Population dynamics of Oligonychus afrasiaticus in the southern Arava Valley of Israel in relation to date fruit characteristics and climatic conditions

E. Palevsky*, H. Borochov-Neori, U. Gerson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

1 Oligonychus afrasiaticus, the old world date mite, is a serious pest of dates in North Africa and the Near East, including Israel. It attacks and rapidly develops when the fruit is young and green. Mite phenology is affected by date cultivar, but the relationship between fruit characteristics and mite population development is unknown. 2 We report that mite establishment on the main cultivars grown in Israel, 'Medjool', 'Barhi' and 'Deglet Noor', began only when the water content of the fruit increased to ≥84%. Fruit bunch architecture and resistance to penetration, as well as sugar composition and content, were not key factors in mite establishment. 3 Later in the season, when total sugar levels reached ≥150 mg/g fresh fruit weight, total soluble solids comprised 15% and water content decreased to ≤75%, mite populations declined. 4 Yearly climatic variations could be responsible for phenological asynchrony between the pest and fruit development.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)283-290
Number of pages8
JournalAgricultural and Forest Entomology
Volume7
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2005

Keywords

  • Arava Valley
  • Barhi
  • Date fruit chemistry
  • Date mites
  • Date palm cultivars
  • Deglet Noor
  • Israel
  • Medjool
  • Oligonychus afrasiaticus

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