Susceptibility of Asian pear cultivars and 'Conference' pear to apple blossom weevil ( Anthonomus pomorum L.).

摘要

Apple blossom weevil is a serious pest in Europe, especially in organic apple production. In spring 2005 and 2007, a high infestation of flower buds of trees of Asian pear cultivars (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) by apple blossom weevil (Anthonomus pomorum L.) was noted. The high incidence of the pest in the pear cultivar testing trial established in 1999, presented a chance of assessment of susceptibility of different cultivars to apple blossom weevil. The percentage of destroyed flower buds of Asian pear cultivars 'Hosui', 'Chojuro', and 'Shinseiki' was considerably higher than that of the European 'Conference' pear. A bordering hedgerow and old high-stem apple trees could serve as a shelter for overwintering adult beetles and hence could favour the development of an unusually high population density of the pest. Particularly high infestation in 2005 could be due to a cool spring that created conditions for a prolonged egg layering.