acciones de control se deberían enfocar a la protección de estas etapas.
Assuntos
Animais , Annona/parasitologia , Himenópteros/patogenicidade , Oviposição , Vespas , AnnonaceaeRESUMO
The seeds of Annona macroprophyllata Donn. Sm. contain idioblasts with toxic acetogenins, including laherradurin and rolliniastatin-2, in relatively high proportions. Both metabolites are cataloged as potent insecticides for several species, even so, the wasp Bephratelloides cubensis Ashmead fulfills almost its entire life cycle inside the seeds of this and other annonaceous species, to such a degree, that they constitute a strong selection pressure. In order to document the chemical relationship between the two species, it is reported for the first time in this paper the presence of idioblasts and acetogenins during the ontogenic development of the seeds of A. macroprophyllata, and contrasted with the development of B. cubensis. The results indicate that idioblasts with laherradurin and rolliniastatin-2 acetogenins are formed in the middle stages of the endospermic development, also that both acetogenins are biosynthesized simultaneously, and that their proportion is dependent on the degree of development. The acetogenins are present in high amounts that suppose a sufficient toxic barrier and, in this case, laherradurin is the most abundant (> 1000 µg g dry weight-1). The wasp B. cubensis only emerges from the seeds to copulate and returns for oviposition; its larval phase coincides with the appearance of acetogenins, so it feeds on the acetogenic endosperm. The absence of acetogenins in the tissues and excreta of the insect supposes a metabolization of the molecules, which would explain the tolerance to its toxicity.
