Resistance of Pineapple Variety ‘59-656’ to Field Populations of Oriental Fruit Flies and Melon Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

During July to September 1977, fruits of variety ‘59-656’ of pineapple, Ananas comosus (L.) Merr., were collected from experimental plantings in commercial acreage at Kunia on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Variety ‘59-656’ was studied for resistance to melon flies, Dacus cucurbitae Coquillett, and oriental fruit flies, D. dorsalis Hendel. Data were compared with those from previous studies of the standard ‘Smooth Cayenne’ variety of pineapple. Although pineapple hybrid ‘59-656’ was exposed to field populations of both fruit fly species, no larvae or pupae developed from any of the 500 pineapples collected. Thus, this new variety is apparently not a host for melon flies or oriental fruit flies.