Non-Host Status of Commercial Export Grade Lemon Fruit (Citrus limon(L.) Burman f. cv. Eureka) forCeratitis capitata,Ceratitis rosa,Ceratitis quiliciiandBactrocera dorsalis(Diptera: Tephritidae) in South Africa

Abstract

Markets importing citrus fruit including lemons, Citrus limon (L.) Burman f., from South Africa require that the fruit be free of fruit fly pests (Diptera: Tephritidae). Historically there has been no fruit fly infestation recorded on lemons destined for export from South Africa. In this study, we assessed the host status of commercial export grade Eureka lemons, Citrus limon (L.) Burman f. cv. Eureka, for four fruit fly pest species of economic importance in South Africa: Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), Ceratitis rosa Karsch, Ceratitis quilicii De Meyer, Mwatawala & Virgilio, and Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel). Trapping was conducted in 10 Eureka lemon orchards in two major citrus production regions over two citrus seasons between 2016 and 2017 to determine the level of fruit fly abundance in the sampled orchards. Lemons were collected at harvest over the two seasons in the same orchards where trapping was conducted. Fruit fly infestation of the sampled lemons was determined by dissection. Additionally, infestation of lemons was determined under forced exposure to mature mated females of C. capitata and B. dorsalis. Trapping data showed the presence of adults of all four fruit fly species in the sampled lemon orchards. No fruit fly infestation was detected in 43 222 Eureka lemons sampled at harvest. There was also no infestation of lemons under forced exposure conditions. The results of this study provide evidence with 99.99 % efficacy and a 99 % confidence level that South African commercial export grade Eureka lemon fruit is not a host for C. capitata, C. rosa, C. quilicii or B. dorsalis.

Oviposition by the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), on five citrus types in a laboratory

“…In surveys in commercial Eureka lemon orchards in South Africa, no eggs nor larvae of fruit flies (including B. dorsalis ) were recorded on fruit that had just been harvested. This was despite the presence of fruit flies, including B. dorsalis , in the surveyed lemon orchards (Manrakhan et al 2018). Theron et al (2017) recorded no infestation of B. dorsalis on citrus fruit sampled on the ground (detached fruit) in South Africa despite the presence of the pest in the areas that they sampled.…”

Postharvest Disinfestation Treatments for False Codling Moth and Fruit Flies in Citrus from South Africa

“…Three species of fruit flies affect citrus in the region: the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), the Natal fruit fly, Ceratitis rosa Karsch and the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) [4]. In South Africa, commercial export grade lemon, Citrus limon (L.) Burman f., was shown to be a non-host for T. leucotreta and the three fruit fly pests of citrus [5,6]. Lime, Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.)…”

Host status of Citrus hystrix, Citrus aurantifolia, Passiflora edulis and Litchi chinensis for Bactrocera dorsalis (Tephritidae, Diptera) on Réunion Island

“…Swingle, C. hystrix DC., Litchi chinensis Sonn., and Passiflora edulis Sims is unclear. Previous studies in the laboratory showed that lemons (Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck) and lychee are relatively poor hosts for B. dorsalis (Armstrong and Follett, 2007;Manrakhan et al, 2018). Ripe and unripe fruits of Passiflora edulis were reported as natural hosts in Comoros and Hawaii (Akamine et al, 1974;Hassani, 2017).…”