Comparison of the infestation level of three orange cultivars by the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Dip.: Tephritidae)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

2 Food Sciences and Technology Department, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), is a key pest of citrus trees in northern Iran. In this study, the effect of three citrus cultivars (Siavarz, Thomson-Novel, and Blood Orange) on the population abundance and damage of the Mediterranean fruit fly was investigated in an experimental orchard in 2021 and 2022. Furthermore, the host preference of females towards the fruits of three orange cultivars was investigated in the laboratory. Later, the contents of volatile compounds in the fruits of three cultivars were measured. The results of field experiments showed that the number of C. capitata adults per trap, the number of larvae per fruit, and the percentage of infested fruits were lower in Blood Orange compared to Siavarz. The results of host preference experiments showed that the lowest and highest number of oviposition holes and larvae per fruit were observed on Blood Orange and Siavarz, respectively. The fruits of Blood Orange, with more levels of alpha and beta pinenes (0.5%) and linalool (0.4%) compared to the other two cultivars, were more likely to repel C. capitata females from egg-laying. The fruits of Siavers, with lower levels of alpha- and beta-pinene (0.2%) and linalool (0.1%), were more likely to attract C. capitata females for egg-laying. These findings indicate that the concentration of volatile compounds in three orange cultivars affects the host preference of C. capitata. Therefore, identifying cultivars containing volatile organic compounds that repel the Mediterranean fruit fly can be effective in citrus cultivar breeding and pest management programs.

Keywords

Plant Pest Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 01 June 2025

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History

  • Receive Date: 17 April 2025
  • Revise Date: 31 May 2025
  • Accept Date: 01 June 2025

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