Efficacy of Different Botanicals for the Management of Peach Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) under Laboratory Conditions

The peach fruit fly (Bactrocera zonata (Saunders)) poses significant challenges to fruit production, necessitating effective management strategies. The research study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of selected botanical extracts in controlling B. zonata under labortory conditions in Plant Protection Division of NIFA, Peshawar, Pakistan during, 2024. Botanical extracts, including neem (Azadirachta indica), tobacco (Nicotiana tabaccum), garlic (Allium sativum), and bakain (Melia azedarach) were used to determine the repellency, deterrence and insecticidal properties against fruit fly. Results revealed that botanical treatments effectively reduced the peach fruit fly population, with Neem showing the most significant impact. Results further revealed that Bakain exhibited the highest percent non-preference (49.8%), while Neem showed lower percent non-preference (37.6%), indicating its least effectiveness in inducing non-preference behaviour in peach fruit fly. The mean pupal weight was lowest in tobacco (1.00gm), while its length was observed lowest in garlic, tobacco and neem all measuring 0.33cm. Pupal duration (11.3 days), pupal mortality (58%) and pupation inhibition (73.0%) was highest for Neem extract, corresponding to the lowest percent pupation (21.2%), while Bakain resulted in lowest pupal duration (7.6 days), pupal mortality (26.6%) and Garlic extract in pupation inhibition (52.4%) with corresponding highest percent mean pupation of 32.0%. A reduced adult emergence and longevity in peach fruit flies was observed in Neem with 7.3% and 7.3 days respectively. Bakain caused maximum adult emergence (17.3%), and control resulted in slightly higher longevity (32.6 days). The ovipositional deterrence and adult mortality were maximum (57.6% and 68.3%) for Neem, while lowest in Garlic and control (36.0% and 15%) respectively. Neem influenced sex ratio, often resulting in higher female proportions under treated conditions. It was concluded that Tobacco, Garlic and Bakain should be prioritized for their effectiveness in inducing non-preference behaviour and reducing pupal weight in peach fruit fly management, while the later demonstrated a preferred choice in repelling B. zonata. Neem is recommended with the primary goal to enhance mortality rates in peach fruit fly populations.