GF-120 and Control of Cucurbit crops in Benin

Fruit flies belong to family Tephritidae are the most destructive pests of horticultural crops in Benin, West Africa. Given their economic losses in zucchini and watermelon crops, the protein bait GF-120 was evaluated for its effectiveness to control cucurbits-infesting fruit flies The protein bait was applied to clusters of sorghum and castor bean planted in four corners alternately as a border crops. For over 2 years – 2008 to 2009, we conducted on-station trials at IITA-Benin to identify 1) the most attractive roosting hosts to fruit flies among 12 tested, and 2) evaluate the effectiveness of GF-120 bait spray on the selected roosting hosts. The benefit obtained in applying GF-120 to protect zucchini and watermelon plants was assessed. The experimental design consisted of a "Complete Random Block Design" with two treatments – untreated and GF-120 treated plots, replicated three times. The results revealed that the castor bean and sorghum were identified as the best roosting hosts naturally attractive to fruit flies. The protein bait GF-120 was therefore applied to the underside of young leaves of castor bean and sorghum every Monday morning from 7am to 9am during the test period. The GF-120-treated castor bean, attracted more fruit flies than GF-120-treated sorghum. Infestation rates on the zucchini and watermelon were significantly lower (29% and 20%) on GF-120-treated plots than on untreated plots (73% and 77%) respectively. The use of GF-120 in integrated fruit flies management is therefore benefic and advantageous for the vegetable growers.隶属于实蝇科（Tephritidae）的果实蝇，是西非贝宁地区园艺作物的头号破坏性害虫。鉴于其对西葫芦与西瓜作物造成的严重经济损失，本研究评估了蛋白诱饵GF-120防治为害葫芦科作物的果实蝇的应用效果。该蛋白诱饵被交替喷施于作为边行保护作物种植于试验田四角的高粱与蓖麻丛上。2008年至2009年的两年间，研究团队在国际热带农业研究所贝宁分站（IITA-Benin）开展定点田间试验，旨在达成两大目标：其一，从12种供试寄主中筛选出对果实蝇吸引力最强的天然栖息寄主；其二，评估GF-120诱饵喷雾对筛选出的栖息寄主的防治效果，并量化喷施GF-120以保护西葫芦与西瓜植株的实际效益。试验采用完全随机区组设计（Complete Random Block Design），设置空白对照与GF-120喷施处理两组处理区，每组重复三次。结果显示，蓖麻与高粱被鉴定为对果实蝇具有天然吸引力的最优栖息寄主。因此，在试验周期内，研究团队于每周一早上7时至9时，将GF-120蛋白诱饵喷施于蓖麻与高粱的幼叶背面。经GF-120处理的蓖麻，相较于经GF-120处理的高粱，可吸引更多的果实蝇。喷施GF-120的试验小区中，西葫芦与西瓜的受害率分别为29%与20%，显著低于空白对照小区的73%与77%。综上，在果实蝇综合防治体系中应用GF-120，对蔬菜种植户而言具备显著的经济效益与应用价值。

搜集汇总

背景与挑战

背景概述

该数据集聚焦于评估GF-120蛋白饵剂在贝宁葫芦科作物（如西葫芦和西瓜）中对果蝇害虫的控制效果。研究通过2008年至2009年的田间试验，发现蓖麻和高粱作为最佳栖息宿主，应用GF-120后显著降低了害虫侵染率（例如，西葫芦侵染率从73%降至29%），证明了其在综合害虫管理中的益处。数据集由国际热带农业研究所（IITA）提供，目前处于禁embargo状态，但属于开放获取资源。