Oviposition preference of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) at different times after pruning 'Italia' table grapes grown in Brazil.

Studies investigating oviposition preference of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) in table grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivated in the São Francisco River Valley can provide important information to guide control measures, therefore minimizing damage caused by this species in the region. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oviposition preference of C. capitata females for berries cv. 'Italia' collected at five different times (60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 d after production pruning [DAPP]), representing five grapevine growth stages. We also assessed the performance of immature stages of C. capitata regarding the physiological development of the berry. The total soluble solid content was significantly higher in berries at more advanced physiological developmental stages (90 and 100 DAPP). Conversely, these berries showed the lowest values of firmness and titratable acidity. With the onset of physiological development, the average number of punctures per berry increased and reached 5.2 per berry in 100 DAPP berries. The infestation level and pupal weight showed a positive correlation with the growth stage. The highest recovery of pupae was observed in 100 DAPP berries (1.54). Pupal viability values ranged from 50.9 to 64.7% independent of berry maturity stage. The physiological developmental stage of the berry did not affect offspring sex ratio. Results obtained suggest that regardless of the female preference for laying eggs on berries in a more advanced physiological developmental stage, females can initiate the attack to bunches of this cultivar at 60 DAPP, even if the berries have unfavorable physicochemical parameters for oviposition and development of larvae.

Changes in isoflavone profiles of soybean treated with gamma irradiation.

Soybean is an important Brazilian agricultural commodity that contains a high concentration of isoflavones. Many studies showed that isoflavones are active in the prevention of many human diseases. However, the correct processing techniques used to prepare the soy foodstuffs are important to maintain the active forms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of gamma irradiation on the isoflavone contents of the defatted soybean flour when compared with soybean molasses, a derivative from the soybean food production. After extracting phenolic compounds with methanol aqueous solution (80%), isoflavones were detected by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/diode-array detector. The radiation doses of 2 and 5 kGy presented a small effect on the isoflavones content of defatted soy flour. Samples irradiated at 50 kGy showed lower isoflavone contents. The observed reduction in the concentration of isoflavones-daidzein, glycitein and genistein-induced by gamma radiation in soy molasses was not significant in defatted soy flour, thus suggesting that isoflavones in defatted soy flour were not eliminated by gamma radiation at rates up to 50 kGy.

[Parasitism on medfly by Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in different guava cultivars]. / Parasitismo de larvas da mosca-do-mediterrâneo por Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) em diferentes cultivares de goiaba.

The parasitism efficiency of the Braconidae wasp, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead), was checked on four guava cultivars (Paluma, Sassaoca, Pedro Sato and Kumagai) infested with larvae of medfly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Five blocks of eight fruits, each with two fruits of each cultivar, were put inside C. capitata adult cages, during 2h for oviposition, and a week later, when the larvae inside guavas were developed, the fruits were exposed to parasitoids for 24h. The mean fruit weight, larvae mortality, number of pupae, percentage of medfly and parasitoid emergence were evaluated. There was not statistical difference among cultivars to weight, larvae mortality, number of pupae e emergence of medfly. The percentage of parasitism was higher in Pedro Sato cultivar (19.8%) compared with Kumagai cultivar (2.9%), but it was statistically similar to the other cultivars.

Parasitismo de larvas da mosca-do-mediterrâneo por Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) em diferentes cultivares de goiaba / Parasitism on medfly by Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in different guava cultivars

Foram realizados testes para avaliar a eficiência de parasitismo de Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) sobre quatro cultivares de goiaba (Paluma, Sassaoca, Pedro Sato e Kumagai) infestadas com larvas de Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Cinco lotes de oito frutos de goiaba, sendo dois frutos por cultivar, foram acondicionados em gaiolas contendo adultos de C. capitata, por 2h para oviposição. Após uma semana, quando as larvas já haviam se desenvolvido dentro dos frutos, estes foram expostos aos parasitóides durante 24h. Foram avaliados o peso médio dos frutos, a mortalidade das larvas, o número de pupários e as porcentagens de moscas e parasitóides emergidos. Não houve diferença estatística entre as cultivares para peso dos frutos, mortalidade das larvas, número de pupários e emergência de moscas. O parasitismo foi significativamente maior na cv. Pedro Sato (19,8 por cento), em relação à cv. Kumagai (2,9 por cento), não diferindo, porém, das outras cultivares.

The parasitism efficiency of the Braconidae wasp, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead), was checked on four guava cultivars (Paluma, Sassaoca, Pedro Sato and Kumagai) infested with larvae of medfly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Five blocks of eight fruits, each with two fruits of each cultivar, were put inside C. capitata adult cages, during 2h for oviposition, and a week later, when the larvae inside guavas were developed, the fruits were exposed to parasitoids for 24h. The mean fruit weight, larvae mortality, number of pupae, percentage of medfly and parasitoid emergence were evaluated. There was not statistical difference among cultivars to weight, larvae mortality, number of pupae e emergence of medfly. The percentage of parasitism was higher in Pedro Sato cultivar (19.8 percent) compared with Kumagai cultivar (2.9 percent), but it was statistically similar to the other cultivars.

Modelagem matemática aplicada ao controle biológico de Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae) por Diachasmimorpha longicaudata Ashmed (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) em Citrus / Mathematical modelling applied to biological control of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), by Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmed) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Citrus

O modelo matemático apresentado tem como objetivos: (1) simular as dinâmicas populacionais de um sistema hospedeiro parasitóide de três níveis tróficos composto pelas populações de mosca-do-mediterrâneo Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), vespa braconídea parasitóide Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmed) e frutos cítricos; (2) auxiliar no melhor entendimento dos principais fatores biológicos e ecológicos que regem as interações populacionais e (3) colaborar com programas mais eficientes de controle biológico para o sistema em questão. A metodologia empregada baseou-se na formulação de sistemas de equações de diferenças que descrevessem os processos de interação do sistema trófico. Posteriormente, foram elaboradas resoluções numéricas desses sistemas de equações e sua representação gráfica, utilizando-se o programa computacional Matlab, versão 6.1. Os dados biológicos e ecológicos necessários para a formulação das equações matemáticas foram fornecidos por especialistas em controle de C. capitata e retirados da literatura referente ao controle biológico das moscas-das-frutas em plantações de citros no Brasil, principalmente através da utilização de vespas parasitóides, como D. longicaudata. Os resultados obtidos nas simulações sugerem que o modelo proposto descreve adequadamente o sistema ecológico em questão e permite entender melhor suas principais características biológicas e ecológicas. Em conseqüência pode auxiliar na escolha do modo e momento para liberação da vespa parasitóide para o controle mais efetivo de C. capitata.

The mathematical model proposed has the objectives: (1) to simulate the population dynamics of a tritrophic system composed by the Mediterranean-fruit-fly Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), the braconid wasp Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmed) and citric fruits; (2) help to better understand the main biological and ecological factors affecting the population interactions and (3) contribute to more efficient biological control programs. The methodology was based on the formulation of different equation systems, which described the interaction processes of the trophic system. Numerical resolutions and graphical representation of these equation systems were produced, using the computational program Matlab, version 6.1. The biological and ecological data necessary to formulate the mathematical equations were provided by specialists in C. capitata control, and on the literature related to the biological control of fruit flies in citrus cultivars in Brazil, mainly with parasitoid wasps, such as D. longicaudata. The simulation results suggest that the proposed model describes suitably the ecological system considered, and permit a better comprehension of its main biological and ecological characteristics. Consequently the model may help to choose the best way and moment to liberate the parasitoid wasps aiming to a more effective control of C. capitata.

Análise quantitativa e distribuição de populações de espécies de Anastrepha (Diptera: Tephritidae) no campus Luiz de Queiroz, Piracicaba, SP / Quantitative analysis and distribution of the population of species in the Genus Anastrepha (Diptera: Tephritidae) on Luiz de Queiroz campus, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil

A distribuição das fêmeas das espécies de Anastrepha por armadilha foi fortemente agregada, com cinco armadilhas (6 por cento) capturando 50 por cento do total de fêmeas. Apenas Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied.) e A. obliqua (Macquart) foram dominantes. A. fraterculus foi a espécie mais freqüente (80,2 por cento das fêmeas) e a mais constante, ocorrendo em 98,0 por cento das amostras. Em ordem decrescente de freqüência, seguiram-se A. obliqua (12,6 por cento), A. pseudoparallela (Loew) (3,1 por cento) e A. bistrigata Bezzi (2,1 por cento). As demais espécies apresentaram freqüência menor que 1 por cento. O valor elevado do índice de Simpson (0,660) e os valores baixos do índice de Shannon (0,7518) e de eqüitatividade (0,4597) resultaram da alta freqüência de A. fraterculus.

The distribution of females of Anastrepha species per trap was strongly clustered, with five traps (6 percent) capturing 50 percent of the total of females. Only Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied.) and A. obliqua (Macquart) were dominant species. A. fraterculus was by far the most frequent species (80.2 percent of the females), and the most constant, occurring in 98.0 percent of the samples. In decreasing order of frequency, A. obliqua (12.6 percent), A. pseudoparallela (Loew) (3.1 percent), and A. bistrigata Bezzi (2.1 percent) comprised the other major species. The remaining species showed frequency lower than 1 percent. The high value of the Simpson's index (0.660) as well as the low values of Shannon's index (0.7518) and the equitability index (0.4597) resulted from the high frequency of A. fraterculus.

Biodiversidade de moscas-das-frutas do gênero Anastrepha (Diptera, Tephritidae) no campus da ESALQ-USP, Piracicaba, São Paulo / Biodiversity of fruit flies of the genus Anastrepha (Diptera, Tephritidae) at the ESALQ-USP campus, Piracicaba, S los o Paulo

Este trabalho foi conduzido na área abrangida pelo campus da Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz da Universidade de São Paulo, no município de Piracicaba, Estado de São Paulo. Teve como objetivos, determinar a composição do gênero Anastrepha Schiner e verificar a associação das espécies de plantas hospedeiras, estabelecidas na área, com as espécies de Anastrepha. Foram examinadas 23.277 fêmeas de Anastrepha coletadas por meio de armadilhas McPhail e 18 espécies pertencentes a nove grupos de espécies foram registradas. Um total de 563 amostras de frutos pertencentes a nove famílias e, pelo menos, 23 espécies de plantas foi coletado em 47 estações de capturas. Foram identificadas 10.243 fêmeas e das 18 espécies de Anastrepha capturadas em armadilhas somente seis emergiram das amostras de frutos: A. bistrigata Bezzi, A. fraterculus (Wied.), A. obliqua (Macquart), A. pseudoparallela (Loew), A. serpentina (Wied.) e A. sororcula Zucchi. A. fraterculus infestou maior diversidade de frutos. Os hospedeiros preferidos de A. obliqua foram as espécies da família Anacardiaceae. A. pseudoparallela e A. serpentina infestaram exclusivamente Passifloraceae e Sapotaceae, respectivamente. A. fraterculus é registrada pela primeira vez em sapoti (Manilkara zapota L.) no Brasil.