Daño del picudo del agave en maguey Tobalá (Agave potatorum): distribución espacial y relación con edad y concentración de azúcares

Luciano  Martínez-Bolaños; Rafael Chiquito-Marcial; Víctor Lopez-Martinez; Efrain Paredes-Hernández; Misael Martínez-Bolaños; Artemio Pérez-López; Carlos Hugo Avendaño-Arrazate

Authors

Luciano Martínez-Bolaños Universidad Autónoma Chapingo
Rafael Chiquito-Marcial Universidad Autónoma Chapingo
Víctor Lopez-Martinez Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos
Efrain Paredes-Hernández Universidad Autónoma Chapingo
Misael Martínez-Bolaños Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícola y Pecuarias
Artemio Pérez-López Universidad Autónoma Chapingo
Carlos Hugo Avendaño-Arrazate Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícola y Pecuarias

Keywords:

Scyphophorus acupunctatus, spatial distribution, sustainable management, mezcal

Abstract

Mezcal produced from wild agave species has high demand in national and international markets; however, its production is affected by the agave weevil, Scyphophorus acupunctatus (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae), which reduces crop productivity. This study aimed to: (a) determine the spatial distribution of the agave weevil in two Tobalá maguey plantations of different ages; and (b) assess its impact on the quality of agave piñas. Geostatistical analyses revealed differences in infestation hotspots according to plantation age. The adult plantation showed 16 infestation peaks with an aggregated spatial distribution, whereas the young plantation exhibited only three peaks. Plants infested by the agave weevil had a lower sugar concentration (17.8 °Bx) compared to healthy plants (29.2 °Bx).

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