Susceptibility of 15 Mango (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae) Cultivars to the Attack by Anastrepha ludens and Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera: Tephritidae) and the Role of Underdeveloped Fruit as Pest Reservoirs: Management Implications

• Published in: Journal of economic entomology 2014-02, Vol.107 (1), p.375-388
• Main Authors: Aluja, M., Arredondo, J., Díaz-Fleischer, F., Birke, A., Rull, J., Niogret, J., Epsky, N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anastrepha ludens; Anastrepha obliqua; Animals; Branches; Clutch Size; Cultivars; Demographics; Diptera; Discriminant Analysis; Eclosion; Fecundity; Female; Fertility; Fruit - chemistry; Fruits; Infestation; Insect Control; Male; Mangifera - chemistry; mango; Mangoes; Pest resistance; Pests; PLANT RESISTANCE; Population Density; Reservoirs; resistance; Species; Species Specificity; Tephritidae; trap cropping; Trap crops; Volatile Organic Compounds - chemistry
• ISSN: 0022-0493; 1938-291X; 0022-0493
• DOI: 10.1603/EC13045

We evaluated the susceptibility of 15 mango cultivars to the attack of Anastrepha ludens (Loew) and Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritidae), the main tephritid pests of this crop in Mexico. In a field experiment, bagged fruit-bearing branches were exposed to gravid females of both fly species. Infestation rates, developmental time, adult eclosion, and F1 adult longevity, fecundity, and fertility were recorded, ranking cultivars in terms of susceptibility to fly attack and development. We also compared the volatile profile in selected resistant and susceptible cultivars in search of possible correlations. In a second experiment, clutch size for A. ludens was determined in each cultivar. Infestation rates, developmental time, and F1 demographic parameters varied sharply among cultivars and between fly species for bagged fruit. Cultivars ‘Vishi,’ ‘74 – 82,’ and ‘Brooks’ were most susceptible to A. ludens infestation while ‘Tommy,’ ‘Sensation,’ and ‘Ataulfo “niño’” (partheno- carpic fruit) were most susceptible to A. obliqua infestation. ‘Edward,’ ‘Kent,’ ‘Brooks late,’ ‘Palmer,’ and ‘Ataulfo’ exhibited tolerance to attack of both fly species. Fruit of susceptible and resistant cultivars exhibited unique volatile profiles. Fly development and F1 adult demographic parameters varied significantly among cultivars. A. ludens females laid larger clutches in larger and harder fruit. We highlight the important role of Ataulfo “niño” as pest reservoir if fruit is left unharvested on trees. We discuss the possible use of highly resistant cultivars as trap crops or egg sinks.