Dismay for the cherry sector
CEARITIS, which initially specialised in olives, is working to adapt its expertise to offer agro-ecological solutions adapted to new crops. In recent years, the industry has been faced with a new pest, Drosophila Suzukii, more commonly known as the red fruit fly.
Like many Diptera, its egg-laying mechanism is similar to that of the olive fly, enabling CEARITIS to develop a new biocontrol solution against this pest.
We find this opportunity with many fruits. Citrus fruits, vines, red fruits… But the cherry caught our eye.
Why focus on cherries?
Cherries and Drosophila Suzukii
Although CEARITIS specialises in olive growing, the obvious demand from the industry led us to take an interest in the problem of the red fruit fly.
From 2023 onwards, it will be very complicated for cherry growers to protect their plots effectively against Drosophila Suzukii, as existing protection products are tending to disappear. This pest destroys more than 85% of harvests every year (industry figures), attacks not only cherries, but also other red fruits such as strawberries, redcurrants etc…
Drosophila is a red-looking diptera. Originally from Asia, it appeared on the European continent in 2008. Many fruits are targeted by this invasive insect.
Like the olive fruit fly, it lays its eggs in the fruit, making it unfit for consumption.
The cherry, which is mainly affected by Drosophila Suzukii, is grown mainly in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and the PACA region. France is Europe’s 8th largest producer, with 8070 hectares set aside for cherry production.
The CEARITIS solution against Drosophila Suzuki
Alongside our work on the olive fly, our R&D team has been working tirelessly for several months on the behaviour of this new pest.
Our project leaders in insect behavioural studies are testing the attraction and repulsion of several cherry-derived molecules on Drosophila Suzukii.
The development of this new solution is based on the same technique as for the olive fly.
The aim of our research is to capitalise on the work carried out on olive flies to create a system of Push & Pull specific to Drosophila Suzukii.
