Growing less susceptible or resistant varieties where possible should be encouraged only that resistance to fruit flies is not common. However, one mango variety Takataka in Uganda appears to be less susceptible to fruit flies. Two chilli varieties – Hot Rod and Red Fire – proved resistant to fruit flies present in Fiji and the two varieties were exported in the 1990s to New Zealand without the requirement of post-harvest quarantine treatment.
The need for breeding for resistance cannot be overemphasised. In this regard, physical or chemical properties conferring appreciable level of tolerance to fruit flies in Takataka mango variety could be investigated to gain insights in designing breeding programmes for fruit fly resistance.
Answered by Pontiano Nemeye
