First record of Aleurodicus pseudugesii Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on single assai palm in Brazil

Primeiro registro de Aleurodicus pseudugesii Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) em açaizeiro-solteiro no Brasil

ABSTRACT

The single assai palm (Euterpe precatória Martius) is a plant of great socio-economic importance in the Amazon region. The increase in its cultivation under monoculture systems has intensified phytosanitary problems, especially regarding associated pest insects. In May 2023, a whitefly infestation was observed on the abaxial surface of leaflets of E. precatória plants grown under semi-field conditions (shaded greenhouses) in Rio Branco, Acre state, Brazil. The whitefly was identified as Aleurodicus pseudugesii, representing the first record of the association between this aleyrodid species and E. precatoria in Brazil.

KEYWORDS
Euterpe precatória ; Arecaceae; Sternorrhyncha

RESUMO

O açaizeiro-solteiro (Euterpe precatoria Martius) é uma planta de grande importância socioeconômica na região amazônica. O aumento de seu plantio em regime de monocultivo tem intensificado problemas fitossanitários, especialmente no que tange a insetos-pragas associados. Em maio de 2023, foi observada infestação de moscas-brancas na face abaxial de folíolos de plantas de E. precatoria cultivadas em condição de semicampo (casas de sombreamento) em Rio Branco, Acre. A mosca-branca foi identificada como Aleurodicus pseudugesii, sendo o primeiro registro de associação dessa espécie de aleirodídeo com E. precatoria no Brasil.

PALAVRAS-CHAVE
Euterpe precatoria ; Arecaceae; Sternorrhyncha

The Amazon region is home to several fruit-bearing species, among which two Arecaceae co-generic species stand out: the multi-stemmed assai palm Euterpe oleracea Martius and the single assai palm Euterpe precatoria Martius (Rabelo 2012, Oliveira et al. 2022). The current economic potential of these palms is centered on the exploitation of their stems (for heart of palm) and fruits, which are sold as fresh or frozen pulp, as well as in by-products (Oliveira et al. 2022). These products have seen an increasing market demand, expanding beyond the Amazon region and becoming popular in urban centers of other Brazilian states and internationally (Serra 2022).

In the Acre state, the production of assai palm fruits is predominantly derived from the extraction of E. precatoria (IBGE 2021) by riverine families, quilombolas and rubber tappers (Oliveira et al. 2022). The single assai palm is restricted to the North region and is predominantly distributed in the states of Amazonas, Rondônia and Acre (Cymeris & Shanley 2005, Lorenzi 2010). As a native species with a fast growing market demand, there has been encouragement and public policies from the state government to cultivate single assai palm in Acre (Lunz et al. 2022). Thus, any issues that affect production, particularly in commercial plantations, will negatively impact this production chain in the Amazon region. Among these problems, phytosanitary issues are notable, especially concerning associated pest insects (Souza & Lemos 2004).

With the expansion of monoculture plantations, there has been an increase in the occurrence of pest insects associated with the crop, which can compromise production and limit cultivation (Santos et al. 2015). However, despite the socio-economic importance of this crop to the economy of Acre, knowledge about pest insects associated with E. precatoria in the state is still in its early stages (Santos et al. 2023). So far, only the palm black aphid Cerataphis brasiliensis (Hempel) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) (Lunz et al. 2011, Santos et al. 2023) and the coconut mealybug Nipaecoccus nipae (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) (Santos & Peronti 2023) have been recorded on the single assai palm in Acre. In this context, this study aimed to provide the first record of a whitefly species on single assai palm in Brazil.

In May 2023, a whitefly infestation was observed on the abaxial surface of leaflets of E. precatória plants cultivated under semi-field conditions (shaded greenhouses) and nursery in the experimental field of the Embrapa Acre, in Rio Branco, Acre state, Brazil (10°01′33.5″S; 67°42′23.0″W). The seedlings were planted in February 2021, and no phytosanitary products had been applied for pest control up to the time of observation.

Leaflets colonized solely by whiteflies (Figure 1) were removed, placed in airtight plastic bags, and transported to the entomology laboratory at the Embrapa Acre. Some of these were preserved and sent to taxonomist Dr. Gregory A. Evans (USDA/APHIS, Maryland, USA), for taxonomic identification of the whitefly species.

Figure 1
Leaflet of Euterpe precatoria infested by Aleurodicus pseudugesii (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil.

The whitefly associated with E. precatória was identified as Aleurodicus pseudugesii Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), a species first recorded and described on coconut palms (Cocos nucifera L., Arecaceae) in Ecuador and Peru (Martin 2008). In Brazil, it has been reported on coconut palms in the states of Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Paraíba, Sergipe, Pará and Rio de Janeiro (Ferreira et al. 2011, Omena et al. 2012, Noronha et al. 2023). This species also has the following host plants: ice cream bean (Inga edulis Martius, Fabaceae), bamboo palm [Dypsis lutescens (H.Wendl.) Beentje & J. Dransf, Arecaceae], dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia amoena Bull., Araceae), biriba [Rollinia mucosa (Jacq.) Baill., Annonaceae], little grape (Leea rubra Spreng. ex Blum, Vitaceae), banana (Musa sp., Musaceae), African tulip tree (Spathodea campanulata P. Beau, Bignoniaceae) and cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz., Euphorbiaceae) (Trindade et al. 2012).

Whiteflies have the potential to damage plants both directly, through sap suction that causes yellowing of leaves, branches and fruits (Barro et al. 2011, Liu et al. 2012), and indirectly, by transmitting viruses and injecting toxins. Additionally, they facilitate the development of opportunistic fungi (e.g., Capnodium spp., Capnodiaceae), which proliferate on the honeydew excretions of these whiteflies, leading to sooty mold (Lourenção et al. 2015). Although sooty mold was observed on E. precatoria leaves, it was detected in small amounts and primarily on plants more heavily infested by A. pseudugesii.

The symptoms of A. pseudugesii infestation on single assai palms are identical to those reported by Wolff (2012) on coconut palms, characterized by intense leaf yellowing. According to Ferreira et al. (2011), this insect has a high reproductive capacity, and its infestation causes significant losses in coconut production. Therefore, studies aimed at estimating the level of damage and yield loss resulting from infestations by this whitefly on single assai palms are recommended.

The infestation of whiteflies on E. precatoria plants under semi-field conditions occurred concurrently with the mealybug N. nipae, with leaflets containing both populations of A. pseudugesii and N. nipae. However, with the increase in the population of the palm black aphid C. brasiliensis on the plants, there was a marked decline in both the whitefly and mealybug populations in shaded greenhouses. Additionally, leaflets infested simultaneously by whiteflies and palm black aphids were not observed.

Regarding natural enemies, to date, only the parasitoid Aleuroctonus marki Hansson & LaSalle, 2003 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) has been recorded associated with A. pseudugesii nymphs on C. nucifera in the Pará state (Noronha et al. 2023).

This study presents the first record of A. pseudugesii on E. precatoria in Brazil, enhancing the understanding of pest insects associated with the single assai palm in the Amazon region. Moreover, this finding constitutes the first record of this whitefly species in Acre.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  04 Nov 2024
• Date of issue
  2024

History

• Received
  19 June 2024
• Accepted
  10 Sept 2024
• Published
  02 Oct 2024