Transmission of Mucor piriformis to Fruit of Prunus persica by Carpophilus spp. and Drosophila melanogaster

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Abstract
Vinegar flies (Drosophila melanogaster) and nitidulid beetles (Carpophilus hemipterus and C. freemani) captured in peach and nectarine orchards in California were found to be contaminated with Mucor piriformis, Rhizopus stolonifer, Monilinia fructicola, Cladosporium spp., Penicillium spp., and other species of Mucor. D. melanogaster and Carpophilus spp. acquired propagules of M. piriformis and transferred them to 75-100% of injured peach fruit. In general, C. hemipterus transmitted M. piriformis to wounded fruit more efficiently than C. freemani. Propagules of M. piriformis persisted for at least 15 days on D. melanogaster and 11 days on C. hemipterus. Only the nitidulid beetles transmitted the fungus to uninjured peach fruit, causing fruit rot on 42-75% of uninjured fruit.