Introduction. Damage caused by tephritid fruit flies has been identified asa major limiting factor to citrus production in Nigeria. Presently, no control measure isapplied by the majority of the farmers. This study therefore seeks to evaluate theefficacy of locally-made protein bait sprays and the differences in the susceptibility ofsweet orange varieties in reducing fruit fly damage. Materials and methods.In 2006 and 2007, one, two and three spot applications of locally-made protein bait mixedwith chlorpyrifos insecticide were administered to Agege, Parson Brown and Valencia Latesweet oranges. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design. Efficacy ofthe bait sprays in reducing fruit attack was assessed by randomly sampling 10 ripe orripening fruits per stand as well as dropped fruits. Results and discussion.The bait sprays significantly (p < 0.05) reduced damage of sweetorange by lowering the infestation level of Bactrocera invadens DrewTsurata & White, and consequently reducing the number of dropped fruits.Application of three spots of bait was most effective in reducing damage due to B.invadens on sweet orange varieties. The infestation level of B.invadens and the number of dropped fruits of the variety Agege weresignificantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of the varieties ParsonBrown and Valencia Late. Conclusion. Our study shows that three spotapplications were most efficacious in reducing fruit damage, and that the Valencia Latevariety was the least damaged, followed by Parson Brown.

Introduction. Citrus aurantium L. sour oranges are poorlyexploited in Tunisia, although the Tunisian Cap Bon is one of the major areas ofproduction of sour orange trees. Our study aimed at determining the effect of thegeographic origin of the raw material on quality of orange marmalades and consumeracceptance. Materials and methods. Fresh sour oranges were collected fromfive areas in the Cap Bon region in the North-East of Tunisia for producing marmalades.Physicochemical characterisation of marmalades from the five different origins includedthe determination of soluble solids, total and volatile acidity, the measurement ofreducing sugars, and measurement of colour. Sensory panels from Tunisia, Algeria andEurope revealed the marmalades’ sensory profiles. The sensory panels then attributedpreference and acceptance ranks for the five marmalades. Results anddiscussion. The analyses highlighted an effect of the geographic origin of theraw material on the physicochemical quality. The most suitable geographic conditions seemto be climatic and edaphic criteria. Assessors from various nationalities revealeddifferent sensory profiles depending on the consumer’s nationality and fruit productionregion. In addition, Tunisian consumers are less likely to be marmalade buyers thanEuropean and Algerian consumers.

Introduction. Le drageonnage et le marcottage aérien de trois fruitiers àusages multiples, Balanites aegyptiaca, Diospyros mespiliformis etSclerocarya birrea, ont été étudiés dans le secteur climatiquesahélo-soudanien à Kéring en vue de contribuer à la régénération à faible coût de cesespèces surexploitées. Matériel et méthodes. Dans trois stationsreprésentatives de cette localité (jardins de case, brousse, berges de cours d’eau), uninventaire de 90 arbres par espèce a été réalisé au préalable pour détecter la présenced’éventuels drageons ou marcottes terrestres naturels. Ensuite, les possibilitésd’induction de drageons au début de la saison des pluies par blessure ou sectionnement deracines et l’aptitude au marcottage aérien en fin de la saison des pluies ont été testéessur les pieds ciblés. Résultats et discussion L’espèceSbirrea a présenté une aptitude très élevée pour ledrageonnage naturel par rapport aux deux autres espèces. D. mespiliformisa drageonné moyennement alors que B. aegyptiaca, espèce fourragère très broutée, a montré ici une faible aptitude au drageonnage. L’effet de lastation a été significatif; il y a eu une plus forte fréquence de drageons au niveau desberges des cours d’eau. Le marcottage terrestre naturel n’a pas été remarqué sur les 270arbres observés. L’induction du drageonnage réalisé au début de la saison des pluies parsectionnement complet de racines superficielles a été plus efficace après 9 mois (taux de57,7 %, toutes espèces confondues) que la méthode d’induction par blessure légère desracines traçantes (37,7 %). L’exposition à la lumière des racines stressées a amplifié ledrageonnage. Les drageons induits apparaissent généralement sur la racine stressée, ducôté proximal de l’arbre-mère, mais ils peuvent se former aussi du côté distal. Réalisésen fin de saison pluvieuse, les essais de marcottage aérien de B. aegyptiacaont montré 95 % de marcottes enracinées alors que, à cette saison, les deuxautres espèces se sont révélées réfractaires après 5 mois d’observation. ConclusionEn dehors des facteurs génétiques, physiologiques et environnementaux qui peuventinfluencer la réussite du marcottage aérien ou du drageonnage, S. birreaet D. mespiliformis semblent nettement mieux prédisposées dansl’écosystème du secteur de Kéring à l’induction du drageonnage que B.aegyptiaca, plus apte au marcottage aérien. Ces résultats ouvrent de nouvellesvoies à la multiplication de ces trois espèces surexploitées par les populations.

Introduction. There is a growing demand in the international market forexcellent-quality dates of cultivars such as ‘Barhee’ that are consumed at the bisirstage. Materials and methods. The effects of GA3, BA and NAApostharvest dipping treatments at different concentrations on the quality characteristicsof bisir ‘Barhee’ dates during cold storage were investigated. Results anddiscussion. The total soluble solids (TSS) concentration was lower in the BA- andNAA-treated fruit than in control fruit. Similarly, the GA3-treated fruit at150 mg·L-1 contained a lower TSS concentration than control fruit. TheGA3 at 150 mg·L-1, BA at 60 mg·L-1 and NAA at (100 and150) mg·L-1 increased vitamin C concentration compared with other treatments.Acidity and total phenol concentrations were not affected by any of the treatments. Thedate soluble tannin concentration was higher than control fruit only in the dates treatedwith 20 mg BA·L-1. The weight loss % was lower in the BA-treated fruit at (20and 60) mg·L-1 compared with all other treatments, while GA3treatment at 50 mg·L-1 increased fruit weight loss % compared with controlfruit. The percentage of dates at the rutab stage (index for fruit ripening) was lower forfruit treated with GA3than for control fruit. Also, the rutab stage % was lowerfor fruit treated with BA at 40 mg·L-1 and NAA at 150 mg·L-1compared with control fruit. The TSS concentration decreased during storage from theinitial day to day 20. However, there were no further decreases in the TSS concentrationafter (40 and 60) days of storage. The acidity concentration was slightly increased duringstorage. The vitamin C concentration increased until 40 days of storage, then a slightdecrease occurred. The total phenol concentration decreased after (40 and 60) days ofstorage compared with the initial level. The soluble tannin concentration slightlyincreased at day 20 but sharply decreased after (40 and 60) days of storage compared withthe initial level. Both weight loss and rutab stage % gradually increased during storage.There were significant interaction effects between growth regulators and storage period onTSS, vitamin C concentration, weight loss and rutab stage %.

Introduction. Red and black currants are a valuable component of a healthydiet because they are an excellent source of ascorbic acid, anthocyanins and minerals.Materials and methods. Three red currant cultivars and eight black currantcultivars were evaluated in terms of fruit quality. Some selected physicochemicalcharacteristics such as berry weight, dry matter, soluble solids, total sugars, titratableacidity and total anthocyanins were investigated. Total anthocyanin content was measuredwith the pH differential absorbance method while citric, malic, tartaric and ascorbic acidwere quantified by a reversed-phase HPLC method. Sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron,manganese, chromium and zinc were determined by ICP-MS following a microwave digestion,while potassium content was determined by FAAS. Results. Significantdifferences in the physicochemical and mineral content were detected among the cultivars.The range of total anthocyanins of the tested samples was 12.14–22.06 mg·100g-1 (red currants) and 116.17–287.78 mg·100 g-1 (black currants).Ascorbic acid content varied between 23.23–44.62 mg·100 g-1 (red currants) and161.58–284.46 mg·100 g-1 (black currants). Citric acid was predominant in allstudied black and red currant cultivars, followed by malic and tartaric acids. Black andred currants have rich mineral composition, especially potassium, calcium and magnesium.Black currant fruits were superior to red currants with regard to calcium and magnesiumcontent.

Introduction. Traditionally the control of fruit flies is based on the useof pesticides, which increase production costs and have led to many environmentalconcerns. Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of neem cake on the larval and pupalstages of Ceratitis capitata. Materials and methods. Thirdinstar larvae were transferred to plastic vials with neem cake in different proportions.The treatments consisted of vermiculite with neem cake in the concentrations: control(vermiculite only), then (10, 25, 50, 75 and 100)% of neem seed cake. The bioassay wascompletely randomized, with six treatments, ten replicates and ten third instar larvae perreplicate. The results were statistically analyzed. Results. Atconcentrations of 75% or more of neem cake in vermiculite, practically no adult fliesemerged. At 50%, more than 80% of the adults did not emerge and the pupal period wasprolonged. The sex ratio of the adults was not affected after the contact of the pupaewith the neem cake. The estimated lethal concentrations to kill 50% and 90% of thepopulation were 30.6% and 51.6%, respectively. Conclusion. The neem seed cakehas contact actions against the larval-pupal stage of C.capitata. Neem seed cake in the pupation substrate can cause highmortality when its concentration is 50% or more, and it prolongs the delay of the pupalperiod of C. capitata.