PJB-2019-516
Impact of varying environmental conditions on fruit fly infestation in citrus (Kinnow mandarin) orchards under changing climate scenario in the Punjab province, Pakistan
Rab Nawaz
Abstract
Climate change has not only affected citrus physiology, but has also increased infestation of pests. Fruit fly is threatening because it not only damages maturing fruit, but also is one of the quarantine pests that directly restricts export to global market. Fruit flies’ developmental degree days (DDs) as well as citrus plant growing degree days (GDDs) were earlier accumulated during high temperature regime. As a result, fruit matures earlier with more pest population due to hastened life cycle. The present research work was conducted in the three main citrus growing regions namely Sargodha, Toba Tek Singh (TTS) and Vehari districts of the Punjab province, Pakistan. Purpose was to evaluate the damage of fruit fly infestation on Kinnow fruit in climate change scenario. More fruit fly infestations were noted in warmer months of October, November and March at all three districts. Fruit fly eggs deposition in fruit was decreased in low temperature months at three different ecological regions. This was determined by calculating larva recovery from dropped fruits, which was more in October and November as compared to cooler months of winter season. Similarly, Kinnow fruit accumulated more heat units in high temperature and attained earlier maturity indices with uniformity in juice contents as well as reduction in fruit peel firmness in October to onward, which favored fruit fly infestation. Climate change has increased temperature which on one side, has hastened life cycle to build up more population pressure, and on the other hand increased number of mature, early –harvested fruit for allowing more infestation of fruit fly.
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