A review of plant protection against the olive fly (Bactrocera oleae (Rossi, 1790) Gmelin) and molecular methods to monitor the insecticide resistance alleles

Matjaž Hladnik

doi:10.14720/aas.2017.109.1.13

Abstract

Olive fly (Bactrocera oleae (Rossi, 1790) Gmelin) is one of the most important olive pests worldwide. Most plant protection measures are based on insecticides, especially organophosphates, pyrethroids, and recently a spinosad. Insecticides are used as cover sprays or in more environmentally friendly methods in which insecticides are used in combination with attractants and pheromones as bait sprays or for mass trapping. However, due to negative impacts of insecticides to environment, new plant protection methods are constantly developing with the aim to lower the consumption of insecticides or even to eliminate them by biological control with entomopathogenic organisms, sterile insect technique (SIT), or transgenic method RIDL (release of insects carrying a dominant lethal). However, these methods need to be improved in order to guarantee adequate protection. Alternative methods than those traditionally used are required due to long term usage causing the development of resistance to the insecticides, ultimately lowering their effectiveness. Molecular methods for monitoring the frequencies of resistant alleles and the current status of resistance alleles in olive growing countries are reviewed here.

Highlights

Olive fly (Bactrocera oleae (Rossi, 1790) Gmelin) is one of the most important olive pests worldwide (Daane and Johnson, 2010; Malheiro et al, 2015a)
No resistant alleles were identified in Pakistan and African samples, low to moderate (50 %) frequency was observed in the Middle East and America samples, while the highest proportion of resistance alleles was observed in the Mediterranean area, where frequencies approach 100 % in Greece and Italy
Allele W was found on the island of Sicily, whereas resistant allele A was present at high frequency throughout Greece and south/central Italy

Summary

Introduction

Olive fly (Bactrocera oleae (Rossi, 1790) Gmelin) is one of the most important olive pests worldwide (Daane and Johnson, 2010; Malheiro et al, 2015a). Some of the factors related to fruit traits that possibly play a role include fruit size and mass, color, fruit exocarp hardness, surface covering (mainly of aliphatic waxes), phenological stage of the crop, and chemical composition of olive fruits (Daane and Johnson, 2010; Malheiro et al, 2015a). Malheiro et al (2016) studied olive fly oviposition preference to the volatiles from olive leaves from different cultivars and they observed correlation between infestation level during olive maturation and the aromatic hydrocarbon toluene. Garantonakis et al (2016) observed positive correlation between B. oleae infestation and the content of potassium and iron in olive fruits When volatiles from olive fruits were analysed, α-copaene was found as an oviposition promoter (Malheiro et al, 2015b). Garantonakis et al (2016) observed positive correlation between B. oleae infestation and the content of potassium and iron in olive fruits

Methods

Results

Conclusion