engleski

Supression of mediterranean fruit fly by SIT over 4000 ha of fruit orchards in Neretva river valley

Medfly - Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) is a pest of high economic importance in Neretva valley, affecting production of several fruit species, specially mandarins, Citrus reticulata growed mainly for export to EU, former Yugoslavia countries and Russia. The export reach up to 75% of total yield valued to over 20 million of euros per year. Medfly infestation in mandarin’s fruits is estimated to be 10-30% without any control measures and also causes major problems to exports due to quarantine restrictions and pesticide residues on fruits. After two years (2010-2011) of successfully suppression trough an Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) pilot project integrated with other suppression methods, conducted with cooperation of the FAO/IAEA, the Croatian Ministry of Agriculture expand the project to the whole lower part of the Neretva valley in 2012, covering over 4000 hectares of fruit orchards, mainly mandarines. For this reason, a fly emergence and release facility in Opuzen with capacity of handling 20 million of sterile flies/week was additionally equipped. Releases are performed mainly with two ground release machines, using chilled flies, mounted on vehicles. Trapping system is set and georeferenced over the whole SIT treated and non-treated area of the valley (additional 4000 ha) with 3C lures Tephri Traps. Captured flies are checked by fluorescent lamps to separate sterile from the wild flies and provide information on the insect population level. Routine fruit sampling is undertaken to evaluate fruit infestation and suppression efficacy. Results of the two years of pilot project showed that medfly population, measured as number of larvae per kg of fruit, was reduced annually from 75, 9 – 93, 2% in figs and 75, 9 – 99, 2% in mandarins in SIT treated area compared with non-treated area. Results of the 3rd year of the project showed high level of the suppression medfly population, measured as number of larvae per kg of fruit for 73, 9% in figs, 92, 4% in peaches and 96, 8% in mandarins.

sterile flies, mandarins, Ceratitis capitata, Sterile Insect Technique

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