Kilogram Of Fruit Research Articles

Priority host plants of the Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt), based on the host reproduction number for tephritid management, surveillance and trade

The Host Reproduction Number (HRN) is a measure of the number of adult fruit flies that can emerge from one kilogram of fruit. HRN is a useful tool in surveillance, management and trade. I reviewed the literature for Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) and found data on 297 hosts. There were 81 Qfly hosts with HRN data and 216 Qfly hosts with no HRN data. The HRN will help to inform and triage hosts for target surveillance and management programs. Additionally, HRN will inform disinfestation activities pertaining to incursion response management, risk mitigation and trade options. There is a need for scientists to report HRN in a consistent manner so that Qfly management programs and trade protocols might be optimised.

Effect of potassium permanganate on postharvest quality attributes of bitter gourd fruit

Bitter gourd is a widely consumed cucurbitaceous vegetable rich in several nutrients and phytochemicals. The fruit is also used in traditional medicine systems to cure a variety of ailments. However, bitter gourd fruit has a very short postharvest life of 3-4 days at ambient conditions, due to which it suffers significant loss after harvest. In the present study, with the aim to extend storage life, bitter gourd fruits were packed in corrugated fiberboard boxes along with sachets of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) granules @ 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 g per kilogram of fruit; while control fruits were packed without KMnO4 sachets. The results revealed that during 8 days of storage at room temperature, fruits packed with 3.0 g/kg KMnO4 sachets had minimum deterioration in fruit quality compared to control, and also weight loss and decay loss was observed lowest. KMnO4 treated fruit @ 3.0 g/kg retained the highest chlorophyll content and lowest accumulation of carotenoid pigments in the fruit skin. These fruits also had maximum soluble solids, ascorbic acid, total phenolics content, antioxidant capacity and minimum accumulation of malondialdehyde up to 8 days of storage than other treatments.

Bioefficacy of Isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) as field Protectants of Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai against Fruit Flies

The efficacy of field application of two isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae (MaD and ICIPE-69) and two isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Bb337, Bb338) was compared to that of synthetic insecticide, K-Optimal (Lambda-Cyhalothrin and Acetamiprid), for the control of major pests infesting watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), Zeugodacus cucurbitae and Dacus vertebratus. Both biopesticides and chemicals were applied twice a week from 3 weeks after sowing to 2 weeks before harvest. Experiments were conducted during the dry and rainy seasons at the garden of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Benin Republic. Significant damage was caused to watermelon, primarily in young and immature stages. During the dry season, the highest infestation rate (63.62 pupae/kg) was recorded in the control, with the lowest on plots treated with MaD (11.88 pupae/kg). However, infestation rate was not significantly different among treatments. The tendency of infestation load (number of pupae per kilogram of fruit) significantly varied during the rainy season. Thus, plots treated with ICIPE-69 had the highest number of pupae per kilogram (120.20 pupae/kg), and the lowest was on plots treated with Bb337 (44.48 pupae/kg). Marketable yields were 148.75 t/ha (MaD), 145.83 t/ha (K-optimal), 136.67 t/ha (Bb337), and 119.17 t/ha (Bb338). Beauveria bassiana (Bb337) and M. anisopliae (ICIPE-69) applied at 0.012 × 108 CFU/mL have a great potential to be used against both Z. cucurbitae and D. vertebratus infesting watermelon and have a little effect on nontarget organisms such as spiders, lady beetles, and ants.

Yield, Physiology, Fruit Quality and Water Footprint in Persian Lime (Citrus latifolia Tan.) in Response to Soil Moisture Tension in Two Phenological Stages in Campeche, México

Sixteen irrigation treatments were applied on Persian lime, based on the combination of four soil moisture tensions (SMTs) used to define the start of irrigation: −10, −35, −60, and −85 kPa during the phenological stages (PSs) of flowering (FL) and fruiting (FR). Variables evaluated were, among others: leaf water potential (Ψ), leaf stomatal conductance (gs), fruit weight (FW), fruit juice content (FJC), total soluble solids in juice (TSS), fruit yield (FY), and water footprint (WF). Greater values on the Ψ and gs variables were observed in plants subjected to SMTs of −10 and −35 kPa (p < 0.05). The SMT of −85 kPa during FR produced a low FW value, while the lower SMTs in this PS increased it (p < 0.05). FY was greater in the treatments including −10 kPa or −35 kPa during either of the two PSs, with the exception of those with −85 kPa in one of the stages (p < 0.05). Lower FJC values were obtained at a SMT of −85 kPa in FR, and higher TSS values were observed in the two driest treatments (p < 0.05). The smallest WF values were observed in the −60 kPa FL and −60 kPa FR treatment (p ≤ 0.05). Irrigation management based on the SMT significantly affected almost all the response variables evaluated. It is recommended to irrigate the crop at a SMT of −35 kPa in FL and −60 kPa in FR, the treatment in which the greatest FW, FY, and FJC values and the lowest TSS and WF values were obtained (p < 0.05) and in which only 93 L of water was used by the trees to produce one kilogram of fruit (16% of the amount used in the treatment with the largest WF). The use of blue water is limited by its scarcity and high opportunity cost, an aspect that can be mitigated if blue water is used efficiently in Persian lime production systems, based on the results of this study.

Poor Host Status of Australian Finger Lime, Citrus australasica, to Ceratitis capitata, Zeugodacus cucurbitae, and Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Hawai'i.

Simple SummaryTephritid fruit flies are major economic pests for fruit production and impede international trade. Different host fruits are known to vary in their suitability for fruit flies to complete their life cycle. International regulatory standards that define the legal host status for tephritid fruit flies categorize fruits as a natural host, a conditional host, or a nonhost. For those fruits that are natural or conditional hosts, infestation rate can vary as a spectrum ranging from highly attractive fruits supporting large numbers of fruit flies to very poor hosts supporting low numbers. Finger lime, Citrus australasica, is a new crop in Hawai’i, and no information existed on its susceptibility to Hawai’i’s tephritid fruit fly pests. Host status testing was conducted using no-choice cage tests and field collections. Ceratitis capitata and Zeugodacus cucurbitae readily oviposited into finger limes, but individuals rarely developed to the pupal or adult stage. Finger lime was not infested by Bactrocera dorsalis and is probably a nonhost. For export, a postharvest treatment may still be required despite the very low infestation rate. Heat treatment, irradiation, and a systems approach are options to reduce the risk of exporting tephritid fruit flies in Hawai’i finger limes.We examined the host status of the Australian finger lime, Citrus australiasica F. Muell. (Rutaceae), to Hawai’i’s tephritid fruit fly pests using laboratory and field studies. In high-density (500 flies, 1:1 males and females) no-choice cage exposures (25 × 25 × 25-cm cage size), both undamaged and punctured finger limes were infested by Ceratitis capitata and Zeugodacus cucurbitae at a low rate compared to papaya controls, whereas Bactrocera dorsalis did not infest undamaged fruit, suggesting finger lime is a nonhost. In low-density (50 females) no-choice cage exposures, C. capitata and Z. cucurbitae readily oviposited in undamaged fruit but individuals rarely developed to the pupal or adult stage. For C. capitata, 274 finger limes exposed to 2000 gravid females, which laid an estimated 14,384 eggs, produced two pupae and no adults. For Z. cucurbitae, 299 fruit exposed to 2000 gravid females, which laid an estimated 4484 eggs, produced four pupae and one adult. Field sampling of undamaged fruit from the tree and off the ground from commercial farms produced five C. capitata pupa and one adult from 1119 fruit, for an infestation rate of 0.05 flies per kilogram of fruit; field collections found no natural Z. cucurbitae or B. dorsalis infestation, but the number of fruit available was too low to demonstrate nonhost status with a high degree of confidence.

Host Suitability Index for Polyphagous Tephritid Fruit Flies.

Tephritid fruit flies are major economic pests for fruit production and are an impediment to international trade. Different host fruits are known to vary in their suitability for fruit flies to complete their life cycle. Currently, international regulatory standards that define the likely legal host status for tephritid fruit flies categorize fruits as a natural host, a conditional host, or a nonhost. For those fruits that are natural or conditional hosts, infestation rate can vary as a spectrum ranging from highly attractive fruits supporting large numbers of fruit flies to very poor hosts supporting low numbers. Here, we propose a Host Suitability Index (HSI), which divides the host status of natural and conditional hosts into five categories based on the log infestation rate (number of flies per kilogram of fruit) ranging from very poor (<0.1), poor (0.1-1.0), moderately good (1.0-10.0), good (10-100), and very good (>100). Infestation rates may be determined by field sampling or cage infestation studies. We illustrate the concept of this index using 21 papers that examine the host status of fruits in five species of polyphagous fruit flies in the Pacific region: Bactrocera tryoni Froggatt, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), Bactrocera latifrons (Hendel), Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett), and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae). This general-purpose index may be useful in developing systems approaches that rely on poor host status, for determining surveillance and detection protocols for potential incursions, and to guide the appropriate regulatory response during fruit fly outbreaks.

Environmental Impacts Associated to Different Stages Spanning from Harvesting to Industrialization of Pineapple through Life Cycle Assessment

In this research, environmental impacts associated with the harvest and processing of pineapple (fresh-packed, in syrup, and dehydrated) were determined using the life cycle assessment (LCA) tool and specialized software SimaPro® (version 8.4), according to ISO14040:2006 and ISO14044:2006 standards. The information used to develop inventory included field interviews and industrial visits within the study area. The functional unit was defined as one kilogram of fruit. The selected impact categories were carbon footprint, water footprint, and energy footprint; the results obtained for the agronomic stage were 0.47 kg CO2 eq (equivalent), 78 L of water, and 9.09 MJ, respectively. The growth stage of the pineapple plant was found to be the one that generates greatest environmental impacts for all three categories. For packaged fruit, 0.58 kg CO2 eq, 82 L of water, and 11.03 MJ were quantified; for pineapples in syrup it was 1.12 kg CO2 eq, 103 L of water, and 19.28 MJ; and for dehydrated fruit, it was 5.12 kg CO2 eq, 782 L of water and 97.04 MJ. This concludes that the most significant environmental impact occurred in all cases during the pineapple cultivation stage.

Water and fertilizer efficiency in a polyculture cropping system under three production systems

Abstract Approximately 40% of the water used in intensive agriculture is discarded as ‘drainage,’ which contains high amounts of ions that pollute the environment. This work aimed at investigating polyculture (tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce) under three production systems, namely, open (OPS), soil (SPS), and closed (CPS), in which the drainage water from the first crop was used to feed the second crop, and the water from the second crop was used to feed the third crop. The water and fertilizer efficiencies and some physical–chemical properties of the plants and soil were measured. The results showed no significant difference in the yield for polycultures between the CPS and OPS systems. The most efficient system for water use was the CPS, with 54.85 kg m−3, with a water savings of 55.69% compared to the OPS. The efficiency of fertilizers, such as N, P, K, Ca, and Mg, was statistically higher in the CPS, providing more kilograms of fruit per kilogram of nutrients. The reuse of drainage water in a polyculture not only increased the efficiency of the water and fertilizers but also increased the yields produced per cubic meter of water used, thereby minimizing environmental contamination.

Water and fertilizers productivity in closed and open hydroponic systems of tomato production

The amount of water and fertilizers used in the production of vegetables, specifically tomatoes ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) is high. This study was conducted to determine water and fertilizer productivity in closed and open hydroponic system for tomato production in greenhouse. Two treatments with eight replications were assessed; each replication consisted of 67 pots with two plants each. One treatment was a closed hydroponic system (with nutrient solution recirculation), and the other was an open hydroponic system (with non-recirculating nutrient solution). We quantified the amounts of water and fertilizers applied, as well as losses (drained nutrient solution), in the two treatments during the entire cycle. Also, we measured different parameters in the nutrient solution: electric conductivity, pH, volume applied, and volume drained; and in plants: total weight of fruits (25 pickings). There were no significant differences between the two treatments in fruit production. Water productivity was 59.53 kg fruit m -3 for the closed system and 46.03 kg fruit m -3 in the open system. The productivity of the fertilizers was higher in the closed system, 22.68% more efficiency was obtained with respect to the open system. Tomato production in the closed hydroponic system was higher by 13.50 kg fruit m -3 of water and there were applied 10.31 grams less of fertilizer per kilogram of fruit produced in relation to the open system.

Modeling the carbon footprint of fresh produce: effects of transportation, localness, and seasonality on US orange markets

Agriculture is one of the most impactful ways that we interact with the environment. Food demand is expected to increase 70% by 2050 as a result of population growth and the emergence of the global middle class. Meeting the expected demand in a sustainable manner will require an integrated systems-level approach to food production and supply. We present a conceptual framework for estimating the cradle-to-market life-cycle seasonal greenhouse gas emissions impact of fresh produce commodities, including the production, post-harvest processing, packaging, and transportation stages. Using oranges as a case study, we estimate the carbon footprint per kilogram of fruit delivered to wholesale market in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta and assess the relative importance of transportation mode, transportation distance (i.e. localness), and seasonality. We find that the cradle-to-market carbon footprint of oranges delivered to US cities can vary by more than a factor of two, depending on the production origin (e.g. 0.3 kgCO2e/kg for Californian oranges delivered to New York City versus 0.7 kgCO2e/kg for Mexican oranges delivered to New York City). The transportation mode was found to have a significant impact on the results; transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions associated with oranges trucked from Mexico to New York City were found to be six times higher than those transported by containership from Chile, in spite of traveling less than half the distance. Seasonality had a moderate impact on the results and varied depending on the destination city; based on our cradle-to-market analysis, the average carbon footprint of ‘out-of-season’ oranges relative to ‘in-season’ oranges increased by 51%, 46%, 14%, and 24% for Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City, respectively. This study highlights the value of regionally-specific carbon footprinting for fresh produce and the need for a consistent and standardized data reporting framework for agricultural systems.

Water and fertilizers use efficiency in two hydroponic systems for tomato production

ABSTRACT The amount of water and fertilizers used in the production of vegetables, specifically tomatoes, is high. This study was carried out to determine water and fertilizers use efficiency in closed and open hydroponic systems for tomato production under greenhouse conditions. Two treatments with eight replications were assessed; each replication consisted of 67 pots with two plants each. One treatment was a closed hydroponic system (with nutrient solution recirculation), and the other was an open hydroponic system (with non-recirculating nutrient solution). We quantified the amounts of water and fertilizers applied, as well as the losses (drained nutrient solution), in the two treatments during the entire cycle of tomato. In the nutrient solution (NS) we also measured electric conductivity (EC), pH, volume applied, and volume drained, and total weight of fruits (25 pickings). There were no significant differences between the two treatments on fruit production. Water use efficiency was 59.53 kg/fruit/m3 for the closed system and 46.03 kg/fruit/m3 in the open system. In comparison to the open system, the closed system produced 13.50 kg more fruit per cubic meter of water, while 10.31 grams less fertilizers per kilogram of fruit produced were only applied. Water and fertilizers use efficiency were higher in the closed system, by 22.68% and 22.69%, respectively. More efficiency was obtained in the closed system, regarding the open system. We concluded that the closed system is a good alternative to produce tomato and preserve the resources involved in the process (like water and fertilizers), thus reducing pollution.

Fruit and seeds biometry and germination of Psidium cauliflorum Landrum &amp; Sobral

The biometric characterization of fruits and seeds, obtaining optimum temperatures and photoperiods for germi­nation and the definition of numbers and counting intervals in the germination tests of Psidium cauliflorum were the objectives of this work. Fruits were obtained from four matrices located in the Environmental Protection Area of Lago de Pedra do Cavalo, in Sao Goncalo dos Campos-BA. The following temperatures were tested: 25 °C; 30 °C; and 25-30 °C, in addition to three light conditions: absence of light; 8 h photoperiod; and 12 h photoperiod. One kilogram of fruit contains about 260 fruits and 1.344 seeds. Germination performance was higher at the alternating temperatures of 25-30 °C, in the presence of light (8 h photoperiod). The germination test lasted 77 days, with the first count at 21 days and subsequent counts at 15 day-intervals.

Low host specificity and abundance of frugivorous lepidoptera in the lowland rain forests of Papua New Guinea.

We studied a community of frugivorous Lepidoptera in the lowland rainforest of Papua New Guinea. Rearing revealed 122 species represented by 1,720 individuals from 326 woody plant species. Only fruits from 52% (171) of the plant species sampled were attacked. On average, Lepidoptera were reared from 1 in 89 fruits and a kilogram of fruit was attacked by 1.01 individuals. Host specificity of Lepidoptera was notably low: 69% (33) of species attacked plants from >1 family, 8% (4) fed on single family, 6% (3) on single genus and 17% (8) were monophagous. The average kilogram of fruits was infested by 0.81 individual from generalist species (defined here as feeding on >1 plant genus) and 0.07 individual from specialist species (feeding on a single host or congeneric hosts). Lepidoptera preferred smaller fruits with both smaller mesocarp and seeds. Large-seeded fruits with thin mesocarp tended to host specialist species whereas those with thick, fleshy mesocarp were often infested with both specialist and generalist species. The very low incidence of seed damage suggests that pre-dispersal seed predation by Lepidoptera does not play a major role in regulating plant populations via density-dependent mortality processes outlined by the Janzen-Connell hypothesis.

Evaluación de tomate (Lycopersicon esculentum, Mill) en invernadero: criterios fenológicos y fisiológicos.

The objecti ves of this research are to evaluate the best tomato genotypes, according to their vegetative cycle, yield, and fruit quality, and to determine the influence of photosynthesis, transpiration and efficient water use. This work started in October, 1993, and ended in 1994; it was carried out under greenhouse conditions, at the Universidad Autónoma Agraria "Antonio Narro", Saltillo, Coabuila, Mexico. Significant differences were found among samples between genotypes, time of day, and leaf position. Genotypic yield was influenced by temperature: there was flower drop. The Celebrity genotype of determinate growth habit showed the highest yield per plant (5.42 kg/pt), and was also the most efficient with respect to water use, needing only 22.5 liters to produce a kilogram of fruit. The most precocious hybrid was the determined growth habit Bingo.

Fruit sizes and the structure of frugivorous communities in a New Guinea lowland rainforest

A community of frugivorous insects was studied by rearing of 25 565 individual insects representing three orders (Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Diptera except Drosophilidae) from 326 woody plant species in a lowland rainforest in Papua New Guinea. Fruits from 19.3% of plant species were not attacked by any insect order, 33.4% of plant species were attacked by a single order, 30% by two orders and 17.2% by all three orders. The likelihood of attack by individual orders was positively correlated so that a higher proportion of plant species than expected suffered either no attack at all or was attacked by all three insect orders. Fruits from most of the plant species exhibited low rates of attack and low densities of insects. One kilogram of fruit was attacked on average by 11 insects, including three to four Coleoptera, six Diptera and one Lepidoptera. Thus, we reared on average one insect from 10 fruits, including one Diptera from 14 fruits, one Coleoptera from 22 fruits and one Lepidoptera from 100 fruits. Only 72 out of the 326 plant species hosted more than one insect per 10 fruits, and only seven species supported a density of greater than one insect per fruit. Our results suggest that specialized insect seed predators are probably too rare to maintain the diversity of vegetation by density-dependent mortality of seeds as suggested by the Janzen–Connell hypothesis. Fruit weight, fruit volume, mesocarp volume, seed volume and fleshiness had no significant effect on the probability that a fruit would be attacked by an insect frugivore. However, fruits attacked by Diptera were significantly larger and had larger volume of both mesocarp and seeds than fruits attacked by Coleoptera and Lepidoptera.

The effectiveness of an agricultural policy tool: Business Plans in Fruit Trees

In Uruguay, between 2006 and 2012, the so-called «Business Plans» (BP) were proposed as an instrument to support the Farm. The instrument allowed access to non-reimbursable funds, according to kilograms of fruit delivered, and to interest-free reimbursable funds for inputs and technical assistance. The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of the BPs in facilitating the integration of family producers (FPs) into value chains. Non-experimental cross-sectional research was conducted on the 57 deciduous fruit plans approved between 2006 and 2012. The criterion of effectiveness is associated with evidence showing that FPs participate in repeated calls, have stable links with commercial agents, perceive the same benefits as non-family producers, and have a favorable opinion of the instrument. Quantitative information was analyzed through contingency tables with a significance level of 5 %. A total of 510 producers participated, of which 162 were FPs, and 203 million Uruguayan pesos (constant as of December 2016) were approved for the BP. It is concluded that the instrument was not effective in integrating FPs due to the lack of value chains that accept fruit produced with its technical restrictions. Despite the repeated participation of the FPs and their favorable perception, the appropriation of the benefits was dissimilar, benefiting only partially in financing inputs and technical assistance. For the FPs, marketing did not improve because they have difficulties in fulfilling contracts and the marketing chains in which they participate have antagonistic relationships.

Effectiveness of Spinosad Bait Sprays (GF-120) in Controlling Mango-Infesting Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Benin

Effectiveness of GF-120 (Dow Chemical) Fruit Fly Bait containing the insecticide spinosad in controlling mango-infesting fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) was assessed by comparing treated orchards with untreated orchards. Twelve mango, Mangifera indica L., plantations located in six villages (two similar orchards per village: one orchard treated and orchard untreated) scattered in the Borgou department (northern Benin) were monitored weekly with fly traps, and the fruit was sampled twice for larval infestation at the beginning and in the middle of May in both 2006 and 2007. The two main mango fruit fly pests are Ceratitis cosyra (Walker) and Bactrocera invadens Drew, Tsuruta & White, an invasive species that recently spread throughout West Africa. In both the 2006 and 2007 seasons, C. cosyra had the earliest peak of abundance, and the difference between treated and untreated orchards, in terms of mean number of flies trapped per week and per trap, was significant only in 2007. B. invadens populations quickly increased with the onset of the rains, from mid-May onward, with no significant difference between treated and untreated orchards. In 2006 and 2007, the larval infestation by B. invadens was significantly lower in plots treated with GF-120 than in untreated control plots. GF-120 provided an 81% reduction in the number of pupae per kilogram of fruit after weekly applications for 7 wk in 2006 and an 89% reduction after 10 wk of weekly applications in 2007. The possibility of integrating GF120 bait sprays in an integrated pest management package is discussed in relation to market requirements.

Host Breadth and Parasitoids of Fruit Flies (&lt;I&gt;Anastrepha&lt;/I&gt; spp.) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Puerto Rico

Twenty fruit species representing 12 families were collected from various regions in western Puerto Rico and monitored for the emergence of Anastrepha spp. pupae. We collected 14,154 tephritid pupae from 16 fruit species representing 10 families. The relative infestations of these fruits (pupae per kilogram of fruit) were recorded. Recorded host ranges were not in complete agreement with those reported in the literature. This host-use pattern should give pause to regulators of fruit importation and exportation that base their decisions on literature from regions other than those of immediate interest to them. We recovered the braconid parasitoid Utetes anastrephae (Viereck) from tephritid pupae collected from Mangifera indica L., Spondias mombin L., Psidium guajava L., Chrysobalanus icacos L., Terminalia catappa L., and Garcinia intermedia (Pittier) Hammel. We collected one specimen of the parasitoid Doryctobracon aerolatus (Szepligeti) from the west coast (Añasco), which had not been previously reported in Puerto Rico. We present a preliminary phenology of what are probably the primary fruit hosts of the Anastrepha spp. of Puerto Rico. We also present the first report of Garcinia intermedia (Pittier) Hammel and Coffea arabica L. as reproductive hosts of A. suspensa.

Impact of Introduction of &lt;I&gt;Bactrocera dorsalis&lt;/I&gt; (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Classical Biological Control Releases of &lt;I&gt;Fopius arisanus&lt;/I&gt; (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on Economically Important Fruit Flies in French Polynesia

Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), was discovered on Tahiti Island in July 1996. Eradication programs were conducted from 1997 to 2001, but failed. From 1998 to 2006, B. dorsalis was recovered from 29 different host fruit from the five Society Islands: Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Tahaa, and Huahine. Analysis of coinfestation patterns by B. dorsalis, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt), and Bactrocera kirki (Froggatt) suggested B. dorsalis had displaced these two species and become the most abundant fruit fly in coastal areas. To suppress B. dorsalis populations, a classical biological control program was initiated to introduce the natural enemy Fopius arisanus (Sonan) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) into French Polynesia from Hawaii. Wasps were released and established on Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Tahaa, and Huahine Islands. In guava, Psidium guajava L., collections for Tahiti, F. arisanus parasitism of fruit flies was 2.1, 31.8, 37.5, and 51.9% for fruit collected for 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively. Based on guava collections in 2002 (before releases) and 2006 (after releases), there was a subsequent decrease in numbers of B. dorsalis, B. tryoni, and B. kirki fruit flies emerging (per kilogram of fruit) by 75.6, 79.3, and 97.9%, respectively. These increases in F. arisanus parasitism and decreases in infestation were similar for other host fruit. Establishment of F. arisanus is the most successful example of classical biological control of fruit flies in the Pacific area outside of Hawaii and serves as a model for introduction into South America, Africa, and China where species of the B. dorsalis complex are established.

Modifying Alternate Bearing of Spur-Type `Delicious' Apple with Ethephon

The effect of ethephon on flowering and cropping of strongly alternate bearing spur-type `Delicious' apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) was evaluated in a 6-year study. Ethephon (200 mg·L–1), applied at 3, 3 + 6, and 3 + 6 + 9 weeks after full bloom in “on years,” increased flowering in “off years” by 33% and reduced flowering in “on years” by 17% compared with the control. The mean yield per tree for ethephon-treated trees over three “on years” and three “off years” was almost identical to that of the controls (82 vs. 80 kg/tree). However, the distribution of yield between “on” and “off” years was changed, 24% greater in “off years” and 10% less in “on years.” Ethephon reduced both the variation in yield, particularly in “off years,” and the magnitude of alternation. Ethephon had a direct effect on flower initiation because 1) it did not reduce shoot growth or yield in the “on years” (years of ethephon application) and 2) ethephon-treated trees initiated more flowers per kilogram of fruit produced than did the controls. The additional flowers initiated were functional because the amount of fruit produced per unit bloom density did not differ between control and ethephon-treated trees. Harvest maturity indices, namely internal ethylene concentration, firmness, starch index, soluble solids, and color, were not significantly affected, although internal ethylene concentration and starch index tended to be higher in fruit from treated trees.