Hull split date and shell seal in relation to navel orangeworm (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) infestation of almonds

Hull split date, shell seal, and navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), infestation data for 19 varieties of almonds, Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb, were analyzed to determine the relationship of shell seal and hull split date on A. transitella infestation. Data for all varieties were collected from three University of California regional almond variety trials from 2003 to 2005, with a total of 8,550 nuts evaluated. A significant negative relationship was found between percentage of shell seal and percentage of navel orangeworm infestation, with lower percentage of shell seal correlating to higher percentage of infestation. Similarly, hull split date was negatively correlated with percentage of infestation, with later splitting varieties trending toward lower percentage of infestation. Although there are outlying varieties, hull split and shell seal are indeed significant components in varietal differences in almond navel orangeworm infestation. Understanding such factors gives insight into both the predictive value of almond characteristics related to navel orangeworm damage as well as other potential indicators.