Preferences of quince (Cydonia Oblonga mill.) varieties by adults and larvae of codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.)

ARIEL DÍAZ; MARÍA PÍA GÓMEZ; FLAVIA JOFRE BARUD; LIZA LÓPEZ

Congreso; 5th Congress of the Latin American Association of Chemical Ecology; 2018

Asociación Latinoamericana de Ecología Química

Cydia Pomonella (L.), known as "codling moth", is a worldwide oligophagous pest ofapples, pears, quinces and walnuts. The host finding is mediated by volatile compoundsreleased by plants. The mated female performs recognition and preferences foroviposition guided by olfactory cues while the neonate larvae must find and enter quicklyinto the fruit; otherwise they would be exposed to unfavourable external conditions. Theaim of this study was to determine the preferences of adult females and larvae of codlingmoth on four varieties of quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.); Portugal, Smyrna, INTA 147and Champion. Oviposition trials were conducted for preference of mated femalesthrough dual choice assays with two fruits of different varieties placed on acetate cards.After 12 days, the number of eggs and, oviposition marks per card were recorded. Larvalpreference was assessed through dual-choice bioassay in a Petri-dish. A neonate larvaewas placed to choose between each of the four varieties arranged by pairs. The firstchoice, the time elapsed until fruit contact and, distances traveled by the neonate larvaewere recorded. Codling moth's preference for oviposition was higher in Championvariety. Champion and Smyrna were more attractive for oviposition, while in INTA 147,fewer postures were recorded. Preference by neonate larvae was observed towardsChampion variety, followed by Smyrna variety. INTA 147 and Portugal were the leastpreferred by neonate larvae. The results are important in the context of codling mothinteractions with quinces and for the cultivation of less susceptible varieties to thecodling moth infestation.