SUSCEPTIBILITY OF COMMERCIAL FRUITS OF DATE PALM CULTIVARS TO Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) INFESTATION

Abstract

Laboratory studies were carried out to investigate the susceptibility of seven date palm fruit cultivars to the Oryzaephilus surinamensis infestation. Chemical properties of these fruits were also determined to emphasize their relation with the number of progeny produced by the 0. surinamensis and the loss percentage caused in the fruits.Date fruits of all examined date palm cultivars were relatively susceptible to 0. surinamensis infestation. Clear significant differences were found between the fruit cultivars in the number of 0. surinamensis progeny produced and loss percentage. The fruit cultivars showed clearly differences in their chemical properties which are positively significant correlated with the number of progeny and loss percentage. Amino acids followed by carbohydrates were considered the most important fruits components which affected the number of progeny produced by 0. surinamensis.