Infestation of mango relative fruits by Oriental fruit fly

What is it about?

Mango, Mangifera indica, is a crop cultivated pantropically. There are, however, many other mango relatives (i.e., closely related plant species in the same plant genus, Mangifera) which have much more restricted distributions and are poorly known, but have potential to produce mango-like fruits in areas where mangoes do not grow well or could be tapped in mango breeding programs. Because of the restricted distribution of many of the mango relatives, there has also been limited data collected on susceptibility of their fruits to infestation by tephritid fruit flies. This is important to know both to be aware of the potential for fruit damage by tephritid fruit flies if these plant species are cultivated, as well as for understanding the risk of transporting infesting fruit fly species should fruits be exported. Here, we report on natural field infestation by the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae), of two mango relatives native to Indonesia: Mangifera casturi (“kastooree”) and M. lalijiwa (“laleejeewo”). Rates of infestation of fruits of these two mango relatives by tephritid fruit flies have not previously been reported.

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Why is it important?

It is important to know about potential for tephritid fruit fly infestation of mango relative fruits both to be aware of the potential for fruit damage by tephritid fruit flies if these plant species are cultivated, as well as for understanding the risk of transporting infesting fruit fly species should fruits be exported.