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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Kearneysville, West Virginia » Appalachian Fruit Research Laboratory » Innovative Fruit Production, Improvement, and Protection » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #210531

Title: Oviposition preference of Oriental fruit moth [Grapholita molesta (Busck), Lepidoptera: Tortricidae] for apple cultivars

Author
item JOSHI, NEELENDRA - PENN STATE UNIV
item HULL, LARRY - PENN STATE UNIV
item Myers, Clayton
item KRAWCZYK, GREG - PENN STATE UNIV
item RAJOTTE, EDWIN - PENN STATE UNIV

Submitted to: International Plant Protection Congress
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/25/2007
Publication Date: 10/15/2007
Citation: Joshi, N.K., Hull, L.A., Myers, C.T., Krawczyk, G., Rajotte, E.G. 2007. Oviposition preference of Oriental fruit moth [Grapholita molesta (Busck), Lepidoptera: Tortricidae] for apple cultivars. International Plant Protection Congress.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Oviposition preferences and apple cultivar selection by fruit pests may impact integrated pest management in apple orchards. Experiments were conducted to study oviposition preferences of Oriental fruit moth ( Grapholita molesta [Busck], Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on ten commercially important apple cultivars (Stayman, York Imperial, Golden Delicious, Fuji, Delicious, Gala, Pristine, Honeycrisp, Arlet and Sunrise) in the laboratory. Each treatment was replicated 8 and 10 times in multiple-choice and no-choice tests, respectively. In no-choice tests, large transparent plastic cups were used as oviposition arenas, while in multiple-choice tests, transparent and cylindrical fiberglass chambers were used. Sexed pupae were released in ovipostion chambers, where adults were left to emerge, mate, and freely oviposit. Observations were recorded after 15 days 8 days for multiple choice tests and no choice tests, respectively. Eggs oviposited on the fruit surface were counted. Oriental fruit moth strongly preferred Golden Delicious and Fuji and least preferred Sunrise for oviposition. In addition, more eggs were recorded on Stayman than Pristine, Honeycrisp and Arlet. Results of this study further suggest further variation in host preferences in different apple cultivars that may affect the biology of Oriental fruit moth.