Project in brief
The spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), is a major pest in soft fruit farming, first detected in Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy, in 2009. Unlike other fruit flies, females lay eggs in ripening fruit, causing fast spoilage, microbial growth, and major crop losses, especially in berries and cherries. As insecticide resistance increases and regulatory constraints tighten, sustainable control methods are required. This project focuses on optimizing the classical Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) for D. suzukii. SIT relies on the repeated release of large numbers of males sterilized through X-ray irradiation, which mate with wild females and produce no viable offspring, leading to population decline. The project investigates how irradiation affects male biological traits, such as fitness, competitiveness, longevity, and behavior. Laboratory and semi-field experiments will be used to determine the optimal irradiation dose and to assess sterile male performance under realistic conditions. The resulting biological and ecological data are incorporated into a predictive population model that simulates suppression outcomes under different release strategies. Moreover, the same approach will be used to investigate alternative SIT approaches such as heterospecific SIT (h-SIT). The final objective is to provide an effective, environmentally sustainable tool that supports integrated pest management and reduces reliance on chemical insecticides in the Trentino-Alto Adige region.
Project objectives
Development and optimization of classical SIT to plan sterile male release strategies:
- Determine the optimal X-ray dose to sterilize D. suzukii males without affecting their fitness.
- Characterize key reproductive behaviors of sterilized males, such as mating success, latency, duration, and remating frequency.
- Develop predictive models based on laboratory data to simulate the dynamics of sterile and fertile individuals in the field.
- Conduct semi-field trials to refine the model and assess male performance in more realistic environments.
- Validate the refined model in open-field trials, aiming to optimize SIT release strategies based on ecological and seasonal factors for effective pest control
Alternative Strategies:
- Explore and evaluate the potential of integrating heterospecific SIT (h-SIT) using sterile D. melanogaster males to enhance pest suppression.
Impact
The DroSIT project aims to provide a tool to reduce Drosophila suzukii populations in fruit orchards, directly addressing the severe economic losses faced by local farmers in Trentino-Alto Adige. By releasing sterilized male flies, this method disrupts the pest’s reproductive cycle, leading to a gradual but effective decline in the pest population. This approach offers a sustainable, environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides, reducing the financial burden on farmers who are increasingly facing new difficulties. The project also explores innovative alternatives such as heterospecific SIT (h-SIT), which could further enhance pest suppression. The goal is to provide an effective, cost-efficient pest control strategy that will protect local crops, reduce economic losses, and contribute to the long-term sustainability of agriculture in the region.
Funding
University of Trento, Laimburg Research Centre
Team
- Prof. Gianfranco Anfora
- Dr. Silvia Schmidt
- dott.ssa Asia Colmagro
- Dr. Marco Valerio Rossi Stacconi