DEVELOPMENT AND HOST SELECTION OF PEACH ROOTBORER ON STONE-FRUIT TREES

Field and laboratory experiments were conducted during the period from April 2006 to December 2008 to investigate the life history, reproduction, dispersal, overwintering, and host selection of peach rootborer (PRB). The developmental stages of PRB are: eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. PRB synthesize trehalose in their bodies as a precursor for glycerol to minimize freezing damage during cold winter periods. PRB adults select significantly peach trees for feeding and oviposition while Almonds are the least selected host. Peaches contain lower levels of prunasin while Almonds are the only host containing amygdalin. The Nitrogen content of roots and leaves of bitter almond is significantly higher than the N-content of other hosts. Increased availability of N in almonds lead to increase synthesis of N-containing secondary compounds, such as prunasin and amygdalin, which in turn increased the resistance to infestation by PRB.