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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #113611
Title: CODLING MOTH SURVIVAL IN DIFFERENT CHERRY CULTIVARS

Author
item Hansen, James D
item Heidt, Mildred - Millie

Submitted to: Journal of the American Pomological Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/30/2001
Publication Date: 7/1/2002
Citation: Hansen, J.D., Heidt, M.L. 2002. Codling moth survival in different cherry cultivars. Journal of American Pomological Society. 56: 156-163.

Interpretive Summary: Japan requires that sweet cherries from the United States be fumigated with methyl bromide to control the codling moth, a quarantine pest. However, the life cycle of the codling moth in cherries has been poorly documented. The effects of fruit maturity and the types of cultivars on codling moth survival had not been investigated. In this study, insect development from first instar to adult was examined using five cherry cultivars ('Bing,' 'Cashmilre,' 'Chelan,' 'Rainier,' and 'Van'), each at two maturity levels (immature 'straw-color' and fully mature). The greatest adult emergence came from 'Chelan' cherries with 16% emergence from immature fruits and 8% emergence from mature fruits. All other cherry categories had less than 6% emergence. Adult emergence from apples used as controls was 62 to 77%. Furthermore, female adults from cherries differed from those reared in apples by significantly weighing less and in having fewer eggs per individual. Larval survival in all cherries was hindered because of fungal contamination. These observations suggest that sweet cherries are a poor host for codling moth and that further examination should be done to determine if host status can be used in the Systems Approach for quarantine security.

Technical Abstract: Although the codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is considered a quarantine pest for sweet cherries, Prunus avium (L.) L., exported to Japan, its relationship to the fruit as a host is poorly understood. Hence, codling moth development from first instar to adult was studied in the laboratory on sets of immature and mature fruits of 'Bing,' 'Cashmire,' 'Chelan,' 'Rainier,' and 'Van' cultivars. Immature apples were used as controls. Larvae from cherries took significantly longer to become adults than those from apples. The greatest adult emergence from larvae infested cherries were from 'Chelan' with 16% from immature fruits and 8% from mature fruits, whereas emergence was less than 6% from other cherries. Adult emergence from apples used as controls was 62 to 77%. Furthermore, female adults from cherries differed from those reared in apples by significantly weighing less and in having fewer eggs per individual. These results provide additional evidence that cherries are poor hosts for codling moth.