Physicochemical Characteristics and Superficial Damage Modulate Persimmon Infestation by Drosophila suzukii (Diptera:...

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and Zaprionus indianus Gupta (Diptera: Drosophilidae) were recently observed co-infesting persimmons in Brazil. We evaluate the infestation susceptibility of persimmons at different ripening stages (unripe, UN; early ripe, ER; orange ripe, OR, and overripe, OV) by D. suzukii and Z. indianus in the field and laboratory conditions. Additionally, we determined the influence of physicochemical characteristics (e.g., resistance to penetration force, fruit skin color, acidity (pH), TSS concentration, total titratable acidity [TTA]) and the type of damage that facilitates infestation by D. suzukii or Z. indianus. In the field, the natural infestation capacity and biological development of D. suzukii and Z. indianus were verified in whole fruits at the ripening stages ER, OR, and OV. The natural infestation was directly related to the physicochemical characteristics of the fruits (resistance to penetration force, pH, and total soluble solids). In the no-choice bioassay, the oviposition rate of D. suzukii did not differ between the ripening stages of the fruit. However, in the choice bioassay, there was a higher preference for oviposition in OV fruits. Regarding Z. indianus, the highest preference for oviposition was observed in OR and OV fruits in both bioassays. The presence of mechanical damage did not increase the susceptibility of the fruits to D. suzukii. However, it favored the oviposition of Z. indianus in OR and OV fruits. The damage caused by D. suzukii or mechanical damage favored the infestation by Z. indianus. This is the first report of the capacity of D. suzukii to infest whole persimmons in Brazil.