Abstract
Several studies have demonstrated the importance of Pindo palm in Rio Grande do Sul and Brazil, mainly through preservation but also due to the economic potential of using its fruit. In collections of Pindo palm fruit carried out in some regions of Rio Grande do Sul, the presence of beetle larvae inside of seeds was observed. This study aimed at identifying the species and evaluating the level of infestation of this insect in Pindo palm endocarps. Endocarps were kept in observation in the laboratory to verify the emergence of adults. The number of endocarps with the presence of the exit hole of the adult insect was registered. Afterwards, the endocarps were broken, and the number of adult insects, larvae and intact seeds was registered. The insect that occurred in the Pindo palm trees was identified for the first time in the country, at the species level, as Pachymerus bridwelli (Prevett, 1966). Infestation occurred in 75.1% of the endocarps. Among the damaged ones, the occurrence of only one larva was verified in 75.7%. However, it was also possible to verify the presence of two larvae (22.1%) and up to three larvae (2.2%) per endocarp. The loss of seeds reached 53.4%.
Highlights
Despite the studies of somatic embryogenesis in palms like the oil palm (Elaeis guineesnsis Jacq) (Silva et al, 2012), coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) (Gomes et al, 2004) and açaí palm (Euterpe oleraceae Mart.) (Scherwinski-Pereira et al, 2012), the seedlings production of most palms occurs via sexual reproduction (Lorenzi et al, 2010), being the sanity of seeds an important factor to the success of the propagation
Besides dormancy, which affects the germination of palm seeds like the Pindo palm (Butia spp.) (Fior et al, 2011; Schlindwein et al, 2013), seed infestation by insects interferes directly with the quality of fruit and reduces its reproductive capacity
Reviewing papers on insects infesting of palm seeds, Johnson et al (1995) reported the occurrence of P. bridwelli in B. capitata
Summary
Studies on Pindo palm, Butia odorata (Barb. Rodr.) Noblick (Arecaceae) have been carried out, aimed at populational characterization (Schwartz et al, 2010), etnobotanic studies (Büttow et al, 2009), propagation (Schlindwein et al, 2013) and economic utilization of the fruit (Tonietto et al, 2009), showing the importance of this species to Rio Grande do Sul and to Brazil.Building orchards for economic purposes depends on the supply of quality seedlings which allow greater uniformity of the plants, which is achieved through asexual multiplication (Hoffmann et al, 2005). Rodr.) Noblick (Arecaceae) have been carried out, aimed at populational characterization (Schwartz et al, 2010), etnobotanic studies (Büttow et al, 2009), propagation (Schlindwein et al, 2013) and economic utilization of the fruit (Tonietto et al, 2009), showing the importance of this species to Rio Grande do Sul and to Brazil. Besides dormancy, which affects the germination of palm seeds like the Pindo palm (Butia spp.) (Fior et al, 2011; Schlindwein et al, 2013), seed infestation by insects interferes directly with the quality of fruit and reduces its reproductive capacity. The occurrence of insects in Pindo palm seeds was reported by Prevett (1966), describing a genus of Pachymerini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) in Uruguayan populations. Link & Costa (1982) and Link & Naibo (1995) and reported the occurrence of larvae of Butiobruchus sp (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) in Pindo palm seeds. Martín et al (2009), collecting Pindo palm fruit in some places in Uruguay, verified the occurrence of Pachymerus aff nucleorum and of larvae of an insect from the Curculionidae family. Eloy et al (2017)
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