Abstract

MORALES RAMIREZ, Juvenal; YANEZ JIMENEZ, Petra; KOHASHI-SHIBATA, Josué  and  BRAVO MOJICA, Hiram. Anatomical study of the stem of husk tomato damaged by the borer (Melanagromyza tomaterae Steyskal). Agric. Téc. Méx [online]. 2007, vol.33, n.3, pp.281-283. ISSN 0568-2517.

The stem borer Melanagromyza tomaterae Steyskal infests plants of husk tomato Physalis ixocarpa Brot. and reduces yield. The plant symptoms are: foliage yellowing, growth inhibition and wilting. The objective of this study was to determine the damage caused by the larvae of M. tomaterae to the internal tissues in the stem of husk tomato and its relationship with the external symptoms on the plant. The study was carried out in 2004 at the experimental station of the Universidad Autonoma Chapingo, Chapingo, State of Mexico. Transversal stem cuts of plants with and without the presence of the borer were studied with the aid of a microscopic. The presence of larvae and pupae in tunnels was observed. The tunnels were located in primary vascular bundle, parenchyma and secondary xylem and in some cases in cambium and cortex. The damage caused by the larvae of the stem borer to the stem tissues prevents the transport of water, nutrients and assimilates and can be the cause of the foliage yellowing and wilting symptoms of the plant

Keywords : Melanagromyza tomaterae; Physalis ixocarpa; anatomy of the stem; stem damage.