01310naa a2200217 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001910000180006024500640007826000090014250000220015152006860017365000230085965300140088265300250089665300220092170000220094370000200096570000180098577300890100311856062005-05-20       2003    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d1 aSANTOS, R. C.  aMechanical damage in cotton buds caused by the boll weevil.  c2003  aNota científica.  aThe boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis Boheman) causes high levels of bud abscission in cotton plants due to feeding or oviposition punctures. It has been reported that abscission is mainly due to enzymes present in the insect's saliva, but mechanical damage could also contribute to square abscission. The objective of this paper was to undertake an analysis of the morphological damages caused by the insect in cotton squares using microscopy. Anthers and ovules are the main target of boll weevil feeding. The process initiates by perforation of young sepal and petal tissues and proceeds with subsequent alimentation on stamen and ovary leading to abscission of floral structures.  aAnthonomus Grandis  aAbscisão  aalimentação animal  aGossypum hirsutum1 aMARCELLINO, L. H.1 aMONNERAT, R. G.1 aGANDER, E. S.  tPesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira, Brasíliagv. 38, n. 11, p. 1351-1356, nov. 2003.