Combining sterile and incompatible insect techniques for the population suppression of Drosophila suzukii

K Nikolouli,K Bourtzis,L Mouton,F Sassù,C Stauffer

doi:10.1007/s10340-020-01199-6

Abstract

The spotted wing Drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, has recently invaded Europe and the Americas, and it is a major threat for a wide variety of commercial soft fruits both in open field and greenhouse production systems. D. suzukii infests a wide range of ripening fruits, leading to substantial yield and revenue losses. As the application of insecticides close to the harvest period poses great concerns, the development of an efficient environment-friendly control approach to fight D. suzukii is necessary. In this study, we exploited the sterile insect technique (SIT) in combination with Wolbachia symbiosis as a population suppression approach that can constitute a potential component of an area-wide integrated pest management program. We aimed to establish a combined SIT/incompatible insect technique (IIT) protocol that would require lower irradiation doses as a complementary tool for D. suzukii management. Two D. suzukii lines trans-infected with the Wolbachia wHa and wTei strains were irradiated at doses four times less than usual (e.g., 45 Gy), and the egg hatching and adult emergence were determined. Our results indicated that wHa and wTei females as well as wHa males were sterile at this low dose. The longevity, adult emergence and flight ability of adults were evaluated, and no major effect caused by irradiation was detected. Our data indicate that a SIT/IIT protocol can be a competent approach for D. suzukii management.

Highlights

The spotted wing Drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is an invasive species originated from Asia that has been recognized as a major concern in agriculture since its first confirmed records in Europe and North America in 2008 (Calabria et al 2012; Hauser 2011)
We aimed to develop a combined sterile insect technique (SIT)/incompatible insect technique (IIT) protocol which could potentially be used for the population suppression of D. suzukii
Four lines harboring the same genetic background from France, but with different infection status were obtained in a previous study by Cattel and colleagues (2018) through microinjections of Wolbachia strains from other Drosophila species into D.suzukii; a Wolbachia-free line, a Wolbachia infection in D. suzukii (wSuz)-infected line and two trans-infected lines

Summary

Introduction

The spotted wing Drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is an invasive species originated from Asia that has been recognized as a major concern in agriculture since its first confirmed records in Europe and North America in 2008 (Calabria et al 2012; Hauser 2011). The constant invasion in new areas has rapidly escalated this pest into a significant global threat for several commercial fruit crops (Asplen et al 2015; Bolda et al 2010; Calabria et al 2012; Cini et al 2012; Deprá et al 2014; Walsh et al 2011). The high availability of soft fruit crops and their different ripening times throughout the year, combined with the presence of wild hosts, assisted in the invasion process, and in the exceptionally fast adaptation of the fly in the new habitats (Cini et al 2012; Poyet et al 2015; Rota-Stabelli et al 2013; Santoiemma et al 2019; Tait et al 2018). Extended yield and revenue losses have been reported, while the monitoring and management investments are an additive factor in the economic implications that farmers and companies need to face (DiGiacomo et al 2019; Goodhue et al 2011; Mazzi et al 2017)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion