USDA: odour research could solve the fight against Drosophila suzukii

29 Aug 2024
500

Spotted Wing Drosophila, a well-known pest that infests ripe, ready-to-eat fruit, poses a significant threat to farmers because it is very difficult to control with standard pesticides. A new approach to tackling this pest involves manipulating the behavior of these insects by disguising healthy fruit as if it were infected with an unappealing pathogen.

By studying the specific odors emitted by infected fruit, researchers have identified the chemicals that repel the flies when applied to healthy fruit and are developing a slow-release device to disperse these fruity odors in the field, ensuring that they do not come into direct contact with the fruit. This method provides a new tool to help farmers protect their crops without relying exclusively on insecticides.

Source: USDA
Image: USDA


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

Moldova: fresh cherry market outstrips demand for frozen products

Post-harvest​

01 Jul 2024

On the wholesale market, frozen sweet and sour cherries are priced between EUR 1.90 and EUR 2.10. There is strong demand for these fruits, with buyers eager to secure or bargain for these products - an omen of potential price increases on the horizon.

Examination of self-(in)compatibility in sour cherry genotypes developed at Serbian Fruit Research Institute, Cačak

Breeding

16 Jan 2025

Despite the fact its manifests similarly to other Rosaceae species, GSI in sour cherries is more complex due to tetraploidy and the presence of pollen-part and stylar-part mutants that cause genetic changes at S-locus.

In evidenza

Cherries 2025: Chile thinks beyond China for export

Markets

03 Apr 2025

The Chilean cherry season 2024/25 saw record exports, but also showed the difficulties on the Chinese market. Find out how Chile is exploring new markets, with opportunities in the US, Asia and Latin America to boost exports.

Early detection of Drosophila suzukii infestations: an innovative approach

Post-harvest​

03 Apr 2025

Find out how spectrophotometry enables early detection of Drosophila suzukii in fruit, reducing damage and economic losses. A study in Italy and the UK proposes an innovative method for sweet cherries, with advanced algorithms for rapid and non-destructive analysis.

Tag Popolari