ISHS Acta Horticulturae 1357: XII International Vaccinium Symposium
Occurrence and population fluctuations of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in blueberry crops of subtropical Argentina |
| Authors: | C.F. Funes, L.I. Escobar, G.E. Dadda, M.E. Villagrán, G.I. Olivera, G.G. Gastaminza, D.S. Kirschbaum |
| Keywords: | population dynamics, Vaccinium corymbosum, SWD, Tucumán |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2023.1357.37 |
| Abstract:
Argentina exports approximately 10,500,000 kg of blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) anually, with Tucumán being one of the main blueberry producer and exporter province, with 1354 ha, representing 46% of Argentina’s blueberry acreage. Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae), commonly known as SWD, is an endemic pest of Southeast Asia that causes significant damage to soft fruit crops. It invaded Argentina in 2014, and the same year it was found infesting blueberry fields in Buenos Aires, from where the dispersion to other provinces began. The objectives of this work were to detect the presence of SWD in blueberry crops in Tucumán and to study its distribution in the main blueberry production areas of the province, during the fruiting season. A survey was carried out in 2015 in a blueberry orchard in Lules department using fruit sampling, and continued from 2016 to 2018 in Lules, Chicligasta and Monteros departments using baited traps. Monteros is the most concentrated blueberry production area in Tucumán. Modified McPhail traps baited with apple cider vinegar were set in three conventional blueberry orchards (one, in each department). The samplings were carried out weekly during the blueberry production season, from August to December. The SWD was recorded for the first time in Tucumán in 2015 (Lules). In 2016, it was found also in Monteros and Chicligasta blueberry orchards. SWD adults were found throughout the year, with peak values in December, being lower in Lules (2016: 2.5; 2017: 1.2; 2018: 8.0), intermediate in Chicligasta (2016: 8,6; 2017: 1.6; 2018: 5.4) and higher in Monteros (2016: 3.2; 2017: 2.26; 2018: 8.1). Low abundance in 2017 are associated with lower precipitation. These results confirm the presence and dispersion of the pest throughout the main blueberry growing regions of the Tucumán province. The highest abundance occurred at the end of the fruit exporting season, relativizing the negative impact of the insect. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
