Influence of Mineral Particle Films and Biomaterials on Guava Fruits and Implications for the Oviposition of Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Daniela Ribeiro Da Costa,Maria Aparecida Castellani,Beatriz Sousa Coelho,Suzany Aguiar Leite,Iara Sordi Joachim-Bravo,Carlos Alberto Domingues Da Silva,Aldenise Alves Moreira,Mateus Pereira Dos Santos

doi:10.3390/insects12050373

Daniela Ribeiro Da Costa, Maria Aparecida Castellani + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12050373

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Abstract

Simple SummaryAmong the main phytosanitary problems that affect the production and commercialization of fresh fruits, the occurrence of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) is one of the main obstacles. The control of these tephritids is mainly performed through the use of toxic baits. The use of mineral films and biomaterials may constitute a viable alternative in relation to the traditional insecticide method, mainly because they do not contaminate the environment and do not leave toxic residues harmful to humans and animals in treated products. Therefore, by modifying the color and texture of the fruit cuticule that covers the plant tissues, kaolin affects the perception of arthropod pests, impairing the localization process and acceptance of the host plant and, consequently, its feeding and oviposition. In this study, we hypothesized that the color changes of guava fruits because of mineral particle films and biomaterials can affect the oviposition of fruit flies. The results obtained are promising and show that mineral films and biomaterials interfering with the color of guavas inhibited the oviposition of A. obliqua. Therefore, they can be used to protect guava fruits from the damage caused by this pest. Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart, 1835) is an important pest of tropical fruits, especially Anacardiaceae and Myrtaceae, in the Americas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of mineral films and biomaterials on the coloring of guava fruits (Psidium guajava L.) and implications for the oviposition of A. obliqua. Before the bioassays, color, firmness characteristics, total soluble solids, pH, and titratable acidity were determined to characterize the maturation stage of the fruits. Pieces of guava fruit covered in aluminum foil were immersed in suspensions of mineral particles (Surround® WP kaolin; kaolins 605, 607, 608, and 611; and talc) and biomaterials (chitosan, cassava and potato starch, and guar gum) and distilled water (control). After drying, the fruits were exposed to two A. obliqua pairs for 48 h in choice and non-choice tests, and the numbers of eggs per fruit were counted. Mineral films (Surround® WP kaolin, and kaolins 605, 607, 608, and 611) and biomaterials (cassava and potato starch) interfered with the color of guava (luminosity, chroma, and hue angle), inhibiting the oviposition of A. obliqua. Talc, chitosan, and guar gum did not influence the oviposition of A. obliqua in guava.

Highlights

Brazil is the world’s largest red guava (Psidium guajava L.) producer, reaching578,600 tons in 2019, of which 34% was exported [1,2]
Except for fruits treated with talc and chitosan at 100 g L−1, guar gum at 5 g L−1 (Figure 1a), and those treated with chitosan at 200 g L−1 (Figure 1b), a small number of postures of A. obliqua occurred in the other treatments with films of mineral particles of kaolin and biomaterials based on potato and cassava starch (Figure 1a)
The observed variations in the standard deviation of the means were consistent with the small numbers of eggs deposited by A. obliqua in fruits treated with Surround® WP kaolin, kaolin 611, cassava, and potato starch at 100 g L−1 concentration and only those treated with kaolins 605 and 608 at a concentration of 200 g L−1 of

Summary

Introduction

Brazil is the world’s largest red guava (Psidium guajava L.) producer, reaching578,600 tons in 2019, of which 34% was exported [1,2]. The valorization of guava trees as raw material for the food industry and the increased consumption of in natura fruit are proportional to changes in the production system and commercialization This is true concerning the quality of the fruits produced, which can be affected by phytosanitary problems [4]. Fruit fly larvae cause serious damage to fruit growth because they feed on the fruit pulp, making the fruit unsuitable for consumption in natura or industrialization [6] Several factors, such as climate, altitude, geographical location, hosts, and adjacent orchards, can influence the diversity and dominance of fruit fly species in orchards [7].

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