Observações preliminares sobre a malformação em inflorescencias de mangueira (Mangifera indica L.) e fungo, alguns insetos e ácaro nelas encontrados

Abstract

Mango malformation, in the States of São Paulo and Pernambuco, characterized by the transformation of the inflorescence into a compact mass of sterile flowers in adult trees and the production of thick vegetative shoots at the growing point or in the axil of a leaf in seedlings, is related to the mite Aceria mangiferae Sayed, 1946 (Acarina, Eriophyidae) and to the fungus Fusarium moniliforme subglutinans. The fungus is considered, although empirically, the main causative organism of the disease. Several insects were also collected from the mango inflorescences, namely: a caterpillar of Eupithecia sp ( = Tephroalystis) (Lepidoptera, Geometriidae, Hydriomeninae) damaging the flowers; large numbers of Frankliniella cubensis Hood, 1925 (Thysanoptera, Thripidae); and beetles belonging to the families Nitidulidae and Cryptophagidae.