Does premature ripening of fruit hasten development of mango stone weevil (MSW), Sternochetus mangiferae (Fabricius)?
Abraham Verghese, Nagaraju D. K.
Author Affiliation: Fruit Entomology Laboratory, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta Lake P.O., Bangalore - 560 089, India.
Insect Environment 10 : 191-192
Abstract : A survey was undertaken in 2003 on the drought-affected mango orchards at Krishnagiri (Tamil Nadu, India) where cultivars Neelum and Totapuri were predominant. The drought had caused premature ripening of Neelum. The fruits had begun to turn yellow even while on the tree. A few mango stone weevil (MSW; S. mangiferae) adults had emerged from the fruits while were still on the tree prior to harvest. Data were recorded on emergence holes of MSW. Approximately 8-43% of the fruits of Neelum (drought-susceptible) showed adult emergence holes while on the tree, whereas Totapuri showed no adult emergence holes. The latter had normal maturity progression (though small-sized) without any yellowing.